Six Unforgettable Hip-Hop-Meets-EDM Collaborations From The Past Decade
In the past decade, pop music’s twin loves of dance music and hip-hop culture collided numerous times in incredible ways. Oftentimes, the tracks that resulted were either major pop culture game changers and/or Billboard chart topping hits. In this list, we highlight six different times with 13 different artists when dance and rap-friendly styles merged with amazing results.
A$AP Rocky – Wild For The Night (produced by Skrillex) (2013)
By 2013, the idea that dance and rap could pair together in the modern era and create an enormous and progressive sound was quite well known. However, when party-ready rapper A$AP Rocky paired with festival smasher Skrillex for this trap and dubstep-themed track, many more than “me, myself, and I, my three friends” were into it. While not a top 10 hit by any stretch, it’s definitely the song that set the table for tracks like Skrillex’s recent pairings with Pusha T for “Burial,” “No Chill” with Vic Mensa, and Rick Ross for “Purple Lamborghini.”
Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix) (2010)
Impressively, six years after its release, Steve Aoki still plays his electro house remix of Kid Cudi’s 2010 single “Pursuit of Happiness.” Similar to Italo house kingpins Crookers’ remix of his 2009 single “Day N Nite,” this is an iconic Cudi remix known much more for the damage it caused on EDM floors than in traditional hip-hop circles. Well worth a listen, it’s one of those tracks that impressively defines an entire era.
Tiesto & Diplo feat. Busta Rhymes – C’mon (Catch Em By Surprise) (2011)
Whereas Diplo collaborating with major-level dance music kingpins is pretty much par for the course these days, his 2011 collaboration with Tiesto and Busta Rhymes for “C’mon” was groundbreaking. The bassline electro bomb was a left-field sound for Diplo at the time, and for Tiesto, it pre-dated his evolution from being known mainly for trance into making sounds that had a greater number of genre influences.
Swedish House Mafia feat. Tinie Tempah – Miami 2 Ibiza (2010)
Before uniting as Swedish House Mafia, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell were house music titans. However, with a touch of UK hip-hop powerhouse Tinie Tempah’s superstardom, the trio reached an iconic level of success. Post “Miami 2 Ibiza,” Swedish House Mafia went onto sell 50 million-plus singles, including collaborations with Usher, Knife Party, Pharrell, and Coldplay.
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling (produced by David Guetta) (2009)
The Black Eyed Peas’ evolution from pop-locking rappers on 1998’s “Joints And Jam” to club-ready fist-pumpers by 2009’s David Guetta-produced “I Gotta Feeling” would be remarkable on the surface, but upon deeper review was always a potential final destination. Check out 2000’s “Weekends,” 2004’s “Let’s Get It Started,” and 2006’s “Pump It,” and the rap-meets-EDM smash that was “I Gotta Feeling” ultimately makes all of the logical sense in the world.
Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers – Get Lucky (2013)
From rapping and singing to songwriting and producing, Pharrell Williams is a man-for-all-hip-hop-seasons. Putting him in the same room as “French touch” giants Daft Punk and disco icon Nile Rodgers of Chic fame effectively unites four decades of American urban dance culture on one production. Therefore, the idea that “Get Lucky” would be debuted at Coachella and go on to be a US and UK #1 dance hit as well as reach #2 on the American pop charts makes sense. A little smoother than trap and funkier than house, this one perfectly hits all of the right musical spots.
David Guetta: 3.4.16 at Echostage
Glow Washington DC Presents:
David Guetta
March 4, 2016 | Doors 9pm | Ages 18+
Echostage • 2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE • Washington, DC
VIP and Venue Information – 202.503.2330
David Guetta makes his return to Echostage on March 4!
EDM Documentaries Worth the Watch
Before school starts back up, get educated about EDM without ever having to crack a book. There’s a bunch of EDM documentaries out there that will get you up to speed on electronic music’s roots, teach you all you ever wanted to know about your favorite artists, get a behind the scenes look at some of the most iconic nightclubs in dance music history, the biggest music festivals, and some of the most infamous club kids and nightclub take downs. What’s the saying? You think you know, but you have no idea!
