Dont Sleep NYC

Making Moves

2013-04-03T08:32:00.000-04:00

In the interest of offering more ways for people to engage with our postings and allowing for faster ways of updating our content we have moved DontSleepNYC to a new location on tumblr. Since February 2009 we have used this blog as a space to come together and share inspiration and creativity with the NYC and international underground music community. The DSNYC tumblr will continue to promote events in the NY area, review forthcoming Dubstep, Grime, UKG, Funky and Drum & Bass releases as well as feature exclusive interviews, mixes and downloads. This blog will remain online as an archive of our past work but will no longer be updated with new content. Many, many thanks to all that have shown us love by following us here on the site, coming to our shows or collaborating with us in any fashion. Still not sleeping!

Ble$$,
DontSleepNYC

Episode #23 Max Echo and Bookz - First City Podcast

2013-01-20T16:22:00.002-05:00

Max Echo and Bookz Present:

First City Mob Podcast #23

First Mix of 2013... been too long!!!! Back on a regular with a slew a new beats for you... as well as some classic gemz... Featuring tracks by:

Logos - DYP vs Rekab - Starkey - Rival - Swifta Beater - Gemmy - A-Track - High Klassified - Hizzleguy - Mr. Boogie - Sunday Roast - Production Unit - Kashmir Kid - Bookz - Enigma Dubz - Preditah - Terror Danjah - Northern Lights - Noah D - Wevaman - Badklaat and many, many more!!!

You can download the podcast directly below for a limited time. If you haven't yet, be sure to subscribe on Itunes here.

Baauer - Rinse FM Mix

2013-01-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

the lines that separate what's considered Trap vs what goes for Grime these days has increasingly gotten blurred in my opinion... .... hearing Brooklyn DJ/ Producer Baauer's Rinse FM mix really proves the point, with him even dropping a Faze Miyake track towards the end, as well as a Mele / Kano gem smack in the middle... it's a sic mix for sure... you can still download it from his soundcloud, and I highly recommend it... he's also set to tour with Just Blaze towards the end of the month... a lotta interesting things in the works all around...

Reconstrvct - 1/19 Indigo, Dark Tantrums etc....

2013-01-15T21:15:00.000-05:00

so for some of you it's gonna be a hard choice this Saturday... 2 big parties happening on the same night... what can I say. you just gonna have to choose on your own... I'm a huge fan of the Reconstrvct party and plan on being there.... but on the bright side... it's wonderful knowing you have some great things to choose from... Congratulations to the Profound Audio team nonetheless.

Hizzleguy EP - Sin City

2012-12-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

winding things down for 2012 here at Dontsleep... and although this year has definitely brought it's share of challenges there were lots of wonderful moments in between... hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season!!!

although this probably won't be my last post of the year ;) this is for sure one that I've been waiting for, and it got released when I f**kin' blinked sometime in November... dammit... I still remember the first track off this release, when I saw Lost over a year ago at a Reconstrvct party... track is still one of my favz... Referring to a track called "The Massive" by Hizzleguy which came out on Sin City Records last month. The EP, simply titled Hizzleguy EP, features 4 club smashing cuts.. all of which hit the right spot, track for track imo... Hatcha and N-Type of Sin City never disappoint on releases... top notch beatz... Hizzleguy EP is at all good digital shops.... Juno, Boomkat, Digital-Tunes, Beatport etc...

also if your in NYC January 19th N-Type will be at Public Assembly for Profound Audio's Release Party... more on that soon. very nice line-up. You'll want to come thru for that one...for sure...

I.N.I., True Nature, Max Mischief, T.R.A.C. NYC Dec. 14th

2012-12-14T10:24:00.000-05:00

should be some nice flavs tonight...

Flowdan VS Kaleidoscope Orchestra - SBTV

2012-12-08T11:50:00.000-05:00

as someone who used to be in orchestra way, way, way back in the day. I thought this was pretty dope to see... if I could of done grime covers in class that would've been the sh*t.... hip hop covers even... music is important, and music in school is important. it teaches among many other things, the importance of collaboration... and the idea of working together for a common good... something thats hard to find these days.... anyhow... big up to The Bug on his page, and SBTV for uploading this... wicked to see.... Flowdan is wicked on the mic... two words come to mind "Jah War"

SKREAM + FALTYDL more DEC 7th NYC

2012-12-04T17:58:00.000-05:00

Faze Miyake & Merky Ace - Rinse FM Mix

2012-11-25T13:40:00.000-05:00

A definite gem for all the Grime & Dubstep heads who like a bit of both in their mix.. This is a very HYPE set... so be careful and control the urge to punch anyone in the face while rockin this... all jokes aside this is a truly dope set... Personally speaking I love hearing both Grime and Dubstep in a mix, because thats how I was originally introduced to both genres, by way of DJ's like Tubby (Newham Genz) and Plastician... so to me it will always go hand in hand.

