Damu The Fudgemunk: Supply For Demand

The underground’s favorite producer is back at it again. Damu The Fudgemunk has cemented himself as one of the most talented producers in the game today. After the release of his album How It Should Sound, Vol. 1 & 2, the artist was met with much acclaim and clamor for more music. Well here we are with the appropriately titled Supply For Demand which consists of 14 songs, filled with various instrumentals and even a few rhymes that are sure to satisfy.

The project begins with the inciting melodies of “Supply for Demand/Guru Dedication”. A calming piano loop highlights the track, along with gritty scratches to keep the edge of the song. At the end, Damu pays homage to the late Guru, speaking over the intro to Gang Starr’s Daily Operation album. It’s a small but effective move. There is only one guest feature on the project, made by Y Society member Insight on the track “Don’t Do It”. With a constant, catchy sample in the backdrop, the track can be called a reunion of sorts, and quenches fans’ thirst for hearing guests on Damu’s beats. If you’re familiar with the Fudgemunk, you knew to expect top-tier beats. Premier production is spread throughout the album, coming in pure instrumental form in “Wonka Beat 4”, “5” and “6”. “Wonka Beat 4” employs a nasty bass groove and steady snare to create a hypnotic rhythm, while “Wonka Beat 6” maintains a boom-bap setup with various sounds centered around it to keep the listener interested. The 5th installment of the Wonka Beats may be the best though. Led by a fluttering flute and banging drum-kick setup, Damu throws in an abstract vocal sample that adds to the overall groovy mystique of the cut.

Moving along, Damu provides two versions of the song “Bright Side”, both impressing. Often compared to Pete Rock, “Bright Side OG Mix” provides the best evidence of the parallel between Damu and the legendary beat maker. With a minimalistic approach consisting of hard-hitting snares and soothing piano keys, the song radiates soul brother vibes- even in the “whoooo” heard in the first 5 seconds of the track. The remix of the song, “Bright Side (25th Bday Remix)”, has a different sound and mood to it. It’s melodic in every sense of the word. With a sample to begin the song that makes you (and Damu) want to sing along, the track takes on a different personality then it’s predecessor utilizing a stronger sounding drum-kick, buoyant xylophone keys , jazzy horns, and the oft-sampled “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega. The two songs are both highlights on the LP.

One thing that not discussed about the afore mentioned songs, and something that is fairly prevalent on the album, is Damu spits a couple of verses. Please, put your eyebrows down- the Fudgemunk actually lays down some solid rhymes. In “DC Joint (Ward 4 Version)”, Damu spits depicting lines about his city over hard sounds of clashing symbols and snares, “Legends are born/ Broken dreams build boulevards/ Get caught lookin’ hard/ And they’ll pull your card”. The same can be said for “Killin’ Time Rhyme” as the Fudgemunk lays down a murderous flow over a vintage break-beat, “Ready to present this/ Vintage, offense/ Diminishing your defense/ Smacking a weak fist/ Preaching all vulnerable”. Let’s be honest here – no one expected or necessarily yearned for Damu to step behind the microphone. But in doing so, he’s proven many of his naysayers wrong and broadened his musical range. These aren’t verses of the year, nor do they need to be. With his production, the Fudgemunk can literally speak on the track and be fine, let alone display skills with the metaphors and similes.

Damu The Fudgemunk is refreshing, without doing anything outlandishly new. His approach to music goes back to the basics, something that is extremely forgotten at this point in time in Hip-Hop, and is executed masterfully.“Supply For Demand” is a good project, and ironically, will cause more demand for his supply. So all that’s left to ask is, “Is he gon’ ever fall off?” Nope.

8.0/10

Bright Side [OG Mix]

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Wonka Beat 5

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Don’t Do It feat Insight

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