Top Mixes of 2020 and Other Awards

 2020 was a brutal year for DJs. Professional DJs make their living performing live, and live events essentially came to a halt in 2020. One of the few silver linings of 2020 was that DJ connoisseurs found their favorite DJs more accessible than ever through live streams. Arguably, 2020 contained more mixing content than any other year EVER. So much so; I simply lost track of much of it. My ears can only consume so much; so I just settled on a handful of high quality shows/streams (see below) and regularly listened.

Point of Clarification

Only mixes that were clearly intended to be a thought-out "mixtape" made the list. There are some DJs that are so good, their live streams sound like a thought-out mixtape. However, none of such mixes were considered for the list.

A Challenge Moving Forward

The DJ community is a small, but elite group. Mixes are the canvas that DJ's brush on. My challenge to all of you moving forward is to take it to another level. With your future mixes, try to do for mixes what Donuts did for the beat tape. You'll likely fail, but try! I'm not going tell to anyone how to be creative. That would defeat the purpose. However, if you're not understanding the Donuts metaphor; then you're reading the wrong blog.

As I've written previously, our artform is dying. To be honest, it will be a deserved death IF we don't do something more creative to reinvent it. The foundation will always be blends, cuts, and tricks. But, we must be more willing to take risks with the mixes that we make. What does that mean? I'll leave that to all of you. I look forward to listening to all of you try.

 

Top Mixes of 2020

AbcntMnded Radio 06 - Mixed by AbcntMnded

Intoxicated Breaks 2 - Mixed by Deathhop

The 1990 Ultra Mix...The Forgotten Rappers - Mixed by DJ Bacon

Strange Sounds, Strange Times - Mixed by DJ Patience

Written Testimony Originals - Mixed by DJ BIG TEXAS

Beastie Floyd Megamix - Mixed by DJ Bacon 

Another Token Jazz Hour - Mixed by Bowls

Only Built for Cuban Link Tribute Mix - Mixed by Filthy Rich

ABOLISHtrumentals - Mixed by DJ Ian Head

Vortex - Mixed by DJ Ada

Electric Spray - Mixed by DJ Nu-Mark

Back to School (1987) - Mixed by DJ DS

The Foundation: Street Corner Music - Mixed by DJ Act Like You Know

 

Top Mixes of 2020 (Not Publicly Available or Behind a Paywall)

Breaks Samples and Goodies - J. Rocc

Paul's Boutique Tribute - J. Rocc

The Sauce - Omega:NYC

Pressure Cooker - Omega:NYC

The Blick - Omega:NYC

The $300 Mix - DJ Kutmah

 

Pandemic Awards (DJs Who Have Both Streamed Their Asses Off & Provided Undeniable Quality)

J. Rocc

House Shoes

DJ Melo-D

Mandatory Listening/Watching Award

Adventures in Stereo - J. Rocc

Magic - House Shoes

The Foundation - DJ Act Like You Know

Pullin from the Stacks - DJ Ian Head

Vinyl Session - Beat Pete

A Hip Hop Snob's Guide to the Best Music of 2020

Raps and Beats (mostly in order of release date)

Boldy James - Price of Tea in China

Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony

Westside Gunn - Pray for Paris

Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist - Alfredo

DJ Preservation - Eastern Medicine, Western Illness

Koreatown Oddity - Little Dominique's Nosebleeds 

Westside Gunn - Flygod is an Awesome God

Blu and Exile - Miles

Rush and Jay Nice - Fly Art

Boldy James - Versace Tape

Mach Hommy - Hard Lemonade

Quakers - Quakers II - The Next Wave

Westside Gunn - Who Made the Sunshine

Jay Electronica - Act II

Chuck Strangers - Too Afraid to Dance

Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event 2

Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin - FlySiifu's

Roc Marciano - Mt. Marci

DJ Muggs - Winter

Beats, Hold the Raps (mostly in order of release date)

J. Rocc - Sun Ra(s) G

Juicy the Emissary - Timber

Knxwledge - 1988

Roc Marciano - Pimpstrumentals

Sadhugold - Golden Joe Seasons 1 and 2

Alchemist - Man of Many Hats

Ras G - Raw Fruit 5/6

J. Rocc - Beatitudes

J. Rocc - Original Music

J. Rocc - Turn Me Up Some

Kutmah - A Tribute to Brother Ras G and The Afrikan Space Program

Various Artists - Baker's Dozen XIII

Quakers - Supa K: Heavy Tremors

Dirty Art Club - Gardens

Alchemist - Doctor, Painter, and An Alchemist...

Alchemist - Food Villain

Jazzsoon - Heavy Archives 3

Koreatown Oddity - When Pigs Fly

On Some Other Sh*t

Heliocentrics - Infinity Now

Jazz Sabbath - Jazz Sabbath

El Michels Affair - Adult Themes

Shabaka and the Ancestors - We Are Sent Here By History

Khruangbin - Mordechai

Khruangbin - Late Night Tales: Khruangbin

Kamall Williams - Wu Hen

Liv.e - Couldn't Wait to Tell You...

Jahari Massamba Unit - Pardon My French

 

Where Did You Come From? (outstanding album from artists I had no idea existed)

Rush and Jay Nice - Fly Art 

Dirty Art Club - Gardens

 

This is How You Make a Beat Tape Award (no track exceeds 2 min, plenty of skits, seamlessness)

Alchemist - Man of Many Hats

Quakers - Supa K: Heavy Tremors

Dirty Art Club - Gardens

Alchemist - Doctor, Painter, and An Alchemist...

Alchemist - Food Villain

Jazzsoon - Heavy Archives 3

Koreatown Oddity - When Pigs Fly 

 

Lil Mixes Award (Music Most Enjoyed by My Daughter)

Dirty Art Club - Gardens

J. Rocc - Sun Ra(s) G

Khruangbin - Mordechai

Khruangbin - Late Night Tales: Khruangbin

Jahari Massamba Unit - Pardon My French

 

Simply On Another Level Award

Roc Marciano 

DJ Muggs

Albums that Inspire Me Award

J. Rocc - Sun Ra(s) G

DJ Muggs - Winter

Koreatown Oddity - Little Dominique's Nosebleeds

Quakers - Supa K: Heavy Tremors

Dirty Art Club - Gardens

Album Would Be Perfect If Not For.... Award

Mt. Marci - The intolerable hook on Wicked Days

Food Villain - Had ALC chosen a different theme

Raw Fruit 5/6 - Had track lengths been edited down

Who Made the Sunshine - Had WSG not force fed his audience Armani Caesar

Skratch Basti'd Post & Current Thoughts on Being a DJ

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Interesting post from Skratch Bastid. I've been running this blog since 2008. I've certainly seen the interest in mixes decline over the years. I completely understand where Skratch Bastid is coming from. A high quality mix is labor and time intensive; and the fact of the matter is that a very small percentage of the music listening population actually understands and appreciates all the subtle details that go into a quality mix. Understandably, many mixtape DJs have been discouraged by these realities and no longer create such mixes. Skratch Bastid was certainly one of the elite mix creators; and I'm happy to see him return to the arena.

With all that said; DJs just need to get more creative. If beat tapes can thrive in today's music listening environment; so can mixtapes. You think your favorite beatmaker cleared all the samples on his latest beat tape that he posted to Bandcamp? Of course, he didn't! If your excuse for not making mixes is the copyright police; first, you need to let your nuts hang a little bit. Second, you need to get more creative with your mixing and your mix posting game.

Until recent years; being a DJ was a world with vast resource asymmetry.  In other words, you had to have the resources of a DJ (two turntables, mixer, and a lot of records) to actually be a DJ. Those resources weren't cheap. As a result, the DJ world was relatively small. Through the advent of various new DJ oriented technologies and music streaming; the DJ world has flattened. Barriers of entry into the DJ world are now incredibly low. Vast DJ tools now exist for minimal cost. Access to nearly all the music in the world now requires no more than $10/month music streaming subscription. The monopoly on resources (DJ tools and music) that DJs once enjoyed, no longer exists. Consequently, many DJs feel unappreciated and redundant. No wonder so many have withdrawn from creating what was once the DJ's most marketable and tangible commodity; the mixtape.

What a shame. If you thought of yourself as a DJ, and really thought that owning and playing records that most of the public didn't own made you special; well, you were never really a DJ. A music collector at best; but certainly not a DJ. If you thought owning equipment that others didn't, made you special. Well, you were never really a DJ either. A consumer with good taste in music equipment, perhaps; but not a DJ.

