Beat Match City

Made with Logic Pro at 68 bpm Quick video on making a vocal-free instrumental from the original song. A little background: back when I was spinning vinyl (around 2002-2006), it was common to buy a single, and the single would come with an instrumental. Here's an example from my collection: Not as simple today, because those voice-free beats are hard (if not impossible) to find - as far as I know. Luckily, software like Logic Pro makes it easier to sift through a song, find the parts you like, then cut them out and loop them to make your own instrumental. In the case of Jay-Z's Big Pimpin, it's easy to just take the first few bars and call it a day. But for the purposes of a mix, remix or mashup, I wanted to find slightly quieter, flute-free bars that don't overwhelm the other tracks we're using. In this video, I found a couple pieces toward the tail end of the song and turned them into a 56 second mix with Day N Nite and What's Poppin.

tempo: 81-82 bpm the dj's take: Leadoff song in session 61 Yes, music is subjective, and not every track that could be a hit actually becomes a hit. But this is certainly hit-level, even if the reception was muted. Easy bounce that should translate just about anywhere. Melts nicely into Kali Uchis' telepatía . Some other key-compatible music: I Wanna Be Down - Brandy 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 Temptations: amazon DJ Cheat Sheet playlist

Made with Logic Pro X at 118 bpm 16:45 of pop music Check out some more mixes here . Playlist is here . Tracklist (start times in parentheses): 1. Everything We Need - Kanye West ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Ant Clemons 2. Never Be Like You - Flume ft. Kai (1:02) 3. Save Your Tears - The Weeknd (2:51) 4. Still The Same - Bob Seger (4:14) 5. Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi ft. MGMT, Ratatat (5:42) 6. Faking It - Calvin Harris ft. Kehlani, Lil Yachty (8:00) 7. New Rules - Dua Lipa (10:18) 8. Out of Touch - Hall & Oates (12:16) 9. Private Eyes - Hall & Oates (15:05)

Made with Logic Pro X at 93 bpm 23:47 of pop & hiphop Check out some more mixes here . Tracklist (start times in parentheses): 1. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles 2. Back to Sleep - Chris Brown (1:52) 3. One More Chance / Stay With Me (Remix) - The Notorious B.I.G. (3:43) 4. Real Love - Mary J. Blige (6:33) 5. I Wonder - Kanye West (8:36) 6. Starboy - The Weeknd (11:38) 7. Closer - Nine Inch Nails (13:42) 8. Stir Fry - Migos (14:44) 9. Kids See Ghosts - KIDS SEE GHOSTS (Kanye West & Kid Cudi ft Yasiin Bey) (17:29) 10. Crockett's Theme (Miami Vice) - Jan Hammer (20:04)

tempo: 65 bpm the dj's take: The leadoff song in mix 50 : Moves along at a plodding pace; almost like a trippy modern day funeral march. Took a little time to find the right spot to pick up the energy (about 2:04 in), but I think we did it. Va Va Voom was a good follow-up because of the quieter intro and a similar synth sound. A big hit at the moment, and I'm sure the youth can figure out a creative way to move to it. Try mixing with: Like I Do - David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Brooks I Need Your Love - Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding Where Have You Been - Rihanna Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People In The Dark - DEV Pump Up The Jam - Technotronic Shots - LMFAO The Way You Move - Outkast Blame - Calvin Harris ft. John Newman Thinking About You - Calvin Harris Titanium - David Guetta and Sia Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj Don't Stop The Party - Black Eyed Peas Take Over Control - Afrojack ft. Eva Simons Where Them Girls At - David Guet...

Made with Logic Pro X at 127 bpm 27:05 of pop, edm & dance Check out some more mixes here . Tracklist (start times in parentheses): 1. THE SCOTTS - THE SCOTTS, Travis Scott & Kid Cudi 2. Va Va Voom - Nicki Minaj (2:00) 3. Titanium - David Guetta ft. Sia (3:39) 4. Beautiful - Akon ft. Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall (4:54) 5. Hello - Martin Solveig & Dragonette (7:10) 6. Give Me Everything - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer (8:41) 7. Where Have You Been - Rihanna (10:35) 8. Don't Stop The Party - Black Eyed Peas (12:05) 9. Take Over Control - Afrojack ft. Eva Simons (14:21) 10. Thinking About You - Calvin Harris ft. Ayah Marar (15:37) 11. The Way You Move - OutKast ft. Sleepy Brown (17:22) 12. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics (20:41) 13. Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic (21:32) 14. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot (23:32) 15. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People (25:37)

tempo: 58 bpm bpm range: 55 bpm  to  60 bpm the dj's take: Track #2 in mix 36 (1:53): Cool breakdown of how the beat was made: As for the placement within the mix, it's a nice little bridge from something slower and dreamy into the upbeat pop that energizes a crowd. I bet at least a few people will sing along on any given night; worth a longer-term spot in the rotation. Some other key-compatible music: Circles - Post Malone Never Be Like You - Flume ft. Kai Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi ft. MGMT, Ratatat Señorita - Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello New Rules - Dua Lipa Faking It - Calvin Harris ft. Kehlani & Lil Yachty Sexyback - Justin Timberlake Renegade - Axwell /\ Ingrosso I Love You - Axwell /\ Ingrosso, Kid Ink Adore - Jasmine Thompson Safe and Sound - Capital Cities Bad Romance - Lady Gaga Emotions - Mariah Carey Don't You Want Me - The Human League download or stream Pursuit of Happiness: amazon spotify playlist

