One year ago, I wrote my first piece about moombahton, profiling OG moombahnista DJ A-Mac. This month has seen so many developments that I think it’s helpful to catalog them all in one post. So here goes:
Moombahton Massive III
To mark the the appropriately massive Megaton event at SXSW, the third installment in the Moombahton Massive EP series was released. Sol Selecta Sabo provides two offerings, including a take on the oft-sampled “Apache” by the Incredible Bongo Band (“Patchy Moombahton”). Always with an ear for crossovers, A-Mac flips “Drop” by Timbaland and Magoo. Pickster One, Melo, and Apt One also contribute, but leave it to the originators for the finest track. Nadastrom stretches the Axwell & Dirty South remix of the Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition” into an uplifting seven-minute epic.
Download Moombahton Massive EP III
Dillon Francis – Westside!
Last week, Mad Decent dropped the highly-anticipated Westside! EP from Dillon Francis. It doesn’t disappoint: Francis’ crowd-pleasing electro-house style transitions nicely into block rocking moombahton beats. The title track is a moombahcore banger that references one of the genre’s earliest songs, Nada’s “Riverside.” Maluca on a moombahton track is a no-brainer, and “Que Que” explores relatively new (and necessary) territory: producers using original vocals on their tracks. Dutch-flavored car siren synths power “Brazzer’s Theme,” which – like most tracks Munchi gets his hands on – is overshadowed by the remix.
“Moombahton: Born in D.C., bred worldwide”
By night, Sami Y is a DC DJ and party promoter of events, either in warehouses or his own house. By day, he works at NPR, where he continues to trumpet moombahton’s growth on the public airwaves.
“After moombahton comes moombriton”
Neil Queen of Pop Culture Care Package published an excellent piece about a new hotbed of moombahton: the UK (where else?). The piece is extensive and features an interview and exclusives from rising producer Smutlee.
Mixes from the Capitol
DC’s own Cam Jus and Billy the Gent have been ably carrying the Moombahton Monday torch with their Tropixxx parties at Velvet Lounge (next up: April 3). The duo also have a slot on the Moombahton Massive / Munchi benefit at U Hall in April. These are all can’t miss events, but in the meantime, check out Cam’s mix for trendsetting DC brand Black Collection.
Not to be outdone, Obeyah (who is also playing the Munchi benefit), just dropped a “thrashhall” mix. It’s full of exclusives, including unreleased tracks by Steve Starks, Tittsworth, and Alvin Risk, and it hits all parts of the tropical bass explosion.
Bonus: Head over to my old home, True Genius Requires Insanity, for an exclusive mix from Lithuanian producer Boyfriend. It’s a tribute to just how global this movement is.
Postcultural 
Nice one, Chris.
Interesting that Dillon’s Westside and MM3 came out within days of each other, as they’re kinda polar opposites – Westside is a complete focusing of what moombahton is all about, the beats, sounds, style and riffs, while parts of MM3, much as I love it, feel like a slight compromising of the sound with its use of overly familiar funk breaks. Obv moombahton has always been a magpie with samples, but you hope this isn’t the thin end of a regressive wedge, especially as MM2 was so strong.
By the way, I’m glad you’ve overlooked the Inspector Gadget moombahcore edit * shakes head *
Que Que is simply monstrous.
I think there’s room for both. New listeners need those familiar anchors before getting into something like Westside.
Wow, I didn’t know that existed. Wish I could’ve kept it that way, heh.
If you like Que Que, keep an eye out for that Tittsworth / Alvin Risk song…
Is that Pendejas? Heard it, not got it. In return, keep one eye on Guapo Feo.
Yep. They’re filming the video at the next Tropixxx party, so expect that soon.
I have the OG Series but it hasn’t been in rotation. I’ll give it another listen.
The OG tracks are solid, but I’d say he has more up his sleeve, and his earlier stuff slipped through the net. Peepage ici: http://soundcloud.com/barneyiller/sets/guapo-feo-tracks/