BirraTheGunslinger - GUNSLINGER

With years of steady growth, BirraTheGunslinger dropped his self-titled album in 2023. The result is a deeply textured and dense set of beats and loops that really do feel like a self portrait, mirroring their many influences and respective sounds. The collection is diverse, swiftly switching between deep soul and rnb, and new wave-y piano and synth lines that sound like they’ve been ripped straight from cassette - even DnB at a point. Every beat feels super unique which is crazy given how complete the project is, laying their own distinct drums between tight snares and kicks that sometimes duck the whole sample out. Their production seems to ride this fine line between being incredibly warm and metallic, feeling all at once soothing and jarring like warm harmonies against the rapid fire snares on Painful. It’s a really special, brief tape that feels full of intent and offers unique hidden gems with every new spin.

KEY BEAT: Exodus - I don’t know where this gorgeous sunbaked source material came from but the way BirraTheGungslinger chops the drums between this one sounds like gliding through Rainbow Road hitting every dash panel, racking up every coin.