All cultures leave behind relics, proof of their existence and impact on subsequent individuals and communities alike. When found, these artifacts provide not only an insight into the past but a foreshadowing to the present day. Such is the case with K-Def’s latest beat tape unearthed from a time now considered “golden.” Granted, Hip Hop may only be in its adolescence, but a finding cassette tape that is more than 20 years old is quite a discovery. On “Tape One,” you can hear beats and programming that could compete with tracks by Pete Rock, Premier, Large Professor and others in K’s peer group. That being said, it’s equally understandable how the legendary Marley Marl was captivated by the burgeoning producer’s talent and tapped his skills as a sonic bridge, a necessary link, from the “old” sound to the “new.”
Like any similar recording of this period, the sound quality leaves something to be desired, but herein lies beauty of this relic. K’s beat tape embodies a time capsule of breaks, chops, samples, and vintage bit rate grunge that so many producers currently attempt to capture, attempting to relive a bygone era. K-Def was displaying the ability, the talent, and the prowess that would contribute to his staying power in the new millennium. If this beat tape is comparable to K’s version of inventing the wheel, then his new material is on par with space travel. One sees the progress of a producer, a composer representing a composite of his life’s experiences as evidenced in this early recording. Years from now, the audio archeologists will delight in piecing together the subsequent artifacts of this evolving artist. The innovation continues…

Buy Vinyl/Tape: http://www.redefinitionrecords.com/collections/k-def

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