Not sure if it’s a coincidence but a lot of my favorite hip-hop projects this year have come out of the Mello Music Group. From the Hasaan Mackey & Apollo Brown project, the Georgia Ann Muldrow LP and Has-Lo they’ve become of the most trusted names for the discerning hip-hop listener. Even better than the few projects i’ve mentionned, they’re behind two of my candidates for instrumental projects of the year: Apollo Brown’s “Clouds” and Oddissee’s “Rock Creek Park” (although this one has 3 vocal tracks and 9 instrumentals). If you loved “Clouds” then this one is a must buy (at only 8$), a little bit less spacey and a little more on that traditional jazzy vibe à la Pete Rock‘s “Petestrumentals” project.
From Oddisee: “Rock creek park is & has always been one of my favorite places in Washington, DC. It has a way of aging with you & adapting to where you are in life. When I was younger, it was a place for skipping rocks, bike rides & imaginary adventures in the woods. As a teen it was a place where I played basket ball, had cook outs with friends & walked through with dates. As an adult it’s my short cut through the city, my quickest way from Silver Spring to George Town. One thing it still is and always well be is my retreat.
Listening to the Black Byrd’s “Rock Creek Park” inspired me to create an entire album around the park & my relationship with it. If the park were to have a soundtrack, what would it be? What does walking along the trails of the park sound like? What does driving on the narrow tree lined roads sound like? This album is my interpretation of Rock Creek Park through break beats, samples & live instrumentation.”
Oddisee “Rock Creek Park” Buy-Links:
Vinyl: http://www.fatbeats.com/products/oddisee-rock-creek-park-lp
CD: http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/oddisee-rock-creek-park/MMG018CD/
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rock-creek-park/id445420111
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