#52 Feat. Staff Picks in Breaks / Breakbeat / UK Bass

You all know about Chicago breakbeat legend Keith MacKenzie, dont you? Well, if not, you should, so heres where to get to know. Hes got decades in the game, hundreds of releases, and his own influential Illeven:Eleven label smashing it internationally. And its been a couple of years since we last saw Keith on Hot Cakes, so the anticipation is ramped right up. Fortunately, its Keith MacKenzie on production so, of course, Run It Back lives up to its promise. Taking us on a journey through lush atmospheres, the science of vocal and break manipulation, and heavyweight basslines, this track just keeps evolving into ever-more colours and flavours. Unmissable. For licensing & label enquiries, please contact Martin Flex: martin@hotcakesmusic.com

Keith Mackenzie

#56 Feat. Staff Picks in UK Garage / Bassline

Representing the speed garage and 4x4 bassline heartland of Sheffield, Warpfit has taken his heritage and run with it. Bringing his own particular flavour of addictively swung rhythms and funky low-end to bear, theres no question why hes accelerating up the ranks right now. With Castle Hauser providing a distinctive vocal hook thats going to stay lodged firmly in your head, Race Car demonstrates Warpfits party-moving credentials perfectly. A 4x4 kick meets shuffling percussion and that classic warping bassline that all add up to Friday night vibes. And then Air of FSP shows off a whole different facet to this producers sound with an atmospheric UKG-meets-breaks summer twilight soundtrack. Soon to be ubiquitous, its time to get to know about Warpfit. For licensing & label enquiries, please contact Martin Flex: martin@hotcakesmusic.com

Warpfit, Castle Hauser

#87 Feat. Staff Picks in Breaks / Breakbeat / UK Bass

The Russian-born, internationally-known, multi-award-winning deejay and producer Lady Waks has been repping bass-focused dance music across a selection of genres for decades now. And a Hot Cakes release from her is always an eagerly-awaited prospect. This time, shes given us a funky, booty-shaking breakbeat workout thats got party-starter written all over it. Flame has all the horn stabs, wah guitar and bassline wobbles a selector could need to energise a dancefloor. And then thats backed up by two remixes that take things in almost entirely different directions. Weve got Son of Sam laying down a four-to-the-floor with his trademark bassline pressure and UKG inflections, while Spains DJ Tortu & Jose Rodriguez reconfigure the breaks to bring their own vibe to the table. Its another essential from the Hot Cakes camp. For licensing & label enquiries, please contact Martin Flex: martin@hotcakesmusic.com

Lady Waks