Category: Music

[Throwback REAL Hip-Hop:] Curren$y & Alchemist – Smoke Break // [Throwback REAL Hip-Hop:] The Roots – Criminal (feat. Saigon & Truck North)

Throwback REAL hip-hop tunes to keep ya head bobbin’. Don’t sleep!


Smoke Break – Curren$y & Alchemist

You can never go wrong with Curren$y, arguably one of the best indie/underground rappers out there. I was first introduced to the Hot $pitta, formally through Wiz Khalifa in their smash-hit, critically acclaimed mixtape How Fly. However I first heard of Curren$y in the mid 2000s when he rapped alongside Remy Ma and Young Money frontrunner Lil’ Wayne on the popular single, “Where Da Cash At.”

“Smoke Break” comes from another highly praised Curren$y mixtape, Covert Coup, which was produced by famed hip-hop producer The Alchemist.

Notable lyrics:
The style done got switched up
Cause the last one got bit up,
Yeah lil homie y’all can get down,
but I bet y’all can’t keep up!

Life Under the Scope – Curren$y

“Life Under the Scope” was also one of Curren$y’s early hit songs back when he was very much still Unsigned Hype. Many think Young Spitta has stayed true to his roots, while fellow rapper he came up with, Wiz Khalifa, has largely abandoned them (Blacc Hollywood does capture some of Wiz’s early spirit, but not enough). I, like many others, are still holding out for a How Fly 2.

Criminal – The Roots, Truck North & Saigon [REAL HIP-HOP]

Our next throwback is another real hip-hop jam, this one a collab between The Roots, Truck North & Saigon. “Criminal” has a very interesting beat, lyrics and feeling to it that makes me reminisce to the beginning of Fall or cold, wintry days.

Notable lyrics:
Monday, they predict the storm,
Tuesday, they predict the bang
Wednesday they cover the crash,
And I can see it’s all about cash

They got the nerve to hunt down my ass,
and treat me like a criminal…

[Trap/Funk/House] NGHTMRE & SLANDER – Gud Vibrations // [EPIC House/Ambient & Smooth Chill Trap] Faded [Remixes]


The very funk inspired “Gud Vibrations” is quite a nice blend of trap and house sounds coming from the collaborative mind of EDM producers, NGHTMRE & Slander.

Next we have two incredible remixes of EDM artist Zhu’s “Faded.” The first comes from the remarkably talented EDM producer Enda who certainly injects a heavenly atmospheric vibe into the original. The result is an instantly chilling, instantly soothing ambient track to chill and vibe out to.

Another rising name in the EDM scene, Lido, also remixed “Faded” with a much more trappy, but still chill feel. This comparably slower version fits more in lounge type scenarios then in a dancehall or club but is still very moving. Check out both remixes and more from their artists above in the links. I have also reviewed Enda’s “It’s Alright” which can be found here:

[Throwbacks:] [Industrial/Tech House] Two Fingers – Stripe Rhythm // [2 Electronic/Alt. Rock songs from:] Bloc Party – Compliments & Letter to My Son


Our first throwback comes to us from electronic producer, Two Fingers, with his bass thumping, head-bangingly good track “Stripe Rhythm.” Props go out to [adult swim] for playing this gem during their bumps.

Last, but certainly not least we have the alternative/electro band you can never go wrong with, Bloc Party. Their hauntingly good, rhythmic string of consciousness that is “Compliments” is worth taking note of. “Letter to My Son” is another epic Bloc Party cut, much more alternative rock in feel and sound. Don’t sleep on either!

[DJ Mix House/Hip-Hop] iLLUMiИUS – We Some April Fools [April ’15 EDM/House Continuous Mix]


http://soundcloud.com/theluminus/we-some-april-fools-april-2015-edmhouse-blend

My new mix, just in time for April Fool’s Day. Check it out, with tunes from Major Lazer, Diplo, Gwen Stefani, Destructo & Problem, Lil’ Jon, The Crookers, TJR and more…

It’s not perfect, but certainly one of the more well put-together, smoother mixes that I have recorded. The mix is a house blend with hip-hop influence. Tracklist coming soon. Enjoy!

[Club Banger/EDM:] TJR, Crookers, LMFAO, Kaos & Lil’ Jon – Ode to Oi (DJ Huydx Edit) // [Progressive House:] Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glyne – Rather Be (Ashley Wallbridge Remix)


http://soundcloud.com/djhuydx/tjr-crookers-lmfao-kaos-ode-to

DJ HuyDX brings us an incredible edit of the absolutely slammin’ track, “Ode to Oi” originally by TJR, remixed into an epic EDM anthem by The Crookers and made even more irresistible in this edit. The use of “air-horn,” Lil Jon’s sagely advice (If you ain’t gettin’ drunk, get the f**k out the club! If you ain’t come to party, get the f**k out the club!!) and the heavy bassline create a song that will be bound to get anyone moving, unless their dead. And even the dead would probably jam to this if you turnt this up loud enough…

Clean Bandit‘s smash-hit “Rather Be” has torn up charts in the US and worldwide. Jess Glyne’s soulful vocals soothe the soul and make you soar above the clouds as you listen to it — and that’s just the original!! Hailing from Stroke on Trent, UK, Great Britain’s own Ashley Wallbridge brings us an even more satisfying progressive, deep house remix of the track. Check out more from Wallbridge here and the original Rather Be below:

[Hip-Hop/House:] Nicki Minaj, Drake & Weezy – Truffle Butter (Crazibiza WMC15 Bootleg Edit) – // [Club House/Floor Filler:] Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On (feat. MØ) [Jacky Greco Remix]


Our first highlighted remix today is one of the better remixes of “Truffle Butter” I have heard that is definitely club ready. The additions to the already highly danceable, mixable original track will make this remix even more at home on dancefloors. Producer and remixer duo, Crazibiza, brings us this “bootleg edit” just in time for Spring. Check it out above!

Next up, a fantastic remix of Major Lazer (Diplo) & DJ Snake’s collaborative EDM/trappy single “Lean On.” From DJ and Producer Jacky Greco, this remix comes quick after the release of the original song. While this version doesn’t have quite the infectious melody as the original, it’s overall better for it; the original version reminds one too much of that one DJ Snake song that everyone and their momma knows, and is almost as tired of as “Fancy,” I don’t want to type it out, let’s just say the initials are T.D.F.W.

Check out the remix above and more from Major Lazer and DJ Snake.

[Dance / Trance:] Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don’t Look Down [YT Music Awards] & [Throwback Trance:] Armin Van Buuren feat. Ana Criado – Suddenly Summer (Norin & Rad Remix) [ASOT 556]


Featured in the Youtube Music Awards is dance track “Don’t Look Down” by EDM artist and DJ, Martin Garrix with vocals from R&B sensation Usher. The result is a quite uplifting dance track with an equally interesting, fun and silly music video embracing feeling the music and letting yourself go. Check it out above and more from the YTMAs in the aforementioned link above.

Our next throwback and trance tune is one of my favorites from Armin Van Buuren’s trance megamix series, A State of Trance, this track from its 556th edition is an absolutely stunning and excellent remix of “Suddenly Summer” by Armin Van Buuren featuring female vocalist, Ana Criado. The Norin & Rad Remix takes this trance tune to the top with a simply transfixing repeating synth melody that begins around the 4:30 mark. Take a moment to sit back, relax and let this song take you away…