Heard the one about two storming producers who’ve known each other since time but never produced a track together? It’s a killer. Meet Erb N’ Dub and KG; between them they’ve notched up countless bangers, released cuts on the likes of Playaz Rat Records, Frequency, Viper and RUN DNB. They’ve set up labels Talking Beatz and Bad Monkey. And they’ve signed up some of today’s most exciting artists such as Netsky and Fred V and Grafix. Buddies for decades, they’ve only just started working together… And their debut EP has been signed by none other than Simon Bassline Smith’s mighty Technique imprint!
“Yeah, it’s mad,” nods Erb N Dub, or Pete as he’s known down the pub. “We’ve known each other since school. We did a lot stuff together years ago but he went off to start Talking Beatz and I went off to start Bad Monkey. We’ve always been mates but it’s been a nice bit of a competition. Who can make the best beats, who can write the best tunes and that sort of thing. Then one day we thought ‘hold on, let’s do this shit together’. My studio was round the corner from his so we put it all together and got on with the beats!”
A drum & bass version of a corporate merger, the duo have formed something of a supergroup. They’re even armed with that all important strategy: make bangers and send them directly to the biggest labels possible.
“We have been a bit strategic about it,” agrees Pete. “We’re making tracks that are actually aimed at labels. We wanted to take things to the next step, basically. I’ve had releases on labels like Playaz. Steve’s had releases on labels like Viper. We’ve still got our own labels going but running them is more time consuming than you’d ever imagine. So we thought we’d streamline things and just make music rather than doing loads of admin.”
The first full EP Hurt & Pain, a mammoth four-track bass attack, already notched up props before Technique signed it with Hype giving Paralysis serious air vibrations on his Kiss show. The chaps sent it directly to Bassline Smith and he had their hands off.
“He listened to it and asked for more,” grins Pete. “He’s known KG for years and said ‘give us more tracks and let’s see what we can do’. We sent him three tracks and a dubstep remix and we were signed!”
The duo tell us they’ve already got more releases lined up and ready to takeover once the Hurt N Pain dust settles. They’ve also given a track away for free on their Facebook page. For a new act, they’re making all the right noises. Even their name has got people talking….
“It’s such a big buzz word at the moment,” grins Pete. “Everything is hashtag this and hashtag that so KG said Hash Tag Audio then I was like why not Hash Tag? It’s a name you can’t forget if you’re into drum & bass. You’re gonna remember it.”
You heard the man. Check out their new EP right here!