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.
California based electronic producer KickRaux and El Paso-native hip-hop/trap producer Riot Tenand Jack Bassreleased a massive trap remix of Jumpin’ Like Jordan several months back. If you haven’t heard it be sure to check it out. This remix adds several layers of bass, trappiness and an even nastier twerk-inducing 4×4 rhythm than the original song, sure to tear up clubs and festivals, alike. The artists offer the song as a free download on Soundcloud.
Riot Ten also has a sick remix of O.G. Maco’s smash-hit “U Guessed It” and is one of the best remixes I have heard of the song. You can also download it for free on his Soundcloud.
Wiz Khalifa dropped a new rap song, “The Play” today. Produced by Harry Fraud, this is (according to Hot New Hip Hop) the second song where Wiz has sampled an indie-pop/rock song (though the sample artist is really more alternative rock/electronic) Bat for Lashes “Moon and Moon”. Wiz has released 3 songs in the past 3-4 weeks on Youtube, one a freestyle over Marvin Gaye “Good For Us” and the other, a new single, “No Permission” as Wiz continues to dominate music charts this month. Below is also a notable remix of Bat for Lashes “Daniel” the artist Wiz samples for his latest track.
No Permission (Music Video)
Daniel (Abstrakt Audio Remix) – Bat for Lashes
In other news, Atlanta rapper, ice-cream man and king of “Burr!” himself, Gucci Mane will be releasing an album produced by EDM giant, and everyone’s favorite krunk white-boi, Diplo. On Twitter, Diplo mentioned that although the album was originally billed as (and promoted by Gucci) as an EDM album, it no longer will be. It will have influences from electronic but should be something completely unique and different, Diplo says. Diplo and Mr. Guwop himself expect to have the album released this year.
Notable Guwop: Constantly (feat. Chief Keef) – Gucci Mane
Notable Diplo: Revolution (feat. Faustix & Imanos and Kai)
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, FerryCorsten,“Down on Love” from his monumental album L.E.F.
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]
[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 Dancemaniathat 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.
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”
Check out ARULE’s amazing remix of Sevyn Streeter’s “Don’t Kill the Fun” featuring Chris Brown. Combining elements of trap, future house and dance music this remix is club and dance ready and one of the more expertly polished remixes of Streeter’s single. You can download it for free on the Soundcloud page.
Second, we have Young Thug’s “Flava” featuring fellow rappers Rich Homie Quan & Birdman off the Rich Gang: The Tour Part I EP. This track has just the right amount of hip-hop sound combined with a pinch of futuristic, chilled-out spacey sounds alongside a smooth echoing piano chord. Check out the Official video above.
LUMiNOUS Musings 