9th Cloud
A Monkey in a Yellow Hat
By Noel DixHas it really been that many years now that a new generation of down-tempo hip-hop producers that grew up on DJ Shadow and DJ Krush are now starting to make waves of their own? Looking to steal a little thunder from DJ Cam as the reigning French hip-hop export is 9th Cloud, a young beat-maker that shows some serious promise with his debut, A Monkey in a Yellow Hat. Though simple in its structure — tending to drop a fantastic break beat and riding it with very little change-up — this record packs a stunning punch by creating the sounds that Krush used to make in his early years. This is a very jazz-influenced sound that 9th Cloud has produced, easily making you want to lump him in with the early trip-hop pioneers, but there’s too much life and positive aspects on A Monkey in a Yellow Hat for it to be dismissed as a gloomy hip-hop excursion. Take "Les Mondes Possibles” for example, as Cloud rides a thick bass line and psoriatic snare pops with the sample of a girl’s giggle manipulated many times over until it sounds like someone cleaning a window with Windex. "Physical Vitamin” is a solid instrumental that blends an uplifting chime pattern with guitar strums and "A Blend of the Purest” rocks a steady beat with romantic horns and keys — both appearing earlier this year on a sneak peek EP and both still holding strong months later. MC Runigga lends his vocals to a pair of cuts, and sadly they’re two of the weakest moments, but Rio strengthens the use of verbal accompaniment on "Soldiers of Your Mind” with greater success. A Monkey in a Yellow Hat is a very strong introduction to 9th Cloud and it will be exciting to see how this young man develops his sound in the next couple of years.
(Montera)Be the first to comment
HIP-HOP: El-P - Cancer For Cure
SHARE IT! 
