Falcons

Hip-hop producer and DJ Falcons was born Michael Graham in Dallas, Texas. A hip-hop head from his early days (he had a subscription to The Source when he was 12), he was first inspired to make music in middle school by Timbaland, later discovering Flying Lotus and Hudson Mohawke. After leaving school he moved to Oakland, California, where he joined Athletixx, a loose collective of local hip-hop producers; he would later spend several years in Vancouver, Canada before moving back to California. He started out in 2012, uploading remixes of classic tracks by the likes of Ciara, Brandy, and Missy Elliott — artists he had grown up with. He established a signature style combining woozy, shimmering synths, and shuffling rhythms with field recordings and idiosyncratic sample choices ranging from world music to obscure, underground Dirty South beats. Extremely popular, their success led him to attempt his own productions. His first proper release was 2013's Birdcall EP on HW&W Records (aka Huh What and Where), but he didn't break out until the Terra EP in 2015, released by Fool's Gold and featuring verses from the likes of Goldlink, Chaz French, and Stush. A string of further singles for the label followed, including "All Over Again," "Want Your Body," and 2018's A-Trak collaboration "Ride for Me," featuring 24hrs and Young Thug. "Fantasy" and "Waterworld" followed, with both tracks landing on his DAYDRIFT EP, which arrived later that year. ~ John D. Buchanan