New York, NY: DJ Rob Swift announced the “Roc for Raida” mixtape, which is dedicated to the memory of fellow X-Ecutioner Roc Raida (May 17, 1972 – Sept. 19, 2009). The mixtape highlights much of the great music Raida left behind when he passed away. Rob Swift also features the X’s Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse and Precision performing their own renditions of some of Roc Raida’s classic battle sets.

In Rob Swift’s new video, he explains the process behind the new tribute mixtape, including his use of audio clips from himself and Roc Raida telling the story of their friendship and their work together. The video also shows Swift recreating one of the routines on the mixtape live. Additionally, he explains the importance of the project, as net proceeds from the album will go to benefit Roc Raida’s wife, Tye, and his three daughters he left behind.

Rob Swift will release “Roc for Raida” on March 20th, as it will be the 21st anniversary from the time Rob Swift and Roc Raida first met at the 1991 East Coast DMC in NYC.

Nicknamed rap’s Bad News Bears, Metermaids, the New York-based duo comprised of Swell and Sentence, are releasing their mixtape, HELLO, mixed entirely by DJ Rob Swift, today on 27 Sound Entertainment. Having already released two singles to praise, including the Grizzly Bear-sampling “Yellow Tape” that peaked at #4 on The Hype Machine charts, the concept of the highly anticipated mixtape differs from the common fare of the mixtape world; taking a host of popular indie rock songs of 2009 and remixing each, Metermaids pull loops and chops from the indie tracks to create new canvases for the duo’s original concepts and songs. Fans will still recognize the melodies of the original, but they’ll nevertheless love the new lyrics, title and twist with each new track.

Perhaps, one of the most notable songs to be remixed is Metric’s “Help, I’m Alive”, into their own, “A Star Is Born.” Taking Metric’s recognizable opening line and applying it as their own opening line, they were able to mesh it seamlessly into their song’s lyrics. Although no lyrics were used, they also remixed The White Stripes’, “Icky Thump”. Using only the guitar melody, Metermaids, proven over the years as one of the more genre-crossing hip-hop acts around, turn the riff, again, into something new and exciting. Mixes that work so effortlessly together are difficult to achieve, but Metermaids and DJ Rob Swift have managed not only to make it work but have made it so they all feel like originals. “We called it HELLO because we felt like we were re-introducing ourselves to the world, and to ourselves at the same time,” says Swell. “Hello, we are Metermaids, and we like to have fun and make music together.”

Moving into the fall, fans can also look forward to Metermaids EP, Rooftop Shake, produced entirely by Grammy Award-winning producer, 9th Wonder.

Metermaids + DJ Rob Swift – “Hello.” (Mixtape)

Rhymesayers Entertainment is throwing together this year’s Soundset festival Sunday May 30th at Canterbury Park in Minneapolis, MN. Huge lineup this year is headlined by Atmosphere, Redman & Method Man, Brother Ali, Hieroglyphics, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Souls Of Mischief, Casual, Pep Love, P.O.S., Freeway & Jake One, Murs, Cage, Eyedea & Abilities, Wiz Khalifa, Bus Driver, DJ Rob Swift, People Under The Stairs, Yelawolf, DJ Revolution, and many more. [Source: RSE]