A retrospective of fast paced US Hip Hop from 1988 to 1993

Cannot Nod

26.8

friday at sustain-release 2021, 12-2am. thank you karen nicole for the photo :)

thank you @sustain-release-nyc

livwutang @ Sustain-Release Year 7

Available on Audio Cassette and digital download directly from the label’s Bandcamp: https://cclurl.bandcamp.com/album/a-night-in-the-skull-discotheque

Side A: Bass is Eternal
Side B: 2-step Mutual Dream

A Night in the Skull Discotheque by the beloved underground selector CCL is the latest offering in the T4T LUV NRG label’s highly limited DJ mix series of cassettes. This immersive journey through a wonderland of proto-dubstep sounds from the late 1970s through the year 2000 is a sonic sibling to CCL’s acclaimed 2018 mix Ode to Queer Steppas.

Inspired in part by Eris Drew’s use of “old records to create new styles out of fragments” on her Raving Disco Breaks Vol. 1 mixtape (T4T LUV NRG, 2019), CCL approached this recording with a parallel frame of mind. Created with 3 CDJs, one Turntable, and a Boss Digital Delay 200, the tracks included in the mix are deconstructed from their whole, and constituent parts are intertwined, sampled, and dubbed out while being further stretched beyond their physical limits. CCL mixed many tracks at the 'wrong speed', pitched beyond their original recognizable tone; others are recontextualized through imaginative layering.

With a solid nod to seminal mixtapes of the early 90s, CCL references the namesake for Side A, Bass Is Eternal, an unreleased 1992 mixtape by influential Bristolian producers Smith & Mighty, an important sonic fulcrum amongst the musical tributaries of the hardcore continuum that continues to reverberate to this day. CCL experienced the after-effects of this ‘proto’ sound genesis in 2008, while living in Bristol, by which point its emergent whispers had coalesced into what became known as dubstep. Tracing a rich history of reference through the samples, basslines, moods, and drum patterns emanating from Bass Is Eternal while looking for connections that predate it became a long-term fascination for CCL. The result is a DJ mix that connects the oft-forgotten dots between proto eras and modern developments in bass and dubstep.

For the resulting sonic ride on A Night in the Skull Discotheque, CCL leads us to a fantastical place of timeless surreality – a majestic haunted dancehall soundtracked by a giddy rush of steppers and dubbed-out delights. Subs rattle through syncopated percs, and moody synths glisten in macabre glory. Fantastical dancers wriggle in wispy eternity, liberated from their corporeal forms in all their greatest spiritual wonder. Both extravagant and dusky, A Night in the Skull Discotheque is a world of seductive in-betweens, a place caught between the moodiest depths and the highest exuberance – A love letter to one of the most impactful formative sounds of the last decades.


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A portion for the proceeds from this release will go to fundraiser "SUPPORT PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY IN EUROPE!". You can also directly donate via:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-palestinian-solidarity-in-europe
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Tape design: Nina Muro
Mastering: TJ Hertz
Additional tape mastering: Eris Drew
Photography: CCL 
Linear notes: Nevan Jio

A Night in the Skull Discotheque [T4T015]

CCL - A Night in the Skull Discotheque

Today we’re really happy to share a very special set on our SØNDER SoundCloud page — straight from the incredibly talented Masaka Masaka. 

We first met Masaka Masaka two years ago during a trip to Uganda, and were completely blown away by his set at Underground Kampala. His energy, creativity, and raw talent were unforgettable.

In this mix, Masaka blends techno with Ugandan local sounds in a way that feels fresh, bold, and deeply rooted. Expect a wild fusion of mangled samples, percussive grooves, jazz loops, chopped vocals, and basslines that move. It's a sonic journey full of skittering drums, silky ambiences, jungle breaks, dubby psychedelia, and even touches of shoegaze and spiritual choir.

Masaka Masaka is a Ugandan producer, DJ, and we’re honored to host his work on our platform.

Enjoy the listen!

