Mixtape Mondays: Chairman Mao, Federation Sound, Ape Drums

Words by Deejay Theory —

Love is still lingering in the air at Mixtape Mondays, but it’s always love around here. Wrap your arms around some excellent dusty reggae covers, a heartfelt collection of classic rewinds and some of the baddest new directions in dancehall below.

Chairman Mao, Across 135th St. Reggae Covers For Lovers (And All You Others): Excess amount of niceness here from Red Bull Music Academy Radio deejay and 12″ don Chairman Mao, who goes extra deep rounding up strictly reggae versions of classics lovers tunes. A heap of favorites on here including renditions of “Rising to the Top”, “Turn Your Love Around”, “Never Too Much”, “Love Come Down”, “Nights Over Egypt” and tons more. Truly enjoyable from start to finish this lovers season. For all the record heads pass thru Ego Trip for a full breakdown of each record included in the mix with cover art and all that. Stream below, more info here

Federation Sound, Lovers & Friends: Sometimes (most times) you just need something quality to listen to any time of day or night when it comes to mixes. As proven year after year and mix after mix our guys at Federation Sound never half step and deliver the goods whether broadcasting from Philly, NYC Jamaica or beyond. With Kenny Meez at the controls again welcome the latest Lovers & Friends to make you and yours feel some type a way regardless the year or occasion. Countless favorites and of course some dubs and Federation exclusives. Press play for maximum vibes. Stream and download below, tracklist here

Ape Drums, Bashment Mix: Baddest new thing from young Houston, Texas producer/DJ Ape Drums. Homie has been on our radar a ton this past year and continues the rampage with a recent signing to the don DJ Craze‘s label Slow Roast Records and subsequent mixtape previewing a grip of his top notch dancehall remixes, exclusives and upcoming releases with Green Lantern, Gappy Ranks, DJ Snake and more.. Keeping things in the 100 bpm range for the first chunk — including a remix from this guy — Ape steadily turns it up moving into some more big room soca and EDM lanes. This kid is definitely what’s next in the dancehall-meets-electronic department, truss me. Stream and download below