Girl Talk

Girl Talk Streams Mash-up All Day

On Tuesday, DJ Girl Talk (real name: Gregg Gillis) lit up the internet with a surprise no-strings-attached free download of All Day, the follow-up album to 2008's critically recognized Feed The Animals. The album was made available on the website of his label, the aptly named Illegal Art. The mash-up mastermind assembled the album earlier this year, which boasts 373 samples from other artists during its 71 minutes. It's another attention-grabbing blend of new and old, hip-hop and classic rock blended and layered to create something dense, danceable, and wholly unique. Somewhat surprisingly, labels have been hesitant to sue Gillis for copyright infringement; it's thought that the associated costs could be greater than any settlement reached for each sample used. Making the album available for free also protects Gillis, because then labels cannot accuse him of profiting directly from their recordings. In 2004, Danger Mouse crafted The Grey Album, a mash-up of the Beatles’ The Beatles (often called the White Album), and Jay-Z’s The Black Album. Rather than sue Danger Mouse, the Beatles’ label, EMI, delivered a “cease and desist order,” ironically providing Danger Mouse with increased publicity. With a reputation for inciting wild dance parties that blur the line between performer and audience, Girl Talk’s massive tour runs now through March, 2011.