forums : Jungle Scene : Ragga

Ragga and Mixxing???

where has the mixxing element in Ragga gone? I don't overly emphasize the mix on Ragga DJs as i do other forms of drum n bass/jungle DJs, but it seems as though there is hardly any mixxing going on, just stopping the record and playing the next one or wheelin' up tracks and begining the next one. Also granted most ragga cats playin' are spinning their own tunes which is why i give them the benefit of the doubt also. Whatz odd also is that many Ragga DJs are from the mold of hip hop djs in the sense that they can scratch well, beat juggle, throw in hip hop/dancehall elements and tunes in their sets etc., but it is all for not when itz "track, stop track, play next track etc." and there is no mix. I mean really is ragga a form of "dance music" as it is labeled (drum n bass/jungle). I have many Amen/ragga tapez and CDs in which the mixxes are so tight because to mix 2 hard amen tracks together or having a vocal riddim of one track laced over another's instramental sounds so on and actually getz u listening and moving. I think Ragga in 2003 and itz produciton stateside is much better then the past (in the sense that it is taken to another level), but i think the mixxing of tracks is really lacking. I really respect Tester cause not only are his tunez sick, but his mixxing is very good on the occasions i have seen him (Jungle Mashin', Rapture, Vinyl Elements Outdoor party) . . .. .

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

testers the man.....and so are many other producers! love ragga!

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

Itz not that i don't like Ragga (i. is me) anyways, itz not that i don't like ragga cause i do and have like 3 crates at home dedicated to it, i just think the 'new' Ragga is much better produced and intricate then itz counter parts in the past, but actually playing it at shows a lot of times there is no mixxing. This is NOT TO SAY THE DJs can not mix, it just seems as though say in "drum n bass" (non-amenz letz say), DJs mix 2 records together for effect and a new sound (thus the "mix and blend"), but in Ragga nowadays it is solely (the effect for the audience) on the tunes not on creating something thru a mix or blend. That is fine, but 60 minutes of no mixxing or blending or creation of something new joining elements of 2 tracks does not relate (IMO) to the dancefloor (and that may not be the focus of the producer/DJ, but in the scope of thingz is not drum n bass/jungle a form of dance music? Like i said i really like Tester b/c he actually mixxes and that on top of killer tunez i personally think keeps the dancefloor rockn' as well as setting a new emotion for the audience . . ..

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

Tester will be here in Sept. and will be a very special guest on The QuQui Room ~ vibeflow.com...cant wait

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

And i only named Tester, but there are several ragga DJs who i like, who mix etc., i'm just blabbin'

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

For some examples, listen to the The Archangel's "Rudebwoy Donkeypunch", Tester's "Now who gwan test", Steppastyle's "street knowledge", General Malice's "champion sound jungle", Axelmadden's "Badman sound".......

each of these exemplify characteristics of what a DJ needs to do on the decks. I hope the DJ aspect is never lost sight of cause that's what got me into it.

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

i mix AND cut ragga up. boh?

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

the f**k are you guys talkin about lol
i hear plenty of ragga djs mixing like a mother f**ker. sometimes you do have to stop one track play the next when it comes to older tracks. but i always hear good mixing from ragga djs.

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

I know that it is harder to sometimes let a mix run for long when you spin ragga, esp. since most of the new stuff is very vocal...btu the truth be told..there is no excuse for stopping and starting and if a person did that during a show that you attended you needed yer money back or they needed to practice.

Sometimes due to the change in speed older tracks being about 170 bpm and newer tracks being like 190 it is almost impossible to mix the two...in that case a person does a fancy wheel up and the problem is solved. But a set should not be "riddled" with these easy way outs.

.....

maybe it was played in a different style.. u neva knoe....

[ loqtus - 2 Aug 2003 21:40 ]

......

i mix ragga with ease, long and short mixes. In fact everyone i know that mixes ragga does so i dun know where your getting this idea that noone mixes ragga, and they only start and stop the records, but thats jus a bit weird. Soundclashwise, thats a differant sitch. Check the love and war soundclash samples up on testers site, not all mixing cause it was done inna true soundclash fashion. If dj's are playing round where your at and just starting and stoping each tune, then someone needs to come test cause that ain't right.

[ axelmadden - 2 Aug 2003 21:45 ]

Re: ......

i dunno where everyone got this whole cats dont mix roun erso.. cause the heads i chill with (QC CRU/TONS OF DRUMS)can mos DEF!mix like WHA!.

eas

Re: ......

true dat axel

Re: ......



