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Showing posts from March 5, 2017

Mask Off - Future

tempo: 75 bpm bpm range:   70 bpm  to  75 bpm ,  75 bpm  to  80 bpm the DJ's take: I like the flute; laid-back vibe that's perfect for lounging or cruising around in your Accord with the windows down. Had to dig back in the vault for a key-compatible mix recommendation, and it's Be Without You - Mary J. Blige . A little unconventional, but sounds good. Speaking of notable flutes in pop music, one of my favorites from the 80s: Update: So now there's apparently a remix with Kendrick Lamar ? Guess it's like Despacito - take a decent hit, throw in a guest spot from the hottest artist around at the moment, and watch it blow up even more. download or stream the song: Apple Music iTunes

Changed It - Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne

tempo: 72 bpm bpm range:   70 bpm  to  75 bpm the DJ's take: The drums drive this one, and the artists make it worth a spin on a hiphop or Top 40 night. Polished beat that should work on almost any non-wedding dance floor. Consider mixing with key-compatible tracks like: Biking - Frank Ocean Light My Body Up - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne Heavy - Linkin Park ft. Kiiara Sidewalks - The Weeknd Tell Your Friends - The Weeknd Pop That - French Montana Spaceships - Area21 Blast Ya - Borgore ft. Barrington Levy download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes

No Frauds - Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne

tempo: 70 bpm bpm range:   65 bpm  to  70 bpm ,  70 bpm  to  75 bpm the DJ's take: Forget the beef ; I think the last one in rap that mattered was Nas vs. Jay-Z. Nice party-friendly beat and three big names make this more than worth a spin on a hiphop or pop night. Try mixing with tracks from the following scroll-down list: Portland - Drake Scared To Be Lonely - Martin Garrix, Dua Lipa Feel Me - Tyga ft. Kanye West I Got The Keys - DJ Khaled Pony - Ginuwine Uber Everywhere - Madeintyo Jumpman - Drake & Future Wonderful - Travis Scott ft. The Weeknd Might Not - Belly ft. The Weeknd Mercy - Kanye West Throw Sum Mo (feat. Nicki Minaj & Young Thug) - Rae Sremmurd Bad Girls - M.I.A. download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes

Waterfall - Stargate, P!nk, Sia

tempo: 92 bpm bpm range:   90  to  95 bpm the DJ's take: If we're ranking songs with Waterfall in the title, I'm riding with TLC all day . But pretty anything with a beat and P!nk & Sia singing is worth a spin on a Top 40 night. Long list of key- and tempo-compatible tracks to mix with (scroll down in the box below): Despacito - Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee LUV - Tory Lanez Sit Still, Look Pretty - Daya Hide Away - Daya Again - Fetty Wap 679 - Fetty Wap Style - Taylor Swift Jealous - Nick Jonas Good Thing (feat. Nick Jonas) - Sage the Gemini Diamonds - Rihanna ,  Adorn - Miguel Candy Rain - Soul For Real Check The Rhime - A Tribe Called Quest download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes Amazon

Heavy - Linkin Park ft. Kiiara

tempo: 75 bpm bpm range:   70 bpm  to  75 bpm ,  75 bpm  to  80 bpm the DJ's take:  Perfect song to play during a movie trailer for a drama aimed at teenagers. Or maybe as a new theme for My 600 Pound Life . If you're staying key-compatible, here are some tracks worth mixing with in two different bpm ranges: From 70 to 75 bpm: Sidewalks - The Weeknd Tell Your Friends - The Weeknd Pop That - French Montana Spaceships - Area21 Blast Ya - Borgore ft. Barrington Levy From 75 to 80 bpm: Side To Side - Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj A-YO - Lady Gaga Down in the DM - Yo Gotti LA Confidential - Tory Lanez Blast Ya - Borgore ft. Barrington Levy Collard Greens - SchoolBoy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar No Sleep - Wiz Khalifa Halo - Beyoncé download or stream the song: Spotify playlist (70 to 75 bpm) Spotify playlist (75 to 80 bpm) Apple Music iTunes

#TBT: I Ain’t No Joke - Eric B and Rakim

tempo: 105 bpm bpm range:   100  to  105 bpm ,  105  to  110 bpm the DJ’s take:  Legendary rapping +  infectious James Brown sample  = Classic. Not exactly a feature piece for a Top 40 night, but if it's a free-form set or an old school hiphop gig, this deserves a spot in the rotation. Some other key-compatible tracks worth mixing with: Calm Down - G-Eazy Team - Lorde U Know What's Up - Donell Jones download or stream the song: spotify playlist apple music itunes

#TBT: Holy Grail - Jay-Z ft. Justin Timberlake

tempo: 73 bpm bpm range:   70 bpm  to  75 bpm the dj's take:  If Hollywood ever re-boots Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I'm voting for this as the theme song. Super-long intro, but a solid banger once it gets going. Couple of other tracks worth mixing or mashing up with: Handsome and Wealthy - Migos Locked Out Of Heaven - Bruno Mars download or stream Holy Grail: apple music itunes