This mix features Faze Miyake on the decks and Merky Ace on mic control. If you've been listening to any of our First City Mob podcasts you know how much we like what Faze Miyake is doing, and I know I've definitely dropped some Merky Ace vocals in a FCM mix fairly recently...

There's some real... real banger's in the mix... probably too many to single out... but there is one lol... that I've had to rewind a ridiculous amount of times... it comes in at 14:55 right after the Rude Kid beat... sick... I'll send someone a Dontsleep tee if they can tell what the hip hop sample is in that beat... I think we got some large(s) left... will have to check tho :) ...make sure you download this mix before they take it down... you can listen or download it by clicking the Rinse FM logo... below

Tunnidge - 'Brixton Bass EP' [CHST022]

2012-11-20T00:20:00.000-05:00

without letting this one get too far away from me.... much respect to Tunnidge and the whole Chestplate family. The "Brixton Bass EP" [CHST022] which officially dropped October 29th, features 4 crunchy, sub-bass packed numbers... and there's a definite mood to this release... with each track sharing a connection to the next. Tracks that immediately jump for your neck are "Wardrum" (personal fav) and the title track "Brixton Bass"... Had the pleasure this summer of catching Tunnidge play a dope set, right before Coki at the Reconstrvct 1 year Anniversary. It was an absolute treat, and he definitely held it down... a good night for sure!!

You can purchase Brixton Bass at all good record stores, as well as all the usual digital outlets... big up to the Chestplate family for keepin the beats real... Also shouts to the Reconstrvct crew for bringing over quality artists....
also if your lucky enough here in the states, be sure to catch the Chestplate tour if they roll thru your city!!

First City Mob Podcast #22

2012-10-29T09:49:00.000-04:00

Max Echo and Bookz go back 2 back... track for track... switching things up for Episode #22... Lots of new beats to bring you. lots of fun... Just in time for Halloween (or what's left of it) and this already infamous hurricane about to wreak havoc... But before the apocalypse... you can get your fix of fresh beats to chew on before the lights go out!!!

Featuring tracks by:

Cotti - J:Kenzo- Enme - Farkas- Tunnidge - Coki - Christopher Yikes - Jam Prd - Kromestar - El-B - Mr. Mitch - Lost - Lockjaw - Addison Groove - Plastician - M.E.S.H. - Dismantle - Starkey - Bladklaat and more....

Be sure to subcribe on Itunes!!

You can download the podcast below for a limited time.

BLESS

*** Everyone please be safe out there***

Roachee, Trim & Stutta - Sick Things

2012-10-28T21:29:00.000-04:00

supa quick-one from me today... on a digital beat diggin expedition this popped up. and even tho this originally dropped over summer it's an ill track. love the beat and vocals by Roachee, Trim and Stutta ...complements it well. This track is taken from Roachee and Trim - The Nangest EP... heavy beats on this ep. including a remix from Starkey... if you haven't... definitely check this one out...

Sum Ting New Hip Hop Instrumentals I: Bangers No Mash

2012-10-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

A lot of talk has been made at different times of cross-overs between UK Grime, Dubstep and American Hip-Hop. A&R wizardry and mash-ups aside, Hip-Hop and club, bass music etc. have been taking to each other for a long time through the bottle neck of Pop. How Pop music interacts with so-called underground music is another unfinished story, but unless our ears deceive us the time has never been better for this kind of blurring of lines take form in a less defined sort of way. Case in point is Jakes and Chefal's Get Darker @ Cable Mix, which has several Hip-Hop tracks rub shoulders with dark wobble bass-weight. We've written about Blade Brown here as well just to raise some awareness on how trap music goes down on the London side. So it is with great pleasure that we present to you a top-notch instrumental mixtape from Sum Ting New label boss Cotti. There's a lot going on in here but the tracks fuse Hip-hop with the UK sound so deftly that it comes off as something wholly original. We were stunned when hearing some of these tracks drop at Cotti's last show in New York and it's great hear them packaged into one massive selection of bangers. Now for the vocal to drop on US radio ... all in due time. Big!

