Newly-unearthed Jersey club mixtape from DJ R3LL and DJ Kiff to be released via 2 B REAL
The 42-track mix, ‘Cuff Yo Chick’, was originally compiled over a decade ago
A long-lost mixtape originally put together by New Jersey’s DJ R3LL and DJ Kiff over a decade ago has been re-discovered and remastered for release on Finn McCory's 2 B REAL imprint.
Titled ‘Cuff Yo Chick’, the 42-track Jersey Club mixtape from 2011 has now received a re-release on Bandcamp and Boomkat, and even gets its own physical release on cassette a decade after it was first made.
‘Cuff Yo Chick’ was lost to the internet after major labels forced both R3LL and Kiff to take down their SoundCloud accounts following requests in the early ‘10s.
"We were ahead of our time with 'Cuff Yo Chick' and it shows today in the current sound of Jersey Club,” said DJ Kiff on the tape. “Overall, this project is my reference with people I give advice to on production that it’s important to create a story in your work."
Read this next: Local Action celebrates 10 years with 15-track compilation
For 2 B REAL label head Finn, ‘Cuff Yo Chick’ was also a starting point and introduction into the Jersey sound: “I've been trying to uncover this mix by DJ R3LL & DJ Kiff for the past five-plus years, on and off,” he said.
“This mix was really my introduction to the Jersey Club sound back in 2011, and it captures a really perfect moment in the genre's history, in my opinion. Loads of 2011 Rap & R&B and plenty of crazy sample choices popping up - like 'Black Betty' and 'Party Rock Anthem’. No rules!”
‘Cuff Yo Chick’ documents the ‘golden era of Jersey Club’, according to the pair, recorded at the height of the genre’s success in Newark, New Jersey.
Read this next: Finn: "I used to listen to happy hardcore on the bus to work"
“The culture outside the internet was unmatched. The events were so much fun. At times I wish there was more coverage like there is now, but man those times were the best because everyone was there for the music,” said R3LL.
“It wasn’t about the flex or clout. It was about coming together dancing and to have a good time. It was all over the state so every weekend it was something to go to. During that time street teams was a big deal so it was kids coming from all over New Jersey coming to Newark to party to our sound.”
Both the tape’s A and B sides are available to listen to on Bandcamp. Find out more about ‘Cuff Yo Chick’ here.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter