Category: Throwback Jams

[Throwbacks] [Conscious, Underground Hip-Hop:] Charles Hamilton – Writing in the Sky // [Unsigned Hype] I-An-I – My Grind (feat. Willow Smith) & chad. (Purple Reign)


Throwback Post:

Charles Hamilton – Writing in the Sky [Soulful Sample]

Charles Hamilton’s timeless “Writing in the Sky” was a bonus track off of his early mixtape, The Pink Lavalamp. Sampling the timeless R&B/Soul hit by The Stylists “Betcha by Golly, Wow” the song is a very calming and inspiring anthem with Charles spilling his heart out over the track. The echoing soul-filled vocals in the background sample further contribute to the chill, spacey ambiance set by the song.

Hamilton has largely been quiet in terms of releases since his short run from around 2007 to 2010. He has recently begun to re-enter into the industry, however. Hamilton was featured on the soundtrack for the break-out music-industry drama and TV-show, Empire. He raps alongside songwriter group, The Invisible Men on “New York Raining”.

Charles Hamilton with The Invisible Men – New York Raining (feat. Rita Ora)


[Indie Underground Hip-Hop | Conscious Rap:]

I-An-I – My Grind (feat. Willow Smith)


I-An-I is a little known hip-hop group introduced to me by my brother, that released a stunningly “real hip-hop” mixtape titled, Free Love around 2010. Released through I-An-I’s music group Purple Reign, the EP is chock full of “real hip-hop” beats, smart, conscious lyrics and soulful samples.In the underground banger “My Grind” I-An-I samples Will Smith‘s daughter and pop music songstress, Willow Smith. With a very catchy hook and some quite emotional heartfelt lyrics, “My Grind” is not a song to be missed by rap enthusiasts.

“Free Love” is not Purple Reign’s only “fye” extended play, member of the group, chad. (born Chad Charles) released a similarly scorching hot, authentic underground rap album, Conquering Lions with some amazingly clever raps and one-of-a-kind beats you won’t hear anywhere else. Here are a few standout tracks from that mixtape, which can be found on DatPiff, Bandcamp and ReverbNation.

The Set:

Me, Myself & Hennessey (Tell Me – Smilez & Southstar Sample):

Int’l Fly Niggas (French Music Sample):

Curren$y & Alchemist – Smoke Break


[Real Hip–Hop] Throwback Article: Smoke Break – Curren$y & Alchemist from their highly lauded “Covert Coup” mixtape.

Some songs are just too good not to repost. The ones that come up on shuffle mode and just so happen to be exactly what you feel like hearing (crazy right, or is it?). Mine for the day was the ever-classic “Smoke Break” by semi-underground ex-Young Money front-runner Curren$y.

After a long day of sorting through new electronic, house and trap (street rap not the overdone EDM genre). Hearing this come on with Spitta’s ever masterful — bars on ‘one hunnit’ swag as usual, combined with the lazy, riding on Cloud 9 type beat with heavy instrumentation, laid down by none other than acclaimed Hip-hop producer Alchemist rounded out a good, long productive day.

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!

[Epic Ambient Trance] Vector Lovers – Neon Sky Rain // Some History: Waxing and waning on EDM Music


Neon Sky Rain – Vector Lovers

Welcome to another EDM Origins post, this time featuring “Neon Sky Rain” one of the standout tracks from independent artist Vector Lovers, an alias for British EDM producer, Martin Wheeler. The song incorporates a very spacey-vibe with futurstic, space-like synths and chords, reminiscent of distant solar systems. The track, released back in 2003, was so far ahead of its time, it isn’t even funny. EDM artists today could take a page from songs and artists like these, who clearly came from a background, foundation and genuine love for electronic music they create. Not like many of these “iMac DJs” or “DJs” who just learned what “Darude – Sandstorm”, or “specialize” in Trap or another fad genre. Continue reading “[Epic Ambient Trance] Vector Lovers – Neon Sky Rain // Some History: Waxing and waning on EDM Music”

[EDM Origins / Feature: MAJOR LAZER] Snoop Lion & Major Lazer – No Guns Allowed (ft. Cori B. & Drake) [Shelco Garcia, Teenwolf x Diplo RMX] // Video for Major Lazer’s “Lean On”


Today we’re featuring two great songs from the iconic EDM duo that is Major Lazer (currently Diplo and DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire). The first is a throwback remix of one of Lazer’s top sleeper hits, “No Guns Allowed” originally by Snoop Lion (Snoop Dogg). Featuring Snoop’s daughter Cori B. (Cori Broadus) and Drake, this remix turns the song into a dancefloor filler with a positive vibe and message with a feel of the islands and reggae music. Many have hailed the original song and it’s video as a positive message to youth and society on the harms and dangers of gunplay and firearm possession. Take a listen above and see what you think.

