"Huem_n is an urgent anthem album for the local+global resistance to the things that really keep us apart. Def Sound's intimate verses sound the antidote for our socially distant haze. A mnemonic return to the chemistry within and between us. A soul romance manifesto for where we are right now."


- Bridget Cooks, Ph.D

H u e m _ n.

COLORED

Unlimited  is a song about the limitlessness of Blackness. It's a song I needed to hear growing up. 

Produced by Zhao (https://soundcloud.com/zhaomusic )It's an aspirational mantra celebrating one's plurality. It's something you feel in your bones before you have any words for it. It's a re visioning of your possibilities and letting go of all forms of scarcity. It's genre less, boundless energy and joy. It's deeper than rap. It's a dance as much as it is a ritual. It's a spell cast on ones self. It’s the repetition that makes it powerful.



Released on June 18th 2021 via NEVER NORMAL (https://soundcloud.com/nevernormalrecords) in celebration of Juneteenth.

Def Sound ~ Unlimited

Had a beautifully insightful sit down w/ the Surrealist Blues Rapper Rory Allen Philip.
This inner view is pieced together across 3 days and 7 phone calls in 4 locations.


En. joy.

Def Sound ~ R.A.P. Ferreira Innerview [FULL]

This episode of #mirrortalk is a two hour sound instillation I made in conversation + co creation w/ zhao.
The shows intention is to be a sort of sonic support for your immune system if you will. . . . If you won’t that’s fine this work is necessary as much as it is invisible.


LAFemmeBear – Love N Pains idea
Ollie Chanin – At home during the day
Zhao – Original inner g sending us forward and washing us to sure shores
Thundercat – Fair Chance (feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Lil B)
Human Movement – I Need
Sudan Archives – Water
Almendra – A Estos Hombres Tristes
Zhao – The Sound of Sanctuary
James Blake – Unreleased
Jay Electronica – A.P.I.D.T.A.
R.A.P. Ferreira – Cycles
Bilal – Levels
Nosaj Thing – Sister
Def Sound – Shadow to the Veil [demo]
Brittany Howard – 13th Century Metal
Micah James – Some Circles
Mos Def – Fear not of man
Zack Sekoff I just wanna know
Litany – slopes
Zomby – devil Lay Here
Zhao x Annabelle – I am [quaranchune]
Joy Crookes Yah/Element Medley
Childish Gambino – 39.28
Sharemoney ~ ReCollection
Childish Gambino – 19.10
AOSOON – Under
Def Sound x Zhao – Migos Spirituals Instrumental
Matthewdavid – In my world
Akomolafe 15b
LIKE – Healing work
R.A.P. – Dust Up
Teebs, Thomas Stankiewicz – Atoms Song

dublab.com

Mirror Talk w/ Dr. Bayo Akomolafe: A Beautiful Experiment

I BEEN VISUAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiKmOVJT-R0

I BEEN is a poetic meditation exploring (re)memory, landscape, the mundane, and the concept of home. First single off the upcoming FROM SOUTH CENTRAL TO THE WORLD project.


Artwork by Ema Reis da Cunha
Original photo by Daniel N. Johnson
Song Produced + Mixed by Zhao
Mastered by Important Horse aka Delwin Campbell
Video directed + edited by Sara Suárez

I BEEN

02/24/2022

☾  Versis  x ∂ e ƒ. ☽

// produced by :: L!sted //

art . work . ed . by . westside . TY .

