NoDoz: ROBOT KOCH

Yesterday we showed some love for a NoDoz alumni, today we introduce the newest inductee, Robot Koch.



Up to this point the Berlin-based producer was best known for his work with club trio Jahcoozi and German post-rock outfit The Tape, but that's all about to change.

RK is going for dolo. His debut full-length, Death Star Droid, drops next month and the tunes contained within range from wonky hip-hop to moody dubstep to driving electro.

NoDoz: MIKE SLOTT

Next up for a NoDoz nomination is future-looking instrumental hip-hop producer Mike Slott.



Slott, who also records with fellow NoDoz alumni Hudson Mohawke as Heralds of Change has been compared to fellow forward thinking beat maker Flying Lotus whom he recently remixed on the L.A. 2x3 EP.

To this point Mike's solo material is limited to a series of singles for the All City imprint out of Dublin but the momentum behind this kid is building so I surmise a full-length release is not too far off. Check out "My Lightbridge" below.

NoDoz: FULGEANCE

Next up for a NoDoz nod is One-Handed Music recording artist Fulgeance, the French don of the MPC.



The music of Fulgeance is a nice blend of French electro and instrumental hip-hop. Over the past year Fulgeance has delivered two solid EP's (Low Club EP & Chico EP) and has a third EP due later this year on One-Handed Music entitled Smartbanging. Check the audio after the jump to sample the flavor.

NoDoz: PAUL WHITE

As I mentioned in a previous post, there are a lot of great new beat makers splashing on the scene this year. Included in this bunch is South London recording artist Paul White.



Paul specializes in moody sampled-based head-nodders that would make Madlib & Dilla proud. He recently released his debut full-length, The Strange Dreams of Paul White on One-Handed Music.

The album is available now on his Band Camp site where you pick the price. To get an idea of his style, check out "Time Wars (Extended Version)" below.

NoDoz: BULLION

Another newcomer making big noise in 2009 is UK beat sensation Bullion.



Bullion splashed on the scene back in 2007 when he released Pet Sounds: In the Key of Dee, a mash-up of songs from The Beach Boy's Pet Sounds with beats from Jay Dee.

This year he dropped the Young Heartache EP on One-Handed Music and has been receiving a lot of praise for his unique production style. Here's what Motown mainstay Dj House Shoes had to say...

"After listening to the new Bullion joint, i drove back to Detroit, and punched my mom in the stomach. FILTHY."

NoDoz: NOSAJ THING

2009 is shaping up to be a banner year for freshman beat makers. Among this years class is Nosaj Thing out of Los Angeles, CA.



Nosaj Thing (aka Jason Chung) makes moody electronic music with a spiritual vibe to it. His debut full-length, Drift, came out this week via Alpha Pup and I must say I'm quite impressed. A must have for fans for Flying Lotus & Dabrye. Listen below.

NoDoz: HUDSON MOHAWKE

The first NoDoz nod of 2009 goes out to Glasglow, Scotland native Hudson Mohawke.

HudMo is part of a global scene along with fellow artists such as Mike Slott, edIT (Glitch Mob), & Ghislain Poirier that are pushing the boundaries of hip-hop and electronic music.

Some call it turbo crunk, others call it future blap, but regardless of the tag bestowed, one thing is for sure, this stuff is bangin'! Check out "Overnight" from HudMo's Polyfolk Dance EP for a sample (courtesy of Warp Records).

NoDoz: 14KT

It's been a big year for the state of Michigan in terms of indie hip-hop. Black Milk, eLZhi, Invincible, and Guilty Simpson each delivered solid albums in 2008. Our latest NoDoz'r, 14KT, keeps the streak alive with his debut instrumental release entitled The Golden Hour.



14KT has been holding it down for a minute on the MI hip-hop scene as 1/7 of the Athletic Mic League (AML) and 1/4 of The Lab Techs production team. He's worked with just about every hip-hop notable outta Detroit and with his latest release is striking out on his own to showcase his soulful, Dilla-esque productions. Check for him after the jump.

NoDoz: MUX MOOL

Next up for a NoDoz nod is electro/hip-hop beatsmith Mux Mool out of Brooklyn, New York. My introduction to Mr. Mool came earlier this year via the Ghostly Swim compilation where he delivered the electro burner "Night Court".



Impressed by the track I searched around for more and discovered that he released an instrumental hip-hop record earlier this year called The Drum EP. For the project, he challenged himself to make a beat a day for a week. The result is a lo-fi instrumental head nodder.

Mux Mool has proven that he can deftly cover a range of styles and I for one am excited to see what's next. Check him out below.

NoDoz: COMMON MARKET

It's been a good while since we last NoDoz'd so we're rounding out the week with two new editions. First up is hip-hop duo Common Market out of Seattle, Washington.



