Scott Melker Says "F$ck 2016" With His Latest Soul House Mix

Image via Scott Melker Like we've said numerous times, 2016 has been cruel af. Scott Melker decided to knock out another Soul House mix, but this time he wanted the mix to totally say "F$ck 2016," and similar to DJ Marky and numerous other DJs, blend tracks featuring a number of this year's lost...

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Benzi Gave Away A Bunch of His 2016 Edits

While I've never DJ'd a New Years Eve party, I can only imagine how insane it is trying to prepare. Sure, you want to make sure you're dropping the freshest tracks from the previous year, probably going anthem-for-anthem, but you can't spend two hours doing that, right? You need ebbs and flows, sneaky...

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DJ Marky Pays Tribute to the Musical Legends We Lost in 2016

The first time I went to Los Angeles was the weekend Michael Jackson died. I went there to experience an EDC, although I really just stayed in the bass arena because guys like DJ Marky were on the bill. In that sea of massive bass, Marky did something special: he dropped, then rewound, some classic...

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L'Orange Pays Tribute to "Love and Love Lost" On 'Koala'

While L'Orange's instrumental EP Koala is a more personal tribute to "love and love lost," there's something about this seven-track opus that can be felt by many, especially in the 2016th year of someone's Lord. Hell, we lost everyone from Prince to Carrie Fisher this year; someone has either found...

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KRNE Turns Up, Looks Back at 2016 In His New Year Mix

I won't front; ever since DAD was put to pasture, I've felt a bit of a weight lifted from my shoulders. I don't care what anyone says; when your job is to follow the ins and outs of one particular slice of culture, it can be taxing, especially when you have to suffer through a load of wack material...

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Mr. Mitch - "Dru (Part 2)"

Last year, Mr. Mitch kicked off the first physical run of releases on his Gobstopper imprint with an EP of his "peace edits." That release featured "Dru," his take on Dru Hill's "How Deep Is Your Love." It looks like the master of the serene side of the grime scene had more to say, and dropped a...

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Skillz Looks Back at the Year That Was With His "2016 Rap Up"

It's kind of wild when you think that it's been 20 years since Skillz dropped his From Where???album, and about 14 years since he started his Rap Up series. It's one of those things that I never think about until the very end of the year, but when it drops, I'm glad it happens (and pissed that I...

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RTDMIX007: dnr

With New Year's Eve right around the corner, we couldn't leave any of you hanging. The RTDMIX is BACK with a banger of a mix to help you turn up for the holiday, while also giving you some things to think about. The seventh edition is from a DJ who goes by [dnr]; I love his style, too. Almost a...

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EZRAKH - "I Can't Wait"

Image via EZRAKH Over the years, I've seen EZRAKH grow from a doper, left-field producer of a number of Jersey cats to really letting his freak flag fly. And it doesn't get any freakier than putting your own seductive, '70s electric shine on the Nu Shooz classic "I Can't Wait." The homey Nadus sent...

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El Carnicero and Don Cotti Link Up to Bring You The "Sound of the Future"

Image via Boom One Records / Art by Levi Villines With so much lip service being paid to the idea of dancehall and reggae permeating popular culture once again, it's dope to see some heads I love really showing mans how it's done. El Carnicero, who you should know from his work with the Seclusiais...

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Damien The Architect and Hadj Are Trying to Figure Out "How You Do That"

This shit right here? My type of hype. THIS is why I do this. I have no idea who Damien The Architect or Hadj are, but this cut got slid into my inbox, and I'm turnt. Booming beat with a tinge of the eerie, mixed with some syrupy smooth flows drenching a batch of real talk? "I don't give hugs, I...

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Rhyme Selektah Shows The World How Eastern Europe Gets Down On "Criminus"

For some MCs on the mic, it's all about shouting out how ill their city or region is. Rhyme Selektah is no different, but instead of some American ghetto, his video for "Criminus" highlights how ill it is out in Eastern Europe. I was kind of swayed by being told he was an " English-speaking East-Slav...

