DJ Theory has just released a set of edits of the Overproof Riddim, one of the summer’s biggest dancehall sounds. He’s sped it up, chopped up the intro and added in some 808; the perfect recipe. Listen below to his edit of Beenie Man’s ‘Let’s Go’ or get the whole set here. Remember, Theory made us a Mixpak FM back for carnival time in August, check that right here.
I ain’t gonna lie, there hasn’t been a great deal of amazing records coming out of JA in the last month (but hell, that’s just in comparison to normal, it’s still a pretty heavy turnout). Still, there are a few diamonds in the ruff, like the ever-reliable Equiknoxx with their White Label riddim, Truckback’s Question It riddim (with some wicked cuts from Beenie, Skinny Fabulous and a Vegas version that cries this year’s ‘I Am Blessed’), and the return of King Yellowman on the Locust Riddim, which has a nice twinge of 90s R’n'B production about it.
Locust Riddim Mix (New Move productions)
White Label Riddim Mix (Equiknoxx productions)
?Question It RIddim Mix (Truckback Records)
‘Rum & Redbull’ couldn’t really get any better, but now they’ve added Busta Rhymes to the remix line-up. Guess what Bus-a-bus is drinking?
Beenie smashing it again with two versions on the same riddim (the Rail Up from Sankofa productions) and a classic video that sees him doing some top notch green screen – in front of a sunset, in Dubai or something and then they’ve even got him standing on the top of a BlackBerry.
Melvin Bliss, a relatively unknown 1970s crooner, died Monday (July 26), according to various hip-hop blogs.
The Chicago native is widely recognized for his 1973 B-side throwaway “Synthetic Substitution,” which became the most-sampled song in hip-hop history. The list of rappers who “borrowed” the breakbeat to create classic rap hits is long and varied. Along with Bliss’ soulful vocals, “The World’s Most Recorded Drummer” Bernard “Pretty” Purdie played the iconic drum patterns on the song, which was produced by Herb Rooney.
At the time of his death, a documentary on Melvin Bliss’ life was in production by filmmaker Earl Holder.
Every “golden-era” rapper and producer owes a debt to this man and maybe even some back royalties (quiet as it’s kept).
Check out a selection of artists who utilized the classic breakbeat in their songs:
Beenie Man completely duppied the rest of the artists on the Seanizzle-produced One Day riddim, with not one but two summer anthems: ‘I’m Okay’ and ‘Drinking Rum & Red Bull’. The official video has just reached, featuring both songs – with ‘I’m Okay’ first up, cos presumably after a few Rum & Red Bull that statement no longer stood. Since the whole Visa saga in JA, Beenie’s been keen on reminding us he’s no gangsta, he’s never been to jail, and he changes his Clarks 3 times a day. It’s just a little update on his mental wellbeing really, just in case you were worrying…and badman serious, he nah tell no lie! Oh wait, isn’t it a little fib that you’re just OK Beenie? Two mad songs on one riddim is more than OK to us.
Watch out for the cameo from Vybz, holding up a miniature Clarks booty and Beenie waving round a bottle of Addi’s very own brand of rum: Street Vybz. Also, is this filmed in the same club as the Bounty/Ele video we featured a couple of weeks back? Someone get me in there.
In other news, according to The Jamaica Star, Future Fambo will be the voice of Major Lazer’s main character in their forthcoming Cartoon Network TV show, as part of the Adult Swim series. Get psyched for the weirdest show to hit your set.
Di-di-di-di-donia is back again with some hard-hitting jackhammer-style bashment. Remember a few years ago when Busy Signal released that really ridiculous Captain Pugwash sounding tune on the Swazzi riddim, called ‘Saviour Divine’? Well, Aidonia’s sort of jumped on that (pirate) boat, what with the sweet bouncing accordion in Equiknoxx’s latest production, the Jim Screechie Riddim. So if you’re planning a bashment set to head up a folk festival or something, this is the riddim.
Be sure to check Beenie Man’s cut on the same riddim, ‘Beat Dem Bad’ and Spice’s ‘Jim Screechie’ – in the picture on her video she’s colour-co-ordinated her hair with her face, FRESH! And for some more new rough chat from Donia, peep ‘Buss It Inna Face’.
