Al Dobson Jr.

Over Al Dobson Jr.

Peckham-based producer Al Dobson, Jr. crafts highly percussive, shuffling beats that marry hip-hop, house, and jazz with global sounds. Most of his material is recorded in one live take, lending a spontaneous yet short-lived element to his music, while also cramming each release with ideas, such as instruments from differing cultural origins. His short but sweet approach has garnered comparisons to J Dilla, as heard on his debut full-length, 2016's Rye Lane, Vols. 1 & 2, which features 28 tracks in just under an hour. Originally from Bristol, Dobson grew up in a music-obsessed household where his parents would regularly play him records, many with Jamaican or international origins. In 2009, he made the move to South London to live with childhood friends and trio of brothers, the Deenmamodes, including Mo Kolours, Reginald Omas Mamode IV, and Jeen Baasa. He spent his initial years in the capitol integrating himself in Peckham's music scene, eventually emerging as a producer in 2013 with a split single on 22A alongside Tenderlonious. Dobson's network became apparent in 2014, when he helped launch Bradley Zero's label Rhythm Section with a mini-album, Rye Lane, Vol. 1, as well as releasing Sounds from the Village, Vol. 1 on Kutmah's experimental label IZWID. His close ties with Rhythm Section continued over the next two years, as he regularly played their club nights and released his debut full-length, 2016's Rye Lane, Vols. 1 & 2, through the label.