Welcome to The Sports Fan Journal’s music series, In The Rotation. Music fans are always trying to find the latest tunes to spin and our editor Mya Melody, a.k.a. the playlist virtuoso, is here to help. Whether you need a weekend turn up anthem or a smooth jam for a kickback, this series will highlight the week’s hottest song to add in your collection. Vibe out and enjoy! #MelodyPutYouOn
Summer may be winding down, but New Music Friday continues to be packed with smooth gems to get listeners ready for all seasons. For hip-hop and R&B fans that occasionally enjoy jazz and vice versa, Brasstracks is a duo to be familiar with. On Brasstrack's latest single, "Professional," the duo teams up with emerging artist Kyle Dion to perfect their eclectic funk-soul sound.
Brasstracks consists of Ivan Jackson (trumpet) and Conor Rayne (drums) that bring a brass-driven sound to soul and hip-hop, hence the band's name.
We’re having so much f*cking fun. You can correct me if I’m off, but it’s been the same. It’s just gotten clearer and clearer that we want to bring something organic to popular music. Just give something organic to the people. What we do has been around for decades and it’s tried and true. -- Ivan of Brasstracks, to DJ Booth (2019)
In addition to being well-known for its joyous live instrumentation and electronic samples, Brasstracks has made a name for itself producing for other artists including Chance The Rapper ("No Problem") and Anderson .Paak ("Am I Wrong)."
Following up their early 2019 EP Before We Go, their single "Professional" showcases how much the band continues to stand out in a new age of funk. Adding one of R&B's brightest newcomers Kyle Dion was simply a chef kiss, as the vocalist brings his falsetto vocals to set off the right vibe. Dion may sound a bit braggadocious upon first listen, but he's not afraid to let anyone know how much he means business:
"I need my check playa / Run me what you owe / Nothing less or more / I keep my cards close on a need to know / You don't need to know"
If the weekend calls for feeling risky and keeping it a stack with folks, you can either get your money right and go to global poker school, or you can spin this perfect track. For fans looking for artists who believe in creating their own distinct sound, put the Brasstracks' "Professional" single in the rotation and thank me later. Feel free to listen to some of their older material as well and check out this week's pertinent reading material:
Solange. Blood Orange. Kelsey Lu. There's a new wave of genre-bending black artists - Los Angeles Times
How Artist Imposters and Fake Songs Sneak Onto Streaming Services - Pitchfork
How Raphael Saadiq pushed through pain to make his best album yet - The Fader
Snoh Aalegra Nails the Comfort of Pining - DJBooth
The Long Road to Missy Elliott's MTV Video Vanguard Award - Huffpost
