Desi Beats for DJs: How South Asian Music Moves Global Crowds

Desi 101: What Exactly Is Desi Music? Let’s clear something up: Desi isn’t a genre. It’s a cultural identity. “Desi” is how South Asians across the diaspor...
Laidback Luke at Marmarela in Alicante, Spain on Aug. 25, 2017. (Credit: Rubén Ortega)
With close to 200,000 subscribers and 13.5 million views, Laidback Luke’s YouTube channel is popular in the DJ and producer community. His weekly vlogs, which are both entertaining and insightful, have received praise from fans and DJs alike.
However, Luke recently received some backlash for a tip that he gave in one of his episodes. When answering a viewer’s question about where to get music legally without spending too much money, Luke replied, “a really good hack is good ole’ trusty SoundCloud. There are ways to actually rip tracks from there and save them as an mp3. And then you’re able to play them out.”
The comment didn’t sit well with some people, one which was house DJ/producer Chocolate Puma, who reached out to Luke via Twitter:
we share your view on the art of dj’ing, but isn’t telling dj’s to rip 128kbps files from soundcloud an insult to the art of producing?
— Chocolate Puma (@ChocolatePuma) December 9, 2017
Luke replied:
You’re right, and I guess I’ll need to clarify that in another VLOG. FYI I played rips that sounded amazing on club systems ????
— Laidback Luke (@LaidbackLuke) December 9, 2017
Not one to hold back when it comes to tech issues, DJcityTV’s Mojaxx also weighed in:
@LaidbackLuke I have a lot of respect for you man, but if you’re telling young DJs that playing 128kbps Soundcloud rips is ok, I must fundamentally disagree with you, I’m afraid. https://t.co/VLUtwyfNhZ
— Mojaxx (@MojaxxDJcity) December 9, 2017
Luke responded to Mo as well:
Fair enough. Please look at my thread and you’ll see where I come from. We’re on the dawn of a new era here, the era of streaming. And you’ll hear SC streams in the club as soon as DJ consoles connect to WiFi. It’s modern times.
— Laidback Luke (@LaidbackLuke) December 9, 2017
Then, on Friday, Luke addressed the situation and clarified his comments in his latest vlog. At the end of the episode, he instructed his viewers to check out Mojaxx and DJ TLM‘s respective videos about SoundCloud rips and music rights.
Watch the video below. Shout out to Luke!
Desi 101: What Exactly Is Desi Music? Let’s clear something up: Desi isn’t a genre. It’s a cultural identity. “Desi” is how South Asians across the diaspor...
While destroying a vinyl record collection all at once would be a significant undertaking, the same cannot be said for digital music. If you maintain only...
Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) The Weeknd & Doechii...
Holi, the vibrant Festival of Colors, is a cherished Hindu celebration that welcomes the arrival of spring with a burst of energy. Taking place in March, t...
*** UPDATE: check out our updated 2024 and 2025 playlists! Wedding season has arrived! DJcity’s Remix Director Sir Marcus has put together a list of...
These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of April 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin, U...
DJcity has teamed up with LA’s own DJ R-Tistic to curate a fresh playlist packed with West Coast rap anthems, guaranteed to light up any party from San Die...
Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Don Toliver (ft. Doja Ca...
James Hype. Yesterday, DJcity revealed its most downloaded tracks of 2020. Today, we dive deeper to uncover the most popular remixes, bootlegs, and edits o...
Mojaxx is always looking for ways to make his sets sound different from the next DJ, and Eventide's H9 Harmonizer effects pedal does just that. A respected...