A mixtape can be many things, but one thing is for sure, a mixtape is more than just random songs put in a particular order. It’s about recontextualizing sounds, giving them a new meaning (sometimes very different from the original) by setting them side by side, or juxtapozed in ingenious ways with others. Best thing about mixtapes, most of them are FREE (!), and they’re a great way to discover new music. In this new column, Juan Data gives you a worthy one every week.
MIXTAPE: Mixed Taste – La Pelua: Mechada Meets Amarillo Cheese
DJ: Psycho Woof of Cuarto Poder
If you prefer listening to the whole song, from beginning to end, and you don’t really care about mixing skills, then this mixtape is perfect for you. Put together by Venezuelan rapper Psycho Woof, of the Cuarto Poder crew, this 55-minute long set is pretty basic and straightforward. Simply a selection of songs by different artists where one’s outro fades into the next intro and so on, with no attempt at beat matching or blending tunes. More like a podcast than a DJ set, and maybe that’s just what it is.
So, what can we really look forward to here? Once we get rid of all turntablism expectations, we can focus on the selection and judge the songs at face value. And let me tell you, I was surprised by the quality of many of these tracks. I’m not an expert in Venezuelan hip-hop. In fact, aside from Cuarto Poder, I haven’t heard much, so this mixtape was a good introduction into that field, showcasing the verbal talents of local MCs like Apache, Rimatematico, and NK Profeta.
But the real surprises kick in when Psycho Woof diverts from the orthodox hip-hop grounds into other hybrid genres and dares to mix in (or more accurately drop) tracks by the likes of Los Amigos Invisibles, Latin Bitman, and La Vida Boheme (be on the look out for these cats!), even a nü-cumbia remix of Nirvana! Now that’s something I wasn’t expecting from a rap mixtape.
Oh, and just a reminder, Cuarto Poder has a US debut album recently released on Nacional Records, and regardless of its corny old-school title (In Tha House), it’s pretty dope, so go check it out.
DOWNLOAD PSYCHO WOOF OF CUARTO PODER’S MIXTAPE HERE.
NK Profeta (feat. Tony Touch) – Otra Cosa
Apache – Yo Se – Album: Sin Afina Mucho
Rimatematico & Apache – Untitled – Album: El Mixtape
NK Profeta – Desahogo – Album: Unknown
Latin Bitman feat. Funk Attack – State of My Soul – Album: Colour
El Prieto – Estilo de Vida – Album: El Prieto Al Desnudo
Nirvana – Smells Like Cumbia Spirit (MKC Remix)
Los Amigos Invisibles – Mentiras (DJ Afro Remix) – Album: Commercial Single
La Vida Boheme – Radio Capital (MKC Remix)
OneChot – CCS – Album: Ruff
Mexicano 777 – Hey Yo Mama
Apache feat. Cuarto Poder – Black & White Pt. 2 – Album: Sin Afina Mucho
Cuarto Poder – Intermezzo Y Todo Bien? – Album: Polar Promo Song
La Vida Boheme – Radio Capital (Beat Citizen Remix) – Album: Nuestra Remixes