MASAKA MASAKA IG: http://instagram.com/masaka___masaka/

SNDR IG: www.instagram.com/sndr_official_/?hl=it

SNDR 061 // MASAKA MASAKA

00:00:00  1 Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs - Streets Of The Ghetto
00:03:56  2 EPMD - Brothers On My Jock
00:07:38  3 Nikki D - Up The Ante For The Panties (Main Mix)
00:10:28  4 Big Daddy Kane - How U Get A Record Deal?
00:14:02  5 Public Enemy - Louder Than a Bomb
00:17:15  6 LL Cool J - Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag (Remix)
00:22:08  7 Rakim - Heat It Up (Album Version)
00:25:37  8 Showbiz & A.G. - Fat Pockets
00:28:47  9 Sylk Smoov - Here Come Sylk Smoov
00:31:55 10 Run-D.M.C. - Back From Hell
00:34:30 11 Stezo - Bring The Horns
00:37:32 12 Eric B. & Rakim - Set 'Em Straight
00:41:13 13 Black Moon - Shit Iz Real
00:44:43 14 Black Sheep - Try Counting Sheep
00:48:28 15 Shazzy - Play in Vain
00:51:58 16 Public Enemy - Rebel Without a Pause
00:56:17 17 Black Moon - Who Got Da Props
01:00:16 18 Showbiz & A.G. - He Say, She Say
01:03:52 19 KMD feat. Busta Rhymes & Brand Nubian - Nitty Gritty (Remix)
01:08:46 20 Souls Of Mischief - That’s When Ya Lost (I Ain’t Trippin’ Remix)
01:11:39 21 Ultramagnetic MC's - Dolly And The Rat Trap
01:13:28 22 Public Enemy - Prophets Of Rage
01:16:42 23 Scarface - Your Ass Got Took
01:20:05 24 The Notorious B.I.G. - Party And Bullshit (Lord's Dirty)
01:23:55 25 Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Half-Steppin'
01:29:00 26 A.D.O.R. - Let It All Hang Out (Pete Rock Mix)
01:33:47 27 Sham & The Professor - So-Low-Ist (The Kenny "Dope" Remix)
01:37:09 28 A Tribe Called Quest - After Hours
01:40:50 29 Pryme Suspect - Sudden Impact
01:44:49 30 A Tribe Called Quest - Footprints
01:48:11 31 Smooth Ice - Do It Again
01:51:15 32 Kool G. Rap & D.J. Polo - It's A Demo
01:55:49 33 Beastie Boys - Shadrach
01:59:21 34 Royal Flush - Watch Out For the Plant
02:02:23 35 Diamond D - I'm Outta Here (My Name Is John Doe)
02:07:14 36 X-Clan - Tribal Jam
02:11:49 37 Cooly Live - All Possibilities
02:15:39 38 Public Enemy - Gotta Do What I Gotta Do
02:19:17 39 Public Enemy - Terminator X to the Edge of Panic
02:23:22 40 Steady B - Serious
02:27:11 41 Stetsasonic - Rollin' Wit Rush
02:28:11 42 Stetsasonic - We're The Band
02:30:41 43 MC Shan - I Pioneered This

