Nick Speed might not be a household name, at least not yet. The Detroit based producer has been making beats for a variety of MCs including 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Talib Kweli, and Danny Brown. He came up through the ranks after meeting DJ House Shoes and began working with Elzhi of Slum Village. The Beatdown packs a slew of mostly instrumental beats bathed in that particular Detroit style on its two sides. Think Andres meets Dilla, however Nick Speed packs his own heat. The samples range from old soul and funk to techno records making for some compelling juxtapositions. It's all wrapped up tightly with on point production and a tendency to keep the pieces short and sweet.

• music label: Mahogani Music 2013

reviewed by Joey Coco 02/2013