AUDIO: Jah Banks – “Battle For Middle You (BKBashment Remix)”

Words by Natalie Weiner, Photo by Charlie Rubin—

Remember Jah Banks Jah Makin Music mixtape, which we premiered back in February? We loved the whole thing, but definite standout was the “Battle For Middle You (BK Bashment Remix)” featuring the Brooklyn-raised, Jamaican MC (and staple presence on our LargeUp Sessions radio show) spitting over Julio Bashmore’s highly regarded house tune by that name. The infectious flip made it hard not to disagree with Banks proclamation that “BK be comin’ in hot this year.”

DJ Select (of RadioLily) and Robzilla noticed, too, that Banks’ version has all the ingredients of a club banger. So, they decided to re-edit the track, priming it for the dancefloor just in time for summer. A little house, a little dancehall, a little hip-hop—an irresistable combination, almost like a 2014 Reel 2 Real (yeah, we went there). Download below, and don’t be surprised if you hear this one next time you’re drinking Red Stripe on a patio somewhere.

And catch Banks tonight on the LargeUp Sessions with guest selector DJ Rampage filling in for DJ Gravy.