Mixtape asks DJs and producers performing in Shanghai, in their opinions, what are the five best songs ever and forever and ever. Or just five songs that are somewhat interesting for some reason. Or six songs. We're easy鈥�
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The Mixmakers: The beggar uncles on Yongfu Lu know DJ Caution and T-Plus by name. For the past three years, they've shown up at every Wednesday to run Come Correct, a weekly hip hop night with a simple concept - "real music, real people, keep it real." In the early months, it was crickets. Tumbleweeds. While most promoters would give up after a few months of disappointing turnouts, DJ Caution and T-Plus kept at it, playing that early 90s boom bap, live percussion tracks built for b-boy workouts, and rarely any music made after the year 2000. Not to mention the often-offensive microphone stylings of one MC T-Plus. They certainly haven't been doing it for the money. There's a god damn cardboard box sign on the door that says "hip hop downstairs."
But the night has become an institution. Hip hop DJs, producers, MCs, and dancers from all over China and the world pass through on the reg. Anyone gets a shot on the decks or a chance to rock the mic - but if they're wack, they get cut off. Hence the name "Come Correct." Choyce Kutz used to be a resident, and even the Acid Pony Club, Drunk Monk, and Ozone have dropped hip hop sets there. The crew now have a monthly party at The Shelter called Shanghai All-Stars, as well as a weekly radio show on every Tuesday night from 7鈥�8pm. More importantly than cash, they've got street cred.
is that monthly All-Stars party, and it's a B-Boy/B-Girl special. They've got from Kunming via the UK in as a guest. He does some crazy live routines on the drum machines and gives the breakers exactly what they need. Expect a bunch of Chinese kids from all over the PRC breakin, poppin, lockin, and rapping. But remember, breakdancers rarely buy drinks, so go down and support those cats! Ok on with the mixtape.
[Ed: Sorry that you have to sit through all the commercials for KFC and those countryside computer games. That's how Youku works.]
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Top Five All Time Tracks For B-Boys and B-Girls
1. Jimmy Castor Bunch - "Just Begun"
"Tight horns, rolling baseline and heavy drums. Great break for a break."
2. Incredible Bongo Band - "Apache"
"Heavy drums and percussion, one of the best examples of how percussion is done. heavily sampled by multiple artists."
3. Donald Byrd & the Blackbyrds - "Rock Creek Park"
"Rolling bassline, flowy airy synth line. Hip Hop started in the parks. This song sums up the vibes in the early hip hop days in New York."
4. Liquid Liquid - "Cavern"
"Instantly recognizable sample taken as 'White Lines.' Heavy crashes helps gives dance direction."
5. James Brown -
"The whole song is solid. The breakdown has chants of 'clap your hands stomp your feet,' drum break for DJs to loop. Shouts and grunts from James Brown lead the track through. The mother of all break beats."
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Top-Five All-Time Hip Hop Videos
1. DMX - "Ruff Ryders' Anthem"
2. The Pharcyde - "Drop"
3. Method Man - "World Gone Sour"
4. Xzibit - "What U See Is What U Get"
5. Beastie Boys - "So What Cha Want"
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Top Five All-Time Favorite Tracks Not Made With Drum Machines or Computers
1. Eric Burdon and War - "Cisco Kid"
"A real classic sound for the latino rock genre."
2. Gap Band - "Outstanding"
"It gets the ladies wet. A high powered track with a ton of funk."
3. Tito Puente - "Oye Como Va"
"Made famous by Carlos Santana, another Latino classic."
4. The Temptations - "Ain鈥檛 Too Proud To Beg"
"The emotion in David Ruffin鈥檚 vocals are what makes this song stand out."
5. Black Flag - "Six Pack"
"I got a six pack and nothing to do..."
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is Friday, April 25th down at . Goes from 10pm鈥�5am and costs 40rmb to get in the door.
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