Buying a saxophone and owning a bunch of John Coltrane records doesn't make you John Coltrane. Playing the saxophone all day and all night might not make you ever play the sax like Coltrane; but you could at least call yourself a saxophonist. For all the past, present, and future DJs; I ask, what are you? If you're a DJ; get more creative with your craft and figure out a way for your craft to be heard. If that sounds like too tall a task; that's fine. Enjoy listening to music however you see fit. However, don't confuse yourself with being a DJ. Being a DJ isn't owning equipment that most people don't have. Being a DJ isn't owning music that most people don't own. Certainly, owning equipment and music is necessary to being a DJ; but it's so much more. If I have to explain it to you, you just wouldn't understand.

2019 Mixtape Awards

I take the DJ craft seriously, and it goes without saying that I put a lot of value in a quality mix. Music is currently viewed as disposable; like soda in a plastic cup.  Something that gives you a quick rush, and is then discarded.  People mostly listen to playlists now (the majority of which are created by robots or someone else), not albums. The thought of owning music has become a very specific niche. This niche is so specific that to release an LP on black vinyl would be considered commercial suicide.

This is the hostile musical climate that mixtapes are in. Creating a quality mix is very time consuming. To truly appreciate all the intricacies that are embedded within a quality mix (blends, song selection, drops, back-spins, timing of blends, word play, etc.); requires multiple listens. In a nutshell, a mix is basically the antithesis of everything the current-day music listener expects. As a result, mixes have essentially become a thing for us, by us. An auditory experience that is mostly appreciated by the select few who are capable of creating such an experience.

Though I find this reality to be unfortunate, I am not complaining (at least not here).  I say all this to emphasize my appreciation for the names and mixes below; as well as all those who found their way to this blog in 2019. On that note; I would like to devote particular praise to J. Rocc and House Shoes. In the case of J. Rocc; it should not be taken for granted that literally the best DJ on the planet is the most common name you'll see below.  In what other genre is the best in the game the most likely to release their art? In the case of House Shoes; he literally drops a mix every week! In the case of the two Dilla mixes he released this past February; you can clearly tell he put extra time into crafting those mixes.  That doesn't go unnoticed here. In fact, it is highly praised.

Side Note: A few of the below mixes are now behind paywalls that will require a $2/month fee to gain access. A very small price to pay IMO. If you disagree, you're at the wrong blog.

Top 19 Mixes of 2019 (mostly in order of release)
J. Rocc's AIS 2018 Megamix
Cassette Robot Radio "Sade Edition" - Mixed by DJ Soundwave
Soulection Radio #395 - J. Rocc Takeover (Dilla Edition)
Dilla Treats - Mixed by House Shoes
Dilla's Magic - Mixed by House Shoes
Golden Age Soul 5 - Mixed by Mattnyce
AIS Jay Dee Tribute (Parts 3 and 4) - Mixed by J. Rocc
Dope 80s Joints Part 1 and 2 - Mixed by DJ Revolution
AbcntMnded Radio -6 - Mixed by AbcntMnded
The Forty Five Kings Present DJ Bacon
Gravediggaz vs. Organized Konfusion - Mixed by DJ Filthy Rich
The Remedy Part 1 - Mixed by House Shoes
Up North Trips Presents 94 State of Mind - Mixed by Its Overture
J. Rocc Live on Worldwide FM (10/18/19)
SIMS Samples: Mighty Mos Def Edition
J. Rocc Live Mix on Touching Bass (11/16/19)
Readymade - Mixed by Deathhop
The Junkyard (All 7" Vinyl) - Mixed by DJ Platurn
Yesterdays Experience (YNQ Tribute) - Mixed by BeatPete

Top Mixes of 2019 (Unreleased)
J. Rocc's Thank You Jay Dee 2019 Part 2 (He may send it to you if you DM him with proof of your KPFK donation)
J. Rocc's Ras G Tribute (Donate to KPFK and there are pretty good odds you can own this as well)
JUX -Mixed by Omega:NYC (My favorite mix of 2019 that I'll post if I ever get permission to)

