“The Grind” started as a Lee Coombs vs Elite Force remix I was working on in summer of 2007 – I had a tough beat and some great samples but, as many producers can relate to, the track became overburdened with other elements and was shelved for a year and a half.

By that time, Aaron Pope and I had finished “Bassline” and were looking to work on a new track. He sent me some sick sounds which solidified the groove and I found an Australian hip-hop artist by the name of Estae who was willing to contribute his vocals. The result was a hip-hop infused electro-breakbeat track that was slammin’ till around the second breakdown. I needed one more element…

Enter Emmett Barnes. Best not to tag that name and let word get back to Emmett that this song exists. He was an unruly employee of mine at a staffing agency who’s continual tardiness and delinquency eventually cost him his job. He did not turn in his final time card before the deadline and as a result his check was delayed. What ensued is the voicemail that he left me over the weekend that I will never forget. I recorded it because I knew it was gold – and when I came across this sample on my hard-drive, the question of the second breakdown was answered. It would be Emmett Barnes, motherfucker.

Erase Records snatched up the track in early January after some successful road testing in San Francisco at the Space Cowboys legendary New Year’s party “Breakfast of Champions”. Aaron and I were so inspired by this, that we finished another track before Erase had the release scheduled – “You Got What”… which became the B-side.

Then came the news of the remixers… Scott Cooper (Potty Mouth), Wasabi (Erase), and Mike Hulme (Lot49, U&A)! Suffice to say, Aaron and I are on cloud nine over this release and we will be back in the studio before you know it to crank out the next “Breakfast of Champions” banger!