Posted 2011-07-05, evaluated by djpretzel


New Jack NiGHTS? Hell YES.

Newcomers DiGi Valentine & Tryezz lay down a delicious, British-flavoured, ridiculously funky jam that took me by complete surprise, in the best of ways. DiGi (and TRiPPY) actually interviewed NiGHTS creators Yuji Naka & Takashi Iizuka at the Summer of Sonic convention put together by Kevin Eva, so you'll wanna check that out too. Album Director Level 99 writes:

"DiGi is one of the most integral members of this album: he served as associate producer, helped get the artists on board, assisted in gathering the singers for The Dreamers chorus, and many other things. One big feat was him getting Tryezz on board to do an New Jack style arrangement of "The Mantle." DiGi provided the lyrics and vocals, the resulting song coming together splendidly. Get off that Mantle and break it down on the dance floor."

I just wouldn't have mentally paired up NiGHTS with rapping, or New Jack Swing for that matter, but WOW does it ever work; lyrics avoid particularly specific tie-ins to the game, but flow perfectly, and the whole jam feels authentic & immediate in a way that's really unique among VGM arrangements. The basic groove is so damn good that it DOES get leaned on quite a bit, but it's just too sexy NOT to, plus there's more than enough structural & lyrical variation elsewhere; I especially like the fade/filter outro, which echoes the fresh, soaring synth solo from the middle of track. I'll confess to a general lack of expertise & exposure to both New Jack AND hip-hop/rappers w/ British accents, but I totally dig this on every level; some of the production elements remind me of A_Rival, others José the Bronx Rican, but the overall package is unique, fresh, and brings a ton of flavor to Lucid Dreaming; absolutely fantastic & devastatingly infectious.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Black_Doom
on 2015-01-18 13:02:22

The "bounce" verse perfectly describes this track. I find the rapping a bit weird, but it's not a problem at all. Like the dark clubbing vibe coming from this one. The amount of funk is immense here, OMNOMNOMNOM. Neat job, guys :nicework:

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metaphist
on 2013-03-15 10:36:54

Wow, I actually completely overlooked this one, DiGi (I wasn't lurking OCR much during this album's release). I didn't know what to expect on the collab going in, but had I heard this I wouldn't have been so surprised. Definitely looking forward to future projects! ;)

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CC Ricers
on 2012-12-11 20:42:36

Thanks to DJP and his writeup for allowing me to discover Tryezz. I am digging into his solo works, now I have a backlog of his stuff to buy.

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Crulex
on 2012-11-03 12:29:31
But am I the only one who can't listen to this without hearing the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" theme? Must be the 90's kid in me :)

Not "Fresh Prince" specifically, but the music made think of that era and style for sure. Plus I got reminded of Will Smith on the "bounce" bit. Funky and badass at the same time. I just enjoy the hip hop style this has, and the vocals are interesting to say the least. They totally fit in right into this song. This album has turned out so many awesome songs, that I have NiGHTS into dreams on my gaming list. So nice going, fellas!

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Bahamut
on 2011-12-15 12:02:00

Man, this album is full of class, and this song is no exception. This is more reminiscent of older hip hop to me with some of the minimalism found here, and the smoothness. I like how this song uses just the right amount of rapping with how it's built. Very nice!

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Phonetic Hero
on 2011-10-24 10:44:20

I love this song. So badass, I crank it from my car with the windows down. But am I the only one who can't listen to this without hearing the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" theme? Must be the 90's kid in me :)

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DarkSim
on 2011-09-13 14:46:39

Finally got round to listening to the album, and this track jumps out at me more than most. Maybe it's the vocals, maybe it's the groove, but it just works so well together I'm blown away! Definitely feeling the Zapp Roger vibe. Looking forward to more stuff like this.

Such a damn smooth and distinctly 80s solo in the middle as well... I can picture the washed-out cameras and disco balls on Top of the Pops during this bit, then BAM back to the present in the verse. Top drawer.

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Liontamer
on 2011-08-05 17:01:48

Just hearing this again on RadioSEGA. DAYUM, just a very smart, creative arrangement. Still loving this one! :-)

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Uraniumpoppyseed
on 2011-07-27 10:25:06
Maybe i've misunderstood you here so my bad if i do but ...there's only one vocalist on this tune and that's me XD; Though i should have done some backing-vocals there too like how i did on the verses.

