Diplo

Electronic, New Orleans Bounce, Dubstep

Express Yourself- EP

When I first heard this track. My vital organs shut down. I New Orleans Bounce style track produced by a big name producer like Diplo. Which meant bounce music in high quality sound. Now it is not to say that most of the bounce music out their isn’t high quality. But a lot of it has low production value, and overly repetitive sound sampling. On top of that, the ones that are made with better quality are hard to find online, because it is such an underground scene. That being said Diplo had me AMPED after I heard this track, but the rest of the EP left me with much to be desired.

Express Yourself (feat Nicky Da B)- ”Express Yourself” starts with a fast tempo bounce beat. Complete with fast claps to really be able clap dat ass to. Following the intro the Diplo-wobble comes in to take place of the clap. This synth sounds absolutely epic for twerking, because there is nothing else like it right now.

Same.

This track is absolute fire, and black girl approved from my friends. It is a really ill track, sure to shut down any scene who is into it.

With this track dropped, and later finding out Diplo was dropping an EP under this title track, I was hoping for an entire bounce EP. I was wrong. I’m like..

Barely Standing (feat Datsik & Sabi)- As a supporter of both rising pop/r&b star Sabi & dubstep power house Datsik, this track is pretty solid. Although nothing along the lines of a bounce track. Still surprisingly fast tempo for a dubstep track. All of the tracks on the EP clock in between 108-110 bpm (beats per minute), which is typical tempo for a bounce track. So, I think Diplo was still trying to keep it bounce-ish, but wanted to stay more in his comfort zone.

No Problem (feat. Flinch & My Name Is Kay)- Similar to the previous track My Name Is Kay is a rising pop/rap artist, and Flinch being another dubstep producer. My Name is Kay comes through with some pretty sick rap vocals. I love her voice honestly. She is kind of goofy in her tone of voice in her songs. The drop for this track is BUH NANAZ. It’s a super high pitched watery alarm pounder.  ”Tonight Imma do what I want. EWUGH”

Move Around (feat. Elephant Man & GTA)- This track starts off with a “Pon De Floor” type drop sample. Still at the 110 bpm though. Giving me the most hope for the return of another true bounce track, but still doesn’t return. The track sounds like a dancehall song was remixed. BUT. IT WASNT. So it is epic. I’d be interested to see how a club with a dancehall scene would react to this kind of track. Honestly, I think it could go either way. It is at the same tempo, but it might be a little too hard for the scene.

Butters Theme (feat. Billy the Gent & Long Jawns)- “Yo yo yo yo yo yo yo yo yo yo. The way my booty go.” An uncredited female voice spews over a drum beat. Don’t you know I GET CRAY!?!?!?!? A hard electro synth grinds over the island drums. One of the most interesting tracks. I think this might be one of my favorites next to “Express Yourself”. I’m also not sure who Butters is outside of South Park, or why this is his theme. No signs of the blonde haired child in this track.

Set It Off (feat Lazerdisk Party Sex)- Lazerdisk Party Sex. What a name. This track starts of slow. With a light high hat, and snapping. A high pitched voice yelps “I wanna set it off” with an LPF filter until it fades in for the eventual drop. Taking a complete 180, pulling a sampletastic beat, similar “Shake X3” by DJ Antoine, which I believe I reviewed on here before. Pretty hot beat. This is the track that is most instrumental.

Diplo conquered with this EP. Although it wasn’t what I expected or wanted, he still comes through with a very interesting and different EP. Good features on the EP, and very different beats make Diplo stick out to the competition. He is clearly trying to experiment with his sound. I’m excited to drop some of these tracks, and see how they do in the clubs. I’m going to give this a 7.5 out of 10.

Pros:

Good features

Interesting beats, at the very different 110 bpm for the genre

Cons

EP not at all like first single/ title track

Features like Elephant Man still left me wanting a more dancehallish/bounce track.