Song of the Day: Terrace Martin – Griots of the Crenshaw District [ft. Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and Hit-Boy]

Contemporary hip-hop and jazz producer Terrace Martin released his from his new solo album Drones, including song Griots of the Crenshaw District, featuring Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and Hit-Boy. 

The album pulls liberally from a range of stylistic wells, melding jazz with hip-hop, lush soundscapes with synth-soul melodies, off-kilter R&B with conscious poetry. While billed as an album by Terrace Martin, Drones brings a decorated cast of collaborators to bear including Kendrick Lamar, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Ty Dolla $ign, James Fauntleroy, Snoop Dopp, Cordae, Arin Ray, Smino, Celeste, Channel Tres, Malaya, YG, Kim Burrell and Leon Bridges.

Drones mark the producer’s first solo project since 2016’s Velvet Portraits, though he has released several albums with various collaborative projects in the interim. Last year, he linked up with Glasper, Washington, and 9th Wonder as Dinner Party for a pair of collaborative LPs, Dinner Party and Dinner Party: Dessert. Martin and Glasper also recently released a new live record with their collaborative project, R+R=Now.

Kamasi Washington said in an Instagram post directed at Martin, which called Drones a “masterpiece,” This album is so beautiful! You’ve always been ahead of the game but wow, this one is on another level! Thank you for always pushing the music forward.

Listen to Terrace Martin new song Griots of the Crenshaw District, featuring Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and Hit-Boy, from his new solo album Drones: