These artists are making beats that are chaotic and cacophonous, as soothing as a root canal and as peaceful as an explosion. Death Grips, El-P, and Bigg Jus have all put out albums in the past few months that sound a little bit like a robot getting into a fight with a laundry machine and electric guitar. On the one hand you have producers getting noisier and noisier. Then download this mixtape (for free) from Mediafire.There are two divergent trends in hip-hop production these days. Head back to the Kitchen to read Kasey’s recipe for a clean, fresh Pomegranate-Mint Spritzer. Whether it is sound-tracking your cocktail party, night driving in a car, riding public transit, bicycling through the Mission District (if you happen to live in San Francisco), or even just to motivate yourself to work – this mix consistently comes doe the job. And I think you’ll find that although it provides great ambiance for a party, you’ll want to listen to it all over town. The album is atmospheric and steeped in bass, but it’s definitely not lethargic or downbeat. Because it’s similarly clean, effervescent, contemporary and upbeat, I’ll be jamming the Instrumental Mixtape to get things alive. It’s a tasty, festive drink that can be added to any holiday party mix.

Kasey’s Pomegranate-Mint Spritzer is fresh, clean and effervescent. Honestly, there is a compelling argument to be made that tracks like Lil B’s “Motivation” are better in instrumental form. And listening to the free Instrumental Mixtape he released earlier this year, it’s hard not to think that at least part of Lil B & ASAP Rocky’s success (for example) is the result of the slick instrumentals they had to work with courtesy of Clams Casino. He’s all over Lil B’s tracks, he’s all over A$AP Rocky’s mix, he’s been tapped by Soulja Boy, and featured by Adult Swim.

So it speaks volumes about to note that New Jersey-based producer Clams Casino has worked with some of the most buzz-friendly up-and-coming MCs in the past few years. Personally, I’m even willing to overlook weak rhymes and inconsistent flow if the beats and ambiance of a track are nailed. It’s no accident that many of the best hip hop albums of all time featured devastating, fresh beats. I think an argument can be made that the quality of a hip hop track is 75% a reflection of the producer.

CLAMS CASINO INSTRUMENTAL MIXTAPE