THINK TANK

Does mo’ money really equal mo’ problems? The Beatles would certainly have agreed with Biggie‘s famous thesis, judging by the richer-than-God rock legends’ cash-related complaints on joints like Taxman and You Never Give Me Your Money. Though inspired by the latter cut, Miami crew Think Tank‘s Gimme Your Money is focused more on the struggles of artists with less currency than they’d like. Backed by Llamabeats’ chopped rendition of the Abbey Road classic, rappers Spits (a member of Llamabeats along with producer The What’s Good and guitarist Mister Fader) and Parable deliver a litany of familiar gripes – impatient landlords, nagging girlfriends, nine-to-five drudgery – in a fresh, entertaining fashion. And they don’t lose sight of the big picture; on verse two, Parable announces that he’s “...tired of the white-collar man with cigar in hand, duckin’ the government for taxes while kids in other countries keep on strugglin’ for rations.” If this joint leaves you hungry for more from Think Tank, you can look forward to a generous serving of Mashed Potatoes on November 2, when their new, Booth-sponsored project hits our mixtape page.

Read more: http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/think-tank-gimme-your-money/#ixzz19gEk5P6t - DJBooth.net

Another new artist on the Kollection. THINK TANK has taken Feist’s My Moon My Man and mashed it up into a hip hop track. The beat is sick, and the raps flow well with the track. And the biggest surprise of the song has to be the chorus, which is smooth yet somehow it works over the choppy beat.

Overall, a solid track from a group that shows some promise. Kollect on. - The Kollection

Miami crew THINK TANK have hooked up with DJBooth.net, Public Wizard, Inc., Rogue Status and DTA to bring fans their latest street album, Mashed Potatoes.

The project features 18 fresh new cuts from local trio Llamabeats (producer The What’s Good, guitarist Master Fader and rapper/producer Spits) in collaboration with emcee Parable, running the gamut from covers and freestyles to originals and mash-up remixes. Included are Booth-approved leaks “Gimme Your Money” and “People of the Sun.”

In addition to Llamabeats’ own boardwork, Mashed Potatoes features beats by Charles Hamilton, Mulatto Patriot and ¡MAYDAY!‘s Gianni Cash. Guest bars come courtesy of ¡MAYDAY! member Wrekonize and Si Money.

1. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Gun in My Hand — This is one funky groove. The guitar licks in the background go perfect with the lyrical flow of the song. The content will catch the attention of anyone who has ever been heartbroken. This is a “think outside of the box” type of tune.

2. (Llamabeats & Parable) – THINK TANK Music — I love how they flipped Dr.Dre while laying down a lyrical assault on the mic. The hook is great to sing along to. It has the right amount of clean vocals on the track to give it a little bit of spice. This one should be amazing to hear in a live atmosphere.

3. (Llamabeats & Parable) – You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison — The production is chunky and will get your head bobbin’. The vocal harmonies really shine on this track. The content is dark, but the storytelling ability is superb. The song is short and to the point.

4. Llamabeats – Have You Ever Stopped — Madlib on production means certified hit. Lyrics are sharp and witty but again dives into dark heavy content. I pressed repeat on this on a couple times, but that’s because I can’t get enough Madlib in my life.

5. (Llamabeats & Parable) – People of the Sun (ft. Wrekonize of ¡MAYDAY!) – The beautiful guitar melodies put your soul at ease as Wrekonize comes and takes you on a verbal journey. The chorus is catchy and fun to sing along with. Hit that repeat button because one time isn’t enough.

6. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Brewish Break — I love the feel of this song. The breaks used are perfect and the funky bassline is flawless. The jazz solos plus the lyrical content make it a definite gem on the album. You will be coming back for seconds of this helping.

7. (Llamabeats & Parable) – One More Time (Re-Dub)(ft. Si Money) — This one you feel from the start. The island vibe really gets you into the groove. The lyrics are honest and raw. I love blunt and to the point messages. Everyone will relate to the topic of love. The instrumentation on this one is crisp and clean. This track will be a favorite to any new listener.

8. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Gimme Your Money — Man, that sample used is beautiful. Production is top notch here. Again, lyrical content is on point. The album is going at a steady rate, with a good flow to it. Hit that repeat button, you know you want to.

9. Parable – Renegade Against (prod. By Gianni Cash of ¡MAYDAY!) — The production sounds chaotic. Parable does a great job on the mic. The organ melody makes you want to get down and breakdance.

10. (Llamabeats & Parable) – I Can Go On — The tempo is upbeat which allows the MC’s to get on that machine gun funk flow. The hook is great for singing along to. The song is very flavorful production wise.

11. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Bad Guys Finish First – The track starts off with the humorous chorus. The funky bass groove really stands out on the song. The clean vocals sound great providing enjoyable melodies for your listening pleasure. The guitar solos sneak up on you, but in a good way.

12. Llamabeats – Non-Boss DJ [co-prod. Charles Hamilton] — (LOL) The chorus is hilarious. The beat is great and the message is the truth! I love to see artists call out bullshit. Great use of the 80's pop hit “Rock the Casbah” by The Clash.

13. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Moon Man — The production on this album is what keeps surprising me. This one uses a great sample, amazing instrumentation, and great blending of musical genres. The topic of love will never get old; in this instance a Moon Man is searching for his Moon Woman.

14. Llamabeats – All My Days (for Dilla) –Anything in reference to J Dilla is A+ in my book. The clean vocals are great and goes well with the chunky production that sounds a lot like that of the great Dilla. This one is my new favorite. i hit that repeat button multiple times.

15. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Money Kulture — That guitar melody hits you in the heart. The vocals are perfect and go well with that boom-bap style of production. The song blends the right amount of singing and rapping. The message is deep as well as true.

16. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Oh Dee — I could have done without “The Jersey Shore” intro. I guess this is the “club song” on the album. The production of house/dance is great and the content is extremely funny but the song itself brings the smooth feel of the album to a halt. If you love to “beat the beat up” then you’ll love this track.

17. Parable – Masterpeice Over Profit [prod. Mulatto Patriot – cuts by DJ Georsch] — I like how it builds up speed at the beginning. The horns used sound great with the cutting and scratching used throughout the track. Parable brings his A game to the mic on this tune.

18. THINK TANK (Llamabeats & Parable) – Next Thing You Know — That’s a great way to end the album. Heavy on the beat, and heavy on the flow. The flamenco guitars used are wonderful. The electric guitar then comes in with full-force. The longer you hear the song, the more apparent it is how talented these guys are.

I am extremely proud to say these artists are from Miami. Our city is a melting pot of potential musical talent and it is showcased on this album. The blending of so many styles with the vocals and rapping is refreshing. The album has a little bit of everything for everyone. I did not skip one song on the album. This is the type of material you want to see performed live. Support your local talent, and most definitely support Think Tank!! - Antisteez.com

Miami crew THINK TANK have hooked up with DJBooth.net, Public Wizard, Inc., Rogue Status and DTA to bring fans their latest street album, Mashed Potatoes.

The project features 18 fresh new cuts from local trio Llamabeats (producer The What’s Good, guitarist Master Fader and rapper/producer Spits) in collaboration with emcee Parable, running the gamut from covers and freestyles to originals and mash-up remixes. Included are Booth-approved leaks “Gimme Your Money” and “People of the Sun.”

In addition to Llamabeats’ own boardwork, Mashed Potatoes features beats by Charles Hamilton, Mulatto Patriot and ¡MAYDAY!‘s Gianni Cash. Guest bars come courtesy of ¡MAYDAY! member Wrekonize and Si Money.

1. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Gun in My Hand — This is one funky groove. The guitar licks in the background go perfect with the lyrical flow of the song. The content will catch the attention of anyone who has ever been heartbroken. This is a “think outside of the box” type of tune.