A Hip Hop Snob's Guide to the Best Music of 2019

Raps and Beats (mostly in order of release date)
Mach Hommy - Saturday Night Lights Vol. 1 and 2
DJ Muggs and Eto - Hell's Roof
Elcamino - Don't Eat the Fruit
Vic Spencer - Spencer for Hire 2
Maxo - Lil Big Man
DJ Muggs and Mach Hommy - Tuez-Les Tous
Bill Woods - Hiding Places
Your Old Droog - It Wasn't Even Close
Roc Marciano - The Prequel
Pistol Mcfly - Road Trip
Big Tone and House Shoes - Big Shoes
Benny the Butcher - The Plugs I Met
Mach Hommy - Wop Kon Joy
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs - Bandana 
Billy Woods - Terror Management
Westside Gunn - Flygod Is an Awesome God
DJ Muggs and Crimeapple - Medallo
Kill em All (DJ Muggs and Mach Hommy) - Kill em All
Kool Keith - KEITH
Little Brother - May the Lord Watch
Guilty Simpson - Actus Reus
Gang Starr - One of the Best Yet
Westside Gunn - Hitler Wears Hermes 7
Stalley - Reflection of Self: The Head Trip
DJ Muggs and Tha God Fahim - Dump Assassins
Roc Marciano - Marcielago

Beats, Hold the Raps (mostly in order of release date)
Jansport J - Stay True
Ras G - Down 2 Earth Vol. 3
Ras G - Down 2 Earth Vol. 4
Pete Rock - Return of the SP-1200
Ghost McGrady - Industry Plant
Daringer - Baker's Dozen
Dibia$e - Bonus Levels
The Koreatown Oddity - That's A No From Me Dog
Jazzsoon - The Sex Tape
Jansport J - Solo Sport
Sadhu - Gold Room
Jazzsoon - Heavy Archives 2 

Beats Lead, Raps Follow (mostly in order of release date)
Alchemist - Yacht Rock 2
J. Rocc - Remixes
Czardust (Ohbliv and Sadhugold) - The Ra(w) Material 

On Some Other Sh*t (mostly in order of release)
Solange - When I Get Home
Ras G - Dance of the Cosmos
Sun Ra - Haveford College,  Jan. 25, 1980 (Solo Rhodes Piano)
Miles Davis - Rubberband 

Goodbye to Our Brotha from Anotha Planet

A true artist was lost yesterday. Not only is the sudden passing of Ras G a shock given his young age; but Ras' passing is difficult to process because he seemed like the type of man that would live forever (or at least, a very long time). I always saw Ras as the kind of artist that would transform into several different incarnations over the course of his life. More so than anyone else, I was really looking forward to seeing what Ras would become as an artist. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans for our cosmic Brotha from Anotha Planet. It's a real shame, too.  While Ras G was the very personification of this culture of ours, he seemed to transcend the culture.

Press Pause: The History of Pause Tape Production

The definitive pause-tape article.  Highly Recommended article that can be read HERE.

Related Note: Though The Chronic is probably my favorite album of all-time, I wasn't initially a fan of the album. It wasn't that I couldn't appreciate the dopeness of the album.  Instead, it was because I was HUGE Eazy-E fan and it hurt me to hear Eazy being the butt of the joke on such a classic piece of Rap history. To defend the honor of my favorite artist at the time, I created a pause-tape megamix to diss Dr. Dre and Snoop. I remember it being about 10-minutes long, and primarily using snippets from Eazy-E's 187um Killa album. I remember it being pretty good, and getting positive feedback from those I played it for.  Like an idiot, I'm sure I taped over it to record off the radio whatever the new hot song was at the time.  What I'd give to hear that tape again to see if it was as good as I remember.  Probably wasn't, but it would still be fun to listen to.

A Hip Hop Snob's Guide to the Best Music of 2018

For about 10 years (roughly 2006-2016) beatmakers were galaxies ahead of MCs as far as being able to produce quality, innovative material that demonstrated artistic maturity. It appears MCs are finally beginning to close that gab.  Some of that is thanks to new talented MCs appearing on the scene (Griselda, Mach Hommy, the continued genius of Roc Marciano, to name a few); while the rest of the credit can be given to known quantities who seem to have figured out how to do what seemed to be elusive within Hip Hop; staying current as an "older" MC without acting like you're in your 20's.

As a music lover, I feel absolutely spoiled by 2018. Below are a variety of categories that capture albums released in 2018 that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you familiarize yourself with (if you're not already familiar).

