I came across this promo MP3 of South Rakkas upcoming album on Mad Decent. It’s obviously gonna be fire!
These guys have been producing blazin’ dancehall riddims for a minute, and I’ve always been attracted to the stuff ’cause it seems to be influenced by sounds that aren’t part of the standard Jamaican palette (not that there really ever is a standard Jamaican palette). I suppose that’s partly because they’re based in Florida, not JA, and perhaps that explains the rave-music influence. Florida was a hotbed of said culture in its hey-day. But it’s not just American rave, I hear lots of UK influence in there. The Clappas riddim has a swing to it that can be mixed with the swing drum&bass stuff that was coming out at the time, and the Bionic Ras riddim not only sounds sort of like 2-step-garage, but it even features some UK vocalists. In fact it seems that South Rakkas member Alex G is a prolific producer of house, breaks, and other electronic-dance-music styles.
The fact that this little MP3 sampler features Sesame St. “Pinball Number Count” along-side Josh Wink’s ’90s-acid-anthem “Higher States of Consciousness” and reggae greats like TOK and Capleton is simply ridiculous, and I for one can’t wait to hear the EP.
“Pinball Number Count” from Sesame St.:
