Instrumental Hip Hop 530 Items

Yesterday & Tomorrow is more than just a beat tape. It’s the personal story of Val Murray’s gender transition. Evolving beautifully over three acts, each of the 15 songs is a necessary moment in an emotional arc that begins with Murray’s self-revelations at the start of the pandemic, through to her gradual acceptance and self-actualization in the summer of 2021.

The first act, discovery, is about Murray’s first steps into her transition, developing an acute awareness of her own gender dysphoria, or as she describes it: “searching for the keys to your true self and coming up empty handed.” In this act it’s fitting that beats like psilocybin and opal feel foggy and vaporous. trees featuring Floco Torres, asks us to ponder our undeniable inner truth and outer truth, so we can stay in touch with the world around us. Torres’ incisive lyrics on trees are an extension of an hour-long conversation with Murray after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, painting an intense picture of self-discovery in disorienting times. To end the act, Dysphoria sunshine and drown take us deeper into Murray’s 8 to 9 month period of dysphoria before glimmers of hope appear.

In act two, reflection, we are with Murray as she finds herself at the bottom of a proverbial mountain she doesn’t know she can climb. Dealing with new realizations about her true gender identity, a final grad class in theoretical computer science that feels beyond her capabilities, and a late in life autism diagnosis, she has no choice but to push herself further than she’s ever gone before. This is where she ascends, expanding her mind and growing more firm in who she is. Songs like the girl in the mirror and ikigai, show light entering through the clouds, and along with it, a new purpose for Murray: “live as me.” With prism, a track that began before her transition, Murray sees the world through her new self with life-affirming vividness and meaning.

In the final act, we enter the most recent stage of Murray’s transition: actualization. This is a stage on-going today, one full of questioning: what does it means to be oneself? What assumptions are accurate? What’s been an act all along? It’s a period of her life, and on the album, that’s deconstructive and lighter in tone, all while being abstract. Songs like parallel are meant to occupy two realities or timelines: the then and the now (the now being the only timeline that matters.) With the penultimate thank you, Murray creates an ode to close friends who’ve been supportive all along, whose positivity continue to bring comfort. Finally on see u again, Murray leaves us with a peaceful yet dissonant closer about living your truth and everything that comes with it. Including all the bad feelings that can creep in from time to time.

Yesterday & Tomorrow is a beat tape like no other, an intimate epic about Murray’s past and future. Although deeply personal, there’s a message for all of us to internalize: no matter how dark things get, there’s always hope. Even when you think it’s completely out of reach.

"Tonjen One" is an explosion of tasteful sounds and imagery. Deeply setup into modern electronic it mixes ambient robotic bleeps and soulful jazz hip hop beats. It's a multi-genre composition going easily from one world to the other and playing with the contrast between the two in a very satisfying way. The album flows as a continuous stream of sonic pleasure and comes out of the mind of Swiss producer YZNO (formerly known as Jazzo) releasing his first LP complemented by Isabel Seiffert's incredible artwork and under the Swiss label Boyoom Connective in collab with Urban Waves and HHV.

We welcome our newest SIC Records Recording Artist!! YungGrunge with his Debut EP!!

A Refreshing Enhanced Aural Journey Of The New G-Funk ERA!!!

When was the last time music saved your life? Yasumu has his own story to tell in ‘Escaping Reality’, a 13-track album that examines his relationship with music growing up; which shaped him into the skilled musician he is today. The German composer translates deep-rooted feelings of loneliness and uncertainty into sounds, through carefully composed drums and signature piano compositions. Intertwined with the melodies are orchestral elements that evoke the underlying beauty in his journey of self-discovery.

Austin Boogie Crew had to do something special for our first vinyl release of 2019, and with that we present H1NDS1GHT , a killer double 7” modern funk EP by the one and only XL Middleton! Hailing from Pasadena, California, XL has established himself as one of the premiere musicians, label owners (MoFunk Records), and tastemakers in the game. Using outstanding and mostly unreleased material from his archives as the foundation for this project (hence the name H1NDS1GHT), XL reimagined these songs and penned fresh lyrics specifically for the release. We divided the EP into two 45s, each with its own distinct vibe, and with the help of illustrator Austin Cashell and designer Rene Cardenas, created a unique album jacket that forms one image when the two records are held side by side. Viewed as a whole, this EP is an exceptional ride that will carry you from spring into summer!

Vol. 2 A: “Gamin’” (120 BPM) - Broken beat inspired drums and soaring chords lay the groundwork for this exceptional jam about approaching a woman with respect and care. With a sick solo and some vocoder peppered into the mix, this is a winner in more ways than one.

B: “Enjoyable Sunburn” (116 BPM) - XL crafts a playful yet smooth instrumental that would sound at home in an Outrun video game or on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. But it isn’t just the nostalgia factor that will keep you coming back to this one, it’s the compositional finesse, amazing synth sounds, and heart.

Austin Boogie Crew had to do something special for our first vinyl release of 2019, and with that we present H1NDS1GHT , a killer double 7” modern funk EP by the one and only XL Middleton! Hailing from Pasadena, California, XL has established himself as one of the premiere musicians, label owners (MoFunk Records), and tastemakers in the game. Using outstanding and mostly unreleased material from his archives as the foundation for this project (hence the name H1NDS1GHT), XL reimagined these songs and penned fresh lyrics specifically for the release. We divided the EP into two 45s, each with its own distinct vibe, and with the help of illustrator Austin Cashell and designer Rene Cardenas, created a unique album jacket that forms one image when the two records are held side by side. Viewed as a whole, this EP is an exceptional ride that will carry you from spring into summer!

Vol. 1 A: “Nervous” (112 BPM) - Making a lasting impression out the gate, “Nervous” is a modern funk anthem for anyone who’s struggled with the confidence to approach someone romantically. On top of the endearing and refreshing songwriting, the instrumentation on this one is crisp and way funky.

B: “Digital Devils” (113 BPM) - Originally featured on the 2014 cassette compilation Is This The Future?, this irresistible instrumental is long overdue for the vinyl treatment. The slapping drums and wet, punchy bass on this one immediately demand attention. With lovely changeups and 16-bit style leads, this is an ace in the hole on any dance floor.

Boston-based producer xander. is headed for the horizon with his third instalment of ‘Cabin Fever’, featuring a handful of collaborators and live instrumentation. Soothing guitar riffs and dynamic melodies are suspended in lofty weightlessness, combined with detailed arrangements of crisp drums and signature textures; crafting sounds so real and immersive, it’s like reading a story book. Enjoy the view from up here - everything below looks surreal.

WYS has arrived in time to rescue winter with his album ‘South Pole’: a chilling, but warmly-welcomed sequel to the highly-acclaimed ‘North Pole’. Bundle up and grab your sled for this short, nostalgia-filled auditory trip. Comforting guitar riffs feel cosy as woollen gloves, and bittersweet melodies like icy serenades, together with soothing gusts of wind, will send you adrift into the endless expanse of white. A quiet, faraway place you can always return to - where the ice never melts, and your favourite memories are preserved beneath the sleeping glaciers. Close your eyes, and let your mind drift off in the snowstorm…