Mash-Up Vol.1 is the first installment in a series of mixtapes done by BTG recording artist V3RB. The premise of the Mash-Up series is the using of a legendary hip-hop producers beats, creating an abstract body of work reminiscent of the golden age of rap music. The music while abstract at heart, still manages to have structure since each beat is cleverly picked from the catalog pertaining to that volumes producer.
For example, the 1st volume which is compiled of beats by Pete Rock, delves deep into Pete’s work throughout the years, showcasing his diversity as a producer and V3RB’s as a writer. V3RB views the Mash-up series as a personal way of paying homage since the producers he’s chosen have had a tremendous impact on not just him but plenty of followers of the culture. V3RB feels these projects are a direct reflection of the early days when he first started rapping since It was producers such as Pete Rock, MadLib, Large Professor, Diamond D, DJ Premier and J-Dilla that he listened to when kicking freestyles and perfecting his craft. The goal of the series is not to simply showcase rap talent but to draw attention to the artistry in production that in current times seems to be taken for granted. There is a certain energy associated with beat making since it is the producer who lays the canvas in order for the artist to paint their pictures.