In Session: Mixpak

Its next major hit came in 2014 when another legendary album dropped: Popcaan’s ‘Where We Came From’. Although more subtle than ‘Kingston Story’, it saw Kartel's protege come into his own and further cemented Dre Skull’s reputation as a producer.

All the while Mixpak never stopped nurturing cutting-edge dance music. Work from Jubilee, Dubbel Dutch and Murlo will leave your head spinning. And it feels fitting that Mixpak became champs at this year’s Culture Clash, for the label has had a stunning 2016.

Wildlife! has dropped a record-cum-art installation called ‘Patterns’ that distorts club music well into the red; Palmistry’s debut album is an exercise in beautiful, dim-lit pop and a fine example of how the label develops artists (it was preceded by a series of singles starting in 2013); GAIKA’s ‘Security’ mixtape comes loaded with ground-breaking, powerful rap. Not a bad run.

It’s the weekend of Notting Hill Carnival here in the UK and Mixpak’s exclusive In Session is charged with the kind of energy that runs rampant through Europe’s biggest street party. In the words of the crew: “It's a hi NRG Caribbean-influenced mix (all above 120bpm), so a lot of Jamaican tracks but also some Trini, Dominican and UK vibes inside.” Welcome to the champion sound.

Mixpak's website, including its on-point Mixpak FM mix series, is right here

Seb Wheeler is Mixmag's Digital Editor. Follow him on Twitter

Tracklist

Charly Black -­ Bike Back

Spice ­- Sight & Wine

El Alfa -­ El Mananero

Dre Skull -­ Loudspeaker Riddim VIP

Dynasty -­ Body Boker

Vybz Kartel ­- In My Life

Alkaline ­- Young People Time

Spice -­ Indicator

Busy Signal ­- Yuh Body

Fox -­ Downtown Uptown

Olatunji -­ Big Business

Kerwin Du Bois ­- Too Real

See Gee -­ Wine

MM -­ Quick Bubbling Tool ft. Cobra (Mixpak Dub)

Donaeo ­- My Circle (Mixpak Dub)

Bay C & Famous Eno ­- Gal A Bubble (Efendi Riddim)

Murlo ­- Freaky T

Popcaan -­ Love Yuh Bad (Go Mike Gip Remix)

Popcaan -­ Everything Nice (DJ J Heat Remix)