Legendary superproducer Mike Dean has been shaping the sound of hip-hop for more than 30 years, praised for his work with artists like Beyoncé, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Scarface and Madonna. From writing standout synth leads and explosive bass lines to engineering final mixes, his genius is heard throughout some of the greatest rap records of all time.
Now, for the first time in Dean’s career, his solo work will see the spotlight. Today, April 20th, the 28-track instrumental mixtape—befittingly titled 4:20—is available to stream or purchase. Sonically, it’s everything you would expect and more from the veteran sound architect: larger-than-life bass, booming drums, and memorable melodies flawlessly arranged to take you on a journey through Dean’s world of electronic music mastery.
The mixtape, almost entirely comprised of the music Dean has created during his popular Instagram Live performances over the past few weeks of isolation, is a testament to the power of creativity in these uncertain times.
Earlier this year, the Grammy-winning producer invited Moog Music into his LA home studio to capture the making of what would become “The Eighth Night,” a standout track included in the release. Watch Dean flex his production prowess by building an opus using sounds created with only one instrument: the Moog Grandmother. Every 808-style kick, bassline, lead, and Yeezus-style distortion comes from this instrument recorded in a single session.
Watch Eighth Night below
