Mixtape Monday: World Premiere LargeUp + DJ Gravy + DJ Corey Chase's Reggae-Hip-Hop Mix + More!
A very, very happy holiday weekend to all of you from all of us at Mixtape Monday. We're not taking the day off, however. In fact, we upping the ante with the premiere of LargeUp's Double Barrel mix, a brilliant set of classic reggae tracks and the timeless hip-hop songs that have sampled them. Double Barrel was crafted by DJ Gravy and DJ Corey Chase and has been a long, long time coming from our LargeUp family, and what better time to finally hear it than on a day when we've all got a little extra leisure time?
Beyond the reggae, we have an especially excellent batch of sounds for you, with a clutch of rare Mexican 45rpm funk, futuristic brilliance from J Rocc and Sango and a sufficiently hard mix dedicated to the memory of Chinx (RIP). So get ready for some day-off excellence to hit your stereo system. The Memorial Day edition of Mixtape Monday begins right here and now.
The ties between hip-hop and reggae have always run deep, but on DJ Gravy and DJ Corey Chase's new Double Barrel mixtape they're brought a little closer to the surface. Loaded with blend after blend after blend of vibrant reggae material and the hip-hop classics that sampled it, the mixtape is an education for both heads and dreads--exactly the kind of temporal, cross-genre excellence we love to feature in Mixtape Monday. The Double Barrel name comes from a classic Dave and Ansell Collins recording, and the concept is one that our good family at LargeUp has been steeping for quite some time. Finally, all the pieces have come together and Okayplayer, in partnership with LargeUp, is happy to present its premiere. From Nas, Jay-Z, The Diplomats, Kanye West and Blackstar, the hip-hop side of the mix is classic Okayplayer excellence, while the reggae pieces from Super Cat, Max Romeo, John Holt, Super Beagle, Sanchez and Toots and the Maytals.
DJ Corey Chase and DJ Gravy were the brilliant brains behind it all, and you can read a bit more on the hip-hop-reggae connection over at LargeUp. But we recommend pushing play immediately; this is what hard work and high concept can accomplish in the mixtape realm.
Artwork by Gilbert Young
DJ Rahdu has come back with a mix that sits right in line with our lead-off. "Mental Evolution 2" is a blend of soul and grade-A hip-hop that makes it all to easy to see the connection between the sounds of then and now. More importantly, tough, Rahdu has crafted a mix that looks to the future with songs of freedom, revolution and dedication to a cause that's higher than any of us. Songs for a better tomorrow that, in turn, make today all the more powerful.
Tracklist:
(Mental Evolution Intro)
A Tribe Called Quest – Ham & Eggs
Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack – Be Black For Me
Donnie – Cloud 9
Black Star – Brown Skin Lady
Angela Davis – Targeting Women
Various Artists – Freedom
The Roots – Pussy Galore
Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y
Sarah jones – Blood
Mumia Abu Jamal – A Rap Thing
Mental Evolution Interlude
Aretha Franklin – Young Gifted and Black
Dick Gregory – American Lies
Boogie Monsters – Mark of The Beast (R.S.V.)
Common – Gaining One’s Definition (G.O.D.) feat Cee-Lo
Obeah the Intellectual – Probable Cause
Richard Pryor – Niggers vs Police
Talib Kweli – The Proud
Boogie Down Productions – You Must learn (Live From The Caucus Mountains)
Chasing Amy Movie Excerpt
Earth Wind & Fire – Keep Your Head to the Sky
Herein lies a half hour of devilishly funky 45 rmp cuts from Mexican funk bands. Mixed by Ruffy TNT, the set moves from tight and soulful to wavy and psychedelic. Put it on and get down with yourself. ¿Por que no?
Just one month ago, Okayplayer premiered a brand new mixtape from 25 year-old British producer Cadenza (real name Oliver Rodigan). And while we wish we could be the launchpad for all his sonic ventures, it's important to spread the love. i-D tapped Cadenza last week for a brand new mix, creatively entitled "Music to...Get Worked Up To." Absolutely loaded with low-end and island vibes, the 45 minute set goes hard. Get rough to it.
J Rocc and Sango--two progressive heroes of hip-hop that never seem to take a break; the former a Stones Throw legend and the latter a Soulection stalwart. The two collided on J Rocc's regular "Adventures in Stereo" program earlier this month, and the results were glorious. Rocc's set of mostly-new oddities (including the new De La Soul and a bit of J Dilla, of course) serves as the perfect appetizer to Sango's brainy excursion. Also, Kaytranada stops by the mic for a chat, because, why not?
