The second round of the NCS vs. Monstercat anniversary showdown arrives with “Dance Floor Ready,” bringing Habstrakt and Cartoon & Kahzi together for two distinct takes on what it means to move. The latest installment of the six-week campaign arrives August 19 as both sides continue celebrating 15 years of shaping internet-born electronic music culture.
Representing Monstercat, French bass music powerhouse Habstrakt enters the competition with “Poison,” a dark, adrenaline-charged production that combines razor-sharp sound design with a moombahton groove. Built for maximum impact, the track draws on the producer’s ability to move between genres while maintaining the hard-hitting energy that has defined his catalog and live performances.
“Poison” also marks a significant first for Habstrakt as his debut moombahton record. The genre enjoyed a major wave of popularity during the mid-2010s, and its return arrives at a time when nostalgia has become an increasingly powerful force across electronic music. Habstrakt taps into that renewed interest while giving the style his own modern production treatment.
His relationship with Monstercat dates back to 2019, when he made his label debut with the explosive “Infinite.” Since then, the French producer has established himself as a genre-blending force whose career spans major festival stages, club environments and the gaming world. His production has even extended into the world of video games, where he has created music for one of the industry’s biggest franchises.
On the NCS side, Cartoon & Kahzi answer with “Like A Melody,” a smooth and infectious late-night track designed for head-bopping, cruising and letting the bass carry the moment. Where “Poison” leans into darker club energy, the NCS release takes a more melodic route while maintaining the dancefloor focus of the week’s theme.
For Cartoon, the anniversary campaign represents a return to the ecosystem that helped establish the Estonian duo as one of the recognizable names of the online EDM era. Their RIAA Gold-certified “On & On” became a defining soundtrack for YouTube creators and a generation of electronic music listeners, cementing their place in NCS history.
Since then, Cartoon has continued demonstrating its versatility through a steady run of releases, including the full-length Cartoon & Friends, which explored a heavier side of the duo’s sound. Joined by Kahzi, the project now brings that range into the NCS vs. Monstercat showdown with “Like A Melody,” combining melodic hooks with an easygoing groove built for the dancefloor.
The contrasting releases continue the spirit behind NCS vs. Monstercat: 15 Year Anniversary, a campaign that transforms a decade-long fan debate into an official musical exchange. Founded in 2011, both NCS and Monstercat became major forces in internet music culture by introducing emerging electronic artists to millions of listeners through YouTube, gaming, creator content and online communities.
As their catalogs expanded, so did the overlap between their audiences. Fans began comparing artists, releases and labels, creating a friendly rivalry that has endured for more than a decade.
Now, 15 years after both labels launched, the two sides are celebrating that shared history rather than competing from opposite corners. Each week of the anniversary campaign brings new releases built around a common theme, highlighting the artists and sounds that helped shape both catalogs while looking toward the next generation of electronic music.
With “Dance Floor Ready,” Habstrakt and Cartoon & Kahzi offer two very different answers to the same question — one through dark moombahton pressure and the other through melodic late-night grooves.
Round two is officially underway.
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