Terrace Martin‘s latest album Drones has finally arrived, and with it, a number of stunning verses over funky, groovy production. Martin’s jazzy beat-skills sound as clear and crisp as ever, as every guest verse has their own moment to shine.
Martin ensures that every track is perfectly paired with every collaborator on the record. Cordae sounds like the “Work It Out” beat was tailor-made for him, as he arguably spits the best verse on the project.
Arin Ray’s soulful crooning wraps perfectly around Smino’s rapid yet precise flow on “This Morning.” YG and Malaya create a sensual, slow paced jam with “Evil Eyes.” Even the sole jazz track “Griots of Crenshaw District” features a groove impossible to shake off thanks to Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper’s excellent additions.
While the highly-anticipated feature from Kendrick Lamar is little more than a hook and a few lines throughout the title track, his contribution along with Snoop Dogg, Ty Dolla $ign and James Fauntleroy combine for one of the many standouts on the project.
Drones shows that Martin is one of the most underrated producers of this generation. His blend of soul, jazz and funk makes for something that is both engaging and captivating, but also easily digestible for all listeners.
Listen to ‘Drones’ by Terrace Martin below!
Terrace Martin announces new album ‘Drones,’ shares lead single ‘Leave Us Be’
Accredited producer Terrace Martin has worked with dozens of high-profile artists over the course of his career — and on his newly announced concept album Drones — he’s bringing most of them along for the ride.
The stacked tracklist includes features from Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dog, Ty Dolla $ign, Smino, Cordae, James Fauntleroy, YG and many more scattered throughout Drones’ 13 tracks.
The album was announced by a short teaser that played during an ESPN broadcast earlier this week. This will be Martin’s first full-length project since his 2016 Grammy-nominated album Velvet Portraits. Last year, he dropped collaborative EPs with Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder. Glasper and Washington return for Martin’s latest outing, and they find themselves in great company with the project’s eclectic mix of guests.
More than anything, listeners are ecstatic to see that Kendrick Lamar will be featured on Drones’ title track along with Ty Dolla, Snoop, and Fauntleroy. The feature would be one of the few guest spots Kendrick has done this year following his appearances on Baby Keem‘s The Melodic Blue. It also marks Martin and Lamar’s first collaboration since “Loyalty” off the latter’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN.
Before that, Martin worked extensively with him throughout 2015’s To Pimp A Butterfly and 2012’s Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. The pair have always left fans with classic tracks like “These Walls” and “m.A.A.D City,” as expectations for the two are already sky-high.
Martin already delivered the album’s first track in “Leave Us Be” to accompany the announcement trailer. On the track, he lays down a smooth, funk-tinted R&B song with an infectious groove and simple hook — making it easily replayable until the full album drops this Friday.
Listen to ‘Leave Us Be’ before ‘Drones’ drops Nov 5!
