Heavy Stylus - City High (Funky In Here Edit) (2011) (WIP) by Heavy Stylus (Devon, UK) published on 2011-02-17T01:03:54Z Still needs mixing and mastering, but this remix has worked out quite well :) Final version will hopefully be available soon. I'm waiting for a copy of the original Inspectah 12" to arrive in the post so I can replace the low bitrate vocal, then it's off to Lack of Afro's studio for the mix. A bit of info about this track: the accapella is from Inspectah Deck's "City High" (currently a low quality mp3 in this version) and the beat is from an old Willard Burton & The Funky Four 7" (lifted from the original record). It started off with me just making re-edit of the funk track, extending the break and creating about 16 new drum patterns from the first bar of the break (as highlighted on the timed comments at about 0:20). I then added the accapella, and restructured the track to fit. The original track varies between 85 and 88BPM, and in my edit only the sections with my chopped up beat are strictly 87. The additional bars (key sections, etc.) are at their original tempo. This may seem like an ill-advised choice, but I really wanted to capture the authentic old school feel of early hiphop tracks where the beats had a lot of swing. Although I haven't used an MPC (instead I cut and rearranged the drums manually using the antiquated Cooledit Pro and it's multi-channel editor*) I hope I've managed to capture the sound and style of one. (* I've been using Cooledit Pro for ten years now! I am well aware that it is really shit, but I kind of like the fact that it is user-unfriendly and there are no proper shortcuts - it forces you to do everything manually, which takes time but yields good results). Next step for this track is to replace the vocal with a cleaner recording, then I'll add some tight cuts provided by another Exeter DJ to the two instrumental breaks in the second half. I'm not sure if the final version will be available for download here, as I've had some interest from a local bootleg label. However, I'll still reply to requests for links via the message system. Oh, and I know it is uncool to brag, but Phill Most Chill (Soulman) says "I'm diggin' that beat! Nice work, I like that funk 45 sound...good shit". That comment alone has made 2011 a great year for me ;) Genre Hip-Hop Comment by Spinforth Who me!!? ;)) Nice work bud. 2011-03-03T20:56:43Z Comment by __swindells__ yuuh!! love the old school funky sound 2011-02-24T15:14:40Z Comment by Loosen Up Mojo Great stuff James- all the right ingredients are in there! Hit me up when you've got the final version done. Cheers. 2011-02-22T18:42:14Z Comment by Heavy Stylus (Devon, UK) @dangerscouse: That's really kind mate! Final will have a re-recorded accapella from vinyl (not mp3), eq's and levels sorted and some cuts near the end. 2011-02-21T23:54:16Z Comment by Pushin Wood Soundsystem Love the vibe here! Nice dancing vibe 2011-02-21T18:07:31Z Comment by jellyjazz looking forward to the finished FAT mix with all the eq's sorted out. Good solid edit James, nice one. I'll definitely spin it when it's done! 2011-02-21T10:50:09Z Comment by Fajita Funk Love any rework of some funky ass keys and loops! good stuff! 2011-02-18T12:24:25Z Comment by You Sound Great Mate top tune, nice work - thanks for sharing it 2011-02-18T05:29:14Z Comment by go4todd This is dope. thanks 2011-02-18T01:19:32Z Comment by DJ EGGZ catchy,tnx 4 d/l. 2011-02-18T00:35:20Z Comment by Heavy Stylus (Devon, UK) Thanks for the feedback Funk Ferret! It means a lot coming from you ;) RE: The Shaker Timing - that bar is from the original track and unedited, hence the swing. Only the cut up beat sections are set to 88BPM, the rest are bars lifted from the original (which wobbles between 85 and 88) and looped. I wanted to keep the sound raw, so I haven't time stretched or edited the original section at all. Therefore, the outro break is set to 88, but the intro isn't. In fact, the intro acts as a guide to what the rest of the track was built with... (well that's my excuse for just being lazy - I could do something about it I guess) RE: Volume - the track hasn't been properly mixed or mastered yet, but I agree that the volume needs to be cut just a little in that loop. Apart from that, feedback taken and appreciated mate ;) 2011-02-17T22:56:57Z Comment by Heavy Stylus (Devon, UK) This is the break that the rest of the track is built from... 2011-02-17T17:19:10Z