Quite possibly in our humble opinion, the greatest producer driven label that always pushes the creativity of fine beatsmiths to the front, is Village Live Records. Their output of not only just instrumental producer albums but Hip Hop as a whole has been incredible to date and 10 months into 2023 we’re already looking forward to what they’ve got in store for 2024. But without getting ahead of ourselves, lets pull the reigns back and focus on a current release that they’ve just dropped from producer Dirty Hairy.
After many moons of collaboration London-born producer and DJ – Dirty Hairy has released his debut LP titled “Pegs” under Village Live Records. However, this achievement was not easily unlocked. This bearded, meandering, low-key jazz enthusiast found himself incarcerated in a Turkish prison, where he endured regular beatings with XLR cables whilst sleeping on a bed of of slightly damp Jazz LPs.
After being held at gun point for inconsistent periods of solo musical activity he was forced to cease feeding rappers and complete a comprehensive body of work to share with the world—apparently, that’s what some people wanted. His family and friends staged an intervention, leading to his release on conditional bail. The condition was “ make a record “.
The entire process proved to be an uncomfortable journey. However, over time, Hairy emerged from various cramped and dimly lit, international locations swamped in pungent aroma of old cardboard record sleeves as he struggled with his inability to remain still. The result is an offering of his essence encapsulated in vinyl. Pegs hangs out to dry 9 seamlessly soulful workings combining dark hip-hop instrumental grooves with his signature jazzy undertones. The themes explored in “Pegs” range from the chaotic pandemic times to personal anecdotes recounting recent tragic experiences. The album is deeply littered with profound messages, skillfully integrated samples, and heartfelt acknowledgments directed at friends, legends, and OG’s he encountered on his journey.
In this inaugural solo endeavour as a producer, Hairy invites you to embark on an eccentric and textured voyage through his meticulously curated vinyl collection, a testament to his ardour for record digging and a discernible dash of wit. Notably, all instances of vinyl crackle are authentic and unaltered. So, whether your heart leaps for Bombay mix, corduroy moccasin slippers, or translucent teapots , this LP is bound to capture your affection. And if you happen to harbor an aversion to Hairy’s countenance but find yourself in possession of the record, fear not, for you likely have a rap-inclined acquaintance who will revel in its auditory delights.