Thank the internet for 8tracks.com! How else would I have discovered the beautiful fusion of jazz and hip hop instrumentals?
For anyone who’s only just emerged from under their rock and don’t know what 8tracks.com is, it’s ‘handcrafted internet radio’ where you can listen to some of the best playlists created by music lovers all over the web. It also allows you to create your own playlists if you wish. Here you’ll find practically every genre searchable and be able to listen to popular, trending, old-school and underground music for just about any mood you’re in. It’s boredom proof. So if you love music and happen to let this one slip under your web radar, check it out. (You’re welcome).
So this is how I discovered amazing instrumentals and the likes of Thomas Prime, Groove Cereal and Nujabes – while wandering around 8tracks for some good jazz. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of hip hop because of some of it being a bit too ‘lyric-heavy’, but I think most hip hop songs have amazing beats and have often found myself longing to listen to them without the words. Enter ‘chill hip hop’ – with hip hop beats that go one-up and add an element of jazz to their composition. It’s been a while since I’ve had hearts in my eyes for so many songs at one time.
The beats are deep and mellow, allowing your mind to go just as far as you want to venture into interpretation. And that’s another thing I love about instrumental music, there’s more than one way of enjoying it. You could allow it to be smooth background music or you could sit with it and listen to the way in which it has been so beautifully crafted by the different instruments that meld into each other so perfectly. With the absence of words the music allows for a whole new level of listening. It is whatever your soul allows it to be.
After some referral links from 8tracks to Youtube and then to Bandcamp (another great underground music site), I landed upon some of Thomas Prime’s albums. I listened for hours, going from one head-bopping track to the next. One of my favourite tracks was ‘Light it up’ from The Instrumental LP Volume 2. Another dozen of my favourites came from the album Friends and Family 2.
Because awesome musicians are awesome, he has made his Friends and Family 2 album available to download FREE. You can download it here. If you’re anything like me, music will not be the same for you after this. It is amazing!
Any further review might ruin the experience, so I’ll just end it at that.
Nicole V.
Image source: cultclassicrecords.bandcamp.com
The Random in Review 
This is seriously a must-have for anyone, seeing as it’s free (though we should donate something, and I did (ugh, what a pretentious ass)) and it’s so damn good. Side A is good for one’s soul; Side B can help your mind.
Good blog btw, hope to read/discover more.
Hi 🙂
I’m so glad you gave it a listen and that you found it was worth it! I think this is an amazing album and you sum Side A and Side B up perfectly. This is how music should stimulate us, in mind and in soul. I’m happy that there are artists who are still making art out of music.
Thank you kindly for the feedback and the compliment, much appreciated. I hope to read more of your thoughts (^_^)
Yeah I actually got it a few weeks ago, but as I just started wordpress the other day I was looking for some stuff to follow and searched for some generic topic that had your post as like the second result, so I had to give it my thumbs up. I do suspect a lot of the other things you’ve posted are ones that I’ll have to add to my library. Rockin’. Looking forward to reading / hearing more.
Thank you!
As am I, looking forward to the contents of your blog 😉