Here's comes the crossover! I know The Rub is synonymous with hip hop, reggae, funk and breaks in NY, but now you can add electronic dance tracks to the list. Leave it to the creator of The Rave to follow it up...
expand review with... Drugs Drugs Drugs Drugs. I know the name is a little obvious, and it's kind of a greatest hits of the last 2 years of NY dance music, but if you're in the dust - get on it bruh! Trends are like seasons here and you don't want to be left in the cold. So put your groove boots away and grab your fluorescent bandanna and Trizzy shades, and bang out to the hype sounds of Soulwax, Justice, Chromeo, brand new unreleased Kid Sister Track (featuring Kanye West), Arman Van Helden, Mylo, Claude Von Stroke, Green Velvet, Booka Shade, Das Glow, the Lab's own Egg Foo Youngstah, and many more!!! -C'mish
Oh shnap. Get your candy beads and whistles ready... it's time for the RAVE! Yep, that's right, the time has come. Ayres done did the Rave mix. And like all of his other mixes, he kills it! Strictly the biggest hits and...
expand review classics on this one from every rave sub-genre (house, techno, acid, and even drum n' bass!) skillfully mixed to bring back all those memories that you've purposely forgotten. Featuring tracks from 4Hero, Basement Jaxx, Armand Van Helden, DHS, DJ Funk, DJ Zinc, DJ Hype, Doc Scott, Jaydee, Aphex Twin, and more. Can you feel it? I do... P.L.U.R. ya'll! -snackmaster
quick audio picks: 12345
Not for the easily offended! (But you could tell that from the cover.) It's the debut EP from Bangers & Cash, the new project from MC Spank Rock and producer Benny Blanco, and it's about as dirty as you'd expect a Spank...
expand review Rock tribute to 2 Live Crew to be. The live show favorite "Shake That(1)" sounds just as good on record, but how could a track that samples 2 Live's "Fuck Shop" and Splack Pack's "Shake That Ass Bitch" not be? "B-O-O-T-A-Y(2)" pulls sources from no less than three different tracks, but guest vocals from Santi of Santogold really makes the track; same goes for the hoodrat track "Loose(3)" and the guest spot from Amanda Blank, who just sounds better every time she gets on the mic. "Pu$$y(4)" gets a little too dumb for my taste, but "Bitch!(5)" overcomes its subject matter with an epic beat from Benny and a sample from NWA. And if you think the cover is nasty, you should see the back and inside. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 123456
The Chromatics are on fire lately and are popping up everywhere I look - DJ Dixon's Body Language mix, the After Dark CD, and the Italians Do It Better 12's, etc...I see what's going on. Ruth Radelet is actually a...
expand review powerful mage and we're all quickly falling under her spell. If those releases weren't powerful enough, they go ahead and give us the NIGHT DRIVE SOUNDTRACK! Whether this is a real soundtrack to a movie is unclear, and frankly, I don't give a damn. Sure it would be awesome to see the beautiful Ruth Radelet starring in a film, but I'm just happy to hear more of her music. "Night Drive(1)" is the only track I've seen appear on another comp. That means 9 tracks of all new material! Sweet for you (and me -Ed.). Now you have tons of new music to make-out to. The cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill(2)" is an awesome slow burner especially good for the fireplace, while "Healer(3)" and "Tomorrow Is So Far Away(4)" brings the beat to the heat for that extra bump. The saucy synthwork with Ruth's poetic vocals is magically seductive and will have you demanding multiple listens. And just in case you're not in the mood for words, there's the instrumentals "I Want Your Love(5)" and "Let's Make This A Moment To Remember." Sounds like Smokey Robinson singles? Not quite, but they are smokey for sure. Highly Recommended. -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
quick audio picks:
Bogman procured this CD for us from his network of East Village record store workers. Soul Punk works at the most righteous Academy Records (excellent place to buy used vinyl), and has dropped this unmixed, compilation of 16 rare, and in-demand...
expand review rock tracks, all with big, bad breaks. This is total record nerd area, with tracks from Atomic Rooster, Titanic, Stray, James Gang, Thin Lizzy, Dust, Power of Zeus, Humble Pie, and others. Excellent sound quality. Recommended for rock break lovers, producers, and archivists. -the mgmnt
Back after a short absence -- diggin's hard work! -- DJ Soul Punk returns to his roots with a follow-up to his first unmixed breaks comp. Just like Volume 1, this disc contains 16 rare hard rock tracks filled with nasty breaks,...