One thing we’ve learned from watching all these films (for research purposes, of course) is that from America, to Britain, to Sweden, and all over, everyone thinks they invented electronic music. Just depends on who your source is, so now you get to watch and make your own opinions.
Take One: A Documentary Film About Swedish House Mafia (2010)
Get up close and personal with Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Axwell with Christina Larson’s documentary on the superstar trio. By filming scenes from their everyday routines in the studios and abroad, their collaborative vision is immortalized in this film. The 45-minute doc takes you through their studio collaborations, adventures abroad, and coverage of some of the biggest shows in the world. Find out how Swedish House Mafia, the super-group formed and how they rose to the top of the charts across the world.
Watch the full movie here- Take One: A Documentary Film About Swedish House Mafia
Limelight (2011)
Limelight,one of the most historic clubs in nightlife history is infamous for creating new music and sounds in the 80’s from hip hop, to techno, to house. This documentary follows “the rise and fall of New York’s greatest nightclub empire.” The film focuses on the owner of Limelight, Peter Gatien, and his reign over the New York City club scene at a time when dance music was getting its first holdings on mainstream music.
It’s an insightful documentary on the evolution of club culture, its drug involvement and ’80s NYC as whole. This film depicts the nightclub life in the 80’s, just as dance music was becoming an economical force. Moby makes a cameo, along with footage from the club featuring Hip-Hop icons Jay-Z and 50 Cent.
Full movie is available on Netflix and Hulu Plus.
Party Monster (2003)
This film is a factually based drama starring Macaulay Culkin as the drug-addled “king of the Club Kids”. The film tells the story of the rise and fall of the infamous New York party promoter Michael Alig and the New York club scene in the late 80’s through early 90’s, and the emergence of the club kids in the nightlife scene.
It’s based on Disco Bloodbath, the memoir of James St. James, which details his friendship with Alig, that later fell apart as Alig’s drug addiction worsened, and ended after he murdered Angel Melendez and went to prison. A 1998 documentary on the murder, also called Party Monster: The Shockumentary, was used for certain elements of the film. Featured on the soundtrack is Felix Da Housecat.
Watch full movie here- Party Monster
David Guetta – Nothing But The Beat, the movie (2011)
Legendary French music producer and DJ David Guetta partnered with burn productions and as part of this exciting collaboration, burn productions created a full-length film that gives fans unique insight into Guetta’s life, career and meteoric rise from underground house DJ to one of the world’s most sought-after DJ/producer/collaborators.
Nothing But The Beat features in-depth interviews with some of the amazing artists David has worked with including Will.i.Am, Kelly Rowland, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Taio Cruz and Usher, as well as insights from dance music legends Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim, Laurent Garnier, David Morales & Pete Tong.
Watch full movie here- David Guetta – Nothing But The Beat
Electric Daisy Carnival Experience (2011)
Heralded as one of the must-attend dance music festivals each year, Electric Daisy Carnival premiere most of hottest acts in the dance music industry. The film was shown in theaters for one night only, this film was pulled from most cities’ box-office venues due to negative remarks about the EDM culture and a quasi-riot that broke out in LA after Kaskade tweeted he would perform in the street. The live-music documentary showcases one of the largest festivals in America with appearances by Swedish House Mafia, Will.I.Am, Travis Barker, and Steve Aoki. On display is EDC as it was in the Coliseum before moving to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Watch the full movie here- Electric Daisy Carnival Experience
Pump Up the Volume – The History of House Music (2001)
In 2001, BBC released this 3-part TV series about the history of house music. It is an exciting film, featuring some of the most important figures of the early ages of electronic music and songs that still influence many artists these days. Ever wondered where the name “house music” comes from? Who first came up with the idea of adding electronic beats to a disco tune? And why did they do it? Well, wonder no more.
