Search - Various Artists :: N.Y. Freestyle Mixx

New Definition For New York Freestyle

Jason | Philly, PA | 10/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Freestyle Music was born in the early 1980s. According to Freestyle DJ, Bad Boy Joe, "Since then, music has never been the same." What makes a club, dance, or pop song a Freestyle song? Many have their own definition, but when artists like TKA, Shannon, Stevie B., Johnny O, and Cynthia were recording what would become some of Freestyle's greatest hits like "Scars Of Love", "Give Me Tonight", "Spring Love", and "Dream Boy/Dream Girl" it was the story of love and emotion being sung over a mix of punchy electro synth/keyboard riffs, with dreamy strings, and Latin percussion, all over a throbbing bass.

The early Freestyle music was an afterthought of Disco music; both are mid-tempo dance music that you could dance, and sing along to. Later some early Freestyle DJs and producers also went on to pioneer the more up-tempo House Music, like Lil' Louis' "French Kiss", and LNR "Work It To The Bone". But House music is an offshoot of Dance Music more known for its rhythm and melody, and drums and bass, than for its lyrics and vocals, with the exception of some club anthems and remixes such as Mel C's "I Turn To You", which was produced by Grammy nominated remixer, Hex Hector.

George Acosta and Planet Soul started to merge the sounds of the two genres with his "Planet Rock" influenced song "Set You Free", shortly before Chris Gioello, Danny Coniglio, Richie Santana, and Glenn Friscia got together and remixed Judy Torres' classic Freestyle song "No Reason To Cry" into a House Vocal anthem. In the years since then, more and more classic Freestyle songs have been getting Millennium makeovers, with a new House sound, while other new Freestyle songs are being born with the elements of both genres.So what is Freestyle? I was asking myself the same question, when I received a copy of N Y Freestyle Mixx, a new compilation out on Thump Records, mixed by Chris "The Greek" Panaghi. The Greek has done remixes for everyone from Gloria Estefan to Michael Jackson. So what is The Greek, who is known for his slammin' House productions and remixes doing mixing a Freestyle CD? Well, it turns out this compilation of Freestyle songs, uses all of the Progressive House Mixes of those songs, along with some of today's hottest Trip Hop music like Planet Soul. And if you are mixing up some House Music, the Greek is the Man! Thirteen cuts in all, NY Freestyle Mixx includes updated classics of "Show Me" by the Cover Girls featuring Angel Clivelles, and the Borris + Beck mix of "Let Me Be The One" by Sa-fire, as well as two songs by Shannon: the Hex Hector Mix of "Give Me Tonight" and the Junior Vasquez remix of "Let The Music Play". The Greek also got together with Bobby "LA" LaSerra and Tonasia, to remake Tonasia's song, "Wondering" which was originally out on Mic Mac Records. The Greek also revisited "I'll House You" by the Jungle Brothers on the new track, "House This". Also on the album are recent club hits from Jocelyn Enriquez, Paradigm, Angelina, La Rissa, and Mona Q. So what is Freestyle music? With this album the Greek has given New York Freestyle a whole new definition."