ArtistInfo

BEATNICK DEE

GB
Producer
A.k.a. Nick Doherty Nick Doherty (2)

Hip-Hop producer. Born in the Bay Area, raised in Somerset, England, and currently living in Los Angeles, Beatnick Dee is a producer as well as a record & sample dealer. His discography includes work with Vinnie Paz, Blu, Thes One (of People Under The Stairs), Ras Kass, Pheo, Army of the Pharaohs, Cali Agents, LMNO, and Infamous Mobb. He is also one third of Drumset Music Works, a production collective with Twiz The Beat Pro and Jaisu. Having grown up in England, Nick was exposed to a variety of musical genres from a young age when his father began taking him to Glastonbury Festival. Out of all the musical styles at the festival, it was Hip-Hop music that really caught Nick's ear, leading to his first experimentation with beatmaking. After years of accumulating knowledge in records, gear, sampling, and production techniques, he began collaborating with other Hip-Hop artists, making a name for himself and solidifying his trademark sound. It was after a visit to LA, as an intern at Tres Records, that his mind was made up — he had to make a permanent move. Only 6 months later, in December of 2011, the move was official — Beatnick Dee was now a Los Angeles-based hip-hop producer. It was this relocation which led to the evolution of his debut album, Creative Medicine. His move to Los Angeles allowed him to collaborate with talented, buzzing artists and well known rappers. These collabs as well as his full emersion into the melting pot of his new city allowed the amalgam of influences and musical styles to come together to create his debut album, Creative Medicine. At 12 tracks in length, Beatnick Dee carefully matches each beat to the unique voice of the artist, all the while creating a singular work that can't be fully appreciated without being heard in its entirety. His connection to the artist Cashus King (fka Co$$) had been established while he was still in England, but his move to LA only cemented their musical bond, as evidenced by Cashus' features on the album with Burning Clouds and Ketchup & Mustard. The latter is reminiscent of a classic-style LA anthem but with a sonically futuristic twist. With an affinity for 80's music, this first single brings an uplifting funk groove with spacey synths. On Never Looked Back, Big Twins (Infamous Mobb) and his signature gutter voice are featured, a soulful ode to NY rap at its grimiest. Luxurious Rain, featuring UTB Life$tyle’s Pheo, emits a more modern Hip-Hop influence. The versatile producer brings cosmic synths, strong 808’s and rapid hi-hats, mixing abstract, trippy samples into a unique track for the rapper. With more melodic arrangements like Be Free, featuring Denitia and Sene, and This Ain’t a Love Song with Yung Miss, Beatnick Dee displays his capabilities to produce beyond the Hip-Hop genre. Thicker Than Blood, the last track to be recorded for the album, is really where Creative Medicine comes full circle. Featuring Thes One of People Under The Stairs, Beatnick Dee finished his album with the artist that influenced him as a teenager to start producing in the first place. A solid set of songs seamlessly flowing through various moods and voices while still remaining cohesive, the project is a rich tapestry of sounds and styles that showcase Beatnick Dee's own creative medicine. A stand out set and one to watch.

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