MONOPOLY

Charles Dickerson, aka Mono/Poly, was one of several figures who emerged from Los Angeles’ community of instrumental hip-hop producers — including connections with the city’s Low End Theory club nights, as well as Flying Lotus — during the 2000s. Originally from Bakersfield, Dickerson made his first moves with 12″ singles and EPs on labels such as Circulations, Faces, and Fat City. As Monopoly, he remixed Flying Lotus’ “Melt!” in 2008. Following his first album, Paramatma, released on Tasteful Licks in 2010, he was added to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder roster. Dickerson debuted there in 2011 with Manifestations, an EP that showcased his alternately sparse and cluttered approach to beat-making with an off-center sense of humor — from pitched-up Ice-T and Public Enemy samples to track titles like “Punch the Troll in the Neck.” After he contributed to labelmate Thundercat’s 2013 album Apocalypse, he released Golden Skies, dreamier and more melodic than his debut, in 2014. Cryptic followed in early 2016; the lengthy EP featured collaborations with Thundercat and Seven Davis, Jr. Dickerson then worked with London-based pop/R&B vocalist Alyss, producing the 2017 EP Union. ~ Andy Kellman