Ape Drums

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Houston

Ape Drums

Ape Drums
Ape Drums (credit: P.O.P Photography)

DJs may not know where to eat, stay, and play when they get booked in cities they’ve never been to before. To help them get the most out of their visit, DJcity has a monthly series called DJ Travel Tips. The series highlights some of the best things to do in some of the most popular destinations around the world. For this edition, DJcity spoke with four DJs from Houston, a longtime hip-hop hub and the location of Super Bowl 51.

Where to stay

Ape Drums:

“Stay at Hotel ZaZa, it’s located in the Museum District and is one of the nicest hotels in Houston. If you’re into arts and culture, there are several museums to visit in the area. If you’re on a budget, the Hilton and Hyatt Regency in downtown are also very nice and surrounded by things to do, such as parks and places to eat.”

Where to eat

Eddie Deville:

“Check out Laurenzo’s on Washington Ave for the prime rib or fish and grits, Frank’s Pizza for a pie, and The Turkey Leg Hut, which is known for their stuffed turkey legs and exotic surf and turf plates. The hut also has DJs at night. For your Sunday morning gig hangover, try the chicken-fried lobster brunch at MAX’s Wine Dive. If you want to see the origins of Houston’s chopped and screwed culture, take a trip to MLK Boulevard and hit up Timmy Chan’s for some wings and rice served with your choice of Kool-Aid.”

What to do

DJ T Gray:

“If you have a good amount of time on a nice afternoon, a trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center is always a fun and educational adventure. Houston’s Museum District offers various facilities ranging from the Museum of Natural Science and to the jaw-dropping Holocaust Museum. Rice Village, home of Rice University, has a lot of boutique shopping and great restaurants and bars. Also, hit up Vinh or George at Mega DJ Center to get the latest and custom DJ gear and accessories.”

Where to party

Tony Styles:

“If bar hopping is your thing, Midtown is your place. Start at The Dogwood on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, and make your way around the block and down the streets. Washington Ave also has a bar hopping buzz. Start at Kung Fu Saloon and make your rounds on foot from there. One of the newer, high-end spots in the city is Clé. Big names roll through there on the regular, like Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Drake, and Justin Bieber. It has an outdoor pool with cabanas, and in the summer during “Sunday Fundae,” it feels like Vegas. AURA and La Roux often have some great talent also.”

Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Philadelphia

| DJ Culture
Ape Drums, DJ T. Gray, DJ Travel Tips, Eddie Deville, Tony Styles,
Monday, November 21, 2016

Pitbull Teams With Ape Drums and Steven A. Clark for New Single, ‘Can’t Have’

Pitbull, Steven A. Clark, and Ape Drums

Pitbull, Steven A. Clark, and Ape Drums

Pitbull has recruited rising producer Ape Drums and singer Steven A. Clark for a new club anthem, “Can’t Have.” The single will appear on Pit’s upcoming album, Climate Change.

“If you don’t know where you’re from, you don’t know where you’re going,” Pit told The FADER. “If you don’t stand up for something, you’ll fall for anything. That’s what ‘Can’t Have’ is all about – appreciation. Because the grass looks greener on the other side until you get to the other side. I’m so thankful to Steven Clark and Ape Drums for joining me on this record, Dale!”

Stream below and download the original and DJ versions on DJcity.

Related: Ape Drums Interview: The Way He Does This

| Tracks
Ape Drums, Pitbull, Steven A. Clark,
Thursday, October 13, 2016

Ape Drums: The Way He Does This

Ape Drums

Ape Drums
Ape Drums (source: Facebook)

Dancehall has made a major comeback in both the underground and mainstream over the last year. But before hits like “Work” and “One Dance” took over the airwaves, 23-year-old DJ/producer Ape Drums was cranking out Carribean-infused heaters in his Houston studio.

In 2014, DJ Craze and Kill the Noise’s label Slow Roast Records took notice of Ape’s unique style and released his debut single “Bashment.” The track took the dance world by storm and set the tone for his future.

The following year, Ape performed at influential festivals like SXSW, Holy Ship!, Mad Decent Boat Party, and Amsterdam Dance Event. He also toured extensively in the US and Australia.

Ape has shown no signs of slowing in 2016. In June, he dropped two singles on Mad Decent, “The Way We Do This” featuring Major Lazer and Busy Signal, and “Go Crazy” featuring Dougie F. The songs charted at number two and 11 on DJcity’s Top 50, respectively.

We spoke with Ape via email to learn more about his background and sound.

You have a unique production style. How would you describe it?

I’d describe it as worldly, Caribbean-influenced.

How did you get into dancehall?

I purchased an old cassette based off of the artwork when I was about eight years old. I had no idea what type of music it was, but I’ve been into it ever since. I don’t remember the name of the tape, but it was a collection of bashment and reggaeton mixes.


Download on DJcity

You were producing dancehall-influenced tracks before it was a trend in the mainstream. How do you feel about the genre’s current popularity?

I dig that it’s becoming popular, but the problem is that it’s becoming corny and too pop. The beats aren’t as good as the original riddims from the ’90s. I think [the artists] should keep the original riddim vibe.

You were in a b-boy crew in high school. Do you still break dance?

I wish, but I have no time for it. I try a few moves a couple of times a year just to see if I still have it.


Download on DJcity

Did breaking influence you as a DJ/producer?

No, but dancing did shape my musical interest. I’m mostly into music that is very danceable, which is why I’m into dancehall. I think that’s the best genre of music to dance to, whether you’re solo or with a hot gyal.

How often do you DJ?

It depends. Sometimes I play every single weekend, and sometimes I take time off to work on new material.


Download on DJcity

What are your favorite cities to play in and why?

Miami, New York, and Amsterdam, just to name a few. The people have so much culture and recognize great music. They know how to have a good time.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?

There’s a few: Jeffery (Young Thug), Jeremih, Gyptian, and Roy Woods.

***

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Related: Ape Drums Teams with Major Lazer and Busy Signal for ‘The Way We Do This’

| DJ Culture
Ape Drums, Interview,
Thursday, May 26, 2016

Premiere: Ape Drums Teams with Major Lazer and Busy Signal for ‘The Way We Do This’

Ape Drums

Ape Drums
Ape Drums in the mix. (Johnny Edge)

In 2014, rising DJ/producer Ape Drums began playing a track in his sets that features Major Lazer and Jamaican dancehall singer Busy Signal. The song, which is referred to as “Bookshelf,” contains a sample of the classic dancehall riddim of the same name. While an unofficial version of Ape’s track has been floating around the web for over a year, Diplo has just sent DJcity a new version called “The Way We Do This.”

Though it resembles the original, “The Way We Do This” features a new drop and additional vocals from Busy Signal. It comes at a great time, when dancehall is making a comeback in the US and the world at large.

Diplo also sent us another Ape Drums song titled “Go Crazy” featuring New Jersey rapper Dougie F. Stream both tracks below and if you’re a DJcity subscriber, grab them here.

Related: Diplo Discusses Major Lazer’s Historic Cuba Concert

| Tracks
Ape Drums, Busy Signal, DJcity Premiere, Major Lazer,

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