'Da Typical Combo' by Da Typical Combo (Dusty x As Valet)

They started the phenomenal year that Oioji Records had together so it's only right that they end it together.

Working under the guise of Da Typical Combo, DJs and producers Dusty and As Valet present their first official full-length in the form of their self-titled release that works as a captivating ever-evolving soundscape that ebbs and flows over the course of the album's captivating 62 minutes.

As one-third of late-90s DJ trio, Jazz Liberatorz, Dusty's affections for an all-encompassing hip-hop aesthetic has been prevalent across so many of his productions and remixes - from the uplifting bounce of his 'Summer Fruit' remix for As Valet and Seisme to the gloriously abstract 'Hot Props Vibe' for French label Brain Connection to the golden era take on LaNote's 'Weekend' remix.  His has long been a bold and imaginative perspective on hip-hop and production that has found a veritable kindred spirit in As Valet...

With similarly like-minded and eclectic credentials, As Valet projects have run the gamut of contemporary sounds from his early days with the pioneering genre-melding Electric Conversation to his solo releases that showcased his penchant for hip-hop-inspired production to projects that would serve as his spiritual reconnection to his roots in the Caribbean Island of La Martinique - projects that would ultimately pave the way for Oioji Records' very existence.

That ideal has been carried through by Oioji Records through some sensational projects in 2024 featuring the boundless talents of Queen Ci ('Creole Lightening EP vol.1'), Eugene Neighbrs ('Wouj Vè Nwè Dialektics') and Rickysoul The C3PO ('Elektronik Révolisyon Vol. 1: Gwokhouse').  And as mentioned earlier, Oioji's year actually began with Dusty and As Valet's collaborative mixtape 'Cloud Over Frequency' which saw the duo tackle tracks by notable hip-hop luminaries including Mobb Deep and J-Cole compiling a thirteen-track remix project and showcasing their proclivity for dusty, jazz-inspired and golden era production.

But 'Cloud Over Frequency' was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of where the duo would ultimately take their music.  Over the course of the album's mammoth thirty tracks, 'Da Typical Combo' presents a fascinating and immersive musical scope that spotlights Dusty and As Valet at the helm of some incredible pieces that masterfully traverse a compelling array of musical realms including jazz, dub reggae and quintessential soul, lovingly wrapped up within an archetypal hip-hop aesthetic synonymous with both accomplished and visionary artists.  A further special mention goes to the incredible contributions of vocalist and producer LaNote who provides vocals for three of the album's fantastic tracks as well as helming the album's mixing and mastering.

With a long-time friendship and collaborative history between the two, it's wonderful to see the As Valet and Dusty relationship cemented in this fashion and with some luck Oioji Records will continue to prove a thriving playground for the two's collaborations going forward.