Raps and Beats (Mostly in order of release date)
Spencer for Hire - Vic Spencer
Weather or Not - Evidence
In Celebration of Us - Skyzoo
Bulletproof Luh - Mach Hommy
Jericho Jackson - Jericho Jackson (Krysis and Elzhi)
Rosebud's Revenge 2: The Bitter Dose - Roc Marciano
The Black Tape - Conway
FlyGod is Good...All the Time (EP) - Westside Gun and Mr. Green
Czarface Meets Metal Face - Czarface and MF Doom
Consumers Park - Chuck Strangers
Daytona - Pusha T
Streams of Thought Vol. 1 (EP) - Black Thought
Nasir - Nas
Supreme Blientele - Westside Gunn
Frozen Angels - Meyhem Lauren and DJ Muggs
Daffi - Jeremiah Jae
Orpheus vs. The Sirens - Hermit and the Recluse (Ka and Animoss)
Paraffin (feat. Billy Woods and Elucid) - Armand Hammer
Behold a Dark Horse - Roc Marciano
Walking on Water - Elcamino
Chinese Algebra - Mach Hommy and Tha God Fahim
Kaos - Roc Marciano and DJ Muggs
Hitler Wears Hermes 6 - Westside Gunn
Notorious Dump Legends - Mach Hommy and Tha God Fahim
Streams of Thought 2 - Black Thought
Tana Talk 3 - Benny the Butcher

Beats, Hold the Raps (Mostly in order of release date)
Beat at the Table - Koreatown Oddity
Gladwemet (EP) - Knxwledge
GT.2 - Knxwledge
Stargate Music - Ras G
Happysad - Kiefer
Low - Jansport J
Believe - Ghost McGrady
Rooster - Koreatown Oddity
Holy Ghost - Budgie
Yuletide Bangerz - Jonwayne


Beats Lead, Raps Follow (Producer lead albums with MCs)
Lunch Meat (EP) - Alchemist
Soul Assassins: Dia Del Asesinato - DJ Muggs
Dntaskmefrshit - Knxwledge
Thug Ballads - J. Rocc
Share My Bed - J. Rocc
Fetti - Alchemist/Curren$y/Freddie Gibbs
Bread - Alchemist


On Some Other Ish (Mostly in order of release date)
Adrian Younge Presents Voices of Gemma - Adrian Younge
Piano and a Microphone 1983 - Prince
Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album - John Coltrane
And Yet It's All Love - Fatima

Awards after the jump.

2018 Mixtape Awards

That time of year has arrived again. A REMINDER TO ALL THOSE INCLUDED AND NOT INCLUDED ON THE LIST: Some of you make a living off this whole DJ thing of ours; some of you are trying to make a living off this; while others are content to just be bedroom enthusiasts.  Whoever you are, you are extraordinarily talented if your mix has been posted on this blog (regardless if it made the list).  I am a music snob.  I take music, hip hop culture, and the artform of deejaying very seriously.  I don't post bullshit (for the most part), and I don't give out compliments loosely.  If I've said your mix is dope, it's because I think your mix is dope.  And if I think your mix is dope, it's because it is.  This blog only survives if all of you keep mixing.  The blog dies when your mixes dry up, so keep mixing motherf%ckers!  We are all getting older, gaining responsibilities, and losing free-time with each day.  I get it.  Believe me, I do. However, keep creating.  Even if it's only for a few minutes a day, keep creating. Keep diggin'; keep searching for inspiration; keep working at your craft. Lastly, thank you to all of you who continue to inspire me and give me new ideas on where to take my craft.

Top Mixes of 2018 (in no particular order)

