In the past couple of years, Atlanta beatsmith AyOh has emerged—in my eyes at least—as one of the more exciting new producers in the ATL DIY underground. Combining old-school boom bap flair with inventive sampling and a gift for planting surprises around every rhythmic turn, AyOh (real name Alec Owen) has made it a habit of conjuring energetic hip-hop beats that are both bouncy and immersive. His upcoming LP, The Seventh Stone, is his first full length since 2016’s Millennial Comic Book, and today we’re excited to bring you the premiere of the record’s lead single “Meanwhile…”
A propulsive funk jam propelled by chiming horns and soulful samples, the track features rappers the Seventh Stone and Peabody who deftly weave in and out of the track’s elastic bass lines and steady drums. At first I found it difficult to decide what exactly to pay attention to—AyOh’s inspired production or the duo’s steady barrage of rhymes—but after a few spins, the song coalesces into a cohesive cut that’s part head-snapping bounce and part gritty street drama: “Lose your mind, still all seem fine / Doing crime for the thrill in the meantime.” It’s an intriguing dichotomy, and according to Owen, they both help form the plot of what amounts to a vague concept record with an existential sci-fi bent.
“The album is a loose story being told in the form of a radio drama revolving around a character named The Seventh Stone,” Owen explains via email. “He is a time traveling warrior who is constantly jumping through different periods forever in time with no real direction or cause. To curb these feelings of melancholy, he typically gets involved in petty crime, random acts of vigilant justice, and indulging in a myriad of drugs. The album plays out with him in various situations and emotional states with instrumentals and interludes between each of The Seventh Stone’s ‘episodes.'”
Listen below.
The Seventh Stone is out Apr. 20.
More Info
Bandcamp: ayyohh.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @AyOhBeats
SoundCloud: @awomusic
Twitter: @AyOh____