∂eƒ x VERSIS - c l o u d . 9 9 . -

Contour Innerview [FULL]

CITIZENS OF CULTURE PRESENTS ::


. James Blake - Bonnaroo Opening
. Def Sound & ®C Combined Minds- Scream Instrumental 
. Danny Brown - Break it 
. MIA - Baddy Girl 2 
. What So Not - High You Are (Branchez Remix)
. Young Thug x Evian Christ - Stoner Remix 
. Young Fathers - The Guide 
. Hud Mo - Structure 
. Pegasus Warning - Change 
. Iman Omari - LookatChu 
. Anderson Paak - Drugs 
. Tink feat. Jeremih - Don't Tell Nobody 
. Hippie Sabotage - Sunny 
. J*Davey feat. Def Sound - Love ?  Yeah  ! 
. Vic Mensa - Down on My Luck 
. Zack Sekoff - Drake's Days in thee east remix 
. Mac Miller Feat. EARL - Faces 2 
. Dessert - Lovelink 
. Def Sound x Zack Sekoff - Shepard Fairey 
. Caribou - can't do w/o you 
. ASAP Rocky - Cockiness Remix
. Branko - Silly Bitch 
. Galleghar - Up The Wall 
. Picasso Biggie
. Childish Gambino feat. Problem - Sweatpants 
. Drake feat. James Blake - 0-100 
. Lukatis - Chinese Slippers 
. Dj client - To Let Go 
. Kanye West - Bound 3  
. 2Chainz - shoulda cudda woulda 
. Kid A - Blckrsechll
. Marcos Valle - Estrelar 
. Little Dragon - Killing Me 
. Mac DeMarco - Chamber of Reflection 

Whole mix done on Native Instruments TRAKTOR for iPad.


en.joy.


-∂eƒ

. . . If Thee WHOLE World Took A Selfie .. .

It was an honor to be on air and in conversation with one of the artists that helped shape my sound and show me what was possible with words, Booty Brown of the Pharcyde. Their music gave me such a license and jumping off point to have a style of my own. Not just the music but the visuals.  I don't have enough thank you's for all the legends that have inspired me.

We speak in depth about Hip Hop Culture, my background growing up and giving flowers to the MC's/word workers before me.

LAist NPR for Southern California Interview w/ Booty Brown (of The Pharcyde) FULL interview

Def Sound - Summa 2023 dj set

☾Prod. by . Z∆ck Sekøff // ∂eƒ // additional vocals and strings by Kadhja Bonet // mixed by Brandon Kilgour☽


W A T C H . T H E E . V I D .
https://vimeo.com/139547426



∆∆∆'s.of.Neon // OU T . N O W . https://defsound.bandcamp.com/album/kings-of-neon

i t u n e s 

ıllıllı i N e e d Y o u  2 K n o w . ıllıllı

WATCH . THEE . VID . 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHUm-xTcmi0

An oldie but goodie produced by my brother RC // 
From thee △nything.thee.idea.Machine. album .
https://defsound.bandcamp.com/album/nything-thee-idea-machine


[ a r t . w o r k (s) by Andre Power ]

(A)Gain .

" y e s . t e r . d a y . "  is a song by Def Sound & https://soundcloud.com/rcthegreat .

Written in Chicago talking to thee sunrise . .



-  ∂ e ƒ

Download.THO.

Yes.ter.day ☾prod. By . RC☽

UNDO . ORDINARY . MAG . VOL . IV  very available now on http://undoordinary.com/


∆ Abjo - Fade 
∆ Kanye West - Fade 
∆ Mary J - I Can Love You (KAYTRANADA remix)
∆ Tolliver - SC Shirt 
∆ Flume feat. Vince Staples - Smoke Retribution 
∆ Kendrick Lamar - untitled 07 
∆ Planet Giza - Farao 
∆ KELELA - Rewind 
∆ Brook D'LEau x Def SounD- White Rice !
∆ Doja Cat - Try 
∆ George Duke - Brazilian Love remix 
∆ Tensnake - Pressure 
∆ Ta-Ku - Electronic Relaxion 
∆ Tye Tribett - He Turned It (LIVE)
∆ Fuego x Sango - Se Me Nota 
∆ TiRon & Ayomari - Get Free Revolt 
∆ Kyle Hall - Girl U SO Strong
∆ Open Mike Eagle - "Ziggy Starfish (Anti-Anxiety Raps)
∆ Scatta - I KNOW i need (Jill Scott Remix) 
∆ Suzi Analogue - Creation ArgumeNNt 
∆ Young Fathers - Shame 
∆ Stevie Wonder Obol remix - Superstition
∆ Kate Bush - Why should I love you? 
∆ Anderson Paak - Off The Ground

UNDO . MAG . MIX ::   PULSE .

