Mean mix to fck the nieghbours off yeeyahh

I did this one back in 1996 for Mercury Records. The Fugees were signed to Sony Music, but had contributed a track to an upcoming Mercury Records film soundtrack called, "When We Were Kings". The film is about an historic boxing event in 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire, Africa. It pitted the undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman against challenger Muhammad Ali. This remix uses samples of Muhammad Ali quotes at the intro - I did another 'Extended Mix' that used more quotes throughout. When I find the DAT I will convert & upload it :).

The key to getting this one right is initial ARRANGEMENT. 
The Radio Promotions guy at Mercury Records came to me asking my advice about a Fugees track that was getting no love at radio (as a promotional/preview copy). It was too long (just over 5 minutes) and it didn't have a proper hook - like a 'pop' radio record usually does. Sony tried to block Mercury from releasing it as a single, as The Fugees had just blown up with their breakout cover of "Killing Me Softly". Since Sony had no rights to the track, Mercury were free to use however they wanted. The only trouble was that radio wasn't in love with it in its current form.... 

I went back to the vocals. Laid them out, edited verses from  the various featured rappers, clipped into a SONG FORMAT... i.e. Verse, Bridge, Chorus, Verse, Bridge, Chorus, MIddle 8 etc. I utilised a Lauryn HIll  sung line (Juice Newton's "Angel In The Morning") as the chorus hook - copied & pasted that. The music/bassline sample that creeps in and out of the track was lifted from ABBA's "The Name of the Game". I always thought it was odd that no-one had sampled the Swedish super group before. Turns out, there was a good reason... 

ABBA members/writers, Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson, flatly refuse clearance for samples, no matter who you are. In this rare case, they loved how the music was used and agreed worldwide clearance. This was a first back in 1996. It wasn't until 2005 that they allowed another ABBA sample to be used - "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" for Madonna's "Hung Up". The producer and creator of that single is also (coincidentally) a British guy - Stuart Price aka Thin White Duke, Jacques Lu Cont, Les Rythmes Digitales. 

So, here's how it turned out... Ali intro/background chant/LH singing the build "blocks on fire".. C'mon! > kick straight in with the ABBA groove; cut straight to main chorus hook - Lauryn Hill singing "Angel In The Morning" - you have to grab radio DJs & show producers ears immediately; follow with clipped raps from Wyclef Jean, Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill; then into the "Blocks on fire" sung bridge; back into the "Angel In The Morning" sung chorus; Verse 2 is spliced from raps by Pras and (saving the maddest for last) Busta Rhymes; bridge, chorus/bridge to fade. DONE! Result: #.3 on the UK Singles Chart and minor, but significant, hit in the USA. The down side for me was that I didn't get a proper 'printed' credit on the retail CD. I've seen it labelled as UK Mix, European Remix, Radio Edit etc. I was gutted at the time, but I was just a kid and I wasn't as business savvy at that stage of my career.

When I listen to it now, I realise how brutal the vocal cuts were. Some not subtle at all. The audio quality sounds a bit rough N ready/wooly. I wouldn't do it in quite the same way now. But, that's the thing of it. You do what you think is right at the time. Shout out to the tracks' original producers - Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean. Mix engineer - Warren Riker and Executive Producer – David Sonenberg.

The Fugees ft. Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes - Rumble In The Jungle [Mendis Radio Mix]

Click the "BUY" button for a free DL of the whole mix :)

Tracklist:

JMSN x Ab-Soul - You're Gone (IAMNOBODI Remix)
Brian Folk - Diamonds & Pearls	
Kelela - Keep It Cool [Prod. Jam City]		
Cheat Code - Heat Lightning ϟϟ (Deejay Theory remix)	
813 - Glitter Sand ( T-Racks mas ) 		
Cashmere Cat - Mirror Maru 70bpm edit	
Ta-Ku - Electronic Relaxation (Benzi & J.Espinosa Edit)	
Panama - Always (Wave Racer Remix)	
Cashmere Cat - Secrets + Lies	
Jay-Z feat. AJAY - Tom Ford (Intro-8 bars)
Mura Masa - Hustleblood
Missy Elliott - Sock It 2 Me (Kaytranada Remix)	
Vinnie Maniscalco - TaKillya 
TWRK - LIVING ROOM (feat. Dan Gerous)	
Singularis - Amsterdamn		
TroyBoi & Big Wild - Decorous 	
Keys N Krates - Ring the Alarm	
Jay-Z - Beware Of The Boys (Pickster & Riot Earp Edit)
Alicia Myers - I Want To Thank You ft. Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip 
Destiny's Child - Bug A Boo (GANZ Flip)		
Amerie - 1 Thing (Cherokee Remix)		
Disclosure - F For You ft. Mary J. Blige	
Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover (Dimitri From Paris Re-Edit)
Aretha Franklin - Respect  (twoshoes edit)		


Kev Fresh live at Chet Faker and Hermitude Auckland Show - Feb 2014

The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye (J Dilla remix)

Janet Jackson Ft Q - Tip - Got Till It S Gone Clean Flashedit

Marvin Gaye - Just Like Music

The Ohio Players - Ecstacy

Leon Haywood - I Wanna Do Somethin Freaky To You

Sylvia-striplin-you-cant-turn-me-away

De La Soul - Buddy (Remix) feat. Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip, Monie Love & Queen Latifah

Ill Al Skratch - I'll Take Her (feat. Brian McKnight) [slowed]

I Want You

I Want You (Underboss Remix)

I like making mixtapes. Tune in each Monday as I will be uploading a brand new mix called Fresh Select. Expect a fresh batch of new, and not so new GOOD music, from across the musical spectrum. Set your week up right with Fresh Select!

Biography
Kev Fresh is a renowned party starter with DJ sets that cross genres from old school to new school and everything in between! Honing his craft around the bars, club and notorious night spots of Wellington City for the last 5 years or so he has also dropped sets in every major city in NZ as well as spots in Australia, Canada and South East Asia. In recent years Kev has leaned towards radio and dropping big sets and some of NZ's favourite festivals. Expect the unexpected and something a little special when Kev Fresh jumps on the decks.

Kev Fresh live at Chet Faker and Hermitude Auckland Show - Feb 2014

Kev Fresh

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Junci

Kiwi rd NZ

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