Record of the Week - J.Rocc "Dancing With The Best" 7” - Manhattan Records / Stones Throw

This week’s Record of the Week is a small-but-mighty slab of 7” vinyl that I acquired in Tokyo on my last visit. There’s lots of synergy here on this one, so walk with me. J.Rocc is a DJ who hails from Los Angeles, California. He's a member of the Beat Junkies crew (along with some legendary members who’s mix you should already be playing by now if you’ve been reading this newsletter in order!), and he’s one of the most uniquely talented DJs in the world. No hyperbole. This man’s sense of rhythm is second to none, and his crates are some of the deepest. He’s the type of DJ that when you actually get down to the technicality of what he’s mixing and how he’s mixing it, you realize you’re in the presence of a master. J released his latest album A Wonderful Letter in 2022, and I played cuts from it regularly on my Twitch streams - but my FAVE was this uptempo cut. "Dancing With The Best" - a fun, jazzy house joint that twists and turns. Very fun to mix and play with. And therefore, I wanted it on all mixable formats, including 7” vinyl. When I saw him in LA, I said that we have to convince Stones Throw to put it out on 7”. “I told Wolf”… but nothing would follow for months. Fast forward 3 years, still no fulfilled wish, and I’m coincidentally in Japan at the same time as J.Rocc for Red Bull BC One World Finals weekend. As a DJ does, I hit the streets immediately after checking into the hotel for some record shopping. Tokyo has the best record shopping in the world, no question. I hit Disk Union for some pieces with DJ Fleg, and then walk into Manhattan Records and I see the record! What are the chances! Immediately copped on site, after dropping off some Limoncello 🍋. I'm already having fun playing with it, peep the clip on YouTube or in last week's Tuesday Morning Coffee episode on http://www.skratchbastid.com/VIP .  Shoutout the legend J.Rocc, man. This guy also had exclusive HUF gear, and a full Japanese tour.  Still doing it strong and inspiring! Follow and salute him.