Being part of a college town, hip hop community in Madison, Wisconsin during most of the 2000's allowed me to cross paths with several multi-talented artists and performers, often sharing the stage or overlapping with each other somehow of another. Out of this scene grew a variety of DJ/performers who have since gone on to substantial fame, most notably
DJ Pain 1 (producer for Young Jeezy, 50 Cent, Joe Budden and more) and
Man Mantis (a touring electronic and experimental hip hop musician).
Of the two, Mantis continues to build his catalog in more experimental direction and seems to have evolved from a sample-based producer to an electronic manipulator of sounds in the vein of RJD2 or DJ Shadow's early stuff. Mantis relocated to Colorado in the last few years and was able to join the roster of World Around Records, who pride themselves on more experimental or artists, instrumental and vocals. Some of the musical output is humorous, some of it fun, some of it dark and some of it is just to zone out to.
They recently dropped a collection of singles that helps showcase the range of music on the label and shows that with a solid collection of artists, little known labels can build a solid discography. Check out their latest offering below and see for yourselves. Support a growing label and pay attention to the sounds of Man Mantis particularly. He might just be the MF Doom of electronic music.
DOWNLOAD LINK
http://worldaround.bandcamp.com/album/singles-2011-2012
