| Toy Selectah is a certified legend in the world of Latin music. He was one of the founders of the massively influential hip hop en Espanol group Control Machete out of Monterrey, Mexico. These guys went nine-times platinum in South America. He then became a key A&R at the Universal label Machete Music and helped usher reggaeton's global takeover in the mid 2000s. For the past couple of years he's been a touring DJ, killing parties with his distinct vision of dance music, and doing big work as a producer and remixer (with Calle 13, Buraka Som Sistema, Vampire Weekend, Morrisey, Manu Chao and way more). Although he's become primarily known for cumbia, Toy's sound references his whole history and a wide swath of global bass movement. This mixup makes for about four genres that only exist in Toy's head, and each track on the 'Mex Machine' EP gives us a new angle on that world, with five original tracks, each showcasing a different side of the Toy Selectah sound. 'Sonidero Compay' is a big meeting of the minds, featuring the reggaeton king DJ Blass over a proper cumbia beat from Toy. The revs go all the way up to 150bpm territory with 'La Ravertona'. Toy teams up with Mad Decent labelmate Mumdance for 'Anni Riddim', a good example of Toy's personal hybrid land. 'Mex Machine' is a milestone release for one of the most exciting and influential artists coming out of Mexico today. |
