FACT mix 64: Scratcha DVA

The host of London’s most entertaining breakfast show (on rinse fm) and baddest grime and funky producer of the minute releases the latest in Fact Magazines much acclaimed mix series.  It certainly doesn’t disappoint.

GET IT HERE.

YouTube – Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo

YouTube – Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo.

Mixes

Our mate Charles over at bigtusks asked us to bosh out a mix for his blog. Lucky for us he liked it enough to post and you can go and get it now now now

This then reminded me that I did a mix last month as well which I didn’t put out anywhere and I’m still pretty happy with. You can get that badboy over here

Tracklist for the Jan mix:

D Malice – Gabryelle Refix
Enur ft. Natasja – Calabria
Apple – De Siegalizer
Busta Rhymes – Dont Touch Me (Bird Peterson Remix)
Mujava – Township Funk (Sinden Remix)
Geeneus ft. Katie B – As I
Mr V – Hypnotiq 2
Slick Don – Rudeboy
Piddy Py – Giggle Riddim
Starkey – Gutter Music
Tinchy Stryder ft. Roachee – Rollin Remix
Jammer ft. Frisco & Tempz – Big Man Ting
Loudmouth – Suck Out
Maniac – Thug
Jakes & Joker – 3k Lane
JME – Punch In the Face
Skream – Filth
Mavado – Wah Dem A Do (Acapella)
Chase & Status – Eastern Jam
Plastician ft. Skepta, Frisco, Chronik, Tempa T & Esco – Real Things
Seven – Siren
Double S – From Day (Cardopusher Remix)
Taz Buckfaster – Murda Skank

My Top 5 Upcoming Grime Releases

[ 5 ] Newham Generals – Generally Speaking (Dirtee Stank)
After seeing D Double E at FWD vs Rinse at The End and rinsing D Double E Vol 1 all I can say is this album should be well worth the years we’ve been waiting for it. First single – Head Get Mangled – is saying a lot for potential mainstream pickup as well, not to mention the Dizzee links.

[ 4 ] Nocturnal – Nocstrumentals (Nite Knights)
I love a good vinyl instro release, but you get a shitload more tracks on a cd. Nocturnal’s beats are large. Pity its a UKRecordshop.com exclusive for now but I can wait til it hits the real shops.

[ 3 ] Wiley – Race Against Time
This is supposed to be Wiley’s answer to his last album See Clear Now which was criticized by many in the scene for being too watered down and commercial. If his recent dubs in the war between him and Durrty Goodz are anything to go by then we can expect big things, but then somehow Wiley always lets us down. Could this be the one?

[ 2 ] Wiley/Maniac/J Sweet – Instrumental EPs (Earth 616)
I’ve grouped these as one becuase we don’t know a lot about them yet other than they’re at the press now and will be released through feb. I’m guessing that Wiley beat will be on there. More Maniac releases is only a good thing as well because his tunes are straight fire.

[ 1 ] Tempz – Next Hype (NHNH)
Did you listen to that tune? Do it now. If you didn’t just smash your house up then you’re a robot. ROBOT! Pure hype. Also check this

Geeneus

Geeneus has, as they say, been on this ting from day.  As a former member of Pay as U Go and the man in charge at Rinse FM, he’s had a pretty significant role in bringing London underground genres like grime and dubstep to a far wider audience.  It’s pretty amazing that a pirate radio station has been running for over 10 years now and I have to say, Scratcha’s grimey breakfast show is the reason I get up in the morning. Geeneus’ album, Volumes: One, came out last week and it’s one of the most polished releases from the funky scene so far.  I had been itching to get hold of a copy of As I, featiruing Katie B (aka/fka Baby Katy), the very same singer on DJ NG’s Tell Me, one of the tunes that launched this genre.  That tune alone was my reason for buying and the rest of the album certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Geeneus ft. Katie B – As I

Other bangers include Geeneus’ remix of Benga and Coki’s Night, a tune which still smashes it in the raves (I’m not retiring it from my record bag any time soon), Emotions – a collaboration with DJ Zinc and Yellowtail. Even as a first foray into funky, its awesome.

Benga & Coki – Night (Geeneus Remix)

Basically, get up in the morning and listen to Scratcha’s Grimey Breakfast on Rinse FM (Stream link)

Buy Volumes: One at Boomkat or Rhythm Division

Also important is this, a HUGE radio set from grime DJ turned funky don Marcus Nasty in which he basically rubs out the boundary between funky and grime by bringing a load of amazing MCs down.  Set of the year perhaps?

Funky

OK so today I had a bit of a revelation on this funky thing.  I’ve kinda dismissed it before becuase I didn’t really get it, other that some of the bigger tunes (see my previous post).  I had a similar feeling with dubstep last year, I heard a load of my mates raving about it, read up on it but just couldnt get into it until I caught Skream live, then it clicked with me.  Theres a whole other level to these tunes when you here them raw at a loud volume, rather than mp3s.

I went into the newly relocated Uptown Records to pick up some bassline, but I also wanted to get a copy of De Siegalizer by Apple, which is one of those tunes you can get hooked on in one listen, it’s so catchy.

What I like about Uptown is that you’ll always come out with a load more than what you went in for.  But in this case, I was kinda hoping to be able to avoid more funky reccommendations becuase I didn’t want to buy any.  Thing is, all this stuff they reccommeded is massive.  Rather than sampling it through some headphones, they whacked it through the speakers in the store, cranked it up and just went with it.  Un-compressed, off the vinyl, through a good sound system, it totally clicked, I spent a shitload on records today and the worst bit is I don’t even have my decks with me right now so I’m not gonna hear any of it again until Saturday night at Bassime.  Can’t wait.

