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I caught up with Austin Speed to ask some questions about the dubstep movement in San Diego, here’s what he had to say…

KD: To let our readers know more about yourselves, what is Sublmnl Sound System/Funk The System?

AS: Sublmnl Sound System is an event production crew consisting of Austin Speed and CRMNL. We’ve hosted numerous dubstep events in San Diego, and recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary.

Funk The System is a monthly event hosted by Bass Mechanic, which highlights various styles of EDM. Bass Mechanic’s events always have an underground vibe, and his talent for creating a lineup keeps the crowd moving well through the night.

Sublmnl Funk is a collaboration between Sublmnl Sound System and Funk The System, to bring the finest dubstep with the best sound possible.

KD: What events/ideas do you have for the future?

AS: As Sublmnl Sound System, we’ve been running a monthly event called Dub Smugglers, which has featured an out-of-town headliner at every show. We’re planning on taking a short hiatus during the holiday season, but we have a couple of other things coming up, such as a legal all-ages event and a show at a popular venue normally reserved for live bands.

KD: Any upcoming releases from the camp?

AS: Austin Speed has a fresh release on Roguedubs, and is planning on releasing a bootleg white label in the next couple of months. He also collaborated with Calculon to create a drum and bass track, which will be coming out on Phunkfiction later this month.

KD: What do you think the future holds for dubstep in San Diego?

AS: The interest in dubstep has been growing exponentially, and many promoters are starting to incorporate dubstep acts into their events. Sublmnl Sound System has been approached by one of the most recognized EDM clubs in San Diego to organize a large-scale event in the near future. This is indicative of the growth that dubstep has experienced in San Diego, and we’re very excited to be a part of the movement

KD: Any Shouts?

AS: Big ups to EshOne of SDDubstep.com, FSTZ from Roguedubs, Drew from Smog, Walker, Puppy Kicker and the rest of the BrokenBeat crew, the staff at Kava Lounge, and to all of the people who have been coming out to events and supporting the San Diego dubstep community!

Visit Kelly Dean on Flickr for more photos!

Grab your wingtips and put a feather in your fedora, join us for our 1920’s Gangster themed soiree where Bass & Bliss meet Bonnie & Clyde!

The Pinstripe Ballroom:
Just Added: PROPATINGZ Live! – Boka, Black Acre – www.PropaTingz.com
& POM – Earthsteppa, Rootabreaka (special closing set!)

The Crunkadelic Bass Traveler himself…
Vibesquad – Joyful Noise Album Release / Vibesquad.com – Colorado
Subvert – Muti Music, Rottun Rec., Shambhala Music Festival – Alberta, Canada
Oscure – Space Island, L.A.B.A
Patricio – The Do Lab
Eva – RobynSteel, Broke
Braden – 16bit+Beyond, Ableton Academy
DJ 007 – Teknowledge, Bwomp!
Bass Mechanic – Funk The System – San Diego

The Sleazy Speakeasy
Hosted by PURE FILTH
Datsik – Rottun Rec, EX7, Basshead Music – British Columbia, Canada
Excision – Rottun Rec, EX7 – British Columbia, Canada
The Professionals – Pure Filth
RudElgin – Teknowledge, Space Island
Remo – Pure Filth
Magi – Pure Filth
JViz – Bwomp!
MC Kemst

Just Added:
H20 “10 Year Anniversary” outdoor stage with:
Divine Elements (H20)
Oscure 2×4 J-Funk – Classic Breaks Set – H20, LABA
Justo 2×4 Alikat – H20, DramaBassd, Robnsteel
ALX 2×4 Josh Mayhem (Play It Recordings/Divine Elements)
Dip-Vertigo 2×4 Kemizt – H20, Kotori Magazine, Maximum Moves
Pete – H20
Kris Jung Live Beatbox, Scratchbox Featuring Turntablism By J-Funk – H20, Thelittleguywithabrokenarmthatbeatboxes, LABA

Live Graffiti & Art Exhibit:
2 Wall Live Graffiti Art Painting:
Wall 1: H20
-Hydra & Craka
Wall 2: RobnSteel x KRH
-Flare, Lens, Dewey, Mors

Art Display Exhibit By Archer-One of The Orakel Dynasty
Giveaways From RobnSteel Clothing, Gold Rat Tooth, The Orakel Dynasty/Archer-One, Temple Effectives Clothing
Dazzling live performances!
Inspiring outdoor art display!
Mesmerizing fire spinning!
Get Gangster with it: 1920’s attire strongly encouraged!

Doors 9pm – 6am
Only $15 before 10pm, $20 after.
18+ Over , 21+ w/ ID to Drink
2 Full Bars & tasty food

Located at Nucleus Event Space
650 S Clarence St
Los Angeles, CA 90023
Teknowledge: www.remixtheunderground.com
310-933-1451

Download audio file (datsik-retreat(www.mediacontender.com).mp3)
Click to Download “Datsik – Retreat”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

We’re also going to feature a few videos from our friend Glenjamn that will give you some motion picture insight into the frenetic world that was Hard.

