"Traktor" is a single from Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32 that feqtured on his first album and features uncredited vocals from British singer L. The single was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 16 January 2011 with a 12" vinyl released the following day. On 23 January 2011 the single debuted at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart;^[1] also managing to reach number 2 on both the R&B chart and the independent releases chart.^[2][3]

"Traktor" was selected by Reggie Yates as The Weekend Anthem on BBC Radio 1 for 18 – 19 December 2010.^[4]

Background[link]

Speaking to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis - Assistant Editor of Blues & Soul - in December 2010 Wretch stated: "'Traktor' is actually about a dad talking to his child. Like on the intro the dad is saying 'Hey, go get a job' and basically telling his son to get outta the house. Then the chorus is actually the son explaining what's going on in his life. Like he's quit school; he hasn't got a job yet; his girl's upset 'cause she's pregnant and - though his daughter's on the way - he keeps on clubbing and raving... But yet through it all he knows that he rides the beat like a TRACTOR - that he's a great RAPPER! You know, though everything is so wild in his life he literally does know that he has got a talent and he wants to stick with it... So yeah, it's basically all about having a gift and taking a risk with the music and BELIEVING in it. Which is pretty much how it is for ME!" ^[5]

Critical reception[link]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy Blog gave the song a positive review stating: "Though he sounds like a mere number from the Dickensian workhouse, there's nothing anonymous about this debut single."^[6]

Track listing[link]

Chart performance[link]

"Traktor" first debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 23 January 2011 at number 5;^[1] marking the week's third highest new entry behind Diddy-Dirty Money and Adele. The following week, the single fell two places to number 7; falling out of the top ten to number 12 on 6 February. The single spent a total of six weeks within the top 40, falling to number 44 on its seventh week on 6 March. The single also debuted at number 2 on the R&B singles chart^[2] behind Diddy-Dirty Money and Skylar Grey's "Coming Home" and at number two on the independent releases chart^[3] behind Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". The single also debuted in Ireland and Scotland at number 45 on 28 January^[7]

Music video[link]

A music video to accompany the release of the single "Traktor" was first released on YouTube on 9 November 2010, directed by Ben Newman. The video lasts 3 minutes and 47 seconds long. The video opens with the digits '32' forming out of ice; before the song begins, in which Wretch 32, L and a female actress are all show in between the flashing of lights. The video takes place in an underground and empty car park and features Wretch 32 and L performing alongside with the song, while the female mimics the song by playing the drums; also dancing. Rapper Chipmunk makes a cameo appearance at the end of the video.^[8]

Charts[link]

Release history[link]

References[link]

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Traktor (previously known as Traktor DJ Studio) is a DJ software package developed by Native Instruments. The most recent version, Traktor Pro, offers seamless looping, effects, automatic beat-gridding of tracks, advanced beat detection and Sync Lock for automatic synchronization of tracks, a 4-channel mixer, emulating the Xone:92 4-band EQ and filters by Allen & Heath and three other equalizer models, real-time track management with incremental search, artwork browsing, iPod and iTunes compatibility, automatic gain control, integrated recorder supporting internal and external audio input, support for multiple MIDI controllers and advanced MIDI assignments, as well as the syncing of external gear through MIDI clock functionality. Traktor is also used as a "sub-brand" for several of Native Instrument's associated hardware products.

History[link]

Traktor was first released in 2000 and has gone through several major application changes. The initial versions of Traktor were Traktor Studio and Traktor DJ, with Traktor Studio being more full featured (and expensive). In 2002, Traktor DJ Studio 2 was released, which offered several new features including scratch macros. It also expanded its looping, MIDI, and cue point functionality. In 2003, Traktor DJ Studio 2.5 was released. This new version expanded the time stretching functionality, added Open Sound Control (OSC) support, and gave the user limited ability to customize the look of the interface.

In 2003, Native Instruments partnered with Stanton Magnetics to develop the software for their "Final Scratch" digital vinyl system. This partnership gave Stanton a Win/Mac version of the Final Scratch software (which previously ran in a version of Debian Linux) and allowed Native Instruments to use the Final Scratch timecode engine in their own Traktor line.

In 2005, Native Instruments added vinyl emulation capability to version 2.6 of Traktor DJ Studio. Version 2.6 included live input, streaming internet broadcasting, support for more file formats, and greatly expanded MIDI capability. Soon afterward, Traktor DJ Studio 3 added two more playback decks (for a total of four), built-in effects, Beatport online store integration, a four-channel mixer, a Universal Binary version, deck caching, and minor improvements to existing features.

On October 11, 2006, the partnership between Native Instruments and Stanton Magnetics ended, and Traktor DJ Studio 3 was renamed Traktor 3.^[1]

In 2008, an updated version of Traktor Pro, and a new version of the DJ studio, Traktor Scratch Pro were released. Traktor Scratch Pro had additional DVS functionality enabled, includes the specifically designed Audio 8 DJ audio interface, and timecoded CD or vinyl control.

On April 1, 2011, version 2 of Traktor was released. This upgrade includes new sample decks, "truwave" waveforms, an optimized UI, a loop recorder, and a new series of traktor audio interfaces, among other features.

On April 2nd, 2011, version 2.5 of Traktor was planned to be released on May 30th, 2012. This upgrade is set to include "Remix" decks and will be released on the same day as their new "Kontrol F1" controller.

On May 25th, 2012, version 2.5 of Traktor has been released.

Features[link]

Four playback decks[link]

The DJ now has the ability to layer up to four different sound sources. The four decks have Sync functionality, either to a designated “Master” deck or the Master Tempo. Decks also have independent key and tempo adjustment, giving the DJ the ability to freely change the pitch or key of a song to facilitate harmonic mixing.

Each deck allows the user to see the waveform of the loaded track in two different views. The top display offers a zoomable waveform scrolling against a fixed play marker. The lower display shows a fixed waveform of the entire song with a moving play position marker. Clicking with the mouse in either display will start playback at that position. Loop function is accessed also in the deck display, with the possibility of choosing different loop lengths and precise loop in and out cues. A much improved auto beat gridding and sync features make looping very intuitive, although checking the gridding of tracks is strongly encouraged to ensure that the beat grids are correctly placed. Also in the display are the track information, cover art, tempo, pitch and time remaining.

Effects and EQ[link]

Each playback deck has now two assignable effects processors. However, the master output channel effects capability has been removed from Traktor Pro. Traktor Pro features 21 effects (as opposed to only 5 effects on Traktor 3), chainable in groups of up to six at a time. Effects settings can be saved to allow for automatic settings reload the next time the effect is used.

The EQ section offers several modes of operation, including emulation modes for the popular Pioneer DJM-600, Ecler Nuo4, and Allen & Heath Xone92 mixers.

Looping, beat jumping, and deck caching[link]

Traktor Pro has extensive support for looping. Loop lengths are selected by the DJ and are musically logical in length (from 1/8 of a measure to 32 measures). Start and end points are quantized based on the BPM of the song. Once a loop is set, that loop can be moved using the Loop Move buttons, again in musically logical values. If the DJ desires, loop start and end points can be set manually to non musical values. In Traktor Pro, the loop function is now easily accessed through a bar below each deck.

Beat jumps work in much the same way as looping does, allowing the play position to be moved forward or backward within the song at a value determined by the DJ.

Both looping and beat jumping features still benefit from the deck caching functionality introduced in Traktor 3. In previous versions of Traktor, moving a loop or beat jumping would introduce a small pause in the audio. As its name implies, deck caching allows the user to determine how much RAM is assigned to each set of decks, and songs loaded into those decks are cached into that RAM for instant access by Traktor. This, combined with the “Snap to Beat” functionality, allows a user to move seamlessly within a song and opens up more possibilities for on the fly remixing. Like most of the features in Traktor, the looping and beat jumping functions can be mapped to a MIDI controller and/or mixing desk.

Track selection and Crate Flick[link]

Traktor's file browser is similar to that of iTunes. It lists audio files by row, with columns available to describe various track properties, including comments, tags, and ratings. Information from each song’s ID3 tag is parsed by Traktor and made available in the browser, and can be edited from within the program.

Traktor Pro also introduced a "Crate Flick" browsing system. Crate Flick shows the top portion of each track's cover as you flip through your track collection, in an effort to emulate the, quick image-recognition based, browsing of sleeves in a crate of records. Crate Flick can also be used for file formats that would normally not support artwork (AIFF, WAV) as Traktor Pro allows the user to assign the cover art to these files. All metadata saved by Traktor is fully portable, allowing users to easily move tracks between different computers without losing any of the saved metadata.