Consisting of emcee RA Scion and producer Sabzi, the duo makes straight forward conscious hip-hop that dares to pose questions about religion, politics, and the current state of mainstream hip-hop.

Their self-titled debut back in 2006 was an instant hit with the indie kids and their 2008 follow-up Tobacco Road is earning high praise from critics and fellow artists alike. Check out "Gol'Dust" from their new record after the jump.

NoDoz: SAMIYAM

From LA by way of Ann Arbor, MI comes the latest NoDoz'r, hip-hop beatsmith Samiyam.



Samiyam specializes in blunted beats in the vein of Madlib & Dilla that sample everything from funk, to soul, to Italian horror movie soundtracks. He recently released a compilation of 1-2 minute long instrumental joints called Rap Beats, Vol. 1. Sample his steez after the jump. Kid is nice.

NoDoz: METAFORM

It's been a minute since my last NoDoz profile so allow me to introduce one of my favorite new artists for 2008, instrumental hip-hop beat maker Metaform.



Metaform's debut full length Standing On the Shoulders of Giants is the closest thing to Dj Shadow's seminal Endtroducing... since Rjd2 released Deadringer.

Metaform harkens back to 1995 with his soulful sample-based beats and moody atmospheric backdrops. Check out "Crush" below for a preview. The track utilizes a familiar sample from "Private Number" by William Bell & Judy Clay (see "Playaz Club" by Rappin' 4-Tay) but Metaform does a nice job of putting his own personal spin on it.

NoDoz: KiD CuDi

Bringing up the caboose on "NoDoz Week" is KiD CuDi from Cleveland, OH. CuDi specializes in cross-genre feel good hip-hop records that speak to the people. He's quoted as saying...

"People like records they can relate to, even if you can’t relate to something I speak about, you’ll at least understand my mind, I won’t lose anyone. Even if they haven’t walked in my shoes, they’ll feel me for me.”



Get to know CuDi yourself. Check out his first single "Day 'N' Nite" courtesy of Fool's Gold. Also, be on the lookout for his new mixtape A KiD Named CuDi sponsored by the good folks at 10.Deep. It should be dropping any day now...

NoDoz: DéBRUIT

Instrumental hip-hop/IDM is my thing. I can't deny it. I love me some headphone music. Today's NoDoz'r, DéBruit, an electro-beatmaker outta France fits this category nicely.

DéBruit makes blunted beats layered with hyper edits that tend to shift rhythmic gears when you least expect it. Fans of Dabrye, Flying Lotus, and Ghislain Poirier will undoubtedly approve. For a sample, check out "Pointy" from his Coupé Décalé LP courtesy of Musique Large.

NoDoz: THE COOL KIDS

Next up on NoDoz is the CHI-town duo of Mikey Rocks & Chuck Inglish, better known as The Cool Kids. The hype machine on this twosome has been working overtime for the past year and up until today they didn't even have a record out!

However, that all changes today as The Bake Sale is now available at iTunes (in stores June 10th) courtesy of Chocolate Industries. The Cool Kids are known in equal measure for their hipster fashion and their minimalist approach to throwback rap. Peep the video for lead single "Black Mags" for a taste of both. Straight 80's rawness.

NoDoz: KELPE

This week is all about NoDoz. First up is London beatsmith Kelpe. Kelpe, born Kel McKeown, makes instrumental hip-hop with an underwater theme that recalls the wistful melodies of Boards of Canada and the folktronic pastiche of Four Tet.



Kelpe's latest album, Ex-Aquarium, continues to explore the world of watery beats as he seamlessly blends moody synthesizers, haunting melodies, and crisp drum work. For a taste of Kelpe's aquatic goodness, check out "Yippee Space Ghost (Sidversion)" below.

NoDoz: SHAD

The second installment of NoDoz profiles Shad, an up and coming emcee/producer based out of Toronto. His sophomore album The Old Prince, dropped late last year and received high praise from both press and fellow artists alike.



Shad displays an obvious affection for Native Tongues era hip-hop in both his rhyme style and production taste. Soulful beats abound, complementing his laid back, easy going flow.

Fans of Blu, Talib Kweli, and Common meet your new favorite indie emcee. Check out the video for "I Don't Like To" below.

NoDoz: FLYING LOTUS

New feature here on stay puft dot com. It's called NoDoz. NoDoz will profile up and coming musical acts who are destined to make a big splash on the scene. Put another way, "don't sleep" on these featured artists.



First up is LA hip-hop beatsmith Flying Lotus. FL burst on the scene in 2006 with his debut for Plug Research, 1983. '83 shines with spaced-out keyboards, fractured rhythms & bass-heavy beats. Later this year he drops his ode to the city of angels, Los Angeles on Warp Records. Fans of Dabrye, Dilla, and SA-RA, take notice.