No names, no frills – just bounce, bass, and a B-boy grin. As the second cut on Ripe ’n Juicy’s debut release “Lemon Juice”, “Pass the Mike” doesn’t wait around to introduce itself. It steps into the cypher already mid-verse, riding a stripped, swaggering groove that’s equal parts throwback and forward thrust.
The vocal – a clipped, defiant “Pass the Mic” – loops like a scratched mantra, more attitude than instruction. It’s spliced into a tight, tech-edged rhythm section where a bouncy low-end rolls steadily beneath bleeped-out synth pulses that flash like strobes through a smoky basement. Nothing is overcooked, yet everything snaps – lean, dry-funked, and built for dancers who like their grooves with a bit of muscle memory.
It’s the kind of track that doesn’t need to climax – it locks in. Functional in the best way, with enough personality to keep DJs reaching and heads nodding long after the second drop.
With “Lemon Juice“, Ripe ’n Juicy delivers a sharp, assured opening – and “Pass the Mike” is the street-smart pivot point. Unpolished, unbothered, and undeniably playable.
Words by Holger Breuer
Torture the Artist 