Bryan Ford - For The Future of Hip Hop Instrumentals (Revolutionary Music)

For The Future Of Hip-Hop is an album produced by Chicago’s Bryan Ford featuring Wu-Tang alum Killah Priest and fellow Chi-city emcees Pugs Atomz and Awdazcate. It was released in May 2016 and received critical praise from publications such as Source Magazine, HipHopDX, and Huffington Post. Bryan played, recorded, and produced all of the music from his studio. The intricate arrangements and musicianship allowed the music to stand on its own, and so For The Future Of Hip-Hop - The Instrumentals has been unveiled to satisfy DJs and heads looking to delve deeper into these beats. The album features a wide variety of instruments and noise makers – from flamenco guitars and 808 kick drums to Moog synthesizers and electric pianos. Also included is the previously unreleased track, “Feel Good Already”.

Bryan Ford has been producing since the late ‘90s under the names Lake Street Project, B. Ford, and Terry Swank. A master on guitar, bass, keys, and drums, he plays all the instruments on his productions. ”Typically when I sample, it’s when I sample myself,“ he notes. In 2011, Bryan released critically acclaimed downtempo EPs Shoe Tree and Hands, which garnered support from renowned international DJs like Mark Farina, Mr. No Hands, and Daze-I-Kue of the Bugz In the Attic.

”I made electronic music, but was always drawn to hip-hop,” says Ford. "My past albums always had a very drum-heavy, boom-bap style. So it was pretty natural for emcees to lay down lyrics over the top of them.” In 2015, Ford heard that one of his favorite emcees, Killah Priest, was in Chicago and invited Priest to the studio to check out some beats. “We originally were gonna do just one song,” Ford recalls. “And he immediately gravitated to the track that would eventually become ‘For the Future of Hip-Hop’ and laid it down then and there.”

Rory Hoy (Howlin' Records / Super Hi-Fi) – “These tunes are fantastic - The future of Hip-Hop is in safe hands here!”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show / Radio X) – “Yeah ... feel good music!”
Rusty (All Good Funk Alliance) – “I Love these beats. Super well made and super funky.”
Dan Wilcox (KCRW FM) – “I love this!”
Stickybuds (Goodgroove Records) – “Really good instrumentals.”
Azaxx (Tru Thoughts) - “Nice vibes and very good vision of the future.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel - weekly radio show Sydney, Australia) – “I Love it!”
Piiit (Septante Sept / So Watt) – “Excellent abstract hip hop.”
Alinep (Asia Music) – “Real hip hop! The world should hear these.”
Tariq Ziyad (Planet Rave / Dark Horse) – “Great instrumentals, awesome work!”
Robert Lochmann (The Jazzmadass Radio Show on Radio X) – “Very Cool!”
Johnny Luv (Across The Board Radio Show - KANE.FM) – “Good selection of vibes here. Will play “The Stroller” on the show.”

Available now from iTunes, Spotify, Beatport, and Amazon.

Bryan Ford - Hands (Revolutionary Music)

Bryan Ford continues what’s set to be a productive 2014 for Revolutionary Music with a new EP, titled Hands. With the name of this release in part a statement of intent, Bryan’s output relies heavily on live instrumentation rather than samples — hands on, if you will. One should expect nothing less from Ford, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and remixer … basically an all-around studio wizard based in Chicago.

The release begins with the lush organic groove of “Downtown Drifter" and becomes progressively more raw and electronic with "Someday" and the title track. Ford’s guitar lead and solo ooze with raw emotion over analog synths and an infectious bass line on the opener. "Someday" and "Hands" both feature Ford’s drumming chops and the familiar sound of his Moog Voyager. His style is unique and vibrant in a way that’s indicative of his multi-instrumentalist background and thoughtful songwriting capabilities. Fans of RJD2, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Bonobo, and Shlomo have another artist to follow.

Kid Loco - “Great tracks and beats.”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar / INFRACom!) - “A deep fusion sound for old school cosmic headz.”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “A perfect headphone listen.”
Kubatko (Beyond Belief / Quazi Delict) - “This release really stands out … I haven’t heard anything like this recently.”
Irregular Disco Workers (Disco Volante) - “A really interesting fusion beetween electronic and real instruments.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “Very funky with a lovely vibe throughout.”
Phat Phil Cooper (NuNorthern Soul) - “Perfect beachside grooves.”
DJ Derek Jones (Soular Grooves Radio) - “This stuff is amazing! What is this kid up to? These tracks are so refreshing and just not same old same old.”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “Stands out a mile from all the computer s@#t. Thoroughly enjoyable.”
Pathaan (Globetronica) - “Awesome!”
DJ Tomas (Google Play / ForwardEver) - “Very cool downtempo tracks … reminds me a little of Slide Five or Nightmares on Wax – same heavy and vibey quality to the arrangements. Nice work!”
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - “Yeah, I’m diggin’ the musical hand trace of Bryan Ford!”
MadameFLY (mmRadio / Beatmixing.com) - “Suddenly it’s the golden age of downtempo again. This is a treat!”

Available now from Beatport.

Bryan Ford - Shoe Tree EP (Revolutionary Music)

Bryan Ford’s Shoe Tree EP is a cohesive package from Revolutionary Music featuring three strikingly gorgeous yet haunting downtempo electronic tracks that rely on live instrumentation rather than samples. One should expect nothing less from Ford, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and remixer … basically an all-around studio wizard based in Chicago. The Shoe Tree EP is Bryan’s first official release in two years, debuting a string of releases scheduled for 2014. Videos have been produced for each of its cuts … rightfully so as the release’s overall psychedelic mystique is perfect for pairing with visuals.

Ford dusts off any production blues nicely with “Lead Belly,” opening in warm static and chords before the bass hits, alongside perfectly situated percussion, joined by swirling electric guitar riffs. “Bob Rob Ramage” operates in the realm of dub with a Jamaican ragga-style bass line, a synth melody that transports the listener straight to Bali, and rapid-fire, but loose, timpani drums. Cryptically, one can also hear the ramblings of a strange gentleman run in the background. The bright and slightly spacey funk-based “Shoe Tree” features high pitched synths, a distorted bass, and gentle keys that play amongst light percussion to nicely close out the EP. All in all, Bryan Ford’s latest is sure to treat the minds of anyone searching for a greater groove.

Nick Warren - “Excellent EP from Bryan Ford … well done, sir.”
Dogu (Ancient Astronauts / Switchstance) - “‘Lead Belly’ is very cool. I love the vibe and guitar work.”
Basement Freaks - “Good stuff.”
ALTZ (Bear Funk / DFA) - “I feel like my mind is floating to the track ‘Shoe Tree.’”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - “These chilled grooves are right on the sound of today.”
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle) - “Excellent cinematic soundscapes.”
Clive Craske (Radio Reverb) - “Languorous blues guitar wafts over smokey beats and bass. Float downstream to the funky keys, with your mind in neutral.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “A truly enlightening EP.”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - “Smooth and excellently produced chilled beats. I want to hear more.”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory) - “I like all three tracks here … dope stuff! ‘Lead Belly’ in particular is so fresh and special.”
The Orator (High On Beats) - “Such a blissful release.”
Feodor AllRight & Elena Mechta (AMDJS Radio Show, Moscow) - “This one of the most wicked records I’ve heard in a while.”

Available now from Juno Download and iTunes.