Bleep

Another footwork masterpiece from the heart of the genre: Following his iconic 2010 debut on Planet Mu and a couple of releases for Shinkaron and Beatdown House in 2014, Chicago’s DJ Roc returns with an addictive mini album for Swiss label Duck N’ Cover. A resident DJ at the weekly footwork battles at South Side’s Battlegroundz, he’s been an active member of the scene long enough to perfectly capture their spirit. On Practice What U Preach, it’s the samples that are battling. DJ Roc imposes a cutting edge on Jhene Aiko’s mega R’n’B hit ‘The Worst’. He executes dramatic hymns in the form of trembling dracula organs (‘Destruction’) and frees brass-imitating loops from pitch and tempo restrictions (‘Ready Or Not’). Contrasting a mellow saxophone theme with the characteristic stroboscopic drum work (‘Lowend Unity’), he conjures up jazz imagery, while ‘Got No Crack’ bridges the release with its ghetto house roots. Absolutely wild.