Snowgoons, a group of hip-hop producers from Germany, collaborate with the best underground MCs on each of their albums to create epic soundscapes from their unique place in the world of hip-hop. On Kraftwerk, their fourth that was released on Friday, they don't disappoint.
Often working with members of super-groups such as Ill Bill and Slaine of La Coka Nostra and Outerspace and Reef the Lost Cauze of Army of the Pharaohs, Snowgoons have what you would call an orchestral sound to their beats, layering complex rhythms and not sounding like anything you would hear on the radio. As can be guessed by their name, they don't aim to sound similar to poppy rap beats or imitate any West Coast styles. They put a lot of winter themes to their song and album titles and samples they use, like on the track "Iceman" featuring Cymarshall Law from their album Black Snow.
Although that may make it seem like there's a dark tinge to Snowgoons' music, alongside all of the battle-lyric verses there's a positive vibe laced in, especially in one of the tracks on A Fist in the Thought, "All in Your Mind," with uplifting lyrics from Viro the Virus.
It's the perfect mood-music rap for the winter, with gritty beats; and they talk about snow, of course.
On Kraftwerk, Snowgoons finally work with Boston MC Esoteric, featuring him on the track "Three Bullets." That's not to say they haven't done songs with Boston rappers before. Black Snow featured EDO G and Jaysaun on the track "Raining," with plenty of Beantown shout-outs.
"We Nah Play" has to be my favorite track on the new album, with up-and-coming MC Crooked I, and a little reggae-rap flavor in the beat enhanced by Beenie Man's vocals:
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