If I could dance like a robot I’d dance like a robot to this.

MANTRONIX – WHO IS IT (FREESTYLE DUB)

My friend from Picnic Land tells me that there’s a Joyce Sims freestyle song that’s better than Shannon’s Let the music play! Is that possible? I’ve been searching for a while and I can’t find it. During my hunt for the mythical track I came across this 12″ single. It’s nowhere near as good at Let the music play but it’s definitely a seven or eight out of ten. I think this might have been produced by Kurtis Mantronik but Wikipedia, Discogs and the record’s sleeve all give conflicting information.

JOYCE SIMS – WALK AWAY (12″ CLUB MIX – HIP HOP STYLE)

Been sorting through my record collection and I noticed I used to buy far more interesting vinyl before I became a DJ.

DOPPLEREFFEKT – SCIENTISTS (ALBUM VERSION)

Obviously Starkey and Vex’d are next level but old Planet – µ releases by Mike P and Jega are among my favourite ever 12″s. Amazingly The Fear was released on a major label – it’s a beautiful distorted mess.

µ-ZIQ – THE FEAR (REMIXED)

I remember Rory playing this remix and I made sure I got my hands on it the next day.

BJORK – IT’S IN OUR HANDS (SOFT PINK TRUTH MIX)

Metal fingers is one of those records like Dizzee’s I Luv U that is so familiar that I couldn’t listen to in a long time. Now their biggest hit sounds really fresh again. I remember seeing them live a few times. They were fun.

ADD N TO (X) – METAL FINGERS IN MY BODY

Egyptian Lover and Professor X AKA Arabian Prince are touring Europe together again – exciting! As always I have the best intentions to see them but I bet I end up having drunken fun times with my friends at the Macbeth dancing ridiculously to Rage Against The Machine or something instead.

I enjoy the whole TR-808 drum machine/ heavy breathing vibe and these two are among the best at it.
ARABIAN PRINCE – PANIC ZONE
EGYPTIAN LOVER – KINKY NATION (KINGDOM KUM) – need this on vinyl badly

Freestyle music’s so lovey-dovey. One minute you’re vibing to a track carefree and then you catch the lyrics and you’re reminded of every heartache ever – I mean EVER! It’s not such a bad feeling though – it’s a nice melancholy thing – a celebration of being human. Here are some tracks to laugh, dance and cry to…

BOBBY COLEMAN – MUST BE THE MUSIC (FREESTYLE MIX) - this is SO good – I thought it was Ed DMX.

LATIN EXPRESS – BROOKLYN KNIGHT (BROOKLYN BOUNCE CLUB MIX) – this is even better – it’s my top find of the year – link taken from Freestyleflashback.

TRINERE – ALONE AT LAST (PRETTY TONY’S HYPED EDIT)

FFWD – BABY DON’T GO

LOUISA H – FANTASY BOY (MAXI VERSION) – note that string pattern – might come in handy later.

SHANNON – MY HEART’S DIVIDED

EXPOSE – COME GO WITH ME

What happened? In the early 80s Arthur Baker was defining electro, hip hop and freestyle. This decade he opened a few lame bars, remixed electroclash group W.I.T and put on parties with Wade Crescent. He’s still my hero though.

Arthur Baker – Breakers Revenge/ Beat Street clip (1984)

Freeez – I.O.U (1983)

Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock (1982)

I wish I had a copy of this 1992 record by the mysterous Michael Knight on Devon Records. The 12″ costs £90 on Discogs so all I have are these mid-fi MP3s.

MICHAEL KNIGHT – KNIGHT RYDER (12″ VERSION)
MICHAEL KNIGHT- KNIGHT RYDER (DUB MIX)
MICHAEL KNIGHT- KNIGHT RYDER (HIP HOUSE MIX)