Some Orlando, FL doctors estimate that there were approximately 60+ drug related deaths in the city between 1991 and 1997, many of which were linked to the Orlando rave scene. The city had risen quickly and fell quickly due to the widespread amount of excessive drug use. Heroine was very popular in Orlando during the mid-nineties and was actually so much of a problem throughout the city that the police worked to take control, creating "The Rave Review Board" which would impose a curfew on nightclubs which would end any afterhours activity. Since Orlando raves were always held in nightclubs their scene, knocking out the majority of rave promoters from the city as they began looking to the suburbs.
The beginning of the Orlando rave scene can be traced back to a club called Oz. The main promoter of Oz, Stace Bass, had two major residents: Kimball Collins and Dave Canalte. Dave Canalte eventually became musical director for Disney's Pleasure Island.
DJ Icey's roots date back to the same period but at a club called Sub-Zero where he was growing an appreciation for breakbeats. He soon moved on to play at a club called Edge which was supposed to have a Top 40 theme - but not under Icey's watch. With the club packed every weekend from 1991 to 1997, Orlando was growing on the rave map. But simultaneously the drug situation inside The Edge had gotten out of control. The crowd members were often considered to be "gangster ravers." A backlash to these happenings came from within the scene.
Firestone nightclub opened up in 1994, hosting primarily progressive house acts. Progressive house was considered to be a more mature sound and in clubs like Firestone a dresscode was enforced. A split in the scene had become evident with "Edge kids" on one side wearing JNCO jeans, doing ecstacy or heroine and listening to breaks. The other side were "Firestone clubbers" who were dressing up, doing cocaine and listening to progressive house.
Funky breaks in Florida caught on primarily because it was a fusion of styles. The area was already big on electro. There was also the booty shaking music of Miami bass. Funky breaks combined these two but with more of a rave essence. It was also widely accepted because it sounded like a hip hop version of techno/house. In the early to mid-ninetees you would see breakdancers popping and locking at events.
This podcast presents some popular breaks tracks that were released between 1993 and 1996. It illustrates some Florida breaks like Icee and also the sounds of UK Big Beat producers like The Crystal Method and Chemical Brothers.
2 Bad Mice - Bombscare
DJ Icee - Gotta Get Some
The Freestylers - Don't Stop
DJ Icee - Tricks Theme
Silicon Valley Def Stars - Phat Phuzz
Thursday Club - A Place Called Acid
Lionrock - Packet of Peace (Chemical Brothers Remix)
Anoesis - Trouble Down Groove
The Crystal Method - Keep Hope Alive
Chemical Brothers - Chemical Beats
The Woodshed - Reefaman Cometh