Showing posts with label beat tape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beat tape. Show all posts


DroMello Releases Debut Beat Tape


Buffalo producer DroMello is the latest addition to growing list of promising beat makers to emerge locally in the past few months, which includes Spike Scott, Dahlhaus, and Sparklebomb. Each of these promising young artists bring their own flavor to their instrumental based work, often leaning towards an ethereal, reflective sound. Despite showcasing such a mature sound, DroMello is surprisingly still in high school, a senior at St.Joseph's Collegiate Institute to be exact.

From an initial listen to the opening track of his debut beat tape, Second Grade Alchemist, it's clear that the young artist is full of potential and has a clear vision for what he is trying to communicate with his tracks. Influences like Flying Lotus, J Dilla, and Madlib are evident throughout the collection, with songs like "Strut Long" and "Astral Connection" employing a soulful, highly melodic style. Other standout tracks include "That Sound," "Rememberance," "Fall In Love" (a J-Dilla tribute), and "Soul Mate," which is reminiscent of Bastard-era Tyler, The Creator. From the crisp percussion, to the overall laid-back hip hop feel, each track could imaginably serve as a creative spark for a thoughtful MC. The entire album is available as a free download. Listen below and hopefully we will have more material from the young producer in the months ahead.





Dahlhaus Releases Debut Beat Compilation


Back in July of last year, the self-titled debut of Buffalo experimental rap duo Network was named our album of the week. The noirish combination of MC Quinton Brock's delivery and Derek Sullivan's atmospheric production made for one of the most interesting local releases of 2013. Earlier this week, Sullivan released a 15 track compilation of beats titled Rough Tor, featuring reflective vocal sampling and gritty percussion. Much of the collection is quite similar to his production for Network, like the soulful "Slider" and the Cocteau Twins sampling "Supra." Other tracks take a much more sparse and cinematic approach like "The Vulture," "Crooked Teeth," and "Pommac," further proving that the producer is capable a concise, minimal sound that is equally affecting with or without lyrics. The entire compilation can be downloaded for free from Dahlhaus' soundcloud page. Listen below.    






Prime Example's Joe Locus Releases Long Swords and Sine Waves Project


Level 1: Fantasy. Level 2: Ecstasy. Level 3: All the Way Turnt Up. If I had to describe Joe Locus's latest project in stages of a video game, that is how I would categorize the 26 tracks on his latest project inspired by virtual play, Long Swords and Sine Waves. As 1/4 of the 716 hip hop crew Prime Example, Joe Locus is an integral part of the production and direction of the group's wistful sound. In this solo project, he focuses the listener's attention on his gaming wizardry and the all-consuming pastime of his childhood by completing each track as if it were a stage in a video game. According to the producer, that is how he best works. Joe delivers the popular motif softly to the ear through nostalgic sounds of the '70s and '80s in "Party People," and "Listen" even brings to me a different kind of nostalgia. Though not a video gamer, I was a mallet percussionist all throughout middle and high school (cough NERD cough), so the xylophone vibrations and marimba grooves in "Listen" got my heart all a flutter for a few minutes. Anyway, enough about me. Listen as this gifted emcee throws down the funk and ride the sine waves.
 

Jessica Brant