If you're with me throw it up, right up, up, up, up, up, up....

Here's another joint Swankified by me, yours truly, from Toronto's own Slakah The Beatchild who is doin' his thing overseas, travelin' the globe and makin' things happen one beat at a time. Currently signed to BBE Records, his debut "The Soul Movement Vol. 1" has garnered much attention of many soul music aficionados who dig the hip hop vibe...and most of all the groove.

So, the story (y'all know I love to tell them and don't front like you don't wanna read it, haha!)...

Facebook, bein' the lovely medium it is, Slakah hipped me to his latest single "D.A.N.C.E." (in which "The Soul Movement Vol. 2" will grip this?) where I tripped out for sometime. There are those who can vouch for that state of mind...like pure bug out. He flipped...wait, wait...if you listen and if you don't know the sample, I will be very disappointed in you...

But yes, he flipped it nice and different and it's one of my favourite samples out there. Hip hop aficionados should have the same mental state...or at least agree that this shit is a dope sample.

Twitter bein' the second lovely medium, I hit up Slakah tellin' him:

SwankySwagger @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/beatchild">beatchild</a> I'm gonna take a crack at a re-verse and a re-horn of "D.A.N.C.E.", cool? Cool.

He responds like Nike without the "just" and says:

beatchild @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/SwankySwagger">SwankySwagger</a> DO IT!

My mission was to jump in on it via rhymes plus do some horn work (trumpet + flugelhorn). Stickin' it out at The Groove Cafeteria for a good 2-2.5 hours, I was eatin' Taco Bell (I'm ok folks!) and did a little plannin' and execution for the horns. I don't just jump in head first...ya know. I already penned the verses ahead of time...at my job (the one of two that I work in, three if you count the music)...hahaha...spliced the beat, connected the musical dots and laced all the vocals and horns in my little studio.

After a good hour and a bit worth of mixin', I think I did alright for myself. Mixin' is always the ear stressin', headachy crap you have to deal with to make it sound dope.

The result is a feel good vibe (which remained the same), but with added horns that have the essence of ragtime/Charleston + that Swanky swagger that I like to add a touch of. On the outro, you'll hear a muted trumpet solo coupled with a flugelhorn background. It's for the groover in you, so if you're with it, don't hesitate to dance...that's what the joint is called! Special mention to the b-boys and b-girls out there, do your thang and do it with this even though this ain't no breakbeat (it's a groove beat!).

I tossed it to Slakah on FB, but apparently he couldn't find it. With a vibration of my cell phone at Long & McQuade (I was screwin' around in the drums section), I got a Twitter DM from Slakah sayin' to link his Gmail account.

That night I was talkin' to both Slakah and UK's "Loose Lip"ped, ship sinker MC 
LyricL (she hit me up) on the FB chat. I sent the joint to both people (this was 5 in the AM, UK time and LyricL hadn't even slept yet) and in the end, she told me she'd revisit it soon (I'm sure she was dyin' of sleep deprivation). I was cool with that...minutes later, a window pops up tellin' me how much she digs it...so much so that she gives me this WONDERFUL "press quote"...

"...fucking explosive...woke my black arse up..."

I was laughin' real hard and that's what I want to hear!!! Slakah himself was lovin' the horns all around. Well, you see...they call him Slakah cuz he doesn't have to try...

So I guess I get the approval of two talented individuals and hopefully you'll feel the same. Perhaps we shall get some work in soon you two...lookin' forward to it.

I know I type too much, so here is the final product.

Always good to know how y'all are feelin' about the joint. HOLLA! Tell your friends and tell your mother to tell another...

This is 2009's summer feel good jam.

Reeses peace,

Swanky.

--
http://www.myspace.com/djoncs6
http://www.myspace.com/thevibrasonicexperiment
http://www.twitter.com/SwankySwagger
http://www.youtube.com/SwankyTV

P.S. If you missed these two in the past, do dig them up now:

-=-

Slakah The Beatchild Feat. Swanky - D.A.N.C.E. (Remix)

[B. Joseph, O. Santos]
Produced by Slakah The Beatchild for Beatchild Productions Inc.
Recorded at Beatchild Productions
Additional production and horn arrangements by Octavio Santos for I'm Swanky Like That Music
Additional vocals performed by Swanky
Trumpet, flugelhorn performed by Octavio Santos
Recorded and mixed at The Groove Cafeteria, Mississauga, Ontario.

Slakah The Beatchild Feat. Swanky - D.A.N.C.E. (Remix)

COLLABORATIONS/HORN ARRANGEMENTS: oncsantos6@gmail.com

The reposts I make signifies work I have participated in (vocals, horn work or horn arrangement). Serious inquiries for horn work and horn arrangements, e-mail me at oncsantos6@gmail.com

I have contributed horn work/horn arrangements for G-Unit, SiR, Arin Ray, Slum Village, Supastition, Hezekiah and more. My current discography is here: http://linktr.ee/octavionsantos

Octavio Santos - I Must Confess (prod. ad h) (Exchange Bureau Music) on "The Big 3" limited edition 500 print only vinyl. If you can still find copies, grab them: http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Big-3/release/3281847

LyricL Feat. Heidi Vogel, Baby Sol & Octavio Santos - Sweet U (prod. A.C. Layne) (Fresh Rotations) on "Amazed" digital release/limited CD print. PURCHASE HERE: http://www.kudosrecords.co.uk/release/FR001T/Lyricl_Amazed.html

Elaquent Feat. Octavio Santos - Grey Poupon (stillMuzik) on "The Scenic Route" limited edition 500 print vinyl. PURCHASE HERE: http://stillmuzik.bandcamp.com/track/grey-poupon-ft-octavio-santos

I live to groove and I groove to live. I put things into perspective. I'm a passionate person who brings it to life and to my own craft. I'm a creative singer, songwriter, lyricist, trumpeter, DJ, producer, composer, arranger, music aficionado, lover, fun-lovin' (fun to love and fun to be loved by) and last but not least, all around cool guy. I'm a musician for hire and am becomin' a name that is dropped both locally and internationally. 

Call me Swanky when I'm on the rhyme play. I'm out here to musically influence the world and to spread love through music.

Open your mind and I'll open your soul...

Keeping my band The Vibrasonic Sessions on hold until there comes a time it can be revived with a brand new roster.

I am Octavio N. Santos (yes, my birth name) when it comes to trumpet work. 

You will find me in many projects...lend me your eardrums.

Music from the soul 
Instagram @ryancoughlan

Slakah The Beatchild Feat. Swanky - D.A.N.C.E. (Remix)

Swanky's Sonic Swag