Yeah, that's what I meant. I knew there was just one vocalist, but you did harmonize your own vocals in the verses which is what I was refering to, to give it the feel there was more than one. Overall though, its definitely not bad, and the British style rapping definitely gives it a nice and unique feel to it. The execution of the music was all rather well done too. I definitely prefer this over any other rap song out there. Ok, and the Parappa Rappa cooking song too :P

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DiGi Valentine
on 2011-07-23 07:52:25
but I was going on the notion that there are more than just one vocalist in the song.
Maybe i've misunderstood you here so my bad if i do but ...there's only one vocalist on this tune and that's me XD; Though i should have done some backing-vocals there too like how i did on the verses.
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Uraniumpoppyseed
on 2011-07-22 23:00:51
Why? Can't say that makes much sense. If you were in a club setting, the other people wouldn't be chanting "Bounce" back at whoever was saying it, they'd be bouncing. :tomatoface:

Ok, I can understand what you're saying there...but I was going on the notion that there are more than just one vocalist in the song. Wouldn't you want all the vocalists chanting "bounce" to get the club "bouncing" rather than just one person chanting? It just seemed somewhat bland right there

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Liontamer
on 2011-07-22 13:01:53
During the "Bounce" section, there should have been more vocals overlapping "bounce" in unison.

Why? Can't say that makes much sense. If you were in a club setting, the other people wouldn't be chanting "Bounce" back at whoever was saying it, they'd be bouncing. :tomatoface:

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Geneson
on 2011-07-22 12:51:42

This is so so good. DiGi, I love how effortless and natural your flow sounds. Tryezz, what an impeccable production. Looking forward to more from you guys in the future.

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DiGi Valentine
on 2011-07-22 02:35:30
Its kinda like that awkward guy during a party being the only one "bouncing,"
Hahah! Yeah, sounds just about right! XD

No no, in all seriousness i actually agree with you though. I added that section in more as an after thought rather than flesh out the idea of it properly during development of the tune. The bounce sounds like it needs a bit more oomf to give it that proper party feel.

Cheers for digging it though. I am happy that people who don't normally listen to rap are at least giving it a chance :)

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Uraniumpoppyseed
on 2011-07-21 22:05:11

Rap isn't totally my thing either, however this song got me grooving on my mp3 player

I only had one issue I wanted to mention: During the "Bounce" section, there should have been more vocals overlapping "bounce" in unison. Its kinda like that awkward guy during a party being the only one "bouncing," and everyone just kinda feels awkward to bouncing to him saying "bounce." But with more people chiming in "bounce," then its better with participation.

Wow, that was a lot of "bounce" in just that paragraph, I hope you get what I was trying to say. Otherwise, I dig it

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
NiGHTS into dreams... (Sega , 1996, SAT)
Music by Fumie Kumatani,Naofumi Hataya,Tomoko Sasaki
Songs:
"The Mantle"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Mood:
Funky
Instrumentation:
Synth,Vocals: Male,Vocals: Rapping
Additional:
Lyrics > Lyrics: Original
Origin > Collaboration

File Information


Name:
NiGHTS_into_dreams_New_Jack_Mantle_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
8,427,855 bytes
MD5:
48c644590bb8ac16301eb0ff94f111a8
Bitrate:
248Kbps
Duration:
4:28

Yo, yo, yo, yo

It's the invisible man, hot damn
Jackle, mad mantle, ready to jam
It's the freshest you've ever seen him
Roll the bass, rock the party through the evening
It's past the disco, beyond any club
You gotta be legendary funky to be allowed to even show up
But if you make it in here, you're in for a hell of a night, 'cuz
The party won't stop even if you want it to
The beat takes a hold of you
The funk is so hard, it's taken over you
Ol' Jack is now controlling you
Got them all pop-locking on the spot
Got their heads boppin' like the jack-in-the-box
We're gonna drop the guillotine right from the top
So when it reaches your head, it'll cut it clean off

Make your way to the dance floor
Don't waste no time, don't even waste no time
Make your way to the dance floor
Don't waste no time, don't even waste no time, go

Make your way to the dance floor
Don't waste no time, don't even waste no time
Make your way to the dance floor
Don't waste no time, don't even waste no time

Death never looked so vibrant
Tall like a tyrant, but coloured in violent
oranges, yellows and reds
Poppin' them big tunes from the speaker heads
Who said the Grim Reaper
needed to be a
black cloak-wearing son of a soul eater? Huh
No ghost stories around a campfire
Just the crowd yelling for him to turn the volume up higher
Never seen a scene like this before
Everybody all on the dance floor
Breakdancing going on hardcore
Get your hands up, throw him an encore
The Pied Piper, we're all his subjects
Move even if you don't know the dance steps
Get funky by all accounts
Now, make your way to the dance floor and bounce

Bounce, bounce, bounce
Let me see ya
Bounce, bounce, bounce
Everybody just
Bounce, bounce, bounce
I wanna see ya
Bounce, bounce
Everybody just bounce tonight, man, come on

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