| Top Ranking | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | July 15, 2008 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop, dub, electronic, post-punk, reggae, psychedelic, mash-up | |||
| Label | Mad Decent | |||
| Producer | Diplo, Santi White | |||
| Santigold chronology | ||||
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| Diplo chronology | ||||
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Top Ranking: A Diplo Dub is the first mixtape by American artist Santigold (then going by Santogold) and Philadelphia-based DJ Diplo, released on July 15, 2008. [1]
Top Ranking features remixes of songs from Santogold's debut album, as well as remixes of other artists. Santogold also has previously unreleased songs on the mixtape, including a cover of The Clash's "The Guns of Brixton", with lyrics altered to refer to Brooklyn. [2] "Guns of Brooklyn" and "Get It Up", a collaboration with M.I.A. that heavily samples Gorilla Zoe's "Hood Nigga", were leaked to the blogosphere prior to the mixtape's release. [2] [3] [4] An alternate version of "Get It Up" featuring Esau Mwamwaya rather than Gorilla Zoe also appeared on the internet. [5] The album was released for a short period of time on the internet as a free download. [6]
The Diplo remix of "I'm a Lady", which features Amanda Blank, was later included in its entirety on Blank's 2009 album I Love You .
After taking inspiration from a Siouxsie and the Banshees song for her track "My Superman" on her debut album, [7] Santogold sampled for this mix tape another song of their Kaleidoscope , "Lunar Camel".
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Exclaim! | (positive) [8] |
| NME | (8/10) [9] |
| Rolling Stone |   [10] |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.0/10.0) [11] |
| Slant Magazine |  [12] |
The mixtape has received comparisons to M.I.A. and Diplo's 2004 mixtape, Piracy Funds Terrorism . [3] [13] However, Pitchfork Media stated that "the similarities between this collaboration and Diplo's first-- 2004's M.I.A.-trumpeting Piracy Funds Terrorism mix-- are as superficial as those between M.I.A. and Santogold themselves." [14] According to NME , Top Ranking "expands on her [Santogold's] debut's cultural crossover", incorporating "hyphy, crunk, classic dub and new wave". [15] The review continued that the mixtape "is a must-have" either "as a standalone mixtape or a perfect companion to Santogold". [15] Exclaim! said that Top Ranking "showcases Santogold's steeze and flexibility as an MC/singer." [16] They praised Diplo's "global and eclectic" production, calling Top Ranking "a top-notch mixtape that will hopefully find its way up from the underground." [16] Idolator labelled the disc "an entertaining listen, with most of the disparate influences that influence Santogold's debut appearing in one form or another." [17] Slant Magazine said that "Top Ranking's hotness can't—and shouldn't—be downplayed", but also that it doesn't distinguish itself from Piracy Funds Terrorism and that "Santogold's unique essence feels lost amid the clutter." [18]
Top Ranking was named one of 2008's five best mixtapes by The Guardian . [19] The publication also named the Diplo Remix of "I'm a Lady" featuring Amanda Blank one of the "singles" of the year. [20]
Thomas Wesley Pentz, known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ, songwriter and record producer based in Los Angeles. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with Sia and Labrinth, a member of electronic duo Jack Ü with producer and DJ Skrillex, and a member of Silk City with Mark Ronson. He founded and manages record company Mad Decent, as well as co-founding the non-profit organization Heaps Decent. Among other jobs, he has worked as an English teacher in Japan and a school teacher in Philadelphia. His 2013 EP, Revolution, debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard 200. The EP's title track was later featured in a commercial for Hyundai and is featured on the WWE 2K16 soundtrack.
Piracy Funds Terrorism Volume 1, usually referred to simply as Piracy Funds Terrorism, is a mixtape produced by British-Sri Lankan recording artist M.I.A. and American DJ Diplo featuring vocal tracks intended for M.I.A.'s debut album Arular mashed up with samples of other recordings. The mixtape was produced by the two artists at Diplo's home studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was not officially released, but was distributed at M.I.A.'s live shows and via the internet to promote the release of her much-delayed debut album. Despite its unofficial status, the mixtape received general acclaim among critics. Several music publications included the mixtape in their listings of the best albums of 2004.
Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1980 by record label Polydor. With the departure of John McKay and Kenny Morris and their replacement by two new musicians, Budgie on drums and John McGeoch on guitars, the band changed their musical direction and offered an album containing a wide variety of colors. "It was almost a different band", said Siouxsie.
David James Andrew Taylor, better known by his stage name Switch, is an English songwriter, DJ, sound engineer, and record producer. He is best known for his work with Beyonce, M.I.A. and Major Lazer, of which he was a founding member. He was nominated at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in the Song of the Year category for ‘Paper Planes’ by M.I.A. which he co-produced with Diplo. Other artists he has produced include Christina Aguilera, Chaka Khan, Santigold, and Brandy among many others. He has released various singles under his own name, and is also well known for remixing and producing for many major artists.