Cannot Nod Vol. 1 100-101

00:00:00  1 EPMD - Get The Bozack
00:04:35  2 Main Source - Live at the Barbeque
00:08:26  3 Slick Rick - Runaway
00:12:11  4 The Pharcyde - Return of the B-Boy
00:14:43  5 Terminator X - Buck Whylin' (Featuring Chuck D & Sister Souljah)
00:18:47  6 Cypress Hill - The Phuncky Feel One
00:22:04  7 Grand Puba - 360° (What Goes Around)
00:25:30  8 EPMD - Scratch Bring It Back (Part 2) (Mic Doc)
00:27:59  9 Gang Starr - Just To Get A Rep
00:30:05 10 Big Daddy Kane - Mortal Combat
00:34:53 11 JVC Force - A Musical Sample
00:37:44 12 EPMD - So Wat Cha Sayin'
00:42:18 13 Slick Rick - Kit (What's the Scoop)
00:45:56 14 Public Enemy - Can't Truss It
00:50:28 15 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
00:54:29 16 Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck
00:58:42 17 T La Rock - I'm Gettin Mine
01:02:20 18 Freestyle Fellowship - Bullies Of The Block
01:08:00 19 Brand Nubian - All for One
01:11:50 20 Roxanne Shante - Have A Nice Day
01:16:05 21 Rymezof (Daassassin) (Original Version)
01:19:41 22 A Tribe Called Quest - Show Business
01:22:56 23 Brand Nubian - The Travel Jam
01:26:26 24 Criminal Nation - Release The Pressure
01:31:13 25 Wu-Tang Clan - Method Man
01:35:02 26 Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump 
01:37:59 27 Double XX Posse - Addicted To The Game
01:41:17 28 EPMD - The Big Payback
01:45:22 29 Heather B. - I Get Wreck (Street Mix)
01:48:58 30 The Pharcyde - Soul Flower (Remix)
01:52:19 31 Redman - Time 4 Sum Aksion
01:54:43 32 Public Enemy - Hazy Shade Of Criminal
01:59:06 33 3rd Bass - Wordz Of Wizdom
02:05:06 34 T La Rock - Runaway (Vocal Mix)
02:09:28 35 K-Solo - Spellbound
02:12:45 36 Slick Rick - Moses
02:15:35 37 Chill Rob G - Dope Rhymes
02:18:35 38 EPMD - It's My Thing
02:23:18 39 Alphabet Soup - Sunny Day In Harlem
02:28:04 40 Naughty By Nature - Uptown Anthem
02:30:14 41 Run DMC - Beats To The Rhyme
02:32:44 42 3rd Bass - Steppin' To The A.M.
02:37:12 43 Freestyle Fellowship - Legal Alien
02:40:52 44 De La Soul - This Is A Recording 4 Living In A Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E)
02:43:41 45 N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
02:48:15 46 Eazy-E - Eazy-er Said Than Dunn
02:51:18 47 Ice Cube - Rollin’ Wit The Lench Mob
02:54:43 48 Slick Rick - Children's Story
02:59:18 49 Isis - Great Pimpstress
03:02:27 50 Stetsasonic - DBC Let The Music Play
03:06:14 51 Souls Of Mischief - 93 'Til Infinity
03:10:33 52 Gang Starr - Take A Rest
03:14:29 53 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Good Life

Cannot Nod Vol. 2 102-103

00:00:00  1 Above The Law - Freedom Of Speech
00:04:07  2 Cypress Hill - How Could I Kill A Man
00:07:52  3 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Act Like You Know
00:11:10  4 Double X Posse - Not Gonna Be Able To Do It
00:14:34  5 Uptown - Dope On Plastic (Vocal)
00:18:20  6 Master Ace - I Got Ta
00:21:43  7 Isis - Rebel Soul
00:25:24  8 D-Nice - Crumbs On The Table
00:28:26  9 Freestyle Fellowship - Danger
00:31:50 10 Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
00:36:21 11 Serious Tripp - For Those Who Don't Know Me
00:39:06 12 Downtown Science - Down To A Science
00:42:12 13 Tim Dog - Low Down Nigga
00:43:32 14 Brand Nubian - Drop The Bomb
00:48:36 15 X-Clan - In the Ways of the Scales
00:52:15 16 Showbiz & A.G. - Soul Clap (Short Version)
00:55:50 17 Public Enemy - Rebirth
00:56:36 18 Boogie Down Productions - Jack Of Spades (BDP Movie Mix)
01:01:04 19 Mc Lyte - Paper Thin
01:05:22 20 A Tribe Called Quest - Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)
01:07:49 21 Poe Hustlers - Law on the Run 
01:12:46 22 Chill E.B. - Menace To Society
01:17:28 23 Legion Of Doom - This Is Diego (Underground Remix)
01:22:33 24 T La Rock - Flow With The New Style
01:25:24 25 Jamalski - Piece of Reality
01:29:07 26 Da Lench Mob - Ain’t Got No Class
01:32:21 27 Chubb Rock - I'm The Man
01:34:37 28 Latin Alliance - Know What I'm Saying (Pal Joey Remix)
01:38:45 29 Ms. Melodie - Communication
01:42:11 30 Public Enemy - Brothers Gonna Work It Out
01:46:21 31 Ms. Melodie - To Sing All Night (Vocal)
01:49:56 32 Ultramagnetic MC's - Ease Back
01:53:02 33 Slick Rick - Mistakes Of Women In Love With Other Men
01:56:55 34 Kool G Rap & D.J. Polo - Nuff Said
01:59:01 35 EPMD - Gold Digger
02:03:47 36 Run-D.M.C. - Peter Piper
02:05:58 37 Main Source - Looking At The Front Door
02:09:56 38 Heavy D. & The Boyz - Don't Curse
02:14:56 39 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Wig Out
02:18:20 40 Eric B. & Rakim - Casualties Of War
02:22:08 41 Digital Underground - No Nose Job
02:26:18 42 Biz Markie - Spring Again
02:29:26 43 Above The Law - Menace To Society

