Ok so we all now know Africa Hitech, did you know he worked with Trim? I didn’t..
You might already have heard Stereotype on the Trim free release mixtape that came out in between Monkey Features 1 and Monkey Features 2 (which also had the freestyle where Jendor rips the banging Balistiq ‘Insecure’ beat to shreds – posted below on the Balistiq post)
First, here is Kiss My Arse, it’s the better of the two I think
And here is Stereotype. Fun beat, fun flow, fun bars – no compromise.
After Africa Hitech’s 93 Million Miles album release in May, Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek are back with yesterday’s release of Out In The Streets (VIP) 12″. The record features 2 brand new tracks and a special ‘VIP’ mix of Out In The Streets – with a strong Jungle beat and incredible vocals from the original, this is already one of the best tunes I’ve heard all year. Check the sampler below.
Back in August, whilst gearing up to his Planet Mu label compilation entitled Bangs & Works Vol.1 Mike Paradinas shared his take on the origins of Footwurk/Footwork and Juke. Whilst showcasing some snippets and teasers of the scenes best he also featured a couple of the tracks secured for Planet Mu. These clearly whet the appetites of many. Since then there has been a definite upspring in the mentions, conversations and touch points featuring Juke and Footwork.
Although many will tell you it’s been on their radar for a couple of years (or more) it’s only in the last few months that it has consistently crept into a plethora of infulential DJ’s mixes and set-lists. Just today, FACT dropped their one hundred and ninety-ninth mix by none other than Mosca. His mix goes straight in hard with DJ Roc ‘Let’s get it started’ on a Juke, into Jungle, jump up vibe. In a rather similar fashion Mark Pritchard, in his Africa Hitech guise, did a little something similar on Wednesday night at Deviation when he used a coupe of Juke bangers as his stepping stone into a sweet old school Jungle selection which went down a treat. Unfortunately not all crowds are as open-minded as the Deviation regulars. This is something our very own J Money found out first hand on Halloween Friday. It sounds like the punters may have been genuinely scared by the intensity of the Footwork vibes. Oh well, maybe next year By then we’ll probably have seen someone like Wiley riding the Juke to widespread acclaim, winning over initial doubters. Although I couldn’t make it in person I also hear that Mr Paradinas did a special guest set at CDR in October alongside Mark Pritchard. As a hotbed for fresh ideas, new talent and some serious innovations in production I imagine his set there would have been met with open ears.
So, while we’ve got a bunch of guys seeding the sound to the open-minded in a dancefloor context, we thought it would make sense to help satiate the interest that seems to be culminating by rounding up some tasters for you. Some more lengthy and focused explorations and showcases of the Juke sound and it’s peripheral influences in mix form come from the likes of Chrissy Murderbot (below), a guy called Screwtec (who runs a Juke/GhettoTech/BootyBass night in Leipzig, Germany) and another favourite of ours being Kaptain Cadillac’s ‘The Footwork Chainsaw Massacre’ mix that Ouzo posted here a few months back. Of course, there is also Mike Paradinas’ own Mixcloud rinse out.
To top it off, if you want my take on where this could be heading, I think Chrissy Murderbot hit’s a tasty note with his Trey Songz ‘Neighbors Know My Name’ remix. I know, it’s sometimes hard to swallow, but when new vibes get the vocal treatment they typically go on to gain wider appeal. And, to be honest, if it sounds like this, I ain’t complaining.
EASY, with only a few days to go it is time to unleash some music! Simbad has dropped a little mix, exclusive to GET SOME, and kindly let us interview him in the build up to Saturday nights rave, can’t wait! So have a read and have a listen, then get yourself down to Gramaphone and enjoy the party!
