RL Grime’s Halloween mixes aren’t only a staple for the haunting vacation however maintain up as a quintessential a part of digital music. The hour-long mixes each dig deep into the archives of the underground and likewise characterize the music traits on the time in each hip-hop and dance music.
The Sable Valley label head is extensively acknowledged because the king of lure in digital music for a purpose. RL Grime’s ear for music, curation abilities, and skill to mix hip-hop and EDM so seamlessly is one thing that influenced this present technology of bass producers. Though his releases aren’t as prolific as earlier years, there’s no denying he’s a trendsetter in music—and his respect goes far past the lure scene.
Yearly, we look ahead to listening to visitor options from iconic celebrities who introduce the combo, and we even hear from the individual that the producer will get his identify from, RL Stine.
To have fun the latest Halloween: Lifeless Area combine, we took a while to hear by way of the eleven years and eleven hours of the previous Halloween mixes. We took under consideration how spooky the combo sounded, the way it flows, and the way eclectic or deep the alternatives had been. Right here is ThisSongIsSick’s official rating of RL Grime’s Halloween mixes from finest to… nonetheless good. Get pleasure from!
1. Halloween III (2014)
RL Grime’s Halloween coup de grace. The spooky vibes are current all through the complete hour, and RL actually digs deep, genre-wise. The transitions are flawless but he additionally takes his time with them to essentially mix the music. Halloween III featured a minimum of two RL Grime debuts (“Monsoon” and his “Acrylics” Edit) and comprises the nonetheless elusive “Jungle Warfare Dub” from C.Z. This was not solely his finest work but additionally got here at maybe probably the most essential a part of his profession. Two weeks after its launch, he would drop VOID, his revered debut album.
2. Halloween II (2013)
Introducing this combine with the terrifying sound of Eprom’s “Beasts of Babylon” is setting the bar excessive early on, however RL rises to the event. There’s a plethora of membership music contained in on Halloween II from the likes of Swizzymack, DJ Funeral, DJ Yolo Bear, and extra. That is combine was RL Grime’s finest effort and mixing digital, lure, membership, and hip-hop. He even does it one additional with the inclusion of tracks like Purity Ring’s “Odebear.”
The cherry on the highest of this one was additionally the truth that RL enlisted the unique Goosebumps illustrator for the quilt artwork. Oh—and that Lil Wyte observe is without doubt one of the finest closers we’ve ever heard.
3. Halloween IV (2015)
With hype growing for every year’s Halloween combine, RL Grime goes forward and grabs Hannibal Burress for the first-ever non-R.L. Stine intro (though he’s nonetheless in there). If that wasn’t sufficient of a flex, the next tracks function a number of the darkest and heaviest sounds we’ve heard from the collection, finally main right into a ridiculous mashup of Hurricane Chris and Machinedrum. Persevering with from Halloween III, Halloween IV options some extra melancholy moments like OZZIE’s “Trophy” and Baauer’s “10 Days Falling” remix.
Two good, show-stopping moments on this one had been the “Know What I’m Doing”-into-“options” transition and the GENER8ION observe.
4. Halloween I (2012)
We needed to place this one larger, however we didn’t need to let our nostalgia get the most effective of us. This combine is well probably the most constantly spooky out of all them, with RL rinsing ghoulish tracks from the likes of Tooth, Three 6 Mafia, Amber London, and DJ Funeral. RL was additionally weaving in experimental bass like Paleman’s “Destroya.”
Though the first-ever Halloween combine from RL Grime got here out in 2012, there are nonetheless tracks like TNGHT’s “R U READY” which stay unreleased at present.
We marvel if RL Grime knew what he was beginning when he initially launched his first Halloween combine.
5. Halloween XI (2022)
Halloween XI is the second time that RL Grime carried out the combo stay. This time, he did a a lot better job at mixing a stay expertise with the basic Halloween combine expertise that longtime followers have all the time cherished. Extra hip-hop, extra spooky moments, and general higher tune choice right here deems Halloween XI the most effective combine in seven years.
This set additionally options RL at his most versatile. He’s by no means stood to strictly lure music, however this combine has every part: techno, drum & bass, ravey bass bangers, and extra. The unreleased music he debuted right here (the one with ISOxo on the 18-minute mark is insane) is subsequent degree.