J:Kenzo - Deep Space Oct 22nd NYC

2012-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

for all the fans... J:Kenzo will be hittin' up Cielo this coming Monday... get there early cause he's doing an early set... I'm sure he'll be playin tracks from the album that dropped this past September... like this one below... if you in the city that day... you'll want to check it out.... for more information you can find it here

SJD023: The Mind Machine EP - Mr. Mitch

2012-10-18T13:08:00.000-04:00

You should know by now - Slit Jockey is no stranger to Grime. Last month's amazing "Contrast EP", which injected a full dose of MIK's knife-sharp lyrics over production from Dev79, BD1982, Starkey and J-Sweet, set a milestone for the label in its quest to contribute to the changing shape of Grime on an international scale. What better way to keep the momentum going on this long term project than to return to the laboratory with another of London's instrumental innovators.

Mr. Mitch, who has appeared previously through remix duties on J-Sweet's "Can't Stop My Grime" release, gets an opportunity to drop range of heavy tracks showing off his various influences all integrated with signature ghost-house flare. The Gobstopper Records boss and Beatfighter entrepreneur sets out with a good bit of trap-ready madness in the form of "Bethlem Royal" - namesake of a psychiatric facility half-way between Croydon and Bromley in the South London burbs. With that info in mind - which other asylum do you know that was founded in 1247 AD?! - the entire EP takes on a much stranger tone. On "Shit & Sugar" for example, the phasing square-sync lurches into a weird set of climbing major chords only to drop you back into the stomping muck of the track's 8-bar pattern. This plays out again on "Bills", where a bridge-interlude cuts off the heady slew of racing hi-hats and vocal chants with a downward spiral of melancholy arpeggios. The ghostly vibes pour out full bore on the bedlam raising "Dance Tonight", while "Qbert 2" resurrects the vintage video game escarpment with growling high-voltage bass and brick-jumping mid-range stabs.

This dark and twisted echo from the mind of the machine comes out early November. Until then you can watch this brilliant mash-up and ponder the British obsession with masks and mass hysteria!

Mr. Mitch - Qbert 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7R0_PN1kQ8

INNA014: Mataglap EP - Chistopher Yikes

2012-09-29T00:16:00.000-04:00

Inna Riddim cropped up on my radar back in May of this year with the release of After Dark's None of Them single. These cool and deadly dancefloor crushers fight for space at the borders of Bashment and Funky while sounding nothing like either. The destabilization of genre-specific music appears to be at the core of Inna Riddim's mission as a digital publisher. Reaching back to early 2011, the Sydney based label appears to have emerged out of Reggae and Grime influenced tracks as well as deeper strains of Dubstep. More recent releases have seen them reaching into Drum & Bass and 130bpm territory from the likes of Cato, Hypercolor and Ritual just to name a few.

Rotterdam's Christopher Yikes makes an excellent contribution to this catalog with his Mataglap EP. The title track is some of the oddest half-step house you've likely ever heard, though its use of echo and sparse construction places might place it closer to a new-school Dub continuum. Abandoned picks up the pace and delivers a spine chilling bit of Funky cobalt. Knockout goes in grimier but still very much lurking in the shadows with a bubbling mid-range synth running throughout. Hurt has the feeling of a post-rave comedown with a muted selection of drum sounds immersed in high pressure sub-bass and tooth grinding bristle. Altogether, Mataglap EP is reminiscent of Inna Riddim's Panoramic EP compilation and provides an nice selection of different styles to move your bass bins. Keep an eye out for this come October 12th ... highly recommended!

Cotti - Go To Frank EP STN

2012-09-19T03:00:00.000-04:00

this one.... hails from the Sum Ting New camp. Another bass weight stompah from DJ Cotti, with proper vibes as well. Been lookin forward to Go To Frank's release for a good minute, as it's been on this Back2Back Cotti vs Enme set that I've been bumping for half a year now...

Cotti's "Go To Frank E.P." drops just in time for his return visit to the U.S. next month. We had the pleasure of catching him in Brooklyn last November when he came through, and believe me... he had the whole place jumpin... there were many moments in which I wanted to know what track was playing. his set was chock full of gems.. some of which I don't think have been released...

Go To Frank officially drops October 8th, and with the exception of "Speed of Light", which is co-produced by Cotti and Slugz.. he takes the reins the rest of the way and even holds down the mic on the title track. The four track EP showcases Cotti at his best, and does not disappoint... My favs would have to be "No Handouts" and "Go To Frank"... but thats me... be sure to check it.

... and if your in the states I highly recommend you catch Cotti if he's coming through your town. You can get more tour information here.

