Category: Music

[New ATL Hip-Hop / Rap:] Rich Homie Quan – Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh) // [Jersey Southern Rap:] Fetty Wap – Trap Queen (Remix feat. Azealia Banks, Gucci Mane & Quavo of the MIGOS)


Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh) – Rich Homie Quan

Our first feature is the music video for Atlanta-based Rapper, Rich Homie Quan’s “Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh)“, a popular rap track with a simplistic, keyboard/GameBoy sounding electric rhythm chord that repeats throughout the beat. Quan’s “ooh, ooh, ooh” he sings during the song is characteristic of Southern Hip-Hop in being catchy and authentic, and not necessarily having to be related to trapping or other illegal activities, it’s simply there for fun. Rich Homie Quan has been blowing up on the scene lately since I first heard of him through music promoter and manager of Sy Ari Da Kid and K. Camp, a fellow GSU grad, Diana Schweinbeck. She owns her own record label and promoting firm and hosts hip-hop industry mixer events at the Sledge Lounge off Buford Highway in Doraville. I attended one of the mixers when I was first starting out DJing and doing music journalism (see: article where I covered a night she hosted of indie ATL rappers; pics) NEXT UP! (BELOW!! Trap Queen Remix!!!)

Trap Queen (Remix feat. Azealia Banks, Gucci Mane & Quavo of the MIGOS)

Let me ask you something, in the past month or two can you count the number of times you have heard “HEY WASSUP HELLO?!?!” (skip paragraph to bottom for feature/to skip opinion), yeah I can’t either, regardless it’s not necessarily a bad thing, though this song is everywhere and is drilled into my and many others’ heads (a la Little Einstein’s Remix, Nasty “Freestyle”) I believe our society is getting used to a song being the hot shit and being played nonstop for a month or so, maybe that’s how it’s always been, maybe that’s how it’ll always be, who knows amirite?

Trap Queen’s remix featuring the saucy, eclectic female rapper Azalea Banks, known for rapping over a variety of styles of music, particularly electronic and dance music, as well as rap. ATL’s own Gucci Mane & Quavo of the MIGOS join Banks in a smash remix of Fetty Wap’s hit song. (more Azealia & remixes below, check it!)

Singing the “hey, wassup hello” line Banks delivers from the get-go. Gucci’s verse is not bad either and Quavo’s is also on point.

212 (feat. Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks (Music Video)

212 (Futurist Remix featuring Lazy Jay)

212 (Tommie Sunshine Remix featuring Lazy Jay)

[Notable lyrics from Banks]

What you gon’ do when I appear?!
Wh-wh-when I premiere…
Bitch, the end of your lives’are there!
The shit been mine, mine!

Hey! I can be the answer
I’m ready to dance when the vamp up
And when I hit that dip, get your camera
You could see I been that bitch since the Pamper

Quavo, as well as all the members of the MIGOS, were recently arrested after a concert at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia when they were found in possession of several different drugs and firearms. They were recently featured in YouTube’s 2015 Music Awards for their single “One Time“.

Azealia Banks, another favorite songstress of mine, has several DJ-friendly cuts influenced by electronic dance music. Take Tommie Sunshine’s remix of her banger “212“ (also remixed by trap DJ, DJ Sliink as well as producer D-Bass).

[EDM Origins: Techno Music] Ellen Gee – Movin’ On (Extended Moon Mix) // [Dance/EDM:] Neon Trees – Lessons In Love (feat. Kaskade) & TCS Vs. Level 42 – Lessons In Love (1985 Re-make SideChain Remix)


[Eurodance / Techno:] Movin’ On (Extended Moon Mix) – Ellen Gee

Once again letting my nerd/gamer geek flag fly, in today’s origins post I will be highlighting “techno” music. The first track I’m highlighting, is Ellen Gee’s “Movin’ On (Extended Moon Mix)“, best known for its inclusion in the Japanese music-and-rhythm dancing simulation game, Dance Dance Revolution 5th Mix. This somewhat rare song, was featured on only one version of the game and for a LONG time was only available in its 1:30s length form (all DDR songs are cut from their full version to make them more playable and less exhausting). DDR sampled MOST of its licensed music through a Japanese DJ/mix series called Dancemania that was hosted by Toshiba-EMI, along with a lot of original productions from Konami (the publisher) itself. Some of these original productions actually made the video game singers into real stars/artists (ex: Naoki, beForU, dj TAKA, Paula Terry, Riyu Kosaka, Aaron G., Des-Row, DJ TaQ and more…) For more info about DDR, see below:

[Dance / Electronic:] Neon Trees – Lessons in Love (Kaskade Remix)

Next up, we have two songs of the same name, but both good in their own right. Neon Trees “Lessons in Love (Kaskade Remix)” remixed by the legendary, on-of-a-kind, kaskade, featured on his EP Fire & Ice. The song is a great combination of electronic sounds and alternative rock feel.

Our second “Lessons in Love” comes from TCS vs. Level 42 with their re-make of the 1985 classic rock song of the same name, remixed by EDM artist/producer, SideChain. Check it out above!