It's Oct. and you are far too busy to find music so I found new vibes inbewteen the couch cushins of thee internet
LOOSE CHANGE . Vol . Bless
includes music by QUIÑ , DUCKWRTH, def.sound, Radiohead, Godfrey Atlarge, Braxton Cook, Princess Nokia, Open Mike Eagle, Steve Lacy and many others you may have never heard or the algorithm has hidden from you. 
See You in Nov.

For thee full tracklist
citizensofculture.com/2017/10/10/loose-change-vol-bless/

Loose Change vol (BLESS)

Loose . Change . Vol. BLESS !

Produced By:: https://soundcloud.com/bravobeats
Art.work.ed. By:: tirdbrain ( http://www.angiesamblotte.com/)

This song is called “ COLO(U)RS “

it’s out now

No samples just grooves

Play it on the days you hate everything

Love is Dope no matter what hue it finds you.

C o l o( u )r s  [Prod. B.BRAVO]

opening verse:

Blacked out 
shouts out 2 my black sunnz in b more
flowing like a sea shore
assassinated  my ego and me'd more
every songs a walk in my mind a free tour
wetransfered
floating on an icloud created myspace
now tell me how do iSound?
use spotify 2 spot a lie
2 times dope underlined
spit summer time
in a winter coat
I'm really cold
you got followers
I got believers in thee physical
thee way I do it 4 thee love I guess they gotta call it thee tennis flow
give me a minute though I bet I make your day
thee way i write away
right away 
thee heart is a theater we all just play 
parts
adlib
forget lines
and fall apart
when thee curtains drawn
All I know is I don't know
waiting on that next sold out show
they can steal your sound 
they cant steal your soul
steal your style
but they cant steal your glow
they cant steal ya smile
cant take your hope
cooler than ceiling fan no matter where i choose 2 stand
no matter where I am 
as a matter of fact 
the un materialized material matter you rap
never mattered I laughed 
watching how high sober as fuck
still laughing 
still masking
how I really feel close caption
flow phantom
so ghost
behind my minds closed doors
I want mansions
even if I gotta go charles mansion
Nah I'm 2 hansom

hook:
truly bright
speak thee truest light
think @ thee highest flights
Messiah type
no typo
radiant child 
but don't compare him 2 christ yo
nah
I'm god with us displaying bright pictures
I'm so christmas
yea
x2

closing verse:

Hellafied heaven sent
quiet nights sketching places that I never been
like damn we got a black president
but does it really matter if....?
I ain't voting next time
quote me on that 
clicking over
phone feeling Savion tapped
drug dealer demeanor
I really feel trapped
living a in different hue
sippin a bitches brew
my days shade is purple haze 
but I'm feeling some kind of blue
go on Facebook and like me
got a mermaid a pieces 
our minds be Siamese 
deep sea writing till time freeze
pens mastered green jackets
mic's fractured
my pen bleeds
I'm hyped like Mike jackson climbing like 10 tree's 
at light speed
my mind brings carry on luggage like 9 things
nah
you can't board miss flight
you can't touch my skies
stolen moments 
I take my time
smooth criminal 
no finger prints
got tentacles
i'm on that shit
that they finna do
I want thee parmesan like I'm in Italy
i really got thee ability 2 equal infinity
run with run on sentences
jog with possibilities
think in parenthesis 
trillwave
surfin them 7 seas
while you occupied blocks
we occupy hearts
ancient mathematics
modified smarts
when thee outside's ugly
whats inside's art
x2
everybody tweeting just 2 talk 2 me
giving props 2 me
I chocked up a lil bit 
it really got 2 me
just want u 2 know it really means a lot 2 me

-∂eƒ

†ruly . bright .

Every color has a value, VALUE defines form and creates spatial illusions. What is a black boy in a white space? Can a black boy be invisible in a black space? At times we can contrast our environments w/ just the knowledge of our value.

