DJ Rashad Hayes J Dilla Tribute Mixtape Cover 600
The very warmest Mixtape Monday greetings to you and yours. Was your Halloween all you hoped it'd be? Hopefully you got all the candy you hoped for and nobody jack'd your lantern. But if you're longing for just a few more treats, this roundup has you got you covered like a costume head-to-toe. The tapes on deck are particularly deelicious.
It's our very special privilege to start this week with an exclusive world premiere of DJ Rashad Hayes's Tribute to J Dilla mixtape--68 minutes of neck-snapping Jay Dee productions compiled and stitched together in a truly amazing fashion. Let that sink in a bit, and get ready to fall in love, then recompose yourself because we've also got a Run The Jewels 2 Tour-inspired mix from Trackstar the DJ, new Rap Français sounds from Parisian producer Onra, plus Count Bass D, our man Ally Al, and plenty more funk from all around the globe brought here just for you. Strongest #MixtapeMonday of the year? Click through, listen up, and find out for yourself.
When DJ Rashad Hayes reached out to us about premiering a new all-J Dilla mixtape, we were both intrigued and a little uneasy. The material of the late great(est of all time) James Dewitt Yancey isn't just a love of ours--it's a pillar of Okayplayer itself. Dilla is the forever-gold standard against which we judge all other music--period. And although we lost that genius Detroit son more than eight years ago, his music lives on in our hearts and headphones.
Still, for all our adoration, Rashad's idea for a new mixtape had us apprehensive. Because when you wade out into Dilla's catalog and start chopping and re-organizing--pun intended--the stakes is high. Many a great tribute mix has already been made, and so for a brand new Dilla mix to earn its keep and honor the GOAT, the mixer must really show up with their A-plusses.
But all our worries disappeared once Hayes sent us the finished mix. It's fan-tastic. The man has more than done his homework, and what awaits below is an amazing, educational mix of some of Dilla's best and least worn-out productions. Sprinkled through it are the voices of Ma Dukes, Common, Erykah Badu, Q-Tip, Amp Fiddler, Questlove and more--clips of recorded memories of the late Yancey that Hayes found and lifted from interviews. Those voiceovers remind us that, yes, Dilla left behind a catalog of mesmerizing hip-hop, but he was also a loving son, friend, and collaborator to so many. And so you'll hear not only Common's "Light" but also the story of when the MC first heard that Bobby Caldwell flip in the car with Yancey. You'll hear Erykah remembering their first meeting. You'll hear Detroit record store owners remember the insatiable crate-digger. It's the details that count.
Hayes purposefully kept the mix's tracklisting to himself, but rest assured--all the gritty kick patterns and syrupy basslines are here. An extra emphasis on the early Slum Village era is clear, and Hayes deserves props for fitting the essential Jay Dee (spoiler alert: the Janet joint is in here) right in with the esoteric Jay Dee (is that Lucy Pearl we hear?) We strongly recommend giving this a full listen-through and are very proud to premiere the great mixtape that Hayes has produced. Most of all, we're giddy to listen to some damn good Dilla, so press the play button and settle in. There is nothing like this.
(Artwork by Ian Klarer)
Top of the morning, this mix to your ears is f*cking Folgers.
Run the Jewels is coming to a town near you, bringing truth, justice and the best hip-hop of today. Duo El-P and Killer Mike already tore Letterman a new one over the weekend, and so it's clear now that the Run the Jewels 2 tour will be the hottest ticket in hip-hop this fall. To get you extra hyped (or console you a bit if you slept and missed your ticket) RTJ's tour turntablist Trackstar the DJ has put together a mix built upon the work of Mike and El, as well as selections from openers Ratking and Despot. With a kickoff greeting recorded by Killer Mike himself--oh wait, our bad, El-P gets his due, too--you know it's bound to bang hard. Put your hands where the man can't see 'em and enjoy this one.
>> Download the full mix here.
Lest we let you forget, the French have a mighty dope hip-hop scene of their own--and not just when Mobb Deep invades Paris. Thankfully Onra, the city of light's hardest beatmaker, has produced another volume of his Rap Français mix series--this one a re-introduction to his native scene. The mix is a compilation of Onra's favorite '90s productions, and it's all got a laid back, jazz-inspired theme to our ears; the kind of beats and smooth flows that sound best with a croissant and cafe du creme close at hand. Sadly, the word is that this will be Onra's final Rap Français set; grab a Perrier and a pernod and enjoy it while it lasts.
>>Download the full mix here.
Tracklist:
Jimmy Jay – "A tous mes frères"
Le Cervo – "Instru"
Rocca – "Le Hip-Hop mon royaume"
Oxmo Puccino – "Mama Lova"
Akhenaton – "Le calme comme essence"
Ghetto Prodige – "City Girl"
Shankane ft. Busta Flex – "C’est moi qui paie"
Mafia Underground – "Fuis le lauss ft. China (Da Lausz Mix)"
X-Men – "J’attaque du mike"
Sléo – "Qui tu representes (Logilo Remix)"
Suprème NTM – "La fièvre (Remix)"
Lumumba – "La fortune sourit aux audacieux"
Leader Vocal – "L’impasse"
Lyr-X – "Tecnik Microfonik"
Democrates D – "Hostile (Interlude)"
Afro Jazz – "Sacerdoce"
DJ Seeq – "Tension"
Sans Transition – "Les gens"
Diable Rouge – "Time Bomb explose"
La Relève – "La violence"
Emmigrands – "2 Philadelphie à Paris"
Jimmy Jay – "Vision"
Ste Strausz – "Yo Boom!"
