The Bay Area has long been a hotbed of the often-disparate worlds of hip-hop and electronic music. However, today the Bay is bearing witness to a collision of these scenes and sounds, resulting in exciting results and garnering international attention. A single remix or mix tape does not a trend make. But a series of recent releases from local produces suggests the latest sound to emerge from these shores just may be an electrifying hybrid of two of contemporary music’s most exciting and dynamic formats.
Here’s are a few local acts throwing the Ghostbuster’s advice aside and crossing the streams with reckless abandon:
Lazer Sword is an SF-based duo whose self described sound is “like your favorite top 40 rap chopped up into a tornado filled with razor blades and molasses.” Hard to elaborate on that, but the key take away here is that these glitch-hop pioneers combine familiar rap choruses with an unforgiving sonic assault of alien samples and bionic beats. Step blap to the future via their MySpace and blog.
DNAE Beats is a SF-centered artist who splices multiple genres into a mutant sound all his own. His much heralded mix tape “There’s a Wormhole in my Bathroom” is aptly-titled and must-download. As an accomplished hip hop beat maker (working with the likes of Gift of Gab) and a producer in his own right, DNAE Beats seamlessly weaves together hyphy, dubstep, electro and experimental into a sonic fabric that sounds like it was teleported through a tear in the time-space continuum. Sample his tunes on MySpace, read his blog and download his mix at XLR8R.
Mochipet is the brains, heart and soul of Daly City Records. Known to perform live in a purple dinosaur outfit (Barney Jokes need not apply), his endearing demeanor is quickly offset by his foreboding and unforgiving break beat/electro/hip hop music. You can’t judge a book by its cover, but sometimes an albums cover art gives it away. The graphics for his latest mix tape “Mater P on Atari” hints at the genre-destroying cross-overs Mochipet is known for. A skillful and prolific producer, Mochipet has received international acclaim (fresh off a major European tour) commercial recognition (featured on the soundtrack of the NBA 2K9 videogame) and seems poised for only bigger things.
These three acts are just the tip of the local hip hop/electronica cross over iceberg. This new sound simmering beneath the surface here in the Bay offers a healthy reminder to keep your ears open and your eyes peeled when you’re out in SF, chances are you might just catch a glimpse of the next big thing right in your own backyard…or bathroom.
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