Cannot Nod Vol. 3 104-105

I’m sharing my set from @nowadaysnyc from February, closing out the Sunday evening of the Nonstop party after Ayesha's crazy set. This was one of my favourite moments DJing ever I think. Pure synergy in one of my favourite places to play in the world.

The first track is something new from me, keep your eyes peeled more info soon. 👀

Theres a load of genre hopping over the four hours but everything felt quite natural and seamless, taking things from peak time bass music down to a soft house music landing with a few twists and turns along the way.

Beautiful and affirming moment dancefloor moments are not to be taken for granted! Much love to everyone who danced.

Batu @ Nowadays Nonstop - NYC [16th Feb 2025]

00:00:00  1 Public Enemy - Night Of The Living Baseheads
00:03:46  2 Ultramagnetic MC's - Break North
00:06:35  3 Gang Starr - Who's Gonna Take The Weight
00:10:09  4 Roxanne Shante - Brothers Ain't Shit
00:14:25  5 Kool G. Rap & D.J. Polo - Poison
00:18:55  6 Jewel T - I Like It Loud
00:24:24  7 EPMD - I'm Housin'
00:27:57  8 Paris - The Hate That Hate Made
00:28:51  9 M.C. E-Rock - Lyrical Graffiti
00:31:52 10 Ice Cube - The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit
00:34:40 11 Eric B. & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique
00:37:29 12 Double XX Posse - Get Ya Props Up
00:40:57 13 JVC Force - Take It Away B-Boy Records
00:44:45 14 The Ku - Bootleg This
00:46:16 15 Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Keep It Flowing (feat. Andre The Giant)
00:49:10 16 De La Soul - Ghetto Thang
00:52:34 17 Nikki D - Lettin' Off Steam (Club Mix)
00:56:20 18 Black A.G. - Fame Goes To Your Head (Vocal)
00:59:13 19 Freestyle Fellowship - Way Cool
01:03:33 20 N.W.A. - Quiet On Tha Set
01:07:09 21 3rd Bass - Portrait Of The Artist As a Hood
01:10:53 22 Gang Starr - As I Read My S-A
01:13:21 23 Cash Money & Marvelous - The Mighty Hard Rocker
01:17:18 24 Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Death Wish
01:21:04 25 Craig G. - Shootin' The Gift (Remix)
01:24:36 26 MC Ez & Troup - Just Rhymin' (Vocal)
01:27:55 27 Queen Latifah Feat. Monie Love - Ladies First
01:31:25 28 K-Solo - Real Solo Please Stand Up
01:35:11 29 Slick Rick - Mona Lisa
01:38:32 30 Ice Cube - Wicked
01:42:08 31 Eric B. & Rakim - The Punisher
01:45:57 32 Tone-Loc - I Got It Goin' On (Remix)
01:49:53 33 Ultramagnetic MC's - Make it Happen
01:53:50 34 Krown Rulers - Paper Chase
01:58:40 35 Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Bad To The Bone
02:03:15 36 KMC - Psycho
02:05:38 37 The 7A3 - Express the Mind
02:08:55 38 Cash Money And Marvelous - New Sheriff In Town (Vocal)
02:12:40 39 Kid Frost - La Raza
02:15:38 40 Stezo - Talking Sense
02:18:21 41 2 Black 2 Strong MMG - Only The Strong Survive
02:22:33 42 Style - The Assassinator
02:27:06 43 Priority One - This Stage Is My Stage
02:31:27 44 Brand Nubian - Grand Puba, Positive and L.G.