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Ced Hughes Views 'Life In Technicolor'

Image via Ced Hughes When I started rockthedub 10 years ago, I didn't go about it with the intention to highlight artists like Ced Hughes, primarily because I was a novice in the way in whatever you'd call the "record industry" works. As I got into it, there was a groundswell of artists who weren't...

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S-Type "Grad"

Image via S-Type Every year, I know LuckyMe sorts out their regular Advent calendar of free downloads around the holiday season, and every year I always forget to check it out from the start. Today we're five days in, but it took this ferocious new cut from S-Type to snap me into the LuckyMe season. S-Type's...

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Scott Melker Has Sorted Out the Perfect Post-Christmas Turn Up Mix

You know how it goes; you spend like two days spending all of your time with your whole family. You don't have time to escape their inane questions and babble; all you truly want to do is play your new video games, catch a showing of A Christmas Story, and steal some of your people's whisky. It's...

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The TEKLIFE Crew Gave Away A Batch of VIPs For Christmas

Sweet Christmas, the TEKLIFE crew have dropped a batch of VIP tracks for the free. 14 bangers from the likes of Taso, Manny, Taye, DJ Chap, Paypal, Sirr Tmo, and many more. You may have heard some of these, but if not, and you DJ, your set later tonight has been made. The key is that they flipped...

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It's A Christmas Fucking Miracle: Run The Jewels Released 'RTJ3' Early

Image via Run The Jewels I knew it. I tried to get myself to bed on Christmas Eve earlier than normal, primarily because I knew today was going to be wild with the family and all, and I saw Run The Jewels post a Portlandia-featured video on the Internets. I was passing out while scrolling through...

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Muffler's Given Away His New Album 'Unique Music'

Image via Muffler The holiday gifts just keep on keepin' on, eh? The newest latest is in the form of Muffler's eight-track album Unique Music, which reportedly hits all of the major digital retailers on January 9, 2017. You probably heard the bigger singles like "Snowflakes," "Valentine," and "Serenity,"...

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KOTA The Friend Is Just Doing His Thing "The Way" He Wants

It's been a minute since we've featured some new KOTA The Friend so it's dope to get this early Christmas gift from the Brooklynite. What's iller is that it's not like it's a Christmas-infused cut; this is more the anthem for those of you who are tired of getting shit on by your older relatives....

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Pish Posh Compiles Two Years of Drum & Bass Into His DnB Vault Podcast Mix

The man known as Pish Posh has sorted out a huge mix for the DnB Vault Podcast, looking at the last two years of his drum & bass output. He's at the top of longevity for stateside drum & bass producers, with the last year or so really being full of new material from him. They called it a...

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Frank Ocean Gets Chopped (Not Slopped) On 'Purple Blonde'

If you're a fan of Frank Ocean, his 2016 release Blonde, and chopped & screwed mixtapes, Christmas has officially come early. DJ Slim K made sure to drop this chopped not slopped take on Blonde entitled  Purple Blonde, which is something you might need to pour something up to while you wrap...

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Dieselboy Returns With A Thunderous New 'Destroyer' Mix

Image via Dieselboy Two years ago, Dieselboy rocked the drum & bass world with his first Destroyer mix. Back then, he told me he was inspired by the '70s grindhouse era of film-making. For his latest epic, The Destroyer II: Extinction Event, he returns to that vibe, although the length of the...

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Chance The Rapper Talks 'Merry Christmas Lil Mama' With Hannibal Burress

Who knew that Hannibal Buress had a podcast, Handsom Rambler? I sure didn't; I feel like I only saw him share a SoundCloud link to an episode the other day, but didn't realize it was a thing. Whatever the case may be, he recently had Chance The Rapper on the podcast to talk Merry Christmas Lil Mama,...

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rockthedub radio: Xmas Special 2016

Image via New York Daily News With the last edition of rockthedub radio dropping in time for Thanksgiving, it made sense that we drop a special edition for Christmas Day, right? While I may not be the first Black Santa Claus (at the Mall of America), I come bearing gifts. What's wild is I love...

