isaintjames - Proline
- Jul 9
- 1 min read
isaintjames — “Proline”
It’s always a treat seeing isaintjames pop up on my release radar. He has really honed his craft and lane of vintage big band esque hip hop. He has an ear for a classic sound which allows him to find the most unique samples and flip them into contemporary treats. He almost reminds me of a more hip hop inspired version of Parov Stelar, but definitely in his own lane—keeping the foundation dusty and heavy instead of veering into pure electro-swing territory.
Proline is a feel good groove off of his latest project Cohabitual, which I most definitely look forward to immersing into more soon. Clocking in at just under a minute and a half, the track doesn't waste any time. It drops in, establishes an addictive, sun-drenched bounce, and rolls right out before it can even think about overstaying its welcome.
What makes his style work so well here is how he handles those vintage brass and jazz elements. Where lesser producers might treat old samples like fragile museum pieces, he hits them with a raw, tactile MPC energy. Instead of letting a lazy loop ride, he chops the instrumentation so it locks perfectly into a crisp, contemporary pocket that forces your head to move. It feels less like a sterile studio creation and more like someone digging through a crate of forgotten discs in a humid basement and instantly breathing new life into them.
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