Denis Jašarević, better known by his stage name Gramatik, has once again showcased his profound ability to seamlessly blend old-school jazz, blues, and swing with his own interpretation of hip-hop electro beats. SB5 is the latest installment in his Street Bangerz album series, being his 10th album since his first release in 2008.
SB is Gramatik’s more instrumental side, trading his borderline-aggressive electro wubs from his previous 2016 Epigram album release for more traditional musical stylings. These include the introduction of an electric guitar to James Brown’s ‘Down and Out in New York City’ and Nat King Cole’s ‘Straighten Up & Fly Right,’ which became ‘No Place Like NYC’ and ‘What’s the Use of Jivin’ respectively. The other big instrumental standout that was prevalent on a majority of the songs on the album were the drums he used, as they are extremely rich, full-bodied, and accentuate the beats and vocals in between.
Adam Deitch, the drummer for Lettuce and Break Science, makes an appearance on the album in ‘Just Imagine,’ adding his instrumental flare to one of the more downtempo tracks on the album. The Geek x Vrv and Anomalie are also featured, with the Geek x Vrv being a part of the silky smooth ‘What She Said,’ and Anomalie playing the keys during the first ever live performance of ‘Muy Tranquilo.’ Gramatik’s exquisite mixing of vocal samples into the fold is apparent in ‘Still Doin’ It,’ “I Know It,” and ‘Let Me Know the Way,’ using the short length of the vocals as a tool to keep listeners grooving between his drums instead of just layering them over the top of his beats.
Street Bangerz 5 is an eclectic masterpiece, bringing together many different sounds and genres into a product that flat-out works. With a welcome return to his roots, Gramatik shines.
Word by Alex Bell.