This is the 2nd EPisode in the COLOURED Series.

12th Ave. Produced  & Mixed by Neon Phoenix

DEALS Pt.2 Produced by Zack Sekoff
Mixed by Cory Williams

VALUE is Mastered by Kelly Hibbert.

Value

DEALS Pt. 2

Every color has a value, VALUE defines form and creates spatial illusions. What is a black boy in a white space? Can a black boy be invisible in a black space? At times we can contrast our environments w/ just the knowledge of our value.

This is the 2nd EPisode in the COLOURED Series.

12th Ave. Produced  & Mixed by Neon Phoenix

DEALS Pt.2 Produced by Zack Sekoff
Mixed by Cory Williams

VALUE is Mastered by Kelly Hibbert

Art Twerked by Zoe Zoe Song 
Orginal Photo Captured by : Daniel N. Johnson

Cop From ya Boy

12th Ave.

South Central's Own def.sound remixed by the homie from Lynwood/Compton https://soundcloud.com/channeltres
Art Twerked by Zoe Zoe Shine 
Original Photo Captured by: Daniel N. Johnson

def.sound - Propane [ Channel Tres Remix ! ]

TEXTURE is the 3rd Episode in the COLORED series. TEXTURE explores our relationship with relationships. These aren’t love letters these are loss letters collaged as song. We use song as tactics to install new spells within ourselves. 

Sometimes black boys feel things too complex for lettering. We feel these feelings in braille given little time to process, in a world where we are not safe in, we are walking talking safes filled with secrets. They want our culture but not our color. FINE LINES is dancing to the emotion of the freedom to leave a situation that's letting go of you. Following the songs curvature carefully the chorus is circular in nature and organic in feeling. FINE LINES is produced by virtuoso Mocky Recordings (Production and writing credit for Fiest and Kelela) and features the vocal empress Alex Isley (Production and vocal feature credit for Moses Sumney and Robert Glasper). 

I'LL WAIT is a slow burn, a conversation you wish was never over in a language you keep remembering to forget. This song is a long distance open relationship written on a freeway to a city everyone is swiping right to ride on. I'LL WAIT is produced by and featuring the insanely talented Yale graduate Zack Sekoff (Production for Vince Staples and Thundercat). 
Our experience is a TEXTUR(ed) one.
credits
released November 30, 2018 

All Songs Written by Emmanuel "def.sound" Ricketts for We.Are.Instruments Publishing 
"I'll Wait" has additional writing and vocals from Zack Sekoff 
All Songs Mastered by: Kelly Hibbert 

Art Twerked by Zoe Zoe Song 
Orginal Photo Captured by : Daniel N. Johnson

B l e s s.

def.sound - i'll . wait . [ feat. Zack Sekoff ]

1. Makin Magic by Krampfhaft
2. Easy Easy by TNGHT
3. Pembroke by Airhead & James Blake
4. Ready For The World (Star Slinger Refix) by How 2 Dress Well 
5. Good Kids by Lunice 
6. Blue Clouds by Modeselector 
7. Perfect Gain Structure by Krampfhaft
8. Drowning by Zack Sekoff feat. Thundercat
9. Tape Hiss by Madlib
10. Sweat Like Keith by Ta-ku
11. Lovely Bloodflow by Baths
12. 1st BOOM by Analogue MoNsTa
13. in the Mood by Art Department
14. L.O.V.E. by Onra
15. Move Around by Diplo
16. Swayin by Hi-Res
17. It's Over by Hwood
18. Autumn by Afta-1 
19. Humble Bones by Labyrinth Ear
20. Battle for Middle you by Julio Bashmore
21. Van Vogue by Machinedrum
22. Look by ®C 
23. 100 % by ®C 
24. Paid In Full by A.Chal
25. See Thru to U by Zack Sekoff
26. Even Though by Giraffage & XXYYXX
27. NY is Killin me by Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx
28. Booty 2 The Ground by ƱZ x CRNKN
29. Hustle by Ta Ku 
30. Voices From Heaven by Kaytradamus & Sango


all songs blended by ∂eƒ sound on TRAKTOR by Native Instruments.
for all booking yodefsound@gmail.com
catch my weekly radio show every Thursday @ 9pm called phdradio w/ Miss*Jack*Davey 
http://gvbradio.com/phd-radio 

-∂eƒ

We.are.instrument(s).Vol.Ayyye !

