It can be easy to overlook the producer in hip-hop. When they do their job right, it shines the spotlight on someone else. But the rappers and the insiders, they all know the producers, how crucial they are and, most importantly, whether or not they’re good.
In Orlando’s indie and roots hip-hop society, few enjoy cred like TektheINTERN. He’s an in-house producer for Beer Money Unlimited and has done production work for local star names like Shinobi Stalin, WordChemist, The Beat Ministry, JBiz, Midaz the Beast, Niko Is, El Da Sensei, Wordsworth, Millatron and The Grand Collab.
Tek has also released a good amount of solo instrumental material over the years. It’s been a long run, but it’s gotten less prolific recently and now concludes with a final album. However, Tek’s still in the game with some collaborative works going, so this coda is only for his solo work. Sad though that is, he’s going out on a high-water mark.
While TektheINTERN has always had a stylishly literate edge, his new album — Mind FUZZ 2 Samurai Space.. Cowboy — is the shining crown on a distinguished body of work. It’s a 25-cut odyssey of impressively musical hip-hop tracks that are his most realized tapestries to date.
There are occasional glitchy flourishes and abstract tendencies, like the left-field “Cocaine on Mars” and the vaporwave-esque “Bitch Ass Crawl.” But the aggregate air is one of evocative atmosphere. The classic beats are swathed in the warm, organic textures of plush 1970s jazz and soul. There’s distilled perfection in the slick kick and clean slap of cuts like “Cosmic Cuzz,” “Death Star Fresh” and “Dimensional Speedway.” Then there’s full lounge luxury with the lush horns in “Stargate Hookers” and “I Hate What You’ve Become.”
Between the cracking rhythms, vibey keys and voluptuous bass, this collection pairs a beatmaker’s framing with a musician’s sense of space. In fact, less than a third of the album is sample-based. Sure, these tracks would make a flattering showcase for an MC. But the greatest musical testament to them is that most can stand on their own as self-contained moods.
Like the circles in which he runs, TektheINTERN’s Mind FUZZ 2 Samurai Space.. Cowboy mines a sweet hip-hop spot between classic and indie. It’s a solo finale worthy of a truly artistic producer. The album is a Bandcamp exclusive and is available as a name-your-price download.
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