Artist to Watch: Kingdom

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo

Who: Kingdom
Where: Brooklyn, NY

Massachusetts native Kingdom (a.k.a. Ezra Rubin) has only taken up residence behind the decks in the past few years, but the Brooklyn artist has been messing around with music since childhood—a music teacher actually showed him how to use MIDI at the age of 12. While his next-level mixes often feature the usual bass-heavy suspects—Baltimore club, U.K. garage, bassline, dubstep, kwaito, dancehall, etc.—Kingdom shows no fear when it comes to sounds too cheesy or flamboyant for the average DJ, be it a refix of a Eurodance anthem like DJ Jean's "The Launch" or reworkings of R&B divas like Crystal Waters, Ciara, SWV, or Aaliyah. Volume One, his first official mixtape, was birthed in his cousin's basement in North Carolina in 2006, and its success has led to the release of Volume Two, gigs on both coasts, DJ jaunts to the U.K., and the upcoming release of his first single, "Mindreader" b/w "You," on the Acephale and Fools Gold labels.

Listen: Marcus Price & Carli - "Mat, Bira, Kvinnor, Weed (Kingdom Remix)"

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Listen: Kingdom 1-for-1 Mix with Bok Bok on London's Sub.FM

Listen: Kingdom Mix for Lower End Spasm