TURNTABLE LAB

Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir
B-More Gutter, Vol.2 EP

Volume 2 of B-More Gutter Music from Aaron Lacrate and Debonaire Samir and Don Rimini. Before you start clicking around for tracks to slay your next hype show with, do yourself a favor and click on the Verb! freestyle(1). He's a Baltimore club rapper that rips the mic live for like 3 tracks in a row. I support the live element all the way and that shit was kinda incredible. Other than that, look out for the hot nu-rave Baltimore track by Don Rimini ft. Verb(2). It's straight nutso. Other highlights include, the "B-more Boppers(3)" track, sampling the doo wop vocals from "Blue Moon" and the Cameo "Word Up" B-more track "Sucka DJ's(4)." It takes the "Sucka DJ's" part and makes it into an insane dancefloor edit that's long overdue. Also includes some real Baltimore style street skits and coast to coast shout out tracks.
reviewed by C'mish

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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Bobmo
To The Bobmobile (Kazey & Bulldog Remix) 10"

Limited green vinyl 10" from Institubes featuring the standout track from Bobmo's debut EP, the quasi-Bmore stylings of "To The Bobmobile(1)." The real gold is on the B-side (actually, the "K" side) which has an exclusive remix from Kazey & Bulldog(2), who bring the track into REAL Bmore club territory (or as real as a club track from France can get) with some Samir-style horns. Great pic sleeve, too - take a minute and decode. Plays at 45.
reviewed by Larri Byrd

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / ed banger + institubes + related / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass / new electro / electro rock / rave

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Cousin Cole & Pocketknife
Tougher Than Featherz EP

club friendly remixes

Flagrant Fowl's first record of remixes was majorly slept-on. Here's another chance to get in early with some seriously hyped tracks that have been blasting off the decks of The Rub, Scottie B, Them Jeans, and others. There's so much madness, it's hard to pick where to start. I'll start with the R.Kelly "Ignition" section. First up, Pocketknife blends(1) the original "Ignition" over "Wild Thing" beats; this is a staple material for the clubs. Next, Cousin Cole comes in with a B-More remix(2) of the "Ignition" remix, aka one of the greatest modern rnb songs ever. In a delicious twist of genres, Cousin Cole edits(3) up the Jesus And Mary Chain classic "Just Like Honey," which gained a second life through the Lost In Translation OST. Pocketknife flips Suicide's "Ghost Riders(4)," which was also sampled recently by MIA for her single "Born Free." The "Black Betty" B-More remix(5), by Cole, is probably the most hyped track on here, as it's been getting tons of advance play. Lastly, check the "My Love" B-More edit(6), that puts a tongue-in-cheek spin on the fervor that resulted from the initial radio leak of that song. 7 tracks in all, recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
downtempo + electronic - recommended / baltimore - vinyl / downtempo + electronic - vinyl / downtempo + electronic - all / and more

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DJ Technics
Baltimore Club Classics, Vol.4 EP

includes cult classics Girlfriend and Pillow Talk

No joke, this has my two favorite bmore tracks of all time. I remember the first time I heard "Girlfriend(1)." I had picked up a batch of deadstock bmore records and after listening to about 10 mediocre records (there's a bunch of em out there), this one came on and blew my mind... We probably got 20 copies and 10 went to the people in the office, eventually making it onto the Second Cousins mix. "Pillow Talk(2)" is rumbling "Girlfriend" in my head right now for the number one spot. Sylvia might get the edge cause here vocals were born to be spread out over Technics' drums. If that wasn't enough, check out "Let The Music Rock(3)" a bmore version of Stardust's "Music Sounds Better With You." 6 tracks in all. Duh, mega-recommended!
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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Dukeyman
Baltimore Club Classics, Vol.1 EP

bmore vers of Rock With You, Fiesta + more

Round 1 in this new Crosstalk-curated series of Baltimore Club Classics 12"s; we're told to expect as many as 10 more volumes in 2008, so keep those eyes peeled. What better way to set the series off than with six essential cuts from da Dukeyman himself?? The overwhelming office favorite thus far has been the "Hoody Hood Rat(1)" joint, tucked away on the B-side and sampling stand-up comedian Shawty (who you might remember from the "Never Scared" and "Get Low" videos). Of course you can never go wrong with Bmore MJ - cue the "Rock With You"-chopping "Dew Dew Rock(2)" - and the same goes for R.Kells, who gets remixed along with Jay-Z on "Fiesta(3)." Also features "The Show(4)" (Inspector Gadget!), "Git Da Hand Clap(5)" with Lil Mama, and "Roof About To Blow(6)." True classics right here, not some chit thrown together with Ableton ten minutes before a gig! If you spin club tracks, this is highly recommended, damn near essential.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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Dukeyman
Baltimore Club Classics, Vol.2 EP

