Don’t let the title of the single fool you; the beats in ‘Dead Beat’ from Fat Prezzi and Miles Ledanois’ collaborative LP, Cold, are alive and kicking—something you’ll instantly realise if you tear yourself away from the oscillations of tonal alchemy swirling around them, soaking up the bite in the collaborators’ rhythmically hypnotic bars.
Hailing from the Bay Area, Prezzi and Ledanois have established a sound unique to the region yet unconstrained by its musical stereotypes. Their melodic motifs feel inherently timeless, appealing to listeners of any generation. The partnership began in the musical melting pot of New Orleans at Loyola University, where producer Miles Ledanois, only three months into beat-making, showed his initial works to Fat Prezzi. Recognising immediate potential, Prezzi encouraged Ledanois, sparking a creative synergy that’s since produced hundreds of tracks.
‘Dead Beat’ carries no pretence of gritty bravado or exaggerated grandiosity; instead, raw authenticity floods the arrangement. Minor-key piano preludes blend effortlessly with beats that effortlessly force submission as the lyrics reflect the adversity these artists have genuinely endured. Prezzi and Ledanois command authority, mercilessly dismantling the hollow narratives of rappers chasing borrowed lifestyles for superficial image-building.
If anyone could rival Run the Jewels’ undeniable chemistry, it’s Fat Prezzi and Miles Ledanois—they hit heavy, cut deep, and demand full emotional engagement.
‘Dead Beat’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast