James Pants

A chance encounter with Stones Throw head Peanut Butter Wolf after a post-prom Texas rave six years ago got James Pants’ foot in the door, and now his debut disc, Welcome, more than justifies this form-shifting producer’s seat at the progressive label’s head table. The synth-soaked sonic palette of varying late ’70s/early ’80s musical styles plays heavily in Pants’ sonic influences, with the producer also snatching from both hip-hop and punk to complete his creations. A crosspollination between old school hip-hop beats and Cameo-era electronic funk characterise the early portion, as the rumbling and spacey, Bambaataa-esque "Dragon Slayer” gives way to the R&B tones of "Cosmic Rapp.” Conversely, "My Girl” and "Finger On The Knife” expose Pants’ raucous rock leanings, while tunes like "Green River” and "Prayers Of The People” show the beat as being almost secondary to all that’s going on around it, completing this creative gem by yet another Stones Throw showpiece.