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Folks have been asking after this record for days, and now that Flamin' Hotz has finally dropped the megaton bomb, I don't think those folks will be disappointed. Cobra Kai crew's DJ Krames picked only the most classic tracks to remix on...
expand review Cracker Jackin', and all get done up in classic Bmore gimmick style (think old Samir, Jonny Blaze, etc.). A-side features remixes of Daft Punk's "One More Time" ("What More Time(1)"), Us3's "Cantaloop" ("Flip Fantasia(2)") and Willie Hutch's "I Choose You" ("Players Choose You(3)") plus the party break "Work That Pussy." On the flip, Krames goes oldies radio with "A Lollipop(4)," "In His Kiss(5)," "It's My Party(6)" and "I Think We're Alone Now(7)" (OG Tommy James version, of course, nuh Tiffany). 8 tracks total; ace packaging job from Flamin' Hotz as usual. -Chris Lemon-Red
Cousin Cole and Pocketknife's (aka Flagrant Fowl) Tambourine Dream EP has been on heavy rotation at the Lab from day one. The vinyl version featured 6 unique indie-rock and folk remixes (which are all included here), but the Flagrant Fowl dudes got...
expand review loose on this CD with twelve more remixes that are hitting the spot right now with winter gloominess in full swing. These songs give all the sappy jams that you listened to when your college crush told you she just wanted to be friends, a danceable quality that'll make you glad she didn't lock you down, so you're free to be knee deep in 'tang until graduation.
Standouts on the mix that aren't on the EP include: Cousin Cole's No Bro-Mo House mix of Indie darlings, Panda Bear. Pocketknife brings the mellow heat with his Faded Beach Towel remix of Feist's Gatekeeper. Seu Jorge gets put through the drum machine as "Rebel, Rebel" gets the Tambo D treatment as the mix starts to wind down. This is all topped off with the great artwork from Nathan Fox and design from Strange Attractors on the jacket and disc. Lightly mixed (you could DJ with em, but cop the vinyl for full versions). Comes in a full color digipak. Recommended. -erock
The young gunna DJ Sega out of Philly has had folks' jaws dropping for a minute with his left field Bmore club tracks and a string of self-released mixtapes; now he's getting major cosigns from no less than four labels (Mad Decent,...
expand review Counterfeet, Ol' Head, Flamin' Hotz) and is about to open a lot more eyes with his tracks on the new Hollertronix EP. But before that, we get this - an official mix CD (nice packaging and all, #2 in the 51:51 Mix Series) featuring remixes from Sega and Tim Dolla, plus Jersey's DJ Tameil and Bmore godfathers Rod Lee and KW Griff. The name pretty much says it all - the "Rockstars" side of the mix features 16 tracks of pure gouda rock (Nirvana, Genesis, Papa Roach, Supertramp, Bon Jovi) in the Bmore stylee, while the "Clubheadz" section has 12 less guilty pleasures (T-Pain, Busta, R.Kelly, Beyonce, 50 Cent, MJ). Seeeegaaaaaa... 28 tracks total. Recommended. -Larri Byrd
With fire beats by the youngster and mixing from DJ Dee Squared, this new installment in the 51:51 mix series is Party Dwizz for reals. Get in your Wu-Tang stance, throw this one on and go hard with "Hands Up Thumbs Down,"...
expand review "Salt Pepper Ketchup," "D-Wizz Anthem" and 23 more sounds straight from Philly's dancefloors. It's not really ghettotech, it's not really Bmore, it's just party music. Full disclosure: the sound on certain tracks here is a little fuzzed / blowed out AT TIMES... but it's all for that grimy raw realness, ya heard? 25 tracks; 60 minutes. -Larri Byrd
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Part time producer / part time South Philly High School football star Dwizz drops his debut EP on Flamin' Hotz (who brought you Curtis Vodka, Emynd & Bo Bliz, Trouble & Bass). Dwizz's type of "party music" sounds like pitched-up Bmore with...
