DJ Trace - Philly Blunt (1994)

This legendary tape has graced many Philadelphia ravers' cassette tapes throughout the mid-nineties and for good reason: it's excellent! I have gotten tons of requests for this and my good buddy Sam had luckily been sitting on a copy. Recorded right around the time breakbeat and uk 'ardcore suddenly became jungle, the tracklist is a who's who of the time periods top producers and labels - Trace storms through essential cuts from LTJ Bukem, Omni Trio, Roni Size, Q Project, Goldie, Origin Unknown, DJ Rap, Deep Blue, DJ Crystl, among many others. It was an amazing time for the genre (the golden years, imo) and this set is a crucial display. Please note: the tape I ripped this from suffered some severe warping during the beginning of the first side - not much I can do but instead of altering the mix I left it in it's entirety, as you can easily skip past it if it bothers you.

Side 1
DJ Crystl - Meditation (VIP Drumz Mix) [Unreleased]
Ed Rush - Selecta [Jet Star]
Q Project - Champion Sound (The Alliance remix) [Legend]
Roni Size & DJ Die - Music Box [Full Cycle]
Potential Bad Boy - Brown Girls [Ibiza]
Rap & Aston - Get Rushed [Suburban Base]
Deep Blue - The Helicopter Tune [Moving Shadow]
Origin Unknown - Valley Of The Shadows (Long Dark remix) [Ram]
Hyper On Experience - Disturbance (Tango remix) [Moving Shadow]
Engineers Without Fears - Spiritual Aura [Dee Jay]
MA1 - Rufige [Formation]
Skanna – Heaven EP 'This Way' [Skanna]

> > > Download < < <

Side 2
Omni Trio - Renegade Snares (Foul Play remix) [Moving Shadow]
Apollo Two - Atlantis (I Need You) (LTJ Bukem remix) [Good Looking]
Dextrous & Rude Boy Keith - Wicked [Suburban Base]
DJ Sparks - Frontline [Yaw]
Omni Trio - Feel Good (Original In Demand Mix) [Moving Shadow]
D'Cruze - Watch Out [Suburban Base]
Slipmaster J - Groundhog Day [Lucky Spin]
JMJ & Richie - Hall Of Mirrors (Omni Trio Mirror Image Mix) [Moving Shadow]
Swift & Zinc - Uncontrollable Desire [Unreleased]
Ed Rush - Bludclot Artattack remix (Lick 2) [No U-Turn]
Rufige Kru - Fury [Moving Shadow]
DJ Crystl - Sweet Dreamz [Dee Jay]

> > > Download < < <

Jae Kennedy - Rush Hour (2003)

Photo credit: Keep-It-Movin'This set isn't quite as dated as the mixes we've been posting thus far but it's been a favorite of mine since I first heard it after long time Philly badman Jae Kennedy posted it on the Philly Jungle Massive messageboard (R.I.P.) back in 2003. It's a nasty mix of funky rollers and bouncing brutal techstep and neurofunk flavors, a really proper representation of drum n bass at the time. It was actually a lost mp3 but I recently dug it up and had to share. Crazy to think its almost a decade old. No tracklist- I'm a bit lazy, but feel free to have a go. Loads of early (re: good) Pendulum, some Karl K, Kaos & Jae Kennedy originals, a few Matrix and Ed Rush & Optical stormers, and starts off with a brilliantly cheeky bootleg of Masters At Work's classic "To Be In Love". Enjoy!

Jae Kennedy - Rush Hour (2003)
Stream on Divshare:

>>>Download<<<

Make sure to check back this weekend. I just encoded and will be uploading a highly sought after, stone cold classic Philly jungle mixtape from 1994!

J. Smooth - Enter The 37th Chamber: (1996)

This blog is like the bastard stepchild I just try to avoid. Just kidding. :) Just busy. :( Sorry for the lack of posts. Comments on these posts would motivate me (hint!). Also tell your friends about our FB page. "Like" us.

