By Micah Jacks

Producer D. Sanders let the music do all the talking on his new collection of beats Find the Time, released on Friday. Its absence of song elements such as hooks and choruses throughout most of Find the Time help the tape induce a meditative state. Upon first listen, the fluid sounds may be mistaken for monotony, but what the brief, 23-minute project lacks in lyrics, it makes up for with relaxing, atmospheric vibes, epitomizing the ideal lo-fi hip hop tape. 

Find the Time brings a certain soft and delicate sound that is not always seen in hip hop. Intro song “Sonypkwy” sets the tone as light and dreamy which listeners come to find throughout the collection. The album’s two vocal performances on “Cleanlaundry” and “Minute” delivered by Michael Da Vinci and Free P, respectively, make for superb sonic complements to Sanders’ productions, reminiscent of his work with frequent collaborator Isaiah Rashad of TDE. Da Vinci’s reference to the Black Lives Matter movement marks Find the Time as a subtle reminder that hip hop is not a genre to shy away from making political commentary. 

A variety of rhythms and tempos, helps to distinguish tracks like “Chopper” which features more of a chopped and screwed sound, from “Poneglyph” with a smoother, ethereal feel. “Movillage” ties in the project’s namesake, as the bassline ticks its way through the piece much like a clock. A bit of nostalgia may be induced by “Robotchicken” considering the song sounds like it came straight from an Adult Swim advertisement.

While the phrase ‘beattape’ typically suggests a non cohesive collection of instrumentals with intent to sell to rappers, the tone and vibe from start to finish on Find the Time delivers much more. This project can stand alone without any lyrical contribution; a truly musical piece. Whether you hear it in the background as you do homework or behind the next hit song, this project is worth a listen.