expand review bits of ghettotech and lots of energy - Philly's loving it. "Salt Pepper Ketchup & Hot Sauce(1)" - as in "whatchu want on your wings, gurl?" - is already a club anthem over there. (The beat's a hybrid of "Percolator," gunshots and paranoid electro-strings.) Dwizz gets a little more booty bass going on "Toot That(2)," which samples "Pop Lock & Drop It," but mis-steps a bit on "Feelin' So Horny." (Hey, the kid's in high school...) Couple more club-worthy cuts on the B-side: Dwizz chops up MIMS for "I'm Hot(3)," and his "Goodtimes(4)" remix can stand toe-to-toe with Tittsworth's "Jeffersons." Nice artwork and pic sleeve from Flamin' Hotz as always. -Chris Lemon-Red
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After their success of White Tees & White Belts in the latter part of '06, Philly's noisy producer duo comes back rested with a whole batch of new Bmore heaters for the club. From the cover alone, you can tell Flamin' Hotz...
expand review has a lot of confidence in the whole thang, with illustrated print of the two on the sleeve against an urban landscape. They should, 'cause all of these tracks
are winning bets. From their edits of club hits like "To All My Haterz(1)," Disco/Funk classics like "Rock This Park(2)," oldies like "Hangin' On(3)"and house classics like "Deep Down Inside(4)," it's hard to lose. Also check the rowdy beats on "Stick Em' Up(5)" and the funky edit of "It's Just Begun" on "Go Back(6)." Consider it a buffet plate of bangers for a hungry dancefloor.
-C'mish
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Indie rock darlings Hail Social are the latest entrants into the ever-expanding, always diverse Flamin' Hotz discography... but with six club dudes from Philly on board for remix duties, you know this ain't no indie rock. And, ok, Designer Drugs don't technically...
expand review reside in the City of Brotherly Love but their blazing electro remix of "Heaven(1)" more than justifies their spot on this record. (Seriously, take a listen - never heard the original, it doesn't even sound like a remix to these ears.) Plastic Little producer Squid comes correct on "The Fall(2)" with a sound that's half downtempo / half ghettotech, while Benny Brows gets a little funky on his version of "All Night(3)." Sleeper pick comes courtesy of Kilroy with an atmospheric nu disco spin on "One U Love(4)." Also includes remixes from Philly party-starters Crimp Your Hair and Turbo Station. First pressing on purple vinyl; pic sleeve artwork by Thom Lessner. -Chris Lemon-Red
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"Oh no, he didn't." "Dude is taking it there." "Oh my Gaaawd." "That's fucking awesome!" "That sucks." Whatever you wanna say, Rev. McFly's first single on Flamin' Hotz as Ninja Sonik definitely knows how to get people buzzin'. The EP is a...
expand review mixture of electro/rave/Bmore coming straight from NY. The scene for this shit is some real durt-ass parties (used to see dude floating around the earliest Trouble & Bass sessions) where all the hipsters, rock heads, and freaks jam out to hard pumping tracks all night. Just click "Tight Pants(1)" to get an idea. The dude loves his dirty rocking club beats and to yell out Lil Jon inspired phrases like "Whaat n*gga!!!" and "I'm a tight pants wearin' ass n*gga!" Like I said, real dirt talk. The raps by Telli Gramz make it complete. Also check out the drier original version(2) and the electro/rave sound of "Elsewhere's Silence Of The Jamz Remix(3)." The shit is straight cray! There's also the "King Of The Internet" jam, called "Internet Bitch(4) - Pharoah's 4X4 On The Floor Mix." It’s got samples for all you net-kings over a jazzy old skool house sound. Also, check the surprise ending with the Bmore version of ODB's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" called "Bastardmore - Ninjasonik Refix." If nothing else works, at least you have a surefire banger you can rely on. -C'mish
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The acid colors are frying my retinas! And this beat is kicking my ass! Todosantos makes "youthful expression" the understatement of the year, and Flamin' Hotz is treating their EP like a champion horse. Not only do they dress up the single...
expand review with eye-popping 3-D design (3-D glasses included!) they also throw in an enhanced DVD including MP3s and MP4s of all the tracks and 3 spastic videos for their singles (check their MySpace for previews). The shit is so crazy, if this was a video game, it would come with a disclaimer for seizure-inducing visuals. The tracks "OMG - We Got It(1)," "Acid Boys & Acid Girls(2)," and "Pao!(3)" are just as hype as their look, and introduce their "Tukky Bass" sound, comprised of nu-rave, dubstep, baile, kuduro and ghettotech elements. The hybrid is a super-concentrated party pill made for gettin' straight stupid on the dancefloor. Not only that, you get more hype remixes from Cousin Cole, Leif, a hard dubstep/dance version by Cardopusher(4), and Diplo's homie System D-128's smashing bonus beat(5). Careful with these, it's pretty explosive. Did I mention it's on yellow and red marbled vinyl? -C'mish
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Third release from the Flamin Hotz label, who really got their name out there with that Curtis Vodka joint. People loved that record- I mean people way beyond the bmore resurrection hype and mp3 blog shuffle, they were all over that thing...
