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i make beats & drift cars

Born out of necessity, the newest and perhaps most cathartic release from Decatur’s own Allen Thomas, tells the story of ‘The Tree That Split in Two’. Though the musically seasoned rapper-producer is no stranger to passionate storytelling – this new project delves directly into and through the heart of the artists, like lightning through the body of an oak.

The listening experience, like some of his previous releases, can be described as a nostalgic continuum. It feels like a familiar stream of consciousness, taking quiet command of your attention for a concise, yet meaningful twenty minutes. By the time you arrive at those final few seconds of mellow instrumentation (fashioned by Lazarus, himself), you will have bobbed your head right into your own state of self-reflection.

Welcome2DLoLife is a creative producer and Hip-Hop apprentice who reigns from Suffolk, VA. His devotion to Hip-Hop distinguishes him from the pack, and his approach to unearthing Soul and Gospel B-side records makes him unparalleled in his craft and work ethic.

Welcome2DLoLife exited the womb with Hip-Hop’s golden era as his soundtrack. His early years were spent engrossed in the sonics of artists and collectives from the likes of Wu-Tang, Chubb Rock, Roc-a-Fella, Ruff Ryders to Dave Hollister and The Eagles. With cassettes, vinyl records, and CDs at his fingertips, DLo was baptized by his folks’ adoration for Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul. It was apparent that a young DLo would quickly catch heed to the gospel of Hip-Hop with his pops as a practitioner of the artform in his own right. As his OG bumped LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells,” in preparation for a DJ gig, Welcome2DLoLife became spellbound by the way the vibration of bass sent a jolt of energy throughout the entire crib, only the way those called to the craft are.

DLo answered the call and took a stab at producing beats back in ‘04 on downloaded computer software before transitioning to his weapon of choice: the MPC. DLo’s relationship with his MPC blossomed as he mastered the art of chopping and sampling records day in and day out. Influenced by top tier production from the likes of Bink!, RZA, J. Dilla, Just Blaze, Swizz Beats, Timberland, and Pharrell, DLo would continue to develop his own signature dense production style and vintage soul chops.

DLo has secured placements with some of Hip-Hop’s finest, such as Westside Gunn, Jim Jones, Stove God Cooks, Ché Noir, and Ransom, but is a fresh and flourishing act amongst Hip-Hop’s underground producers, performing beat sets around the United States with a focus on solidifying himself as a touring producer act. DLo has become a crowd favorite due to his soul and passion-infused sets. With nostalgia and childhood memories as his spark, DLo is interested in curating a timeless catalog of beats. His latest EP, Commonwealth, is the embodiment of this approach. With a new LP, The Purple Beat Tape, on the way, DLo is prepared to reveal exactly why he’s here to stay.

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The Purple Beat Tape:

The Purple Beat Tape comes off the heels of Welcome2DLoLife’s Commonwealth EP with a sort of vengeance. With his MPC in tow and sentimentality for 90’s Hip-Hop, DLo composes a tight-knit auditory experience made with Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… as his muse. The Purple Beat Tape is imbued with the kind of soul and grit that is often compromised. It’s a sample heavy, nostalgic love letter to The Chef’s own The Purple Tape. As a head-knocking devotion to the beloved Hip-Hop classic, the LP flaunts DLo’s ear for doo-wop crooning vocals and tight acumen for arrangement. The Purple Beat Tape is a soul-stirring composition of beats that attests to hardcore Hip-Hop fans that the human feel to Hip-Hop didn’t die with the great, J. Dilla.