With the release of his new Black Moses EP, west coast producer Channel Tres has been making the case for bringing hip hop and deep house together. For a long time these genre’s have been at opposite ends of the music spectrum. Like country music and reggaeton. Or moombahton and classical (does anybody even listen to moombahton anymore? Is that still a thing?).
Channel Tres has changed all that however. He’s put hip hop and deep house together like butter on toast — an idea that many other musicians from both genres would agree with. His music is applauded by hip hop artists like Tyler, The Creator, and Childish Gambino but also by electronic producers like Toro y Moi, Anderson Paak and Disclosure. He’s even had a shout out from Elton John who admits that Channel Tres is his “favourite new artist.” Which is saying something considering that the 28 year-old Tres has only been on the scene for 2 years.
Tres grew up in Los Angeles. Specifically Compton; a neighborhood known for being a breeding ground for many well known West Coast rappers. His sound is unquestionably influenced by 90s West Coast rap, but reimagined through the lens of classic Detroit house. Add the sultry voice that Channel Tres possesses and you’ve created something very unique indeed.
At the end of this summer, Channel Tres released his second EP entitled Black Moses. The five track EP features Tres using his Barry White-esque voice to summon the soulful era of the 70s. Even the title of the EP invokes Isaac Hayes (who put out an album by the same title). And that’s not the only celebrity comparisons the album makes. The fourth track, “Sexy Black Timberlake,” references Justin Timberlake while the last track, “Raw Power” talks about what it muse feel like for Iggy Pop to rip his shirt off during performances (the tightly produced house beat helps give you an indication of what that must feel like as well. That beat is sick).
Listen to a few tracks from the album below (as well as a few of the remixes and older tracks) and then get your copy of the Black Moses EP on the Channel Tres Bandcamp page.
Channel Tres – Black Moses Channel Tres – Sexy Black Timberlake Channel Tres – Raw Power
Earlier this month, Tyler, The Creator tapped up Channel Tres to create the official remix of his hit single “Earfquake.” That’s a pretty cool stat in itself, but if you combine that with the knowledge that Tyler, The Creator doesn’t do “official remixes” — it becomes a pretty big deal.
Tyler, The Creator – EARFQUAKE (Channel Tres Remix) Tyler, The Creator – EARFQUAKE
A few months ago, Tres released this sweet spaced-out remix of “Who I Am” by Toro y Moi.
Toro y Moi – Who I Am (Channel Tres Remix) Toro y Moi – Who I Am
Here’s a couple of tracks off of his self-title EP from last year. The single called “Topdown” is guaranteed send you into a self-confident swagger.
Channel Tres – Topdown Channel Tres – Topdown
Photo credit: Yazz Alali
This content was originally published here.