2. (Llamabeats & Parable) – THINK TANK Music — I love how they flipped Dr.Dre while laying down a lyrical assault on the mic. The hook is great to sing along to. It has the right amount of clean vocals on the track to give it a little bit of spice. This one should be amazing to hear in a live atmosphere.

3. (Llamabeats & Parable) – You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison — The production is chunky and will get your head bobbin’. The vocal harmonies really shine on this track. The content is dark, but the storytelling ability is superb. The song is short and to the point.

4. Llamabeats – Have You Ever Stopped — Madlib on production means certified hit. Lyrics are sharp and witty but again dives into dark heavy content. I pressed repeat on this on a couple times, but that’s because I can’t get enough Madlib in my life.

5. (Llamabeats & Parable) – People of the Sun (ft. Wrekonize of ¡MAYDAY!) – The beautiful guitar melodies put your soul at ease as Wrekonize comes and takes you on a verbal journey. The chorus is catchy and fun to sing along with. Hit that repeat button because one time isn’t enough.

6. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Brewish Break — I love the feel of this song. The breaks used are perfect and the funky bassline is flawless. The jazz solos plus the lyrical content make it a definite gem on the album. You will be coming back for seconds of this helping.

7. (Llamabeats & Parable) – One More Time (Re-Dub)(ft. Si Money) — This one you feel from the start. The island vibe really gets you into the groove. The lyrics are honest and raw. I love blunt and to the point messages. Everyone will relate to the topic of love. The instrumentation on this one is crisp and clean. This track will be a favorite to any new listener.

8. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Gimme Your Money — Man, that sample used is beautiful. Production is top notch here. Again, lyrical content is on point. The album is going at a steady rate, with a good flow to it. Hit that repeat button, you know you want to.

9. Parable – Renegade Against (prod. By Gianni Cash of ¡MAYDAY!) — The production sounds chaotic. Parable does a great job on the mic. The organ melody makes you want to get down and breakdance.

10. (Llamabeats & Parable) – I Can Go On — The tempo is upbeat which allows the MC’s to get on that machine gun funk flow. The hook is great for singing along to. The song is very flavorful production wise.

11. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Bad Guys Finish First – The track starts off with the humorous chorus. The funky bass groove really stands out on the song. The clean vocals sound great providing enjoyable melodies for your listening pleasure. The guitar solos sneak up on you, but in a good way.

12. Llamabeats – Non-Boss DJ [co-prod. Charles Hamilton] — (LOL) The chorus is hilarious. The beat is great and the message is the truth! I love to see artists call out bullshit. Great use of the 80's pop hit “Rock the Casbah” by The Clash.

13. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Moon Man — The production on this album is what keeps surprising me. This one uses a great sample, amazing instrumentation, and great blending of musical genres. The topic of love will never get old; in this instance a Moon Man is searching for his Moon Woman.

14. Llamabeats – All My Days (for Dilla) –Anything in reference to J Dilla is A+ in my book. The clean vocals are great and goes well with the chunky production that sounds a lot like that of the great Dilla. This one is my new favorite. i hit that repeat button multiple times.

15. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Money Kulture — That guitar melody hits you in the heart. The vocals are perfect and go well with that boom-bap style of production. The song blends the right amount of singing and rapping. The message is deep as well as true.

16. (Llamabeats & Parable) – Oh Dee — I could have done without “The Jersey Shore” intro. I guess this is the “club song” on the album. The production of house/dance is great and the content is extremely funny but the song itself brings the smooth feel of the album to a halt. If you love to “beat the beat up” then you’ll love this track.

17. Parable – Masterpeice Over Profit [prod. Mulatto Patriot – cuts by DJ Georsch] — I like how it builds up speed at the beginning. The horns used sound great with the cutting and scratching used throughout the track. Parable brings his A game to the mic on this tune.

18. THINK TANK (Llamabeats & Parable) – Next Thing You Know — That’s a great way to end the album. Heavy on the beat, and heavy on the flow. The flamenco guitars used are wonderful. The electric guitar then comes in with full-force. The longer you hear the song, the more apparent it is how talented these guys are.

