Hurricane Venus- BoA
"Hurricane Venus" is BoA Kwon's second single off the upcoming Korean album of the same name, and she's holding nothing back. Embracing the same HipTronik sound she brought to the US just last year, "Hurricane Venus" is a highly addictive track which sends her voice through the vocoder and into our hearts. The visually stimulating music video also features the 23 year old's fantastic dance moves which have never failed to wow us. The album, which just dropped last week, is the first in five years for BoA to be released in Korea and has already hit the number one spot on the charts.
One (Your Name)- Swedish House Mafia ft. Pharrell
Pharrell ventures out into HipTronik territory again with this amazing track by Swedish House Mafia. "One (Our Name)" is the first official single from the Swedish DJ trio, and it's already paved its way through the UK charts. That's not much of a surprise: the combination of Pharrell's eery vocals on top of a layer of house is too much to handle. And the video? It's just as mesmerizing as the song itself. If the rest of Swedish House Mafia's upcoming tracks are this good, we're in for one heck of an album.
ADD SUV- Uffie ft. Pharrell Williams
Are you ready for Uffie to blow up this summer? The French electro pop tart oft mentioned as the inspiration behind Ke$ha has primed herself for a mainstream debut with "ADD SUV," featuring Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D. fame. The song was produced by Mirwais (whose career was revived when Madonna discovered him in the late nineties) and displays Uffie's vocals with a dreamy sort of autotune, delving into everything from debutantes to drug abuse. Pharrell's verse -- though mildly mismatched -- is catchy nonetheless and just might give her the exposure she needs. Uffie's new album, "Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans," will be released May 31.
Milkshake (Mightyfools Remix) – Kelis
Club music by and for club goers — that’s what you get from the Mightyfools duo, Dutch natives Andy Samin and Jelle Keizer. The two joined forces after meeting in an empty club one night, and the rest is history. Mightyfools has generated a lot of buzz worldwide with their Partyjunkies EP and remixes of Fall Out Boy, Tommie Sunshine and Crookers. The globetrotting pair have made the rounds in clubs and festivals, building a reputation for music that is both fun and energetic. Take one listen of to the Mightyfools' spin on Kelis’ “Milkshake” and you’ll see that they possess an acute sense for melding genres in true HipTronik fashion.
Heaven – Quintino ft. Mitch Crown
The Dutch know dance music. And “Heaven” is a case in point. Quintino and Mitch Crown are established artists in their own right—Quintino worked on the NopeisDope mix compilation, while Mitch Crown produced the breakthrough track “1Ding” by Fouradi—but the duo makes a suitable pair. Mitch Crown takes the vocals and Quintino mixes the track in this breezy HipTronik mix. “Heaven” puts you in a good mood. And that’s just how we like it.
Crazy4S – 2PM
Granted, KPop sensation 2PM's latest endeavor, "Crazy4S," might be an endorsement song, but it's a really great endorsement song. To take it a step further, it's a huge step in the right direction for the boy band in terms of maturity and sound. They're embracing HipTronik and we couldn't be happier. The track alternates between auto-tuned and natural, and the beat backing them up is sick. Let's see what we have here: Cute boys? Check. Hot dance routine? Check. Catchy hook? Check. Honestly, what more do you need?
Stick Up – Jackie Boyz
For Los and Stevie, music is a family affair (the brothers dubbed themselves the Jackie Boyz in memory of their late mother). The pair started their music career singing on a pier in their hometown of Savannah, Georgia, but those days are long gone. Fast forward to 2010 and see how much their hard work has paid off: the Jackie Boyz have collaborated with the likes of Flo Rida, Justin Beiber and Robin Thicke, to name a few. With “Stick Up,” the duo showcases their talents as singers and songwriters in this R&B dance melody that oozes HipTronik. If you haven’t heard of the Jackie Boyz, then you’re in for a treat.
In the Mix with Jump Smokers
Hiptronik artists and producers Jump Smokers took a break from creating, producing and remixing to answer a few of our questions. Read on to find out about their viral hit "My Flow So Tight (Anti-Breezy)," their remix of Mariah Carey's album, and what the future holds for the Jump Smokers.
HipTronik: Please introduce yourselves to HipTronik and to the readers.
Jump Smokers: What's up everybody! We're the Jump Smokers, coming straight outta the CHI. And in particular, this is Roman. Reydon, V-Skratch and I are on a break from a studio session.
How did Jump Smokers get started? You guys are from Chicago; how do your roots affect your music?
I Got It – Starrset ft. Donald Glaude
Remember when we introduced you to Starrset? It's been a few weeks now, and we've since discovered this gem of a track on YouTube. "I Got It" was remixed by none other than the infamous Donald Glaude. Glaude takes the original track and mixes it up with a bit of Benny Benassi's "Satisfaction." The tune is standard dance floor flair, but we definitely foresee it getting the room jumping. With hits like this, the young Starrset duo are undoubtably on their way up!
Rombo – The Bloody Beetroots ft. Congorock
Smoking pineapples and battered fruit might seem strange in a music video, but The Bloody Beetroots make it work. The group collaborates with Congorock for the trance-inducing, attention-grabbing song “Rombo,” which mixes peculiar sounds with a hypnotizing track. Bear in mind, this is not your run-of-the-mill dance video—the distorted images look more like something from a horror movie—but The Bloody Beetroots are known for shying away from the norm. “Rombo” may not be typical, but that’s why we like it.
Feel It – Three 6 Mafia ft. Tiesto, Sean Kingston and Flo-Rida
Here's a collaboration we weren't expecting: Three 6 Mafia joins forces with a myriad of talent, including the illustrious Tiësto, to create "Feel It" -- a HipTronik hit destined for the dance floor. True, Sean Kingston seems a bit out of place, especially since the video is set on the Vegas strip, but combined with Flo Rida, you have just enough variation to keep you on your toes. Clubs aside, this seems like a sure hit for some radio play. Tiësto on mainstream radio? We've come a long way.
Misery – Good Charlotte (Steve Aoki Remix)
We know what you’re thinking: how does Good Charlotte fit into the HipTronik mold? The answer is Steve Aoki. The pop-punk band’s song “Misery” morphs into a dance-worthy mix with his helping hands. The song is based on a hard electronic sound that starts slow and then gradually builds into a high-frequency dance track. Aoki has a way with tracks, and “Misery” is a great example.
Feel Me In – Spice Twice
Gado and Jey Key, the Tokyo duo making up Spice Twice, introduce themselves to the HipTronik world with the track "Feel Me In." The boys aren't even well-known in Japan, but these regulars from the Roppongi nightlife scene have managed to write, produce and perform their own tracks, as well as score onstage gigs. The song crosses back and forth between Japanese and English through slow vocal moments and hard dance moments. The lyrics don't alway make sense, but for a couple kids just breaking into the scheme of things, we've got to give credit where it's due.
Change – HyunA ft. Poppin Dragon
HyunA, the elusive former Wonder Girls' member and current front woman of 4Minute has embarked upon a career of her very own with her new single, "Change." A hip hop banger featuring guest vocals from Poppin Dragon (BEAST), HyunA manages to carry a flow and thrust her hips throughout the nearly-four-minute song, making you forget the fact that she's still only 17. The song itself is a rather lackluster attempt to differentiate herself from 4Minute; it works more as a vehicle to showcase her dancing ability. There's no denying that HyunA herself is talented, so we're sure the right track will land in the youngster's lap before nearing the end of her teenage years.
WILD – Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro is no stranger to the Japanese music scene with her ninth studio album PAST < FUTURE under her belt. However, the sound of her music has changed dramatically throughout the years, adding a touch of hip hop and R&B into the mix. Her newest single “WILD” is evidence of this evolution with the song’s rough, discordant bass structure--a sharp contrast to Amuro’s smooth vocals. The video’s hard dance scenes are softened by slow motion effects to complement the shifts in the music. “WILD” is a fierce blend of beats that’ll get you going rampant.
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