This double CD mix is ready for action, just add lights, dancefloor, snacks and ready to party humans. Hire it for part of your holiday party and you get two DJs for the price of one CD, even though their ability to play requests is a bit limited.
I look at “Soul Heaven” as a “battle of the DJs”. In this corner, out of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York, the three-time Grammy nominated Kenny Dope versus and across the ring, out of Baltimore, Maryland, Karizma! “Dope Man”, as they call Kenny Dope, comes out Housin’ with immediate marching orders courtesy of Terisa Griffin’s “Wonderful”. Kudos also for including Ann Nesby’s “Its So Easy” (12” remix) in the mix; his Nuyorican Soul roots feeding the blend of soulful house selections.
Karizma begins more rhythmically, and get points from me because he likes the reverb and echo effects in the mix. Props to him for the Loleatta Holloway selection, “Stand Up”, but his mix briefly grows cold and monotonous shortly thereafter. Tracks seven through nine renews his House M.D. credentials and gets the charisma back, however, starting with the “The Cube”, and including Mellow Madness’ “Now You’re Callin’” and “Requiem For A DJ” by K2. What a nice touch his last record, “Moon Light” is.
One fellow DJ who is in his early thirties, referred to these as “old school” mixes. I don’t know about that. It seems that connotation deserves a much longer retroscope for my tastes, and these CDs are just what they are here in the present, with Kenny winning in a close one; almost a draw as Karizma gained momentum with each succeeding play! So act like they are your personal four star mastermixers and use over two-and-a-half party music hours that are at your disposal.