I am extremely proud to say these artists are from Miami. Our city is a melting pot of potential musical talent and it is showcased on this album. The blending of so many styles with the vocals and rapping is refreshing. The album has a little bit of everything for everyone. I did not skip one song on the album. This is the type of material you want to see performed live. Support your local talent, and most definitely support Think Tank!! - Antisteez.com

Lurking in the trenches of obscurity, tomorrow's super producers toil in darkened studios surrounded by empty malt liquor bottles and ashtrays full of blunt roaches.

Or maybe they're up and grinding at The Setai. Either way, Llamabeats Crew bring a sample heavy musicality to live guitar, bass, and key laced tracks with an emphasis on breaks, and a heart full of Miami bass.

Crossfade caught up with the burgeoning production team's vocalist, Spits, by phone and found out about the Setai Studios, puffing in the car, and working with Timbaland and Chris Cornell.

Here's what Spits had to say...
"At the Setai Studios, my first session, I was thrown in the fucking firepit, it was Timbaland with Chris Cornell. I had joined the intern sqaud two months before they opened up the studio. The session was a month long. Other than that, I was in there with Lil Jon, the coolest mother fucker ever, the nicest dude ever, and his whole squad too. Damien Marley and Nas, Im speechless on that, I was blessed to be in the studio for that. It was fuckin' ridiculous. Everything form songrwiters, vocalists, beat producers, I really got the whole grasp on how to do things. I thank God straight up for being able to be in the studio and being the fly on the wall so to speak. The room is filled with toys...tons of gear. That was fun, that was a fun ass fucking era. We recorded a bunch of tracks there. I was keeping the studio clean everyday, so after 5 when the bosses left of course I was recording

May 22nd we're playing at Kill Your Idol on South Beach. It's just us I think, we're gonna be doin' like a little half hour 45 minute set. It's gonna be crazy."

The group is me, Spits, Master Fader, and The What's Good.

I've known Master Fader forever. I mean the two of us kind of grew up together doing like acoustic guitar jamming and getting fucked up all the time and playing guitar. In college I went to school for engineering and shit. Over there i learned to make beats just like everybody else. I also got together with a lot of hip hop heads and used sequencers and mpcs. Master Fader lived in LA for like 3 years and then when I got out of college I was interning at the Setai Studios and he was working there as an intern too. I heard his beats and they were fucking ridiculous and that's pretty much that.

We all love fuckin breaks too. We're all into the early 90's mid 90's boom-bap break beat kind of shit, sometimes just samples. The Whats Good is the biggest sample head out of all of us. That guy is a sample chop genius. We use guitars, bass, i play bass, whatever sounds have something cool, and then we fuckin mix the Miami bass into it, the 808s and what not, but every track is different really.

We've been together like 2 and a half years. We do a lot of writing and producing, that's the way we're gonna make the most of our bread and butter. Everybody in the industry says that's where the loot is.

We write everywhere, sometimes just puffing in the car. We rep Miami, it's home, and for our people, the crew, the Llama Crew, the LBC.

We've worked with Parable, The Benchwarmers Clique here in Mimai, Illustrate from Ghetto Youths Nation, one of Damien Marley's produced artists. Red October from San Antonio, Artofficial.
- Miami New Times

Llamabeats & Parable, collectively known as THINK TANK, introduce their new collaboration with “Gun In My Hand,” a twisted and witty love song with a soulful, boom-bap thump and reggae swing. Parable’s rhymes combine the spirit of a true MC, yet maintain a mass appeal while Spits counters with playful lyricism and melodic chorus. The “Gun In My Hand” music video will debut in early July, as THINK TANK gears up for their summer mini-tour, which includes performances on the South-east leg of the Vans Warped Tour. Their mixtape, Mashed Potatoes, is set for Fall release with several singles on SoFlo Entertainment. - Peace Magazine