In the current inundated rap and hip-hop climate, it’s becoming an increasingly problematic task to find dope music devoid of over-production and abusive pitch correction. We live in a time in which the scene has become over-saturated by cats whom don’t quite understand that imitation is not necessarily the most sincere form of flattery. A rare commodity is that of the independent and original path-blazing artist. Enter Coachella Valley native and long-time DJ/innovative producer Rafael Lopez (a.k.a. Alf Alpha). Having performed with countless notable artists such as Exile, Peanut Butter Wolf, DJ Day and Z-Trip (to name but a few), being recognized and covered by the revered Wax Poetics magazine and seeing wide release of his debut record Jump Wildly About in Japan, Alf Alpha has made a name for himself as both an accomplished songwriter and jumpin’ party-rocker. Now, with a new 42-track beat tape in tow, it would be in your best interest to get familiar with the beat maestro as he makes big moves into the new year.
Citing a broad spectrum of influences ranging widely from funk, jazz, soul, R&B, house, disco and hip-hop, Alf Alpha’s catalog of music is reflective of his eclectic tastes and style. He Pley So Good can be approached as an anthology, of sorts, of Alf Alpha’s work; a testament that encapsulates the artist’s ever-progressing production career and exploration of his own ‘California desert sound’. As such, listeners will find themselves fully immersed in a aurally-pleasing world of space-y head-nodders (‘Only When I Dream’, ‘Space Love’, ‘More Kisses’), ’70s/’80s time-travel (‘DJ Keep Pleyin’, ‘Mellow Ace’, ‘Keep Dreamin’) and even desert-cruising (‘Come With Me’, ‘Dance With Karma’, ‘Two Turntables’). This timeless collection is one for the archives, friends.
He Pley So Good Cover Art (with original artwork by the heavily lauded fellow desert-dwelling duo, The Date Farmers):
Listen to and download He Pley So Good for free at Bandcamp now.
Support the artist and purchase the instant classic double-disc tape here and catch him live at EastofLA’s Monthly Event, The High Point.
Follow Alf Alpha on Twitter, MySpace, Facebook.