Traktor LE[link]

A special entry-level version of Traktor called "Traktor LE" is being bundled with many of the newer MIDI devices recently released, including the Kontrol X1 ( NI Traktor ready out-of-the-box controller ), Allen & Heath Xone 3D, Behringer BCD3000, Numark Total Control, Faderfox and the Vestax VCI-100. MIDI templates for Traktor are also bundled with the Feena Electronics FMDJ9303, the KontrolDJ, and the Ecler Nuo series of mixers. But a dedicated controller isn’t necessary because any MIDI device can be used to control Traktor’s features. Likewise, Traktor is compatible with a wide variety of audio interfaces on both Mac and Windows.

Variations of Traktor[link]

Native Instruments features a lower-priced version of its DJ studio, Traktor Duo, which features two decks, a single 3-band EQ for each channel, and six effects. ^{[2] [3]} The company also released Traktor Scratch Pro and Traktor Scratch Duo, which contain the same respective features as their standalone counterparts, along with vinyl control capabilities. In August 2010, Native Instruments released Traktor Pro S4 with the Traktor Kontrol S4 hardware.

Traktor Hardware[link]

The Traktor brand has several hardware products associated with Traktor. The range is intended to be used with Traktor, but can be used with any software supporting certain standards. All Traktor hardware products use USB to connect to a computer.

Controllers[link]

Traktor Kontrol X1[link]

The X1 is intended to supplement DVS systems to give access to looping, effects and other parts of the software which couldn't be accessed through the turntables or CDJs. It was designed to be small enough to fit into any DJ being too small to be unusable. While it is a Traktor product, it can also be used with Serato as the controller uses standard MIDI to interface with the hardware. ^[4]

Traktor Kontrol S4[link]

The S4 features a 4 channel mixer section and two deck sections (similar to CDJs) that can each control two software decks. Mixing is still done internally by the software, as the controller does not feature an internal hardware mixer. It can be used with any software that supports MIDI, though it has several features that are only usable with the Traktor software. ^[5]

Traktor Kontrol S2[link]

The S2 is a 2 channel, 2 deck controller very similar to the S4. ^[6]

Audio Interfaces[link]

All Traktor audio interfaces operate at 24 bits at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz sampling rates and are "plug and play" with Traktor software. They can be used with ASIO, Core Audio, DirectSound or WASAPI software drivers. The Traktor Audio 6 and Traktor Audio 10 also support 16 bit mode and a "Direct Thru" mode.

Traktor Audio 2[link]

The TA2 is a 0 input, 4 output (2 stereo pairs) USB powered interface. Each stereo pair has an independent volume control. ^[7]

Traktor Audio 6[link]

The TA6 features 6 inputs and 6 outputs (3 in/3 out stereo pairs). It is USB powered but needs an external power supply for use of "Direct Thru" mode. Two of the stereo pairs have phono pre-amps (can be used with turntables). ^[8]

Traktor Audio 10[link]

The TA10 features 11 inputs and 10 outputs (5 in/5 out stereo pairs plus 1 mono microphone input). It requires an external power supply. Four of the stereo pairs have phono pre-amps (can be used with turntables). MIDI hardware is also connectible via 1 in, 1 out MIDI ports. ^[9]

See also[link]

• Mixxx
• VirtualDJ

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Traktor Kontrol S4 Specifications and Descriptions
• Traktor Pro Review on DJ Tech Tools
• Traktor Scratch Pro Review on Skratchworx
• Traktor Pro Review in Remix Magazine
• Traktor Pro Review in Laymans Review
• Traktor Pro Review in Top Ten Reviews
• Traktor Pro Review on Beatportal

Three singers-a trio-singing a song while accompanied on a lute played by one of the singers. Das Konzert [The Concert] (c. 1490, Lorenzo Costa).

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing. A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs. The lyrics (words) of songs are typically of a poetic, rhyming nature, though they may be religious verses or free prose.

A song may be for a solo singer, a duet, trio, or larger ensemble involving more voices. Songs with more than one voice to a part are considered choral works. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms, depending on the criteria used. One division is between "art songs", "pop songs", and "folk songs". Other common methods of classification are by purpose (sacred vs secular), by style (dance, ballad, Lied, etc.), or by time of origin (Renaissance, Contemporary, etc.).

