The DJ Cheat Sheet #20: New Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, and the Return of Migos

New additions to our key- & bpm-compatible playlists for the week of May 14, 2021

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Featured music:

Electric - Katy Perry

His & Hers - Internet Money, Gunna, Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert

Straightenin - Migos

Seeing Green - Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Drake

a m a r i - J. Cole

Do You Think Of Me - Mariah Carey

Emotionless - Drake

theme music: circuit break - sterling mercury

Classic - The Knocks ft. Powers

tempo: 102-103 bpm

The DJ's Take: Track #3 in mix #62 (3:51):



I imagine that this song is what someone from Japan thinks California sounds and feels like. A thick, full-bodied groove - good chance it'll be louder than other songs in your mix, so the volume may need to come down. Decreased it to -1.2 dB in Logic Pro X:

Most importantly (for me): a very healthy vocal-free break at the beginning makes it easy to blend with just about anything. Overall, a solid option to fill a couple minutes in your next set.

Some key-compatible music from 100 to 105 bpm:

Too Close - Next
Levitating - Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
I.F.L.Y. - Bazzi
Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Paris - The Chainsmokers

Kids - OneRepublic

I'm In Control - AlunaGeorge
Perfect (Matoma Remix) - One Direction
Cheyenne - Jason Derulo
Midnight City - M83
Cake - Flo Rida & 99 Percent
LoveGame - Lady Gaga
Breathe Deeper - Tame Impala
Madiba Riddim - Drake
Sleeping With A Friend - Neon Trees
Nasty Boy - Notorious BIG

download or stream Classic:

DJ Cheat Sheet playlist

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The DJ Cheat Sheet #19: DJ Khaled, Ozuna, and a Peter Gabriel throwback

New additions to our key- & bpm-compatible playlists for the week of May 7, 2021

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Featured music:

Tiempo - Ozuna

What You Need - Don Toliver

After Dark - Drake, Static Major, Ty Dolla $ign

Do Ya Thang - Rihanna

Big Paper - DJ Khaled, Cardi B

Let It Go - DJ Khaled, 21 Savage, Justin Bieber

In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel

theme music: circuit break - sterling mercury

Too Close - Next

tempo: 99-100 bpm

The DJ's Take: Track #7 in mix #62 (12:54):



If you're going down in history as a one-hit wonder, this would be a good one to go out on. Got a lot of play on the local hiphop radio station when I was in high school. The lyrics make me think of that infamous photo of Pitbull getting a little 'too close' to J. Lo during a concert. Too relatable.

On the more technical side, the lengthy vocal-free intro makes it easy to mix in for a set or a mashup.

Some key-compatible music from 100 to 105 bpm:

Levitating - Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
I.F.L.Y. - Bazzi
Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Paris - The Chainsmokers

Kids - OneRepublic

I'm In Control - AlunaGeorge
Perfect (Matoma Remix) - One Direction
Cheyenne - Jason Derulo
Classic - The Knocks
Midnight City - M83
Cake - Flo Rida & 99 Percent
LoveGame - Lady Gaga
Breathe Deeper - Tame Impala
Madiba Riddim - Drake
Sleeping With A Friend - Neon Trees
Nasty Boy - Notorious BIG

download or stream Too Close:

DJ Cheat Sheet playlist

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Levitating - Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby

tempo: 103 bpm

The DJ's Take: Leadoff track in mix #62:



Song title reminds me of one of Dhalsim's victory celebrations in Street Fighter II:



Not many (if any) instrumental-only sections, so it makes sense to blend with another single where the vocalist takes a break or two and gives you some runway. Here's how the transition into Lady Gaga's Alejandro looked in Logic Pro X:

Some key-compatible music from 100 to 105 bpm:

I.F.L.Y. - Bazzi
Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Paris - The Chainsmokers

