You might recognize the name Ninety if you’ve been following us over the last couple years. The Bay Area-based duo, which consists of Tyler Hawkins and Mikey C the Man (MCM), first caught our attention in 2014 with their unique brand of sunny, west-coast hip-hop. Today, we’re excited to bring you the premiere of emcee Tyler Hawkins’ debut EP, which both establishes and serves as the perfect introduction to his sound.
With all production handled in-house by MCM (of Ninety) and oft-collaborator Yung H33M, From That Land plays out like a dedication to the past, present and future of the Bay’s hip-hop scene. Each of the project’s seven tracks possesses its own vibe without losing site of that broader mindset. Laid-back, classic-styled cuts like the “The Come Up and “101 (Cruisin’)” find contrast on harder-hitting tracks like “Options,” which has a subwoofer-rattling bassline. Aside from a diverse set of beats, Hawkins’ various emotive flows, which hit their most ambitious on “Dreamin,” are what truly tie the project together and further contribute to that overall Bay sound.
The EP’s finale, “The People,” with its addicting Last Lynx sample sees him taking that inspiration a step further carving out a sound all his own. Stream the rest of project below–you can also grab a free download on Bandcamp.