Mixtape Mondays: The Heatwave, Jillionaire, Wildlife! – Independence Day edition

Words and graphic by DJ Theory

It’s the 4th of July!  Here in the States, we utilize this holiday to take the day off of work and celebrate our independence with BBQs, beer, parades, pretty colors bursting in the night sky–and maybe even some reflection on the freedoms we all enjoy in our daily lives. All politics and opinions aside, we really do have a multitude of freedoms here in the US that we tend to take for granted. One example of which is being able to share these fine mixtapes with all of you. So happy 4th to all our folks here in the States, be safe, enjoy yourselves, and try to take a second to reflect on those with little to no freedom in other parts of our world today and everyday. That said, let’s get into these mixes from Switzerland’s WILDLIFE! and two of our very own contributors, Jillionaire and Gabriel Heatwave.

The Heatwave, Rinse FM show June 12, 2011:  Back with more heat (pun intended) from our UK correspondant Gabriel Heatwave. Gabriel holds down the bashment fort for massive UK internet radio station Rinse FM and, for the most recent edition, The Heatwave shed some light on some of Vybz Kartel’s various haters.  Mixed in a unique call and response style, this episode was aptly dubbed “The War Report,” with artists like Aidonia, Beenie, Vegas, Sizzla and Shabba throwin’ bows before Kartel comes right back at them… Many artists have their reservations and opinions on Kartel’s music and lifestyle, and as any Kartel fan knows, he will always have a rebuttal.  Also in the mix are new tunes from Jah Vinci, UK artists Wiley and Doctor, and Tony Kelly’s big new minimal dancehall riddim Winners. Essential summer listening regardless of what side you’re on.  Tracklist and info here, download here.

Jillionaire, Mixpak FM 013 (via Mixpak):  Another welcome addition to this holiday blast is Trini Chris AKA Yung Poolside AKA Jillionaire. Jilli keeps himself very busy, whether he’s working on his forthcoming label Feel Up, plotting world domination with the Mad Decent fam, or turning the world on to new sounds they had no idea they were already in love with.  For this mix, Jilli teamed with Dre Skull‘s Mixpak Records, the label responsible for Vybz Kartel‘s brand new LP, Kingston Story.  Rather than go in a club direction, he went for a ’90s throwback set, dropping tunes from Gospel Fish, Apache Scratchy and some other unsung heroes of  dancehall to nice up your holiday BBQ or pool party. In his words, “it’s made up of the guns and girls chunes that defined the late 80s and early 90s. Bullet bullet!”  Tracklist and download here, or may we recommend subscribing to Mixpak FM here.

WILDLIFE!, Brooklyn Radio Mix (via Brooklyn Radio):  Back to NYC! (via Switzerland).  WILDLIFE! is doing a considerable amount of damage right now, steadily doing his part to bring tropical bass and dancehall to the world.  On this mix, he paired up nicely with the lovely and influential Jubilee for her aweseome Fireworks show, and the results will get things hotter than the Weber in the yard this summer.  Sometimes you may find that your favorite dancehall tune is missing something, and WILDLIFE has a knack for giving them that extra peppa.  You can find a few of these retouches here on this mix, as well as tunes from Poirier, XXXchange, T. Williams, and the sizzling Bonjay & Natalie Storm “Passa Passa” remix.  Summer tun up!!  Tracklist and stream here, or set up an account with Brooklyn Radio to download this and many other fine shows.