Hard Times and DJ Spen share a history that runs deep, and this latest release ‘The Muthafunking Hard Times’ feels like a celebration of that bond.
The Baltimore icon DJ Spen, working here under his Muthafunkaz alias, digs back into his vaults for a set of tracks that have lived in memory but never made it to vinyl until now. The result is not a museum piece but a living, breathing statement that connects house music’s past and present with warmth and energy.
The A-side is pure fire. “(You Make Me Say) Woah!” in its Funkee Kole Cappin’ Mix surges with gospel energy, the kind of call-and-response vocal that can light up a floor, lifted further by playful touches that give it charm without losing its drive. “Holy Ghost” follows, and here Spen pulls no punches, dropping tribal rhythms and spiritual chants that build into a feverish, almost ecstatic release. It is a track that feels both raw and celebratory, rooted in tradition yet alive with immediacy.
On the flip, “Gotta Hold On Me” bursts out with horns, jazzy drums and a swaggering vocal line. This is house music at its most kinetic, an unapologetic reminder of Spen’s ability to fuse soulful elements into something utterly propulsive. Closing track “Doin’ The Best I Can” shifts the mood. Bluesy harmonica and guitar sketch out a looser, more contemplative space. It is tender, reflective, and the perfect counterbalance to the record’s more high-octane moments.
The ‘Muthafunking Hard Times’ EP on Hard Times is more than a set of unearthed tracks. It is a reminder of what makes DJ Spen such a revered figure: his ability to capture joy, faith, struggle and release in house music form. Vibrant, soulful and deeply human, this is a record that shows how the music continues to speak across decades without losing any of its spirit.
The ‘Muthafunking Hard Times’ EP is set for a September release, pre order here.