Written by Emmanuel "def sound" Ricketts
Prod. by Zack Sekoff


I still think it's crazy Patrick Martinez did the album cover. Bro is so talented and moves w/ such a humble and grounded spirit it's crazy. Every song is a collage of conversations or experience I've had, the "I'm eating pizza!" line at the beginning of DEALS prt. 2 is written by a 2-year-old named Cairo, when asked about what she thought of 45 being elected president "I'm eating pizza!". This song started as an essay, which became a series of questions I think every artist asks themselves at some point. It's a song dealing w/ the compromises and promises we make ourselves… and how we deal with what we are dealt…. Who are you 10 deals later when the fine print is ugly?

05. Deals [Part 1 + 2]

Produced By Brandon Cordoba & def.sound
Keys played by Brandon Cordoba

________________________________________
First, I need to thank Brandon Cordoba for breathing life and soul into each note played on this song. I fell out in tears the first time I heard the wav. file of this song completed. MIGOS SPIRITUALS is a title for a song I’ve had for a long time but it didn’t actualize until we were having listening sessions for the album and Amelian Kashiro came in and listened w/ fresh ears and gave us feedback as a lover of music I’m giving her creative consultant credits on Disc 1ne. Her main critique was that I’m saying so much and the subjects are so heavy our ears are sometimes fighting through the busy and v large production the message and the words are getting lost. I love critique, its refreshing perspective it was the perfect prompt for me to write a more conversational record. I wanted to make a naked song, a song that was rose quartz level of clarity, where the mission, the mantra's and intentions were front and centered. No distractions just me, you, and a piano. S/o Indya Moore btw.

04. MIGOS SPIRITUALS Part 1

Featuring Clear Mortifee
Prod. by Zack Sekoff
Written by Emmanuel "def.sound" Ricketts and Clear Mortifee.


SATURDAZE came together in a really organic way in my first session at the REVIVAL studios (Earth Wind and Fires studio they used to record in). I usually record myself in my home studio so I felt a lot of pressure going into the session to make something I also thought the album was done so I was a blank canvas on what I needed to make. Two weeks earlier I met a singer named Clear Mortifee while I was looking for an after party (which I never ended up going to) in Leimert Park. I had no idea who they were but their energy felt familiar and they followed up sent me their music the next day. I had no expectations but their music and voice was so refreshing the next time I was in the studio they had to come w/ me. Zack Sekoff who a musical genius went in and recorded hours of wild takes on all the keyboards and drums sets but there was something about the brightness and warmth of the Jupiter. Clear was done w/ their verse in literally 5 min, I didn’t even have the hook yet. Clears godfidence is out of this world and it can be so contagious. At the end of the day the spirit of Maurice White was in that room w/ us.

03. saturdaze [feat. Clear Mortifee]

Prod. by Neon Phoenix and Def Sound.



Growing up as a Seventh Day Adventist in South Central Los Angeles in a food desert on a plant-based diet back in the 90's is pretty rare. This was one of the first songs I decided to own my story in its totality. 12th Ave. & Jefferson was a record it took my whole life to make. I’m in a constant state of shifting, unraveling, and becoming... As a people we are boiled down to cliches, devalued by a structural racial calculus and political arithmetic we had nothing to do with setting up. The sample loop used in the song is a Vine my homie Colin found on VINE (Remember VINE?) of Shiloh Dynasty playing guitar and singing, it felt like the perfect canvas for a confessional. At times we forget how valuable our stories are, just the telling of them alone is a revolutionary act. The truth is the most powerful thing I can share as an artist.