Made with Logic Pro X at 118 bpm 18.13333 minutes of pop, dance & electronic Check out some more mixes here . Tracklist (start times in parentheses): 1. Never Be Like You - Flume ft. Kai 2. Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi ft. MGMT, Ratatat (1:53) 3. Circles - Post Malone (4:11) 4. Señorita - Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello (6:37) 5. New Rules - Dua Lipa (9:04) 6. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake ft. Timbaland (11:02) 7. Safe And Sound - Capital Cities (13:27) 8. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga (14:56) 9. Faking It - Calvin Harris ft. Kehlani & Lil Yachty (16:26)

Made with Logic Pro X at 98 bpm 27.3 minutes of pop & hiphop Want to check out some more mixes? Click here . Tracklist (start times in parentheses): 1. In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins 2. Back That Azz Up - Juvenile (2:37) 3. Don't Tell 'Em - Jeremih ft. YG (5:24) 4. Dreamlover - Mariah Carey (9:08) 5. Blank Space - Taylor Swift (12:48) 6. Blem - Drake (14:02) 7. Kids See Ghosts - Kanye West & Kid Cudi ft. Yasiin Bey (16:46) 8. Heard 'Em Say - Kanye West ft. Adam Levine (19:13) 9. Happier - Marshmello & Bastille (21:48) 10. Slow Motion - Trey Songz (24:04)

tempo: 95 bpm bpm range: 90  to  95 bpm ,  95  to  100 bpm the dj's take: Someone needs to mash this up with Crockett's Theme: Bad ass. Anyway, this one feels like background music for a jungle-themed level or a stealth mission in a video game. Or maybe in a 16-bit haunted forest. Try mixing with: Blank Space - Taylor Swift Body Like A Back Road - Sam Hunt Blem - Drake Tek Weh Yuh Heart - Sean Paul Don't Tell Em - Jeremih Back That Azz Up - Juvenile Dreamlover - Mariah Carey Slow Motion - Trey Songz Stargazing - Kygo download or stream Kids See Ghosts: amazon spotify playlist (90 to 95 bpm) spotify playlist (95 to 100 bpm) itunes

tempo: 130 bpm bpm range: 125 to 130 bpm , 130 to 135 bpm the DJ’s take: If you can love anything half as much as the dj below loves this song, consider yourself fortunate: Worth a spin in a throwback dance or electronic set. If you're staying key-compatible, try mixing with: Temperature - Sean Paul Move Your Body (Alan Walker Remix) - Sia WIEE - Martin Garrix If It Ain't Love - Jason Derulo Home - Firebeatz & Jay Hardway Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart Shut Up and Dance - WALK THE MOON download or stream the song: amazon spotify playlist itunes

tempo: 93 bpm bpm range: 90  to  95 bpm the DJ’s take: You know what would've been a cool video concept? If they showed an animated charcoal sketch of Kid Cudi singing the song, and our eyes follow along as the lines get slowly erased. Or maybe he's walking around his hood, and his body slow fades. Or maybe I'm unwittingly showing you why I'm not a music video director. Anyway, an interesting change of pace if you spin at a hipster bar. Try mixing with key-compatible tracks like: Baby Baby Baby - TLC I Like Me Better - Lauv A Lie - French Montana, The Weeknd, Max B Cold Water - Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber Cheap Thrills - Sia Never Give Up - Sia Ridin Solo - Jason Derulo Airplanes - B.o.B Find Your Love - Drake Flashing Lights - Kanye West Replay - IYAZ Take On Me (Kygo Remix) - a-ha Renée - Lost Boyz Stand By You - Rachel Platten Should've Been Us - Tori Kelly You Be Killin Em - Fabolous It Girl - Pharrell Magic - Coldplay Stereo...

Speed: 69 bpm Recommended bpm range:   65 bpm  to  70 bpm ,  70 bpm  to  75 bpm The DJ’s Take:  Chill Beat + Stuttered Thump = Hit. This one has aged well, and I imagine it'll still sound cool in the years to come. Long list of hits you can mix with, including: Party - Chris Brown ft. Usher, Gucci Mane Big Pimpin - Jay-Z ft. UGK Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd Let Me Love You - Ariana Grande Can't Hold Us - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Where Are Ü Now - Skrillex & Diplo ft. Justin Bieber Feeling Myself - Nicki Minaj X - Chris Brown Moses - French Montana If you want something faster, there's a 130 bpm Crookers Remix  which has its own lengthy set of key-compatible tracks to mix / mash up with. Download or stream the song: Spotify playlist (songs with similar key & bpm) Apple Music iTunes Amazon

Speed: 76 bpm Recommended bpm range: 70 bpm to 75 bpm , 75 bpm to 80 bpm The DJ's Take: Calling this trippy would be a severe understatement. Perfect video game theme music for a level where you're slogging through a swamp, cemetery, underground cave, or zombie-infested city block. If you're staying key-compatible in the 70 to 75 bpm range, try mixing with the following songs:

tempo: 99 bpm bpm range: 95 to 100 bpm the DJ’s take: I don’t know - for some reason, the piano and shuffling beat make me want to tapdance or do the  Charleston . Familiar Poker Face sample and a notable cast of rappers make this worth a spin or two for nostalgia's sake. Fun fact: The original title was I Poke Her Face , but it was changed to something more radio-friendly. If you're staying key-compatible, try mixing with: Faith - George Michael Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) [feat. Plies] - Usher Lean Back - Terror Squad, Fat Joe & Remy download or stream the song: amazon itunes

Speed: 71 bpm The DJ's Take: I actually heard this for the first time on the PA when I went to a basketball game at my college alma mater. Now it feels like it's gaining steam based on recent requests I've gotten for it, and with good reason. Those rapid fire fake hand drums bring back memories of that beat from Slow Jamz , and Rihanna reminds the dudes why Matt Kemp is a lucky man. Definitely worth a download and a spin. Try mixing with Drunk in Love or Dark Horse . Download the MP3: