AraabMuzik

Former Dipset go-to-guy and Providence native AraabMuzik was one of the first in a recent wave of producers to step to the forefront by releasing his own tagged-up instrumental projects. His new mixtape, For Professional Use Only, features a different atmosphere than his groundbreaking Electronic Dream, as acts like Clams Casino, trap duo TNGHT and meme-of-the-moment victim Baauer have since emerged to confirm the overwhelming interest in beat-making and its related subculture. This tape is required listening for those hypnotized by the incredible talents of the MPC wiz kid, who thrives on hard-hitting hip-hop, flipping samples and his large range of electronic sounds into spastic, booming compositions that straddle dubstep, trap and beyond. Instrumental versions of banger "Street Knock" (featuring a few more orchestra hits than the original Swizz Beats/A$AP Rocky release) and the silky smooth "Beauty" (first heard on Fabolous's undervalued Soul Tape 2) work like recognizable "singles," alongside standout opener "This is for the Ones Who Care" and the familiar "G Riding," which utilizes a strikingly similar sample to Saukrates' classic furnace banger, "Father Time," making the tape a worthwhile experience. However, For Professional Use Only's long run time and failure to effectively sequence and transition between instrumentals for a more cohesive experience hamper its impact on the casual listener.