This year has truly been wild and special. We reached many things we have been working towards for so long, and we’re very proud to keep growing.
Culture Clash was our biggest stage show ever, and undeniably one of the biggest things we’ve ever done. We brought Popcaan out for his first UK appearance and put together an amazing team, competing against Wiz Khalifa, Wiley and UKG All-Stars and bringing the trophy home. We put so much time and effort and love into it, synthesizing nearly all the skills and connections we’ve accumulated over the years, and sometimes we still wake up and can’t believe it happened.
Drake dipped into our 2014 release with Popcaan – “Love Yuh Bad” – and sampled it on the Rihanna-featuring “Too Good”, and Party Next Door sampled an unreleased and forthcoming Dre Skull / Vybz Kartel collaboration on his single “Not Nice”. The original Kartel song soon come on Mixpak ;)
Before he signed to Warp late in the year, we dropped GAIKA’s “Security” mixtape which really blew us away. He joined us to perform at our party, made some amazing videos and hit the cover of the Wire Magazine.
PALMISTRY released his debut LP “PAGAN” in June, on the same day of our clash win. He hit the Billboard electronic charts, made it into the New Yorker, and we have some *very* exciting Palmistry news in early 2017.
We kept the party levels going harder than ever – we brought Konshens to LA for a very special Boiler Room, Murlo & Bobby Konders to the Natural History Museum, partied in a Water Park in Pennslyvania, and had many many amazing friends & artists DJ with us at our usual New York functions. Thank you to everyone who joined us, we try to throw parties with care and love, and it always inspires to be able to connect with everyone who joins us.
Wildlife! formally joined the Mixpak roster this year, pushing boundaries with his intricately deconstructed “Patterns” EP. In parallel to the release, he created an immersive Patterns gallery installation setting the stage for his ongoing explorations with experiencing sound. He’s been back in the studio, honing his next project and we can’t wait to share the next chapter in 2017.
Our longstanding relationship with Jubilee blossomed with her focused debut LP “After Hours”, an exploration of her musical history that we launched on a party bus driving around New York. Quite rightly, the world took note and the album ended up on Pitchfork’s Top 20 Electronic Albums of 2016 and Billboard’s Top 10 Electronic Albums of 2016. She continues to be one of NY’s best DJs and producers and is our beloved co-host of our RBMA Radio show.
There were many firsts this year, and thanks to everyone listening, supporting and joining us on the ride, we’ll be going even greater next year. Lots of love