Kids - OneRepublic

I'm In Control - AlunaGeorge
Perfect (Matoma Remix) - One Direction
Cheyenne - Jason Derulo
Classic - The Knocks
Midnight City - M83
Cake - Flo Rida & 99 Percent
LoveGame - Lady Gaga
Breathe Deeper - Tame Impala
Madiba Riddim - Drake
Sleeping With A Friend - Neon Trees
Nasty Boy - Notorious BIG

download or stream Levitating:

DJ Cheat Sheet playlist

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The BMC Top 10 for April 2021

1. telepatía - Kali Uchis 2. Save Your Tears - The Weeknd 3. California Love - Tupac ft. Dr. Dre 4. The DJ Cheat Sheet #18: More Justin Bieber, Montero, and Levitating 5. Never Be Like You - Flume ft. Kai 6. dj mix: mix 60 ft. The Weeknd's Save Your Tears 7. dj mix: session 61 ft. Kali Uchis' telepatía 8. Con Calma - Daddy Yankee, Snow 9. Try Me - The Weeknd 10. Latin Grammys - Action Bronson Any thoughts on what should be in the Top 10? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

dj mix: #62 ft. Dua Lipa's Levitating (plus Lady Gaga, MGMT and more)

Made with Logic Pro X at 102 bpm

21:30 of pop, r&b and electronic music

Check out some more mixes here. Playlist is here.

Tracklist (start times in parentheses):

1. Levitating - Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby

2. Alejandro - Lady Gaga (1:11)

3. Classic - The Knocks ft. Powers (3:51)

4. Feels - Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean (6:12)

5. Time to Pretend - MGMT (8:05)

6. Sleeping With a Friend - Neon Trees (9:48)

7. Too Close - Next (12:54)

8. Midnight City - M83 (16:02)

9. LoveGame - Lady Gaga (17:55)

10. Cheyenne - Jason Derulo (20:15)

circuit break - sterling mercury

tempo: 120 bpm

The DJ’s Take: Took a little longer than expected, but we've finally got my first original music in ~3-4 years. I'd classify it as an electro-breakbeat; a bit different from what was in my head at the beginning of the process, but that's part of the fun. As you'll hear, I am a fan of the arpeggiator effect.

If you're looking to make your own beats, Logic Pro X is worth a download - it's been cool to learn through experimentation, and good old trial & error.

I added this to a couple key- and bpm-compatible playlists on djcheatsheet.com:

115-120 bpm

120-125 bpm

download or stream circuit break (for free):

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The DJ Cheat Sheet #18: More Justin Bieber, Montero, and Levitating

New additions to our key- & bpm-compatible playlists for the week of April 16, 2021

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Featured music:

There She Go - Justin Bieber, Lil Uzi Vert

Hold On - Justin Bieber

Solid - Young Stoner Life, Young Thug, Gunna, Drake

Levitating - Dua Lipa, DaBaby

Otra Noche Sin Ti - J Balvin, Khalid

Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X

RAPSTAR - Polo G

theme music: mellow drama - sterling mercury

You Need To Calm Down - Taylor Swift

tempo: 85 bpm

the dj's take: Song #8 in session 61 (16:13):



Title of this song reminds me of when Will Ferrell didn't have the money to pay his rent:



A reminder that social media and alcohol have one thing in common - they make people a little bolder than usual. Enjoy both in moderation.

Some other key-compatible music:

No Ordinary Love - Sade
I Wanna Be Down - Brandy
telepatía - Kali Uchis
Paper Planes - MIA
We Don't Care - Kanye West
Ether - Nas
Downtown - Anitta & J Balvin
Chainsaw - Nick Jonas
Messin' Around - Pitbull ft. Enrique Iglesias
Be As You Are (JordanXL Remix) - Mike Posner
Send My Love - Adele
The Man - Aloe Blacc
Live Your Life - Rihanna
Royals - Lorde
Dipset Anthem - The Diplomats
Genius - LSD (Labrinth, Sia, Diplo)
American Oxygen - Rihanna

download or stream You Need To Calm Down:

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DJ Cheat Sheet playlist