02.12th Ave. [feat. Nikko Gray]

Prod. by Brandon Crumbly, Def Sound.
Additional Production by Zack Sekoff
Additional Vocals by Carlos Ricketts Jr.
Saxophone played by David Michael Otis
Live drums Branden Akinyele

01. Morning Wav. [feat. Carlos Ricketts Jr.]

Featuring https://soundcloud.com/clearmortifee aka qleer.
Prod. by https://soundcloud.com/zsekoff
Written by Emmanuel "def.sound" Ricketts and Clear Mortifee.
Artwork by Zoe Zoe Shine (https://zoezoe.co/).
Mango Disco Records.

SATURDAZE [feat. Clear Mortifee]

You ain't got to spray my guy
we innocent
I promise you
would do well to leave us be unto ourselves
this barricade of treeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
that's the sound of the police
go burn in hell
no gasoline
(why you gotta be sooo mean)
go burn in hell
no gasoline
.....


- zeroh

def sound - HIDE n SEEK w/ Aye Mitch! | Zeroh | Pink Siifu [prod. Khalil Slim]

Watch thee lyricvideo by Joe Merrell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBFR3dHs3H8


"△nything.thee.idea.machine" is available NOW http://defsound.bandcamp.com/album/nything-thee-idea-machine

&

"△nything. d e l u x x x ." CD's NOW available http://shop.thatyoungdefshop.com/product/nything-thee-idea-machine-d-e-l-u-x-x-x


b u i l d . y o u r . ∆ .

See you in 2020.
 
∆∆∆'s.of.Neon.


-∂eƒ

Name.Your.Price.

People . [ A ] Go . (prod. by ®C)

Something to wake up to remixed and re flexed by https://soundcloud.com/gregariousmusic

Support.Thee.Art.

Morning Wav. [GREGarious Re.mix]

This is what like feels liiiiiike prod. by Zhao

Written by def.sound.
www.instagram.com/def.sound/

Produced & Recorded by Zhao.
www.instagram.com/zhaomusic/

Mixed by King Jedi
www.instagram.com/iamkingjedi/

Mastered by Kelly Hibbert (Almachrome)
www.instagram.com/almachrome/

Original cover photo: Jenny Desrosiers
www.instagram.com/jenny__desrosiers/

Cover designed by Machell André
www.instagram.com/machell.andre/

Released exclusively by Mango Disco Records
www.instagram.com/mangodiscorecs/

4/7/2020

Def Sound -S T R U C K ! [prod. By Zhao]

05. Miskeen Tee

Written by Emmanuel "def sound" Ricketts
www.instagram.com/def.sound/

Produced & Recorded by Zhao.
www.instagram.com/zhaomusic/

Mixed by King Jedi
www.instagram.com/iamkingjedi/

Mastered by Kelly Hibbert (Almachrome)
www.instagram.com/almachrome/

04. Struck

Feat. Annabelle Maginnis and LAFEMMEBEAR.

Produced + Mixed + Mastered by LAFEMMEBEAR

Written by Emmanuel "Def Sound" Ricketts,
~ Mr. Annabelle Maginnis
annabellemaginnis.bandcamp.com

~ LeahAnn Mitchell.
www.lafemmebear.com

03. Green Tree Tops

~ Produced + Mixed by :: Annabelle Maginnis
www.instagram.com/annabellemaginnismusic/

~ Written by :: Emmanuel "def sound" Ricketts
www.instagram.com/def.sound/

~Live + Sub Bass by :: Neon Phoenix
www.instagram.com/neonphoenix/


~ Drum Programming by :: Emmanuel "def sound" Ricketts


~ Additional vocal mixing by :: Zhao.
www.instagram.com/zhaomusic/


~ Mastered by :: Kelly Hibbert (Almachrome)
www.instagram.com/almachrome/
license

02. Flowers

A Poem Called Here
feat. low leaf + Quar’an Shaheed
[ prod. by Annabelle Maginnis ]
Musicians:
Ukulele + Strings : Annabelle Maginnis
Harp : Low Leaf
Keys : Quar’an Shaheed

d e f . s o u n d .

Pinned to spotlight

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