DJ Melo-Mix

The Best of DJ Melo-Mix, Pt. 1: Ride or Die isn't really a best-of album in the traditional sense but rather a particularly focused mix. Melo-Mix draws from all coasts -- East (the Notorious B.I.G.), West (Too Short), and South (Master P) -- as well as from all ages -- old school (Run-D.M.C.), golden (EPMD), and contemporary (Eightball & MJG) -- and he often mixes them together, a cappellas over instrumentals. Furthermore, he tends to pitch his records down, not to the point of "screwing" them, but enough to alter the feel of them. He doesn't cut up the tracks much, instead generally cross-fading them into one another and letting them play out. This mixing style emphasizes the track selection and pitching, though unfortunately the track sequencing is confusing to navigate. The overall effect is a relatively laid-back mix that's full of surprises, as old meets new school and East meets West Coast. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide