While we've been trying to figure out what's going on over at SoundCloud for a bit, it's primarily because we use the service so often. As bloggers in the now, representing electronic music in its many facets, we are sent SoundCloud links regularly, and pouring through the platform in the eternal search for the perfect beat. As in our previous features on this topic, it still boggles our minds that some seriously dope producers aren't getting the proper follow shine that they should be, but instead of pouting about it, we just present them to you, letting you know why we mess with their music, and why you should, too. So here is the third edition of our "50 Under 5000" series.
Edo Lee
Number of Followers: 4880
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/edo_lee
Location: New York, NY
Edo Lee is one of the founders of the Budo Kiba collective and he's had some stellar releases. Whether it be one of his random singles or remixes, or one of his longer releases like his incredible Sleepwalker EP, Edo Lee brings a jazzy style of hip-hop to his downtempo beats in a way that ooze class and sophistication. Going through his entire SoundCloud is definitely the move.—Jake
Idris Elba
Number of Followers: 4736
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/idriselba
Location: London, UK
Yes, *that* Idris Elba. Turns out he’s been producing and DJing house music on the sly, and while his SoundCloud swag isn’t exactly as on-point as his other music colleagues (how are you only going to keep preview versions of your record on Soundcloud after they’re released?), he’s making some interesting deep house that’s immensely catchy and sexy. He’s also doing work as 7Wallace, which is less housey, but still captivating (and also sitting at a measly 3,187 followers on SoundCloud). Straight up, it seems like there isn’t anything Idris can’t do when he isn’t fighting Kaiju and collecting award nominations for his acting roles, including being an excellent electronic musician.—Josh
HARIKIRI
Number of Followers: 4352
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/harikiri
Location: UK
We'd trip about people dissing DAD for being purveyors of bass music. Excuse us for finding something dope and exploring it. HARIKIRI has been repping the scene over in the UK for a minute, and brings some emotive sensibilities to the table. There's some sensual vibes, some more depressed tones, but all-in-all, you'll feel something while these tracks play, and that's all we can ask for thesee days.—khal
L'homme aux 4 lettres
Number of Followers: 4062
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/lh4l
Location: Paris, France
L'homme aux 4 lettres is part of the french collective Point Point that every tastemaker has on the tip of their tong. Now as one piece of that collective, there's no doubt that Lh4L is über-talented, but his solo works are also incredibly special. I don't even have the descriptive vocabulary to really articulate how I feel about these so it's important you just get on this yourself and explore.—Jake
Night Cruise
Number of Followers: 4046
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/night-cruise
Location: Perth, Australia
We don't know a whole lot about this producer from Perth. Australia seems to be cranking out incredible talent at an alarming rate right and something tells me this guy is something special. Only three tunes on SC right now but they are all top notch, including this life-altering version of Sia's "Chandelier."—Brent
StéLouse
Number of Followers: 3958
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/stelouse
Location: Denver, CO
If there's one name that's flooded my radar and earholes with amazing tunes in the last 2 months, it's been StéLouse. Basically completely below my radar until his incredible EP, The City, dropped on DIE HIGH and he flexed all over this future bass/video game sound that's exploded in 2014. He's got that ear on where to place what when better than most folks you here making good tunes right now and his flair for the pop appeal is unquestionably on point.—Brent
3LLL
Number of Followers: 3970
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/3lll
Location: Chicago,IL
3LLL's eerie style video game inspired beat music isn't for the faint of heart, but it is for those who are riding that wave of 16-bit turnup.—Jake
Slackk
Number of Followers: 3750
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/slackk
Location: London, UK
With a new album on Local Action on the way, now is the time you need to get in tune to what Slackk's been doing. Over the last few years, he's remade the UK grime sound in his vision, balancing the desire for a new way with his devotion to the old. With it, he's emerged with the Boxed monthly (which he co-founded) and represents the forward-thinking vibes that are driving a new creative wave in that scene.—khal
Jurassic FightClub
Number of Followers: 3705
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/electronixxx
Location: Lille, France
Jurassic FightClub have been powering through 2014 with a string of originals and remixes including a few exclusives right here on DAD. They specialize in all forms of global bass from twerk to jersey club to tropical house. They may come from the cold north of France but they make certified heaters that light dancefloors on fire.—Brice
Illangelo
Number of Followers: 3568
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/illangelo
Location: Toronto, Canada
