New Los Angeles based future soul label, Strange Neighbor arrives with an A-list crew of international beatsmiths and forever inspired vocal performers for the first of a series of forward thinking ep collaborations. The Philadelphia soul of Hezekiah and Ralph Real melds with the future beat production of Melbourne drummer/ producer Dizz1 for the ILLadelphic original. Sweatson Klank aka Take flips the script to push further forward with his deep LA Beat injection.
Since signing to Tru Thoughts in 2013, Dizz1 continues to build on a steady collection of lauds from all the right corners. Support from Giles Peterson, Benji B, and an ultimate endorsement on Flying Lotus’s BBC residency have drawn considerable acclaim to his recent full length album ‘In Sickness and In Health’. Featured guests including Aloe Blacc, Frank Nitt, Om Mas Keith, Warrior Queen and Sadat X offer a hand in positioning Dizz1’s loose but heavy bass and clap sound - a midway station somewhere between Detroit and London. For his first release on Strange Neighbor, Dizz ropes in some of Melbourne’s most respected local session talent and slides onto the drum stool to wrap an intricate kick and snare around Hezekiah’s soul rap. Dropping these elements into his refined studio formula Dizz1 emerges with a new cut of original hip hop soul alchemy.
From his early releases on Rawkus Records and Soul Spazm, to his Roots Crew involvements, through to recent projects and collaborations produced via his own 3Crates studio and label, Hezekiah is an unstoppable force in the East Coast hip hop and Philly soul community. ‘I Predict a Riot’ (Rawkus 2007) cemented an early reputation within conscientious hip hop circles alongside label mates Talib Kweli and Mos Def. Hezekiah has since contributed writing and production credits to Bilal’s ‘Airtight Revenge’, formed a number of future soul projects (‘Johnny Popcorn’, ‘The Ishi and Hezekiah project’) and has clocked up a substantial number of significant collaborations with Blu, Santigold, Bahamadia, The Roots Crew, Oddisee and Georgia Ann Muldrow just to name a few. Perpetually championed by Okay Player for his socially conscious lyricism, here Hezekiah‘s wordplay promotes positive black identity in the light of increased awareness surrounding racial injustice and police brutality. At once conscientious, but with hood sensibilities, Hezekiah has also roped in Mello Music’s Ralph Real for additional vocals. Incidentally you might recognize Ralph Real from his Mello Music Group involvements including regular touring as Oddisee’s keyboard player and backing vocalist.
Formerly known as Take, Sweatson Klank is an originator of the LA Beat, post- Dilla sound and a former resident at Sketchbook alongside Kutmah and Eric Coleman (Mochilla). You’ll still hear traces of the imprint of that infamous clubnight - held in a Hollywood club with an impossible to find front entrance - at LA’s highly celebrated Low End Theory. Sweatson Klank productions include his recent Project Mooncircle album ‘You, Me, Temporary’ as well as a long spanning history of quality cinematic hip hop releases and collaborations with acclaimed UK bass producers and artists from the Brainfeeder roster including Mono Poly, Tokimonsta, Om Unit, Low Limit and Shigeto. Take and Sweatson Klank productions have also regularly been picked up by the refined ears of Benji B, Mary Anne Hobbs and Giles Peterson. A futurist at heart the Shots Fired remix combines Sweatson Klank’s trademark experimental hip hop aesthetic with ambient pad and cinematics, bringing new life to the Hezekiah vocal. One other of Sweatson Klank’s most recent futurist visions Rounds off the complete 5 track ep.
