With so many Biggie remixes swirling around, this one definitely stands out as the most unique. Griff mega-chops Premier’s “Ten Crack Commandments” into one of the year’s most memorable and devastating Baltimore club tracks. Double shots, as this single also features an excellent reggae-inspired track featuring early Barrington Levy vocals. Might be hard to track down, but it’s worth the search.
Nas Thief’s Theme
Every time we want to write Nas off (possibly going soft in that Kelis trap?), he comes back with a track that hits us straight in the dirty gut. For “Thief’s Theme,” Nas again rides an Incredible Bongo Band loop-this time it’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The combo jumps through your veins like a baby grand piano falling down stairs.
Diverse Jus Biz
Prefuse and Madlib are behind the mixing desks for these three hot tracks where MC Diverse spins his tales in double time to the music. “Jus Biz” is a mellow thought piece (explaining his music life to a lover), whereas “Beyond Beyond” (about elevated tactics) is sharp as a dagger tip.
Hello? Is This Thing On?
Fingathing & The Big Red Nebula Band Journey Into The Big Red Nebula
For their third album, Peter Parker and Sneaky pull from funk, hip-hop, electro and rock to craft a patchwork of sound that shifts from the bouncy “Walk in Space” to the somber stringed melodies of “Themes from the Big Red.” They succeed in serving up a musical conception of outer space, but perhaps push this idea too far with a final hidden track, “Return to Earth.” It lives up to its name musically but could do without that hackneyed and rather annoying gap of silence preceding it-their comedown from space is already apparent.
Lunar Heights Half & Half
Unrepentant Oakland duo Lunar Heights has been putting it down for a couple of years-and now they’re ’bout to blow like Rasco and Hiero before them. Producer Joey Chavez helps the cause with some stabby boom-bap, while the Ricky Saiz-laced “Prove Em Wrong” is equal parts RZA and Kanye-strings and things, dig? And lyrically, the L are like a conscious Mobb Deep. Cop this.
Chris Lowe Lets Go
Lowe’s got party on his mind and MC Fort Knox along for the club ride-plus (did I hear correct?) Chuck Chillout on the cut! The Black side mix of “Let’s Go” is a roller-skate jam (think De La’s “Buddy” remix), the Life side is a Jaydilla-esque minimal handclap thumper. Lowe’s lyrics and voice conjure Main Source and OC-classic and not to be fucked with!
Zimpala Pas Meme Le Cri De L’Un Oiseau
One of France’s longest-serving nu-jazz producers, Zimpala keeps improving with each release. Intricate drum programming matches the single’s gorgeous synth sweeps and Rhodes threads. Jimpster’s house mix works like a dowel over wet concrete-smooth to perfection.
The Glass Won’t Bother Me
The heads of New York’s always-surprising Plant label, operating under the Glass moniker, deliver a sinuous, understated electrofied jam full of jerky bass and hypnotizing vocals. Junior Sanchez takes new school dark disco-not-disco a step further on the flip, pounding out a clubby remix for the haircuts. Ouch. Hot.
Nick Thayer Theme One
Melbourne’s Nick Thayer debuts with a groovy twister full of scissoring synths, popping bass and a subtle house swing before remixer Bass Kleph adds in some haunting techno flavors and snaking leads and Mako gets busy with hard-edged electro breaks on his City Nocturne version. Good all ’round breaks biz from this producer to watch.
