You created, you listened, you connected.
It’s time to celebrate some of the highlights this year had to offer across our global community of audio culture. From the rising star creators who took the platform by storm to the unforgettable shows, we present the Mixcloud Best Of 2018.
The Hotness List is a selection of twenty unforgettable shows that created well-deserved hype. These shows will take you on a musical exploration of the world, from a world record-breaking DJ set atop Mount Kilimanjaro, to Erykah Badu stepping in at London’s NTS radio, to the Afrobeat sounds of Kenyan DJ Lyta. Featuring superstar DJs, bedroom selectors, cultural curators and exciting guests, there’s something in the mix for everyone. Hit play and enjoy.
Nightmares on Wax – The World’s Highest DJ Set #ClimbKilli
This was one for the books – the Guiness World Record books, that is. Climbing to 18,865 feet above sea level to the Crater Camp atop Mount Kilimanjaro, Nightmares On Wax set up his decks for an epic set. So far, the climb organised in collaboration with Last Night A DJ Saved My Life foundation has raised over £62,500 for Feathers Tale Children’s Village in Tanzania.
NTS Radio – The Sound of Green by Erykah Badu
By now our love for London-born NTS Radio is no secret. But when they hosted a ten-hour synaesthetic takeover with five different artists presenting mixes each themed around a different colour – the colour green being hosted by the Neo-Soul legend Erykah Badu – we caught major feelings.
DeadMau5 – deadmau5 pres. mau5trap radio 005 (feat. A Nightmare On REZZ St.)
At this point, he needs no introduction, but 2018 was the year DeadMau5’s weekly mau5trap radio show landed on Mixcloud and unsurprisingly it’s already sizzling hot. This fifth episode special Halloween edition was particularly steamy, featuring an exclusive radio premier of A Nightmare On Rezz Street.
DJ Jukess – #TheHype2002 Old Skool Rap, Hip-Hop and R&B Mix
Each edition of South London’s Dj Jukess #TheHype series covers a different year in history of R&B and Hip Hop. His 2002 special touched a collective nerve. What a year! Too many hits to mention, just have a listen.
Adam Beyer – DCR412 – Drumcode Radio Live – Adam Beyer live from Junction 2, London
Since his origins in the fertile Swedish underground to the peak of global club culture, Swedish techno head and festival headliner Adam Beyer brought us his banging Drumcode Radio Live show week on week. Like many of the hottest shows this year, this set was recorded live – in this case from Junction 2 festival in London’s Tobacco Docks.
FILM – Medium Rare 019 – Prime Cutz by FILM [18-06-2018]
Hailing from New Delhi, Sanil Sudan aka FILM regularly shares his show Prime Cutz that streams to Indian online community radio Boxout.FM. Oscillating between eclectic and electronic sounds from around the world, this show will have you on your feet and breaking out the moves.
Anja Schneider – Club Room 02 with Anja Schneider
Mixed live from her studio in Berlin, German DJ and producer Anja Schneider launched the new show Club Room this year. Mixing upcoming tracks with older club-tested classics from her record collection across minimal house and techno, it’s wall-to-wall absolute bangers.
DJ HASEBE aka OLD NICK – MAD SUMMER (natsuco 90’s Collections)
Tokyo-based DJ HASEBE’s mix of 90’s hits covered everything from Janet Jackson to Maxi Priest to All Saints, serving up an hour of stunningly mixed nostalgia, and some outrageous edits we’d totally forgotten about.
Supremacy sounds – MashUp Vol 17
Hailing from Houston, Texas, but reflecting a global trend, in this show DJ Simple Simon mashes up what was hot this year in hip hop, afrobeat and dancehall… and it’s lit.
JuicyM – JuicyLand #217
For the EDM, trap and dubstep fans among us, Barcelona-based DJ and producer JuicyM brings you a show that’s, well, pretty juicy. This episode ft. tracks by David Guetta and Sia was particularly hot this year.
DJ Lyta – DJ LYTA – NAIJA AFROBEAT MIX
Kenya’s self-proclaimed ‘King of the Decks’ Kenya’s DJ Lyta is famous for his native Bongo sound, but this time proves he’s no slouch with other sounds either – mixing up a selection of Nigerian Afrobeat at breakneck speed. No surprise this show got tons of plays from all corners of the globe.
Worldwide FM – World of Echoes: Francois K // 17-07-18
World of Echoes is a monthly four-hour show from house legend François Kevorkian on Worldwide FM, an international platform for underground music, culture and stories from around the globe. In this session, François takes a soulful and eclectic approach to celebrating Larry Levan’s life through an array of musical genres and commentary.
The Lot Radio – Kim Ann Foxman @ The Lot Radio 02:08:2018
Brooklyn-based Kim Ann Foxman brought us this stellar house set via Lot Radio, the online radio station broadcasting from a reclaimed shipping container on an empty New York City lot.
n10.as radio – United In Flames 28/08/2018
Broadcasted from Montreal, this hip Québécois radio station brought us an eclectically ambient show that caught loads of attention.
Rinse France – La Mamie’s invite Antal & Hunee – 25 Mai 2018
This five hour back-to-back session between current dance music favorites Hunee and Antal is a feast for the ears. Invited by the French crew La Mamie’s to host on Rinse.FM, it’s multicultural musical smorgasbord.
Le Mellotron – Captain Cumbia Radio Show #44
Parisian global radio station Le Mellotron brought us this lively show by Captain Cumbia in celebration of that South American sound, selecting new and old tunes ranging from Colombian Cumbia to tropical beats to Mexicana.
Radio Cómeme – MachineSex S02E03 by Luigi Di Venere
Italian-born, Berlin-based DJ Luigi Di Venere brought us his MachineSex show on Radio Cómeme, a global music project that that aims to share and propose reflections on music that break cultural barriers. The description of the show says it all: ‘a forest in South East Asia, rituals of renewal, a cocktail by the beach and sun in your face on Rodeo drive’.
Steve ‘Miggedy’ Maestro – Thursday Nights @ the Family Den – 17 May 2018
Hailing from Chicago, Steve ‘Miggedy’ Maestro frequently shares his soulfully eclectic shows. In this three hour set, he mixes soulful classics with disco and R&B to keep the mood funky and smooth.
Dekmantel – Dekmantel Podcast 202 – Eva Geist
Musical artist Eva Geist is a vocalist, songwriter, composer and sound designer hailing from Berlin. In this show she puts together a hypnotically progressive ‘podcast’ for the Amsterdam-based Dekmantel crew, known for their festivals and record label that showcase cutting-edge dance music.
KEXP- KEXP Breakdown: Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation” (The Morning Show)
Seattle-based radio station KEXP presented the latest in its album breakdowns last summer, dissecting the classic platinum-selling Public Enemy record It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Over the course of twelve hours, the station played every discernable recording sampled on the album, along with exclusive interviews with Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D, the producer of the record Hank Shocklee of the Bomb Squad and more. It’s a celebration of Public Enemy, for real hip hop heads.
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Our Best of 2018 lists barely scratch the surface of what’s made this another epic year for the Mixcloud community. Bringing together over 15 million radio shows, DJ mixes and podcasts made by passionate creators, our global community is a thriving space for audio culture. Thanks for listening, creating and connecting.
Creators, it’s not too late to get involved. Upload your #BestOf2018 mix until end of the year and we’ll keep featuring our favorites.
