10 of the Best Beats Out Right Now

"That's Kenny Beats. (777 is still good, by the way.) To undergo his transformation from rap production chameleon to acclaimed rock-record producer and film and TV score composer-he also did the music for Alex Russell's thriller Lurker, which is sort of like if The Talented Mr. Ripley were about a Brockhampton stan-he switched up his name, an extension of the thought process that, to be taken seriously by musical institutions, you have to soften your connection to rap."

"There, I saw Chicago's Semiratruth fiddle around and improvise on top of their 2024 album, The Star of the Story, reminding me of the most surreal moments on collagist classic Red Burns. Then, later in the night, out came Jersey digital crate digger Doris, whose Ultimate Love Songs Collection, 50 tracks of pitch-shifted sampledelia, was one of my go-to albums of last year."

Kenneth Blume adopted the Kenny Beats moniker as a teenager and later adjusted his professional name while expanding from rap production into rock-record production and film and TV scoring, including the thriller Lurker. He experienced tension about being taken seriously by musical institutions and sometimes feels conflicted when his work is recognized under the Kenny Beats name rather than his given surname. Live performances emphasized the creative power of production, with Chicago's Semiratruth improvising atop their 2024 album The Star of the Story and Jersey producer Doris delivering pitch-shifted, sample-based sets drawn from Ultimate Love Songs Collection. Technical vocal issues redirected focus onto beatcraft, demonstrating the enduring impact of production.

Read at Pitchfork