With more than a dozen releases spanning well over a decade, Elaquent's instrumental beatmaking has become a homegrown Canadian favourite. While there are evident similarities to the once-underground L.A. beat scene, Elaquent still remains wholly unique to his sound while helping nourish the scene in Toronto.
As a challenge to himself, and a change of pace, his latest Forever Is a Pretty Long Time is almost entirely collaborative — a compilation of Elaquent's styled beats topped with a plethora of legendary underground hip-hop artists. Nine of the 13 tracks feature guest collaborators, a complete juxtaposition from his almost entirely instrumental releases.
While Elaquent's output is a refined amalgamation of sweeping jazz, textured static, robust bass and hazy synth, each track is paired with an artist who brings additional life to it: Chester Watson's monotone questioning our perception of time on "Airwalk"; the rolling snare snaps and tinge of brass wrapped in the rich swagger of Guilty Simpson on "Thread Count"; the staticky, wobbling synth and electric piano that Oddisee uses as netting for his melodic flow on "Guidelines."
Though Forever Is a Pretty Long Time takes a different path for him, Elaquent has shown his impeccable beats make the perfect base for collaboration.
(Mello Music Group)As a challenge to himself, and a change of pace, his latest Forever Is a Pretty Long Time is almost entirely collaborative — a compilation of Elaquent's styled beats topped with a plethora of legendary underground hip-hop artists. Nine of the 13 tracks feature guest collaborators, a complete juxtaposition from his almost entirely instrumental releases.
While Elaquent's output is a refined amalgamation of sweeping jazz, textured static, robust bass and hazy synth, each track is paired with an artist who brings additional life to it: Chester Watson's monotone questioning our perception of time on "Airwalk"; the rolling snare snaps and tinge of brass wrapped in the rich swagger of Guilty Simpson on "Thread Count"; the staticky, wobbling synth and electric piano that Oddisee uses as netting for his melodic flow on "Guidelines."
Though Forever Is a Pretty Long Time takes a different path for him, Elaquent has shown his impeccable beats make the perfect base for collaboration.
