When it comes to the current era of named producers that continue to push sounds forward while continuing to carry on tradition of what Hip Hop is supposed to sound like, there are really only a handful in our opinion that do so with authenticity and that have that lineage running through their veins. Marco Polo is indeed in that upper echelon of skilled producers who over the last 20 years has released just as many and then some, projects that not only showcases his talents (MP on The MP The Beat Tape series), but also those that feature some of livest MC’s who also hold their own in their respected lanes like Port Authority, Newport Authority 2 and A Breukelen Story alongside Masta Ace which are just a few of our favorites. As a producer who understands the art of sampling and knowing just how to flip samples and drum sounds, Marco Polo is no stranger to turning the obscure sound into Hip Hop gold that piques ears and leads other producers down the rabbit hole in search of the golden ticket.
His latest release, The Many Moods of Marco Polo Vol. 1 and the first on his new label, Frank’s Drum Set Inc. sees the producer in a slightly different role and one that’s in full composition mode and takes us somewhere between composers André Previn and Ferrante & Teicher on the easy listening side of things giving the listener a sound that’s refreshing and ready to be sampled and flipped to create new production and works. What you are hearing is the culmination of sounds heard by Marco Polo in what he would’ve been searching for to sample from coming full circle in him being the creator behind the works for others to sample from.
The Many Moods of Marco Polo (Vol. 1) was born from the creative energy of sessions made during the era of working alongside DJ Premier for Nas “Light Years” — a period rooted in precision, soul, and intention. What started as compositions inspired by that time — cinematic loops, dusty textures, melodic ideas built for heavyweight lyricism — evolved into something bigger. A full universe. A complete body of work. With this new release, you can hear just how much Marco Polo’s ear for sounds have matured and become and become more well rounded. From soulful piano passages to dark orchestral moods, warm analog synth textures to stripped-down drumless pieces, each track represents a different emotional state — reflective, triumphant, paranoid, romantic, focused, restless.
The vinyl release features 18 completely new tracks total (11 on the digital release) and was made specifically for producers looking to flip something meaningful, artists searching for emotion, film and TV supervisors hunting atmosphere, and fans who appreciate texture of trends.