Montreal composer Nicholas Craven produces rhythms with remarkable consistency. In the great New York tradition of DJ Premier and RZA, he draws his inspiration from soul, funk and R&B to build beats that inspire the most studious rappers on the scene underground from here (he signed the production of the excellent album Hull D-Track) and beyond — his collaborations with cult New Jersey rapper Mach-Hommy have not gone unnoticed. Thus, the composer’s signature sound, these soul-funk samples cut and tinkered with in such a way as to retain the soul of the original recordings without smothering it under too heavy bass, are tailor-made for the poets of the microphone who polish their texts and their messages. Let’s take two examples from the mini-album: YOD Onesiefrom Brooklyn rapper (and Nas emulator) Your Old Droog, who serves us here a brilliant text on a groove jazz fusion, then new religionfeaturing local veteran Connaisseur Ticaso, with one of his career best lyrics.
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