Elaquent is a producer from Toronto who has been going strong all decade long, releasing albums on URBNET, HW&W, and Stillmuzik, amongst others. The last time we heard from him was back in December of 2016, when he released Worst Case Scenario. Now he comes back with a new EP, Celebrate Life!

One of the ways in which Elaquent has been able to separate himself from the pack is his versatility. The quality is at a high level, but he’s dropped so many different projects at this point, you’re not always sure which direction he’s going to go in. On this particular EP, Elaquent takes us on a downtempo journey. The impetus for this EP is fairly simple, yet profound, summed up in this statement from Elaquent:

“Life sucks sometimes. With all the depressing things that happen throughout the world, to people you know, to yourself even, it’s important to take a moment and appreciate the beautiful things the world has to offer, to prevent from going crazy. Stay positive, celebrate life.”

In this case, we celebrate life with some incredibly smooth jams, with some of the crispest drums you’ll hear this year. It lives in that sweet spot where jazz, R&B, and hip hop come together to make some beautiful, warm, funky beats that just feel good to listen to. It’s not anything that hasn’t been done before, but when it’s done as well as it’s being done here, you really don’t care. On top of everything else, you get the rare producer collaboration on a couple of the tracks, with K, Le Maestro, and Dibiase all joining in to lend a hand.

With all the crazy and terrible stuff you can read about and experience on a daily basis, it can be really helpful to have a reminder to take the time and acknowledge the good parts of life. So put this EP on, enjoy some deep grooves, and reflect on everything that’s gone right for a moment.