Hiatus?

It seems like it’s been a long time since I posted anything.  Probably becuase it has.  Whoops!  So let’s see if I can make up for that with a round up of whats been going on with us since my last (weak) post.

BASSLIME

Basslime’s been ticking over nicely, we’ve brought our new mates Broke DJs on board, we did a Junior Spesh and we still love everything about it, the artwork, the tunes and the whole atmosphere.  Unfortunately we tend to play all night upstairs so I’m still yet to experience how great it is downstairs, but it looks like a shitload of fun.

The next one is kind of a big one, it’s a birthday ting, our first booking and possibly the start of a new era for basslime, but there’ll be more info on that as it gets confirmed.  We’ve booked VENOM & DAMAGE to come down and wreck the show based purely on their mixtapes which you can download here:

VENOM & DAMAGE – FRENZY

VENOM – MAXIMUM CARNAGE

A load of the bassline tunes I’ve got hold of lately have been remixes of rnb tunes, and despite supporting a strong anti rnb stance, I’m really feeling a lot of these tunes.  These bassline producers seem to take these generic, boring, friday night pre fighting songs and actually make them interesting.  So I done a mix of some of em.  Even my mum said she likes this one

b_ts m_ss_ng – Rn’Bassline

And cos I havent posted in a while, here’s a few tunes I’ve been loving and dropping on a regz in a Basslime set: (A lot of these are oooold, but I missed them the first time round.)

Kevlar – Stop This Car (Feb 08)

Agent X feat. Donae’o – Slow It Down (June 06)

702 – You Don’t Know (Mr V Remix) (Nov 07)

Chris Brown feat. T Pain – Kiss Kiss (Reepz Remix)

Pyper – You Don’t Need to Know

I’ve been giving this whole ‘Funky’ /UK House / Urban House thing a bit of a wide birth becuase to me, funky house was the Hed Kandi, night out in a generic club, maybe with a fish tank, or some under bar neons.  The one night where fuckheads leave their addidas tracksuit at home and polish up their loafers.  And pop their collars.  Of both their polo shirts.  I think this might explain.   But I’ve given it a bit of a chance, and there are the odd tunes that I’m really enjoying.  And, from what I’ve read, its easily compatible with grime, bassline and all that becuase a lot of it is made by the same producers.  Here’s some bangers I’ve found across the internet that I’ve taken a liking to:

Donae’o – African Warrior

Paleface & Kyla – Do You Mind (Crazy Cousins Remix)

Target from Roll Deep did a remix of Benga & Coki’s Night which I got on vinyl and thought it would be interesting to mash up with some other mixes of the tune for a laugh.  (For a laugh means this is a crap mix)

Benga & Coki – Night (Target Remix/ Original/ Buraka Som Systema Remix)

OUTSIDE OF BASSLIME

We did the first We Are Your Friends Southampton at The Cube which was… interesting.  We played under the stairs.  Next to the squash courts.  What’s a great deal more (genuinely) interesting is the next Bournemouth WAYF we’re involved with, it’s gonna be massive.  They’ve cut deals with at least 3 clubs to build an event covering a whole block, and they’ve called in a whole load of favours with regards to bookings to get hold of some pretty big names in the Jackin/Fidget/Electro House ting as well as some indie bands, a smattering of dubstep, hip-hop, loads.  Line up so far is looking along the lines of: Hervé, Example, Andy George, Alex Metric, AC Slater & the Palms Out Sounds crew, Eddy Temple Morris, Man Like Me, Affie Yusuf, Caspa, and I believe theres more yet to be revealed.  Excited?  I am.  There’s tracks from these guys all over the internet, just go search the hype machine for em.  And if Ste-V doesn’t hook everyone up with a massive mix of it all soon then I will.

Youtube Roundup

Busy T

Our man Trevor Loveys is at it again, not content having just had the Machines Don’t Care album out last week (buy it now if you haven’t already), he’s just about to drop a load of new stuff from his newly formed label, Tragic Magic, alongside fellow MDC producer Affie Yusuf and Chris Belsey who forms the other half of Lil’ Bo Tweak.

Trevor’s first 12″ from the label; Drop It, is due out anytime now. I’ve heard a sneak preview and they certainly don’t disappoint. Check the myspace to hear some sick mixes and keep your eyes out cos when these drop they’re gonna be snapped up.

Trev’s also hot shit on the remixes, his stuff is all over the place. Seems the man’s nailed quality and quantity.

Kraak & Smaak – Squeeze Me (The Trevor Loveys Skeezer Pleezer Mix)

Trevor Loveys & Sinden – Organ Grinder

On a similar beat jackin’ style, here’s a new tune from Edinburgh beat basher Hostage. If you’ve heard any of my recent stuff you’ll no doubt be aware that I’m a huuuuge fan of Hostage’s remix of Oh Snap!’s Bill Cosby Sweater, but this is him off on a different style again. I remember when we first heard of Bloody Beetroots through their insane remix of Gluttony. Those were the days.

Hostage – Sorry

Heres a few bangers from a slightly less known artist, these were sent to me by a mate, Nightbreaker, and I like em, so I’m posting them.

Nightbreaker – 2000 Volts

Nightbreaker – Square Dream pt 1