Urban Vault caught up with Cheshire, UK-based producer Wounded Buffalo Beats to ask him some questions about his latest releases HIGH NOON & A SERIOUS THREAT, & more…

Featuring world-renowned guests, El Da Sensei and Ruste Juxx, as well as upcoming UK-based talent, KD, ‘A Serious Threat’ is a throwback to the classic era of the ’90s. This is one of the best cross-Atlantic collaborations Hip Hop has seen in a long time and is a must-listen for anybody who craves that classic Hip Hop sound, courtesy of Wounded Buffalo Beats.

What is your name?  

Wounded Buffalo Beats

Where are you from? 

Widnes, Cheshire, UK

Tell us about the Hip Hop scene in Widnes?

There isn’t much of a Hip Hop scene at all. In fact, I don’t know anybody who is really into Hip Hop at all. I bought a compilation album back in 1995 that had ‘I Got 5 On It’ by the Luniz on it. I fell in love with Hip Hop there and then!

You recently produced a track entitled ‘High Noon’ for London rapper Montener The Menace with appearances by Masta Ace, Rah Digga, Wordsworth, and Fatlip. Tell us about the joint and how it came together?

Montener commented on a track post of mine in April 2020, complimenting one of my tracks. I ended up checking his profile out and seeing that he had recently released his first album, which is brilliant by the way. We got talking and discussed a collaboration…..which ended up being the high noon track. The original mix of that track will also be featured on my own album ‘Black Magic and Horns’ which will be available to purchase on Bandcamp soon.

‘High Noon’ was followed by your own single ‘A Serious Threat’ featuring Ruste Juxx, El Da Sensei, KD, and Jabba Tha Kut on the one and two’s. Give us some info on that project?

El Da Sensei’s verse on that track was originally recorded to the beat for another track I did call ‘The Victor’ which also features Ruste Juxx. El Da Sensei had been really busy though and didn’t get the verse over to me in time. I feel that it worked really well on ‘A Serious Threat’ though. KD and I have worked on many tracks in the past and I asked him to drop a verse for this one, I think he stole the show on it. Ruste Juxx is one of the most consistent lyricists out there, and as expected, he killed it.

Any further releases in the making for 2021?

Yeah I am working on an album with another emcee which will be completed in a few months. I also intend to release new tracks with some nice features, frequently throughout the year.

Describe your production style and your workflow?

I am heavily inspired by DJ Muggs, 4th Disciple, DJ Premier, and RZA. I think that is apparent to anyone who listens to my tracks. My production sound has an intentionally gritty/dusty veneer to it. I’ll usually start a track with the drum pattern, and then I’ll start chopping up samples on the Maschine MK3 until I’ve got something nice going. I’ll usually send the resulting looped-up break to the vocalists to write to…..and then work the instrumental around the vocals when they are emailed over to me. I find this to be the best way for me. If I spend hours/days composing an entire instrumental for the emcees to write to, I start to get bored of the beat before the track is even finished. It’s resulted in a lot of unfinished or scrapped songs over the years. I find I work much faster using my current approach and am actually finishing every track that I start.

I do all of my composing, mixing, and arranging using a program called Orion Platinum. It’s discontinued now, but my workflow inside it is incredible due to the fact that I’ve been using it for over 16 years.

What is your opinion about Hip Hop nowadays?

I think there is a lot of great Hip Hop out there personally. You’ve just got to look around.

What do you do when not making music?

I run my own company with my brother which takes up most of my time lately.

Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?

Instagram!

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

I think it’s brilliant. You were asking earlier what I thought of Hip Hop nowadays, and I replied that you’ve just got to look around to find the good stuff. Well, your site offers up a good place for people to find just that.

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

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