Didn’t see this one coming… One of DJ Hazard’s many certified jump-up anthems Bricks Don’t Roll (released 2014 on DJ Hype’s Playaz) has been licenced to Universal and given a full vocal treatment.
The end result is Roll On My Level, featuring Summer Rayne. It was premiered by MistaJam on Friday night and this is how it goes….
We’re not shocked – the history of vocal drum & bass and major label chart crossovers is almost as old as the genre itself and appears to be reaching new peaks this year. But we are still surprised…. This is Bricks Don’t Roll mate, a gully banger that is so universal pretty much every D&B DJ, regardless of subgenre, has it in their armoury and uses it for cheeky double drop hype.
In fact it’s a tune so well known among fans that you could argue it doesn’t need a vocal… You can cut the volume and the have the whole crowd sing-along the b-line anyway.
Of course, this is why it’s been elevated by the majors; it’s flipping massive. And it’s one of Hazard’s many universal underground hits: Mr Happy (with D*Minds), Machete, Time Tripping are just a few more examples of Hazard’s big bass riff slickness. While Mr Happy has had the biggest reactions since its release in 2007, pound for pound, 2014’s Bricks Don’t Roll will eventually overtake it as his most popular and heavily played tune to date.
And this is why, click on this Tweet of his and see the replies. Noisia, Spectrasoul, TeeBee and Ed Rush are all in full support…
Tune into the MistaJam show tonight on BBC Radio 1Xtra for a WORLD EXCLUSIVE of ‘Roll on My Level’. https://t.co/aQQirVWHr7
— DJ Hazard (@djhazard_playaz) 7 July 2016
While D&B continues to reach bigger, wider and more global audiences – much to new fan’s excitement and purist’s disappointment – one thing no one could really forecast was jump-up being brought under commercial crossover umbrella. The heaviest, most unapologetic form of D&B, it takes a brave major label A&R to sign a track as underground as this and apply a vocal in this way.
Two things are certain though; Hazard is definitely the right man to take this style of D&B in this direction. And you’re either going to love it or hate it. Like jump-up itself, there are no half measures. Big salute to Hazard and Playaz. Long may drum & bass dominate every possible corner of the music game.
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