by With innovation, success, and trends being major conversations about what avenues to venture down in the industry, it can almost seem as if being wholly yourself is a bold push against the grain. If it’s working for them, surely it’ll work for me too, right? Proudly throwing the idea of riding someone else’s sonic coat tails clear out the window, Chicago’s Guppi aims to dominate your ear holes in the only way he knows how. How might one describe his idiosyncratic style you might ask? Ok, first think left field. Now, go further left. Think you’re almost there? Ok, now go EVEN FURTHER LEFT. First starting off with a slightly more trap-oriented sound with the release of ‘Sad Eyes‘ 4 years ago, he’s graduated to much more experimental-leaning flavors that are deliciously chaotic. Firmly capturing my attention a little over a year ago with ‘Autopilot‘ he put on full-display an immensely original bass-heavy sound that was both purposely abrasive and sensationally groovy. He then upped the ante once more with ‘Nosebleed‘ and then one step further with ‘Real Life,‘ firmly solidifying his spot as a frequent mention as one of the brightest up-and-comers for myself and many others. Now, he’s blessed the world with his debut EP Ocean Floor, out now on Cyclops Recordings.
Kicking things off in prime fashion, ‘Hereafter’ wastes no time proudly boasting Guppi’s exceptionally idiosyncratic style. Luring listeners in with a melody that seems representative of moments filled to the brim with debauchery and shenanigans, curious, emphatic energy will permeate the surrounding air. A sure sign that things are about to get exceedingly weird, it sets a perfect tone for the entire rest of the project. Sporting a sensational flow that’s reminiscent of more traditional riddim and sound design that invokes the crispy experimental undertones of left-field bass music, you’re left with an end product that stirs the soul and boggles the mind.
Ever wondered what it feels like to place your entire skull into a blender and turn it onto “liquefy?” Just throw ‘Modern Talking’ on and let the rest fall into place. Featuring intense, robust bass lines and saucy vocal chops courtesy of Nate Dogg, palpable prowess and undeniable swagger burst to the forefront of the attention span of all who take in its voluptuous frequencies. Bodacious builds fueled by “step your game up” turn adrenal levels into maximum overdrive, eliciting full-throttle flex hours.
Coming at the third spot on Ocean Floor, ‘Forbidden Sound’ seems just that, a sonic arrangement that should assuredly be locked securely away behind lock and key. Going straight for the throat with brutal switch-ups and tyrannical tornado-like spin cycles of gratuitous groove, fans will be left fully debilitated and emaciated. Is Guppi an extraterrestrial being straight out of the Andromeda galaxy attempting to dominate the mental well-being of all that come into contact with his music? ‘Forbidden Sound’ certainly makes it seem like it.
Rounding out this body of work is ‘Trapped,’ a song that makes you feel like you’ve fallen down a bottomless well straight to oblivion, permanently caught in a never-ending descent that leads everywhere and nowhere at the same time. An upside-down, topsy-turvy carnival ride of epic proportions, ‘Trapped’ is a fitting close to this gigantic leap forward in Guppi’s career.
To say that pride is practically oozing from every pore of my being over the success and recognition that this youthful creator is finally receiving would be a gross understatement, as this Chicago-based tastemaker has been one of the unsung heroes of the underground for quite some time now. With many in the industry quantifying his style as “too experimental” or lacking “enough groove to reach a wide audience,” Guppi’s stayed steadfast in his approach and thrown caution clear to the wind. Ocean Floor is more than a bright point, it’s practically a brand new star bursting forth in the solar system, blinding all who dared doubt him. The future is looking truly limitless for this bass music aficionado, but for now, check out the full project for yourself below!