Alonzo Keith Mathis Jr., better known by his stage name Gorilla Zoe, is an American rapper best known for being a member of the rap group Boyz N Da Hood. His solo debut album Welcome to the Zoo came out in 2007. His next two albums, Don't Feed Da Animals and King Kong, were released in 2009 and 2011. In 2015, he released two mixtapes: Recovery and Raised in the Jungle. He has been an independent artist since 2018.
Santi White, known professionally as Santigold, is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut studio album, Santogold (2008), received critical acclaim. Her second album, Master of My Make-Believe, was released in 2012. She released her third album, 99¢, in 2016, and her second mixtape, I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions, in 2018.
"L.E.S. Artistes" is the second single by American artist Santigold, and along with "Creator", the first to be taken from her self-titled debut Santogold.
Santogold is the debut studio album by Santigold. It was released on April 29, 2008 in the United States through Downtown Records and on May 12 in the United Kingdom through Lizard King and Atlantic Records. The album was recorded within eight weeks in New York City at Schoolhouse and Pitch Black Studios. It was written and produced primarily by Santigold and former Stiffed bandmate John Hill, alongside contributions from other producers, including Diplo, Switch and Disco D, and vocal appearances from Spank Rock and Trouble Andrew.
American musician Santi White, better known by her stage name Santigold, has released three studio albums, two mixtapes, one extended play (EP), and twenty-two singles. White's discography under the name Santogold consists of her eponymous debut album, six singles, one mixtape, and four music videos, all of which were released in 2008, except the single "Creator", which was released in late 2007. Santogold peaked at number 74 on the Billboard 200, and reached numbers 2 and 6 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums and Independent Albums, respectively. The album also charted in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
"Lights Out" is a song by American musician Santigold. It was released on August 11, 2008, through Downtown, Lizard King and Atlantic Records as the third single from her debut studio album, Santogold (2008).
"Say Aha" is the fourth single by American artist Santigold, taken from her previously self-titled debut Santogold.
The Goldrush Tour was a North American concert tour by Santogold, performed in support of her eponymous debut album. Sponsored by MySpace Music, it took place in September and October 2008.
Spank Rock and Benny Blanco Are... "Bangers & Cash" is an EP by Philadelphian Virginian alternative hip hop group Spank Rock and record producer Benny Blanco. The EP follows Spank Rock's 2006 debut album YoYoYoYoYo. The album was released on October 9, 2007.
Major Lazer is a Jamaican-American electronic dance music trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. It was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was then replaced by both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Its music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton.
"All My Life " is a song by American hip hop recording artist Jay Rock, released October 16, 2008, as his commercial debut single and the lead single from his debut studio album, Follow Me Home (2011). The song, which was released under Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and Warner Bros. Records, was produced by American production team Cool & Dre and features vocals from fellow American rappers, Lil Wayne and will.i.am.
Plastic Little is an American rap group consisting of Jayson Musson (PackofRats), Kurt Hunte, Jon Folmar, Si Young Lee and Michael Stern (SQUID). The name "Plastic Little" comes from the Manga and OVA, Plastic Little simply as, according to Musson, "The way the 2 words go together, I like it". Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; they've worked with other notable artists from the area, including Amanda Blank and Spank Rock.
House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released as a free download on March 21, 2011, then was later released by XO. The mixtape was also released on the Weeknd's official website. Its music incorporates electronic and contemporary genres, including R&B and soul, along with trip hop, indie rock and dream pop tones. The contributions to the mixtape's production came from Canadian record producers such as Doc McKinney, Zodiac and Illangelo, among others. On November 13, 2012, the Weeknd released his three-part compilation album Trilogy, where the first part is the House of Balloons mixtape.
The following is a discography of production by Diplo, an American DJ and record producer. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.
Sonny Corey Uwaezuoke, better known by his stage name Sonny Digital, is an American record producer, rapper, and DJ. He rose to prominence after producing YC's hit single "Racks" in 2011. He is best known for his production on ILoveMakonnen's "I Dont Sell Molly No More" and "Tuesday" featuring Drake, Future's single "Same Damn Time", 50 Cent's "I'm the Man" and 2 Chainz's "Birthday Song", as well as the XXL Freshman Cyphers for 2017 and 2018. He has worked with multiple hip-hop artists, such as Future, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Drake, Chief Keef, 50 Cent, and more.
Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss is a mixtape by American recording artist Mykki Blanco, released on November 9, 2012.