#WakandaForeverEver - Mixed by J. Period 

Fear of a Brown Planet - Mixed by DJ Eclipse

Keep On Moving - Mixed by Omega:NYC

Sleeping Enemies - Mixed by DJ Bacon 

Nasir Originals - Mixed by DJ BIG Texas

Abcntmnded Radio 04 - Mixed by Abcntmnded  

rare bEa$TIE BOy$ Part 2 - Mixed by DJ Bacon

Hatian Space Program - Mixed by Pipomixes

Doggystyle 25th Anniversary Mixtape - Mixed by DJ Matman

A Clan Called Wu: Enter the Marauders - Mixed by DJ Filthy Rick

Flaunt Edward Live on NTS Radio - Mixed by Flaunt Edwards (aka J. Rocc)
Jurassic 5 vs. Major Force - Mixed by DeathHop
Thee Notorious Mini Mix 3 - Mixed by Thee MikeB 
9 Minutes of the 90s (Megamix) - Mixed by Mr. Switch and Jimi Needles 
We Got it From Here... (Slowed and Throwed) - Mixed by DJ Surrup 
Dusty Donuts #10 (Anthology Mix) - Mixed by Marc Hype 
Dedicated to You, But You Weren't Listening - Mixed by Herby Hammock 

Most Technically Sound Mix Award
Dedicated to You, But You Weren't Listening - Mixed by Herby Hammock

Playback Award 
We Got it From Here... (Slowed and Throwed) - Mixed by DJ Surrup 

Track Selection Award
Abcntmnded Radio 04 - Mixed by Abcntmnded

Next Level Award
#WakandaForeverEver - Mixed by J. Period 

Best Mixes of 2018 That You Won't Likely Hear Until 2019 (if you're lucky) Award
Stay Fresh - J. Rocc
Sorry Ms. Jackson - Pipomixes
TR808 - Omega: NYC 

Mix That Would Have Never Made The List 10 Years Ago Award (Expanding Horizons)
Flaunt Edward Live on NTS Radio - Mixed by Flaunt Edwards (aka J. Rocc)

Please Find Your Way Back to the Turntables Award
DJ Sheep
DJ MoeBedda
DJ Kikkoman

Knxwledge and J. Rocc Interviewed While Record Shopping in Japan

You'll have to translate the article with your browser, but most of you should find it worth the trouble.  You can read the article HERE.

A Slapdash History of the Hip-hop Megamix

I can not recommend this article highly enough.  An excellently written, thorough analysis of the history of the megamix.  I consider myself quite the megamix scholar; and I learned a lot from this article.  Listen to all the mixes mentioned in the article and you'll be sure to be inspired for some time.  You can read the article HERE.

Pipomixes Responds to His Critics

I've been receiving a variety of comments/tweets/emails complaining about the "Screw" style of my latest mixes. First, let me say that I really appreciate everybody who takes the time to listen to any of my mixes because ALL of them involve a lot of time, thought, effort, and money to create. Of course, I don't like to hear people complaining about my mixes. However, I do appreciate that some of you have enjoyed my mixes of the past enough to complain about my more recent mixes. With that said, let me at least explain what brought me to this point.

My "slowed" mix style initially started out by me trying to avoid getting my mixes taken down from soundcloud. I started to listen to a lot of DJ Screw mixes (which I've been a big fan of since the mid 90s) for ideas on how to incorporate my style into a slowed style that wouldn't get detected by the soundcloud bots.  Keep in mind that I've always been a fan of any downtempo songs (80-70 bpm range). I've also been a HUGE fan of Madlib and his pseudo-psychedelic style for decades. Add that to my fandom of the lofi beatmakers of the last 10 years; and you can understand the natural transformation for me. For the record: I make "stoney" mixes, but the last thing that I am when I'm working on a mix is stoned. My mixes are way too intricate to be made while drunk/high.

Will I ever go back to "normal" tempo mixes? The honest answer is that I don't know. As I've personally replied to many of you; I make mixes primarily that I want to hear, and the mixes I'm making are what I want to hear right now. The digitization of music has made music sound too "perfect" IMO. I love listening to old mixtapes by Dr. Dre, Kid Capri, and others; just to listen to the vinyl and hiss. The rawness and soulfulness of these mixes really appeal to my ear at the moment. As least for me, I feel that I am close to capturing the "sound" that I'm chasing by mixing with my slowed style. I've never been happier and more impressed with my mixes than I have been with the ones I've recently released. Ironically, some of you disagree. However, I am not a commercial artist. This is my art, not my livelihood. I want as many people as possible to hear and enjoy my mixes, but I'm not going to chases listens if it takes the fun and passion out of the process for me. For the moment, these are the mixes I want to make. IMO I've never been better at my craft. Will I change my style back because some people who have enjoyed my older mixes are vocally expressing their discontent with my more current mixes? No. Do I hear your complaints? Yes. Will they likely affect my process and what I decide to do in the future? Of course. Do I know where that will lead? No.

