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quote Rovi
One of the more creative left-field hip-hop figures to surface during the late 2000s/early 2010s, New Jersey-based producer Clams Casino landed his first collaboration after contacting the Pack's Lil B via MySpace. The MC proceeded to use several Clams Casino productions, all of which were trippy, wistful, and strangely emotive, for the likes of "Realist Alive," "Motivation," and "I'm God" (the latter of which was also used by Soulja Boy for "2 Milli"). Clams' profile gradually raised as word got out that he was the one behind these tracks, as well as material by Main Attrakionz, Main Attrakionz's Squadda Bambino, and Mobb Deep's Havoc. In March 2011, he uploaded a free 13-track mixtape of instrumentals -- something of a highlight reel, along with a previously unused beat. This preceded the first official Clams Casino solo release, the Rainforest EP, which was issued by Tri Angle that June.
quote Spin
What's remarkable about Volpe is that he basically helped invent the most interesting new style/sub-genre of hip-hop in the past few years, but not that many people know, probably because it doesn't yet have a catchy name ("Hypnagogic Hip-Hop"? Not happening.). Basically, he took the hazily zonked, nostalgic jumble of '80s/'90s references that became known as chillwave, and flipped it into a rap-beat format. And that sound just happened to fit with Lil B's equally zonked and enigmatic rhyme spew, which B has dubbed "Based." Generally, a Clams Casino track feels like the soundtrack for a New Age seminar that's drifted wildly off course and run aground, but always in a more fascinating, ominously exhilarating place. Drums and synths yawn and stretch and sigh, always tilting toward the sublime, not in a pretentious way, but like a smart, modest, confused kid who's understandably anxious about today's state of effed-up affairs and wants more.. It's probably the most appropriate music I've ever heard for just zoning the *bleep* out for four or five hours at your computer while idly Googling the ineffable.
This has been my jam for a good three months. New mixtape this week though, which you can find out more about with a sanctioned DL link at
Stereogum, is taking it to the next level and causing me to look at good stereo systems. The blurb up there is on the money about just how good the music is for a chillout session.
It's funny how much Lil B I heard last year before these instrumentals even got to me. ASAP too. This new mixtape is pretty damn solid to be honest. Expect to be hearing a lot more of this guy everywhere.
Edit: Jun 09, 12 10:27am
