Renegade Riddims: BK

Straight from the Nor-Cal underground to the North Carolina hills, BK steps up for this week’s Renegade Riddims, and it’s a serious Drum & Bass workout. Built for the ravers, the heads, and the sound system junkies, this one’s got that warehouse bite and forest rave soul running through every blend.

Fifteen years deep in the culture, BK is a selector who lives for the mix. His sets hit with precision and weight, flipping between deep techstep rollers, vibey liquid grooves, grime-soaked jump-up, halftime pressure, and jungle business that rattles the ribcage. He’s all about that 170 energy, razor-tight mixing, layered blends, and transitions that roll like a freight train through fog and strobes.

Since touching decks back in 2011, BK has carved out his spot in the US Drum & Bass circuit, holding it down for heavy crews like Stamina Sundays, Dystopia, Soundpieces, Shelter SF, Wormhole Wednesdays, and Stilldream Festival. You’ve probably caught him shelling it alongside the big dogs, DJ Dara, Dieselboy, Random Movement, The Upbeats, Gridlok, Total Science, Echo Brown, and UFO!, all with that trademark BK control and flow.

Outside the booth, BK is getting busy in the lab, too. His debut dropped on Samsara Beats and showcased his production chops, deep, rolling, and laced with that forward-thinking touch. With more music on the horizon, he’s proving that his sound runs just as hard in the studio as it does on the dancefloor.

So lock in and let BK guide you through the full 170 spectrum. This Renegade Riddims mix is built for the heads who crave weight, groove, and soul in equal measure. Heavy, technical, and straight from the culture, this one’s not to be missed.

Check out the mix below and download it for free here!

Q&A:

Sum up this mix in 10 words…

Dark, minimal, rolling. Relentless tech-infused drum and bass pressure.

What’s your personal favourite track on it?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I’d have to say the opening track, Arkala Dre & Teej – Let This Ride. The vocal carries a powerful message – it feels like a reminder to let the music speak for itself and to just keep pushing forward, letting it ride despite obstacles and setbacks. It’s also a monumental techy roller that really sets the mood for the whole mix. 

What’s the special ingredient in this mix?

There’s a few!! The recipe is a base of deep, dark techstep, tight beatmatching, layered blends, a heavy sprinkle of triple drops, with a spicy dash of heavy rollers on top. The secret sauce is 15 years in the game, and a close ear digging into the underground – those choice cuts give the whole mix its flavor.

Tell us about your next release…

As of right now, I’m currently sinkng my teeth back into production trying to evolve and rediscover my sound after a brief hiatus. Nothing in the pipeline label wise, but I do plan on doing a self release EP on Bandcamp/Spotify/Soundcloud soo !! So keep your eyes and ears peeled for that. 

What have you got coming up? 

I’ve been staying busy behind the decks lately with a few exciting ones lined up.

First up, I’ve got the honor of playing Sanctified Sundays this week, an annual memorial show for one of Asheville’s original DnB legends Leigh Xist who really helped pave the way for the local scene. We’ll be celebrating her legacy proper with the whole family.

Also hyped for the annual Winter Luau 5 in January, where I’ll be headlining. This one’s all about the deep, soulful side of liquid. Expect plenty of lush, soulful rollers and feel-good energy all night.

And switching gears a bit, I’ll be stepping out of my comfort zone for a 4-hour hip-hop set at a cocktail lounge. Been a hip-hop head forever, so I’m this kind of gig is right up my alley, and im always up for a fun challenge. 

When was the last time you actually raved?

When I think of raving, I don’t just mean going to a club with a Funktion-One and a drink ticket. I’m talking about raving—sweaty warehouses with no AC, kandi kids trading bracelets, secret map-points and cryptic infolines, glowsticks flashing under a single strobe, and music so underground you felt like you were part of a secret society just for hearing it.

The last time I truly felt that energy was back in the Bay Area, when I still lived there. The SF and Oakland underground shaped me – warehouse parties, renegades under freeway overpasses, busted-out factories turned into sonic temples. It wasn’t just about the music, it was about the community and the sense of discovery. You never knew if you were pulling up to a mind-blowing drum & bass set or a broken sound system held together with duct tape, but either way, it was real.

Those nights were a huge part of my upbringing, and honestly, they defined what “rave” means to me to this day. The Bay’s underground scene was (and still is) prolific – It taught me that raving isn’t about big production or VIP tables, it’s about losing yourself in the music, sweating it out with strangers who feel like family, and being part of something that might disappear by sunrise.

And finally, do you have a special message for our readers?

Discipline is the quiet work nobody sees – the hours you put in when no one’s watching. Pride is what makes you care about every detail, no matter how small, because it represents you. And fun? That’s the spark that keeps it alive, the reason you started in the first place. Embrace your passion and trust the process. If you can hold on to all three, and you won’t need to shout about what you’re doing, the music will speak for you

TRACKLIST:

1. Arkala Dre & Teej – Let This Ride  

2. Wingz – Made You  

3. Scurrow & GZY – Intrinsic  

4. Scotty, Dizrupt – Fervent 

5. Hound & Young Gho$t – Run It  

6. Sustance, Para – That’s Right  

7. Kryptiv – Straight Fluid  

8. Koax – Pillow Scream  

9. GZY – With Me  

10. Swept – Illusion Ft. Fabiana Palladino 

11. Jam Thieves – Sunfall (feat Natty D)  

12. Dubruvvas – 311  

13. QZB & PHAE – Ghost Town  

14. Dava – It Hurts  

15. Wingz – Move (USB Exclusive)  

16. Rockwell – Comfy [En:vy Remix]  

17. Resslek – SD  

18. Amoss, Fearful – Beldray   

19. Hound – Inquest  

20. Qzb & Sydney Bryce – Waste Your Kiss  

21. Fail?ver – Daily Commute  

22. Cesco – Fake 

23. Bredren – Unidentified  

24. Arkala Dre – Can You Manage? (feat Fraser)  

25. Acris – Pushing  

26. Wingz – IDW  

27. Primitive Instinct – Tungsten  

28. Glm & Teej – Always  

29. Dub Ten – Get Loose  

30. Dubruvvas – Gangsters  

31. Resslek – Splash  

32. Teej & Objectiv – Astros & Jeans  

33. Koherent – Dancing Soul  

34. Nik P – Graveyard Shift  

35. LNO & Slippy Skills – Beg  

36. Resslek – Games (PARA Remix)  

37. Sustance – Squirt  

38. Dava – Lurker  

39. Reasxn & Dubruvvas – Switchback  

40. Alibi & En:vy – Forged  

41. Ed Rush & Optical – Rock tha House  

42. Halogenix & Sparkz – Sekkle In  

43. Minor Forms – Fresh Flavour  

44. Wingz & Koherent – Not Here  

45. L0G1N – That Flavor  

46. Hoax – Reptile (Waeys remix)  

47. Emperor & Haribo – Twisted  

48. Morrow – Letting It Roll  

49. L0G1N – Descent  

50. Monty – Flub (Original Mix)  

51. BassDubbers – Lardar (Kidsonic Remix)  

52. Ill Truth, Zerozero & Creatures – Danny Bravo  

53. ZeroZero – Confidence  

54. Amoss & Minor Forms – LTK 

55. Amoss – Ruff Stuff  

56. Quartz – Strike Anywhere  

57. Enei & En:vy – Death Sprint  

58. Theoretical – How We Roll  

59. Molecular – Fair Warning  

60. Dotdash – Micro Volts  

61. Visages – FFO  

62. En:vy – Silver Riff  

63. Re:growth – I Want U  

64. Aaron Payne – Second Guessing