Austin Sound Check

The hip-hop lineup at SXSW 2009 is an impressive one. MCs and DJs from across the globe will be trekking to Austin next week, bringing with them a style that U.S. hip-hop fans aren’t as familiar with as we should be.
Arts the Beatdoctor and other European turntablists like him have a sound that is distinctly different from a lot of the beats coming out of the U.S. these days. Mainstream U.S. hip-hop has become a parody of itself, but outside the borders that spawned the genre, hip-hop is thriving.
Surprising as it may seem, Arts the Beatdoctor’s label (Beats Broke) is …read more

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I first told you about Dutch hip-hopper Arts the Beatdoctor and his Austin-based label Beats Broke last year. Now, SXSW has recognized the talent in both Arts the Beatdoctor and labelmate In Stereo, confirming both for a showcase at the 2009 festival.
Arts the Beatdoctor and In Stereo are great additions to a SXSW lineup already rife with hip-hop talent like Bavu Blakes, Blaqstarr, Sage Francis and Killer Mike.
Read my review of Arts the Beatdoctor’s EP Progressions here. You can also visit Arts the Beatdoctor and In Stereo on MySpace.
Image Courtesy SXSW

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Last week I brought you a review of Arts The Beatdoctor’s album Progressions, released on Austin label Beats Broke. Fellow Beats Brokers Pax & Pry are featured on Progressions and have a fresh video out for their song True and You Know It. The video is below for your viewing pleasure. Be sure and let me know what you think of the song and video.

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Last month I brought you a profile on Austin-based hip-hop label Beats Broke. The latest release from Beats Broke is Progressions by Netherlands-based Arts The Beatdoctor.
Progressions is a mere five songs, but they are well-produced and executed. The most striking thing about Progressions is how much the overall sound differs from mainstream American hip-hop. Where American hip-hop is centered on bass and samples, Progressions feels more like a trance record with some breakbeats and a splash of traditional hip-hop hallmarks.
Arts the Beatdoctor is a gifted producer with exciting potential both on original songs and remixes. The standout track on Progressions …read more

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