The film is a bit dated and only brings us up to about the mid-1990’s but futures legends like Frankie Knuckles, Marshal Jefferson, Jesse Saunders, Pete Tong and more.
Watch the full movie here- Pump Up the Volume- The History of House Music
High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music (2006)
High Tech Soul is the first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music alongside the cultural history of Detroit, its birthplace. From the race riots of 1967 to the underground party scene of the late 1980s, Detroit’s economic downturn didn’t stop the invention of a new kind of music that brought international attention to its producers and their hometown.
Featuring in-depth interviews with many of the world’s best exponents of the art form, High Tech Soul focuses on the creators of the genre — Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson — and looks at the relationships and personal struggles behind the music. Artists like Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Eddie Fowlkes and a host of others explain why techno, with its abrasive tones and resonating baselines, could not have come from anywhere but Detroit.
Watch the full movie here- High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music
Carl Cox 24/7 (2009)
See an exclusive documentary covering the everyday life of one of the world’s most loved and revered DJs, Carl Cox. Never before has anyone been granted this kind of access into Carl’s life outside of DJing. You will see the likes of Josh Wink, Sven Vath, Dubfire, John Digweed, Moby, Loco Dice, Fatboy Slim and many more, talking openly and honestly about their dear friend and colleague.
Shot continuously over 12 months, the film follows Carl around the world, taking in London, America, Australia, Ibiza and Barbados. Everyone knows Carl Cox the DJ from his mix CDs and DJ sets, so instead we give you an insight into Carl’s personal everyday life as he splits his time between jet-setting across the globe, riding his beloved motorbikes, attending interviews, hanging out with friends, family and collaborators and kicking back on his rare moments off.
Watch the full movie here- Carl Cox 24/7
The Drop: The EDM Culture Explosion (2014)
Sundance Film Festival 2013 premiered, The Drop: The EDM Culture Explosion, debuting at the acclaimed Cannes occasion. This movie is about the EDM takeover in the past couple years from festival season to mainstream music crossovers in popular culture. This film features everyone from Hardwell to Moby to Krewella to Avicii and was debuted at last year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The celluloid creations listed here gives viewers an insider’s eye to various components of the dance music- from daily routines of its current top artists to the intricate histories of its sub genres.
Not yet released.
How Clubbing Changed the World (2012)
Idris Elba (British actor, producer, singer, rapper, and DJ, best known as that drug lord and aspiring businessman Russell “Stringer” Bell in the HBO series The Wire), explores how clubbing evolved from a counter-cultural movement that defined a generation to a multi-billion-pound business, and reveals how, 25 years on, Britain still rules the underground. Get ready for 2 hours of how clubbing changed the world. This is a must watch for anyone who claims to be a true EDM fan.
Watch the full film here- How Clubbing Changed the World
If you really want to go crazy, check out these other EDM documentaries worth the watch:
Dubfiles (2008),1990′s Rave Documentary in Los Angeles “Underground Aboveground” (1992), The Sound of Belgium (2012), Liquid Crystal Vision (2002), Better Living Through Circuitry (1999), This Ain’t Chicago: UK House According to the Artists That Lived It (2012), The Chemical Generation (2000), Modulations(1998),Slices — Pioneers of Electronic Music: Richie Hawtin (2006),Moog(2004),Electronic Awakening (2011), Maestro(2003)
What DJs Have the Best Hair
From the mop tops of the Beatles to the teased and torture manes of 80s hair metal bands, the mullets of Billy Ray Cyrus, the long locks of rock gods, and punk music’s Mohawks, hair has defined genres and generations of music since the beginning of time.
Disc Jockey’s are usually heralded for their mad skills behind the decks, and perhaps their hard-core partying ways as they zigzag the globe from club to festival to celebrity studded events, because now more than ever the DJ has reached star status themselves. But what about their hair…who’s got the best coif in the EDM DJ scene?
