Music Essentials: Ackeejuice Rockers ('Yeezus' Co-Producer)

Italian moombahton producers Ackeejuice Rockers, consisting of King P and Ali Selecta,  are best known for their efforts in shaping contemporary dance music with flaunts of tropical color. Displaying versatility in the ever-embracing facets of dancehall and bassline house, Ackeejuice Rockers recently extended their foray into the realms of hip-hip via an exclusive production titled “Guilt Trip” on Kanye West‘s Yeezus album. Coinciding with Yeezy’s progressive efforts in plucking producers out of the ordinary, the duo provided a somber electronic instrumental filled with animated samples and syncopated reverbs. Alongside influences from Pusha T’s “Blocka,” the experimental piece tempered with industrial odes and raw, analog-inspired cuts while staying immensely relevant for the mass market. Rounded up with KiD CuDi’s compelling falsetto in the closing verse, “Guilt Trip” is a noteworthy hit amid the 10-track LP.

Celebrating their contribution to the controversial album, Yeezus proudly sits in middle of their Music Essentials. Meanwhile, 7” and 12” classics from Bob Marley & The Wailers and Dennis Brown prove the duo’s affinity for the eclectic, while a number of mixtapes nod at King P’s labor over the years. Although most abide to the latest technology in their musical endeavors, Ackeejuice Rockers still opts for a Vestax PMC-05 Pro for mixing, and for intellectual reading, How Music Works by David Byrne of Talking Heads provide personal memoirs and theories on the industry. King P also lets us in on his sentimental side, displaying a vintage watch given by his father, and extraordinarily, a heart-shaped candy — still in its Ziploc bag — given by his girlfriend from when they first met in 2006.

Photo Credit: Verena Stefanie Grotto