Tosten Burks keeps his head in the clouds and his thoughts so heavenly.
The Low End Theory aesthetic sails south. Although perennially irrelevant as a hip-hop hub, San Diego is a logical host for such restless, sunset-stained soul. And with the city’s own Gonjasufi collaborating with Flying Lotus, and The Gaslamp Killer headquartered north to Low End itself, the emergence feels like it was only a matter of time.
Either way, Elaquent’s production is worth 18 minutes of your day. Crippled smooth piano, stuttering snares, confused, off-kilter synth flares. It’s pretty, but uneasy about that prettiness. The ever-so-slight arrhythmicness reads as hesitation. Scared, self-conscious beauty. Mr. Brady’s voice is also the perfect broken, emphatic anchor. It’s a soft, reserved indoor-voice of restraint, a sad gangster gruff, as subtle as a lion sighing. It conveys tired wisdom, experience, intimacy. The voice of that end-of-the-bar old-timer. Listen, he’s saying something.
Stream below the jump.