About Dance Dance Revolution:
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) was a revolutionary arcade game, that later expanded into the console market (on Playstation 1 and 2, but subsequently almost every system of its time), where players would step on a dance mat (or metal dance pad at the arcade) with arrows on the ground. As the music plays (much of it was Japanese pop, eurobeat, techno, dance music, but DDR was known for having a little of everything), arrows rise on the screen and once they reach the top, the player must step on them. The game became wildly popular in Japan after its initial release in 1998, eventually made its way overseas and had quite a cult following in America as arcades imported Japanese arcade cabinets and people around the country met up specifically for “DDR seshs” and even tournaments arose, with prizes in the $1,000s or more for those competing in national and international tourneys.

[Throwbacks] [Intelligent/Meaningful Hip-Hop] Kanye West – Eyez Closed (feat. Snoop Dogg & John Legend) & Jaylib – Survival Test (J Dilla) // [Reggae / Punk / Summer:] Slightly Stoopid – The Fruits [Legalize Them]


Hey there cool kids, I’ve got some new throwbacks for ya today. First off we start in the genre of “real” meaningful hip-hop as I like to call it. You could say it’s as opposed to, whatever you think it is, everyone’s “definitions” of real hip-hop is different, regardless this soulful, never-realeased rare track from Kanye West featuring Snoop Dogg & John Legend is a perfect song to bring back for Summer2k15. With production from Kanye himself, the beat, melody and sample in the chorus are make an irresistibly groove-inducing song.

Next, though still dance-able, but much more conscious: this song could be seen as for dancers like b-boys, as a head-banger for the whip that increases your hardness as you vibe at the light and people think you’re a badass, or even just one you sit there not-moving still, taking in the rawness and lyrical prowess of Jaylib, the combination of underground hip-hop group Madlib and deceased, super-producer, J Dilla.

A tribal-sounding horn, hard beats and kicks accompanied by booming bass and a flute-like arpeggio make this a perfect listen (or beat to freestyle over, see the instrumental).

Finally to wrap up our series of summer-suitable throwbacks we have the absolutely chill, “Hey man, just be easy” relaxation inducing single “The Fruits” from Californian psychedelic rock / reggae band Slightly Stoopid. “The Fruits” is a great listen with its calming sounds that remind one of the ocean, the carefree rhythm and vocals the lead singer provides and its borderline no sensemaking, yet easily understandable lyrics emphasizing being free and happy in life. Check it out above!

[Throwback] [Anime / J-Pop Music:] LiSA – Crossing Field (Sword Art Online Season 1 Opening)


Sword Art Online is a highly-popular anime based on the concept of MMORPGs (Massive-Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) becoming virtual-reality games in the near future that mimic real, waking life. Many fans of the show laud the complex story elements, plot twists, and oh, the feels that are present throughout the first season (and arguably best) of the show. Elements of video gaming mixed with human emotions are rampant in a virtual world where dying or losing a battle means you also die in real life.

Japanese pop singer, LiSA lends her talents to the opening of the first season and in her song, iconic of the series “Crossing Field”. If you have not seen the show I highly recommend it for anyone who likes gaming or anime.

Future – “56 Nights” (VIDEO)


Future releases a music video for his song “56 Nights” from his mixtape of the same name.

[Progressive Club:] Eric Prydz – Generate // [Trap / Chill:] K. Camp – Lil’ Bit (no sleep Remix)


Pryda – Generate

Eric Prydz is a well known name in the EDM sphere, mainly for his house and trance music, much of it released under his pseudo-nym Pryda. Prydz is known for powerful deep-house tracks, featured all throughout the album Pryda, some of which I have featured in some of my sets. Check out the Ark remix of his song “Generate” above.

K. Camp – Lil’ Bit (no sleep Remix)

The next remix is a great chill/trap remix of Atlanta rapper K. Camp’s “Lil’ Bit.” EDM artist no sleep adds a very nice ambient, psychedelic vibe to the original rap track and makes it a much smoother ride without compromising its hardness. Check it out above.

[Future Pop / Dance:] SNBRN – Raindrops (feat. Kerli) [Prince Fox Remix] & Baby Bash “Suga Suga Remix” by Jerry Folk


Just in time for summer it’s a great remix of SNBRN‘s “Raindrops” by EDM producer Prince Fox featuring EDM songstress and solo artist in her own right, Kerli. I first heard Kerli on some nice, but ultimately average sounding EDM tracks on Soundcloud (namely I believe, “The Lucky Ones,” a very pop-influenced tune which really reminds me of fellow Pop/EDM songstress Ennovi. Either way Kerli sounds great here and Prince Fox makes a smooth remix sure to be a summer favorite. Enjoy! Be sure to support your artists by liking, following, subscribing and buying their music! Below you’ll find some more new tunes from SNBRN and other EDM artists and DJs.

Next up is 2 remixes of one of my favorite 90s-early 00s tunes “Suga Suga” which many around my age and older will remember from the chorus “You got me lifted, shifted, higher than the ceiling / and ooh wee it’s the ultimate feeling / Got me lifted, feelin’ so gifted, Suga how you get so fly…?”

Below a great remix sleeper hit on Soundcloud of La Roux’s “Bulletproof”

Prince Fox Soundcloud

Kerli Soundcloud
SNBRN Soundcloud
Ennovi Soundcloud