"#tbt"

An early influence in the development of trap music, Canada-native, and artisan beatmaker HOUNDS leverages his ability to craft a versatile bassline as a fundamental expression of his diversity as an artist. Working congruously in his individual efforts and collaboratively with vocalists and production colleagues HOUNDS is a rare example of creative tenacity that works exceptionally in any format. Revisiting…

Paris-based production duo and founders of Ed Banger Records, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay remain key influences in the early transformation of electronic music, melding inspirations of rock and indie with more modern components released and performed under the guise JUSTICE. Selected from the highly regarded debut studio album Cross, ‘Phantom Pt. II’ synopsizes the French duo’s intuitive edge,…

The Bay Area’s Justice Skolnik blurs the division between genres entirely, producing vibrant original soundscapes and insatiable remixes that draw upon influences from the grounds of pop, hip-hop, and future bass. Highlighted as a staple track within the purview of his continually developing career, ‘You Could Be Down’ symbolizes the diversity and complexity Skolnik’s creative fortitude, showcasing the talented California…

As anti-police brutality & anti-racism protests continue across the entire US and around the world, I’ve found myself looking for music that reflects our reality. One album that quickly came to mind was Joey Bada$$’ 2017 release ALL-AMERIKKAN BADA$$. From the title alone, Joey made a statement with this body of work, pushing America’s issues with racism to the forefront.…

Released during the downtime between the summer festival swing and the fall touring circuit in September of 2016, Baauer’s collaborative delicacy ‘How Can You Tell When It’s Done?’ alongside CZ emphatically blurs the line between genres. An industrial vibe with incisive, metallic snares and massive folds of palpable bass provide an aggressive entrance to the track, which only highlights the…

Hand-tailored for the dwindling hours of the evening, beats by swell are distinct and eclectic in nature, making the Australian production marvel a lethal candidate for remixes and an ideal collaborative outfit for vocalists spanning nearly every genre. Selected from a particular period of vibrancy in swell’s creative output, the 2016 remix of ‘Gemini Feed’ by BANKS protracts the dark…

Holly’s gift to SoundCloud to welcome the New Year in 2016, ‘How I Do’ comprehensively embodies the unbridled spirit of creativity and collaboration that forged the underground we know and love today. A single-track assembled from the wits of QUIX, Montell2099, Elevate, Villette, and beat making sensation Holly is bound to rattle some cages, and ‘How I Do’ falls nowhere…

An heirloom from a variety of perspectives, Calgary-native and Westwood Recordings all-star DEFUNK predates the modern electronic music era with a funk-infused treatment of ‘Ramble On,’ featuring the vocal sample from one of Led Zeppelin’s most infamous hits. Blending two seemingly opposite sonic stylizations is no easy task, but DEFUNK navigates the rocky terrain with the ease and confidence that…

Many moons ago (over four years now), the young godfather of future beats released Escapism; the first installment of what would become a game-changing selection of projects. Among other genre-defying sonic masterpieces, Sam Gellaitry included one of the biggest bops in trap music history: ‘Long Distance’. Featured in a 2018 Diet Coke Super Bowl commercial, this heater exemplifies Gellaitry’s masterful…

Unleashed as part of his debut Meltdown EP via Terrorhythm Recordings in 2016, ‘BDSM’ depicts ZEKE BEATS leveraging his unmitigated creative prowess to the fullest extent. Tucked amid samples of the provocative rocking of a four-poster bed frame emerges a delectable beat-break rhythm that contours the fiendish energy of the lead before launching crisply into a cascade of freeform bass,…