Want to take a trip back to 1998? "Drum & Bass meets Hip-Hop" is a 90-minute recording that captures the essence of a time when DJ mixes were a genuine labor of love, crafted without the convenience of laptops and synchronization software. Creating a mixtape back then was a revered ritual, a demonstration of skill and dedication to perfection.
The title hints at the fusion of Hip-Hop, using rap acapellas from vinyl records, with mid-90s Drum N Bass tracks from the UK. DJ Scientist collaborated with his crew member, Cyclone, who handled the instrumental backing with Drum & Bass tracks, while Scientist placed the acapellas and samples on top. Some of the scratch parts were recorded together, adding a dynamic touch.
In early 1998, DJ Scientist upgraded his setup with a 4-Track cassette recorder, aiming to achieve more mixing possibilities with four layers. Each 90-minute tape resulted in 22.5 minutes of music, so a total of four full-length 4-track tapes were employed to create the final 90-minute mix. All the recordings were done in mono, with Scientist reserving three layers for acapellas, cuts, and other sounds. Recording in as few takes as possible was essential, as excessive overdubs would introduce unwanted noise. The setup was minimal, using just three turntables and two Vestax 05 mixers. Remarkably, the entire instrumental backing was laid down in one take too, without any room for later adjustments or shortening certain segments. In the end, the mix was mixed down to either a mini-disc or a DAT (Scientist doesn't recall which) and then sent to the manufacturer.
The mixtape was released on cassette and distributed independently. It became a regional hit, with copies selling in selected Hip-Hop stores in Munich but also in Berlin, where Cyclone and Scientist enjoyed a summer break. A total of 200 tapes were produced, marking Scientist's first professionally duplicated tape.
Unfortunately, an original copy of the cover artwork is currently unavailable, so all that remains is a picture of an early reissue from around 2000, with artwork adjustments made on a computer.
In response to requests, Scientist had ripped and remastered the recording in 2004, creating a few CDr copies for friends and fans. It's only now that the complete tape has been carefully restorated and remastered once again and made available for everyone. The mix itself remains largely untouched, with Scientist making only minor adjustments during the restoration and mastering process.
Upon its initial release, the mix received positive feedback. The now-defunct "Mulitant Funk Magazine" even hailed it as "perhaps one of the best Drum & Bass / Hip-Hop mixes ever" in its July 1998 issue. We hope you share their sentiment!
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