DJ Yoda
Mixmag Lab London | Pioneer DJ Takeover
In a world of grid-locked four-on-the-floor, sometimes you just need a mad professor to cut and paste the history of funk into a blender. Enter DJ Yoda for this Mixmag Lab London Pioneer DJ Takeover, a set that gleefully treats genre as a suggestion. The vibe is a basement party where crate-digging is the only currency, all dim lights and raised eyebrows at the next obscure sample.
Technically, this is a breaks and hip-hop odyssey, with a wild BPM range from 102 to 176 anchored around an average of 121.2, and harmonic glue often found in the key of 12A. Yoda’s style is all about rapid-fire turntablism and cheeky blends, keeping the energy mid-focused with bass-heavy lows that make your ribs vibrate—the high-end is reserved for scratches and vocal snippets. The crate digs are legendary: James Brown’s 'People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul' is foundational, Ice Cube’s 'Check Yo Self (Remix)' brings raw West Coast swagger, and The Coral’s 'Dreaming of You' is a leftfield guitar-pop curveball.
Jean-Jacques Perrey’s 'E.V.A.' adds a dose of whimsical electronica. The journey is a narrative in itself, kicking off with Nice & Smooth’s 'Funky For You,' hitting a frenetic peak with Bad Company UK’s drum & bass roller 'The Nine,' and closing with the ultimate hip-hop flex of Eric B. & Rakim’s 'Paid In Full (Derek B's Urban Respray Version).' A full tracklist for the sample-spotters and beat detectives.