Knxwledge – Hud Dreems

yeah this is pretty high quality package, but to be fair the original / standard packaging was already solid. this is essentially a repressing of a readily available album, with some subtle differences...

As for the package.... For me I love the original coloring (orange/red) over the VMP purple/pink. This is just pure personal preference. The VMP materials overall have more density to them and certainly have a nicer finish. The front cover is slightly enlarged for the VMP release and the eyes have the slightest indent that add some extra texture. The back cover of the VMP release has additional details of the track listings. The VMP version specifically calls out side "D" as "___________", which i thought was a nice touch. Inside the gatefold is mostly the same except the inner spine. The original inner spine has a little note/ty from Knx, but it's printed on this weird part of the gatefold that actually comes up for padding between the two sides.. Mine is now smashed a little. The VMP version fixes this... but the Knx note is absent (which is a small negative). Inner sleeves are higher quality with the VMP. polylined. if you dont plan on replacing them maybe this is nice for you.

As for the wax... the weight and body feel roughly the same (I didn't bother weighing them), the labels are different and of course the VMP version has nice coloring. Sound quality wise I compared side "D" (which really is the gem of the album) and there was no noticeable difference. Overall I would have to say that each pressing has little advantages and disadvantages, but you're not missing anything major going from one to the other. I wish the VMP version offered something a little more for those of us who already owned a copy, but I can't hate on the selection itself. My encouragement is OWN a copy of this album either way. It's one of the defining instrumental hip hop records on the decade. and Side D is worth the price of ission having it on wax.

Nice quality pressing in a heavy gatefold tip on style jacket with poly lined inners. Very happy with the release, well done VMP.

side D is nuts, some of knx's best tracks imo

I digitized my vinyl copy of this and for Side D I cam to 15 total tracks not 14 - can anyone confirm the right number?

So good. Sound is really tight. The artwork and bold fluorescent orange coloring look amazing too!

Smooth, synthetically arranged instrumental blends and groovy beats. Musical samples are applied like patchwork to this surreal and glitchy trip. My soul is lifted by the vibes that are so articulately crafted.
I really enjoyed this album on its release and was delighted to eventually take a listen to Side D. I appreciate the chill feels and the tumbling drum grooves. This album is ethereal and an awesome experience.

Hud Dreems: Album Review

With over sixty official releases under his belt, Knxwledge, a hip hop producer currently based in Los Angeles, has established himself as one of the most prolific artists in the genre today.

On one end, Knxwledge produced one of my favorite beats so far this year which was “Momma” on the critically-acclaimed To Pimp a Butterfly album by Kendrick Lamar. On the other, he produced a jazzy jam that was featured on Joey Bada$$’s debut mixtape 1999.

But what impresses me most about Knxwledge is not the people he has worked with so far, it’s the quality of his own productions that burst with weed inspired creativity and a humbling sense of nostalgia. In short, his music mixes the boom-bap sound of the 90s but he also takes listeners into a hazy future with instrumentals powered by sampled drums and horns.

1999 was the debut mixtape by Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$. Killuminati, produced by Knxwledge, was a standout track on the mixtape.

To be clear, Hud Dreems, which is being branded as his “debut” album for Stones Throw Records, is not necessarily a groundbreaking instrumental hip hop album. Those who are familiar with the sub genre will reference J Dilla and Madlib as obvious influences on Knxwledge’s soundscapes.

Nonetheless, Hud Dreems still shines as a solid record because it is not just a collage of copycat productions. The music has its own lane to pave and Hud Dreems is just the beginning of a sound that can be improved.

Knxwledge live produces a single from Hud Dreems. It’s a solid video and it showcases the producer’s sense of rhythm, style, soul, and love of marijuana.

As an instrumental artist, Knxwledge forces listeners to hone in on the sheer musicality of his ideas. From the beginning of this brief 37 minute album, we are introduced to a frighteningly calm adventure that screams “RELAXXX!”

After I listened to this for the tenth time, I came to the conclusion that Hud Dreems is similar to movie music, the kind of stuff that is completely in the hands of the listener to decipher.

If you want to picture summer nights with friends and video games, buy this record. If you want to imagine a Sunday afternoon alone in your room with the television on mute, buy this record.

Fellow Stones Throw producer Mndsgn accompanies Knxwledge for a glimpse of an afternoon beat making session.
Like a predecessor that I mentioned above, this album is similar in style to J Dilla’s classic album Donuts, but Knxwledge doesn’t try to replicate the same tones Dilla mastered. Hud Dreems tends to hum around in space while Donuts had a more triumphant sound with louder instrumentals.

Legendary hip hop producer J Dilla is a clear inspiration for Knxwledge. Dilla died in 2006 of a debilitating blood disease. He was 32 years old.

Knxwledge, who tends to mellow his music lower and lower as the album progresses, is the complete opposite of today’s popular hip hop which is wired for trunk rattles and sweaty clubs.

With that in mind, some may say this album is “boring” because none of the songs really blow you away at first glance. Without a standout song, Hud Dreems relies on the overall “chill” aesthetic and that may not interest every listener. But to dismiss this album, for that reason alone, would be a terrible mistake. Even though the music is not perfect, Knxwledge is a young producer with a lot of room to grow. Over time, expect more exciting instrumentals to be featured on his major projects.

LAST CALL

I suspect that most listeners will dig this album after only two or three songs. If you are at all intrigued by Knxwledge or the instrumental hip hop genre, this is a good place to start.

Take a weekend with this album and just vibe away. There’s no need to overthink this one.

MY FINAL VERDICT: YES, at the very least, fans will appreciate Knxwledge’s beat making ability and his attention to detail.

great pressing, great album. as others have said side D is freakin unreal.

The D side tracks are siiiick

Wow the exclusive tracks on side D are tight asf