Electronic music and hip-hop have always had a unique relationship. Despite the fact that they, in many ways, evolved from similar revolutionary production techniques, they don’t always find ideal synergy. Through out his budding career, NY-based producer Nick Hook has continually blurred lines between the two with a taste that proves an understanding of music outside of genre constraints. That versatility is a direct product of his diverse background in the industry starting as a multi-genre guitarist and evolving into a producer who’s worked with Young Thug, Run the Jewels, DJ Rashad, Hudson Mohawke and Baauer among others (and that’s leaving out the star-studded list of collaborators in the rock world.)
Relationships, his debut album, serves as a triumphant crescendo on his ascension bringing in too many collaborators to list in a way that feels far more natural than similarly bold projects. Perhaps the secret falls in the album name–Hook seems to have a genuine understanding of the artists he’s working with: allowing their input without ever losing site of cohesion.
The album carries a steadily wavy, experimental vibe through out from the off-kilter, Makonnen-featuring ballad “All Alone” to Awful Records posse cut “Pro-Choice,” a typically absurd outing for the ATLiens. At the same time, Hook’s not afraid to turn things up with the heavy-hitting Grime cut “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” posthumously DJ Rashad-assisted “+3,” east coast cypher “Live While I’m Livin,” and “Head,” perhaps the hardest-hitting song thanks to 21Savage. All that variation is tied together by the project’s brief, but gorgeous, instrumental moments such as “Forever” and “Evolisontherise,” which features Hudson Mohawke.
Relationships, which is out now on Fool’s Gold Records, is an ambitious outing that could’ve gone wrong had it not been put together so thoughtfully. Rather, it plays out as a sonic adventure with something for everyone but also the capacity to open minds by placing songs in the right context. Give the whole project a listen below and grab a copy here if you like what you hear.
Choice feat. Black Kray, Father, Michael Christmas & KCSB’
