For the post-Dilla generation of beatmakers, creating instrumental hip-hop has never been easier. There are MPC simulators now that automatically give your beats that off-kilter ‘human’ swing, there are digital loop packs of Motown acapellas and Dilla drum hits that save you the trouble of actually going into record shops and crate-digging for those golden samples. Everything is so digitised and ‘out of the packet’ now that it’s very rare to discover new beats on Soundcloud and Bandcamp that aren’t sterile sounding. This, in turn, makes it even better when you eventually do find an artist who’s bringing something with real heart and soul. Enter ShunGu, a producer from Brussels making astral beats that are fizzling with rich flavour. In 2014, the beatmaker put out 12 EP’s corresponding to each month’s astrological sign laced with jazzy warmth and boom bap bounce. With such an overwhelming back catalogue, ShunGu has now picked 28 favourites for his An Astrological Series cassette release dropping 23rd Feb via Oakland hip-hop label Hot Record Société. From start to finish, the Belgian producer brings those spaced out hip-hop vibes sitting somewhere between Knxwledge and Nujabes. There aren’t many that can do it this good.