Download audio file (TADT%20-%20Blue%20Dream%20Mixed%20By%20Code-D%20%28www.mediacontender.com%29.mp3)
Click to Download “TADT – Blue Dream Mixed By Code-D”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

New York heads you should definitely try and make it out to the fourth installation of Lickwud this Saturday!

Junglist Jess and Code-D are proud to bring you a killer multi-genre lineup in the heart of Williamsburg Brooklyn, not to mention FREE BEFORE 12. Crazy local talent and a guest dj from Chicager iller noise, we go hard bringing you…a night of Bass and Breakbeats, Jungle, Electro, House, Fidget, Rave-Rap, Dubstep, Club, Freestyle, and so much more. Bring your rave whistle and a friend, and let’s shake it cross the dancefloor.

Website: Code-D, TADT, Twitter

Propa Tingz is responsible for some of the biggest dance floor bangers to emerge from the West Coast scene in recent years. Under his former guise as Breakbeat Buddah, he helped forge the now lauded California Glitch Hop scene alongside artists like the Glitch Mob and Laser Sword. As Propa Tingz he is widely acknowledged as a pioneer of Glitch Step; a bad-bwoy soundclash of Bay Area hyphy, Dirty South Crunk, UK Bass, and the cutting edge of Glitch.

His unmistakable British delivery and brash, in your face, bottom-heavy beats have created quite the buzz for this producer/DJ. Although often seduced by the rush of violence and crime where he was raised in the badlands of Wolverhampton, he managed to find a focus within the graffiti and hip hop scenes. From that point on his love affair with underground music would take him far and wide.

Mr. Tingz was kind enough to give us a couple exclusives just for you. A dirty take on Felix Da Housecat’s “Kick Drum,” and a nasty Glitch Dubstep tune that uses a Missy accapella nicely. I think you will agree that although he just moved here a few weeks ago, he’s going to do just fine. We welcome him to LA as its quickly becoming the Dubstep epicenter for the States.

Download audio file (kick-drum-(propatingz _nasty-gal-remix)(www.mediacontender.com).mp3)
Click to Download “Felix Da Housecat – Kick Drum (PropaTingz’ “Nasty Gal” Remix)”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

Download audio file (rippin-needles(www.mediacontender.com).mp3)
Click to Download “Propa Tingz – Rippin’ Needles”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

Follow Propa Tingz on Twitter and pay close attention ’cause this bad man has several releases coming very soon including “Poor Man Style,” forthcoming on Black Acre (which received heavy support from Kissy Sell Out on Radio1); 16 Bit’s “Chainsaw Calligraphy (PropaTingz Crunk Massacre remix),” forthcoming on BOKA alongside Jakes and Kanji’s “Kineticremix.” Lastly, I hear tremors of a vocal version of a track he did with breaks don FreqNasty featuring SPYDA who was the voice on Pendulum’s “Tarantula”.

Website: www.PropaTingz.com

Introduction

My name is Inja, an MC based in Cambridge, England. I am heavily involved in all genres of music, so much so that I have made u my own genre called hipbassgrimestep and have also been given the nickname ‘The multi-genre monster’. I am the host for the world DMC championships and various other multi-genre music nights such as Warning – the worlds longest running DNB night, Stink like Sock – the UK’s biggest dubstep night, as well as a being a producer, engineer and school teacher!

History

Musically I began being heavily influenced by Reggae as various family members have been in live bands which I grew up listening too. From there I became heavily influenced by the dance music that was around in the early 90s, the likes of The Prodigy and Sl2 etc. It was after this that I got involved with Hip-Hop music through Gangster Rap and then moment of clarity and light which came in the form of UK Hip-Hop. I soon became part of a crew called The Delegates of Culture which are a Cambridge based group of killer MC’s Producers and DJ’s. From that point I got heavily involved a group called Taskfoce which still to this day are one of the most heavyweight acts in this country, touring on a regular basis. I used to really like Grime as well but I was never influenced by that kind of music until Dubstep came along and took me on a whirlwind which took on my roots an mixed the heavy bass influences. As you can tell I have been influenced by the whole music spectrum, so much so that I could never be put under the umbrella of one genre or one music style.

photo: dwen

The Present

I just arrived back from a tour of China where we smashed the place and got closed down by the Chinese Police… but with a little backhander and a nice little bribe everything was alright in the end haha. We also had the DMC World champs not too long ago where the USA managed to take the world title with the artist known as DJ Shifty from New York (Look out for my future collab work him). On the release front the single Hat Low has just been released (view the official video here) and this has been tearing up the UK airwaves and TB stations which I am very happy about. Before the year is out you will see the release of the Skuff & Inja show which is myself alongside one of my foundation MC partners. We go back to back for an albums worth of Hip-Hop junkie based, crossing music (check out the track ‘Witness’ below, an exclusive free mp3 taken from the new album!).

We could go on for days with various questions and styles but for now we are going to cut the small talk and let the music do the rest of the talking. Be sure to keep your eyes open for Inja out on the road as well as on this website in the future.