Ez... to all at the Sum Ting New camp

SINE003 - Let Me See/Island - Balofo

2012-09-15T14:53:00.007-04:00

It should be clear to anyone checking this blog in the past few months that Brighton label Vital Sines is in a very strong way at the moment. Hitting a strict monthly schedule with one deeply original cut after another, it's hard not to appreciate the planning and effort that have gone into constructing this emerging project. July and August came out of the gate running with fresh Garage flavors from label head Kanvas. Later this month, Vital Sines expands its roster with a neat single from Balofo - Brixton local and one half of tumblr/collective CPanel. Both tracks take a very different approach to the 130 beats-per-minute Garage/House middle-ground, dancing around some of the more predictable formulas and tossing together Detroit techno, progressive synths and dancehall vocals. The end result certainly bears some common influences with the likes of Pasteman, Jay Weed, Night Slugs and other border-blurring underground experimenters. That said, these two tracks shouldn't be taken for cloning - the sounds are smashed together in wholly original ways that leave plenty of room to the imagination. Vital Sines keeps them guessing!

Boomkat

WRZ005: Foundation EP - Subreachers

2012-09-15T13:53:00.002-04:00

Out earlier this month on the fledgling Warriorz label, The Foundation EP the latest turbid revelation from Belgium's Subreachers. As the name suggests, the four track EP is something of a throw-back stylistically. As the label describes, the sounds populating their catalog all bear a "respect for the basic elements of the genre." in one way or another. In the case of Matthias Hoogewijs' latest brew, this idea emerges in the form of loping drum-patterns, breezy chords, high-voltage drones and aquatic sub-pressure. Samples from revered musical minds also grace the too strongest selections, Foundation and Developer.

While the Foundation EP falls a bit far from the swing and bass-work of what many would consider to be at the roots of Dubstep, it does reference some other electronic foundations that have been important to the genre's migrating boundaries and broad appeal. The high-hats, for example, have a digital-steppers feel that leans towards rhythm patterns of both Dub and Drum and Bass. The influence of the later is also at play in the industrial clamor and twinkling spaces of the EP's atmospheric elements. These features fit in perfectly with Subreachers' previous releases, which can be found on labels such as Compound One and Red Shift One to name a few.

Altogether, a strong release for Warriorz label that will appeal to fans of Dubstep's darker and more ambient strains.

Mutated Mindz - Brown Sugar EP

2012-09-12T21:40:00.001-04:00

.... so I've been feeling this track since I first heard it on one of DJ Enme's SUB FM shows a couple of months back or so... it's been gettin heavy rotation from a lot of big DJ's in the game... it's a smoothed out track produced by the Mutated Mindz crew and comes courtesy of SUBFREQ RECs... a label run by the one and only DJ Chef along with business partner Bluesy... and if you haven't read my previous post... Chef and Bluesy have their own release forthcoming on the new Masterdub Recordings imprint.... definitely check for that....

if this is your first introduction to the Mutated Mindz crew, they're definitely a group you should keep your ears out for.... with previous releases on labels such as Bassclash, and Sin City... plus a tight affiliation with the Gangoonz crew... you can expect these guys star to rise even further.... Brown Sugar EP is out on Digital and Vinyl and is chocked full of wonderful beats... it's available at a large list of retailers... Juno, Boomkat, DigitalTunes etc... just to name a few...

Mastermindz Of Dubstep EP Vol 1 - MDR001

2012-08-31T00:18:00.001-04:00

yes yes... jumping in early on this one...

Masterdub Recordings is a new imprint on the scene that has set it's sights on releasing only top-notch Dubstep riddims... the type of riddims that we at Dontsleep wish there were more of. it can be a bit disconcerting wading through the massive amounts of Dubstep releases only to come to the realization that a large majority of them are missing their most crucial element.... their soul. on the one hand lfo gymnastics can be very impressive, but at the end of the day... it's more about the mood that is evoked than anything else....

Mastermindz of Dubstep Vol 1 features a diverse selection of beats from some of the most well respected producers in the game. An instant classic... "Bad Mind" by none other than Kromestar, kicks things off featuring MC Crazy D on the hook..."snake in the grass my enemies will crawl"... before crescendoing into an undeniable banger. Chef and Blusey's "Children of the Night" is a sub intensive number whose growling bass rears it's head between haunting landscapes and faint screams. "Roaring Lion" produced by EL-B, who is no-doubt one of the earliest innovators of the genre, switches things up with a lovely reggae influenced vocal number, all while giving a nod to the classic sounds of early Dubstep. Itchy Robot's "Straight Up Gangstar" represents a more lead-synth driven type of Dubstep track, which leans more towards the style of a Hench or Gangoon Dubz crew sound. Closing things out, is Dj Enme's, "The Way It Is In London" featuring Nadia S. on vocals... a track thats been doing the rounds, and been receiving a lot of praise for some time now... yeah big up!!..

