What is the glamorous life? Is it some P. Diddy fashion show shit with flashbulbs poppin while you're showing off how many diamonds you got in your teeth? True playas know it's a state of mind - it's all about vanity and...
expand review voguing, hairspray and hot pink. On this CD, white boys with flava Ayres and Eleven show their love for the worst (meaning of course best) decade, and rock you with some serious 80s R&B action. Not just memorable radio monsters like BBD, Janet Jackson and a ton of Prince-related groups, but also disco legends like Gap Band, Fonda Rae and Grace Jones who survived the transition to the 80s. Using his fancy shmancy high end Pioneer mixer, Ayres adds some light production touches (echoes, delays) and some low-key doubling to his mixes, letting most tracks play out but also cutting some short (I don't really need to hear all of "Jungle Love" anyway). The result: these two guys rip through 30 tracks and come off like a radio station without some guy telling you every 10 seconds about ladies night at Hunka Bunka in Sayerville. If you're afraid of drum machines, heavy synths, divas and catchy choruses, stay the hell away! Otherwise, get this mix and play it before a night of heavy drinking - this is some "I must beautify myself" music. By the way, Ayres spins like a robot: he doesn't move, each mix is on-point, and he insults people with requests (to their faces!). -the Woodman
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17 more unmixed Bmore club tracks from Titts, Ayres and the extended fam.
This volume rounds up many of the tracks from T&A's recent vinyl EPs, including Dave Nada's "Kick Out The Jams(1)," "Where Brooklyn At?(2)" and "Spell On You(3)," A-Trak's...
expand review Stevie-flipping "Sir Duke(4)" from Ultimate T&A, and Million Dollar Mano's popular "They Know(5)" from The Chedda EP.
It's also got new tracks from Tittsworth (a remix of M.O.P.'s "Ante
Up(6)") and Ayres ("Angel of Death(7)" - Slayer!!) plus Top Billin' and DJ Eli. Another useful no brainer for digital DJs. 17 tracks; 55 minutes.
Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
From the Jones label, who brought you the head crushing classic "Chains & Black Exhaust," we now get this mix by old school Memphis dj Big Moe, live from R.C's Place. Big Moe was a former radio DJ for WJNS in Memphis...
expand review and was known for playing the best in funk & soul from that region. Vaulted in somebody's house in South Memphis for over 30 years, this live concert tape was discovered in 2003. The concert was Joe Perkins & The Memphians featuring Big Moe as the dj, and he delivers a set of both common and rare unknown Memphis recordings. All these tracks are either Stax, Hi Records, or local pressings, and some of the highlights include groups like the Memphians, Wendy Rene, Gene Anderson, The Charmels, The Fabulous Caprices, Smithstonian and Transplant. No tracklisting though, so you'll have to go after that yourself. And best believe, same as with Chains & Exhaust, people in two years are gonna be scrambling both for copies of this disc, and the original cuts contained herein. A great tribute to the Memphis sound, and a valid piece of history. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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They've done it again! Greg Caz and Sean Marquand, resident selectors at the great Brazilian Beat party and two of NYC's top spinners of South America's sexiest soul, have put together the long anticipated sequel to their necessary Baile Funk mix. There's...
expand review no weak spots in this collection of searing hot Brazilian funk, and in fact, if you get the impression that these guys could go on for days with this heat, you're probably right. The mix presents a feast of hooks, beats, grooves and melodies, as well as a collector's attention to obscure b-sides and forgotten album tracks (detailed in the informative liner notes). Picking highlights is as simple as hitting the "random" button on your CD player, but I'll try to narrow things down to a couple of my favorites. Os Incriveis get things popping right from the jump with their wicked dedication to Herbie the Love Bug(1), a cut that demonstrates the fun and funky elements that remain constant throughout (and really, how could you go wrong when the Love Bug's involved?). A few minutes later the boys turn up an unusual groover from legend Claudette Soares before moving on to "A Festa(2)" by Silvio Cesar, a slinky, mesmerizing cut. Breakbeat heads will not be disappointed either. Drum master Chico Batera has you covered with "Oxossi(3);" or perhaps the Boogaloo Combo(4) is more your style. The One Way/Al Hudson-esque jam "To Parado Na Tua" and Jorge & Olivetti's "Aleluia(5)," which could be a Rodney Franklin outtake, showcase a slick '80s West Coast funk feel that rounds out the summertime vibe of the set. I'm running out of room, and I haven't even mentioned the devastating Tim Maia jam(6), Wilson Simonal's amazing Bacharach cover, or the ridiculously rare Jorge Ben and Azymuth cuts. This is a mix that anyone could enjoy, and an absolutely essential chapter for fans of Brazilian funk. -monk
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Greg Caz and Sean Marquand gone legit! After years of holding down the "vintage Brazilian" flag at their weekly Brazilian Beat party in Brooklyn, hustling their excelsior Brazilian mix cds and all sorts of other cool stuff, Mr Bongo has given them...
