Backyard Bangers - New Math

Hollyrock
Released: 08.29.06

Today's hip-hop is quite a bit different from the unfocused dancefloor anthems of yesteryear. At this point, we all know it's getting hot in herre, and we certainly plan to take our clothes off-- and we'd honestly prefer a little tact in your delivery, Nelly. The ubiquitous recognition of rap slang and repetitive hip-hop trends is forcing more and more producers to go against the flow of popular rap music with innovative beats and unprecedented style.

Backyard Bangers is the brainchild of L.A. producers E.Moss and TroubleMaker, who have lurked in the shadows of the Valley for several years working under a variety of monikers. What began as zip-disk trading eventually became a partnership that would lead the duo to create Hollyrock, the studio (and record label of the same name) that gave birth to New Math, their debut release. Instrumental hip-hop has earned a bad reputation as being too repetitive or unable to stand alone without the supporting cast of a quality MC. Backyard Bangers use turntablism, MPC-created vocal noodlings, and an expansive sample bank to keep the audience listening.

From start to finish, it's a journey of constantly-changing breakbeat soundscapes and densely layered samples reminiscent of DJ Shadow's epic Endtroducing..., but without all the theatrics. Instead, you'll find chopped up vocals, old school 808s, beautiful strings, and a churning, non-stop barrage of drums that make New Math as suitable for the club as it is for background music. Occasionally, there are moments when incongruent elements go head to head for attention, resulting in an awkward mash-up of sounds, but immediately from the chilled-out opener "Yardwork" it's clear that these self-produced cratediggers' aim is to keep heads bobbin'.

- Brandon Bass