Lone ft Emmigrands – "Trop de MC’s"
Fabe – "Dis aux gosses"
Shivazz – "Le désert"
DJ Logistik – "Saturday nite"
Soul Swing – "L’âme Soul"
Les Sages Poètes de la Rue – ???
Yaya – "Que quelqu’un m’explique"
Menelik – "Tout baigne (Sleo Remix)"
Schkoonk – "Les amants de MJ"
B-Love – "Où est la difference?"
Eastwoo – "I told ya"
Lucien – "From a town called Paris"
MC Solaar – "Superstarr"
Atlanta's own Count Bass D took over the helm at Music Is My Sanctuary last week, putting forth a mix of his most beloved tracks from the past grip of decades. It's a treat to the hip-hop that has influenced CBD, a producer who himself has influenced so many over the last couple decades, even as he himself has kept under the radar from his record den down in Georgia. It's worth it alone to hear his chop of 50's "21 Questions," and with the inclusions of Karriem Riggins, Parliament, and Slum Village, this mix is bound to newly influence a few beat-heads just on its own.
UTFO – "U Cold Wanna Be With Me"
Jungle Brothers – "Jungle Brother (True Blue)"
Lalah Hathaway – "Somethin’"
CJ Moore – "Shinin’ Star"
50 Cent – "21 Questions"
JLaine – "Wondering"
Jneiro Jarel – "Big Bounce Theory"
K.P. & Envi – "Shorty Swing My Way (Carl Mo Remix)"
Dela – "Chill (Featuring Large Professor)"
Lord Finesse – "That’s How Smooth I Am"
True Ohio Playas – "We Got So Much More To Show (Unreleased)"
Cvees – "Spread Love To Ya"
Grooveman Spot – "In Search Of… Part 2"
213 – "Sassy Ways (Keep It Gangsta)
Count Bass D – "I Don’t Need This""
Cameo – "We’re Going Out Tonight"
Karriem Riggins – "Because"
Parliament – "Do That Stuff"
Slum Village – "Give This Nigga"
Phase N Rhythm – "Swollen Pockets"
And now for a doubleshot from the Okayempire at large. DJ Underdog has fashioned not one but two mixes, donating tailor-made sets to both Okayafrica and Okayfuture, with each mix fitting snugly within their respective sonic frames. His Save the Ritual pt. 1 African mix (above) is full of the deep, hypnotic house music that so many producers from all over the continent are honing to perfection, while his eletro-minded The Unseen pt. 10 (below) floats much more softly in an atmosphere of starry space-age beats. Both mixes are the perfect choice for your next apartment party--but it's up to you to choose the correct vibe. Either way, Underdog has brought it proper.
We'd be remiss to pass over any mix from Ally Al, and his seasonally-appropriate set of spooked-out cuts has us wishing that Halloween would last another couple of days. You may remember Ally from past Mixtape Monday hits such as his all-Prince mix and his clever Dilla "Fall in Love" mix that dropped last winter. This one, though, packs plenty of variety, and nails its haunting theme via menacing basslines, mean verses, and drums that knock harder than Jason on the side of your bedroom door. And yes, of course Gravediggaz are in there, along with some "Devil's Pie."
Well, this is certainly a Mixtape Monday first. Those at Waxpoetics have taken a strong shining to AOR, aka "Album-oriented rock," a subgenre at the shamelessly smooth crossroads of funk, pop, and rock that dominated much of the '80s airwaves across the globe. They kicked things off a few weeks back with a new AOR mixtape from Ed Motta, and have now brought to our attention an all-Japanese set of AOR made by bawxxx and damn if it ain't something interesting. The Melancholy of Suburbia mix of "citypop" (the real term for Japan-made AOR) is loaded with sheeny pop music that transports you straight to the lounge at Tokyo's Ritz Carlton. On one hand it's without a doubt cheesy, but, then, this is the kind of music that's riddled with samples galore, and crate-diggers will appreciate the chance to dig into a few Japanese artists without making a trans-Pacific trip.
01.北園みなみ - ソフトポップ
02.五十嵐浩晃 - 今日かぎり
03.SUGAR BABE - 今日はなんだか
04.尾崎亜美 - ストップ・モーション
05.檸檬 - 時のたにまに
06.松任谷由実 - 昔の彼に会うのなら
07.キリンジ - 君の胸に抱かれたい
08.原由子 - 恋のメモリー：三昧編
09.竹内まりや - プラスティック・ラブ
10.EPO - PAY DAY
11.ikkubaru - Highway
12.Hi-Fi Set - 中央フリーウェイ
In keeping with the international flavor of this week's roundup, we bring you the latest BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, this week compiled by French DJ Collective Apollonia (no, not that Appolllonia, of course). Comprised of Dyed Soundorom, Dan Ghenacia and Shonky, the clique hit the UK airwaves with a mix of unstoppably tasteful deep house, much of which comes from mysterious white label sources. But all that mystery is part of the allure. Every once in a while you've got to stop the tracklist researching and just dance to a well-made mix.