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Chance The Rapper and Jeremih Dropped a Christmas Mixtape

While I'm not necessarily sure if this is dedicated to Lil Mama, it is dope to see Chicago natives Chance The Rapper and Jeremih link up for this nine-track Christmas mixtape. You have to love that this isn't like "oh we just put Christmas in the title b/c it's Christmas"–these are some genuine Christmas...

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Drum & Bass By the Fire: Hospital Records Drops Their 2016 Christmas Special

Nothing says Christmas like a proper drum & bass rinseout by the fire, amirite? London Elektricity, head honcho over at Hospital, hit the Internets with this year's Christmas special, and it's a banger. Featured in the set are both "his + the listeners’ top ten tracks of 2016," with material...

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Mixpak Celebrates the Holiday Season With Their 2016 Holiday Bundle

Mixpak has lowkey won 2016 for the underground. Whether it's Jubilee's awesome album After Hours or the squad turning up for (and winning) the Culture Clash, they had the year on lock for the subverts out there. To celebrate the last 12 months of amazingness, they dropped off their 2016 Holiday Bundle,...

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Om Unit Gives the Gift of Edits This Holiday Season

Music is truly the gift that keeps on giving, and Om Unit is in the spirit. Back in 2012, he started his limited edition "Edits" series, which turned into six tracks spread over three volumes, dropped in small quantities on vinyl. This week, as a gesture of thanks to the many out there supporting...

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That Time Kemba Rapped On-Stage With Kendrick Lamar

Last night, Kendrick Lamar was pulling rappers on stage during his show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg to get their shine on, but it wasn't until this morning that I got to see Kemba go for his acapella. You should already know how this goes; if you haven't rocked with Negus, you need to. And if you missed Kemba on Real Late recently, he killed that freestyle. Check out that full interview as...

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RTDMIX006: Son Raw

While the RTDMIX has mostly dabbled in the electronic side of the music spectrum, I can't front like this site doesn't have a deep hip-hop foundation. No matter how my love of music grows, we always go back to the raw raps and brutal beats of the hip-hop world; that said, I love that Son Raw dropped...

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Human Movement Gives Classic Mobb Deep a Groovy House Rinse

If anything fits the spirit of rockthedub, it's a chilled house take on Mobb Deep's classic "Shook Ones Pt. II." One of the grimiest, most memorable tracks to ever come from New York gets touched up by the Sydney-based duo known as Human Movement, who takes that memorable instrumental and flips it...

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Starkey Goes 8-Bar For His New Champagne Drip Remix

When I was younger and buying CD maxi singles in the mid-to-late '90s, I used to love getting dope remixes from producers I'd never heard of. It's how I fell in love with producers like Hive and DJ WAlly, if I'm being forreal. One producer who still knows how to show up and show out when it's time...

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Trends & Boylan - "Norman Bates"

This time last month, I was jamming to Trends' "Thunderussy," and almost two years ago I was dropping his sick set for the DAD Mix, so it's fitting that I'd fall in love with another new one from this UK-based grime producer. Linking up with the equally deadly Boylan, these two produced "Norman Bates,"...

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Ever Wonder What Chance The Rapper Would Sound Like On Classic Kanye West Beats?

Image via Ian Klarer You can't front; Chicago has produced some of the dopest hip-hop artists ever. Two of them, Kanye West and Chance The Rapper, are helping re-envision what hip-hop means to the youth of today, and while they've linked up (just check out this year's "Ultralight Beam"), this new...

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King Geedorah Unleashes His "Snake Charmer" Mix on Solid Steel

If you love mixes and radio shows like I do, you need to be keeping it locked to Solid Steel. It has always been the place for the Broadest Beats, and this week—as per usual—they highlight just how important this radio / mix series truly is. In hour one, MF Doom's King Geedorah moniker steps up...

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PREMIERE: A Mankind Complex - "Overachieve"

Another day, another dollar, and A Mankind Complex is here to "Overachieve." The CapCity representers cooked up a motivational anthem for heads who don't want to just get by or get ahead; this is for those out there who are looking to break all preconceived notions and goals. The go getters who are...

