Face to Face
TD Camp

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TD Camp

Face to Face (Hella Records)

Since the early ‘90s, San Francisco-based producer TD Camp has been one of the mainstays of the Bay Area’s pioneering independent hip-hop scene. Like an architect, he’s been instrumental in building a regional sound which has become a model for similar scenes all over the world. His stylistic range extends from classic old-school hip-hop to underground backpacker headnodders to hyphy street anthems to thugged-out gangsta s#@t to smoothed-out R&B, and cultural reggae. The cadre of artists he’s worked with over the years reads like a Bay Area hip-hop Who’s Who list.

More than just a compilation, TD’s new album Face to Face (Hella Records) presents a wider view of the often narrowly-stereotyped Bay Area hip-hop sound. His quality collection of timeless tracks, all produced by TD, showcase his seemingly-effortless versatility behind the boards. The album’s title reflects TD’s efforts to unite the sometimes opposing strains of Bay Area hip-hop, and bring the region’s often slept-on sound to the rest of the world. The result is a fluid synthesis of styles, anchored by TD’s balanced, nuanced beats. As TD explains, “the thing that often divides (hip-hop subgenres) is the production. I wanted my production to bridge the gap.”

Face to Face’s 17 tracks feature a cavalcade of Bay Area talent (plus an appearance by rap superstar Snoop Dogg), from West Coast legends Mac Dre (R.I.P.), Casual (Hieroglyphics), San Quinn, Andre Nickatina, Pep Love (Hieroglyphics), Mike Marshall (Timex Social Club), JT the Bigga Figga, Bored Stiff, and DJ Qbert (Invisibl Skratch Picklz); veterans Zumbi (Zion-I), Goapele, Otayo Dubb, Z-Man, Spank Pops, Rick Flare, Big Mack, Willie Hen, and Schwinn; to rising stars Akil, Bailey, Big Rich, Rosco Feddi, Philthy Rich, PZ, and Jay Anthony.

Freely mixing elements of classic favorites from Cameo, Roy Ayers, Kool & the Gang, Run-DMC, A Tribe Called Quest and others, with modern, updated beats and state-of-the-art lyricism, Face to Face is an album you can smoke to, ride to, or wild out to, depending on your mood. Sponsored by urban lifestyle/skateboard company FTC, and released on TD’s own Hella Records, Face to Face is also that rare urban album which gives something back to the community: its proceeds benefit Upward Sound’s Youth Music Program. Reminiscent of groundbreaking ‘90s compilations like Trying to Survive in the Ghetto, Bay Area Playaz, Boss Ballin’, The Bomb Hip-Hop Compilation, and West Coast Bad Boys, Face to Face offers the most comprehensive look at the Bay Area’s independent urban music scene to date.