Even with his visual art, Phels has always been rooted in hip-hop, and his ties to noted Orlando crews like Beat Ministry and Beer Money Unlimited attest to his cred. After debuting with 2019 full-length release Grail Pieces, he’s finally back with new My Good Phelo album Elevate.
While his 2019 debut played like a beatmaker’s mixtape, Elevate is a quantum leap that’s practically a proper album unto itself. The 13-track collection isn’t simply a backing beat catalog waiting to be picked up and fulfilled by an MC but an instrumental hip-hop album that’s a full, enveloping listen on its own. With atmosphere-rich music and effective use of samples in lieu of a lead MC, these compositions are vivid, sweeping and self-sufficient. At their best, the cuts here recall marquee producer acts like Handsome Boy Modeling School.
Elevate is further deepened by Phels’ method. In addition to his plush, tasteful textures, he opted for a more handmade approach using samplers instead of a computer. Moreover, the recording was essentially a beat performance with all sound effects and transitions done live. It’s a touch that gives Elevate a pulse not often felt in typical production work.
Sure, the tracks here are short and would make prime backdrops for a rapper, but they don’t need one to be listenable. They pack enough dimension, dynamism and character in themselves. Together, they’re a sterling model of hip-hop’s instrumental side as its own discrete art. Elevate now streams everywhere and atop This Little Underground’s Spotify playlist.
Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
Orlando playwright Ashleigh Ann Gardner restages her techy thriller ‘Qualia’ at the Renaissance Theatre
Get to know newer bands Frogs Show Mercy, Dunies, Offtrack and Midhouse at Stardust gig
This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2024.
