Here’s a few early (1989 + 1992) hardcore tracks that were produced in the United States.
Dennis Pino did several good EPs 91-92 as Breakout’s and World Dominance. There’s definitely more of a techno influence to these. “Compression” seems to be the biggest track on Breakout’s II, but my personal favorite is “Don’t Hold Back”, which matches a frequently used Sinnamon acapella with some crazy pounding teknoz:
The aforementioned “Compression” track also got its own remix EP. Here’s my favorite mix of that track:
World Dominance – Compression (World Dominance Mix)
Meanwhile, halfway across the country, the Texas label Excel Records put out a few less-techno, more straight hardcore EPs. The first track on the EP, “Dominator is dead”, is relevant given the resurgence in popularity of “Dominator” over the past few years (attn: Julian). “Textacy” is cool, it has a really cheesy part which might scare away some oldskool n00bs, but anyone whose heard enough of this stuff will be able to tolerate it:
NASA Project – Dominator Is Dead
NASA Project – Textacy
This final track, along with Mantronix “King of The Beats” and a few other tunes, is hugely influential for hardcore/jungle. Frankie Bones explains the significance of this track:
This is one of the most obscure records and unknown titles which played a very big part of Drum & Bass history. It is in this (3:00) version:
3. Roll It Up (Remix) (Bass Kickin Beats) (3:00)
Engineer – Carlos Santos
Remix – Charlie Solana , Felix Sama
For the first 6 months of my arrival to the U.K. back in the later months of 1989, this was my most treasured track, the one people would remember me for. The vocal “Let The Bass Kick” followed by The Winstons “Amen Brother” breakbeat with a sub 808 that was deadly. Felix Sama’s edit work was effective on this chopping Big Daddy Kane’s Vocal “Let It Roll” (made popular by Doug Lazy) into little bits before crashing into that 808/breakbeat again. Carl Cox would get his copy from Lenny Dee in Feb. 1990 and went and did a white label remix which would result in his ink with Perfecto Records for “I Want U (Forever). After that it became the template for the young U.K. youth who began to experiment in the studio. The end result being Jungle and Drum & Bass. This record was the prototype.
(comment originally posted here on discogs)
Thanks to someone on B2VOS for ripping this and sharing this a while back (I believe it was Elusive or iamdek). I’m still looking for a copy of this on vinyl….
Success N Effect – Roll it Up (Bass Kickin Beats Remix) [discogs]