A song is a piece of music for accompanied or unaccompanied voice or voices or, "the act or art of singing," but the term is generally not used for large vocal forms including opera and oratorio.^[1] However, the term is, "often found in various figurative and transferred sense (e.g. for the lyrical second subject of a sonata...)."^[1] The noun "song" has the same etymological root as the verb "to sing" and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines the word to mean "that which is sung" or "a musical composition suggestive of song." The OED also defines the word to mean "a poem" or "the musical phrases uttered by some birds, whales, and insects, typically forming a recognizable and repeated sequence and used chiefly for territorial defence or for attracting mates." ^[2]

Cultural types[link]

Art songs[link]

Art songs are songs created for performance in their own right, usually with piano accompaniment, although they can also have other types of accompaniment such as an orchestra or string quartet, and are always notated. Generally they have an identified author and composer and require voice training for acceptable performance. German-speaking communities use the term art song ("Kunstlied") to distinguish so-called "serious" compositions from folk song ("Volkslied"). The lyrics are often written by a poet or lyricist and the music separately by a composer. Art songs may be more formally complicated than popular or folk songs, though many early Lieder by the likes of Franz Schubert are in simple strophic form. They are often important to national identity.

Art songs feature in many European cultures, including but not limited to: Russian (romancy), German (Lieder), Italian (canzoni), French (mélodies), Scandinavian (sånger), Portuguese (canções), Spanish (canciones). There are also highly regarded British and American art songs in the English language. Cultures outside of Europe that have a classical music tradition, such as India, may or may not feature art songs. The accompaniment of European art songs is considered as an important part of the composition.

The art song of the period in which they originally flowered is often a duet in which the vocalist and accompanist share in interpretive importance. The pieces were most often written to be performed in a home or salon setting, although today the works enjoy popularity as concert pieces. The emergence of poetry during this era was much of what inspired the creation of these pieces by Brahms, Schumann, Schubert and other composers. These composers set poems in their native language. Many works were inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Heinrich Heine. Another method would be to write new music for each stanza to create a unique form; this was through-composed form known in German as durchkomponiert. A combination of both of these techniques in a single setting was called a modified strophic form. Often romantic art songs sharing similar elements were grouped as a song cycle.^[3]

Folk songs[link]

Folk songs are songs of often anonymous origin (or are public domain) that are transmitted orally. They are frequently a major aspect of national or cultural identity. Art songs often approach the status of folk songs when people forget who the author was. Folk songs are also frequently transmitted non-orally (that is, as sheet music), especially in the modern era. Folk songs exist in almost every culture.

Popular songs[link]

Modern popular songs are typically distributed as recordings and are played on the radio, though all other mass media that have audio capabilities are involved. Their relative popularity is inferred from commercially significant sales of recordings, ratings of stations and networks that play them, and ticket sales for concerts by the recording artists. A popular song can become a modern folk song when members of the public who learn to sing it from the recorded version teach their version to others. Popular songs may be called pop songs for short, although pop songs or pop music may instead be considered a more commercially popular genre of popular music as a whole.

See also[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Song

• Air (music)
• Animal song: bird song, whale song, zoomusicology
• Aria
• Ballad
• Canticle
• Category:Musical forms
• Hymn
• Instrumental
• Lied
• Madrigal (music)
• Song structure (popular music)
• Vocal music
• Theme song
• Poem and song
• Singing

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Marcello Sorce Keller (1984), "The Problem of Classification in Folksong Research: a Short History", Folklore, XCV, no. 1, 100- 104.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2012)

Wretch 32
Performing at Jersey Live in 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Jermaine Scott
Born	(1985-03-09) 9 March 1985 (age 27)
Origin	Tottenham, London, England
Genres	Grime, British hip hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Ministry of Sound (2010–present)
Associated acts	The Movement, Bashy, Chip, Ed Sheeran, Skepta, Wiley, Double S, Tinie Tempah, Kano, Example, Angel, Skyhigh, Sherif, Lowkey
Website	wretch32.com

Jermaine Scott (born 9 March 1985),^[1][2] better known by his stage name Wretch 32 (three-two), is an English rapper and former Grime MC from Tottenham, London where he grew up the son of a local reggae DJ in the Tiverton Estate.^[3] He was a member of the grime collective "Combination Chain Gang", before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts, and Mercston. The world and online community including the UK music industry especially, first set eyes on Wretch 32 when 32 was given the opportunity to appear on RMC TV Artist Spotlight back in 2005 around the same time as N-Dubz drummer BreakBeat. Wretch 32 – The Beginning!^[4] Needless Beef a short film based on UK street life and gun crime starring Wretch 32 was first edited and broadcast exclusively on RMC TV, which later inspired MTV’s Dubplate Drama Series.^[5] He is also often associated with the TMT crew, also from Tottenham, due to his close relationship to fellow Tottenham rapper Cell 22. The pair have made several songs together. He released his first single "Traktor" in January 2011.

