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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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 af tracks. You also have to respect that they went full-on juke on the title track, which is produced by TEKLIFE members (and fellow Chicago representers) DJ Spinn and Gant-Man.

Stream the full mixtape below.

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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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Machinedrum Releases DJ Rashad Tribute EP

This Sunday, it'll be one year since the footwork community lost one of it's pioneers; DJ Rashad's gone WAY too soon, but he'll never be forgotten. Today, Machinedrum—a producer who's worked with and been influenced by Rashad—released Movin' Forward, a five-track EP of material that features three Rashad productions (including a tune Machinedrum and Nick Hook produced with Rashad, "Understand"). You can cop it right now, and should; just like Hyperdub's Next Life compilation, proceeds from the release will go to Rashad's family.

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