includes bmore classic Shorty You Phat

More classic club cuts from the vault of Da Dukeyman! This time around we get three vocal tracks featuring the inimitable Theo, including the essential "Shorty You Fat(1)," the brand name-dropping "Alcoholic Chick(2)," and oldies-sampling "Lollipop(3)." The B-side is all Dukeyman as he drops his spot-on Run DMC remix "King of Rock(4)," the organ-trilling "Rockwilder(5)" and "Doggystyle(6)," which has nothing to do with Snoop but instead features some real raw female vocals. We've already heard volumes 3 and 4 in this series and you're gonna want to collect 'em all, so buy now or cry later. Recommended.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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Fully Fitted
Re-Edits (XXXchange, Pase Rock, Amanda Blank) EP

remixes by the Fully Fitted crew

Led by Spank Rock producer XXXchange and featuring the talents of Amanda Blank, Pase Rock (Five Deez), !!!'s Tyler Pope, and Sylvia of Kudu, the Fully Fitted crew has been steady infiltrating clubs this year, and the takeover can only get stronger with this, their official debut release on Money Studies. Leading off with an intro from French rap clown prince The Genevan Heathen, the EP hits the ground running with a remix of DJ Class' blazing, "Rump Shaker" horn-sampling "Roll It(1)" with Pase on vocals (instrumental also included). XXXchange's dirty south / French electro hybrid "100 Million(2)" is sure to blow some heads; ditto for his rework of house favorite "He Not In(3)," which features insane original synth work and even some dancehall flavoring. And that's just the A-side! Every wondered how Paul Simon would fare in a grimy Bmore club? Chipset & Devlin give you the answer on the much anticipated "50 Ways(4)," which has literally been years in the making and now features a verse from fellow Spank Rock associate Ms. Blank. (Got the instrumental for that one, too.) The terrifying trio of XXX, Devlin & Darko round things out with the extra hype party break "New Day(5)," and "Shake It(6)," which transforms DJ Blaqstarr's "Shake It To The Ground" into a Rong-style slow burner. Pic sleeve designed by PH. Definitely recommended.
reviewed by el generico

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / new electro + electro rock + rave / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass / new electro / electro rock / rave

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Jaimie Fanatic
Whats Happening To Ya (Say Wut Remix) 12"

What you know about Jaimie Fanatic? The Dutch house bad boy is the latest addition to the Mad Decent fam, and though this is his debut release on the label, he is by no means a newbie to the game (just check his discogs entry). Take a listen to the hybrid dance styles of "What's Happening(1)" and it's obvious dude has had plenty of experience rocking the massive crowds. A killer combination of house, electro, fidget, and even some bmore elements make this one huge with the likes of Diplo, Switch, Laidback Luke and Armand Van Helden. Speaking of bmore though, Unruly representer Say Wut turns in a hard hitting bmore remix(1) of the track that's sure to tear the roof off. Also check "Someone To Count On(2)," which takes up the entire b-side on the more minimal vocal house tip. Recommended.

reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / new electro + electro rock + rave / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass / new electro / electro rock / rave

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M.I.A.
Paper Planes Remixes (DFA, Diplo, Scottie B) 12"

This one gets the... hooooly chit! Look at that tracklist - it's like they custom built this 12" for the Lab. I'm gonna go out on a (short) limb and say this is the best M.I.A. single to date. In addition to the already banging original version(1), we get Blaqstarr's remix(2) with Rye Rye, Diplo's remix(3) with Bun B and Rich Boy, Scottie B.'s ultra weird Bmore club styles(4) and the DFA(5) getting down like usual. Even Adrock from Beastie Boys(6) couldn't help but get in on it with a reggae-tinged mix of his own. There's a mix here for everyone (8 in total!) so drop it at your next gig and *boom boom boom boom* take the money. Also includes instrumental and acapella. Recommended.
reviewed by Larri Byrd

file under:
downtempo + electronic - recommended / baltimore - vinyl / downtempo + electronic - vinyl / dubstep + grime - vinyl / and more

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Rod Lee
Money Lotion, Vol.6 EP