expand review some of which you'll recognize and some you'll just want to chop up and keep for yourself. Features songs from Nazareth, Deep Purple (not "Smoke On The Water"), Montrose, Sorcery, Pentagram, Zipper, Free, Hard Stuff, Dog Soldier, Humble Pie, Captain Beyond and more. 77 minutes total. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 123456
Sometimes you're really not sure with these rare groove gurus, when they're trying to sell you on some 1962 Doc Severinson b-side or something you've never heard of. You kind of have to take their word for it, but you wonder, you...
expand review know? If that shit really is so good, how come nobody but you's ever heard of it? Anyway, you can forget all that with this comp, cuz as much fun as it would've been to slag the perpetually boyish tastemaker supreme in the baggy turtleneck, this collection is really tight. Kicking things off with the tremendous wall of afrofunk that is Oscar Sulley's "Bukom Mashie(1)" (last seen on the essential Ghana Soundz LP) and including MAW's timeless Fela tribute "MAW Expensive(2)" is pretty good move, setting the tone for the two records (one covers vintage Afro cuts, the other contemporary facsimiles). Things stay on solid ground with two cuts from the superb Ethiopian vibist Mulatu and his cohort Feqadu Amde-Mesqel ("Mulatu(3)" and "Asmarina") and Peter King's longtime DJ/breakbeat fave "Ajo(4)." Thievery Corp's recent "Heart Is a Lonely Hunter(5)" gains some cachet rubbing shoulders with a typically wicked IG Culture remix of the Lekan Babalola (me neither) tune "Aso Kere(6)." The optimized levels on this crisp pressing will endear this to DJ folk, as will the diverse and powerful selection of 9 useful tracks. -Bartleby Hisamoto
quick audio picks: 12345
Italians Do It Better are killing it right now with the releases, and this one is no exception. "Beatbox" features 9 icy smooth disco-pop tracks from the power duo of Glass Candy (Johnny Jewel is on production duty lacing the retro-future synth...
expand review driven beats up proper while Ida No serves up the sexy smooth vox like no other). If you liked their stuff on "After Dark" or picked up the Miss Broadway 12" you pretty much need to get this one too. Checkout their fantastic cover of the Kraftwerk classic "Computer Love(1), sweet and funky soul on "Rolling Down Hills(2)," modern italo action on "Digital Versicolor(3)," and the future-pop gems "Etheric Device(4)" and "Beatific(5)." Excellente! Recommended for sure. -snackmaster
Uh-oh! It's the mixmaster and the beatmaster. There's really no need to convince you that this is worth every dime. Just look at the title. J-Rocc and J.Dilla is probably the dopest hip hop team-up you could ask for. Fluid, tasteful blends...
expand review and mixes from LA's primo DJ of some of Dilla's choicest cuts. I love how it's not really about J-Rocc, but about putting Dilla's life's work into a clear framework. It starts from instrumentals to production, then tracks known and unknown. A couple times during the mix, I'd ask myself, "Damn! He produced that track too?" This is definitely a must-have for the fans at any level. Recommended. -C'mish
Part two of Peanut Butter Wolf's all-45 hip-hop mix. This volume is mixed by J-Rocc, so expect a lot of inhuman DJ energy and skill. Do I really need to sell this? Recommended. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 123
45:33 was originally commissioned by Nike for iTunes as a "work out" mix, but this shit is so good that the DFA decided to put it out on CD and LP. The "mix" isn't a mix in the traditional DJ sense of...
expand review the word, but rather an epic disco-movement played live by James Murphy and Co. It starts off with a lonely synth line that slowly builds in tempo then eventually grows into a full on groover that erupts into various rhythms and styles eventually climaxing, then breaking down into an ambient drone. You'll recognize some tunes of the Sound Of Silver album for sure (like "Someone Great" and others) but the way it is all presented is fresh and unique. You should see the list of instruments that James Murphy plays on this thing too - everything from vintage drums, guitar, all kinds of synths, vocoder and the glockenspiel. Very, very impressive. The CD version also includes 3 unmixed bonus tracks - "Freak Out/Starry Eyes(1)," "North American Scum - Onanistic Dub(2)," and Hippie Priest Bum-Out(3)" all of which are exclusive to this release. Recommended. -snackmaster
Madlib returns to grey areas with two more simultaneous releases in his Mind Fusion series. Much like its surrealist covers, the series is hard to define: not really a mix and not really a compilation. It's an impromptu Madlib stew, put together...
