The Inner Realmz – “Beat Maker Ethics” review

California production team The Inner Realmz back for their 7th beat tape. Founded by Masta Cypher Devine & Goomson, they’ve been making waves in the west coast underground scene since the beginning of the current decade off their first 2 beat tapes SP 1000 and Build & Destroy followed by Low End Wizards as well as it’s sequel & Digital Chains. Goomson so happened to team up with Broke for a collaborative beat tape Heavy Wreck displaying Broke’s talents behind the boards for Side A & of course Goomson on Side B except for Masta Cypher Devine doing the closer. Omnipotent masterfully selected & arranged jazz samples catching my attention, coming off Mass Collide to reform & teach the world Beat Maker Ethics.

“Space & Time” spends the opening minutes drawing inspiration from 90s east coast boom bap/jazz rap reminiscent of a top 5 producer of mine Pete Rock whereas “The Math” works in an occasional vocal sample from the late Prodigy popping in & out keeping it raw. “No Destination” moves on from there fusing the traditional boom bap sound wiry elements of lounge music but once “Past Lives” swaps out the latter in favor of lo-fi hip hop, “Over & Over” ends the 1st half with another dusty 90s east coast throwback.

Kicking off the 2nd half, “Born Physical” retains the boom bap vibes with horns & a vocal sample right until letting the drums ride out while “Like This” brings somewhat of a psychedelic flare to the table whilst holding a tight grip on the ruggedness. “Nitro Fresh” kinda has an irresistible grooviness that I can’t get enough of & after “Bus Hoppin in ‘97” throws it back to the days of riding 1 bus after another 3 decades ago, “Afraid to Represent” concludes the tape with the crew’s de facto leader treading the boom bap/jazz rap waters 1 last time.

It’s cool to hear Goomson, Jon Deliz, Mike B & Ripe143 recruiting more up-&-coming producers to join The Inner Realmz because Beat Maker Ethics celebrates this new era in their career testifying the power of community & creativity by having newcomers Dexplorist, Roving Jewel, Cash Gordon, Sturks, Carlskee & Gizmo help the create a rawly authentic & unique presentation of their perspectives & styles bound together by a shared passion for underground hip hop.

Score: 4/5

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The Inner Realmz – “Mass Collide” review

This is a brand new EP from California production team The Inner Realmz. Founded by Masta Cypher Devine & Goomson, they’ve been making waves in the west coast underground scene since the beginning of the current decade off their first 2 beat tapes SP 1000 and Build & Destroy followed by Low End Wizards as well as it’s sequel & Digital Chains. Goomson so happened to team up with Broke a year & a half ago for a collaborative beat tape Heavy Wreck displaying Broke’s talents behind the boards for Side A & of course Goomson on Side B except for Masta Cypher Devine doing the closer. Omnipotent masterfully selected & arranged jazz samples catching my attention this spring so with that in mind, it had me interested in where Mass Collide was gonna take it.

After the dusty “Fuck ‘Em” intro built around sampling a piano, the first track “Roughneck Reality” starts us off with a 4-minute boom bap instrumental that Goomson cooked up himself whereas “Passin’ Thru” feels like an old school beat that sounds like it was made in the early ‘90s. The keys throughout “Stress” feel every exuberant with the kicks & snares giving it a raw edge, but then “Don’t Shut Down on a Player” is ends the first half of the EP with a nostalgic vibe.

“Funky on the Track” lives up to it’s name excellently for 119 seconds blending elements of funk music & boom bap while “Misery” by Sirrealist & Vel 9 is the only cut on here with performed vocals, bringing them together talking about only seeing unhappiness & affliction. “Outra Vez” serves as the official outro hooking up a mellow backdrop with kicks & snares, but then the bonus track serves as a sequel to “Kick a Freestyle” off Chapter 1.

Masta Cypher Devine left the group a little while ago hence why he didn’t have any involvement in making these beats at all & even Goomson saves his production skills for a couple joints, but Jon Deliz alongside Mike B & Ripe143 take up a bulk of the 23 minute listening experience by showing off what they’re capable of doing as producers & keeping The Inner Realmz’ jazzy boom bap sound going strong.

Score: 3.5/5

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