Toronto's Illangelo has quite a pedigree already with his extensive work with The Weeknd, and as a solo artist he's been releasing fresh material with Bromance Records. The talented R&Beats maker brings a lightly experimental glitched out groove to the bedroom and into the depths of your soul with each track and while his material isn't necessairly the most widely-appealing, it's definitely great stuff. Watching him release more material and seeing who latches on will be interesting as time goes on.—Jake
Broken Haze
Number of Followers: 3542
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/brokenhaze
Location: Tokyo, Japan
I got into Broken Haze when I got a promo for his EP that dropped on Top Billin about a year ago and was amazed. His music is a showcase of that playful sound the Japanese have been bringing to electronic music since the '80s. He's a synth stab master who works in the world of underground bass like Jersey club and juke. I love the kinetic energy of his arrangements. It's dudes like him that have got me keeping my eye on the Japanese bass music scene right now.—Brice
GETEM
Number of Followers: 3394
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/iamgetem
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Anyone who gets the co-sign from Dirty South Joe is someone you should check out. While you can dance to his material, GETEM's not just a dance music producer. He seems to have gone from crafting stadium-quality trap tunes, filling up the speakers with sound, to now going for broke on a number of directions, no matter what the tempo.—khal
Pusher
Number of Followers: 3304
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/beat-pusher
Location: Toronto, Canada
First time I heard anything from Pusher it was like a dream come true. Proper 808 vibes being thrown underneath a bright cavalcade of sounds from Super Mario World. I love that it stretched out bigger than that. Taking the 8-bit and 16-bit sounds of our childhood and turning them into hypnotic beats is the move right now, but Pusher does it in a way that makes us all wish we still had our original copies of Sonic The Hedgehog and knew how to time travel into the game. At least with Pusher's material, it'll be easier for you to imagine yourself there.—khal
Oknai
Number of Followers: 3163
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/oknai
Location: Berlin, DE
This summer, Oknai released his latest LP, High Tide, and while I have legit no idea where he's from, he's making someone proud with his rich take on bass music. Strolling through his SoundCloud will find many of you enjoying some beats that are best suited for after-hours drinks.—khal
Nömak
Number of Followers: 3455
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/thisisnomak
Location: France
Nömak showed up in Porter Robinson's Essential Mix and had a special three-track EP just about two months ago. His less then 5,000 follower count does not at all begin to tell the story for this one. His production is just so clean and on a better level then most of what's out there right now.—Jake
DJ Taye
Number of Followers: 3087
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/djtaye
Location: Chicago, IL
It's sad to say, but for the rest of the year, the footnote to a lot of the TEKLIFE crew's movements will be that they're doing it after losing their homey DJ Rashad. He was so instrumental in building this crew in the eyes of many who only associate him with footwork, that that's just how it goes. Lucky for us, producers like DJ Taye are turning up on their own merit. Taye already got a release on Hyperdub with Rashad and Earl, but has since been making his own moves, from putting out solo EPs to just mesmerizing us with his playful way of linking vocal samples and pulsating beats. The scene is in good hands.—khal
Jay R Neutron
Number of Followers: 3063
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/jay-r-neutron
Location: Baltimore, MD
With that vogue sound making an impact in the club circuit, producers like Jay R Neutron are essential. Like most great DJs, Neutron has his pulse on the pop scene, and is unafraid to remix material that's ringing in the hip-hop and R&B circuit. Instead of just throwing a faster beat underneath, though, he's deconstructing these bits at will. Check out the remix down below, where he actually goes from a faster pace to isolating that one line, turning the entire remix into a slower bop. Genius.—khal
Deon Custom
Number of Followers: 3056
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/deoncustom
Location: Dordrecht, Netherlands
We got turned on to Deon via his Bliss EP for Terrorhythm, but a perusal through his SoundCloud finds many more purple-ish flavors to savor. This 22-year-old Dutch has a way with emotion in his tunes, and for those of you looking for that gray area in between the turning up and turning down of life, Deon Custom is your dude.—khal
Gillepsy
Number of Followers: 3020
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/gillepsy/
Location: Russia
Russia's Hyperboloid Records has some of the most interesting tracks I'm hearing these days. Though I now regularly listen to the likes of Thømas White, Seablaze, and Pixelord (and regularly peruse their striking website), I learned about the label originally through Gillepsy. His break-neck beats burn dancefloors whether he's twisting wicked samples jungle-infused juke tunes, intoxicating club smashes or neon crowd pleasers. The world needs to catch up to this guy. Dig through his catalog.—Jake
Riot Earp
Number of Followers: 2925
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/riotearp
Location: Phoenix, AZ
You've probably heard a ton of music from Riot Earp and probably just don't realize it. As one half of Broadway Slim, he's been peppering top tier DJ sets and BBC Radio 1 playlists on a weekly basis. As a solo producer, he's made some of my favorite midtemp and moombahton tunes to date. But yeah, you've got to dig to find out the whole story sometimes. That extra mouse click can always flood you with musical candy.—Brent