6. Halloween IX (2020)
Making probably the most out of quarantine, the RL did one thing fairly totally different for 2020. For the primary time ever, RL Grime’s Halloween grew to become a complete expertise, together with stay visuals and a gap set from Heimanu. The combo begins with T Ache spitting bars about Halloween to the tune of “Purchase You A Drank” and offers a pleasant twist by ending it with, “shoutout RL Grime ‘cuz it’s Halloween.”
Whereas he veered fairly removed from his hip-hop roots on this one, the combo itself stayed highly effective all through and launched a whole lot of lure’s creepy, atmospheric brother, wave. It’s in all probability the spookiest combine since 2015’s Halloween IV, making the most of loads of scary samples scattered all through every tune. FATE’s “GHOSTS” vs. Drake and Giveon’s “Chicago Freestyle” was unbelievable. The combo has large replay energy primarily based on this edit alone.
7. Halloween X: Dwell on the Hollywood Palladium (2021)
Whereas undoubtedly epic, Halloween X appears to be purely catered to bringing probably the most epic moments attainable to a packed crowd at one among Los Angeles’s premiere venues, the Hollywood Palladium. The present was spectacular, so it will get some essential factors for that alone. Nonetheless, it didn’t fairly really feel Halloween-y sufficient to somebody who was listening from house.
One of many causes we maintain coming again to this combine is it’s the one place to listen to a legit model of RL Grime’s “I Miss The Rage” edit of Playboi Carti and Mario Judah. It’s a 12 months later, and sadly, it doesn’t appear like there are any clear plans to launch it, so for now, Halloween X will proceed to get performs from us.
8. Halloween VIII (2019)
We bear in mind everybody freaking out when Man Fieri opened up Halloween Ocho. He even threatens to name the “Flavortown Fireplace Division” for it being too spicy. The combo additionally begins off with an edit of Luniz’s “I Obtained 5 On It,” which was used for the trailer for Jordan Peele’s Us.
Halloween VIII is famous in its personal proper, particularly since 2019 was the primary 12 months of Sable Valley, but it surely lands additional down on the listing for being the third 12 months in a row the combo feels extra like a stay set recording than his normal gritty Halloween mixes. The opener, plus being one of many heavier Halloween mixes, undoubtedly stored this one larger on the listing.
9. Halloween V (2016)
You’ll be able to’t deny RL Grime’s star energy when he pulls a gap function from Pharrell. Whereas his message isn’t as memorable as different mixes, it’s nonetheless fairly dope to see the mainstream crossover into digital music. And incorporating Stranger Issues into the intro was additionally an awesome transfer.
Halloween V is a superb instance of a basic Halloween combine for its capability to combine digital music and hip-hop so seamlessly—Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Pt. II” over “Hexifornia” by Hex Cougar was genius—however what was lacking for us right here was the underground tracks we’ve come to like from these mixes.
10. Halloween VI (2017)
2017 was a game-changer for the Halloween mixes for certain, bringing extra of a stay set journey to listeners. The blending and mash-up type edits take the forefront of Halloween VI, which might take prominence within the subsequent years to return. Though it gave us one thing surprising, the stay set strategy took away from the collection’ normally uncooked, gritty power. It was highly effective and effectively combined however doesn’t give the spooky vibes we want from a Halloween combine.
Nonetheless, there are some highlights that may’t be missed. Tony Hawk “doing a 900 into outdated age” made us chuckle our asses off. There was an enormous highlight on underground producers. And if it wasn’t marketed as a Halloween combine, it might simply be thought-about an all-around top-tier combine.
11. Halloween VII (2018)
Halloween VII isn’t unhealthy by any means, however the purpose it takes the ultimate spot on this listing is that, sadly, it’s simply not that memorable. Shaquille O’Neal, aka Shaq, aka DJ Diesel is available in with an awesome opener, poking enjoyable at RL Grime for ghosting him when he despatched in some tracks for the combo, however there aren’t many standout moments within the combine for us.
The fabric was completely there. Tails’ “Skeletons” and Hex Cougar’s remix of “Chemical substances” had been a number of the most essential digital tracks of the time (and excellent for spooky season), however the vibe of the combo didn’t provide the normal eerie really feel that you just hope you get out of those mixes. We do recognize all of the IDs that may be later inaugurated in Sable Valley, although.