expand review carte blanche to put together this compilation. Whereas most of these Mr Bongo's "Brazilian Beats" comps pride themselves on representing all aspects of Brazilian music, this one is focused razor sharp on the sounds that rock their party. That means strictly vintage tropicalia, samba, baile funk, and whatever other categories define that 60s and 70s sound. And being the ultra discerning music collectors & djs that they are, Greg & Sean's selection is amazing- every single track on here offers something new, ear popping and best of all, dancefloor approved. Here's some of my favorites: Os Oncriveis' "Uma Rosa Pra Dita(1)," which I've been digging ever since I heard it on one of their mix tapes, the Willy Wonka influenced Noriel Viela's "16 Toneladas (Sixteen Tons)(2)," drum crazy "Beija Flor Suite(3)" by Chalo Eduardo, Ely Camargo's girl power "Taieras(4)," Os Novos Crioulos' "Mar Afunda(5)" and Quarteto Uai's "Marcas(6)." Also check the Rita Lee (original Os Mutantes member) on "Agora E Moda(7)" and let it play for a while. Starts out sounding like some simple kitsch Brazilian disco (which, let it be clear, I would be perfectly fine with at this point), but it evolves into something that reminds me of Debbie Harry, Diana Ross and Gary Numan all the same time. Considering their track record, I'm not surprised at how good this cd is, but dudes, I am impressed. Recommended. -the mgmnt
K7 is one of the most important names in DJ mixes and Carl Craig is a giant in the Detroit techno and house world. Get both together and, as you'd expect, the chemistry is on fire and the result epic. From the...
expand review existential headshot floating in the cloud of smoke on the cover, you can tell this man means business. The entire mix is comprised of Carl's own remixes, productions and unreleased tracks with only the smoothest track order and mixing. Both discs in this 2CD set are over an hour of futuristic minimal techno, house, jazz, and experimental beats to keep you movin' all year. Expect to hear the bumping sounds of Directions "Busted Trees - Remix," the hot Junior Boys' "Like A Child - Remix" that we carried last year, Paperclip People's "Throw - Unreleased Version," the sophisticated vibe of Beanfield's "Tides - Remix" featuring the sweet vocals of Bajka, the awesome keyboard work on Fransisco Tristano's "The Melody - Remix" and the highly entrancing acid sounds of Delia Gonzales & Gavin Russom's "Relevee - Remix." Whereas CD1 kept it tasty with beautiful cuts, CD2 gets nasty for the more late night crowd. Check out 69's "Rushed" for a taste of the hypeness, the huge room synths on Faze Action's "In The Trees - Unreleased Remix," the insane rhythm romping on Tres Demented's "Demented (Or Just Crazy)," his own original track "At Les (Live In Paris)" and the future jazz sounds of Innerzone Orchestra's "Bug In The Bass Bin - Remix). As you can tell from the tracklist, the dude's got mad aliases, making this the ultimate mix for the fans. Also, you'll be glad to hear that K7 also released a companion 3LP version featuring full versions for the fiends. So necessary. All I gotta say is, minimal man, where you aaaat? Recommended. -C'mish
Cosmo Baker's Love Break was, in my humble opinion, the best mixtape of 2005, so when he told me he was thinking about following it up with a sequel, I basically hounded him until it got done - and now here it...
expand review is! Scientifically engineered for maximum babymakingability, Love Break 2 features almost 30 tracks and runs over 74 minutes for those extra late nights (or early Sunday mornings). Just like the first round, this is basically the smoothest, most soulful shit in the world, with some pretty well known tracks alongside a generous sprinkling of dusty gems. (The upside, of course, is that if you lost your girl 'cause you spent too much money buying records on Turntable Lab, at least you can be smug and satisfied by identifying the tracks – out loud, to yourself – without looking at the insert.) The first volume of Love Break is one of the best-selling mixtapes we've carried, so I don't think I need to do much explaining here, but check some selected artists: Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Eddie Kendricks, Al Green, Dionne Warwick, Lyn Collins, The Ambassadors, Jackson 5, The Impressions, y mas y mas. Definitely on par with the first volume, and obviously recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
When Cosmo put a preview of this mix online in early 2005, it crashed the Rub's website in a matter of hours. Like most people, I slept, and never got a chance to hear it until he mercifully pressed up CD copies...
