When legendary DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore first invented the technique of scratching and needle-dropping in 1975, it opened up a portal into a world of possibilities, creating new styles and sounds by altering records. Fast-forward to 1983, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock teamed up with Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn to write and produce “Rockit,” a landmark track that prominently showcased the turntable as an instrument during televised performances at the 1985 Grammys. Buoyed by the success of the music video on MTV, this sensation hit a generation of kids who would go on to create new sounds from records in unconventional ways.
In the decades since, we’ve witnessed many iterations, propelled by the increasing accessibility of technology. Before music software became available in the palm of your hands, DJ Scres took things to a new level with his wildly influential “chopped and screwed” technique, slowing beats down to around 60 or 70 bpm. Screw put Houston on the map for a style of hip-hop that also paved the way for the likes of Memphis’s iconic Three 6 Mafia. Soon, classic chopped versions were making their marks on hip-hop from north to south, with Notorious B.I.G’s “Juicy” “screwed” by DJ Screw and UGK’s “International Players Anthem” “chopped” by OG Ron C, just to name a few.
Today, producers of all levels continue to run with this phenomenon, creating “slowed” or “slowed + reverb” versions of tracks spanning genres and decades. As producers of all levels put their own signature-slowed spin on tracks ranging from Tame Impala to Justin Bieber, the #SlowedDown sub-genre has emerged, breathing new life into classic favorites. We’ve put together a collection of slowed tracks that have been making waves on SoundCloud and beyond. LISTEN TO THE SLOWED TRACKS PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD
How do you think you could use this audio technique in your Scripture media distribution projects? Let us know what you think…
Originally published on https://soundcloud.com/stories/post/slowed-tracks October 13, 2023