***RELEASED 21st JULY ON NUNORTHERN SOUL RECORDS***

A little over a year ago NuNorthern Soul brought you BJ Smith's gorgeous cover versions of two Hip Hop classics. Last time out he tackled Mos Def’s  ‘Umi Says’ which Gilles Peterson proclaimed as the ‘soundtrack to sunsets for years to come’ and The Pharcydes ‘Runnin’ Away’; this time he is bringing his unique touch to the recently-reunited Outkast.

Andre 3000 and Big Boi are hitting the festival circuit during the summer; this celebration of their greatest work should tide you over until they get back into the studio. And would they approve of these two radical re-interpretations of their music? We like to think so, see what you think.


BJ Smith - Hey Ya!

Cover versions are always at their best when they take the original song to places it never went before, which this version of Hey Ya! most certainly does. Imagine Adventure Time's Jake and Finn bursting out into song and what comes out of their animated mouths just happens to be a cover of Outkast's most enduring hit 'Hey Ya'. If sunshine could be captured on vinyl, it would sound like this.

Starting with an acoustic guitar, Hey Ya! builds into a rich collage that goes through folk, onto balearic and bounces to a close with a reggae groove. It is best enjoyed at sunset or sunrise with a cool drink in hand.


BJ Smith - Prototype

Prototype is made for Mr Smith's style; essentially it always was a wistful, dream-like folky number. However, after a fairly faithful start, things eventually end up in a very different place as this version becomes a fuller, more wholesome experience.

BJ Smith takes it right out of Atlanta folk territory and into Philly Soul with brass stabs, string sweeps and keys supplementing the already gorgeous bassline. Extra harmonies and playful guitars also add to the heady, '70s style. Later in the track it is the 1990s that provides the inspiration as the familiar brass riff from the early Outkast classic SpottieOttieDopaliscious makes a very welcome appearance, a moment any hip hop connoisseur will relish.

Early Support...

KEV BEADLE, SunCeBeat, SPW, Mindfluid, UK - So good to see the very talented BJ Smith is back turning two more heavyweight hip hop tracks on their head and taking them off on a folk/soul tangent again. Big music for summer '14 Played on Mindfluid 17th June 2014 http://bit.ly/1piixVh

LEFTO, Belgium - Prototype is the one!

ALFREDO, Ibiza Legend - I really love it both of the tracks and this is a serious statement! Great versions, I like so much the Brazilian feeling on them…

STEVE COBBY, Fila Brazillia, UK - Interesting, I like the interpretations. Not what I expected. Very easy on the ear.

DOM SERVINI, WahWah45, UK - the new BJ Smith is outstanding! Will be smashing that at Southern Soul this year!!!!

BILL BREWSTER, DJHistory.com UK - I really love a cover version that turns a tune on its head... I really rate this... Thats got Sunsets at Cafe Del Mar written all over it. (Hey Ya!)

JON OLIVER, The Main Ingredient Radio Show, NYC, USA - Played on 17th June 2014 http://bit.ly/1ilKElF

QUNICY JOINTZ, Germany - Very nice.

KET SHAH, Mucho Soul, Back2BackFM, UK - Prototype is incredible.

EMA NOSURAK, UK - BIG BIG BIG !!!!!! Have passed over to Craig Charles’ radio team.. I’m supporting ! 

ANDY TAYLOR, We Are Sunset, UK - These sound great. Ben's a top musician - Every project he gets involved with is pretty special.

MARK MILZ, Further In Fusion, Germany - Lovin’ It!!!

GRAEME PARK, UK - Lovely stuff…

MARK 'CHINNEY' DAVIS, Cowbell Radio, Alfesco Festival, Blackpool, UK - Got to admit when I saw 'Hey Ya!' my eyes rolled, refreshingly good though and will defo play next time I am on air and give it a big plug.

PAUL KAMINSKI, Birmingham, UK - It's really hard to pick a favourite out of these 2 as they are both just awesome! I'll definitely be playing these all summer.

Buy HERE

BJ Smith 'Dedications to the Greats part 2' [OutKast Covers] Sampler

Bart Gori&Rubens- The Temptation - You've Got MySoul Of Fire - Dj Rubens Rework

Remember .those quiet evenings

My debut album DESCENT is finally out!
A dark, emotional journey through phonk, future garage, and atmospheric electronic sound. Perfect for late night drives.

