Prolific turntablist Mix Master Mike, best known for his work with the Beastie Boys and Invisibl Skratch Piklz, dropped a new solo album earlier last month. Titled Magma Chamber, the album showcases Mike’s scratching prowess from beginning to end. Coupled with some unexpected samples like Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady,” Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes the Hotstepper” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets,” it’s a high octane, unrelenting body of work.
Since emerging with the DJ crew Shadows of Prophet featuring co-founding members DJ Apollo and DJ Q-bert, Mike has shined as one of the best turntablists to ever get behind the decks. Shadows of Prophet eventually evolved into Invisbl Skratch Piklz, who quickly established themselves as pioneers of the entire turntablism movement. DJ Q-bert and Mike went on to win three consecutive DMC World DJ Championship titles, prompting the organization to essentially request they “retire.” He eventually started working with the Beastie Boys after calling Adam “MCA” Yauch relentlessly and leaving voicemails of him scratching on the phone.
Therefore, it only makes sense Beastie Boys samples are scattered throughout the 105-minute long mix, stamping the album with plenty of nostalgia from Mike’s tenure with the motley trio. Beginning with 1998’s Hello Nasty and culminating with 2011’s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, Mike had a chance to show off his impeccable skills to countless people.
After the untimely death of MCA in 2012, Mike continued making waves in his career, despite the inevitable dissolution of the Beastie Boys. In December 2013, he became the first turntablist to perform at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for The Kennedy Center Honors in honor of Herbie Hancock, performing “Rockit.”
Mike recently paired up with DJ Q-bert for a project called Channel Zektar and released a mix aimed specifically at his fellow sci-fi nerds. Titled Star Wars Episode 7.5: Revenge Of The Reptoids, it brilliantly showcases his innovative ways of executing his crazy ninja-like style of turntablism. His eighth solo album, Magma Chamber, is available for streaming now and offers up some white-hot beats while taking the listener deep into the mind of Mix Master Mike.
