WHO DID THAT BEAT? Hasane Insane

By Jerry L. Barrow

Photos by J. Shotti

If you think he sounds like a terrorist, you’re right. When Hasan Insane gets on an MPC he will hold your ears hostage. You may not know his name or his face but if you consider yourself a hip-hop fan you should know Hasan Insane’s work. His remix CDs, The Pink Album and Perfect Strangers are must haves for any Nas and Jay-Z fan frustrated with their sometimes suspect beat selection. Now the 25 year old New Yorker has released another inspired CD, Black Caesar, using vocals from Jay-Z’s American Gangster. Joking that he makes “only one beat per month” this perfectionist took a few minutes to talk to Nodfactor about how he still remains one of the best kept secrets in the production game.

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Jay-Z Get’s Mobbed: Hasan Insane’s “Black Caesar” Mixtape

After crafting audible treats like an “Allure” remix with a sick saxophone and 16 bars from Nas for the An American Gangster Mixtape producer/DJ Hasan Insane is back with another Jay-Z inspired project entitled Black Caesar. At first glance it’s easy to think “damn, more American Gangster rehash?” But that was pieced together with older acapellas while this uses the “official” verses. Jay’s voice and flow is just perfect for remixing and it’s about time folks talked about Jigga without the words “and beyonce” following right behind.

What makes Hasan’s remixes so good is his ability to find samples that match the mood of the original without sound anything like it. While his version of “American Dreamin” doesn’t knock the Marvin Gaye flavored original, it holds its own with a jazzy guitar loop, some drums that hit a little softer and well placed vocal scratches.

In addition to his beats, Insane has a knack for adding guest vocals that is down right scary. For example, adding Big Boi and Pimp C to “Party Life” is an inspired touch that should give American Gangster some fresh legs going into the summer.

So if the F.E.D.S. don’t have your computer tapped check out a copy of Black Caeasar. The tracklisting is below. Peep clips at Hasan’s Myspace page:

01. INTRO
02. PRAY FEAT. RAEKWON (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
03. AMERICAN DREAMIN FEAT. NAS (HASAN INSANE REMIX
04. HELLO BROOKLYN 3.0 FEAT. LIL’ WAYNE, THE NOTORIOUS BIG & OL’ DIRTY BASTARD (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
05. NO HOOK FEAT. YOUNG JEEZY (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
06. ROC BOYS FEAT. KANYE WEST (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
07. SWEET FEAT. JADAKISS (HASAN INSANE REMIX
08. I KNOW FEAT. T.I. & PHARRELL (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
09. PARTY LIFE FEAT. BIG BOI, PIMP C & CARLITTA DURAND (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
10. IGNORANT SH*T FEAT. LUPE FIASCO (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
11. SAY HELLO FEAT. SCARFACE (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
12. SUCCESS FEAT. GHOSTFACE (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
13. FALLEN FEAT. BEANIE SIGEL & JESSE BOYKINS III (HASAN INSANE REMIX)
**BONUS**
AMERICAN GANGSTER (HASAN INSANE REMIX)