Lyrical hip-hop and raw electronic production have a key-turn relationship; The voice is the driving force atop the bedrock that is the track, and there’s virtually no limit to ways in which this relationship can and has been exploited with powerful effect. The UK progeny Reso comes from a decades-long background of experimentation and a bleeding-edge production ethos, merging his brolic style with countless genres and motifs. New York’s Rasp-5 meets his aggressive gait from the other side of the spectrum, transitioning from a background in traditional hip-hop compositions to a virulent and impactful lyricist directly at the center of a new marriage between bass-driven beats and narrative-driven songwriting. Combining their talents for a trans-Atlantic sonic dive, The Rust is incredibly excited to host the premiere of Reso and Rasp-5’s latest minted collaboration, “Steep Tech”.

The usual combination of hip-hop and bass music ingredients would have choice lyrical cuts atop a polished, synth-laden backing track, but we’re dealing with two musicians with a focus on novelty; eschewing the safer blends of jazz or trip-hop instrumental arrangements, “Steep Tech” offers an exceptionally grungy interpretation, fusing dissonant tones and the bright tails of steel-coated drums for an industrial impact. Rasp-5’s wordplay and playful call-and-response between bars rest between each sharp transient, pushing the track in parallel with its percussive underbelly. With a keen ear for leaping across territorial boundaries, Reso and Rasp-5 successfully showcase the evolving dynamics of lyrically-driven productions, keeping listeners on their toes, and our heads spinning on a perpetual swivel.

FOLLOW Reso: Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Spotify / Facebook

FOLLOW Rasp-5: Soundcloud / Spotify / Facebook