Alright, B-Boys & B-Girls 😁, time to step up—you’re in for a treat!
This week, we’re diving deep into the early ‘80s Hip-Hop, Breakdance, and Electro scene. If you’ve got the moves, now’s your time to shine. If not, you’ve got a full hour to practice!
We kick things off with a classic—the track that pulled me into early electro (but, unfortunately, not into breakdancing 😃): Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don’t Stop) by Man Parrish. That’s followed by High Noon, one of his productions for Two Sisters. And there’s more Man Parrish magic coming your way, alongside a few gems from Arthur Baker—another key figure in this era.
Midway through, expect some crossover anthems like Harold Faltermeyer’s Axel F, Herbie Hancock’s Rock It, and Malcolm McLaren’s Buffalo Gals. The second half shifts focus to the early rap scene before we wrap things up with Freeez and Dan Hartman.
Get ready—it’s gonna be a ride!


The Twelve Inch 152 : Hip Hop, Bebop Don't Stop : Electro/Hip-Hop/Breakdance - 1982

We’re diving into early synth-pop and new wave! With a BPM of 166, this mix goes beyond Hi-NRG 😁🚀✨ Most of the tracks are from 1981-83, and you can clearly hear the influence of Ultravox’s “Sleepwalk” throughout.
It’s a global selection of early synth-pop and new wave/post-punk, featuring The B-52’s, The Cure, and Martha & The Muffins for the latter, while OMD, Sparks, and Rational Youth represent the former. I’ve also included some deep European gems from Taxi Girl, Matia Bazar, and Indochine’s first hit. Plus, a few quirky picks—like the Bobby Orlando-produced Barbie & The Kens, his unmistakable take (or imitation—you decide!) on The B-52’s signature sound.

The Twelve Inch 154 : Sleepwalk : Synth-Pop/New-Wave/New Romantics - 1981

WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL ARCHIVE OF MY MIXES, MY MIXCLOUD IS THE PLACE TO GO TO
This week, I went all in on American disco from 1978. While the massive success of Saturday Night Fever led to Eurodisco and Eurodisco-style productions dominating the scene, plenty of African American artists remained true to disco’s earlier roots, blending it with funk and jazz.
Boogie Oogie Oogie is a perfect example, driven by a funky groove. You can also expect some incredible Fusion Jazz artists, including Lenny Williams (of Tower of Power fame) and Roy Ayers. The middle section takes a jazzy turn with Goody Goody and one of arranger Vince Montana’s standout tracks, A Dance Fantasy, which even weaves in elements of the Close Encounters soundtrack.
We wrap things up with a fantastic finale featuring Taka Boom (Chaka Khan’s sister), Cissy Houston, and the disco classic Hot Shot by Karen Young.
Enjoy !


The Twelve Inch 157 : Boogie Oogie Oogie : Disco/Boogie/Jazz-funk - 1978

A disco-kid and 80s music nerd here to help you embrace your secret love for 70s and 80s dance music. I share the stories of artists you know and those you think you don’t on my substack. I publish a weekly soundtrack/mixtape on Mixcloud, where you’ll find the full archive—over 100 mixes and counting. If you want the complete experience, that’s the place to go. I only post occasionally on Soundcloud, and those mixes tend to disappear after a while.

This track is not available anymore.

Other tracks from TheTwelveInch