Life+Times Premiere: Ratchett Traxxx “Blacc Basquiat – Tha Final Chapter” Mixtape

Ratchett Traxxx, a DJ-producer hailing from New Jersey, is perhaps one of the most ambiguous artists on the rise. Ambiguous in the sense that Traxxxstar (one of RT’s additional monikers) reveals no details about his background. That air of elusiveness that accompanies the RT name also comes with an obvious purpose: presenting new music to the world. RT values the origins of dance music from Chicago house to Detroit techno and puts his own authentic, modern touch to it. When asked about what captivates him the most about dance music, RT responds in his standard ALL CAPS fashion ( look at his Twitter account for reference), “Tha only blueprint for dance music should be exactly that ‘dance’ part: do it work on tha floor? If they shit don’t move…it don’t work.” He continues, “Blacc people aren’t a monolith…so I showcase as often as possible how all of tha different music from all tha hoods worldwide can have a home in tha mix, car, or club. Shit from Detroit, Manchester, Toronto, Memphis, London, Houston, or tha West Indies, or whatever…if that shit knoccs and tha ladies love it, I play it.” His production has received nods from the likes of Brodinski and Boys Noize just to name a couple. In fact, RT’s official remix of Spank Rock’s “Burning Man” (world premiere in the mix herein) will be released via Boysnoize Records later this spring.

In this exclusive L+T premiere of Blacc Basquiat – Tha Final Chapter, RT presents a masterpiece of sounds ranging from classic house to techno to hip hop. If there were ever a place where Green Velvet’s “Shake and Pop” lyrics (I like electro/ I like retro/I like ghetto/House and techno) would apply, it would be within the parameters of this mix. “I have done a few volumes before, but this is tha apex,” RT says regarding Blacc Basquiat – Tha Final Chapter. “These mixes are like paintings for me…colorful, detailed…n informed by tradition n history.”

TRACCLIST

01. Three 6 Mafia – Who Run It
02. ROBERT HOOD – APARTMENT ZERO
03. MUSICAL MOB – PULSE X
04. BASIC CHANNEL – PHYLYPS TRACK II-II
05. K.P. & ENVYI – SWING MY WAY
06. PRETTY TONY – JAM THE BOX
07. L’TRIMM – CARS WITH THE BOOM
08. POISON CLAN – SHAKE WHAT YA MAMA GAVE YA
09. HIPNOSIS – END TITLE
10. NEWCLEUS – PUSH THE BUTTON
11. CYBORG UNKNOWN – YEAR 2001
12. RECKLESS RON COOK – RIDE IT
13. DJ STINGRAY – TEMPORARY BOND
14. DREXCIYA – ANDREAN SAND DUNES
15. MODEL 500 – HI NRG
16. UNITS – THE RIGHT MIX
17. DATA – BLOW
18. LIAISONS DANGEREUSES – PEUT ETRE..PAS
19. PARRIS MITCHELL – GHETTY BOOTY
20. HITTRAX – HOUSE OF SNAKES
21. ALEX O. SMITH – ULTRA FINE 2
22. BRAZILIAN GIRLS – LAST CALL (CARL CRAIG REMIX)
23. CJ BOLLAND – SUGAR IS SWEETER (ARMAND’s DRUM & BASS MIX)
24. J DILLA – TRUCKS
25. SPANKROCK – BURNING MAN (RATCHETT TRAXXX REMIX)
26. BIG SEAN – PARADISE
27. KANYE WEST – ALL DAY
28. DRAKE – 10 BANDS
29. FABOLOUS – LITUATION
30. TELA – TWISTED
31. PROJECT PAT – IF U AINT FROM MY HOOD
32. MYSTIKAL – FEEL RIGHT
33. BRODINSKI FEAT. BLOODY JAY – US
34. OSUNLADE – 139TH STREET
35. ARIL BRIKHA – GROOVE LA CHORD
36. ANTHONY SHAKIR – ELECTRON RIDER
37. REEL BY REAL – KARMA (DON WILLIAMS RANDOM OCTIVATION REMIX)
38. CLUB MCM – CLUB MCM
39. UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE – SWEAT ELECTRIC
40. B CALLOWAY – LATE NITE RIDE
41. A.J. MCGHEE – 5TH OF REMY
42. DJ DEEON – YO MOUF
43. CARL TAYLOR – DEBBIE’S GROOVE (ROBERT HOOD REMIX)
44. B CALLOWAY – 98 DEGREES
45. CLAUDE YOUNG – SACRIFICES