In his first release since 2010’s All Day, sample-obsessed producer Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) has teamed up with legendary Philadelphia rapper Freeway to bring you the collaborative EP, “Broken Ankles.” The release combines both artists’ distinct, high-energy styles into a continuously flowing collection of bangers.
After the success of Night Ripper in 2006, Girl Talk steadily toured over the following six years, bringing his renowned confetti-covered and sweat-soaked performances to venues ranging from house party basements to major festivals. In 2013, he decided to take his first significant hiatus from the road since his initial national exposure. The break from live material preparation allowed Gillis time to explore some ideas slightly removed from his trademark hyper-mashup style. In turn, he began working on beats with a wider range of samples, some more obscure than what he would normally use in his Top 40-focused work. He also experimented with different techniques of sample manipulation and incorporated more original instrumentation. “It was liberating and exciting working on a different style of material. I couldn’t stop. A bunch of the ideas were things I’ve been wanting to do for years,” says Gillis.
Gillis amassed a collection of over 70 beats and decided to approach one of his favorite rappers to see if he would be interested in doing a project together. “I’ve been a fan of Freeway since I first heard him on ‘1-900-Hustler,’ and I just thought he was the perfect fit for what I had in mind,” he said. “I wanted the album to be diverse, and I wanted someone who could maneuver around quick changes mid-song. Freeway is the rare rapper who sounds natural on all types of beats, ranging from cut-up soul to menacing synth-jams. His energy is unreal, and he’s able to keep up with any production.”
Following two months of recording together, the resulting Girl Talk & Freeway “Broken Ankles” collaborative EP reflects the meticulous nature of Girl Talk’s prior work while setting a fitting pace for Freeway’s dynamic, high-powered flow. “I wanted to work closer to traditional song structure compared to my last few albums, but still include some detailed sample splicing and change-ups when it felt appropriate. The overall structure is what I thought worked best with Freeway’s style,” says Gillis. Keeping in line with the Girl Talk aesthetic, the varied range of songs are all tied seamlessly together. He stated, “It’s always important to me to have an album that works as a whole; something that has a calculated flow to it, which is intended to be listened to front to back.”
Girl Talk and Freeway debuted a new track, “Tolerated,” this past weekend in New York and will release the EP this fall via datpiff.com. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Girl Talk Tour Dates:
Sat. Oct. 19 — Dallas, TX @ INDEX Festival
Tue. Dec. 31 — Houston, TX @ FPHNYE
Follow Girl Talk:
Facebook | Twitter
Follow Freeway:
Twitter
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