J Rocc Tracklist:
Embryo - Tala Tarangini
De La Soul - God It feat. Nas
Chris Clark - LAFD feat. Blvme & Double K
J Dilla - F*** The Police (Super Blast Remix)
Space Suits - Speedy
Roc Raida - Ill Colabo
Roc Raida - OC Joint
Frank Nitt - Slippin feat. Illa J
Mobb Deep - Waterboarding
Earl Sweatshirt - Warlord Leather
Action Bronson - Terry
Ras G - Lord of Lords
Bosq - Bad For Me (Late Night Dub)
Spacek - Who Cares
lek.lun - Okay
Kamasi Washington - Re:Run Home
Seven Davis Jr. - No Love Lost
Church Boy Jeedo - Alright Paulapella
Lil Silva - Drumatic
Special Request - Hackney Parrot (Special Request VIP)
House Shoes - Slaves
J Dilla - Dorthy Ashby
The Unit - Ain't No Need (Live)
Thundercat - Them Changes
We were absolutely heartbroken to hear the sad news of Chinx's death last week, and it's the least we can do, posting DJ Piombo's "New Year, Same Hustle" mixtape, which is dedicated in part to the gone-too-soon MC's memory. Featuring plenty of Chinx's music, plus Raekwon, Jadakiss, A$AP Rocky, Mobb Deep and more, it's a hard and relentless set of tracks--a tribute to how the departed MC worked, no matter what.
We've all been there--perusing the clearance bin at our local record store, paging through dud after dud hoping for that perfect deal, some mystery material that'll either set the party right or provide a wealth of sample materials for our own present-day designs. Music is My Sanctuary's Lexis has put together a mix dedicated to that feeling--a set comprised of "80s Rare & Dollar Bin Grooves" that's so synthetic it hurts (in a good way). Clocking in at almost 80 minutes, it's a little bit funny and extremely funky--just like record digging itself.
Cover by Fabian Brennecke
From where we stand, Jakarta Records can do no wrong. And you better be standing with us if you know what's good for you. The label has just doled out the latest installment of its Jakarta Radio series, this one constructed by German photojournalist and top-tier record hound Fabian Brennecke. From synths to gorgeous strings, the mixtape is of course nothing but choice grooves from front to back throughout its near-90 minute runtime.
Our old pal Wicked performed an ultra-rare Beatnuts show (2.5 hours, at that!) a while back and saved the evidence for all of us to enjoy. All tracks run from the years 1992-97, so you know it's nothing but true school. Did we mention it's nothing but vinyl? Get to getting.
Brooklyn, New York-based producer Obey City took over Gilles Peterson's regular program to offer up a mix of incredibly out-there R&B--that is, until it turns hard left into strange and glorious Japanese pop. You've got to hear it to believe it.
Tracklist:
Maleem Mahmoud Guinia & Floating Points – Mimoun Marhaba (Border Community)
Throwing Snow – Paint By Numbers (Houndstooth)
Braille feat. Angelica Bess – Better Than Nothing (Friends of Friends)
Joe Henderson – Black Narcissus (Milestone Records)
Hunee – The World (Rush Hour Records)
Up High Collective – Dealing (Blatan’s Jazzy VIP) (Free Download)
Cassandre – Sifflant Soufflant (White Label)
William Parker & Hamid Drake – Black Cherry (AUM Fidelity)
Maths Time Joy feat. Flores – After Hours (True Colours)
Obenewa – He (Wunderkid)
Obey City – Cloud Lust (LuckyMe Records)
::Worldwide Family Mixtape – Obey City:: (mix tracklist below)
St Germain – Real Blues (Forthcoming)
Renata Rosa – Brilhantina (Aroop Roy Remix) (G.A.M.M)
Cláudia – Deixa Eu Dizer (Odeon)
Cláudia – Deixa Eu Dizer (Desabafo) (Tropkillaz & Leo Justi) (Free Download)
Trevor Jackson – They Came From NY (The Vinyl Factory)
Prinzhorn Dance School – Reign (DFA/PIAS)
Art Department feat. Seth Troxler – Living The Life (Crosstown Rebels)
Damian Lazarus – Sacred Dance of the Demon (Crosstown Rebels)
Headless Ghost – Let’s Fall (Deetron Remix) (Tames Musiq)
Julio Bashmore feat. Sam Dew – Holding On (Broadwalk Records)
Camille Soprann Hildevert – Caribbean People (Waxist Edit) (Cultures of Soul)