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 musical heroes, including David Bowie, Prince, A Tribe Called Quest, George Michael, and others.

2016 has been a cruel motherfucker. Fuck the entire year in the eye, and hope that 2017 is much brighter. You can stream Scott's full mix down below, and download it via Brooklyn Radio.

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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 tracks thrown in the mix to keep people interested. Why not sort yourself out with a gang of edits, maybe mixing up some of the bigger rap anthems with some of the biggest tunes from the realm of EDM?

Enter Benzi, a DJ who's been on the circuit for years, and knows both genres like the back of his hand. Earlier on Twitter, he dropped a massive .zip file full of his 2016 edits, featuring insane combinations like Vic Mensa x Styles&Complete, Migos x 4B and Aazar, an Alvaro remix of Drake's "One Dance," and much, much more.

I figure that plenty of you DJs are going through your folders NOW, so grab this .zip ASAP and get right for tonight. Check out these massive edits that are included in the file.

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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 MJ records. It was small, but necessary. And with his deep crates, I'm surprised he isn't asked to do more retrospective mixes like this.

With 2016 taking the likes of David Bowie, Prince, Rod Temperton, George Michael, and others passing away this year, it made sense that someone did a mix like this. Marky says that one of his good friends asked him to do it, so he obliged. Here's his ~70 minute mix, featuring a beautiful mix of material from these classic artists. Perfect for your NYE festivities, if you're more on the "cry into a glass of whisky" sort like myself.

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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 love or been stripped of a loved one. L'Orange found a way to channel the fond memories—and the somber feels—into these timeless tracks.

You can stream the full project down below, and pick it up for whatever your heart desires over on Bandcamp.

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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 to find the true gems. I still do it, but it's at my leisure, and there's no real clock on me. I now get the opportunity to just enjoy shit instead of trying to find angle and figure out what the hell things fit into. One thing it also allows me to do is reflect on some of the diamonds in that rough, like KRNE.

KRNE is a Bay Area representer who became a name in the first year of DAD's existence. He's grown from strength to strength, from a SoundCloud-steady rocker to a worldwide party smasher. His sound is focused; it's far from the typical turn up you find on the dancefloor—aka it's right in my lane. So, when I saw that he dropped a 2016 New Year Mix, I was all over it. The folks over at NEST say that he drops a number of "easily recognizable bangers from Alexander Lewis, Boombox Cartel, QUIX, Y2K, and many more," but I feel more like the odd man out, WHICH IS GREAT! Teach me something with your journeys into sound. KRNE also dropped some unreleased heat from himself, too.

You know how it is around here; we need these pre-game mixes to breathe. Stream this ferocious set down below.

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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 second part to "Dru." Something tells me that a number of babies are going to be made to this track over the holiday weekend.

You can stream "Dru (Part 2)" in all of its glory down below, and download the track for free. #ByeBye2016

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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 forget it). There's something about the way he drops jewels about everything with the intellect of a grown ass man who's seen shit and knows the score already.

Of course he sends love to Phife, gets pissed about being told to use the new chip in his card, and fears over Trump's presidency. 2017 is about to be wild, so the best way to prepare is to rewind one cold ass year so we don't repeat the fuckery. Stream Skillz's "2016 Rap Up" below. And if you wanted Rap Ups from different rappers, check out how Bekay and Uncle Murda ran down 2016.

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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 kindred spirit, since I know he has a healthy love and enthusiasm for the jungle sound, but dabbles everywhere from hip-hop to more subversive, beat-heavy electronic soundscapes. That's kind of the vibe of his contribution to the RTDMIX, "Urban Decay." This isn't the mix you want to drop at midnight on January 1; this is the mix for the after after party, where all of the debauchery has quieted down, but a crew of willing and able heads are waxing poetic on life heading into 2017 while trekking through some of their more intriguing beats.

Featured artists in this mix include Pusha T, Ivy Lab, Lemon D, Foreign Beggars, Hyroflifics, Infuze, and even one of my favorite Eminem songs, ever. Press play and take that ride, knowing full well that once the dust settles, things will get better. Hell, if they don't, at least we had a massive time.

You can stream this mix below, and if you're so inclined, subscribe to the podcast.

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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 this one over to me the other day, as EZRAKH is down with his THREAD imprint...I'd say keep your eyes and ears peeled to both in the new year.

For now, get blowed to this. You can stream below and download for the free via Bandcamp.

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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 / Slit Jockey camps, has linked up with Don Cotti, a UK vocalist that's worked with everyone from Skream to Skepta, to give you the "Sound of the Future."

This cut, which is part dancehall, part reggae, all bass, is something to wind your waist to while preparing for WAR. But that's far from everything; Boom One Records called on both Skyshaker and Lemi Vice & Cool Hand Lex to put their own spin on this futuristic sound. You can stream the lead single below, then head over to Bandcamp to stream (and cop) the remixes. Then put the needle on the record and go ham!

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