The five best J Dilla documentaries

By Ken Taylor

Dearly departed producer and DJ J Dilla (aka Jay Dee; aka James Yancey) definitely garnered more respect posthumously than when he was punching out beats on his MPC for the likes of Slum Village, Madlib, Common, and other hip-hop luminaries. While those in the know considered him a living legend, his legacy certainly lives on well into the years following his untimely lupus-related death in 2006. In fact, it seems like every few months a new documentary pops up in the Detroit ambassador’s honor, and that’s to say nothing of the countless musical releases that have surfaced, including another one just announced today for Moodymann’s Mahogani label.

Play

Win gear and classes from Plugin Alliance, iZotope, FXpansion, Smithson Martin, and more in this month's Play remix contests

By Ken Taylor

Today we launch five new Beatport Play remix contests—and with them, many chances to score some awesome gear and get your remix signed to some of dance music’s hottest labels. Read on for how to enter competitions featuring tracks by Rone, the Stafford Brothers, Pleasurekraft, Zomboy, and Daniel Dexter.

Morning Roundup

Calvin Harris' wedding gig, Hawtin hits Disneyland, and Ultra's first weekend = Zedd in his undies and a Steve Aoki caking, of course

By Ken Taylor

Well, we’re getting the first words back from Miami this morning, and among them, naturally, is a report of Steve Aoki’s patented crowd-caking antics—plus, we’ve got Richie Hawtin’s Saturday set and much more from Florida, so come on in.

Interview

The secrets behind enigmatic Norwegian electro producer Savant

By Matt Ferry

With his cult-like following, aggressive release schedule, and seemingly effortless ability to crank out some of the most intoxicating neo-Tokyo-laced electro house we’ve had the pleasure of hearing, Norway’s Savant could be one of the highest-profile enigmas in the world of crunchy, big-room house and dubstep. As Savant, Aleksander Vinter’s 8-bit circus of sound is all his own, and it never takes itself too seriously. Below he tells us about his production methods, his upcoming North American tour, the transition away from his former Vinter in Hollywood guise, and why he took the name Savant.

Morning Roundup

Old-school Friday! Altern-8's Fireside Chat, Kode9's aughties jams, and 10 years of Cadenza

By Ken Taylor

Everything old is new again, as they say, and that couldn’t be more true with today’s news items—revisit the jams of rave past with a slew of Kode9 mixes, an audio interview with Altern-8, and a birthday celebration for Luciano’s Cadenza label.

Beatport Live

Beatport Live welcomes Death By Bacon to Denver tomorrow, Friday, February 22

By Ross Jackson

Beatport Live is proud to present Death By Bacon tomorrow, Friday, February 22. The dynamic duo has been impressing the Denver scene for quite some time with their DJ and production skills, blending funk, techno, bass, and more in one hell of a unique performance.

Power of Ten

The 20 most-anticipated dance-music festivals of 2013

By Ken Taylor

Sure it’s just February, but with festival-announcement season in full swing, it’s high time we took a look at the most promising dance-music gatherings of the year ahead. Whether it’s been going for 20 years, like Barcelona’s venerable Sónar Festival, or if it’s a relative newcomer to the scene, like Playa Del Carmen’s BPM Fest, if it rocks, it’s got our attention—and hopefully yours, too. Read on for a killer list of must-attend parties this year.

Music News

Mixmag's top 50 dance tracks of all time

By Ken Taylor

Today, Mixmag announced its 50 top dance tracks of all time, as voted on by their readers, and they run the gamut from classic trance and techno to ’90s big beat to sleek modern tech-house, touching on most styles in between. We’ve gotta say, it’s one seriously hit-packed list, but where are you gonna find all these tracks to download in one place? Well, we’ve got an answer to that question. Read on…

Play

Hear the winning submissions from our Dam-Funk, Son of Kick, Eliot Lipp, Kris Menace, and acid-house Play contests

By Ken Taylor

Each month we faithfully bring you a slew of amazing remix and production contests over on Beatport Play. And today, like always, we’re happy to announce the winners of the last batch of competitions. First up, acid-house legend Mr. C (aka Richard West) tells us about the winners of his Producer Challenge.

Beatport Live

Beatport Live welcomes D&B innovator Rockwell to the Berlin office on Saturday, February 9

By Ross Jackson

We’re pleased to announce that Rockwell will be joining us at the Berlin office for a Beatport Live stream on Saturday, February 9. Lauded by critics and fans alike for breathing fresh life into the genre, Rockwell’s distinctive and innovate style is hard to ignore. Starting out on labels such as Digital Soundboy, Renegade Hardware, Critical, and Darkestral, Rockwell now releases exclusively on the fantastic Shogun Audio.

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