Winner's Announcement - Turntable Lab Remix Contest presented by Legitmix

This entry immediately got parked in the heads of all the people at the office. If it were on white label, we probably could move 100s of copies. Furthermore, we chose to give this the Grand Puba Award because it's a conceptual rework that kept the essence of Tribes' "Jazz" while presenting it in a new musical frame. The spacey repetition reminds us of Detroit (Chef is actually from Belgium), and those floating horns seal the victory. Congrats, Chef.

"Once Again" was by far the most remixed Tribe song in our contest. Nick Wisdom's version stood out in Manute Bolish levels. He grabbed the perfect vocal snippet from the original... and those mini-chops are the cherry. Top notch drums, swirly atmosphere... this is too sexy.

We were considering this for the Grand Puba award... I like how Years took a well-worn sample and made it fresh again. Even the too familiar drum roll sounds new in this context. Years was able to change the energy level of the sample, taking the raucous feel of the original and making it gel with the chillwavish vibes. Lastly, this showed the most movement... a real sense of traveling through a space of time.

“Hip-hop with a funky Latin feel to it” (no BBD) is how DJ ODC describes his remix of Eric B. & Rakim’s golden era classic “I Know You Got Soul.” ODC’s mix suffers no stylistic OCD, eschewing mega-mix style switch ups for a festive Cuban jazz main groove based largely on a couple of well-chosen Armando Peraza samples (mm… that flute loop). Lay in some “Funky Drummer,” “Impeach the President,” and Incredible Bongo Band (i.e. the ultimate-est of Ultimate Breaks & Beats) and it all works together pretty seamlessly – a bubbling, percussive bedrock over which Ra’s endlessly quoted declaration of self-identity and soul purpose floats comfortably. Imagine Power Play Studios touched down in Havana you get the picture. To paraphrase the Mic God himself, a beat like this might tempt you. We’ll go so far as to say it will. -Chairman Mao / Ego Trip

Cousin Cole got all JB nerdus on his rework of "There Was A Time" and surgically spliced three different versions (James Brown, the Famous Flames, Dee Felice Trio) into this seamless, DJ-friendly steamroller (seriously, just waiting for Chubb Rock to jump out in an wooly mammoth costume spittin fire). It's so seamless that 99.9% of the world could care less what's going on... BUT WE DO... 

Drumloop808's remix sounds like he hand spun a cocoon of static, chords, and crusty drums, and enveloped Eric B, dookie chain et all. That would be a cool Vimeo. Crossing classic hip-hop and electronica can be treacherous, but Drumloop808 Nautica-navigated it. He made soup.

So cool that nyc staple DJ Smash entered the contest (I used to buy his records on New Breed at 8 Ball Records). "Hot Pants" has always been a JB song that needed some DJ supplements, especially in the thump department. Smash expertly adds the boom-clap taking this beloved setup track into primetime territory. Download now.

Honestly, I glossed over this entry a couple times before I really got into it. Clicking around the track doesn't give this any justice. I love the meaty chops and how OMGOMGOMG manipulates the listener with multiple switches and 808 build-ups. By the time the second horn section pops you'll have the korean refrigerator stankface... mmm.

B-side hip-hop died about 5000 12"s ago. However, if I heard Dtrenz's version (complete with his late 90s indy hip-hop producer style name) on the b-side of the "Once Again" 12 inch, I probably wouldn't have flinched. Dtrenz embeds the vocals deep into that bubbly beat, and the effect on the chorus really gives it that professional's touch. 

There were several megamix entries, but OpenOptic gets the win for the scope (over 30 samples including every song on the contest list) and the smooth execution. Clocking in at just 5 minutes, the mix doesn't sound smushed, cluttered or forced. Check the lucid layering and excellent transitions. Done work.

Jersey-based producer Ezrakh flips Officer Ricky's summer heater, "Diced Pineapples," into a straight up hip-house banger. Producer Cardiak's original beat is a bit too smoothed-out for the club but Ezrakh's "Ol' Head" version takes the energy way up without coming across as another predictable "hip-hop-meets-fist-pump" remix. There's even a nice bridge in the middle and some uniquely sequenced Drake, Wale and Ross vocal samples throughout the track. Don't worry, the signature "Maybach Music" broad sample is there too. All in all, a top notch remix...big up Ezrakh! -Neil Nice / Legitmix.com

Snack said it best when he said this is like a mpc-produced beats 7" we would have carried several years ago. Yeah, it's simple, but sometimes you only need to mix a couple ingredients to make something delicious (like pork butt). Love the hard clack of the Funky Drummer snare, the spattering of vocal samples, that chord shift, and the overall simplicity. Yeah y'all.

Not everything needs to be serious.., Of all these tracks, this would easily do the best in a drunken college / post-college bar. There's an artform to this kind of alcohol-influenced song selection and this hits all the marks. Tang will love it, Doods can get down with it, and the DJ can maintain some cred in their little cramped box. Hell, the bouncers will probably even like it, bro-style.

The Version Suicides delivered a Falcao-ish clinical finish for his complete overhaul of "I Know You Got Soul." The key musical elements are attached to specific vocal events, a sign of the true studio assassin. Picturing butter-soft leathers, 70s detective flicks, and big areola.

Well executed, understated dub piece from DJ Professor K. We were trying to figure out the Tribe connection... it only becomes apparent when K lays down some "Jazz"-inspired melodica (which he plays himself) toward the end of the track. Continuing on the visual translation theme, I'm picturing tapestry-strewn, smokey dorm rooms and dudes that get no tang. 

The oversized chops.... the kit drums... I could just picture myself putting on one of those grey-sleeved Rocafella DJ 12"s and hearing this on the b-side. All you need is some Beanie or Freeway plus a Roc benchwarmer... Mwwah.