Society of Sound: Blue Lab Beats

Blue Lab Beats are NK-OK, aka 18-year-old electronic beats programmer Namali Kwaten, and Mr DM, aka multi-instrumentalist David Mrakpor, 23. A double act with a combined love of hip hop artists J. Dilla, Public Enemy and a Tribe Called Quest; jazz heroes Herbie Hancock and Roy Ayers; soul legends Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield.

They pair fuse minds as well as genres. Their new Society of Sound release, Xover, captures their sultry mish-mash, with its American source and London attitude – the duo neatly side-step the clearance problems that beset so many of their hip hop heroes by cutting up live music made especially for them, effectively sampling themselves.

The album was recorded at Real World Studios.

Read more & hear Blue Lab Beats

"We just do what we love doing. Whenever we're together the work flows really fast."

By Online Editor

Published on Fri, 20 October 17

Further reading

Ghanaian star Lamisi reveals radical re-invention with new single ‘No Orgasm in Heaven’

The track was produced with Accra music icon Wanlov the Kubolor.

Jasdeep Singh Degun announces first Indian classical album Jogkauns

The album was recorded at Real World Studios with tabla virtuoso Harkiret Bahra.

‘I’m really moved by people’s response to it’ – John Metcalfe discusses the album Tree

John Metcalfe releases three new remixes of tracks from his album 'Tree' and brings a special perfor...

Track of the day: ‘Too Many Have Gone’ by The Breath

The Breath reveal their first new music since the release of their third album, Land of My Other. A...