Heard It Here First

Turntablist extraordinaire ZEKE BEATS made his Wakaan debut over the weekend with his out-of-this-world, four-track Vigil EP.

ZEKE has continued his rise to stardom in 2022 with brand new, bass-heavy bangers and captivating live performances. Earlier this year, the talented producer collaborated with HIHF-favorite Wreckno on “DUMP TRUCC” via Deadbeats. He even made his Cyclops Recordings debut with the release of his three-track “Digital Death” EP. ZEKE is also gearing up for a big tour this Fall in celebration of the Vigil EP. Let us know if you are planning to catch him at any of his upcoming tour stops!

For the last couple of years, Wakaan king and label boss Liquid Stranger has been rinsing several ZEKE BEATS tracks in his sets. It’s only right that ZEKE found a home for this project with Wakaan. The Vigil EP is everything we know and love about ZEKE BEATS, but with that burley, Wakaan flavor sprinkled in.

Starting off with “Cheeky”, we soon realize that ZEKE BEATS is bringing out the big guns for this project. This halftime track features ZEKE’s signature hard-hitting kicks, powerful distorted bass lines and engaging vocal samples. However, it isn’t until the second drop that ZEKE’s range is on full display, transitioning the flow of the track into a high-energy drum n bass banger with ZEKE scratching over top of it! This one definitely gets you out of your seat.

This leads into the title track, “Vigil”, a heart-pounding thriller that slows things down a bit, yet matches the intensity from the intro track. Not only do the alarm-sounding lead synths sound insane, but the alternating snares used in this drop highlight the subtle gems and intricacies that this amazing producer loves to include within his tracks.

Next up in the Vigil EP is my personal favorite, “Unhinged”. I first heard this track last Summer when ZEKE BEATS was on the Lost In Automation Tour as part of the EP he dropped on Subsidia Records. This song blew me away when he dropped it on the packed and intimate crowd at the 8×10 in Baltimore and I’m so excited to see it included on this project. The main arpeggiator used on the lead synths combined with the hard-hitting trap drum flow makes this a certain contender for new fan favorite in his sets.

The last track, “Selektah”, is the perfect 150-bpm heater to close out this EP. The flow on this one is incredible, from the bass lines and lead plucks to the drum patterns used. I really like how the second half of the track leaves us with a more hopeful tone after we just experienced this chaotic masterpiece for three and a half songs. We are praying for more ZEKE BEATS on Wakaan after hearing this project, this EP is an instant hit.

Here’s what ZEKE had to say about Vigil: “During dark times throughout our lives, we must remain resilient and vigilant for what is important… The Vigil EP will take you on a journey from tongue-in-cheek to complete chaos & destruction. Don’t sleep on this.”

What did you think of the Vigil EP from ZEKE BEATS? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media!

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