Money Studies was recently granted access to the vault of a true Baltimore club king, and we emerged with our pockets crammed full of enough hand-picked gems to form the sixth installment in the Money Lotion series. Rod Lee needs absolutely no intro to fans of the mid-Atlantic sound, but even the most diehard of Orioles will be seeing most of these tracks on wax for the first time. "Kim's Theme(1)" is about as quintessential Lee as they come without having the man's own voice over the top. Rod chops up Lil Kim's famous "hot damn ho, here we go again" from the "Quiet Storm" remix with sinister piano and stuttering bass riding underneath. This track has been out of print for years and we're pleased to give it its very first reissue. "Family(2)" is another classic, a party favorite with cheese to spare as Rod puts the Bmore boots to Sister Sledge's party anthem. Rounding out the A-side's big trifecta is "Mamma Say(3)," Mr. Lee's MJ-sampling track that's been a club staple for years. New track "Put Your Hands Up(4)" sets off the B-side with with drum programming and triggered shouting vocals, followed by the classic instrumental "Sonic Drop(5)" where the man gets into some Bambaataa business. Rod closes things out with a band, curiously repping both "Cotton Eyed Joe" and all corners of the continental US on the brand new track "Where You Come From(6)."
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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Tittsworth & Ayres
T&A Breaks LP

Whoa. Ayres told me that he and Tittsworth were working on a Bmore battle record with locked grooves like two years ago, but it was getting to the point where I thought the idea had been tossed out. But here it is on A-Trak's Ammo Records imprint, with a spiffy full-color sleeve by Espo, no less! Oh yeah, and it's really, really good. You could probably do a full Bmore set just rocking doubles of this record. Each side has a section of locked grooves (all at 133 BPM), followed by some longer beats, effects and acapella scraps (60 useful tools in all). Gotta love the nice, crisp, clear acapellas they got here for Bmore classics like "Percolator," "Watch Out For The Big Girl," etc. If you spin Baltimore club and you don't cop this record, I got just three words for you – YOU BIG DUMMY!
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / break + scratch + loop / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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V/A
Baltimore Club Classics, Vol.5 EP

rare bmore tracks

Volume 5 of the stellar BCC series spotlights original voiced Bmore tracks. Highlights include: "EA EA(1)" and "Eastside / Westside(2)" by Frank Ski & Kenny B, "Go Down Baby(3)" by Dukeyman & Diamond K, and "Dance Like A Freak(4)" by Diamond K and Technics.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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V/A
The Brick Bandits (DJ Sega, Tameil, Rob3) EP

baltimore club via philly

Longtime Holler associate Dirty South Joe's Ol' Head Records co-presents this loaded EP with Diplo's Mad Decent label as Jersey's Brick Bandits unleash six extra-strength no-frills Baltimore club tracks. A-side features DJ Sega's "Colours(1)" with the robot voice repeating "I love the different colours, all the different colours...," plus DJ B-Stee's straightforward club rework of Daft Punk's "Robot Rock(2)" and Tim Dolla's "Number Advisory(3)," a party break with hype vocals just counting it off ("one! two! three! four! one! two! three! four!"). Flip it for DJ Tameil's "Shotgun Buck(4)" (shotgun blasts and Nintendo sounds!), DJ Rob3's wailing "The Chase(5)," layered with police sirens and 90s house key stabs, and Mike V's mellow "Feelings(6)." Easy call here. Recommended.
reviewed by Van Hammersly

file under:
baltimore - vinyl / bmore/dubstep/baile/bass

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Win Win
RELEASERPM (XXXChange, Chris Devlin, Ghostdad) 12"

experimental dance-rock

"Releaserpm(1)" is the first single from WIN WIN, a new supergroup consisting of XXXchange, Devlin, and Ghostdad. Featuring Liz Bougatsos, the song is distinguished by the delicate and captivating balance that exists between the beat - which is driven by forward-thinking programming (steel drums!!!) and rhythmic synths - and the Gang Gang Dance member's distinctive vocals. It is ethereal, energetic, and futuristic, with Nadastrom delivering a sick Moombahton remix(2) that milks the highlights of the original further in a more percussive, bass-heavy manner. Also included in the release is "City Mouse/Shadow(3)," a heavily filtered electro jam with lots of rock influence. Can't wait for the full-length from these guys, recommended.

Album Teaser:

reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
rock + new wave + 80/90s / new rock / baltimore - vinyl / dubstep + grime - vinyl / and more

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