A remix is created out of mutual adoration. A reimagining of one’s art is usually done by a friend or a close collaborator in order to safeguard the original work’s power. The remixer rarely pushes back on this notion, but their footprint on what came before can never be ignored.
Juan Gotti and Ramón Ayala may share the success of earning Latin Grammy nominations, but their roads to relevancy rarely converged on the way there. Ayala’s career has spanned over a half-century, netting over one hundred albums and the creation of modern norteño music. His contributions to regional Mexican sounds earned him the title “King of the Accordion.”
The best way to understand these two musicians’ differences is to consult Gotti’s “Bea-Mix” of a track named after the Accordion King. In lieu of a remix, Gotti’s take on Ayala’s history is a reflection rather than a repurposing. Using his own toolbox and Rolodex, Gotti pays respects to Ayala without compromising his own artistic integrity. The “Bea” comes from regional Mexican singer Beatriz Gonzalez, whose sultry notes were adopted when she was three years old, shortly after joining a Mariachi band. The “Mix” is Gotti’s signature blend of modern rap elements and ethnic flair.
Ayala’s accordion is absent and replaced by a synth whine taken straight from West Coast hip-hop. The background accents are slowed down and hacked to bits -- common order for “chopped and screwed” production. The lyrics, given weight by Gotti’s labelmate Baby Bash, combine a rapper’s inflated sense of self with Gotti’s cultural tribute. Gotti’s lines are tethered to his work ethic. After all, his prolific career “ain’t a hobby.” He wants you to know he means that, and this fact can be definitely tied to Ayala as well.
What better way to show Gotti’s fearless ambition than to take off an artist with more records than years in the studio? Gotti’s posse -- Baby Bash, Gonzalez, and E-Dub’s insight behind the boards -- create a fitting addition to Ramón Ayala’s lengthy legacy. This “bea-mix” just beats differently, but not without its prideful heritage.
Song Info:
Remix Produced by: Edward “E-Dub” Rios
Additional Production by: Kevin Randolph
Original Version Produced by: Weso-G
Written by: Cesar Aguilar, Ronnie Ray Bryant, Juan Ramos, Edward Rios,
Recorded by: Edward “E-Dub” Rios at BeatBox Pros Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA;
Mixed and mastered by: Edward “E-Dub” Rios at BeatBox Pros Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA.
Juan Gotti and Ramón Ayala may share the success of earning Latin Grammy nominations, but their roads to relevancy rarely converged on the way there. Ayala’s career has spanned over a half-century, netting over one hundred albums and the creation of modern norteño music. His contributions to regional Mexican sounds earned him the title “King of the Accordion.”
The best way to understand these two musicians’ differences is to consult Gotti’s “Bea-Mix” of a track named after the Accordion King. In lieu of a remix, Gotti’s take on Ayala’s history is a reflection rather than a repurposing. Using his own toolbox and Rolodex, Gotti pays respects to Ayala without compromising his own artistic integrity. The “Bea” comes from regional Mexican singer Beatriz Gonzalez, whose sultry notes were adopted when she was three years old, shortly after joining a Mariachi band. The “Mix” is Gotti’s signature blend of modern rap elements and ethnic flair.
Ayala’s accordion is absent and replaced by a synth whine taken straight from West Coast hip-hop. The background accents are slowed down and hacked to bits -- common order for “chopped and screwed” production. The lyrics, given weight by Gotti’s labelmate Baby Bash, combine a rapper’s inflated sense of self with Gotti’s cultural tribute. Gotti’s lines are tethered to his work ethic. After all, his prolific career “ain’t a hobby.” He wants you to know he means that, and this fact can be definitely tied to Ayala as well.
What better way to show Gotti’s fearless ambition than to take off an artist with more records than years in the studio? Gotti’s posse -- Baby Bash, Gonzalez, and E-Dub’s insight behind the boards -- create a fitting addition to Ramón Ayala’s lengthy legacy. This “bea-mix” just beats differently, but not without its prideful heritage.
Song Info:
Remix Produced by: Edward “E-Dub” Rios
Additional Production by: Kevin Randolph
Original Version Produced by: Weso-G
Written by: Cesar Aguilar, Ronnie Ray Bryant, Juan Ramos, Edward Rios,
Recorded by: Edward “E-Dub” Rios at BeatBox Pros Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA;
Mixed and mastered by: Edward “E-Dub” Rios at BeatBox Pros Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA.