A sub-genre in hip-hop that has seen a sudden boom due to the internet’s multiple file sharing and streaming websites is lo-fi hip-hop. While instrumental hip-hop has always been in style with classic producers like Pete Rock, MF DOOM, Madlib, and J Dilla providing a variety of soundscapes to bob your head to, lo-fi hip-hop instrumentals are what music critic Anthony Fantano calls, “the idea of ambient music through the advent of the hip-hop beat.” Usually associated with chill and laid-back tracks, the genre has become the standard for many who wish to find a place to relax, study, meditate, concentrate, and even sleep. Puerto Rico’s independent art scene is no stranger to this form of music.
(the cover to MF DOOM’s first entry in the Special Herbs series which he released under the alias Metal Fingers)
Ever since 2008, el enmascarado de los beats (the masked one behind the beats), Recluso has been one of the most active instrumental hip-hop producers in the scene, giving light to such projects as his Tabla Periódica series and the original Fania Beats. Alongside Recluso, there have also been others like Skew (formerly known as Ejkew), who has shared projects with Recluso under the name Mango Sound System. As of recent, the duo has joined forces alongside beat makers Kampo and Seint to create the SP CULT. Named after the instruments used by these musicians, the Roland/Boss SP samplers, the collective is composed of producers who wish to promote and bring awareness to the instrumental hip-hop scene through weekly shows and festivals.
(promo for a recent show held by the SP CULT)
One of the latest producers of the CULT to release a project is the Juncos-based artist Kampo. Recently, he dropped his EP Azul and his single “Botánica,” which displays many of his skills as a musician. With the ten-song project, Azul, Kampo shows listeners his ability to set a laid back vibe while also conveying some emotion using lo-fi boom-bap beats. A direct translation of the EP is the word “blue,” a color that is highly associated with sadness. Thus, the music in the thirty-two minute project, while it can be dismissed as music to chill and relax, can come off as conveying a little bit of sadness at times, making it a great listen because one can get a variety of emotions without having words attached to the message and that, after all, is the power that ambient music can have.
(cover for Azul)
On the other hand, Kampo’s latest single, “Botánica” demonstrates the artist’s ability to present a dark atmosphere using what seems to be some bomba samples which then fuse with a more trap-influenced sound. However, it is the way Kampo mixes these elements with a weird voice that appears slower as the song progresses that makes this song appear ethereal and dark. The voice used in this track makes the listener feel as if someone is calling because he or she is being dragged into another dimension. Like Azul, where Kampo managed to convey a variety of emotions and energy, this single manages to convey two elements as well, these being a vibe and a story, which further demonstrates the producer’s abilities as a musician.
(cover art for “Botánica”)
The SP CULT is doing a magnificent job so far in order to promote and bring awareness to the instrumental hip-hop scene found within Puerto Rico’s independent art scene. While the artists’ style may not be the same, it is this exact variety that makes them so great and with Kampo, one can see the diversity this movement has to offer. With Azul, the producer manages to set a vibe and convey an emotion. Meanwhile, with “Botánica”, Kampo is able to provide a dark environment while presenting a short story. The instrumental hip-hop scene in Puerto Rico is slowly coming up and with producers like Recluso, Skew, and Kampo it is easy to see why and we should all keep an eye out.
Find Azul and “Botánica” on Spotify
Find Recluso, Skew, Seint, Kampo and SP CULT on Bandcamp