The word mixtape has plenty of different interpretations. It used to be that mixtapes were actually DJ sets recorded on cassette tapes, but with the coming of the digital music age, the name remained the same, but the definition expanded. Nowadays, people call mixtapes many different things, some of which are not necessarily mixed and most of which were never taped. Here we try to cover them all. In this column, Juan Data gives you a worthy one every week.
DJ: Geko Jones
MIXTAPE: The Qué Cojones Mixtape
I can’t believe I’ve been doing this weekly mixtape column for almost two years without interruptions and I still haven’t featured any mixtape by Brooklyn’s own Geko Jones. This guy is simply one of the most active and influential taste-makers in the electropical scene, worldwide, and he’s been doing it for a while. We have mentioned him numerous times and even did a proper introduction back in the early days of Remezcla. In fact, he’s so ubiquitous that maybe that’s the reason why I assumed that I had already featured him on this column, at least once.
Better late than never, and what better time than now, right when his newest mixtape has gone up and started to make serious noise in the blogosphere. This new Cojones mixtape doesn’t waste any time with tedious introductions; it pulls you straight to the dance floor from the get-go, and keeps you there for a full hour. Geko’s most remarkable skill is finding the newest, coolest, rarest, and most exclusive tracks and remixes — the stuff that everybody else will be spinning six months from now. He mixed them with sense and cohesive transitions, but doesn’t keep up with a constant tempo. He seamlessly jumps from slower jams to frenetic, up-tempo beats and goes back down to some classic dem-bow, but somehow, it all makes sense in his ensalada.
Among the many obscure selections you’ll find plenty familiar names like our friends Los Rakas, Maluca, Munchi, Boogat, DJ Sabo and ElMayonesa. Well familiar for those who regularly follow Remezcla; not for your average commercial radio listener, of course. If you live too far from Brooklyn and can’t make it to his Qué Bajo?! parties, this mixtape is the best next thing.