Can
I Bring My Gat?
Review by Mattmatical
What makes a good hip-hop beat? Is it the drums? Is it the bass? Is it the way a sample is flipped? Is it the fact that it can exist without a sample? Is it complexity? Simplicity? To each his own, obviously. Not to mention that there are different beats for different occasions. Rappers probably look for beats that compliment their style, the same may apply to dancers. As someone who's often just a passive consumer of hip-hop music, I've found that I prefer beats that come to life. Beats that tell a story. Beats that conjure up a mood. Beats that radiate energy. Beats colorful like characters in a cartoon. Beats that I recognize easily. Like yesterday, when I wound up standing next to some kid bumping "Still D.R.E." on his credit-card-shaped MP3 player. I enjoyed only a fraction of his listening experience, but my head still began to nod in approval of Dre's beat, escaping faintly from the kid's headphones, but echoing strongly in my memory.
Beats that hold that special breath of life are produced every day. A few find a rapper's approval. Fewer still find a record company's approval. Fewer still find a radio station's approval. The more people are involved in the process, the less likely a beat is to reach the masses. The beats we display today were fortunate enough to be picked and released by their creator - Arhythmatik, a rapper/producer from Phoenix, who's also involved in local rap label Modurn Languaj Asosiashun.
His debut EP "Pre-Algebra" came out earlier this year, and while I give him credit for his raps, hearing some of the instrumental versions is an entirely different experience. (Too bad they weren't included on the EP.) "Mind & Heart" is of epic proportions, combining fanfare-like horns, that ol' '80s boom and James Brown-like primal screams. "Polynomials" on the other hand is festive true school hip-hop, fully energized by Pickster One cutting up Roxanne Shanté for the hook. To give you an idea of Arhythmatik's mic skills, "Polynomials" is also featured with the vocals.
Artist website: www.arhythmatik.com
Posted by mattmatical on October 26, 2005 08:14 AM
Originally published on: http://www.abitnice.com/canibringmygat/archives/2005/10/arhythmatik.html on Oct. 26, 2005