expand review a few months later. Now it's come to the Lab, and the world can finally feel the love. Clocking in at almost 70 minutes and comprised entirely of soulful 60s & 70s babymakin' music, Love Break is maybe Cosmo's best mix to date, and anyone who's followed this man's career knows that that's really saying something. The mix is full of joints that most of you probably haven't heard before, without being willfully obscure or inaccessible; it's just gorgeous music from front to back. But Cosmo doesn't shy away from better-known samples either: check William Bell & Mavis Staples on "Strung Out" (the basis for Cam's "Down & Out" or Z.Z. Hill's "That Ain't the Way You Make Love" (sampled by Madlib on Madvillain's "Fancy Clown"). If I had to pick highlights here, I'd go with the Meters' incredible cover of Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman", the Dramatics' "In the Rain" and Nina Simone's absolutely fucking heartbreaking rendition of "Baltimore". Easily my pick for the best mixtape of 2005. Highly recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
First off, this mixtape is THE SHIT, but I think you could've figured that out by just looking at the title. It's a full 74 minutes of classic New Jack Swing tracks, mixed by The CMB – aka The Rub's Cosmo Baker...
expand review and his man Scott Melker, who you probably know from his Lab best-selling Sexual Chocolate mixtape. Anyway, yeah, do you really need to be convinced? "Rump Shaker" leads this thing off, and the boys never look back from there: "Don't Be Cruel," "Ain't Too Proud 2 Beg," "I Like It" (Dino!), "New Jack City," "Do Me," "I Want Her," "Poison," goddamn! If you need convincing, let me say one word you probably haven't heard in far too lon: "Motownphilly." Just buy it already! Here it comes... Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
Cousin Cole and Pocketknife's (aka Flagrant Fowl) Tambourine Dream EP has been on heavy rotation at the Lab from day one. The vinyl version featured 6 unique indie-rock and folk remixes (which are all included here), but the Flagrant Fowl dudes got...
expand review loose on this CD with twelve more remixes that are hitting the spot right now with winter gloominess in full swing. These songs give all the sappy jams that you listened to when your college crush told you she just wanted to be friends, a danceable quality that'll make you glad she didn't lock you down, so you're free to be knee deep in 'tang until graduation.
Standouts on the mix that aren't on the EP include: Cousin Cole's No Bro-Mo House mix of Indie darlings, Panda Bear. Pocketknife brings the mellow heat with his Faded Beach Towel remix of Feist's Gatekeeper. Seu Jorge gets put through the drum machine as "Rebel, Rebel" gets the Tambo D treatment as the mix starts to wind down. This is all topped off with the great artwork from Nathan Fox and design from Strange Attractors on the jacket and disc. Lightly mixed (you could DJ with em, but cop the vinyl for full versions). Comes in a full color digipak. Recommended. -erock
Mad Greasy! Originally released as part of Pitchfork's mix series -- don't bother checking, it's no longer available -- Diplo gives us the full length, hi-fi version of his I Like Turtles mix. Like a lot of Lab customers, I've been following...
expand review Mr. Diplo's work for a while now, and this CD still made me stop and go "Damn... dude is a REALLY GOOD DJ." I Like Turtles has everything you could want in a mixtape - heaters, weirdness and tons of fun, all effortlessly mixed by the dino-man. Oh yeah, exclusivos too, like the Sizzla dubplate of M.I.A.'s "Bamboo Banger," Diplo's "Krispy" remix of the Bartman song, Diplo & Switch's "Solta Frango" with Beenie Man, y mucho mas. Artists include: Mr. Vegas, Bun B, Rich Boy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Schoolly D, Jellybean, Nirvana, Huey, DJ Tamiel, Queen, a Sandrinho remix of DJ Shadow... and that's only halfway through the tracklist. 39 tracks total. Highly recommended. -Larri Byrd
Just as Diplo killed it on MIA's Piracy Funds Terrorism mix that dropped before her debut, he does it again with Brooklyn's own Santogold, mixing up jams off her recent debut album. Expect to hear exclusive blends and mixes of her singles,...
