Words by DJ Theory
And now for something completely different. Today, the weekly cruise (or, in this case, safari) that is Mixtape Mondays takes you into some more leftfield waters:
Midnight Rockers Express, MRE22 (via Us & Them): Midnight Rockers Express is a NYC-based soundsystem and mix series that Eddie STATS fondly included in his “Punky Reggae” article here on LargeUp a while back. The same elements discussed in that piece apply to this mix, although there’s only a couple traditional reggae songs (from Buju Banton and Stephen Marley) on the mix. Instead, a melting pot of genres and artists, from rock, acoustic and space disco to hiphop and this gem all find their way in, with distinct reggae and dub influences throughout. For someone like myself, who doesn’t listen to much rock music (as the kids would call it), this was a welcome change of pace and DJ GetLive and crew made it all fit nice and tight. Download here, and dig up more info on this grooviness here.
Nguzunguzu, The Perfect Lullaby (via Dis Magazine): Definitely feeling LA’s Nguzunguzu, not only for having a wicked name but for making all sorts of tropical thunder lately, as well. The Perfect Lullaby is just that, offering up a thorough mix of French-Caribbean zouk vibes. It opens off with what sounds like some Vollenweider ish (not gonna link it), but that’s probably because I grew up in a new-age bookstore. Aside from that, this also rang a few bells…really a brilliant flip from Nguzunguzu. All the tunes here are in English, including some sexy remixes of top 40 and classic r&b jams, some really minimal joints and definitely some cuts fi di gyal dem. Label this post-dinner party heat. Get the download, and check the tracklist and tripped-out waterfall here.
SAFARi SOUND, MARCH EDiTiON 2K11: Being that this is LargeUp, it’s only proper to lace you with a true Caribbean scorcher. Stockholm/LA selectors Shirkhan and Sammy K–collectively known as Safari Sound–set things off from the jump with a crazy set of drops, then it’s on to an hour-plus of up-to-di-time dancehall and soca from the likes of I-Octane, Demarco, Gyptian, Charly Black, Bunji Garlin, Busy, Konshens and Leftside, plus the powerful Category 5 Riddim from Daseca. Certified. Stream/tracklist/download here.