Rest In Peace, DJ Spinbad + "That's My Shit" (Mixtape)

My timeline is posting - and sadly the New York Post has confirmed - that DJ Spinbad died yesterday. "Iconic New York artist DJ Spinbad has shockingly died at the young age of 46. The musician, whose real name was Chris Sullivan, passed away in the city on Tuesday, his friend confirmed." Man, what a loss! I've posted several of his mixes and attended many of his shows over the years - he was extremely talented and a pioneer as a DJ; one of the most technically skilled and well-balanced at his craft. I didn't know him personally, but the weight of 2020 as a whole just makes each loss more amplified and more discouraging. Here, we celebrate the lives of our legends, so I send my condolences to his family and friends, but pay tribute the best way I know how, and that's to share one of his many mixes with y'all. This is "That's My Shit", which features tracks from Das EFX, A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, Common, Lords of the Underground, Black Sheep, Poor Righteous Teachers, D-Nice, Akinyele, Marley Marl, Special Ed, 45 King, Naughty By Nature, Nice & Smooth, Cypress Hill, Slick Rick, Leaders of the New School, Run DMC, Boogie Down Productions, Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, and lots more! Many people will be posting his 80s mega-mix, which was FLAWLESS, but dig into this one below. Rest In Peace, DJ Spinbad, baby! Hit the archives, too!

DJ Spinbad x DJ JS-1 "The Cold Cutz Remixes" (Mixtape, 1996)

This is the original classic mixtape DJ JS-1 did with DJ Spinbad in 1996. According to DJ JS-1, they sold thousands on cassette and it set the bar very high for any concept mix that came after it. It was done on a broken tascam 4trk, and all of the acapella remixes were done using only turntables, re-scratched hooks, movie samples, and lots of dope cuts. One of his personal favorites, enjoy it below featuring tracks with KRS-One, Redman, Common, Alkaholiks, T La Rock, The Pharcyde, Gang Starr, Mad Skillz, Kool G Rap, Jeru The Damaja, Casual, Nas, Organized Konfusion, Busta Rhymes, Nice & Smooth, GZA, 3rd Bass, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B. & Rakim, Mobb Deep and more. Dig into it...

DJ Spinbad & DJ JS-1 "All About The Hamiltons" (Mixtape, 1997)

DJ JS-1 did this mixtape with Spinbad in 1997; it's called All About The Hamiltons. It's nothing like their collaborative Cold Cut Remixes mix tape, but we'll all agree it's a really solid mix of cuts from '97, featuring artists like LL Cool J, D.I.T.C., Diamond D, Busta Rhymes, Gang Starr, Big L, Organized Konfusion, Hieroglyphics, Keith Murray, Big Daddy Kane, Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep, Common, Wu-Tang Clan, Soul Kid Klik, Rakim, Chubb Rock, Fat Joe, EPMD, Tha Alkaholiks, The Firm and more. This particular mix tape was only sold on cassette, never on CD or released digitally. Much love and respect to DJ JS-1, one of the most blunt and sincere DJs and producers in this whole industry. If you let him tell it though, he'll say, "No one cares." Listen to the mix tape below...

DJ Spinbad 'Clueless' Mixtape (1996)

'Clueless' is a classic mix tape from 1996 by native New Yorker, DJ Spinbad. Spinbad has always been nice, but especially on the technical side, his cuts are always razor sharp with tight transitions, occasional blends, and a lot of versatility in his ear for tracks. The particular mix tape includes tracks by Redman, Nas, Capone-N-Noreaga, KRS-One, Da Bush Babees, O.C., Group Home, The Roots, Jeru The Damaja, Artifacts, and lots more. Props to DJ Step One for the link on MixCloud - check his page for a lot of other dope mixes - and for saving me time on the upload. The full tracklist is pictured above, but it's 1996, a ton of classic hip-hop was out at the time, just click play below...

DJ Spinbad "Illection Mix" (Mixtape)

Today is election day and we all (in the U.S.) have a decision in front of us - we have to cast our vote to pick the next President of the United States! You are entitled to your opinion, your political party and your affiliations. I even understand those of you who feel like it's choosing between the lesser of the two evils - I get it, these are unusual times! However, I think it's imperative we all get out there and vote today. To keep this on brand... I am sharing this mix that Spinbad recently posted - a ridiculous “Illection” mix that should be your soundtrack for the entire voting and election day experience. Stream it in full below and make sure you GO OUT AND VOTE. In my opinion, some of DJ Spinbad's mixtapes changed the game, and his skills are undeniable! Icons such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the late DJ AM have called the native New Yorker their “favorite DJ”, mostly due to his masterful technical skill, party-rocking ability and musical versatility. Spinbad is definitely a DJ to study and model yourself after... So, all that said - pop this in and hit the pavement to go out and VOTE today!

DJ Spinbad "1-900-SPINBAD" (Mixtape, 1996)

New York's DJ Spinbad recorded this mix tape in 1996 entitled, "1-900-SPINBAD." It features joints from KRS-One, Common, Jeru The Damaja, Hi-Tek, The Roots, Big Noyd, Ghostface Killah, De La Soul, M.O.P., Organized Konfusion, MC Lyte, Heltah Skeltah, Mr. Man of Da Bush Babees, PMD & Das EFX, Sadat X and more. Several of the tracks are exclusive blends/remixes by DJ Spinbad, totaling around 90 minutes of late golden era hip-hop. Listen below, compliments of Stevie G on Mixcloud.

DJ Spinbad "The 80s Megamix" (Mixtape, 1996)

"Here it is Folks! This one pretty much started it all for me. This has been called the most bootlegged mixtape of all time. Not sure if it's true, but it sounds impressive. I actually did this mix on a broken analog 4-track cassette recorder, but 1 track was broken so everything was recorded on 3," says DJ Spinbad. He's right - this was the one! Much respect to DJ JS-1 and DJ A.Vee, too. Dig into this flawless mix that helped change the game and put a lot of people on to DJ Spinbad.

DJ Spinbad "You Know My Steez, Pt.2" (Mixtape, 2012)

DJ Spinbad released part 1 of his 90s hip-hop series, You Know My Steez, in 2001. He later released part 2 in 2012, also in Japan - via Manhattan Records - where they had exclusive rights to the mix. Part 2 features tracks from The Pharcyde, Raekwon, Wu-Tang Clan, Rampage, Smif-N-Wessun, GZA, Mobb Deep, Def Squad, Cocoa Brovaz, Royal Flush, Da Bush Babees, Da Youngsta's, Jeru the Damaja, KRS-One, Lords of the Underground, Lord Finesse, Black Moon, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Gang Starr, O.C., and more. It's not his best mix, but DJ Spinbad always flexes skills and a unique set...

DJ Spinbad "You Know My Steez" (Mixtape, 2001)

The first installment in DJ Spinbad's "You Know My Steez" 90's hip-hop series. The mix was recorded in 2001 exclusively for Manhattan Records in Tokyo, Japan. It features tracks from the Fugees, The Pharycde, Smooth The Hustler, Jeru The Damaja, Special Ed, Common, Organized Konfusion, Kool G Rap, Black Moon, Group Home, Blahzay Blahzay, Public Enemy, Gang Starr, Casual, Nas, Mad Skillz, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Camp Lo, Mobb Deep and more! Golden era shit, listen below...