“Supa K: Heavy Tremors” by QuakersWhen looking for the ultimate genre-bending style in today’s hip-hop industry, look no further than Quakers.

Genre: Instrumental Hip-Hop, Rap

When looking for the ultimate genre-bending style in today’s hip-hop industry, look no further than Quakers. The hip-hop collective boasting over 30 members blends jazz, techno and funk into its first wildly experimental beat tape since 2012. Signed to Stones Throw Records, the group has been frequent collaborators with fellow avant-garde artists such as Pharoahe Monch and Madlib while establishing themselves as a prominent underground act. For those who love discovering new music and new styles, “Supa K” is an incredible gateway to new styles while also maintaining the same, consistent lo-fi texture. This technique is referred to as plunderphonics, the compositional technique of taking previously recorded music and manipulating it into a brand new song, very similarly to how many pop songs sample melodies from older tracks. On Tyler, the Creator’s hit song, “A Boy is a Gun,” the chorus from “Bound” by the Delfonics, a soul group from the ’70s, becomes the repeated accompaniment throughout the song. Although Quakers’ music may seem conceptually complex, their album remains accessible and easy to listen to while studying or doing work. Although being 50 tracks long, the runtime is under an hour as each beat flows into the next, creating an exceptional listening experience.

“Mama, You Can Bet!” by Georgia Anne Muldrow

Genre: Jazz

Since May, the death of George Floyd has sparked worldwide protests and revitalized the Black Lives Matter movement, as he’s eulogized among countless Black victims of police brutality. However, in Georgia Anne Muldrow’s life, this fight has been prevalent long before May 2020. The soulful multi-instrumentalist released her third and final installment of a jazz project released under the pseudonym, “Jyoti” — translating to “Divine Light.” While all three albums incorporate Muldrow’s signature smooth texture, the latter’s multidirectionality and deeply personal content create a modern jazz masterpiece. Each track switches from instrumental melodies to vocals to spoken word interludes, providing an introspective look into Muldrow’s attempt to find solace through her heritage. Whether through the sonic composition or the intimate lyricism, she provides a peaceful perspective amidst various complex issues. She pays homage frequently to late Black jazz innovators throughout the album, reinventing their ideas both musically and politically. The Pan-Africanist identity, popularized by Muldrow’s predecessors in jazz, becomes the basis for a passionate grand finale to her “Jyoti” project. 

BACK IN TIME:

“Funky Kingston” by Toots & the Maytals (1973)

Genre: Reggae

On Friday, Sept. 11, legendary pioneer and leader of reggae group “The Maytals,” Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, passed away due to coronavirus complications. Considered by many as the “father of reggae,” he helped popularize the genre in Jamaica and internationally. Additionally, one of their first domestic hits, “Do the Reggay,” is the first cited use of the word that Toots described as an internal feeling as much as a musical genre. The group’s blend of traditional island calypso and ska music — both stylistic predecessors to reggae — led to a domestic sonic revolution, later expanding to Britain and the U.S in the mid-’70s. For as much as his music survives his legacy, Toots was equally known for his wild, eccentric stage presence. He possessed an incomparable, vibrant energy, constantly experimenting and expanding songs for up to 30 minutes during live performances. However, the most important aspect of the group’s music was the spirit Toots wanted to portray. 

“Reggae is a message of consolation; a message of salvation,” he said, believing that art must resonate with people through positivity and peace, a fundamental sentiment shared throughout the genre. “Funky Kingston” is a must listen for all reggae fans, or anyone who loves the song “Country Roads” by John Denver, for the group covers the classic track with a distant Jamaican adaptation.