Signed to Columbia, Clams Casino made his major-label debut as an artist in 2016 with 32 Levels.

Among Volpe's more notable collaborations to surface in 20 were ScHoolboy Q's 'Gravy,' FKA twigs' 'Hours,' and three cuts from Vince Staples' Summertime '06. Additional instrumental mixtapes were issued in 20, a period during which tracks by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Mac Miller, and Blood Orange were released with his production work. A limited vinyl pressing of Instrumentals soon followed on experimental label Type. This preceded the first official Clams Casino solo release, the Rainforest EP, which was issued by Tri Angle that June. In March 2011, he uploaded a free 13-track mixtape of instrumentals - something of a highlight reel, along with a previously unused beat. The MC proceeded to use several Clams Casino productions, all of which were trippy, wistful, and strangely emotive, for the likes of 'Realist Alive,' 'Motivation,' and 'I'm God.' The last one of those three was also used by Soulja Boy for '2 Milli.' Volpe's profile gradually rose as word got out that he was the one behind these tracks, as well as material by Main Attrakionz, Main Attrakionz's Squadda Bambino, and Mobb Deep's Havoc.

Herring (Future Islands), and others.īorn Michael Volpe, Clams Casino landed his first collaboration after contacting Lil B (then a member of Bay Area rap group the Pack) via MySpace near the end of the 2000s. He continued releasing solo instrumental work, additionally making his major-label debut with the 2016 full-length 32 Levels, which included guest appearances by Vince Staples, Kelela, Samuel T. His sound remained influential throughout the decade, as he produced or remixed songs by artists such as FKA twigs, Lana Del Rey, and Blood Orange.

Around the turn of the 2010s, his atmospheric production work for rappers like A$AP Rocky, Main Attrakionz, and especially Lil B stood out and garnered much critical praise, and his 2011 mixtape Instrumentals became a landmark release, gaining a cult following and expanding his audience beyond underground rap circles. New Jersey-based producer Clams Casino's instantly recognizable sound, fusing sludgy, blown-out beats with hazy, nearly shoegaze-like distortion and haunting, dislocated samples, almost singlehandedly spawned the cloud rap subgenre.

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