Huge thanks to everyone who took part in this project:
G4vri - @gavri-484196433
Jack Maloney - @jackmaloneymusic
Valisbeats - @valisbeats
HKLS - @hkls_wav
iGRES - @prodigres 
OLIIVER - @oliiverx
MIRAJ - @mirajsounds
LOSTMANE - @prodbylostmane
OLDFLOP - @oldflop
and everyone who supported this vision from the start.

Stream "DESCENT" everywhere:
🎧 https://lynkify.in/album/descent/bDdqozdH

DESCENT

TOUCH

STREAM "DESCENT"

Buy Link

What About My Rhymes  Feat Johnnie & Gee Que

Projection & Dennis Edwards - Lovestruck Any Further
Remixed Mashup By Mark Rae
Edited By Petko Turner

Nothing Left To Say.

Petko Turner Edit

Free DL Here

Projection & Dennis Edwards - Lovestruck Any Further (Petko Turner's Mark Rae Edit)

Nothin But Love & Pain (Mash Up)

Despite being known for releasing a regular stream of massive dancefloor bangers throughout the noughties, including hits like "Where's Your Head At" & "Red Alert", Basement Jaxx albums always offered a window into their more mellow, introspective & experimental side. Here are a few examples.

Basement Jaxx - Stop 4 Love

In September 2019 Matasuna opened the treasure box and reissued two rare original versions from the Peruvian band "Bossa 70" for the first time on 7inch. With the new release, two more songs from their popular self-titled album will be officially reissued on a 45. The songs were transferred from the original master tapes and got a new mastering.

Matasuna invited the US-American DJ & Producer "Retro Roland Riso" to put his hands on the original versions to create two reworks, which are suitable for today's dancefloors. Roland is almost a veteran of Philadelphia's nightlife and can look back on a 20 year career as a radio host, promoter, DJ and producer.

Think on the A-side is a great cover version of the same named song by Souldiva "Aretha Franklin" from 1968. "Bossa 70" gave the song its own touch and in their instrumental version they put the focus on the brass parts, bassline, wild guitar solos and an upbeat rhythm. Retro Roland Riso's rework puts even more pressure on the song, creating a bomb for the dancefloor!

"Get Out Of My Way" on the flipside is another fantastic cover version of a fabulous Latin/Boogaloo song of "Joe Torres" from 1967. The Retro Roland treatment remains true to the original arrangement, but he spices up the song in his Regroove with a big dash of breaks and percussions. Another weapon for every DJ bag!

"Nilo Espinoza Vascones" or better known under his artist name "Nilo Espinosa" is without doubt a Peruvian saxophone and flute legend. After a classical musical education he entered the music scene in the early 1960s. In 1966 he founded the band "Los Hilton's" with some of the best Peruvian musicians including the gifted piano player "Otto de Rojas". In 1967 they recorded the first and only LP of the group, which was released in a small edition in Peru.

Their concerts were more and more influenced by Jazz and Bossa Nova, so in 1968 they changed the band's name to "Bossa 70". In the record label's office Nilo met the Afro-Peruvian "Carmen Rosa Basurco", who also loved Bossa Nova and could sing in Portuguese and English. From then on she was the main singer of the band.

"Bossa 70" recorded four songs for a 7-inch EP in an edition of only 100 copies, which was given away for promotional purposes at concerts and to friends & family. In 1970 they recorded their self-titled LP which reflected a mixture of Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz and Funk. The label pressed only 300 copies, which were sold out very quickly. This LP was the band's only album and is a rare piece of Peruvian music history.

Bandcamp

Bossa 70 - Think (Retro Roland Riso Perfecto Rework)

***Released 1st May*** 

The Brand New Heavies "Dunk Your Trunk Remixed EP"

Thanks to Skeewiff, in late 2012 we were given the opportunity to remix one of the biggest bands in UK funk. After several late night shed sessions and perpetual practice, Benz Whiston came up with a new bass line to inspire the new Latin sections and provide a fitting new slant on a great instrumental.

The EP also features remixes from Empresarios, Omegaman, Pulpfusion feat Lorenzo Medici & Skeewiff

Released on iTunes, 1st May 2013 on Pedigree Cuts.

Buy on iTunes

The Brand New Heavies - Sunset Star (Daytoner Remix)

Wav Main with Instrumental & A Capella here. https://markrae.bandcamp.com/album/tribute-to-fat-city