2009 Mp3 Music Awards announced that Wretch 32 was nominated for an Mp3 Award alongside Chipmunk and Haringey Independent^[6] and Channel U / Channel AKA published the story.^[7]

On 6 December 2010, the BBC also announced that Wretch 32 had been nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll^[8] and MTV named him as a nominee for MTV Brand New for 2011.^[9]

Career[link]

Early life[link]

Born in March 1985, Scott grew up alongside crews Combination Chain Gang and The Movement, the latter of which featured Scorcher, Ghetto, Mercston and Devlin, Lowkey & Wretch 32 In My Lifetime. Continuing his MC career in 2006, Scott under the name Wretch 32 released a series of mixtapes, including Teacher's Training Day – which featured guest appearances from Ghetts, Bashy and Scorcher.^[10] After coming to the attention of BBC Radio 1 Xtra's DJ Cameo, Wretch went on to win a 1Xtra Mixtape Award.

2007 Early Exposure[link]

Wretch 32 got his first big break when he performed at the first annual MP3 Music Awards in 2007 alongside signed US recording artist Chenelle, signing her chart single “I Fell In Love With The DJ” in front on a live crowd and industry audience that included the likes of the BBC Head of Music Mark Cooper, PRS Chairman Ellis Rich and various other individuals from EMI, Sony, Warner and more. After performing at MMA 2007, his album was released. Wretch 32 Punctuation Live and a Wretch 32 Live Accapella at MP3 Music Awards 2007 on youtube.

2008–2011: Early career[link]

The movement into mainstream began when Wretch 32 appeared at Radio 1's Big Weekend on the BBC Introducing stage in 2009. His debut studio album, Wretchrospective was released in the United Kingdom during 2008, prior to Wretch's signing with record label Ministry of Sound. Wretch 32 and Chipmunk were both nominees for the UGG Awards, Urban/Garage/Grime category at the 2009 Mp3 Music Awards followed by Haringey Independent Press Release. On 6 December 2010, Wretch 32 was named as one of the nominees for BBC's Sound of 2011, an annual poll which predicts artists that will progress during the upcoming year. In 2010 Wretch 32 won a Official Mixtape Award for the 'best hiphop mixtape of 2009.

[edit] 2011–present: Black and White

Wretch then continued, releasing his debut single "Traktor" on 16 January 2011^[11] through Ministry of Sound as both a digital download and a CD single. The track saw commercial success, having been selected as BBC Radio 1's Reggie Yates Weekend Anthem on 19–20 December 2010,^[12] before debuting at number five on the UK Singles Chart as the third highest entry of the week.^[13] The release was succeeded by second single "Unorthodox", which featured British rapper Example. The song, which sampled The Stone Roses' 1989 hit "Fools Gold" debuted at number two in the UK, also topping the R&B chart and independent releases chart; having been selected Jo Whiley's Weekend Anthem on 26–27 March 2011.^[14] also he featured on female artist Jaya's single 'Outta Control' along side Diggy Simmon, although this failed to chart due to lack of exposure.

On December 11, 2011 Wretch 32 released the single "Forgiveness" featuring Etta Bond (artist who is signed to Labrinth's record label Odd Child recordings) from the album Black and White.

It is confirmed that Hush Little Baby, featuring Ed Sheeran will be the next single from the album.

Discography[link]

Albums

• 2008: Wretchrospective
• 2011: Black and White

Mixtapes

• 2006: Learn From My Mixtape
• 2007: Teachers Training Day
• 2009: Wretch32.com
• 2010: More Fun! [Wretch 32 + Chipmunk]
• 2012: Wretchercise

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Official Web Shop
• Wretch 32 on Myspace
• Wretch 32 on Twitter
• Wretch 32 on Facebook