Throwback Thursday: Going Back to Cali - Notorious BIG

tempo: 100 bpm bpm range:   95  to  100 bpm ,  100  to  105 bpm the DJ’s take: If I had one of those bouncing muscle cars , this track would be pounding out the stereo. Brings to mind the Zapp and Roger classic More Bounce To The Ounce . Excellent choice to keep things moving in a midtempo mix. Some other key- and bpm-compatible songs (scroll down in the box below): Slide - Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Migos Touch - Little Mix Mo Money, Mo Problems - Notorious BIG STARVING - Hailee Steinfeld & Grey ft. Zedd Roses - The Chainsmokers We Don't Talk Anymore - Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez Hip Hop Hooray - Naughty By Nature Touch - Nick Jonas Love More - Chris Brown Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) - Chris Brown Download or stream the song: Spotify playlist (95 to 100 bpm) Spotify playlist (100 to 105 bpm) Apple Music iTunes Amazon

Throwback Thursday: Hypnotize - Notorious BIG

tempo: 94 bpm bpm range: 90 to 95 bpm the DJ’s take:  Singalong hook, a hard, filthy beat, and the trademark vocals make this a guaranteed party starter. No matter what kind of music you spin, Hypnotize needs to be part of the rotation. Try mixing or mashing up with key-compatible tracks like: Olé - John Newman Heathens - twenty one pilots Youth - Troye Sivan 0 To 100 - Drake Bailando - Enrique Iglesias Partition - Beyoncé Killing Me Softly - Fugees download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes Amazon

Throwback Thursday: One More Chance (Remix) - Notorious BIG ft. Faith Evans

tempo: 92 bpm bpm range: 90 to 95 bpm the DJ’s take: One of those rare instances where the remix is infinitely more famous than the original . Smooth and refined, laced with a memorable piano riff & classic vocals from an icon. Lengthy list of key- and tempo-compatible hits to mix with (scroll down in the box below): SUBEME LA RADIO - Enrique Iglesias All We Know - The Chainsmokers Starboy - The Weeknd and Daft Punk Back To Sleep - Chris Brown No Games - Serani Out of the Woods - Taylor Swift This Is How We Do - Katy Perry Teaser - Tanto Metro & Devonte, Devonte & Tanto Metro Heads High - Mr. Vegas Otis - Jay-Z and Kanye West download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes Amazon

Throwback Thursday: No Games - Serani

tempo: 93 bpm bpm range: 90 to 95 bpm the DJ’s take: Drop this at a New York City hiphop / dancehall-friendly venue, and I think you'll get a good reaction. And if you pick your spot, it's worth a spin on a pop night for a change of pace. Check out the scroll-down box below for key-compatible tracks: SUBEME LA RADIO - Enrique Iglesias All We Know - The Chainsmokers Starboy - The Weeknd and Daft Punk Back To Sleep - Chris Brown One More Chance (Remix) - Notorious BIG Out of the Woods - Taylor Swift This Is How We Do - Katy Perry Teaser - Tanto Metro & Devonte, Devonte & Tanto Metro Heads High - Mr. Vegas Otis - Jay-Z and Kanye West download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes

Make Love - Gucci Mane ft. Nicki Minaj

tempo: 65 bpm bpm range:   60 bpm  to  65 bpm ,  65 bpm  to  70 bpm the DJ's take: This one feels a little regional - probably worth a spin in venues around Atlanta, maybe not so much elsewhere in the country. Then again, the artists are nationally recognized, so why not give it a try on a hiphop night. Lengthy list of songs to mix or mash up with (scroll down in the box below): Big Pimpin - Jay-Z ft. UGK Deja Vu - Post Malone & Justin Bieber In The Name Of Love - Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha Let Me Love You - Ariana Grande Day N Nite - Kid Cudi Jimmy Choo - Fetty Wap Horses In The Stable - Ty Dolla $ign Know Ya - Ty Dolla $ign Gold Bottles - Jeezy Big Rings - Drake & Future Where Are Ãœ Now - Skrillex & Diplo ft. Justin Bieber Feeling Myself - Nicki Minaj Download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes

Believer - Imagine Dragons

tempo: 63 bpm bpm range:   60 bpm  to  65 bpm the DJ's take:  Wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a go-to entrance song for an MMA fighter. And as for the video, you can't go wrong with Ivan Drago. Good mix of key- and tempo-compatible songs to mix with, including: In the 60 to 65 bpm range: Bad and Boujee - Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert Antidote - Travis Scott My Way - Fetty Wap Dark Horse - Katy Perry Ghosts N Stuff - deadmau5 And at around 67 bpm: That's What I Like - Bruno Mars Pull Up - Wiz Khalifa Grass Ain't Greener - Chris Brown download or stream the song: Spotify playlist Apple Music iTunes

Sunrise - Jillionaire, Fuse ODG & Fatman Scoop

Speed: 108 bpm Recommended bpm range:   105  to  110 bpm The DJ's Take: If you need a double helping of hype, Fatman Scoop yelling over a loud, bouncy tropical beat should do the trick. Probably better suited for a hiphop night or beach / pool party, but worth a spin in a Top 40 setting if the vibe is right. Consider mixing with: Setting Fires - The Chainsmokers Wavy - Ty Dolla $ign Download or stream the song: Apple Music iTunes

Gucci On My - Mike WiLL Made-It, 21 Savage, YG, Migos

Speed: 70 bpm Recommended bpm range:   65 bpm  to  70 bpm ,  70 bpm  to  75 bpm The DJ's Take: Simple beat is a pretty good reflection of what works in modern hiphop. Solid ensemble of vocalists should keep the young folk engaged. Some nice key-compatible mix options in a couple tempo ranges: