Riddims are the very foundation of dance music from house and soca beats to dancehall and rap anthems. Starting this August, we will pay homage to the beat with a series of riddim collections known as Mixpak Pressure. For the first few rounds, we enlist the freshest producers – both well-known and up-and-coming names – to deliver interpretations of subgenres that have influenced the Mixpak sound. The label will gather the best of these beats into compilations ready for DJs to bang in their sets, vocalists to vibe over or casual listeners to get deep into a style or sound.
The first installment, Mixpak Pressure Volume One, drops September 25th: a collection entirely inspired by Southern rap instrumentals. Playing off crunk, screw and other offshoots, this compilation taps into the current interest in all things Dirty South, while putting a modern spin on the sound. Unencumbered by a full vocal, producers are able to strip down and flip the script, while exploring the trunk-rattling bass and scattershot snare rolls that characterize the sound. The resulting tracks can be used in a variety of sets from dubstep to downtempo, and the moods here span the spectrum from mellow to straight-out crazy.
To get things rolling we’re giving away a free download of Philadelphia club producer Krueger’s hard-knocking contribution “Trunkin.”
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