While a lot of today’s releases are chasing algorithms and playlists, Germany’s Krisengebeat and Russia’s Staf Beats are looking in the opposite direction. Their new collaborative instrumental project, Rhythm & Beats, released June 26 through Bristol, UK’s The Get Down Records, proves that authentic boom bap never goes out of style.
Built around a creative conversation between the legendary MPC2000XL and SP-1200, the 17-track beat tape feels like a lost cassette pulled straight from the mid-’90s. Dusty jazz chops, hard-snapping drums, soulful loops, and funky textures bring back memories of producers like Easy Mo Bee and the unmistakable sound of D.I.T.C. and Boot Camp Clik. This is the soundtrack for sketching black books, digging through vinyl, working at home, firing up the grill at the neighborhood wall jam, or simply watching trains roll by with a fresh pair of headphones.
Additional scratches from Maxiscratch give the project authentic mixtape flavor every real head appreciates. Throughout the tape you’ll catch subway noise, spray-paint can sounds, that make the entire project feel connected to classic hip-hop culture. It’s jazzy, soulful, laid-back, crisp, and smooth, the kind of instrumental album that gets better with every listen.
Fans of UK’s Get Down Records already know both producers have helped build the label’s reputation through numerous previous releases. As longtime members of the GDR Family, Krisengebeat and Staf Beats continue representing international boom bap at the highest level, proving once again that real hip-hop has no borders.
The beat tape also comes with a fresh limited-edition T-shirt designed by renowned Polish artist Johnny Lemonade, whose artwork has become a staple throughout the European underground. Known for collaborations with Rap Addix, OUH MAGIC!, UNA DHE, and numerous style-writing inspired projects, Johnny’s work perfectly complements the music’s gritty, nostalgic aesthetic. The shirts are produced by Bristol’s respected Squared Roots, known for premium-quality screen printing and apparel made for independent artists and labels.
If you’re craving dusty samples, heavyweight drums, soulful chops, and the ’90s mixtape feel, Rhythm & Beats deserves a spot in your rotation. Support the culture, support independent boombap labels, and don’t sleep on the limited-edition T-shirt.
Listen & Support:
Grab the Limited Edition T-Shirt:
Shop Here
