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Showing posts from April 24, 2016

9 - Drake

Speed: 50 bpm Recommended bpm range: 50 bpm to 55 bpm The DJ's Take: Those shimmering synths make you feel fancy, don't they? May go a little unnoticed in a 20 track album, but the beat stood out to me. Worth a spin near the end of the night, whether it's the party or the after-party. Try mixing or mashing up with Naked - Jason Derulo or Know Bout Me - Timbaland . If you want to pick up the energy, you can half-time into songs like Genghis Khan - Miike Snow , Slow Motion - Trey Songz , Blank Space - Taylor Swift , Don't Tell Em - Jeremih , Back That Azz Up - Juvenile , Dreamlover - Mariah Carey , and Kiss The Sky - The Knocks ft. Wyclef Jean . Download or stream the song: Apple Music iTunes

Backseat - New Boyz Featuring The Cataracs & Dev

tempo: 125 bpm bpm range: 120  to  125 bpm ,  125  to  130 bpm the DJ's take: Kind of strange to hear rapping over a pop edm. Then you remember that this came out in 2011, so it was par for the course. Feels like a redux of In The Dark , right down to the producers and female vocalist. If you're staying key-compatible in the 120 to 125 bpm range, lot of options for mixing: Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz Swish Swish - Katy Perry Hard Times - Paramore Symphony - Clean Bandit, Zara Larsson This Girl - Kungs, Cookin' On 3 Burners Break The Rules - Charli XCX i - Kendrick Lamar Am I Wrong - Nico & Vinz International Love - Pitbull ft. Chris Brown I Need Your Love - Calvin Harris Need U (100%) - Duke Dumont ft. A*M*E Ocean Drive (Hayden James Remix) - Duke Dumont Shake My - Three 6 Mafia And from 125 to 130 bpm: Pump Up The Jam - Technotronic Shots - LMFAO The Way You Move - Outkast Blame - Calvin Harris ft. John Newman Thinking About You -

Drifting - G-Eazy ft. Chris Brown & Tory Lanez

Speed: 68 bpm Recommended bpm range: 65 bpm to 70 bpm The DJ's Take: I don't listen to a lot of G-Eazy, but this is the second single where the chorus & the hook seem to overshadow the rapping. Nice, majestic beat too - not a bad option for when you're starting to wind the night down. Try mixing with tracks like Elastic Heart - Sia , Pop That - French Montana , and Pour It Up - Rihanna . Or you can try half-timing with tracks like:

Sorry - Beyoncé

Speed: 65 bpm Recommended bpm range: 60 bpm to 65 bpm , 65 bpm to 70 bpm The DJ's Take: For all the hype, I'd say that Sorry and Formation are really the only DJ-friendly tracks from this album , unless you get creative laying new instrumentals over the other songs. Worth a download for at least the next couple weekends, especially as an anthem for your key demo (i.e. twenty-something females). If you're in the 60 to 65 bpm range, try mixing with Pop Style - Drake , Bad Intentions - Niykee Heaton ft. Migos , waves - Miguel ft. Travis Scott , and Jam - Kevin Gates ft. Trey Songz, Ty Dolla $ign, Jamie Foxx . If you're in the 65 to 70 bpm range, try blending with Pop That - French Montana , Iz U Down - Kid Ink ft. Tyga , and No Option - Kid Ink . Download the song: iTunes Amazon

Impatient - Jeremih ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Speed: 90 bpm Recommended bpm range: 85 bpm to 90 bpm , 90 to 95 bpm The DJ's Take: Pretty much your basic contemporary R&B beat with a couple moderately well-known performers. Worth a spot in the warmup portion of a pop or hiphop set. On a side note, I bet Ty Dolla $ign and Chris Brown must be in a dead heat for most prolific guest artist in the industry. If you're in the 85 to 90 bpm range, try mixing or mashing up with key-compatible tracks like:

Wake Up - Fetty Wap

Speed: 90 bpm Recommended bpm range: 90 to 95 bpm The DJ's Take: First it was 679 , now it's 1738 - what's up with the numerical references? In any case, the piano gives this a sentimental feel that should work in a recorded mix or in the new music portion of a hipPop set. If you're around 95 bpm, try mixing or mashing up with tracks like: