On Head Nod, vol. 1, Salt Lake City producer Heather Grey turns his focus toward the foundations. This ten-track instrumental project is composed entirely of reinterpretations—carefully reworked covers of some of the most classic and enduring beats in hip-hop history. Rather than aiming for mimicry or mere tribute, Grey leans into his own instincts as a drummer and pianist, emphasizing tone, texture, and timing over technical showmanship.
Built on the bones of tracks like “The World is Yours,” “Shook Ones Pt. II,” and “93 ‘Til Infinity,” these renditions don’t aim to replace the originals, but to revisit them with fresh ears. What emerges is a kind of quiet confidence: live instrumentation replacing sample packs, measured pacing taking the place of overt flash. Even in familiar terrain, Grey finds room to breathe. “Full Clip / C.R.E.A.M.” balances menace and nostalgia without overstating either. “Gorgeous / Worst Comes to Worst” moves with warmth and restraint. The transitions are seamless, but never showy.
Grey’s musical fluency—shaped early by piano lessons, sharpened through years of self-taught production, and guided by an ear tuned to Dilla, Premier, and Madlib—makes Head Nod feel less like an experiment and more like a series of precise reinterpretations. These aren’t flipped just for the sake of novelty; they’re played with purpose, composed with respect.
There’s nothing to prove here, and nothing overcooked. Just a talented producer returning to the songs that made him want to make beats in the first place—and managing to find something new in them all the same.
Purchase Cassette: Heather Grey – Head Nod, Vol. 1
Joyful Union Cassette Resource 