- Hip-hop meets house on this slamming EP.
- A surge in new labels, popular YouTube channels and online pages—think Facebook's Identification Of Music group—has fuelled a mad dash for label owners eager to sign the hottest unreleased tracks floating around the web. The support of DJs who play these tunes to big crowd helps, of course, but crafty label heads would be wise to keep their eyes and ears peeled across online channels—a form of ad-hoc A&R. Kettama, a burgeoning Irish producer and DJ whose drum-heavy Bucklyn Bridge was released by the upcoming Brooklyn label Homage, speaks to this kind of strategy.
First heard floating around social media groups, and heavily rinsed by DJs like Mall Grab, the EP packs a tight, bass-heavy energy across a trio of hip-hop sampling tunes fit for heaving dance floors. The clear pick of the litter is "B O D Y," a cheeky MC-sampling anthem littered with piercing synths and rollicking basslines. It's got enough switch-ups to keep punters guessing while dancing hard into its multiple breakdowns. "Kilt" and "Keep It Real" maintain the throwback vibe, cycling through Euro-rave sounds, classic Nas samples and thick percussion. Kettama's crafty sampling and layering mixes classic and contemporary moments well, offering an easy pick for DJs looking to energize crowds.
TracklistA1 B O D Y
B1 Kilt
B2 Keep It Real