Before there was a DJ Bigdirty. The Classics Mix
"Where words fail, music speaks."
1. [00:00] intro
2. [00:33] Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock- It Takes Two
3. [05:13] Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam- Let The Beat Hit 'Em
4. [08:48] C&C Music Factory Feat Freedom Williams & Zelma Davis- Here we Go
5. [11:26] The Cover Girls- Show Me
6. [14:52] Sweet Sensation- Hooked On You
7. [18:30] Shannon- Let The Music Play
8. [21:15] Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam- Take Me Home
9. [26:20] Noel- Silent Morning
10. [27:56] Gino Latino- Welcome
11. [31:32] Lisette Melendez- Together Forever
12. [33:39] Information Society Vs AKA- What's on Your Mind Cruel Loving (DJ Bigdirty Torment & Pain Mash-up)
13. [35:30] Yaz- Situation
14. [39:58] Depeche Mode- Strange Love
15. [45:47] The Beat Club- Security
16. [48:40] Freestyle- Don't Stop The Rock
17. [50:36] Debbie Deb- When I Hear Music
18. [52:16] Debbie Deb- Lookout Weekend
19. [55:31] Trinere- I Know You Love Me
20. [58:09] Freestyle- The Party Has Begun
21. [01:00:42] Nice & Wild- Diamond Girl
22. [01:04:44] Will To Power- Say It's Gonna Rain
23. [01:07:28] Johnny O- Fantasy Girl
24. [01:11:07] Stevie B- Dreaming Of Love
25. [01:13:29] Will To Power- Dreamin'
26. [01:15:43] Lil Suzy- Take Me In Your Arms
27. [01:18:05] Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force- Planet Rock
28. [01:21:54] Egyptian Lover- Egypt Egypt
29. [01:23:39] Maurice- This Is Acid
30. [01:26:06] Lil Louis- French Kiss
31. [01:28:54] Sir Mix A Lot- Baby Got Back
32. [01:34:08] Clay D & The get Funky Crew- Shake Them Ti**ies
33. [01:38:43] 2 Live Crew- Pop That P
34. [01:42:14] Kyper- Tic Tac Toe
35. [01:47:12] Kyper- (What Gets your Body Hyped) XTC
36. [01:50:08] Salt & Pepa- Push It
37. [01:56:14] Gilette- Short D**k Man
38. [01:57:44] New Order- Blue Monday
39. [02:02:50] Depeche Mode- I Just Can't Get Enough
40. [02:05:21] Yaz- Don't Go
41. [02:10:18] Duran Duran- Hungry Like The Wolf
42. [02:14:16] DJ X Vs The Outfield- Your Love
43. [02:16:16] The Cure- Just Like Heaven
"Where words fail, music speaks."
There's no such thing as a perfect story. I've been trying to create it since the mixtape began. It's what keeps me creating. A blank TDK cassette tape was my canvas. Records were my tool. Some of you were my inspiration.
My parent's got me my first duel turntables for Christmas during junior year of high school (1985). One had pitch control & the other not so much. Trying to beat mix was an event, but looking back on it, it was practice man (Allen Iverson 200?). There was hope though. A new kid just moved across the street from Panama that knew how to properly beat mix. Tim Huggins aka The Lonesome Cowboy had the equipment for the job. This is where I got my first taste of real beat mixing. After countless hours of trying to mix Madonna, Tears For Fears & Soul Sonic Force together I was getting there. Us and few other fellas used to battle for spinnin' time during Youth Center dances. While there I realized my niche' was house/freestyle music not really hip-hop. Back then hip hop was mainly drum beats and samples. Freestyle and House had electronic swirls, melodies, samples, and disco meets a hard hip hop breakbeat, but faster. At times I felt like I was floating/flying.
Then came my failed attempt at college. But hey, the music was great! In the Fall of '87 I moved into a dorm room in Eddy Hall at ENMU (the only co-ed dorm on campus- cool). I showed up with my music. By now in my mind I was a mixtape specialist. But who has time for that when you're out on your own for the first time? Eat. Sleep. Basketball. Party. Repeat. I lived on the 2nd floor and I remember consistently sticking my big ass speakers out the window so we'd have music to ball to and dance between games. Every pickup game was a dance party. I landed a couple of gigs for some frats for free. Hell, I DJ'd at a damn football stadium for a football game. What a time to be alive! I just loved DJing and discovering what I could do with all this music I had. I must give credit to music for all the people I met. I was social, but not as much as music helped me.
By Fall '88 all that music, mixtape business and partying led me to one of the best decisions of my life. I joined the Air Force. My first assignment was Keesler AFB, Mississippi. Once again I found myself on the 2nd floor of the dorms. I was making mixtapes for late night work shifts, room parties & car rides. We all used to go Fiesta or Take Two nightclubs on the beach. I wasn't just there to dance, but I was checking out what the DJ's were playing and then going to the record store the next payday and picking up those tracks. I probably drove the DJs crazy asking for the name of the track they were playing. This also included a bunch of people loading into a car go to New Orleans almost every payday weekend and heading to The Blue Crystal- an industrial, goth, alternative club. We'd wear all black and do a million stupid things in the streets of New Orleans or go to the nightclub in Jax Brewery. Dancing until 4 & 5 in the morning. I was always so curious about what the DJ was gonna play in a big city. So many discoveries in those joints. Just trying to expand my musical taste and what would make the perfect mix.
Since then, I learned tempo & keys by ear of all this stuff I was listening to. There was so much more to making a mixtape. This mix has been put off for years. It's truly hard to capture a snapshot of not just my life but those around you during our huge transition(s). I don't like letting people down, so that fear of failure put this "mixtape" off for years. This mix isn't just about me but for the people that lived it. It incorporates the people I met during those times before I was a club DJ (it took me took til 1997 after giving up around 1993). I hope it takes you back.
As with every mix I hope it tells a story. Music does most of my talking. It's not perfect, but is anything. Enjoy…