expand review with heaps of randomness and mysterious herbs. The series skips volume three and heads directly to this volume four. The theme here is hip-hop and features indy hip-hop, remixes, freestyles, a sizeable Nas vs. Jay-Z section using Madlib beats, and tracks from Lib's own Crate Diggas Palace archives. Over one hour of music. -the mgmnt
Madlib returns to grey areas with two more simultaneous releases in his Mind Fusion series. Much like its surrealist covers, the series is hard to define: not really a mix and not really a compilation. It's a impromptu Madlib stew, put together...
expand review with heaps of randomness and mysterious herbs. The series skips volume 3, and heads into volume four and this volume five. The theme here is "Dirty Crates From Around The World" aka the fruits of Madlib's many tour travels. The second half of the CD consists of a 36 minute live set from LA's best kept secret, the Do-Over party. Over one hour of music. -the mgmnt
Part one of Peanut Butter Wolf's all-45 hip-hop mix. This volume is mixed up by the series' brain bug and features 54 minutes of old school classics and obscurities. Like all PB Wolf's mixes, it's mixed to precision with some nice doubles...
expand review (pretty impressive for 7" action). You'll be like "they made a 7" for that?" On a self-promotional note, check out the Lab 45 long case on the back cover, cool beans. Recommended. -the mgmnt
Queen Majesty is one of the staple reggae DJs in the NYC scene (she regularly spins at Deadly Dragon and Rub parties). This CD proudly boasts no mash-up or remixes, and features original reggae covers of songs everyone knows. Of course MJ...
expand review is heavily represented with Shinehead's cover of "Billie Jean," AJ Brown's "Human Nature," and Little Kirk's "Man In The Mirror," but that's just the surface. Check the covers of "Like A Prayer, Tenderoni, Head To Toe, My Prerogative, Fast Car, Faith, Back To Life, No Diggity" and many others. Super-entertainment, 24 tracks in all. Includes a Queen Majesty button. -the mgmnt
Sabo's mixes are like a sangria of slammin' feel good tracks. He seamlessly fuses together global, funk, latin, hip hop and reggae sounds into one solid movement. Perfect for when you're feeling on top of the world. Just listening to the...
expand review first half and I'm already thinking: vacation, sunshine and good times. All mixes and scratches are done by Sabo himself (didn't know he could cut!) and runs over an hour long. Expect remixes of The Specials and Marvin Gaye, tracks from Red Astaire, original tracks from Sabo & Zeb, J5, Oscar De Leon, Gerardo Frisina Remixes, blends by Bad Production, and a truckload of Latin funk tracks that will make Mami shake it. If you like this, check out volume one, his Sol Selectas releases, or his stuff off Wonderwheel. Keepin' it tasty. -C'mish
Sabo has a thing for ass. Preferably ass with even an octaroon count of latina in it. Who can blame him? This i-talian stallion is like an honorary member of the spanish speaking communities of the world, granted his ghetto pass through...
expand review legendary moments of solo lambada behind the tables. And damn the girl on this cover is ridiculous brasilian joy face rest my nose in your butt crack hot. The Solproof series is where Sabo gets to deposit all his after hours/ back to mine type tracks, giving us 25 of those mellow remixes, white labels, and overlooked feel gooders that he seems to specialize in. The mixing is flawless as usual, and it's recorded live with no edits. Includes tracks by / edits of artists like DJ DSL, Quantic, Marvin Gaye Snoop, Sade, Les Nubians, Afrodisiac Soundsystem, Urbs and Cutex, Gwen McRae, etc. -the mgmnt
Sabo is a funny guy. I love the way he flexes his wrist band collection on the cover (who else would do that?). Anyway, this is his new installment of his afro-latin-house mix. If labels like Africanism, Defected, Dubsided, and Wonderwheel catch...
expand review your ear, this is where to go. Sabo mixes impeccably through 16 dj favorites. Biting is encouraged with full tracklisting and label info. FULL REVIEW COMING SOON.