Schwarz
Number of Followers: 2909
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/schwarz420
Location: Baltimore, MD
The foundations of Baltimore club music have influenced so much of what's cracking in dance music right now, yet the acknowledgement of its impulse and appeal are unfairly ignored. Schwarz, from Baltimore, has been pushing the sound hard though over the last couple years and now even has Ryan Hemsworth supporting his music. His lo-fi party appeal takes some time to sink in but the payoff is definitely worth it.—Brent
Detail
Number of Followers: 2886
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/im_detail
Location: Kiev, Ukraine
If you want to talk about why drum & bass is having a proper resurgence, it's for acts like Detail. Quietly netting high quality releases on Bad Taste, Commercial Suicide, C.I.A., Med School, Metalheadz, and many other spots, Detail brings a different take on the neuro sound that got dnb to where it is now. Dude just oozes talent, and when one imprint actually decides to snap Detail up for an album-length project, I think we're in for a great surprise.—khal
DZC Deejays
Number of Followers: 2861
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/dzcdeejaysofficial
Location: Setubal, Portugal
DZC Deejays (in which DZC stands for Di Zona Crew) draw on the sounds of the Afro-Portuguese world making amazing global bass tracks in the style of kuduro and zouk bass among others. They say they've been djing for years and it shows because their Soundcloud is packed with amzing remixes of popular club bangers and is a must visit for any club dj looking for a fresh spin on old favorites. Not to say their original productions aren't anything to sneeze at, either. They'll blow you away.—Brice
Seablaze
Number of Followers: 2797
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/seablaze
Location: Chicago, IL
The “vaporwave” vibe of '90s styles, neon-pastel color palettes, and Japanese cultural references is one of the more bizarre internet aesthetics I’ve ever seen, but damn if it isn’t a look that’s being used by some real geniuses out there. Seablaze is one of them. Fusing 8-bit video game aesthetics with rock-solid footwork and club music-inspired sensibilities, he’s making some of the catchiest jams that way too many folks are sleeping on.—Josh
Donovans
Number of Followers: 2793
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/donovans
Location: Paris, France
Donovans is a house music master with remix credits for Sinden, Crookers and Bart B More to name a few. He's put out tracks on Fool's Gold, Southern Fried and Mad Decent, so I have no clue why he's under 5000 but can't complain since it allows me to share his music with you.—Brice
Hunt For The Breeze
Number of Followers: 2759
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/huntforthe
Location: Washington, DC
The DMV area is completely cracking right now with talent. If you don't fully believe that statement, you're clearly doing it wrong. Hunt For The Breeze is one of my personal favorites from the area and his sound is as infectious as it progressive. Dude is unphased by tempo restrictions and embraces all of it with a grasp of pop music feels that's relatively unparralled right now.—Brent
Carpainter
Number of Followers: 2460
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/carpainter
Location: Yokohama, Japan
Hailing from the land of the rising sun, Carpainter is part of the increasingly famous Trekkie Trax collective whose work we've featured multiple times this last year. He crafts some really great music varying from bassline to juke with much of it displaying the influence of video game music. He slowly is becoming one of my favorite underground producers and I wouldn't be surprised if you hear a lot more from him soon.—Brice
Y2Koala
Number of Followers: 2370
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/y2koala/
Location: Australia
There's literally one track on this SoundCloud, so it's amazing they've already got over 2,000 plus followers. Then you listen to the track and you know why they have that many, then wonder where's the follow-up! Y2Koala, who ever you are, please unload new music!!—Jake
BastienGOAT
Number of Followers: 2328
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/bastiengoat
Location: Pinole, CA
Bastien₲ѺѦ₮ is very talented and he's actively putting up the middle finger to genres. He's trying his hand at (and succeededing) at making genre-bending tracks that float all along and on the outer-stratosphere of electronic dance music.—Jake
Fellow
Number of Followers: 2082
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/fellow
Location: Aruba / Amsterdam
Those paying attention to tropical bass stylings have long been familiar with Fellow’s name, yet he’s one of those surprisingly many top-notch producers to lack a heavy SoundCloud following. Simply put, the music he makes is aesthetically brilliant, smooth, and above all, enjoyable. His zouk bass effort “Flare” is a slow-rolling gem that I wanna get lost inside of every time I hear it. I’d put money on Fellow being a favorite producer of one of your favorite DJs (should you have one of those), and he ought to be one of your faves too.—Josh
Inkke
Number of Followers: 2060
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/inkke
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
