The EP TABIJI by CAKbeats is an instrumental hip-hop release that follows the East Coast boom bap style, using traditional hip-hop as the basis for its production. At the heart of the tracks lies well-balanced drum programming, with a slight swing incorporated into the beats to produce a consistent rhythmic flow. Together with the boom bap influence, the production also includes features of trap, soul, synthwave and lo-fi, which broadens the overall sound while still keeping it rooted in instrumental hip-hop.
Throughout TABIJI the drum work forms a continuous element, with every track shaped by a kind of programming that ensures the rhythms stay going without sacrificing the individual characteristics of the basic beats. The other musical influences are incorporated as part of the overall production and do not take the EP’s main hip-hop base away. The blend of boom bap rhythms with some elements of trap, soul, synthwave and lo-fi gives the project a variety of textures while at the same time keeping its sound linked to the traditional instrumental hip-hop approach that CAKbeats has described.
The two most important moments in the project come about through the rap performances by Nova the Vagabond and Mic Righteous. These appearances give the EP, which is mainly instrumental, a vocal element and make the rap performances some of the most noticeable parts of the collection. The difference between the beat-oriented tracks and these two rap performances enables TABIJI to have a wider range, linking its instrumental base with lyrical rap without abandoning the production-focused character of the project.
The idea of movement is conveyed by TABIJI, as shown in the plane depicted in the cover artwork and the notion of entering another world thanks to the music. This concept is linked to the way the project fuses traditional hip-hop with influences from trap, 70s soul, lo-fi and electronica. Instead of sticking to one particular style, the EP combines these elements around its boom bap base, resulting in a work that strikes a balance between instrumental hip-hop production and some instances of rap performance.
