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When Clams Casino first arrived on the scene a few years back, his production style was like a breath of fresh beats. He combined trippy electronic samples (shout out to Björk), and created a new sound. Some call it Cloud Rap, while others don’t know what exactly Cloud Rap is (or was). Nevertheless, Clammy Clams has provided euphoric sound beds for everyone from Lil B to A$AP Rocky and even Havoc of Mobb Deep. He’s making his way up the totem pole of production prodigies. We’ve compiled 15 of Clams Casino’s best beats to date. Zone out to the New Jersey native’s soundscapes.—KI

“Illest Alive” – Main Attrakionz

Truth be told, Lil B also got his hands on this beat back when Clams was working hardbody with the Based God. However, Main Attrakionz won the braggin’ rites battle for this Bjork sampled moment of ecstasy.

“LVL” – A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky shouts out Clams Casino the moment the beat drops, as he should. Clammy Clams took a Harlem rapper and erased his zip code, providing him with a sound that defied any region or state of mind. It’s stuck with A$AP’s whole career thus far.

“I’m God” – Lil B

In the midst of Lil B’s absurd superlatives like “I’m God” lies this gem of a beat. Clams grabbed an Imogen Heap sample, took her breathy vocals and made the chillout beat of all beats. Whether you’re a god or a mere mortal, anyone can rock to this.

“Always Have A Choice” – Havoc

Did one half of Mobb Deep anticipate some day riding over a Morcheeba sample? Probably not, but Clams Casino placed Havoc right over “Fear And Love.” Since Alchemist has experimented with Mobb Deep’s production, this was a nice transition.

“Wassup” – A$AP Rocky

Trippy enough to place you in a whole other mindstate, yet solid enough for A$AP Rocky to ride over it with the spirit of Bone Thugs. A beat like this can only come from a producer that truly knows the artist he’s working with, and that’s obviously the case with Clams and Rocky.

“Demons” – A$AP Rocky

Clams Casino took yet another Imogen Heap sample (from the same song “Just For Now”) but twisted it around and the result was a beat that actually sounded possessed by demons. Is that even possible? Well, it is now.

“The Fall” – The Weeknd

You know those ambient noise clocks from Sharper Image that provide sounds from nature that lull you into a deep sleep? That’s what this beat felt like. Having The Weeknd on it was a bonus, really.

“One Last Thing” – Mac Miller

Mac Miller sounds like he’s high most days of the week. So on “One Last Thing,” Clams basically crafted a beat that sounded like it smoked a bowl itself. From the moans to the slightly off-kilter basslines and congas, it’s like a sonic dime bag.

“Never Let Me Go (Remix)” – Florence And The Machine

Hip-Hop heads love remixing Florence And The Machine. Perhaps it’s because Florence Welch has that ethereal voice that’s begging for some trippiness. While The Weeknd has also remixed the fire-haired goddess, Clams took a stab at remixing her single and it worked.

“Motivation” – Lil B

Of course Clams Casino would pull a sample from something super exotic like Discovery Sound’s “Amazing Thailand – Sounds Of Thailand,” and why not? Clams Casino finds what sounds good on its own and flips it into a whole new beat. Lil B got lucky.

“All I Need” – Soulja Boy

You might be wondering why Clams Casino would ever lend a beat to a guy like Soulja Boy when their styles are so…different? You’re right for wondering, but think of it this way – when you hear Soulja Boy rhyme over a beat like “All I Need,” you realize a good producer can work miracles.

“Swervin (Remix)” – XV

When Clams Casino opted to remix XV’s “Swervin,” he went with a totally timid beat. That’s not to say the beat is weak; it’s just so mellow and perfect for XV to deliver his bars that it’s easy to slip into a trance when you hear it.

“Palace” – A$AP Rocky

A$AP asks “How trill is this?” and he’s right. While Clams still added his typically weird spin on the beat, it still harbored some obvious influence from Houston. That’s exactly what A$AP Rocky wanted too. Listen to the lyrics. Duh.

“I’m Official” – Squadda B

One half of Main Attrakionz got himself a one-way ticket to euphoria when Clammy Clams gave him the beat to “I’m Official.” Sturdy drums, breathy vocals, and a few shakes of what sounds like maracas were all it took to make this beat “official.”

“Realist Alive” – Lil B

Lil B on an Adele sample? Surely you jest. But that’s what happens when Clams Casino gets a hold of your production. The result is a track that has you contemplating life while Based God drops some jewels in your lap. Pause.

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