Digging through the digital crates this week I went far and wide looking for hot mixes, fatt beats, and take me higher or take me away grooves. From the low lands of the Netherlands to the hills of San Francisco, I searched and finally found that goodness I was looking for -- when I wasn’t looking and, as it turns out, someone a lot closer to home. Life is just like that sometimes, isn’t it?

I was about to shut down for the nite, when I decide to click play on one more track. I was immediately immersed from the moment I laid ears on the opening dialogue laid over a moody, cinematic piece of music; a great introduction to the aural playground awaiting in the Heist185 pres. Sudden Shift mix by Jaekim. Needless to say, closing up shop was out of the question as I began to lightly sway left to right to the laid back grooves, bop my head to the Hip Hop beats, perk my ears up when, like the mixes title suggests, Jaekim just switches it up with some electro inspired tracks I’ve never heard but sounded great, and made sense. That’s the same methodology followed for the rest of the mix, a varied mix of lyrical Hip Hop, funk, soul, jazz, and other genres I simply couldn’t place at 3AM. I found more than the Weekend Mix; I found a piece of art. 

Unfortunately, finding information on Jaekim was not as easy a task. All his social profiles were surprisingly lite on the contact info, especially for an artist. After a few passes I still hadn’t found out which hood he calls home (I’m guessing Houston, TX), and the mix itself had no track list (I need to know the name to some of these tracks man). Jaekim himself, however, is far from the vague entity he is online. Just one listen to his mix (you can also catch him on the Phunkwhatchaheard internet radio show) and you’ll know all you need to know about this versatile DJ and burgeoning producer. Oh yeah, some important info I was able to glean is the fact, that he’s also a writer and producer with at least one EP under his belt. Unidentified is a digital EP; trippy and funky, moody and hard, and 100% cool, it’s worth a listen and, just like his mixes make you want to know more about this, this dude.

So, sit back, strap on them headphones (believe me, you can put it on blast later), turn down the lites, spark up incense if you have it, and listen to this chill piece of mixtape goodness. And Jaekim, have your people call my people, we need to talk, I need that playlist!

PLAYLIST

1) intro
2) jay dee- "think twice"
3) out hud- "old nude"
4) ethos feat. k-otix, & kay (of the foundation)- "something"
5) hugh masekela- "the boy's doin' it" (carl craig remix)
6) dwight trible & the life force trio- "otherworldly"
7) amerie- "talkin' about"
8) four tet- "as serious as your life" (jay dee remix)
9) metro area- "things fall"
10) tweet- "make your move"
11) plantlife- "the last song"
12) sa-ra- "death of a star"
13) kamaal the abstract- "blue girl"
14) foxy brown- "come fly with me" f/ sizzla
15) juggaknots- "generally"
16) the jackson 5- "i want you back" (z-trip mix)
17) amerie outro

www.Jaekim.com

http://www.myspace.com/jaekim

http://www.myspace.com/phunkwhatchaheard