The Teklife Crew Kicks Off 2020 With a New 'TEKLIFE VIP' Compilation

After all of the holiday jazz about gifts and resolutions, there are certain traditions this time of year that I can't wait for. One of them is the TEKLIFE crew's yearly VIP compilation full of bangers from their heaviest hitters. Overnight, they unleashed the 2020 version, which features 17 footwork bangers from everyone, from DJ Spinn to Traxman. For what it's worth, I'd say hit up Gant-Man's Public Enemy flip. He DID that.

You can stream the full project below, and head over to their website to grab the .zip for free.

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Download the 31-Track TEKLIFE VIP 2019 Compilation

The TEKLIFE camp has been solid this year; albums from DJ Taye, Heavee, and others have helped me personally get by, and truth be told, the TEKLIFE stamp of approval is all I need. That said, I woke up this morning noticing some cuts being thrown onto their YouTube page, and low and behold, they've dropped a massive 31-TRACK COMPILATION on SoundCloud. The whole squad is here, from the aforementioned names to DJ Manny, Jana Rush, Traxman, DJ Earl, DJ Spinn, DJ Chap, DJ Paypal, and many, many others, including combinations of the mentioned names.

You can stream the full project below, and download it for free via the TEKLIFE website. Best way to end a fucked up year.

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Manny + Rolow "Find Ya Wings 2020"

The TEKLIFE camp can't miss. Even their freebies are fire flames. For the footworkers out there, DJ Manny has a new one for you to sink your teeth into. In collaboration with Rolow, he dropped "Find Ya Wings 2020," which is in the pocket of luscious jazz loops and frantic bass and percussion. A true headbanger.

Full stream and download of "Find Ya Wings 2020" below.

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Stream DJ Manny's "Footwork Masterclass" 'Greenlight'

Image via LIKES.THIS

I'm not sure if Fall is for footworkers, but it feels like most of the illest footwork comes out this time of the year; maybe it has something to do with footwork pioneer DJ Rashad's birthday being October 9th. Whatever the case may be, one of Rashad's proteges, DJ Manny, has unleashed what the Teklife crew is calling a "footwork masterclass" in the form of his latest project, Greenlight. I've had it on since it dropped on the 6th and have been enamored. It's the proper mixture of special Teklife bass thumps and UK jungle-leaning breakbeat editing, laced with hypnotic synths and call-and-response hooks.

In typical Teklife fashion, Manny doesn't shy from putting the squad on. Burgeoning bass beast DJ Taye (a duo who knocked out the memorable "Burnin Ya Boa") is featured on half of the album's 10 tracks, but you're also hearing from the likes of DJ Chap and DJ LUCKY, but don't get it twisted; cuts like "Like That" highlight Manny being comfortable enough on his own to churn out solo BANGERS.

You can stream the entire album below, but it's highly recommended that you cop Greenlight digitally or on vinyl. And note, you can get a vinyl album AND a Greenlight t-shirt if you cop from Cargo.

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Taso Picks Up Where He Left Off With 'Cold Heat Vol. 9'

Image via Reza Iman

In 2016, TEKLIFE member Taso was looking to drop an EP a month in a series he called "Cold Heat." For some reason, he got to Vol. 8 and ended up falling off, but has picked it up a year and a month later with Vol. 9, which hit his Bandcamp page this week. He might not be there when you call, but judging by the sound of this one, he's always on time.

It's dope, because every time I feel like I'm lacking in new footwork, the universe hits me in the face with a bunch of new (and forthcoming) tracks. This EP featured collabs with DJ Earl, Sam Binga, and a posse cut called "Tired" featuring Taso alongside DJ Manny (who has a new album, Greenlight, due out in October), DJ Chap (who has a dope remix/bootleg release that you need to rock with), and DJ Boylan.

Dope four-tracker for a dope price. And if you like what you hear, check out Taso's new promo mix (and a video for "West is the Best") down below.

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Watch DJ Taye and DJ Manny Footwork to "Burnin Ya Boa"

You have to appreciate clips like this; for all of the talk of what footwork is and which crews are doing it, many forget that the essence of footwork is actual dancing. The first time I even knew who DJ Manny was was via a clip of him dancing online, so it's dope to see him alongside DJ Taye (and their homey Jalen) getting their steps in to their track "Burnin Ya Boa," which is taken from Taye's forthcoming EP Move Out, which is out on November 25 via Hyperdub.

You can pre-order Move Out today on vinyl and digital download; the EP also features DJ Earl. Keep that TEKLIFE sound alive.

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DJ Rashad & DJ Manny - "Roll A Tree"

When I really got into the Chicago-bred sound known as footwork, it was via DJ Manny's "All I Do (Is Smoke Trees)," which isn't a groundbreaking sentiment OR track, but the feeling within that somber, hypnotic repetition of a Lil Wayne line over the hyper track had me open. It's been that leftfield combination of hip-hop and electronic music around 160BPM that's had me hooked, and the TEKLIFE collective (of which Manny has been a part of and was blown up by the late DJ Rashad) does it best.

Out now is Afterlife, an official, posthumous release from DJ Rashad featuring a cavalcade of TEKLIFE affiliates collaborating with the prolific producer. The entire project is a footwork lover's wet dream, but there's something about the last track, "Roll A Tree," that brings not only that compilation back home, but brings my appreciation for the sound full circle. First off, it's built around Jill Scott's "A Long Walk," a song that for many was their first introduction to the Philly singer. Instead of doing a full-on remix, they just Manny and Rashad focus on the most TEK-related bit, where she suggests that her and her boo "roll a tree."

Again, there's no ground-breaking aspect about this cut. It's foreplay for beatfreaks; a couple of lines, looped over a funky, 808-booming beat, building up to the climactic "MAYBE WE CAN ROLL A TREE!" That's pretty much it, but instead of trying to dazzle heads with technical prowess or insane studio tricks, these two seem to have crafted a gem off feeling alone. It's a tried and true "TEKLIFE special," and has been on repeat since I discovered it.

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The Month of August Has Basically Been "TEKLIFE" Month

I almost just wrote "Chicago's TEKLIFE crew," but it's way past that. Sure, the crux of the squad is a gang of producers and DJs from the Chi, but the sound and style has gone global. This month in particular has been pretty amazing for the squad, and instead of chopping up different posts, I figured a dope collection of what's been going on with the crew in one spot would make sense. Hit the jump and get educated... and some free tracks!

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Taso Links With DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, and DJ Manny For His 'Teklife Till Tha Next Life Vol. 2' Compilation

Footwork is a sound that feels like it was made for me. Even bigger than drum & bass, which consumed my life for years on end (and is still near to my heart), there's something about a bunch of dance music-loving DJs and producers who throw SO MUCH of their hip-hop love and appreciation into their material. The Teklife crew is it for me; their sample sources and aesthetic just speak to me.

Teklife member Taso is back with the second of his Teklife Till Tha Next Life series, featuring collaborations with DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, and DJ Manny, breathing new life into material from Raekwon, Styles P, Ice Cube, and others, while still keeping it jungle-paced and amazing. Grab this shit for free ASAP, then drop a 10 spot on the first volume.

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