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Dance Music Network

1999

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_(Cassius_album)

As we finish the 90s, I don’t have as much to be grateful about. I stopped listening to popular artists who I truly adored in the 80s. I am an official house music fan in the 90s, a preference that sustained throughout a few separate decades. At home, I am starting to produce electronic dance music.

I can only think of one release to post as a favorite from 1999. This is a song/record I really wanted to replicate along with the other house producers I shouted out earlier.

May 11, 2025
1999/DB!SPA Records

In 1999 I started my first and only record label, DB!SPA Records in Seattle, Washington. I’ve previously credited Shocklin Lewis Jr. and Christopher J. White as co-founders of this pro-black, alternative, non-secular dance label. I was the party (out of the three) motivated by positive, child-friendly, “spiritual” music. Hopefully I have demonstrated this preference thus far.

I’ve used many monikers over the years including Boomslang, The Anti-Sex, Saint Blade, Fearless Leader, Monster, NMNI Rath and today some call me Superblack (SB). I’m flattered.

https://www.bandmix.co.uk/fearless-monster

Leaving L.A. (2001) Saint Blade Band

In 2017, I changed the name of DB!SPA Records to Superblack Records. I’ll talk about Superblack Records when we get through the 2000s.

The Boss DR-5 was my crutch between 1999-2010. I would buy one today but I guess I won’t. Boss DR- 5, Fostex -26, Yamaha PSR-170, Casio SK-1 and a Radio Shack microphone. Use this recipe to make up a new sound, from the past.

May 9, 2025
1998

I struggled to find any tracks from 1998 that resonated with my contemporary listening preferences. This is rather disheartening, especially following the invigorating selections from the previous year. I recalled, which is crucial on my musical journey, the songs/records that captivated me during this period. One track that made a notable impression was “Can I Get A,” which was a substantial hit.

I found the production and the rapping to be thoroughly enjoyable. Regrettably, this song possesses a degree of raunchiness that may be deemed inappropriate for older audiences and younger audience to boot. Please relish the radio edit provided below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can_I_Get_A…

May 8, 2025
1997

Puff Daddy is supplying bouncy hip hop for the urban dance clubs. The clubs are poppin’ in 1997. I’m not in them anymore but I regret not becoming a DJ in the 90s. This profession infiltrated the dance music industry and DJs became all the rage (again) in the 2000s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Club_Songs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1997

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_Goin%27_On_(In_Your_Soul)

Ladies and gentlemen, the above is an example of a 10/10 IMHO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_in_Love_with_You_(Duke_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homework_(Daft_Punk_album)

May 5, 2025
1996

I thought about highlighting Macarena for my favorite dance record from 1996 but I just couldn’t. There were a lot of popular genres on the charts this year. Nothing I am too excited about however.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_On_Jumpin%27

May 4, 2025
1995

It appears that hip hop is gradually forgoing its rich tradition of sampling the funky riffs and themes from the classics, including the works of Parliament/Funkadelic and James Brown, in favor of Dre’s beats and similar digitally produced tracks.

As we transition into the 2000s, I will reference music charts that predominantly showcase European or white producers delivering commendable house/dance radio edits and extended remixes, which I term sufficiently funky. However, let the evidence reveal that they are, in truth, not as funky as they could have been. My standards have noticeably diminished throughout the 90s as I gravitated towards house and electronic dance music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Cowboy_(Jamiroquai_song)

Space Cowboy 8.5/10

The Bucketheads album was a rare purchase for me in the mid 90s and also epitomizes my aspirations as a producer around this time. I thought I was going to become the next Norman Cook. My original compositions while composed on the guitar, were being transposed for house edits, bass, drums and percussion are my main squeeze. I’ll eventually start thinking about keyboards, samples and DJ FX.

April 27, 2025
1994

By 1994, I found myself growing increasingly apathetic towards hip hop/rap but I did like some so-called R&B, including the vibrant New Jack Swing genre. My once beloved pop music genre began to feel overly manufactured and as a result, considerably less interesting.

This year wasn’t black against white; it was dancers against the non-dancers.

So let’s officially make 1994 the year my taste leaned very heavily towards House and Garage (sped up House).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_garage

1994 is around the time I become curious about BPM as a fan and as a producer. 121BPM was my go-to for decades.

April 24, 2025
1993

I was pumped when I saw MAW on the dance charts. My enthusiasm quickly diminished. I find it exceedingly challenging to select three favorites from the music charts of 1993. I don’t remember many of the songs/records and I don’t remember loving too many on the list either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1993

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1993

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_number-one_R%26B_singles_of_1993_(U.S.)

https://rocklists.com/kroq-1993.html

Undoubtedly, many impeccable records were produced and worshiped in the dance clubs, yet they didn’t make the Billboard charts. From now on (90s-2000s) I’ll discover remarkable dance tracks care of aka Rex mixtapes. In 1993, I’m listening to KNHC exclusively going forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_You_Want_Me_(Felix_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Walk_Away_(Jade_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Got_a_Man

April 23, 2025
1992/Last Good Year for New Music?

I’m on the record saying, I don’t like hip hop or rap produced after 1992, C. Delores Tucker. More accurately, the change in hip hop and rap I witnessed in 1992 turned me off. Its trend for gratuitous sex and violence persists to this day.

According the Billboard charts in 1992, this may have also been around the time I stopped buying new music. When Tower Records went out of business in 2006, I was only buying records (often used) produced in the 80s.

In 1992, the music industry became a monopoly with Sony consuming the medium and more free thinking labels. Unsigned, independent and even underground, were words used to describe many of my peers who were desirous of a record deal but not planning on going through the system.

April 20, 2025
1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_You_All_My_Lifetime

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lovin%27_(You%27re_Never_Gonna_Get_It)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justified_%26_Ancient

April 20, 2025