Meet Clams Casino, a 23-year-old New Jersey golden boy and one of the most exciting, innovative producers to come about in 2011.  This physical therapy student happens to be making some of the illest, most unorthodox hip-hop beats today and has a highly impressive track record.  Casino has done multiple productions for Soulja Boy and Lil B, the Based God himself.

Earlier this year Casino released a self-titled instrumental mixtape that compiles some of his best beats.  The EP is a testament to his acute attention to hip-hop structure and truly makes it clear that Casino is a force to be reckoned with. Filled with richly textured, ambient sounds, minimalist drums, and well-placed samples, there’s no denying that his beats can stand on their own. Download the mixtape here.

Casino’s Rainforest EP, his most recently released project, is a five track masterpiece that centers loosely on a terrestrial theme, with songs titles like “Waterfalls” and “Treetop,” with some very earthy, textural sounds skillfully balanced with more celestial notes.  

On his latest endeavor “Wizard,” the hip-hop beatsmith demonstrates how even the most tranquilizing and simplistic instrumentals can sound incredibly titanic.  It’s a melancholy, emotive formula that he’s mastered over and over again, but on this cut the airy beats and instantly captivating melodies prevail. Listen below.