As a relative newcomer to the hip-hop game, 21-year-old Melbourne whiz kid Ante Escobar might not boast the bankroll of his Colombian drug lord namesake, but he’s well on his way to infamy as a production force to be reckoned with.
In fact, the two Esco’s aren’t that dissimilar in their quest to flood the streets with that pure product. However, instead of pushin’ powder like Pablo, Ante Escobar is intent on hittin’ fiends off with a narcotic of a different kind: deceptively simple kick-snare concoctions characterised by thick drums and layer-upon-layer of dusty soul loops.
Born and raised in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Ante Esco has a surprisingly deep hip-hop history for a cat barely out of his teens. His resume includes a long-standing involvement with renowned community hip-hop workshop Street Science, a project that’s spawned some of Burn City’s best talent, as well as working on tracks with fam from the area and beyond and operating The Stab Lab with partner-in-rhyme, The Bid, a recording studio in Melbourne's east.
Taking primary influence from Detroit production greats J Dilla, Black Milk and Waajeed, Ante Escobar’s sound is steeped in Motor City mechanics but has enough of a dirty Dandy twist to stand head-and-shoulders above other soulful beat imitators.
So what’s the secret to such production chops? According to Esco, it’s a steady diet of charcoal chicken, nutrient water and digging for new loops that keeps this business-minded b-boy bangin’ ’em out. Look for Ante Escobar’s name in the production credits of your favourite local rap CDs real soon.
