Needle Drops "Volume 5" (Presented by Dusty Donuts)

Dusty Donuts presents Needle Drops, a monthly DJ streaming show where four selected world-class DJs tell a story in their own way, just through the selection of seven 45s in the mix. The show is delivered through Twitch and FaceBook live. For the fifth episode of Needle Drops, the theme is 7 records from around the world and the world-class DJs are DJ Rhettmatic, DJ Matman, Dusty Donuts' Marc Hype and DJ Robert Smith from Berlin (dig in the archives for his Notorious B.I.G. mix!). A lil' something different to listen to this morning, check it out below and enjoy the original vibes...

 

DJ Matman "Hip-Hop Back In The Day" (Mix)

DJ Matman recorded this guest mix of 80s and 90s throwback Hip-Hop for the "Hip Hop Back In The Day" show on Westside FM out in London. According to DJ Matman, "I went in pretty hard with tons of routines, edits, scratching and wordplay using some of my favorite old school tracks. I recorded way more than I needed for a half hour slot, so this is an extended edit with an extra 20 minutes of unaired mixing." The mix includes joints from EPMD, Wu-Tang Clan, Nine, Rakim, M.O.P., Jay-Z, Big L, Lost Boyz, Busta Rhymes, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, Mobb Deep, INI, Pete Rock, Lady of Rage, Queen Latifah and more. The mix represents a blend of classics and some deeper album cuts from the 80s to later 90s, enjoy it below. Props to DJ Matman.

DJ Matman "Jay Dee The MC" (Mixtape, 2016)

Jay Dee The MC is Dilla's greatest verses mixed by DJ Matman. Much has been said about J Dilla aka Jay Dee's incredible production skills, and as one of hip hop's G.O.A.T.s in that field, his talent as an MC has often been overlooked as a result. The innate sense of rhythm that is so evident in his music also shines brightly in his vocal performances, and while his lyrical content was often limited to a fairly narrow range of topics, his cutting delivery, flow and musical nuance made him a beast on the mic. This mix focuses on some (but far from all) of DJ Matman's favorite Jay Dee verses: both well-known and obscure, cut up and mixed in his usual style and featuring interview snippets from the "J Dilla: Still Shining" documentary. J Dilla passed away on this day in 2006. RIP. Matman's mix was originally released a few years ago, but dig into it below, and continue to celebrate Dilla Month.

Dr. Dre "The Chronic" (25th Anniversary Mix)

I think it's a dope trend that DJs are creating anniversary mixes of such high caliber like this one, as well as what Chris Read, DJ Filthy Rich & more have been doing over the last few years. This one is by DJ Matman - who I think is a dope DJ - in support of the 25th anniversary of Dr. Dre's classic album in '92, "The Chronic." Once again, it's promoted by WhoSampled & Wax Poetics, so you know there's plenty of background samples, loops and original albums cuts to dig through. In their words, "To celebrate the 25th anniversary of West Coast classic 'The Chronic', Dr. Dre's debut solo LP, our buddy DJ Matman has crafted a dope mix of album tracks, alternative versions, remixes, and original sample material." As the kids are saying these days, "say less," you know what it is, enjoy the mix...

DJ Matman "Classic Material: 1995" (Vol. 1-2, Mixes)

"It's nineteen ninety-five..." DJ Matman dropped these 2 flawless mixes in 2011, representing some of the best tracks from 1995. On his Mixcloud, he provided some backstory: "Earlier this year (2011), I was asked to DJ a guest slot at London's Classic Material, a club night dedicated to chronicling the history of Hip-Hop, year by year. I was asked to spin at the 1995 event, a great year for hip hop and of particular relevance to me as it was around this time I started my addiction to buying Hip-Hop records, spending all my spare cash and lunch money on LPs & 12's! I ended up playing over 2 hours at Classic Material, and these mixes represent how I put it down that night, and in roughly the same order." The 2 volumes feature tracks from Big L, Lost Boyz, Blahzay Blahzay, Boot Camp Clik, Camp Lo, Show & AG, Heltah Skeltah, Biggie, Das Efx, Masta Ace, Mobb Deep, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, KRS, Group Home, Tribe and so much more. I recommend and support all his mixes; his track selection is dope and skills are always on point. Both mixes are below.

The Notorious B.I.G. "Life After Death" (20th Ann. Mix)

In honoring Biggie's death in a post earlier in the month, I posted the original 'Life After Death' press kit. It's been 20 years since his death, funeral and now the release of that album, but it's still at the front of my mind on days like this. I know it's all been said - by me and everyone else - but I wanted to choose something outside of a typical album review or rare remix to share with this post, so I settled on a short article that was in Billboard Magazine the day before Biggie passed and speaks to his enthusiasm for the album's release. Biggie says, 'when my album drops, it's gonna be like the biggest thing ever.' He meant it. He goes on to say: 'I bring the problems and the situations that I've been through in my life into my music, and everything that I've gone through is on another level.' That was certainly true throughout his debut, 'Ready to Die,' but perhaps not as deep on 'Life After Death.' I do agree that there was a bigger focus on production and that he stretched himself lyrically on the album. I won't argue greatest of all-time, but I've never been mad that he's at the top in the those conversations. Listen below to Wax Poetic's 'Life After Death' mix by DJ Matman; he did a great job on the mix. "You'll miss me when I'm gone!" Facts... R.I.P., B.I.G.

Here's the 20th anniversary mix by DJ Matman...

Cypress Hill "25th Anniversary" (Mix by DJ Matman)

To mark the 25th anniversary of Cypress Hill's smoked-out, self-titled debut LP, DJ Matman has cooked up a sweet mixtape featuring album tracks, remixes, and original sample material. You should already be familiar with all the classics included on their debut album, but the real gems lie in the walk through these classic original samples from The Bar Kays, Booker T. & The MG's, Curtis Mayfield, Grant Green, Jack Margolis, Muddy Waters, The J.B.'s, Kool And The Gang, Jimmy McGriff, Willie Hutch, Grand Wizard Theodore and lore more. Peace to DJ Muggs, B-Real and Sen Dog.

DJ Matman "90's RNB: The O.G. Remixes" (Mix)

There's no room on this planet for people that didn't appreciate 90s R&B, especially the dope remixes! So, let's slow it down a little on this Sunday evening. While DJs like Ron G basically helped birth the blending of R&B with Hip-Hop beats and collaborations, there were a lot of go-to artists in the 90s that were featured on countless joints once it was brought to the mainstream. Artists like Mr. Cheeks, Method Man, Craig Mack, Treach, Biggie, Pun, Fat Joe, Jay-Z, Redman and lots more. In this mix by the talented DJ Matman, you'll hear tracks by SWV, Allure, 702, Boyz II Men, D'Angelo, Groove Theory, Horace Brown, Mary J. Blige, Christion, Monica, Jodeci and lots more + some of the MCs mentioned above. "90's RNB: The O.G. Remixes," check it out below! I damn sure miss the 90's!

Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt" (20th Anniversary Mix)

With a rap career dating back to 1989 including stints as side man to mentor, Jaz, features for the likes of the Dame Dash-managed Original Flavor and Big Daddy Kane, Reasonable Doubt (released June 25th, 1996) arrived late in the rapper’s career for a debut LP. With production from DJ Premier and Clark Kent, plus features from Mary J. Blige and The Notorious B.I.G. it sits stylistically somewhere between the dominant underground sound of the mid 90s and the emerging sound pushed by labels such as Puff Daddy‘s Bad Boy records, which would come to define popular hip-hop and R&B into the late '90s. At the intersection between those sounds lies a varied selection of sample material. For this exclusive mixtape produced in association with Wax Poetics, former DMC champion DJ Matman delivers a selection of album tracks, alternate versions, interview snippets and of course original sample material. Listen below as DJ Matman pays tribute to a true classic...

DJ Matman "Hip-Hop Debuts" (Mixtape)

For this exclusive mixtape, DJ Matman wanted to create a mix featuring a combination of both debut appearances and singles from many of his favorite hip-hop artists and groups, such as Big L, Eminem, Jay-Z, 2Pac, The Beatnuts, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Souls of Mischief, De La Soul, Boogie Down Productions, EPMD, K.M.D., Mos Def, The Roots, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West and more. DJ Matman is a multi-award winning DJ based in London and I'm a fan of his mixes so it's an honor to share them here for those who follow me and know I only co-sign mixtapes from DJs with technical skill and raw creativity ... nuff said! Listen to the mix below...