With credits on tracks by the likes of Mac Miller, Vince Staples, A$AP Rocky, Lil B, Danny Brown, Lil Peep and more, Clams Casino is one of the definitive rap producers of the decade. He started 2011 as a relative unknown who’d made some beats for rappers like Lil B and Soulja Boy. Self-releasing a number of these productions on his debut mixtape ‘Instrumentals’ quickly changed that. It was picked up for physical release via Type, a debut EP followed soon after on Tri Angle, and he closed out the year with multiple credits on A$AP Rocky’s acclaimed first mixtape ‘Live. Love. ASAP’. From there his distinctively atmospheric and lo-fi production style helped pioneer the nascent cloud rap and mumble rap scenes, alongside contemporaries like Clouddead, Yung Lean, Kid Cudi and frequent collaborator Lil B.

‘Instrumentals’ is Dilla-like in its heavy use of samples and beats standing alone as works of art, but sounded fresh through wrapping recognisable cues up in emotionally devastating soundscapes. Adele’s voice provides heart-tugging heft in the foundations of ‘Realest Alive’, Imogen Heap’s airy tones are weaved into the captivating textures of ‘I’m Official’, and the sound of Björk’s voice is at its most gripping in between the intense synths of ‘Illest Alive’. Tracks like ‘She’s Hot’ and ‘Brainwash by London’ equally showed his ability to craft tunes on a late-night sensual and club-ready tip. For many, ‘Instrumentals’ was the compelling introduction to a pivotal player in hip hop. Patrick Hinton