Producer Ian McKee emerges from behind the boards with ‘Amina’ EP
Since 2016, Ian McKee has been the mind behind some of our favorite local artists, namely Rexx Life Raj, Caleborate and our very own Beejus. But the Pacifica producer finally emerges into his own through a lush new project called Amina, packed with features from the aforementioned plus P-Lo, YMTK, and Mani Draper. McKee is cut from the same cloth of producers redefining what the Bay Area sound is. His lush, experimental melodies are attuned with the soul, funk, and pop of the region, backed by a signature bounce to perfectly couch the vocal flair of all his collaborators. But [...]
Mixtape: The Bay Area’s Standout Hip Hop and R&B Producers
This episode first ran on KQED.org. Download: Mixtape: The Bay Area's Standout Hip Hop and R&B Producers (Podcast #426) The Bay Area's vibrant hip hop and R&B scenes include a wealth of talented MCs and singers, but it's often easy to forget the important behind-the-scenes role that music producers play in crafting great songs. A skilled producer doesn't just provide a instrumental backdrop for an artist to showcase their craft; instead, the best producers elevate their artists, adding emphasis that highlights a song's melodic immediacy or depth that demands repeat listens. This mixtape showcases a dozen songs from local hip [...]