Mastermindz of Dubstep definitely gets a strong endorsement... it's a well-crafted release that touches on the different styles of an ever-growing genre... a genre that I hope continues to broaden it's scope, where different styles can all coexist together...

You can cop this on vinyl and digital at any number of online stores on September 9th!!

SINE002: Subverse - Kanvas

2012-08-23T07:46:00.006-04:00

Back in June we reviewed the premier digital release on the UK label Vital Sines from Kanvas. It's always exciting to see new labels sprouting up and to watch them progress. Ideally each new release raises the bar on the last or at the very least maintains a continuity of sonic pressure. In this follow up single to June's Blueprint EP, Kanvas has managed a little bit of both. The 'format' of these tracks remains largely the same: an intensely pleasurable combination of bouncing beats and mellifluous atmospherics that neatly steps around the well-worn patterns of UK Garage, inserting elements of Dubstep and Jungle to generate something at once nostalgic and forward-leaning. "Subverse" builds on this previous example by taking the sound into a somewhat darker, hard-hitting vein. Although there is no breakbeat to speak of, some of the Jungle influence in this track is present in the relentless swelling bass line, short-echo snare frills and signature vocal sample. "Bosco Verticale" on the other hand leans more towards Techno and balances out the rougher strains of "Subverse" with a twinkling spaciousness. The name for this track appears to be taken from a "green" architecture project of Milan, Italy, which promises tree-sized balcony planters on each of the towers' 27 floors. Check for this release in digital shops tomorrow and keep stacking that "bosco verticale".

First City Mob Podcast - Episode #21

2012-08-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

First City Mob Podcast - Episode #21

Max Echo and Bookz at it again. Summer Jam session in effect...
Winding down the summer with a special selection of beats for your feet.
Max Echo opens things up on a House / Funky tip working his way up to some 140 bizness, with Bookz riding things out on a Dubstep and Grime flex....

Episode #21 features tracks from Cardopusher, Guessbeats x Kidmalone, Don Perignon, Buzzin10, Jack Dixon, Canvas, Jack Sparrow, Distance, YKK, Caspa, Badklaat, Nokwell, Lost, Preditah, Enme, Requake, Youngman and many more....

As always be sure to subscribe on Itunes...

you can also download it directly from the Soundcloud player below...

GOLDIE @ SULLIVAN ROOM 8/10

2012-08-08T13:08:00.004-04:00

IT'S GOLDIE SON!!~ THIS FRIDAY KONKRETE JUNGLE GETS ILL AT SULLIVAN ROOM- STRICTLY HARDCORE JUNGLIST>DO NOT MISS!

KONKRETE JUNGLE & SULLIVAN ROOM present
GOLDIE (Metalheadz | UK)
August 10th, 2012 10:00pm to 4:00AM

Sullivan Room
218 Sullivan Street
Between Bleecker Street & West 3rd
New York, NY

21+, $20 advanced tickets, $25 at the door

:

GOLDIE (Metalheadz |UK)
DAVE SHICHMAN (Direct Drive, Driven AM, NYC)
CHRISTOPHER ROSS (
AB3 (Saving Bass, NYC)
Micah Chockley (Konkrete Jungle OG, Direct Drive, Knoxville Soundsystem)
Hosted by MC T.R.A.C. (Konkrete Jungle OG, B.B.E., Telluric Records)

Inquiries & mailing list:
http://www.konkretejungle.com/
http://www.sullivanroom.com/

East VS West EP - ManVSMachine

2012-08-06T07:10:00.002-04:00

new in shops this week is the East VS West EP out on ManVSMachine... which outside of First City Records is one of the few (if not only) U.S. label which consistently reps Grime music as a whole. ManVSMachine as a label, launched in 2009 and was founded in the Bay Area, California. It has released strong Grime instrumentals from The One, and MBZ... two artists currently signed to it's label. But in addition to being a label, ManVSMachine is also a production crew which consists of The One, MBZ, Nokwell, and N8....

The East VS West EP pairs tracks by First City's own Mad Scientist and Bookz with ManVSMachine artists The One and Nokwell. It's an EP that has been in the making for some time, and showcases the varying styles of U.S. Grime between the different coasts and city's they represent...

- "What happens when 2 of america's leading Grime labels collaborate?? You get the only crews in the USA that rep Grime music.....the East Coast bangers of Mad Scientist and Bookz of First City, and the West Coast bass of Nokwell and The One on one EP!!" - ManVSMachine

Available at all good digital stores....

Itunes, Beatport, Juno and many more....

Look for other ManVSMachine releases coming soon... more bangers to come...