With Outlook coming up next weekend, there will be many people making their way over to Croatia to experience one of the world's best and fastest-rising festivals and an equal amount of people (if not more) left sitting at home wishing they were there. With this in mind, we at HEDMUK have put together this collection of some of our favourite sets and mixtapes from over the years which should provide a perfect accompaniment for both long journeys to Pula and days sat at home wishing you were taking it all in at Fort Punta Christo. Moving chronologically from 2002 to 2009, and taking in a wide range of styles from dark garage, to grime, to dubstep and jungle, we start with dubstep sound-definer, Hatcha. Enjoi:
Featuring an unreal number of dubplates and exclusives, this mix from 2002 is indicative of the degree of influence that Hatcha had when it came to sculpting out the original dubstep sound.
Download:
Hatcha - Studio Mix [2002]
Quality from start to finish, and a small piece of history in itself, Skream's promo mix for Big Apple Records has stood the test of time and serves as both reason and reminder for the unbridled success that the Croydon originator now enjoys.
Download:
Skream - Big Apple Mix [2004]
The first of a CD series that only ran to two volumes, this live recording of one of Youngsta's sets at FWD>> is a snapshot of the dread-bass, dark halfstep sound that the legendary DJ made his own.
Download:
Youngsta - FWD>> Live: Vol. 1 (feat. Crazy D) [2004]
Perhaps best known for their more recent
'10 Year Anniversary' mixes, United Vibes had already shown their skills of observation in 2006 by tracing the history of dubstep back to its origins in this tight retrospective selection.
Download:
United Vibes - Dubstep History Mix [2006]
Jumping on the mic for Kode9's show on Rinse, the self-proclaimed Godfather of Grime rides classic beats from the likes of Skream, Benga, D1, Mala, Coki & Loefah and asserts the potential for innovative crossover between the two genres.
Download:
Kode9 - Wiley's Guest Appearance: Rinse FM [2006]
The beginnings of his now-renowned yearly mix series (recently rebranded as the 'Sound That Speaks Volumes' series) saw Plastician blending his own dark hybrid grime/dubstep productions with some of the year's biggest dubs and already-released tunes.
Download:
Plastician - May Mix [2006]
Dizzee Rascal makes an appearance on Kool FM (a London pirate that was key in the development of the jungle scene, and not to be confused with Northern Ireland's Cool FM) and switches from his usual grimey flow to jump on a Ruff Stuff jungle set and Skibadee's reaction is enough confirmation of his cross-genre abilities.
Download:
Ruff Stuff - Skibadee, Dizzee Rascal, Funsta, Harry Shotta & D Double E: Kool FM [2007]
Judge Jules' predictions of future success for Benga could not have been more on point, and the latter's Essential Mix remains as an example of the innovation and talent behind the widespread acclaim he and his music would garner over the following years.
Download:
Benga - Essential Mix [2008]
To celebrate the Newham legend's birthday, Tubby and D Double E returned to their roots in jungle for this special set in 2008 which is packed full of stone cold classic tunes, bars and flows.
Download:
Tubby & D Double E - D Double's Birthday Set: Rinse FM [2008]
Collaborating with their label -30, Cotti & Cluekid took an almost literal interpretation of the word 'dubstep' by creating a blend of dark garage rhythms and atmospherics and a heavily reggae-influenced approach to melodies, vocals and sampling. In this promo mix for the now-defunct label, Cotti takes the listener through this unique approach to the sound.
Download:
Cotti - -30 Mix [2008]
A year after his seminal 'Dubstep Allstars: Vol. 5' mix, N-Type upped the ante with this tightly constructed mix for Radio 1 pioneer, Mary Anne Hobbs. Moving in one swift motion from jungle to garage to dubstep, N-Type shows why he's held up as one of the best and most respected DJs around.
Download:
N-Type - In The Mix For Mary Anne Hobbs' Experimental Show: Radio 1 [2008]
After making the switchover from drum & bass to dubstep and linking up with Loefah for what would be the launch of his label, Swamp 81, Kryptic Minds made clear their true potential around the 140bpm mark with this mix for
Blackdown. Dropping a few months before their debut dubstep album, 'One Of Us', this mix set them out as a duo that would become impossible to ignore.
Download:
Kryptic Minds - Blackdown Studio Mix [2009]
.Preacha.