PEACE&OUZO
GET SOME INTERVIEW SIMBAD Who are you and what do you do? I make msuic & dj, have used many aliases when released in the past but im trying to stick just to Simbad deze days…
Where are you currently based? Mainly in London but spending 1/3 of every year in da US
When did you first get involved with music and what were you doing? As a teenager I picked up the saxophone and started playin in bands and got heavily into jazz & funk then moved to Paris in the mid-90′s where i was putting on Jungle & DNB nites with a crew, finally moved to London when i was 19 to pursue my dreams… Had to do many shitty jobs while playing with musicians on the side but got to do loads of session work in studios, mainly house & garage. Then met another french fella called Fred McQuinn and we started our own studio and label (we were releasing under Marathon Men) , thats when i really got into the whole production & record collecting (was workin in some record shops in Soho @ that time too)…
How has the music industry changed since you first got involved? In your opinion, has the online revolution has a positive effect on what you do and the music industry? Well back in da days we would press a 12” and live of it for months easily (as music was selling well in general) and everything was much more ‘physical’ or hand on hand, whether in da studio regarding the gear (hardware equipement like compressors, mixing desk, reverb units etc…) , record releases or carryin crates of vinyl to your gigs you know ? The whole digital revolution had some positive effects regarding freedom of expression & exposure via non-physical mediums but the whole game has changed tremendously, not only money-wise but also substantially…
Like nowadays i feel the information behind a tune or an album has been lost, no more credits attached to it too much and the sound resolution in quality has somehow diminished and we’re getting used to it !! It seems that there’s a lack of knowledge in certain areas and that kinda bothers me coz its as if technology has made our brains regress instead of progressing, we almost leave the computer to do all the thinking and thats fucked up in my humble opinion… I mean its amazing what we can do now with computers just digitally in creativity and all that, but its important to know also what we’re worth just as simple human beings and how we relate to our context in different ways… Hahaha not that i wanna sound patronizing but you know what im sayin ???
Do you find there to be a prejudice against DJ’s who use MP3′s and is software like Ableton Live bridging the gap? Mmmh not really, i mean again its a question of taste and creativity really… You can have the best tunes and not connect with an audience, wether its coz you’re playin’ low resolution mp3′s via your laptop (so the frequency spectrum of the music is totally diminished therefore we can’t feel it through the sound-system) or coz you just dont pay attention to the vibe and just look at your screen all nite LOL but naaaaaaah you can really exploit that digital side of playing in a positive way… Its about energy and emotions & fun @ the end of the day right? (and BASS hahaha)
Personally I still prefer vinyls and cds for the physical touch and the randomness of human error opposed to a robotic flawless pattern of a software… But thats me yo !!! Loads of my fellow dj friends do really great things with Serato and Ableton and i do admire them, somehow its all about being original and being yourself… The way you do it isnt too much of an issue no more… Just spread da love yooooo
What can we expect form Simbad in 2010? Few singles about to come out on a few labels (Defected, 2nd Drop and a few others TBC) and still loads of remixes (Simbad Remixes VOL 2 due any minute on Key Rec.), gotta mix down some collabs projects too (with Cooly G, Deetron, Von D, Fred P, Karizma , Son Of Kick etc…) and more travelling i guess… The Donn T album that i produced in Philly in 2008 has just come out (she’s Questlove sister) and im still rapping up this booogie / funk project featuring some dope singers in the states for a respected label from LA… Also finishing a compilation for Brownswood Rec. with exclusive material from various peeps, quite exciting actually !
If your career in music was to end tomorrow, what would you do instead? Good question haha ! I pretty much live day by day and find it a blessing to survive doing what i love so i dont think about it too much… Maybe i would retire to the Himalayas and become a buddhist monk LOL
Who should we be watching in 2010? What you eat LOL !!! Musically ?? A singer from South Africa called Brian Temba, a french producer named Klimaax, the next Stereotyp album all gone juke style, some Mark Pritchard newness that is out of this world, guys like ID & Baobinga, Airhead, Midland, Trilogy or DNB cat Steve Lynx makin sick beats … The next Disiz & Grems album (the 2 best french rappers) … Labels like Night Slugs, Deep Teknologi, Record Breakin’, Numbers plus all your favourite producers and bands haha
And finally, please complete the following sentence… GET SOME… love (let’s)
TRACKLIST 1: Earl Flint – People Hold On (CBS)
2: Mike Dunn – Prey (CDR)
3: Kink – E79 (Ovum)
4: Izzi Dunn – Nothing But Love (Bugz In The Attic Dub) (CDR)
5: Doc Daneeka – Hold On (Ramp)
6: Simbad – Pilgrimage (CDR)
7: Dubbel Dutch – Throwback (Palms Out)
8: Ave Blast – Glow In The Dark (CDR)
9: Mj Cole – Thekla Riddim (Prolific)
10: Africa Hitech – Do You Really Wanna Fight (CDR)
11: Midland – Play The Game (CDR)
12: LD Vs Cluekid – Jay’s Reese (Ringo)
13: Plan B – Prayin (Breakage Remix) (CDR)
14: Aquadrop – Hyper (Eight FX) (Edit) (CDR)
15: Unknown – Chatte Pa La (Edit) (White)
By then we’ll probably have seen someone like 
