The flying fingers of AraabMUZIK

December 26, 2011 5:03 PM

If you've browsed some of the many year-end Best Album Lists, you might have seen AraabMUZIK's Electronic Dream rank highly. If his name means nothing to you, check an interview with the then 19 year old Hispanic kid from Rhode Island, who had recently graduated high school and connected with Dipset, or the 20 year old drummer-turned-producer whose performance was copied by Kanye (and other information on his life and times). Or maybe you follow producers, and knew he made the beat for Cam'ron's track I Used To Get It In Ohio, or cuts on the Dipset Trance Party mixes (DatPiff has volume 1, 2, and 3). If you want to know more, you can check a mini AraabMUZIK documentary (6:38 on YouTube), or just watch him work the MPC.

MPC previously, including a couple links to AraabMUZIK

Electronic Dream on Wikipedia, including original artist/track information; more sample tracks from the album on Soundcloud

AraabMUZIK on Soundcloud and YouTube

posted by filthy light thief (12 comments total)

*YOU ARE NOW LISTENING TO ARAABMUZIK*
posted by mediated self at 5:48 PM on December 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

The Dipset Trance Party makes me want to cry. And not in a good way.
posted by empath at 5:59 PM on December 26, 2011

The Dipset Trance Party makes me want to cry. And not in a good way.

Why do you hate fun?
posted by sparkletone at 6:19 PM on December 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

if you think that electronic music is boring to watch in person... go see this guy. so rad. probably one of the few people who slayed both an underground hip-hop club and a super snooty hollywood club this year.

and i was bummed to discover that he isn't arabic at all. ;(
posted by raihan_ at 6:33 PM on December 26, 2011

I was a trance DJ for years and they're just butchering songs that I actually liked.

I don't mind when hip hop producers sample trance or use trance melodies, it's all over top 40 radio now and I like it--Super Bass for example.

That is just lazy and half assed. If they spent more than 20 minutes on any of those "remixes", I'd be shocked. It's not even in tune.
posted by empath at 6:33 PM on December 26, 2011

Though I do like araabmusiks stuff that I've heard. It's all the other crap on those CDs that put my teeth on edge.
posted by empath at 6:34 PM on December 26, 2011

*YOU ARE NOW LISTENING TO ARAABMUZIK*
posted by beaucoupkevin at 8:30 PM on December 26, 2011 [4 favorites]

It turns out that buying this album is incredibly annoying if you don't live in the States. Apparently there's no physical release, so you have only two options in Canada--iTunes or HMV Digital. I hate iTunes with a fiery passion, so I bought it from HMV Digital. And then I discovered there was a DELUXE EDITION with extra tracks that was only available on iTunes. But that version of the album is missing Streetz Tonight for some unknown reason. So now I own two different versions of the same album, neither of which are complete.

But at least it's good. I don't mind *YOU ARE NOW LISTENING TO ARAABMUZIK* giving the guy $20 instead of $10, I guess.
posted by chrominance at 11:54 PM on December 26, 2011

Awesome post, Araabmuzik is just an unbelievable producer. I heard someone else describe his beats as "soulless but genius" -- which I don't agree with, but I do see where they're coming from.

Great beats in this video of him and ASAP Rocky.
posted by wrok at 8:24 AM on December 27, 2011

chrominance: And then I discovered there was a DELUXE EDITION with extra tracks that was only available on iTunes. But that version of the album is missing Streetz Tonight for some unknown reason.

Welcome to the world of tomorrow - no need for physical releases when everyone listens to music on their phones.

Snark aside, there were some mastering problems with this album, as has happened with other digital-only releases. There was a 17-track version, but tracks 1 and 2 were the same version of Streets Tonight that had including some digital glitch/noise at the 2 minute mark, and the title track was missing. Online shops pulled that version of album, so it seems Streets Tonight isn't easily available, though it is floating around random website.

If you're a member of eMusic, you can buy a 17 track edition, but I'm not sure about their localization of content. The extra bonus track is called DoomsDay, if you're interested.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:55 AM on December 27, 2011

God those live MPC clips are amazing.
posted by en forme de poire at 7:01 PM on December 27, 2011

I found this on Spotify. You were right. This is incredible.
posted by k8t at 6:37 AM on December 29, 2011