Mixtape Mondays: DJ Theory, Lud Dub, Green B, Dans One, DJ Arson

Words by DJ Theory

Bay Areaaaaa! This week we’ve got a roundup of some big mixes and talents from The Bay. Northern California is rich with fans and purveyors of fine reggae and dancehall music, as evidenced by the regular roll call of  events and the number of supporters rolling up and rolling out from Santa Cruz to Humboldt County, and everywhere in between. Here’s a roundup of the latest mixes from just a few of the selectors making it happen in their respective corners of the region.

DJ Theory, Mixpak FM 017 (via Mixpak): This new mix from yours truly is cooked up for the good folks–and LargeUp extended family–at Mixpak Records. Crushing the dancehall charts with their release of Vybz Kartel’s Kingston Story (produced entirely by Mixpak head honcho Dre Skull), Mixpak has become a serious force in the dancehall world, and have also found a way to successfully connect and cross different tastes in a wide variety of genres. I had a lot of fun making this mix, knowing that the label is game for multiple directions and possibilities, and that I was in some good company, with the previous installments of the Mixpak FM podcast. Of course there were plenty of tunes that I would’ve liked to get on here but we still dip into reggae, dancehall, hip hop, moombahton, U.K. funky, originals and white labels, rounding it all out with Mixpak’s latest release, Schlachthofbronx’s carnival assassin “Mudders.”  Tracklist, info, stream and download here.

Lud Dub, Notting Hill Carnival Promo Mix: Staying under the “tropical bass” umbrella, we have a blazing new promotional mix from one of San Francisco’s quiet killers, Lud Dub. When he’s not freaking crowds, tempos, and genres, he can be found talking bass music and soccer on his Twitter, checking in with his magazine Big Up, or jetting off to the UK to join the bill with some big artists and our UK connect Gabriel Heatwave at the Urban Nerds’ Notting Hill Carnival warm up. If you’re in London August 28-29 you should clearly make plans for this event headlined by Schlachthofbronx, Melé and A1 Bassline, and followed of course by Europe’s biggest Caribbean carnival in Notting Hill.  You just might want to to check your flyer miles and grab a ticket for yourself after vibing to this mix. Tracklist, stream and download here.

Green B, Hot Gyal Promotion Vol. 4.1: The Bay has a handful of gyals making moves in the reggae and dancehall scene, and SF’s DJ Green B is most definitely doing her part to represent the ladies and reggae and dancehall to the fullest. Her weekly party Cooyah! (in conjunction with lovely and talented partner DJ Daneekah) has become a staple, staying extremely current with all the new artists and tunes. Hot Gyal Promotion Vol. 4.1 continues the theme of the series, with a 2-part mix covering necessary one drop singles and riddims on one, and a dancehall counterpart on the other. Stream or download Hot Gyal Promotion Vol 4.1 as well as previous versions here.

Dans One, Summa Swag 2011: Another big mix from California champion sound Broken Silence, Dans One and Mikey C. Holding on tight to the last month of the season, Dans One brings an hour of dancehall heat, moving flawlessly through some big summer tunes and riddims. Broken Silence can be found running dances and live events in and around the Bay Area, and will be repping Northern California and going head to head with Poison Dart and more at this years LA Rumble soundclash on October 8th. Airhorns at the ready. Download Summa Swag here.

DJ Arson, The Right Path: Some quality roots and one drop here from SF/North Bay’s DJ Arson of Extortion Sound. Perfect levels to round out the post this week here, with tunes from folks like Triston Palmer (a wicked “Joker Smoker” special) Half Pint, Norris Man, Lutan Fyah, Ras Attitude, Sizzla, Promoe, Chezidek and Capleton and Norcal reggae artists like (NYC expatriate) Rocker T and Jah Sun. With the conscious voices of these singers assisted by the smooth transitions from DJ Arson, this mix is a sureshot for roots fans. Stream and download here.