Featured Mixtape: Txmmy – HOLD ME AFLOAT.
Txmmy has made a name for himself over the years, in part due to his versatility as an artist. Whether he is spitting heat for his Orwell-inspired musical powerhouse THOUGHTCRIME, impressing with emotionally moving tapes and singles, dropping Creed flips on his second account, or even sampling XXX for a quick banger, the Atlanta-based producer always manages to keep things fresh.
“HOLD ME AFLOAT,” while it is a cleanly sampled masterwork of lo-fi production, houses perhaps the most impressive display of range that Txmmy has showcased thus far. From the first track, which acts as sort of a nod to his earlier, more introspective works, to the last, which flips the already loose script on its head, there never seems to be a dull or overused moment.
“Time to wake up” begins this 21 minute excursion, a thought-provoking trip that serves as a wonderful display of Txmmy’s signature clean hats. Cleverly manipulated piano samples atop quick bass bumps surround audio of pensive questions in such a way that one can’t help but ponder them as the track skips along. “Skipping rocks” is next up, boasting a beautifully crafted harp sample along with sleek rhythm control. It is here where the lo-fi aesthetic takes full form, proving just how easily the young producer is able to capture a style and make it his own.
The title track, to no surprise, switches the vibe up entirely, and in the best way possible. Here Txmmy treats listeners to a deeply layered, visceral soundscape that hums alongside elegant horn, vocal, and guitar samples. Pair all that with some excellent drum work and you’re left with a stunning standout in a sea of equally killer tracks. An admirable “hunnid n fifty shootas in atlanta” falls next in line, a track that continues the trend of versatility gifting us with some of Txmmy’s remarkable guitar chops. As “hunnid” slows to fade, “sleepyhead” begins, a blissfully simple beat that hums through the ears with ease. It’s these sorts of tracks that reassure listeners of just how confident Txmmy has become with his own sound over the years.
After a relaxing and artfully mistuned interlude, “fresh air” brilliantly kicks off the second half of the tape. Upbeat, clean, and downright slappy, this lo-fi treat has feel good vibes surrounding every filtered yelp. “Sign language,” a thumping nod to early hip hop, follows suit, and so does “watching the sunset,” a wonderful little sample palace of what sounds like vintage cinema score pieces.
“With the girl I love,” closes this masterwork of a tape with one last swing of the stylized hammer. Having mastered his element, Txmmy crafts his outro with a culmination of all that came before it. The cut up piano sample, slapping percussion, brief bass hits, and stylized audio bits all make the final track a sort of homage to the sub genre of lo-fi hip hop. Whether Txmmy decides to keep innovating with this sound, or shift gears to something else entirely, one thing remains certain: we will keep listening.
Check out his other projects here, here, and here
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