I start working every morning at 5am and sometimes earlier than that. My body is wired to be in machine mode once my eyes open and my mind never really slows down. To lock into a zone and settle my brain down I need some good instrumentals that help soundtrack my day. While I have probably 20 playlists with nothing but beats, I keep going back to one producer specifically lately. He’s a producer that I feel is slept on. Budgie is that guy….
I first heard about Budgie through his joint project with The Alchemist back in 2014 when they dropped The Good Book, Vol. 2. For 10+ years I’ve been on top of everything ALC has had his hands in and he honestly never misses. On that project, Budgie produced a track called “By My Side” with Evidence and it was a piece of art. The beat, the samples, the verse, the vibe… All fire.
From that point on, I stayed on the ALC campaign but veered off down the road to Budgie’s production out of Los Angeles via London. Budgie gives me Doom instrumentals vibes if mixed with Eek-A-Mouse instrumentals. It’s a tropical wavy ride that reminds me of the 70’s and 80’s soft rock scene which you now know as yacht rock.
The first beat of Budgie’s which hooked me was “Touch Me” off of Panty Soakers 3. Budgie’s sample selection and production is a vibe that takes me to the beaches of Maui while sipping out of a fresh coconut. Not many producers can consistently take me there but Budgie lives in that lane.
Last year, Budgie had my favorite beat of the year which came on his track with Navy Blue, “To Fall in Love”. This beat is so damn clean and crispy and Navy Blue finds the pocket and the song is something. You probably missed it and if you did, here you go. Don’t sleep on Navy Blue… He’s too damn dope.
Budgie has collaborated with ALC, Kanye, Drake, Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson, and more. I feel like if he were to drop a new beat tape this summer it’ll fly. While the world has come around to beats without drums, Budgie brings a whole different landscape on the beat. His beats are perfect for kickin it by the beach or just chillin out. Here’s a Spotify playlist with nothing but Budgie beats. Give this a spin… Budgie brings heat.