Slick beats made fresh. That’s on delivery from B0nds, a prolific producer operating just south of the nation’s capital in the environs of Woodbridge, Virginia. For 15 years Frederick Elliott has been weaving together rhythm and vibe, influenced by the likes of J Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, and MF Doom. These beats are ripe, masterfully constructed via Roland SP-404, the occasional synthesizer flourish, and a stack of obscure vinyl treasures — beats made from digging, made for digging. The resulting sound of B0nds is smoked-out and sly, drawing on retro-funk flavors that get transported into mellifluous boom-bap contexts. 

The B0nds moniker debuted in 2016 with Again, released on Bandcamp. Albums and beat tapes were then self-released or released in cahoots with the music collective Expand or Expire and Blvnt Records. For the latter, B0nds collaborated with Texas-based producer Fushou on High Noon, an album that features the track “Park Closes at Dusk.” To date, this cut’s garnered more than 7 million Spotify streams. 

B0nds’s output continues at a steady pace, with the 2019 release of the In My Dreams beat tape and a well-received live show in Durham, NC, supporting Elaquent. B0nds has also joined the distinguished roster at L.A.’s Cold Busted label and the album Phantom Versions is the first fruit of this relationship. No doubt, the rhythm of B0nds is non-stop, fluidly transmitting vibes that ease and please. It’s music to fall into, soul first.