Random Remixes: R&B and Pop Edition

by Naj Ahead

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of 6 Pack, Random Rap Remixes Vol 2, Phono Dump, Hmm..., POV, Sweet Autumn Day, S.U.B. Mission (Some Unreleased Beats), Random Remixes: Pre-Soulstice, and 20 more. , and , .

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1.	Whatchall Tryna Do* 03:45	buy track
2.	Shout Out Loud* 03:29	buy track
3.	I'm In Control* 03:31	buy track
4.	Late At Night 03:48	buy track
5.	Not Lumidee* 03:51	buy track
6.	Like What You See* 03:22	buy track
7.	BF* 02:44	buy track
8.	Touch The Sky* 03:32	buy track
9.	Just A Little Taste* 03:19	buy track
10.	Shine Bright* 03:58	buy track
11.	Strawberry Champagne On Ice* 03:25	buy track
12.	We're Beautiful* 02:35	buy track
13.	Crashing Down* 03:48	buy track
14.	Didn't Even Notice* 03:29	buy track

about

My adventures in remixing songs began with The Soooul Dirty! Remix Project in 2007. It was inspired by Dibia$e, who played me his remix of Kev Brown’s “Work in Progress”. Legend has it (AKA my faulty memory lol) that he had chopped the vocals in the MPC and built the beat around it all in the MPC. Even if that wasn't totally accurate, I definitely credit him for sparking the idea that led to the creation of The Soooul Dirty! Remix Project.

As much as I had wanted to invest in studio time or a computer and software for recording, I really didn’t have the means at the time. But I had my "trusty rusty" MPC 2000XL with the expanded memory (and still do). I went digging like crazy for the acapellas of songs I liked on vinyl, as well as spending hours listening to and finding the samples from my vinyl collection that I felt went well with the vocals. All the tracks were recorded raw out of the MPC. It wasn’t mastered nor properly mixed down outside of me adjusting the sounds within the MPC to the best of my ability.

After that project, I primarily went back to just making beats and working on songs (shout out to Tha E.M.S. and Menacin Johnson). I made some one-off remixes here and there, but between 2013 and 2019, I didn’t really create much music due to working at my last job. It wasn’t until I was laid off in November when my time was freed up and I was able to get back into the swing of things. My first project after a 6 year hiatus was Random Rap Remixes. While I no longer needed to sample vocals into my MPC, the making of this project reminded me of how much fun I have doing remixes. Nowadays, acapellas are a download or an MP3/WAV rip away, or even going as far as DIY.

My latest project, Random Remixes: R&B and Pop Edition contains remixes I’ve worked on since being laid off. The original titles have been changed (IYKYK!) You may be surprised to know that some of these tracks came about from unused beats that I was able to find matching acapellas for without having to adjust too much. Some were made specifically with the vocals in mind. Both my trusty rusty MPC 2000XL and my recently acquired MPC Live were used to create the tracks along with the SP 404 for effects. (For fun, see if can you correctly identify which machine was used for each track!)

This project was particularly fun to make because of the challenge of finding samples that are in the same key as the vocals, which isn’t nearly as important when remixing Hip Hop. It also pushed me to experiment with styles that I’m not typically known for!

I’ll admit that I may not have necessarily been a fan of all of the original songs, but I was curious to see if I could reinterpret them through my beat-making lens. As always, my approach is not to try to outdo the original, but just to put my own spin on it. In the midst of the craziness that is 2020, I hope y’all vibe out to this and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.

If you’re still reading this, you are the best! I’d love to know which of these remixes y’all rock with. Feel free to leave me a comment, all feedback is welcome and appreciated. Thank you to everyone who still checks for my music and for the new listeners who have recently come across my work.

Much Love,

Naj Ahead

credits

released July 3, 2020

Artwork by black9star

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Naj Ahead Los Angeles, California

Naj Ahead (FKA No Alias) is a beatmaker/MC from Mid City LA. He started rapping as a teen, but got into beatmaking in 2001, and the beats have taken over ever since. He carries on the tradition of beatmakers who dig in the crates to unearth slept on gems. The beats are often melodic and laid back, but he may surprise you with a raw head-nodder. It's all about what catches his ear at the time. ... more

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