As promised, we've got loads of classic sets lined up from the likes of the original, undisputed, jump-up/hardstep king: Joe Candidi, more commonly known as the one like J. Smooth. Many people have been asking me to post these sets, so here we are. Rest assured this is just the beginning. It's been a really great experience to reacquaint myself with this set in particular, as it's a reminder of a very specific, very fun time in my life. I was introduced to Joe probably a year or so before this mix hit the streets and was lucky enough to witness first hand the very initial inklings and early development of the bouncing, rumbling, breakneck jungle/rap hybrid he would become widely known for. This set serves as an enjoyable reminder of what the beginnings of jump up and hardstep sounded like. So much soul and so much funk. A quick google search proves this is fairly widely available mix, but a fitting kick off to this series of posts. Stay tuned. More soon come.

Enter The 37th Chamber: Jungle Style '96 Side 1
Stream on Divshare:

or Download


Enter The 37th Chamber: Jungle Style '96 Side 2
Stream on Divshare:

or Download

Big up to the cats @Golden Era Jungle for the cassette scans.

Karl K - Binary Code (1997)

So here we are with another classic, unearthed gem of a mixtape. Released in 1997, Binary Code stands out as one of Karl K's finest mixes. Less a show of tricks and skill, (though that pops up as expected), it's the overall vibe created and sustained throughout the mix that makes this one stand out. It takes me right back to a very particular time period of my life, November of 1997. I moved from my parents house in Northeast Philadelphia and in with friends in South Philly, but was still commuting an hour+ each way every day to work. Throughout the following 3-4 months of subway and EL rides, I played this tape pretty much everyday, it acted as a soundtrack to one of my favorite books, Snow Crash. It was the perfect accompaniment: futuristic techstep and early neurofunk by Trace, Adam F, Dillinja, Optical, Matrix, Andy C, DJ Krust, Future Forces Inc., among others. Apologies for no tracklist this time around - there are too many unknowns on this one for me, but have a go at it in the comments if you'd like!


Download: Side 1
Download: Side 2

DJ Trace w/ Dub2 MC: Live @ Bassrush vs Formation (1996)

Sorry for the delay in posts. We're back and re-energized. Soon with a brand spanking new DrumSkool215 podcast chock full of deliciousness, and in the meantime we're rolling out some freshly ripped classic mix tapes. Since we've got to bring it back with a bang, I've unearthed one of the holy grails of the mid 90's jungle scene: DJ Trace w/ Dub2 MC Live @ Bassrush vs Formation, 1996.

Trace himself actually personally insisted I upload this one - and for plenty good reason. It takes me right back to the vibes of Fridays @ 1415 Locust. Hearing all this stuff the first time around, in a dark, smoky club through floor-to-ceiling speakers was mind blowing. It's an incredibly energetic set loaded with (at the time) fresh dubs from everyone and anyone who mattered at the time. As you can see from the tracklist below (thanks to those who helped i.d.) Doc Scott, Dillinja, Grooverider, Boymerang, Lemon D, and Trace himself all contribute runnin' next step beats.

Note Dillinja's 'Tron' on side two of the mix - it's a very early rollin version of 'Silverblade' that only a select few got a copy of. I'd always hoped for a release, but it seems the DAT has been lost. :( At least I got to hear it on a proper system a few times.

As always, keep in mind these are cassette rips, there is only so much I can do to improve the quality other than boosting the levels and tweaking the EQ's a bit. And don't forget to check out the Trace Live @ Bassquake in 1997 set that we ripped last year. More to come!!!!

Side 1
Stream:

Download
Boymerang - You Like It Like That
Nasty Habits - Shadowboxing
Lemon D - 12:01
Nasty Habits - Prototyped
Dillinja - Yo
Elementz of Noize - Planet
Boymerang - Blue Notes
Trace & Nico - Area 51
Grooverider - The Warning

Side 2
Stream:

Download
Trace - Mutant Revisited
Boymerang - Still
Trace & Nico - Replicants
Capone - Paradise
Dillinja - Tron
Trace - Squadron
Grooverider - Jon Two
Goldie - Kemistry (Doc Scott Rmx)