Tune-Yards, "Gangsta (B-Rock Don't Come To My Hood party edit)

Tune-Yards - Gangsta (B-Rock Don't Come To My Hood party edit) by DJ B-Rock

Because why? Just b.cause...

I've become a huge fan of DJ B.Cause in the last 24 hours.  His edits are very simple but so carefully chosen that they border on genius.  If he were a painter, he would be a "Sumi-e" artist where the perfectly chosen brush stroke and shading can make the viewer feel something completely unique.

Some of the vocals that he's chosen are so ingrained in pop culture that it will be hard for many to shed the instrumental they know and hear the new song he creates.  For instance, Sean Paul's "Get Busy" is impossible to hear without the 808 and Jamaican flavor.  After a couple of listens of Sean Paul over Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' track "How Long" (do yourself a favor and experience the late 60's "dap" re-interpreted to perfection) the lyrics actually start to seem sophisticated :).  But I can't argue with any track that has the Daptones rocking it.

Sean Paul, "Get Busy (b.cause ticklah dub edit)"

The "Rock With You" edit is brilliant because of the juxtaposition of such a modern, after-hours house track with essentially an 80's R&B club banger.  What really makes this work are the proper levels between the instrumentals and MJ.  At first I thought his voice was too quiet, but once I got into the groove I understood why.  It's absolutely perfect for that 3am lounge soundtrack (not that we have any of those in Minneap).

Michael Jackson, "Rock With You (b.cause dee-lite house fix-it)"

I have NO idea where this instrumental comes from for the Wale edit.  I don't care to research it because I much rather listen to one of my favorite emcee's over and over again.

Wale, "Good Girls (b.cause person information blend)

One of my guilty pleasures is Shawty Lo's "They Know".  You best believe I bought the 12" single the moment it hit stores.  I LOVES THIS TRACK.  This blend breathes fresh air into a track I've listened to WAY too many times.  It turns it from a club banger into a vibe track for the spot (hello New Release Tuesday nights at the Dinkytowner!).

Shawty Lo, "They Know (b.cause grind mode blend)

Who can argue against one of the best tracks from the dirty south blended with a beat from the best producer in the north?  Crushin' (Yeeeeeeeeeeeah!)

T.I., "Big Shit Poppin (b.cause jay dee crushin re-vamp)"

New Michael Jackson (and dare I say better than the original?!?!)

I've mentioned this in a previous post, but it's worth mentioning again: I get A LOT of music and I get it often.  The volume of music that hits my ears is such that I rarely listen to a song more than once.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy most of the music I pick up.  But my new criteria for epic songs is whether I listen to it more than once.

More context:

I also take pride in the digging I've done to find new and rare tracks.  I'm selfish and like to not only keep the jewels to myself (so I can brag when I drop them in a DJ set) but I also keep the source of them a secret, too.

But this track was too good to not share with the world.  It's a demo version of MJ's "Pretty Young Thing" very tastefully edited by one of my favorite cut/paste/remix DJ's, U-Tern.

This is so friggin' smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooth it blows my mind.  The intro of the song is great with some carefree laughing from MJ back when beautiful music was his claim to fame.  And who knew that cowbells could be so tastefully used in an R&B track?  This has had me singing...

 "PeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeWyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyTeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

...for the last couple of days.  No matter my mood I've found myself jumping back to this repeatedly.  Enjoy!

Michael Jackson, "Pretty Young Thing (Demo) (U-Tern Edit)"