Tracklist:
[unknown] - Untitled
Diego Krause - "Vertical"
Lopaski - "Apollo 13"
Dorisburg - "Devotion"
[unknown] - Untitled
Livio & Roby - "Zama De Shef"
Mike Shannon - "Over And Over"
[unknown] - Untitled
[unknown] - "Chicago"
John Tejada - "From A Slice To A Draw"
Traumprinz - "Intrinity"
Apollonia - "Un Vrai Portugais"
Creative Sens - "Rainbow Harmony"
Mr.Tophat & Art Alfie - "Karlssons Dub"
Bassmental - "Here & Now"
[unknown] - Untitled
Franco Cinelli - "Cargo"
Apollonia - "Sona"
Levi Verspeek & Makcim - "Pointless"
[unknown] - Untitled
Agaric & Shonky - "Apollo"
Apollonia - "Boomerang"
Vinyl Speed Adjust - "Beatroc"
Gemini - "Elevate Your Fellow Man"
Dan Shake - "Thinkin'"
Everyday mix-hunters (ourselves very much included) know that BBC's Radio 1 is a go-to for shiny new sets from the world's best DJs. But the more intrepid among us also have their crosshairs trained on Radio 6, where the likes of Craig Charles and Mary Anne Hobbs regularly bring through great selectors from the past and present. On his regular funk and soul show last weekend, Charles hosted none other than Jocelyn Brown, whose work you may be familiar with if you enjoy cats like Michael Jackson, George Benson and Teddy Pendergrass (who doesn't?). In honor of Brown, the show's track selection homed in on the era of her greatest impact and spun sure shots from Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, and Dobie Gray. Plus, there's a gorgeous middle section to the show that pays tribute to the eternal greatness of miss Millie Jackson. Slide into something comfortable for this soul session--this sort of music demands it.
Tracklist:
The O'Jays - "Backstabbers"
Esther Phillips - "Catch Me I’m Falling"
Men of North Country - "Pandora"
Maceo Parker - "Homeboy"
Bobby Byrd - "I Know You Got Soul"
Patti LaBelle - "Music Is My Way Of Life"
Gregory Porter - "1960 What? (Opolopo Kick & Bass Rerub)"
Thelma Jones - "The House That Jack Built"
King Curtis - "Memphis Soul Stew (Live)"
Calibro 35 - "Get Carter"
Billy Butler & The Enchanters - "Right Track"
Dee Irwin - "I Only Get This Feeling"
Betty Semper And The Surfing Zebras - "Hold Me Down"
Future Dub Foundation - "Captain Hook (Smoove Remix)"
Lack of Afro - "Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances"
MKG - "Grandma’s Hands"
Nostalgia 77 - "Simmerdown’ feat. Josa Peit (Grant Phabao Remix feat. Marco Benevento)"
Sharon Jones - "I Just Dropped In To See What My Condition My Condition Is In"
Skeewiff - "Man Of Constant Sorrow"
Aretha Franklin - "Respect"
The Brides of Funkenstein - "Disco To Go"
The Temptations - "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"
Teena Marie - "Behind The Groove (John Morales Dub Mix)"
Gil Scott-Heron - "New York Is Killing Me"
Soul II Soul - "African Dance"
Kraftwerk - "Musique Non Stop"
Stretch - "Why Did You Do it"
Gerardo Frisina - "Selvatico"
Pacifico Blues - "Blues Is My Business"
Labi Siffre - "Got The Blues"
Chuck Brown - "Bustin Loose"
Corduroy - "Chowdown"
Dobie Gray - "Out on the Floor"
Prince - "Breakfast Can Wait"
Archie Bell & The Drells - "Tighten Up Part 1"
Carla Thomas - "B-A-B-Y"
Desmond Dekker - "Israelites"
Millie Jackson - "My Heart Took a Licking (But It Kept on Ticking)"
Millie Jackson - "It Hurts So Good"
Millie Jackson - "Leftovers"
The Commodores - "I Like What You Do"
Rhonda Scott & Julie Saury - "Alligator Boogaloo"
And so we're back where we began, reminiscing about Halloween and all the nights of fright we've endured enjoyed lately. With releases like Flying Lotus's You're Dead! and the ghoulish Run the Jewels 2, it seems that macabre imagery and morbid fascinations are aliiiiiive and very well in hip-hop. DJ7L has a mix that encapsulates that very feeling, and his Music to be Murdered By is a menacing journey into some of the darker productions that both hip-hop and horror movie soundtracks have set to tape. Give it a deep listen with the lights off--it's only proper to give Halloween its due, after all. We'll be back with a grip of less-spooky mixtapes next week. Until then, keep moving to it.
