Brasstracks

New York duo Brasstracks carved out early attention in 2017 by fusing punchy, horn-driven soul-jazz with hip-hop and R&B rhythms, most notably through their production on Chance the Rapper’s Grammy-winning track “No Problem.” Their skill at merging dance-floor immediacy with organic, lived-in textures surfaced again on the six-track EP For Those Who Know, Pt. 1, released in 2018.

The pair first came together in 2014 as a side venture while trumpeter Ivan Jackson and drummer Conor Rayne, both enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, completed their studies. They experimented with original material and imaginative reinterpretations, sharing the results online until a growing audience emerged by 2016. A social-media connection soon led to their collaboration with Chance the Rapper on “No Problem,” which earned a Grammy in 2017. Additional partnerships quickly followed, among them work with Anderson .Paak, Aluna George, the Underachievers, and others. Live performances began as well, supported by a rotating ensemble of first-rate New York horn players. That same year the duo completed its first headlining tour and delivered For Those Who Know, Pt. 1. Their full-length debut, Golden Ticket, arrived in August 2020 and included appearances from Lawrence, Robert Glasper, Col3trane, and additional guests.