The UK grime scene has been my shit as of late, and producers like Inkke have been a big part of that. From the ferocious 8-bar, rowdy bits to the more intricate, spacious sounds, Inkke has been a big part of my newfound appreciation for the sound. Dude has the backing of Local Action, and should be considered as part of the upper echelon of artists that are pushing the scene forward.—khal
DJ SoySauce
Number of Followers: 1953
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/dj_soysauce/
Location: Washington, DC
Let’s get the elephant in the room introduced–we admittedly are not big fans of SoySauce’s image. There are gobs of anonymous producers hiding behind created personas, and we have no problem with that, but the idea of appropriating harmful stereotypes of Asians by way of tracks called “Sushi Park” and an Instagram of an obese Asian dude (who pretty clearly isn't the producer) with pics of him with Porches, attractive women, and food (and that’s it) simply doesn’t sit well with us. That said, whoever DJ Soysauce is, he’s making objectively fantastic music. “Hungry” is one of the most addictive tracks from first listen I’ve heard all year, and it’s hard not to enjoy the dude’s taste in production style. Here’s hoping he softens the racial jokes, because frankly, the music more than stands on its own.—Josh
Ed. Note: In speaking with SoySauce's management, we have to amend this post. We can't deny how the SoySauce project was presented made us feel (something about those stereotypes rubbed us the wrong way), but we are in a situation where we were wrong. We're told that the person in the pictures is in fact 1/2 of DJ SoySauce, and that the photos and love of food is 100% true to SoySauce, who loves food and is actively embracing the stereotype. While we don't know who his production partner is, we do have word that they're working on an epic batch of press shots, and more. I'd like to take this time to apologize for our words.—khal
Ellie Herring
Number of Followers: 1880
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/ellieh
Location: Lexington, KY
Ellie feels like one of those diamonds in the rough. This Kentucky-based producer has been uploading lush sounds over the last few years, and occupies a truly chilled space, so much so that her latest cut, "Cool It," still sends chills up my spine. Something about the way she plays with chilled grooves will always get me. She's one to watch, trust we.—khal
Jameston Thieves
Number of Followers: 1408
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/jameston-thieves
Location: San Francisco, CA
Jameston Thieves is a producer we've paid attention to fairly closely as we've dropped exclusive content here on DAD and he's been someone who started on the later end of the moombahton movement but has completely embraced experimentation with vibes, sounds and levels of intensity. Basically, his tunes are tight and he isn't afraid to do his own thing in a realm of music flooded with copycats.—Brent
MSCLS
Number of Followers: 1364
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/mscls/
Location: Austin, TX
Easily one of the most exciting new names on the house music circuit, MSCLS is basically quietly blowing minds on the low. I say on the low because the support of this project already is incredibly thick and signs point to huge things much quicker than I think most expect. In the meantime, you can get up on this dude's incredible deep and bass heavy house sound and easily say you were in on it early.—Brent
Shamana
Number of Followers: 1348
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/shamanabeats
Location: Cleveland, OH
Cleveland’s Shamana is simply a different breed. He caught our attention last month with his jaw-dropping chopped and screwed edit of Wiz Khalifa’s “James Bong” called “Dolphin Splash It When I Whip It.” It’s hard to compare him to someone you already know because he seems to fly in the face of just about any comparison–which is why his entry on this list is a no-brainer. In terms of the “future” bass sound that’s so hype right now, Shamana seems to be about a decade ahead of most, simply on some different shit.—Josh
Philthkids
Number of Followers: 1378
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/philthkids
Location: Canada
Philthkids are making some awesome hybrid music melding ghettotech, footwork and even elements of jungle. Not only do they crush productions but they've worked hard to bring attention to other great underground artists who they believe in through their own label Philthtrax. If you like it rough and sexy, you're missing by not following these guys.—Brice
HaveThat
Number of Followers: 1258
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/havethat
Location: Atlanta, GA
Dubstep and trap aren't really going anywhere. Can we all agree on that at this point? One of the more interesting names that's blended those two over the last several months is Atlanta's own HaveThat. His remix of Major Lazer's "Aerosol Can" made my face melt and I've been sneaking peaks at his SC ever since. We definitely encourage you to do the same.—Brent
Digital
Number of Followers: 1159
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/digital-function-records
Location: Ipswich, UK
While I understand that Digital's SoundCloud page has only been truly active over the last six months, it's surprising to see how much praise he garnered during dnb's last great era and how little love his SoundCloud page is getting now, considering that he's been grinding hard on in 2014. He has a great mixture of classic tunes from his catalog and his forthcoming material. And as often as I hear things about new drum & bass being shit, you'd think that the old guard would get a bigger push on this platform.—khal
Matas