This is an adobo-rubbed mix of latin house from Mr Will Sabo. Although it was made a few months back (see the title), this really has no bearing on the track selection as Sabo goes for a full run of the choicest...
expand review tracks from the last few years. Quality latin house tunes aren't churned out at the rapid fire pace that the rest of the dance music world moves at, and he's got some of the most in-demand mixes here. These are tracks that continue to move floors and frustrate obsessed record buyers (many of the tunes are out of print and hard to find). Sabo's mixing and flow is impeccable as well, working the mix with peaks and troughs like he was commanding a full crowd- not something often seen on mix comps. Highlights include the lead track "Jaleo" by Austria's Truby Trio, The Rasmus Faber mix of current house superstar Junior Jack's "E Samba," the already timeless classic "Cada Vez" by Negrocan, and one of the hottest Latin fusion house tunes of the moment, RSL Players' "Wesley Music." Sabo also sneaks in the special boot mix of George Benson's "Give Me the Night" that has been his secret weapon as of late. Anyone who has experienced the magic of summer parties like Turntables on the Hudson can confirm the energy that this sound can bring, and Sabo has done a superb job capturing it here. -Nick Chacona
Revisiting some of the past greats from the Fabric Live catalogue, couldn't pass this one up. It's Spinbad in serious work mode circa 2004- that means all NY hip hop all the way (well just about, there's one Mystikal track on here...
expand review too), with plenty of his signature blends, doubles and scratching. The guy is a professional in every sense of the word, and while it woulda been cool if he revisited some of his 80s Mix, Spinbad could make an awesome mixtape out of First Family records. His selection is really on some "this is what I would play in a NY club for an hour" stuff- starts mid 90s a "Déjà Vu" blend, Blahzay Blahzay, Crooklyn Clan, ODB, then onto mid school classics (BDP, Special Ed, Black Sheep, Eric B & Rakim), then to the old school (Sugarhill, Flash, Run DMC) and finally finishing off with uptempo favorites "The Creator" & "Treat Em Right." Not too many risks being taken, but that's not what this is about: the payoff is in the details. And even though it's only been a couple years since this was made, it feels like a time capsule of the perfect NY hip hop set from many worlds ago, a time and aesthetic that's probably gone for good. -the mgmnt
Ayres, Cosmo and Eleven cooked up this likkle treat especially for their forthcoming Euro tour, and we got our hands on some advance copies at a low price. This is the core trio of the Rub doing what they do best: mixing...
expand review all sorts of party music without concern for boundaries and with concern for MAXIMUM FUNNAGE. In the first 15 minutes alone, they sprinkle you with some classic funk, 90s R&B and, say, Pitbull. They also roll with an extended Bay/hyphy section toward the middle, and I ain't mad at that right now – fresh and brand new shit from Too Short, E-40, Keak, the A'z, etc. Another testimonial to the power of the Rub and another volume in their ever-expanding discography. Go show 'em how Brooklyn does, boys! 70 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
DJ Ayres' Brooklyn-based Rub party has turned into one of the longest running and most successful nyc club nights, garnering best club night awards in the local press and featuring top guest djs. For this project, Ayres gathered remixes from the Rub's...
expand review resident DJs and some of those guests, giving you access to their "secret weapon" sure shot club blends (previously personal CDRs). Key contributions come from Mark Ronson, Diplo, Ayres himself, Cosmo Baker, Eleven, Zeph, DJ Crooked, and others. There's an excellent variation of material with "weird" mixes like Breeders vs. Rah Digga(1), Outkast vs. Franz Ferdinand(2), and "Got It Twisted" vs Ghostbusters(3) to nyc-style straight hip-hop blends like "Stunt 101" over Wu-Tang beats(4), "Bonnie & Clyde 03" vs. Arrested Development(5), and "Oh Sheila" vs the Coolie Dance(6). The 20 tracks plus are mixed by DJ Ayres, and ends up sounding a lot like the tronix kids (in a good way). In addition, each remix is tracked to appear in its entirety for all you CD DJs who actually want to use this for your gigs. -the mgmnt
indepth