I dont agree with this post at all....and mixing or not, you cant deny its presence. Its here, times are changing and people are letting us know.......the above pic shows how mixing or not, Ragga gets em hype. Maybe sometimes it takes a creative dj to step outside the standard beatmatch every f**king time to change it up and make it fun again. Otherwise you are just taking it safe and doing the standard. Pretty soon we can all start mixing just like each other.....Or we can start appreciating the art and diversity, and just go, hey does it work or not? RAW is prime example, he rarely, and I mean rarely mixes at all...but he is one of the hottest dj's in LA...!? So I think if it sounds good, f**k it, why should there be rules, or a standard, or a right way? That just puts a squeeze on all the art.....and limits what you will get. My 2 cents....


[ dj.com - 4 Aug 2003 08:15 ]
[ dj.com - 4 Aug 2003 07:53 ]

Re: ......

from my experience, ragga's so intense (just happens to be my fav) that people who have never played ragga might not be able to tell whether or not the dj's mixing. He could have brought the new song in four or five times before he took it out and the listener would have no clue.
From listening to ragga a lot and even spinning it myself I can tell that (well I'm spoiled getting to listen to the best ragga dj's la has to offer hah) they all mix and do it so well you just can't tell.
That's all I can say... just watch more carefullly next time-- you'll see.
:P

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

as long as the set sounds fluid, who cares. I would much rather see someone who dosen't mix but connects the records creativly by other means, than someone who thinks he/she can mix, but double bumps all the mixes.

Now soundclash style, that is a whole different story

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

yes. dubplate rounds inna clash are single shot rinses. no mix.

But I don't think that's what this post was arguing.

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

what were they talking about? who did they hear play like dat

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

f**kya i was hyped

and i dont agree with that post

BOO dubdub

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

I think that it is blatantly obvious that many ragga djs do very little beat matching...it has always been that way...its the nature of the style and really...it can be a pain to mix mashup and not many djs are qualified to do it

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

You have no f**king clue what your talking about broken record, the name suits you!

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

ha ha sorry, I'll shut up now
**********
According to axelmadden ...

You have no f**king clue what your talking about broken record, the name suits you!
**********

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

thank u respect eachothers skills

bOO i still dont agree with that

broken records

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

all i said was that its hard to mix 180 bpm mashup and that most djs avoid doing it...sorry if i speak the truth...

I didn't even say if I care or not...

if it makes me like ragga less or if it makes me like it more...

i said none of those things...

so don't always be so quick to defend against things that haven't been said
**********
According to missragga ...

thank u respect eachothers skills

bOO i still dont agree with that

broken records
**********

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

this is a controversial issue, and there are many references we can acknowledge for both sides. But nevertheless, i have heard many lazy ragga mixes, however, i've heard many dope ragga mixes i.e. krumbs, RAW, ect. I feel that the new ragga sound can definetly be mixed in a broader spectrum as compared to tech. It takes more effort to find cues for ragga recs to refrain from clashing vocals from one vinyl to the other. But regardless, ragga heads earn reespect for dem' dubplates they drop and for deh selection which contribute to the audience's hype.

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

who r these dj's that avoid the mixing aspect, drop some references cause almost everyone i know MIXES 180+bpm w/ ease as stated before. I don't know anyone who jus plays tunes and dosn't mix em, cept a toon here and there followed by more mixes. I think your listening to too many kids who can't mix, not the majority of ragga djs IMO! Reference the mixes posted on ragga-jungle.com in the downloads section and lemme know which mixes on there are an example of this. I bet you won't find one!?!

[ axelmadden - 5 Aug 2003 13:56 ]

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

these djs that only mix that dont cut and scratch that don't juggle dat don't don't match are hardly dj's at all and hardly due tha acclaim they more times than not are covered with for simply mixing two tracks that practically any fool given a month of practice two tables and a crate of records could do ----- wake up!!!!!!

[ monsoon - 6 Aug 2003 18:01 ]

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

what is a dj if he can't scratch ?

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

"all i said was that its hard to mix 180 bpm mashup and that most djs avoid doing it...sorry if i speak the truth..."


dont agree. old school hardcore dj's spun at LEAST that speed and had no problem. just because the drums are eratic (sp?) doesnt mean its hard to catch the beat and mix. s**t.. the faster the beat, the easier to mix IMO.

Re: Ragga and Mixxing???

i think broken records is right in that not ever dj blends two records together. like the original poster said, they start one record after the next one's finished.