In Session: Mixpak

“Who the fuck is Mixpak?”

That was the question uttered by those not yet in the know at the Red Bull Culture Clash in London on Friday June 18. The New York label and crew lined up to battle Wiley’s Eskimo Dance squad, the UKG Allstars and Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang. They faced improbable odds.

“Who the fuck is Mixpak!”

By midnight this had become a victorious battle cry. Star performances from Popcaan and Big Narstie, a Drake dub and masterful selections from label boss Dre Skull and key crew member Jubilee saw Mixpak take the crown. The underdogs, with their intimate knowledge of dubplate culture and how things should be done during a clash, had the arena singing their name.

The label – which specialises in the red-hot club music of North America, Jamaica and England – has gone from strength to strength since we last featured it, in 2011. That year saw the release of ‘Kingston Story’, the Vybz Kartel album produced by Dre Skull. It became a seminal dancehall record and thrust Mixpak ino the limelight, the label’s love of spectacular pop moments and raw street music on full display.