Skrillex
With his long locks and deep side part juxtaposing the half shaved to the bone side of his head, Skrillex’s do was at the forefront of this now trendy look, which is worn by copycats of celebrity status, and that hipster girl sitting next to you at your local dive bar.
David Guetta
Since his start in clubs in the 1980’s Guetta’s signature locks have not changed, which has resulted in a cross between John Denver (who most of you are probably too young to know) and the cult status style ‘the Rachael’ made popular by Friends star Jennifer Aniston.
Steve Aoki
“Long hair don’t care!” On April Fools 2013, the electro house DJ and heir to the Benihana chain, pranked fans with a tweet –“I JUST CUT OFF ALL MY HAIR!!!” which was met with 1,180 re-tweets. Even with all the acrobatic crowd surfing stunts, throwing cake at fans, spraying champagne bottles, and riding rafts on the dance floor, things just wouldn’t be the same with a bald Aoki.
Pauly D
The MTV’s Jersey Shore made Pauly D as a DJ rise from local Rhode Island clubs to a stint in Vegas and gigs across the US. He is perhaps equally known for his often imitated but never duplicated super gelled, sprayed, blow-dried mane. Without the massive amounts of hair product this DJ is virtually unrecognizable.
Nervo
The uber blonde twin DJ duo Nervo who co-wrote the Grammy Award-winning single, “When Love Takes Over”, performed by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland are white hot both musically and well just hot. Whether you like it short or long these twins and their blonde locks are bringing major estrogen into an otherwise male dominated world.
Tommy Trash
You know you’ve got a famous mane when your hair has it’s own Twitter-
Tommy Trash’s hair @TommyTrashsHair – Silky…….Smooth……..Flawless
Also in a DJ Mag interview the following pretty much sums it up:
Best known for: “Hair, hair and more hair.”
Deadmau5
Usually ‘mousy’ is a term to describe a drab, pale brown hair color, almost gray (ish). But not here- is it animal magnetism Deadmau5 projects? This mouse’s hair changes color by the show! Some accessorize with a hat or scarf, but Deadmau5 is committed to his ever-evolving mouse head and there’s something to say for originality.
Carl Cox
Holding it down for the Q balls is Carl Cox. Nobody quite does a baldhead like this British house music DJ and producer. Nothing is worse than a man going bald and doing nothing, leaving the ring around the head, gapping holes, or a constant 5 of clock head shadow. Cox keeps his dome to the razor’s edge- smooth and shiny!
Axwell
Not every man can pull off a super slick style, but Axwell pulls it off. Most men over do it with the super gelled slicked back hair and instead of looking suave look like creepy greasy haired old perverts. So kudos to you Axwell for successfully pulling off a sexy slick back without the sleaze!
Paul Oakenfold
This Brit has been mixing it up for over 30 years and his hair has not missed a beat. Even MixMag made the following comment to Avicii in a recent interview, “Aside from Paul Oakenfold you must have the best hair in dance music.” From semi short to his signature bob, Oakie’s locks are always super smooth and leave men and women alike wondering, “Who does his hair?”
Like the tracks these mega DJs produce, EDM won’t be confined to one hairstyle, yet uniquely makes it’s mark with some major gossip worthy hair all it’s own.
Massive ‘EDM’ Concerts Bring DC to Life
Dance. Live. Love.
The reopening of Echostage in NE DC’s Langdon neighborhood has reestablished The District’s #1 nightlife concert series. Internationally recognized, Glow has been bringing the world’s best DJs to DC since 1999. David Guetta referred to it as his favorite party in the world in 2010.
Recent Glow at Echostage events featuring David Guetta and Calvin Harris have cemented a large-scale, weekly concert option for Washingtonians.
With a sizable production (stage, LED wall/lasers, the same sound system that tours with Coldplay), wrap-around mezzanine, four bars and a ‘no-frills’ warehouse-style vibe; Echostage was named the #38 club worldwide (#4 in America) in the 2013 DJ Magazine Top 100 Clubs poll. The publication’s yearly DJ and club listings are definitive guides to global dance music trends.
While Glow’s weekly ‘EDM’ series is the foundation of Echostage events, they are far from the only options the venue offers. Inauguration Weekend saw hip-hop icon 50 Cent and the infamous Young Jeezy perform together. African stars Teddy Afro and Jah Lude have also performed for Washington’s sizeable Ethiopian community. The venue also hosts a World Boxing Union event this June. With more concert events in the pipeline, Echostage has, according to many, skyrocketed to the top position when it comes to concert venues in DC.
For concert listings and more information visit echostage.com
David Guetta Brings the Beat Back to DC
David Guetta Returns to Washington DC on March 30, 2013!
You know the man: he brought dance music to the American mainstream while making songs with Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Rihanna Akon and Kid Cudi just to name a few. Saturday, March 29 & 30, 2013 he makes his return to Washington DC in the form of a concert at Echostage brought by Club Glow.
Tickets on sale now!
Ryan Seacrest wants to go ‘Glowsticking’ with Tiesto
Ryan Seacrest attempts to Interview Tiesto…
and he FAILS…
miserably…
In a radio interview of Tiesto by Ryan Seacrest on his radio show based in Los Angeles, “On Air with Ryan Seacrest”, on Wednesday, Seacrest showed he is more skilled at interviewing the Kardashians about their Sear’s clothing line than anything to do with electronic music. Named the World’s Biggest DJ by Mixmag magazine in London, Tiesto was on the radio show to promote his upcoming College Invasion Tour.
Throughout the interview Seacrest made himself appear as if Wilfred Brimley (the old man from the Oatmeal commercials and Cocoon) was interviewing Tiesto. He was obviously clueless about the electronic music scene and also had a rough time at the controls.
He opened up the show with saying “Wow this guy gets what like 10 million ‘likes’ on Facebook?” As if that’s what makes him a great DJ, then said, “do the ladies like a little Tiesto”, in a dirty porn voice.
Furthering the barf factor, every time Seacrest or his sidekick asked Tiesto a question, a Tiesto track would blast in interrupting Tiesto’s attempt to answer the questions, which garnered awkward giggles from Tiesto.
To make the interview even more hilarious and awesome, Seacrest said, “One of these days we got to pack up the station wagon… and go glow sticking”. Excuse me, glow sticking? Is that a verb? Also, Forbes reported that Seacrest brought home $51 million last year, so unless he owns a station wagon factory…
Then he asked, again the World’s Biggest DJ, “What is the best way to rage?” How did Seacrest prepare for this interview, by brushing up on a copy of Tiger Beat from 1984? Rage?
As if Seacrest wasn’t annoying enough, his sidekick kept chiming in with equally ignorant questions. For example, a clip from Tiesto’s track Maximal Crazy played and she asked Tiesto “do we ever get mellow just to like bring it down?” Yes, yes he does, mid set Tiesto will slow it down for the ladies and blast Hello by Lionel Richie.
To make matters worse, Seacrest asked Tiesto if he ‘makes love’ to this ‘type of music’. To think of former McButter Pants Seacrest (he was a hefty adolescent) ‘making love’ to Tiesto, or any music, well… <shutters>
Finally, Seacrest wonders out loud (unfortunately) whether Tiesto and fellow world famous DJ David Guetta are friends or rivals. To which Tiesto answered, “We are not enemies, we are friends. We are completely different. He is more in the R&B world and I’m more in the indie rock world. So, it is a different kind of style, but we are definitely good friends and colleagues.”
So all is well in the electronic music brotherhood. Tiesto is putting on a huge event this Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for The Club Life College Invasion Tour playing to 26,000 people.
Make sure to listen to the full interview to hear what a tool Ryan Seacrest was during this interview and especially to hear how Seacrest pronounces “Tiesto” in the final seconds.