Cannot Nod Vol. 4 (106-107)

00:00:00  1 Ice Cream Tee & Tony D - Keep Hushin'
00:03:55  2 Public Enemy - Fight The Power
00:08:13  3 Downtown Science - Radioactive
00:12:15  4 Stezo - Freak the Funk
00:15:21  5 The Wizard Of Rap - Escape From East New York
00:18:45  6 UMC's - Never Never Land
00:22:13  7 Stezo - Put your Body into it
00:25:43  8 Spinmasters - Bustin' Loose
00:29:39  9 MC Shan - Juice Crew Law
00:33:25 10 Eric B. & Rakim - Teach The Children
00:36:17 11 Anttex & The Motherfunkin Clik - Get Em Now Bad Influence
00:39:58 12 King Sun - King Sun With The Sword
00:44:33 13 Eric B. & Rakim - Run For Cover
00:48:40 14 KMD - Mr. Hood at Piocalles Jewelry / Crackpot
00:51:05 15 Ultramagnetic MC's - Watch Me Now
00:55:26 16 Paris - Scarface Groove
00:59:22 17 Stetsasonic - Talkin' All That Jazz
01:03:03 18 Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
01:06:38 19 Isis - The Power of Myself is Moving
01:09:43 20 Maestro Fresh-Wes - Bring It On (Remix)
01:13:41 21 Ultramagnetic MC's - Give the Drummer Some
01:16:50 22 Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Just a Little Something
01:18:52 23 Tim Dog - Bronx Nigga
01:22:48 24 N.M.C. & A.D.J. - Messiah (Five Four Mix)
01:26:40 25 Public Enemy - Nighttrain
01:29:47 26 N.W.A - Real Niggaz
01:34:05 27 Eric B․ & Rakim - Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
01:39:03 28 Eric B. & Rakim - Pass The Hand Grenade
01:41:56 29 Digital Underground - Doowutchyalike (Radio Edit)
01:45:12 30 Chubb Rock - Caught Up (Remix)
01:49:08 31 A Tribe Called Quest - Pubic Enemy
01:52:40 32 Anttex & The Motherfunkin Clik - Trip 2 The Suburbs
01:56:58 33 X-Clan - Shaft's Big Score
02:01:25 34 Sport G & Mastermind - Louder
02:04:21 35 EPMD - I’m Mad
02:07:22 36 Mantronix - This Should Move Ya
02:10:01 37 Jungle Brothers - Simple As That
02:14:07 38 Ultramagnetic MCs - Moe Luv's Theme
02:16:06 39 Da Lench Mob - Freedom Got an A.K.
02:18:20 40 ICE T - New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme)
02:22:26 41 Run DMC - What's It All About
02:26:44 42 Schoolly D - How A Black Man Feels
02:29:58 43 Ice Cube - Turn Off The Radio
02:31:53 44 A Tribe Called Quest - Description of a Fool
02:37:09 45 Main Source - Peace Is Not The Word To Play
02:39:01 46 Ultramagnetic MC's - Funky (Remix)
02:42:17 47 Isis - In The Mind Of One
02:45:10 48 The KU - Who's 1st
02:47:35 49 Three Times Dope - From Da Giddy Up
02:50:52 50 Public Enemy - Move!
02:55:55 51 Jungle Brothers - In Dayz '2' Come
02:59:24 52 Molecular Beats Squadron - Coming By Storm
03:03:28 53 Underground Mafia - The Godfather (TNT Hip Hop Mix)

Cannot Nod Vol. 5 (108-109)

Powder at Sustain-Release 2017

Finn Johannsen is a DJ and writer for numerous print and web publications. He also co-runs the label Macro Recordings, used to work at the Hard Wax store, and is now acting as impresario at the clubs @palomabar and @kottimonarch.  

Booking: booking@finn-johannsen.de

https://linktr.ee/finnjohannsen

For mix playlists (except live recordings), check my website:
http://finn-johannsen.de/category/mixes/

Member of the @druffalohitsquad