expand review masterfully executed by Diplo himself. The styles flow smoothly from everything under the sun: dirty south, club, classic cuts, dance tracks, dancehall, dubstep, reggae and more. What's also cool is that although she's signed to a big label like Downtown, this is a Mad Decent pressing. So props to Diplo for making this happen. Expect to hear shit from Santi (duh), XXXchange, Ratatat, Richie Spice, Three 6 Mafia, B-52's, Kid Cudi, Switch, Radioclit, Benga, Tony Matterhorn, Skream, Warrior Queen, Barrington Levy, and more. The mix is 75 minutes, perfect for the summertime jams. -C'mish
Money Studies kicks off its new "Lost Masters" reissue series by resurrecting this impossible to find mix from Diplo and fellow Philly record hoarder Tony Tripledouble. Originally self-released on CDR in an edition of less than 500 (plus a few handmade cassettes),...
expand review AEIOU 2 is over an hour of the finest and rarest breaks drawn from Diplo & Tripledouble's extensive collections of psych, funk and obscure soundtracks. Some of the breaks in this mix have gone on to achieve classic status - still no tracklist to help you out, but now it comes in a full-color digipak designed by PH. And if you ever wanted to hear Diplo skratching, right here's the spot. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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LAB EXCLUSIVO! 300 copies only! Holy chit, could this be any more perfect for the Lab? Not only is it wall-to-wall juke, but it's also totally unmixed and Serato-ready, plus the title is a pun on an office favorite (Jock Jams megamix...
expand review anyone?) and the artwork's got plenty of curves. DJ Benzi has this shit down to a science - this time, he brings us 18 DJ-friendly juke edits from his Chi-town cousins, Chi Boogie and DJ Rashad, aka the Ghetto Teknitianz. You can tell these guys are Chicago natives 'cause the juke is strong within them, and it's no problem for them to flip any track large or small into some hype shit for the dancefloor - all at exactly 160bpm. The remix of Kanye West's "Flashing Lights(1)" is especially sick, putting those jacking house keys back into context and double-timing that hazy female vocal sample. Gucci Mane's "Pillz(2)' was always awesome, but I could never find the right time to drop it in a set - Rashad and Chi solve that problem with their sick edit. I could really footnote every track here, but just check these for yourself: T.I.'s "Top Back(3)," Soulja Boy's "Crank Dat(4)," Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls(5)," Project Pat's "Good Googly Moogly(6)," Lloyd's "Get It Shawty(7)" and "Yo Hips, Yo Thighs(8)," a nasty remix of 50 and Justin Timberlake's "Ayo Technology." 19 tracks; over 1 hour total. Highly recommended. -Larri Byrd
So I got a phone call from Will Holland. He was in Spain, raving about an mp3 I'd given him the last time he was here in NYC. It was this brass band version of "Sexual Healing," and he'd just...
expand review thrown it on a packed Barcelona dancehall the night before. "At first they didn't know what to do," he says. "Then, the handclaps came in, and they started to move. When the vocals dropped the place exploded." After we hung up I had to call my man DJ Concerned, who'd hit me with the thing in the first place. He didn't know who Quantic was, but he clearly understood the power of the killer cut. This CD is a selection of a few of his pure fire brass band joints, a collection honed by frequent trips to New Orleans as the DJ for Brian J and the Pimps of Joytime, one of the finest N.O.-affiliated up and comer conjuntos. Understand, these aren't some old-timey Preservation Hall Jazz Band chestnuts, these are real deal street level Crescent City bangers from new school rulers the Rebirth Brass Band, the Hot 8 Brass Band and the Soul Rebels. These dudes have insanely hype live shows where they rip through everything from Herbie Hancock to Lil' Jon covers, kinda similar to DC's go-go scene. Concerned is the first guy I've heard to pull the sheet back on this stuff, and it's done here in a crispy thirteen song mix that is seamless without any teeth-gritting blends or awkward transitions. In addition to the previously mentioned "Sexual Healing" (worth the price for that alone) and a wicked run through "Atomic Dog" ("Rock With the Hot 8"), the mix is chock full of sure shot party music ("(Don't Touch That) Stereo", "Skeet Skeet"). I've had this thing on constant rotation, recommended. -monk
Firstly, Elle looks like she can kick some ass on the cover. Michna, not so much. So what are these two Lab heads up to? Everyone knows that Elle is the best female hip-hop DJ in the city, while Michna is a...