Next, Major Lazer‘s smash-hit single of the summer, Lean On gets a music video. Now while it is a rare find that a music video will come out and just BE EVERYTHING a fan, or the artist wanted to show/convey, the video for Lean On lands somewhere in-between “this is what I would’ve expected” and “okay, that’s cool”

Namely, I sort of expected an Indian/Desi/Bollywood/Slumdog Millionaire kind of tilt as the song undeniably has an Asian or “foreign” feel to it. Its depiction in the video comes across as both expected and unusual. This expectedness is simple, but apparent. When my mind is starting to meld into the video and take in the sights of Indian culture, I am quickly reminded I am watching an EDM music video each time I see MO singing or Diplo trying to dance. Don’t get me wrong they are both very talented but their presence in the video just feels a bit…out of place.

Nevertheless, I expected a bit more in the way of Indian dance routines, but I do like where they went with the video. You can tell everyone on the set had fun and that they probably had a chill time making it. Check it out above and let us know what you think!

[Throwbacks][Rap:] Riff Raff – Judo Chop (Freestyle) // [Ambient / Chill EDM:] Little Jinder – Keep On Dreamin’ – Mat the Alien Remix


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THXKXotpPgs

Got two throwbacks for you today. Our first comes from the wildly popular rapper, RiFF RaFF, the Diplo label mate who got his start on MTV’s “From G’s to Gents” thug-makeover TV reality show. RiFF RaFF has since been all over the music scene, especially as he has evolved in his sound. This single, “Judo Chop” is one of his more popular songs. If you haven’t heard it, check it out above.

Keep On Dreamin’ (Mat the Alien Remix) – Little Jinder

Keep on dreaming… (you gotta)
keep on dreaming…

Keep on dreaming… (you gotta)
keep on dreaming… (it could all fall apart)

Next up is a great remix from accomplished and established Swedish electronic-dance pop singer, Little Jinder. This special remix from Mat the Alien puts a whole new chill-ambient spin on the original song and has a much more vibe-able beat and bassline. Check it out and download it for free on Mat’s Soundcloud.

[Future Wave / Breakbeat:] Fatboy Slim – Mad Flava (Autograf Remix) // [EDM Origins: Progressive House / Trance] Avril Lavigne – Alice ( Michael Conway Remix)


Future Wave/Breakbeat: Mad Flava (Autograf Remix) – Fatboy Slim

EDM producer/group Autograf was lucky enough to be honored by being called upon by alternative rock/trip-hop group Fatboy Slim to remix their single “Mad Flava“. Putting an absolutely amazing future feel to the song, I almost didn’t know what to coin this genre of music. Maybe all these Future modifiers (in front of House, Trap, Dance, whatever) should just all be condensed into FUTURE. That begs the question, what will we call it when it is the future, say in 20 years?

Sillyness aside, Autograf has more than their fair share of stunning remixes. Be sure to check out their songs on their Soundcloud, where you can download them for free! Next up for our ORIGINS post (below) we highlight some Progressive House remixed by Michael Conway as well as a legendary trance track from Trance God DJ, Ferry Corsten, “Down on Love” from his monumental album L.E.F.

Autograf Soundcloud
Fatboy Slim Youtube

Progressive House: Alice (Michael Conway Remix) – Avril Lavigne
https://soundcloud.com/michaelconway/avril-lavigne-alice-michael-conway-remix

This is probably the second remix of Avril Lavigne song that I actually like, and this will take first for the best (in my opinion) as the general feel of this awesome, beat-building progressive house remix of “Alice” from EDM producer Michael Conway is much more widely applicable to any situation; compared to the eurobeat-ish, happy hardcore sound prominent in the Revo-luution remix and Nightcore’s take on that same remix (below):

Hello Kitty (Nightcore Revo-luution Remix) – Avril Lavigne

 

Trance: Down on Love – Ferry Corsten

Finally, last but no way in flaming hell, least. Is smash trance-track “Down on Love” from Dutch trance, EDM DJ and artist Ferry Corsten. Well known for working with and remixing tunes from the likes of DJ Tiesto, Above & Beyond and more Corsten has been a signature name on the scene since the early to mid-2000s (much like Kaskade, Benny Benassi and several other DJs who “came up” during this time period).

Released back in 2006, I was a high school junior when Corsten’s second studio album dropped. I copped it of course, during a time where the cashier at Best Buy looked at my funny, or as if I was crazy, this black teenager buying EPs from BT (Emotional Technology) or the even more rare, obscure and EDM foundation builder, Norweigan group, Röyksopp’s The Understanding. Below you’ll find two standout singles from BT and Röyksopp and two more deeper cuts.

Communicate – BT (also check out “The Great Escape“)

Learn to use your words so we can…
Communicate, communicate
communicate, communicate now…

What Else is There (Jacques Lu Cont Mix) – Röyksopp [2005]

It was me on that road,
but you couldn’t see me
too many lights out, nowhere near here,
I’ve got a golden ear,
I cut and I spear —
and what else is there?

Only This Moment (Original Mix) [MV] – Röyksopp [2005]

Only This Moment (Röyksopp’s Forsiktige Massaje Remix) [2006]

[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.