expand review when we played it in the store. This new one from the Trouble & Bass crew is still "bmore" based in sound, but goes in way harder than Curtis (I know Sing Sing drums don't necessarily equal Baltimore Club, but what else are you gonna call this stuff? I think Blu Jemz coined the proper name "WBB" – White Boy Baltimore or something like that). Whereas Curtis Vodka's record was vaguely pretty and made you feel good- this shit hits you square in the head and might make you wanna punch somebody. It's good. Tough call but I think my favorite on here is Math Head's "Magnum(1)," reworking the Magnum P.I. theme with all sorts of breakdowns and party chants. Not cheesy at all, and barely recognizable if you aren't looking for it, this one is just clean and effective. For something more straight to the dancefloor gut, check "Uptown VIP(2)" from L.Vis, a sped up remix of Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. The first verse is left intact, but things really get fun when they start fucking with those intro horns (same ones used on "Hips Don't Lie") for the remainder of the track. Drop The Lime has two tracks on here, both showing signs of some serious work and more of a grime / dubstep influence. Checkout the slowed down "Juggernaut(3)" with signature dubstep bass drops and the reworking of Ciara's "Get Up(4)." "Dirty Ride(5)" is a Chamillionaire remix (little late for that), but "Ballers(6)" is an all purpose joint that you could play any time. Another solid one from these guys. -the mgmnt
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First offical kuduro comp at the Lab? Methinks so, and it's courtesy Philly's Flamin' Hotz label, who come with the impeccable packaging as always. (Glossy, spot-varnished pic sleeve, black and red colored vinyl.) If you're not already aware of this mini-musical phenomenon...
expand review coming out of Angola and Portugal, you could do much worse than to have this as your introduction. Kuduro fuses elements of house and Afrobeat with soca and calypso for a seriously unique sound; combined with the scene's energetic MCs, it's no wonder everyone from Diplo to Radioclit have been jumping on the style. Favorite tracks here are Frederic Galliano Kuduro Sound System's "Ate Quando(1)" and "Continental Kuduro(2)," DJ Patrick's "Sem Maneiras(3)," and DJ Patrick JC's "Do Volate(4)." But you really can't go wrong with any of these. Quality. 6 tracks. Recommended. -Van Hammersly
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First off, props to Philly's Flamin' Hotz on release #10! Things seem to have come full circle - their very first release was the (long out-of-print) Sou Funk EP and on #10 they've assembled another gang of baile bangers for Funkeiros e...
expand review Progresso. The obvious jam here is Cabide DJ's funk remix of "My Neck, My Back(1)," but if you're not afraid of some Portugese, try Beto De Caixa's minimal "Blindao(2)" or Cabide's "Que Delicia(3)." There's also breaks galore on Zezinho's "Battle Break Funk(4)," DJ Edgar's soulful, female vocal'd "Aperta Um Quebe(5)" and funk superstar Mr. Catra with "Eu Fui de Todas Elas(6)." Green vinyl with great design from Bustbright as always. -Larri Byrd
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Flamin' Hotz always stays deluxe with their packaging, but they went all out for the label's first CD release. The unmixed baile funk comp Pancadao Do Morro is another team-up with the Rio non-profit Two Brothers Foundation, who along with Rio's CFC...
expand review (Carioca Funk Clube) provide tons of photos and info for the release's two (count 'em, two) liner booklets. There's bios for every artist and full translations for every track - needless to say, these things are quite rare for a baile funk comp. And speaking of rare, even with the advent of all these "blawgs," good unmixed funk tracks are still surprisingly hard to come across, but this CD has them to spare. Also, where the hell else are you gonna see Mr. Catra's black and gold customized Nikes? Tracks to check: Cabide DJ's "My Neck, My Beck Remix(1)," MC Xana e Rio Ba$$ Commando's "Seduzir Você(2)," Phaybo DJ's "Electro Base(3)," Sany Pitbull's "Amazônia(4)," MC Sargento's "Tipo Bang Bang(5)," MC Loura e Sany Pitbull's "Troca-Aplica(6)" and Funkero e DJ Juninho Carioca's "Piloto de Fuga(7)." 23 tracks; 66 minutes. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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