Mr. ilango “Strapped” (2023)
Body Slams and Death Match Boom Bap
Strapped is a 12-track instrumental hip hop album influenced by wrestling, cinema, prog/psych rock, and 60s soul, turkish pop, a unique blend of gritty beats and soulful melodies.
Strapped was born during the pandemic, when the world slowed down and I found myself looking for new ways to stay inspired. Like a lot of people, I was searching for an escape, and I found it in professional wrestling. I spent countless nights watching Dark Side of the Ring, following the rise of AEW, keeping up with WWE, and getting pulled into the raw energy of GCW. The Nick Gage vs. Matt Cardona deathmatch was one of those moments that reminded me how unpredictable and compelling wrestling could be.
At the same time, underground hip hop was having a moment of its own. Westside Gunn was at the peak of his creative run, and the cinematic production coming out of the Griselda camp pushed me to dig deeper into my own sound. Those influences naturally found their way into these beats.
Strapped is my interpretation of that period. The instrumentals are built from dusty samples, hard drums, eerie loops, and dramatic arrangements that capture the tension, confidence, and larger-than-life storytelling that drew me to wrestling. Every track is meant to feel like an entrance, a rivalry, a title match, or the final bell.
While the album is rooted in my experiences during the pandemic, it’s ultimately about finding inspiration in unexpected places. Wrestling became more than entertainment, it became a creative spark. The result is a collection of boom bap instrumentals that blend underground hip hop, cinematic production, and the emotional highs and lows of one of the strangest periods in recent memory.
Whether you’re an artist looking for inspiration, a fan of sample-based hip hop, or someone who appreciates the storytelling of professional wrestling, I hope Strapped transports you to that moment and lets you experience it through my music.
Released June 2023