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Cameron Murdoch ft. Shepherds & Masego - "Regular Guy"

I got this track a few weeks back, and was truly intrigued. I can't front like this is my favorite track of the year, but I love where Cameron Murdoch is going with it. "Regular Guy" is taken from his recently-released project I Love Me Too, and the Minnesota-based MC/producer got me open. There's...

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Quelle Chris - "Buddies"

Now this is my kind of insanity. Quelle Chris first hit my ear years ago for his beats, but I've loved how he's spread his wings on the mic. On the Ayepee-produced "Buddies," Chris goes to great lengths to let you know why he fucks with himself (spoiler alert: most of you ain't shit, so he needs...

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J-Live - "Eleven Nine"

I've been a fan of J-Live's for over 15 years, but I have to keep it a buck: this new joint, "Eleven Nine," has me feeling the way I felt about his sophomore album, 2002's The Best Part. Something about J diving deep into his social commentary bag, pouring all of those feelings we've had since Trump...

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Jeremy Ian Thomas - "She Waits"

I woke up today actually feeling OK, but in the last half hour or so started feeling some type of way. It drew me to the music of Jeremy Ian Thomas, who's dropping his The Emerald Tablet project on December 9. Shouts to Rappers I Know for putting me on; these kind of soothing, serene tracks help...

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DJ Zinc Makes His Return to the Essential Mix

Seven years ago, the impeccable DJ Zinc put together one of my favorite Essential Mixes ever. By that point, he was already very deep into the non-dnb world. This time around, with the basshouse/night bass scenes taking over both sides of the Atlantic, Zinc returns with a smashing Essential Mix set...

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DJ JS-1 Spans All Genres In New 'On Track' Mix

As you know, we don't just rock to hip-hop around here; we're fans of pieces of MANY genres, so when experienced DJs like JS-1 step up for these multi-genre mixes, you have to stand up and take note. In describing "On Track," JS-1 says "I listen to a variety of music. This mix is a collection of...

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The Dixon Brothers Get You Into the Holiday Spirit With Their "Ho! 3X" Mix

Having trouble getting into the holiday spirit? Don't fret, the Dixon Brothers have your back. The UK-based duo is back with a perfect 11-minute holiday mixtape, featuring classics and remixes of said classics. Everything is in here, including Destiny's Child, the Jackson 5, Brenda Lee, and more,...

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Watch TV One's 'Unsung' Documentary On Frankie Knuckles and the History of House Music

Image via Dave Hoekstra Earlier this week, TV One's Unsung series looked at the life and legacy of DJ Frankie Knuckles, who passed away two years ago. He's truly the architect of house music (hell, the name "house music" wouldn't even be a thing if it wasn't for heads in need of a way to describe...

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Run The Jewels - "Legend Has It"

Image via Run The Jewels Word hit today that Run The Jewels' third album, RTJ3, is set to hit on January 13. With that, they dropped "Legend Has It," the out-and-out BANGER I've been waiting for. Just hit play and listen. Something about when Killer Mike and El-P are able to go for broke over a...

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PAx Noble Thinks A Lot of You Artists Are "Fake AF"

Now I love stuff like this. There's a lot to be said for the way music is going today; a lot of cats want their music to sound crispy as fuck and have a catchy-as-shit hook, and most of the time they take that route because their hooks > their bars, but they can pay for the ill studio engineers,...

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Frank Knight - "Vain (Rediculus Remix)"

You have to love when two hip-hop titans get together to give dope material a new coat of paint. That's what the mighty Rediculus did for Frank Knight's 2015 album Free Lunch. Their new project, Munchies, is a full-on Rediculus remix of Free Lunch, and if this rework of "Vain" is just the tip of...

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New Track City - "Get it, Got it, Good."

You'll never understand how much new artists will excite me. There's something about getting material from someone you'd NEVER heard before, having the music hit you, and letting that familiar rush of excellence wash over you. That's how I felt when "Get it Got it Good," the new one from the trio...

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