fbpx

From the Woods Beats: Hip-Hop Instrumentals from Boom Bap to Trap

After releasing my album From the Woods and dropping the remix to the title track featuring KRS-One, I cooled off for a minute. Working with one of my biggest inspirations, I had a “where do I go from here?” type of moment, although I know there is still so much evolution ahead for my music.

I played my first show in 18 months with my live band and it was surreal perform for an audience again. The room was packed, and we have a dope recap video. Check it out here. I prepared so much for that show that I ended up having a slight break in my consistent release schedule. I got so used to releasing music and not playing shows, that it’s become hard to do both at the same time in this almost-post-pandemic world.

album-cover-blue-sweatshirt-leaves-hand-mpd218-from-the-woods-beats-hip-hop-instrumentals

I’m dropping the beats from my album to let the musical elements fully breathe, to see who flips some rhymes over them, to work with different mediums and collaboration with dancers, to highlight all the amazing musicians who played on the record, and to wrap up this big long From the Woods album campaign. I want to convey my love for making beats and working with musicians.

This time period has been about creating a brand and discovering how to share who I really am with the world. Owning where I’m from (The Berkshires) has been a huge part of my growth lately. While I have lived in New York City, Los Angeles, toured around the country, and traveled to places like India or Peru, I’m out here in the forest again making hip-hop in Housatonic. What could be my biggest fault or shortcoming, not being in a big music city, is actually my biggest strength and what sets me apart. I feel like it doesn’t matter anymore. People are rocking out wherever they are and being seen if the music is solid. If I do move to a city though, I’ll still be repping the woods.

The biggest revelation I’ve had lately from watching awesome Netflix music documentaries like This is Pop, is that the song matters the most. Staying active on socials, doing administrative work to ensure the business side is pro, making videos, Tik Tok, etc… It only matters if there is a great song behind all the non-creative work that an independent artist has to do. I’m waking up at 6:30 AM most mornings and making music before I do anything else, just to write better songs. It’s the only way I can feel right with myself. My hope is that I am in the process of becoming the best version of the artist that I am.

Here’s some new beats. Enjoy Peace.

Genres: Instrumental Hip-Hop, Boom Bap, Oldschool, Underground, Trap, Pop, Neo-soul, R&B, Electronic, Beats, Cafe, Downtempo

Inspirations: J Dilla, Russ, Logic, Timbaland, Pete Rock, DJ Premiere, Large Professor, The Roots, Young M.A, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Pretty Lights, Robert Glasper, Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Bonobo, Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Moonchild