Rasp-5 & Tygris Return with Their Smash & Grab EP

Long after the divergence of hip-hop music and its swing-centric instrumental arrangements, both lyricists and producers find themselves coming back around to their time-tested partnership of songwriting and studio finesse, with a few choice sets of creatives finding their stride with contemporary flavor. Continuing their gradual dive into the murky waters of lyricism and bass music, Rasp-5 and Tygris follow up their rambunctious Cheap Thrills EP with a dual serving of brackish low-end and sauntering wordplay, with The Gradient Perspective hosting their latest release, Smash & Grab.

TYGRIS · Rasp-5 x Tygris - "Smash & Grab" EP

“Duck & Cover” cracks the seal on the EP with a sharp bite, with every word and stab of synthesis cutting hardest on each successive downbeat. Dipping the intensity and raising the intrigue, “Get The Money” glides across a potent, tightly-wound neuro-hop beat that props up a tale of territorial paper acquisition, with both ends of the spectrum dovetailing into a choice breakdown. Instead of reinventing the wheel, they choose to lean into the syncretic relationship of broken-beat electronic music and its lyrical forebear, and Smash & Grab feels right at home with the bouncy, driving hip-hop compositions of the 90s and early aughts.

With a growing body of work between the two artists, and clear musical relationship on their own merits, Rasp-5 and Tygris never miss the mark when they emerge from the lab. Doubling down on that relationship, they’re a frequent pairing on the stage, often times as a last minute combination as well as a prepared performance, and the chemistry between the two has never failed to make pure sparks. Keep your ears perked and your eyes peeled as 2023 comes to a close and 2024 comes into focus, as we’re sure to see these two intrepid ne’er-do-wells pop up again on plenty of occasions.

FOLLOW Rasp-5: Soundcloud / Spotify / Instagram

FOLLOW Tygris: Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram

Reso X Rasp-5 - Steep Tech [EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE]

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 Rust Music · Reso X Rasp-5 - Steep Tech [EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE]

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