expand review hero amongst the electronica and bmx nerdus. The common ground is the formative drum and bass years circa mid-nineties. Yeah, it's a drum and bass mix in 08, and it sounds fresh as hell. From the opening moments of Todd Terry's "Blackout," you'll be digging through that d&b crate in the back of your closet. The selection here is key, it's not your well-worn comp classics, but rather a selection of personal and underground favorites... the stuff you wish you knew the name of back then (seriously, was there ever a dj scene that was harder to follow?). We'll publish the track list on the blog if you're interested. Gotta love Elle's impromptu speaking samples too (this shit is old!) and the cut and paste inside cover featuring vintage rave photography. 17 tracks in all. Recommended. -the mgmnt
Girl DJs are popping up everywhere in NYC. Leave it to The Bangers' DJ Jaclyn to steal your heart with a tastemaker's pick of dance music's hottest artists. Don't expect a Madonna cut anywhere near this either. The mix ranges from contemporary...
expand review artists, underground dance, and some really choice familiar cuts. Features: Nina Hagen, Laura Branigan, Deee-Lite, CSS (Spank Rock Remix), Tracey Thorn, Amanda Blank, Grace Jones, SSQ (Stacy Q's alias), Lily Allen, Stevie Nicks, Amy Winehouse, Cassie (DJ Eli Remix), New Young Pony Club, Berlin, Kid Sister, Purple Crush and much more. Jaclyn really gives her personal favorites shine in this mix and never do I feel like I'm trying to be out-hipped by the next craziest mashup or blend. Yup, just double-checked to make sure - they stand alone without frills. Recommended. -C'mish
When Koyote's first mix - the now-infamous Diamond Grills CD, with partner DJ Goon - dropped last year, it flew off the shelf every time we got a handful of copies in (via an NYC-living, Paris-visitng CD mule friend of Koyote's). But...
expand review we got our French connection firmed up now, and Koyote's got another mega dose of bass just in time for the warm weather. Women Respond To Bass 2 is hosted by Parisian rap superstar Cuiznier (of TTC) and is laced with the same genre-hopping party vibe that made Diamond Grills such a hit. Ghettotech, Miami bass, house, Southern rap, even a little drum'n'bass - the common thread here is BASS, and lots of it. Alongside classics like "Bounce Dat Azz" and "Baby Got Back," Koyote throws down sick blends, brand new remixes ("Throw Some D's," "Chain Hang Low") and exclusive tracks from Cuizinier, TTC, DJ Nasty and more. Oh yeah, and he gets drops and daps from just about every Ghettotech legend around, so you know this shit is certified! Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
#5 in Mochilla's CD series comes courtesy of Keepintime / Brasilintime affiliate DJ Nuts, who gave us the ultra popular Brazil-centric "Disco e Cultura" series of mixes a few years back. Once again there's no info, no tracklist here - just 68...
expand review minutes of dusty tropical gems that run the gamut from bossa and samba to rock and jazz, all with that unmistakable Brazilian flavor. Anybody got the key to the roof? Definitely recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
Our old homie O-Dub back at it again! Mr. Wang keeps rolling with his "covers" obsession (see also: Deep Cover #1, Soul Sides V.2: The Covers) but this time he's taken it international with versions of everyone from Iron Butterfly to Fatback...
expand review Band, from just about every corner of the planet. Can you imagine what a Polish cover of Bill Withers' "Use Me" sounds like? Or a Peruvian stab at Ballin' Jack? How about a Guyanese reggae band doing "Sweet Caroline?" If, like me, your answer to all the above is "no, but I'd like to," you need this mix in your life. O-Dub keeps it simple, tasteful and on-point with the mixing, no need for fancy wicky-wicky. (Though there is a Colombian cover of "Wicky Wacky.") 20 track mix, plus three bonus tracks from some fallen idols (Jimmy McGriff, Bo Diddley, James Brown). 71 minutes. Recommended. -Van Hammersly
After the death of James Brown, I was expecting a lot more tributes coming from our part of the underworld. Where are the mixes, the remixes, the t-shirt designs... the reissue of the James Brown Is Dead 12"? This is what...
expand review I'm talking about... Premier had enough time in between cutting platinum pop hits to sit down a make a good old-fashioned mixtape to commemorate The Godfather. Did I mention it's a double disc, two hour mix? On the first disc, Primo goes through over 30 JB classics, complete with voice-overs and some old-school scratches. On the second disc Primo switches it up, and goes through 32 old-school tracks that prominently sample JB tracks. Do I need to say anymore? Recommended. -the mgmnt
Truly outstanding new mix, the first in a minute from our often globetrotting, sometimes magazine-contributing, always culturally aware amigo DJ/rupture. The selection and mixing are typically awesome, with a sonic focus on cumbia, grimey blends and bass bass bass. Features tracks from...
expand review Santogold, ODB, DJ Lengua, Mrk1, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Alborosie, The Dream, Shinehead and lots more. 19 tracks; 61 minutes. Recommended. -Van Hammersly
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