For more on Inja you can visit his website at – injamusic.com

His music can also be found at – inja.bandcamp.com

Below Inja has kindly given us some exclusive tracks for your ears as well as a video above which we shot specifically for mediacontender.com.

Download audio file (Witness%20%28www.mediacontender.com%29.mp3)
Click to Download “Inja & Skuff – Witness”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

Download audio file (Deep%20Within%20%28Beat%20-%20Freezin%29%20%28www.mediacontender.com%29.mp3)
Click to Download “Inja – Deep Within”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

***BRAND NEW VENUE INFORMATION***
The Olive
643 S. Olive St.
Downtown Los Angeles, 90014

In the world of dubstep there are those artists that are synonymous with the foundation and longevity of the genre. London representative playing SMOG this week, Distance, should need no introduction. I could go on with a list of his accolades, his label Chestplate, who he’s played with, where, and why he gets booked etc. But if you are checking Media Contender, you are into good music and you can do your own due diligence. Check his myspace, find sets online, he’s a badman who makes some seriously dope music.

The second name in the pretty large font is Portland’s Noah D. You might know him from his Drum and Bass. You might know him from his Dubstep. You might know him from high school or some other random point in history, and if you don’t know of him, you should. He has a ton of releases that have been put out by labels that define the genre they represent and is another prime example of North American artists absolutely killing it in British music.

I know i’ve been a bit crass with this piece for SMOG but truthfully I have dropped so much info about this collective and what they are all about that by this point it should be a no-brainer.

As if you need anymore convincing, here is a little tidbit from SMOG CEO Drew Best that should seal the deal.

Distance is one of the original producers in dubstep, but he’s always stood out as having a slightly harder and darker sound. Being that we are around Halloween time, we felt like we couldn’t have picked a better time to showcase his music. The rest of the line up was designed to compliment, so the overall event should be quite a ride!

SMOG resident, EMU has passed us some new bits to share again. Come check him and the rest of the cast this Saturday in DTLA .

Download audio file (MAJOR%20LAZER%20-%20PON%20DE%20FLOOR%20%28EMU%20%26%20DON%20FROTH%27S%20ABBOTT%20KINNEY%20HO-DOWN%29%28www.mediacontender.com%29.mp3)
Click to Download “MAJOR LAZER – PON DE FLOOR (EMU & DON FROTH’S ABBOTT KINNEY HO-DOWN)
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Click to Download “KELEVRA & MIKEY DALTON – It’s a Party Yo (EMU RMX)
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

Website: SMOG LA

Josh Spencer is one of those guys you always see at the right place at the right time and wonder how he got there before you. I first met him when I worked for Redsquare TV as a music supervisor. He was an amateur skateboarder growing up in the ever-competitive Southern Cali circuit and found his niche with the early school of rocker skaters. We would interview him as a trusted source on the history of skateboarding and who’s who, doing what. During my time at Redsquare, Josh provided invaluable resources as a skateboarding authority but also managed to produce, host, and promote his shows, proving just how rooted he is in this sport.

One of his many talents is photography, specifically portraits. You may recognize some of these faces, you may not. Either way you will be impressed by what he captures in them. Sometimes human and humbling, yet glamorous and enchanting at the same time.

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J Paul (Jared Jackson) is classically trained in drums, keyboards and guitar. He’s DJ’d Salt Lake City and Phoenix rave & clubs for over a decade and is and an avid engineer/ producer. OB-One is Ben Garcia, acclaimed Muay Thai fighter, MTV “True Life” star, and resident DJ at Vegas hot spots Moon and Playboy Club.

J. Rabbit hails from the Bronx, NY, where he lives and breathes music. He is deathly afraid of zombies, suffers from and delights in synesthesia, and wants to write a song that will make people see green. He specializes in dubstep and DNB with a lot of wobble, sub, rattle & fun!

A recent student of HPD/Terravita’s Mr.Matt with releases coming up on Delorean Music Group & Play Me, remixes for B. Rich and Hot Pink Delorean already in the can, he is just getting ready to unleash his fun yet seriously mega-sonic devastation.

Included here are 2 full 320s of HavocNDeed’s killer bootlegs. and one extreme video game re-work from from J. Rabbit. “Re -Re Wind” is chock full of cheeky sample work and thick twisted bass, with a side of respect for the 2-step roots. “Hold The Line” brings the forward thinking styling of Major Lazer a hefty order of bassline. And last but not least, “Ninja Gaiden” recalls a youth of 8 bit wonder brought up to dancefloor smasher level.

Download audio file (rerewind_havocndeed-remix(www.mediacontender.com).mp3)
Click to Download “Artful Dodger feat Craig David Re-Re Wind (HavocNDeed Remix)”
(Stream & Download Courtesy of Media Contender)

Download audio file (hold-the-line_havocndeed-remix(www.mediacontender.com).mp3)
Click to Download “Major Lazer Hold The Line (HavocNDeed Remix)”
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Click to Download “J. Rabbit Ninja Gaiden“
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And this is just another taste of what’s to come!

Websites: Play Me Records Myspace, HavocNDeed Myspace,
J. Rabbit Myspace