Number of Followers: 1030
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/matasmusic
Location: Brooklyn, NY
As one of the founders of the Budo Kiba collective, Matas has been on the low pushing some great stuff. His joint EP with Edo Lee (Walking Nights) is truly something special and was my first experience with their music, but Matas on his own is doing some great stuff. Like his collective partners, Matas brings a downtempo style into 2014 with jazzy leftfield hip-hop that is just delightful.—Jake
Dakat
Number of Followers: 970
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/dakatmusic
Location: Nice, France
Dakat is somebody that seems to be completely shrowded in mystery. He dropped his debut tune four months ago out of nowhere and completely blew me away. He's dropped another original since and a huge collaboration with Tomsize. Not much else is known though and if you ever take a listen to his tune "Stability," you'll know exactly why he's on our radar.—Brent
Undercut
Number of Followers: 903
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/undercut_uk
Location: London, UK
Not really surprised that people aren't up on Undercut; this is a side project of drum & bass crew Mutated Forms. Looks like they needed something to release this UK bass music that's emitting from their studio. Everything from their takes on garage to more bass-y house beats is up here, and from the looks of it, they're on to something.—khal
Bones & Money
Number of Followers: 850
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/bonesandmoney
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
These two run Tuff Wax, but as a production duo have also seen material get released on Trouble & Bass, Ciao, and Loose Squares. This Aberdeen-based crew have a great hold on their sound, and love putting interesting vibes on the electronic music scene. The majority of their bits are built for grooving in the club, but each tune seems to contain something that grabs hold and won't let you leave.—khal
BMotion
Number of Followers: 639
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/b-motion
Location: Pontypool, UK
BMotion's getting love on a number of fronts, including the sets of the Hospital crew, Matrix & Futurebound, and DJ Bailey. He's making that upfront, main room dnb that has heads holding hands in the air and getting ready for the pressure. He's not 100% there, but it feels like he's got that Brookes Brothers anthem-styled tunes ready to come forth.—khal
Mace
Number of Followers: 621
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/macemusic
Location: Milano, Italy
Mace may be a newer act, but the man behind the music has been in the game for more than 10 years. You may know him better as one half of the group RESET! who have made bangers in spades over the years with releases on Dim Mak and Mad Decent and remixes for the likes of Fatboy Slim and Robyn. As Mace he's made blazing bass music. There may only be seven tracks on his SounCloud, but they're all insane.—Brice
MaTTWIZaRD
Number of Followers: 596
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/mattwizard
Location: Portsmouth, UK
While he reps Portsmouth, it feels like MaTTWIZaRD is in his own world. Own galaxy. He seems to wear his video game/old school influences right on his sleeve, siphoning those memories into bright bass-fueled journeys back to those child-like days. It has the bright sheen of an old neon sign, but enough swing and low-end to keep us in tune.—khal
T_A_M
Number of Followers: 557
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/t_a_m
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
T_A_M is another impressive talent out of Aberdeen that's making the kind of music that chinstrokers seem to speak on all of the time. Being able to manipulate a number of genres never seems to be easy, but T_A_M feels like a true fan of sounds as opposed to trying to kill it in one particular genre or style. He just is.—khal
Iota J
Number of Followers: 348
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/iota-j
Location: New York, NY
Downtempo Dilla-inspired goodness is always appreciated and Budo Kiba founder Iota J has that in spades. His work will sometimes touch on house grooves and trap tempos too, but through it all Iota J just keeps his cool and delivers the goods. Leftfield for most ravers, this is guy has the turn down on lock.—Jake
Emerald Soul
Number of Followers: 259
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/emerald-soul
Location: Atlanta, GA
Now Emerald Soul is someone I personally have pegged to be making big waves. He's already received love from Diplo on Diplo & Friends, and says he has an EP on the way in the near future. Sure, he only has two tracks on his SoundCloud, but less than 300 SoundCloud followers seems insane for what he's bringing to the table. It's the quirky turndown of "Stare" that piqued Diplo's interest, which makes sense. It runs for a little over three minutes, but it has a number of twists and turns that make the time spent with it so worthwhile.—khal
King Froopy
Number of Followers: 54
SoundCloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/kingfroopy
Location: Des Moines, IA
King Froopy is really one of those cats who you can only find if you know to look for him. Quietly uploading creative remixes and original productions to his personal SoundCoud and reaching out to us from time to time, Froopy has been low-key smashing it with a variety of influences that culminate in a French electro-tinged sound that is dripping in bouncy, happy vibes. If you’re not following (and we know you’re not), change that. Froopy is a much needed breath of the freshest air.—Josh