Are you ever in the mood to hear a song you used to listen to in high school? Sometimes I’ll put on a “Y2K” or “Millenium Hits” playlist and jam out to songs that were prevalent during my adolescence. The familiarity is nice; this nostalgia feels good every so often.
Missy Elliot’s “Work It” is one of those songs that brings me back to childhood; to riding (remember those pre-driving days??) to soccer practice with a teammate and her mother singing along. “Get your hair DID” was the line that cracked me up the most. Growing up in England, I had never heard this lingo! It was a whole new world to me- especially since this was music my parents probably wouldn’t approve of. A few years down the road, in my teenage years, I still enjoyed the song. And I could finally understand the lyrics. ‘Shave my WHAT’?? I thought. And what’s, “It’s your phenemwithernyeathyna”?? So I did some research and experimented with voice-manipulation software. Long story short- turns out that gibberish she is saying is, “Put you thing down flip it and reverse it” IN REVERSE!
This mashup by DJ Soo tones down Missy’s vocals and emphasizes Martin Brew’s instrumentals. His use of bells are reminiscent of the winter holiday season; of songs that speak of Santa and his reindeer. But this is far from a Christmas song. Soo takes the focus away from Missy’s rhymes and quintessential classic hip-hop record-scratching, and adds a mellow drum beat. This, along with the subtle bass and keyboard, take the original song down a detour. I’ve had mixed feelings about mashups in the past, but this song makes me want to be open to how DJs are manipulating songs in drastic ways. For those of you familiar with the original, prepare for DJ Soo to create a whole new mood for your listening experience.
One interesting thing I noticed is that Soo mixed in a clean version of “Work It”. This contrasts the original greatly, which is quite… filthy. This version is the one I’d rather my teenager daughter listen to! I hope you feel some positive nostalgia upon listening to this track. Who knows what random memory it’ll bring you back to.
Missy Elliot vs Martin Brew – Work It (DJ Soo’s Hopscotch Blend)