Essential Rusko

Whenever we take a look at a producer's essential listening, we try to focus on those who's catalog actually deserves it regardless of our own opinion

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Complex Original

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Whenever we take a look at a producer's essential listening, we try to focus on those who's catalog actually deserves it regardless of our own opinions. One guy though who we actually love and think deserves this feature is Rusko. Born Christopher Mercer in England, Rusko has been a major pioneer in dubstep, an international touring DJ, festival mainstay, and at times, a producer of pop. Today, his forthcoming ! EP is available for pre-order, and from what we can tell in the previews, Rusko has once again evovled. Though he started with a fresh interpretation of dubstep, Rusko has since progressed through dubstep and has started now incorporating other styles (like drum & bass) into his music. One aspect that has not changed has been his affinity for 8-bit and video game sounds. Numerous Rusko tunes incorporate distinct video game samples and so in that way, he was ahead of the pack. Though he's not the only one to have that aesthetic these days, he's been doing that a while. He doesn't just make that though, but a swath of styles that retain a signature Rusko sounds. Here's a look at some of Rusko's essentials tunes.

Related: Complex TV and DoAndroidsDance? Present The Drop: Rusko

Rusko - "SNES Dub"

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When you consider Rusko's newest release and it's video game music tropes, it shouldn't be a surprise. Though he's not doing it on every release, old school numbers like "SNES Dub" show that Rusko has been on this tip since the beginning. This one is a deeper number with arpeggiated bleeps and undulating background bass and a back and forth sway groove. A rumper that one could probably get away with in the mix now and heads would think it's some new wave ish. It's just classic Rusko.

Rusko - "Everyday"

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Rusko has always had a pop sensibility to his tunes and "Everyday" is one where it's most evident. Like on many of his tunes and his newest forthcoming, Rusko once again flexes his love for 8-bit video game sounds and it brings a twinkle and shine to the normally dark sounds of dubstep.

Rusko - "Cockney Thug"

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Perhaps one of his most raucous tunes to date, "Cockney Thug" was straight up ridiculous. Old school soundsystem dub meets high energy thizzing club music meets skanking meets an insanely catchy melody and funny samples made this a hit.

Rusko - "Skanker"

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When Rusko released his second album in 2012, Songs, the UK producer/DJ really went back to dubstep's roots when he took the whole dub part of it and cranked it. Just some slimey good bass on this one with a funky riddim.

Rusko - "Da Cali Anthem"

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Though he has since collaborated with the likes of Cypress Hill and Gucci Mane, Rusko really showed of his love for hip-hop when he dropped this wild interpretation of 2Pac's classic "California Love" in a tour de force combination of G-funk and dubstep. A combo, that honestly, needs to come back in full force and style. This one still goes off anywhere you drop it and it's essential Rusko.

Rusko - "Woo Boost"

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Rusko has never been one to pontificate about the sophistication of dance music or dubstep at all, but one to just turn up. Often DJing without shoes and doing jumping jacks at the same time, Rusko's rambunctious energy was captured in "Woo Boost."

Rusko - "Jahova"

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"Jahova" might be one of Rusko's most famous tunes. It was included on his Sub Soldiers release Babylon Vol. 1 and his FabricLive mix with Caspa and is still regularly rinsed by dubstep DJs. The track has a mean phat backbeat and a mechanical grinding riddm to it that'll keep ya bouncing.

Rusko ft. Amber Coffman - "Hold On"

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Dubstep's lineage in UK garage hasen't always been apparent to U.S. fans, but on this vocal gem it's much more present. The shuffling two-step rhythms create a wavy flow through this as Rusko delivers one of his more poigiant tunes with Amber Coffman on vocals. It's a tune that's endured as one of his most beloved and for good reason.

Kid Sister - "Pro Nails (Rusko Remix)"

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Rusko's remix catalog isn't the deepest, but when he steps up, he really delivers. Taking Kid Sister's "Pro Nails," Rusko delivers an absolute energy injection with this one. This one was particularly fire because it not only flexed Rusko's dubstep wobbles in full effect, but it also highlighted how a pop-infusion could bring the sound to whole new levels.

Rusko - "Somebody To Love"

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As the lead single on his second album Songs, Rusko's "Somebody To Love" had quite a lot of hype to live up to. Whether it'd be more of the straight club dubstep of his Babylon days or his distinctly more mainstream ready tracks of his debut OMG remained to be seen. The track though seemed to hit right in the middle combining his carnival ride of explosive wobbles with classic rave and vocal power. Though the whole album had it's weak points, "Somebody To Love" was not one of them at all.

Rusko - "Acton Dread"

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Rusko doesn't usually do the whole "chill" thing. Normally his tunes are more of the party-starting, moshing, drinking, and jiving nature. "Acton Dread" though is super chill and it's a hallmark Rusko tune, if only because it's very different from the rest of his catalog.

Rusko - "Mr. Chips"

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This is an older one in the catalog but don't forget it. It was featured in FabricLive 37 mix and features some just down and dirty wobbles. The sample game on this is on point as it always is from Rusko, but the "daddy" sample into the bass? Oomph.

Cypress Hill x Rusko - "Roll It, Light It"

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Rusko has never been one to hide the fact that he enjoys herbs. His partnership with Cypress HIll only proved that even more as they collaborated for an EP and included the lead jaunt, "Roll It, Light It"–a stomping 8-bit infused thumper. The track's verbiage once.

Rusko - "Lift Me Up"

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