Buckwild. Overshadowed somewhat by the other core set of producers involved in the DITC crew his contribution to mid-90s hip hop and beyond is substantial. When I listen to a Buckwild beat I feel detached from the world around me: I’m flying over New York City; I’m on the London Underground at night in an empty carriage; I’m walking along the street at dusk lost deep inside my headphones. Very few producers have consistently provided me with the sense of space that Buckwild has done over the years and as a result, here is a selection of some of his remix work for your listening pleasure.
Hip hop is formulaic. You take a loop that you like, slam some phat drums and a bassline in the mix and then let someone put forward their view of the world in rhyme form over the top. Simple. And yet there are only a handful of people who have been able to perform this feat effectively, stamping their own sense of identity onto the work that they create and making your head nod uncontrollably at the same time. So what is it that defines a truly great beat? Who knows, but Buckwild has the ability to produce them in abundance. There is a beautiful simplicity to his work that goes beyond analysis and taps into a primaeval sentiment that is the essence of all great music.
There is no doubt that he will appear again on this blog again in the future. Indeed, it would be almost impossible for him not to do so given that he features on so many of the quintessential albums of the mid-90s era (‘Word…Life’, ‘Stress: The Extinction Agenda’, ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous’ to name but a few). Although these remixes may not represent his seminal works, each one picks you up by the scruff of the neck, demands your attention and shakes you into submission. He is amongst an elite set of producers who encapsulate what real hip hop should be about. Enjoy.
FROM DA BRICKS 