(03.04.07) Dabrye’s Instrmntl (Eastern Developments) is a high watermark in the cross-over between the head-nod of hip-hop and the textures ofelectronica. For me the restraint and variety put a cut above more popular names like Prefuse 73. Dabrye ‘s next move was an excellent 12″, Game Over (Ghostly International), featuring a rap by famed hip-hop producer JDilla (R.I.P.). The 12″‘s A-side demonstrated clearly that Dabrye’s beats work effectively in a more traditional hip-hop format.
Two/Three continues the trend with “Game Over,” featuring MCs on the majority of its 20 tracks, and thankfully sees Dabrye continuing to expand his range of sounds without a loss of personality or distinctiveness. It’s an excellent collection of incredibly inventive beats that still have the visceral oomph so essential for hip-hop to mean anything.
If anything, the weak moments are (no) thanks to the MCs. I mean, sure, Dabrye has pulled in a whole bunch of underground hip-hop stalwarts – Beans, MF Doom, Vast Aire and Wildchild, to name a few – but their efforts aren’t consistently great, and I found myself wondering from time to time if I wouldn’t have preferred an instrumental version of the album. Nonetheless, the net result is so thrilling it would be churlish for me to complain. Thoroughly recommended.
Two/Three is out now on Ghostly International. Buy it at Amazon.com.