What hasn't changed is the attention to detail that you'd customarily find with any one of my mixes. I would love if all of you would take this journey with me and appreciate my art delivered through a slightly different medium. I ask that you at least try. I do understand if you're unable to take this journey with me because I know it's an acquired taste. But, consider the following: why are you likely a fan of taking a downtempo soul sample and speeding it up to a chipmunk pitch, and not the opposite? Why can Q-Tip give props to a chopped and screwed version of ATCQ's latest album, and you can't? Why can Thundercat say that he likes the chopped & screwed version of Drunk (Drank) better than the original, and you can't? Why can Ras G call my Cocaine Donuts mix "Fire" and you can't? I know, I know; different strokes... If you frequent this blog, I'm 99% sure you're a fan of Q-Tip, Thundercat, and Ras G. They are able to appreciate the style. Maybe it's something you might enjoy too. Either way, thank you to anyone who has listened to any of my mixes. It's an honor for my heart and soul to reach your ears.

A Hip Hop Snob's Definitive Guide to the Best Albums of 2017

The amount of quality music that was released in 2017 was simply overwhelming. Below is a list of albums that I bought in 2017 in which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you at least familiarize yourself with (better yet, BUY).  Though I did my best to document all the great music that I bought in 2017, I'm sure there are a few that I missed.  Feel free to add to the list in the comments section.

TOP 17 MIXES OF 2017

I tried and tried, but I could not justify separating any of the below mixes from the pack.  All of the below mixes are just too good for any of them to be singled-out as "better" than the others.

A REMINDER TO ALL THOSE INCLUDED ON THE LIST:
Some of you make a living off this whole DJ thing of ours; some of you are trying to make a living off this; while others are content to just be bedroom enthusiasts.  Whoever you are, you are extraordinarily talented if your mix has been posted on this blog.  I am a music snob.  I take music, hip hop culture, and the art form of deejaying very seriously.  I don't post bullshit (for the most part), and I don't give out compliments loosely.  If I've said your mix is dope, it's because I think your mix is dope.  And if I think your mix is dope, it's because it is.  This blog can only go as far as your mixes will take it.  The blog dies when your mixes dry up, so keep mixing motherf%ckers!  Keep diggin'; keep searching for inspiration; stop complaining about button pushers and show them how it's done.

RBMA: Inside Hip Hop's Home Studios

Great RBMA interview of the photographer of Back to the Lab (and Behind the Beat), Raph Rashid.  I can't recommend buying the coffee table book of home studios highly enough.  Book can be bought HERE, and the interview can be read HERE.

There’s Rules to This Shit: On MF DOOM’s Early Singles, 20 Years Later

Nice little write-up on the enigma that is MF Doom which can be read HERE.

And so it has come to pass that in the wake of a slew of discontinued projects and unfulfilled collaborations, more iterations of t-shirts, sneakers, and artisanal socks emblazoned with the MF DOOM mask have been produced over the last few years than actual music. In a complete inversion of the original intention behind the heavy headgear, the silhouette of DOOM’s mask has become its own sort of brand—a transformation made even more unsavory as year after year it seems less likely that DOOM will resurface as an active rapper instead of remaining a recycled product.

Paul C. McKasty: the Legend, the Tragedy, the Story of an Era

If there's a better, more comprehensive article on the late, great Paul C; I'm not aware of it.  Read HERE.

“There Really Was a Science to That Shit”: ‘Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop’ Turns 25

Excellent breakdown of Diamond D's classic which can be read HERE.

The Existential Enigma: On the Koreatown Oddity’s ‘Finna Be Past Tense’

Excellent write-up about KTO's Finna Be Past Tense by my favorite outlet for music journalism, Passion of the Weiss.  Read article HERE.

1-Year Anniversary Liner Notes: Pimps Don't Get Broken Hearts

I thought I might try something new and provide liner notes to some of my more popular/personal mixes.  I personally love reading the backstories to albums, and they always make me re-listen with a fresh ear.  I'd love to sit down with some of my favorite deejays/producers and ask them questions about their music-making process.  However, that's another task for another day.  I figure my Liner Notes Project should inaugurate with my most personal mix to date, Pimps Don't Get Broken Hearts.