Keats 06: Beats To Sport Umbrellas by Doctor Do – A Jazzy Hip-Hop Gem That’s Still Got Legs (and Elephants)
So, here we are in 2015 Germany, where Doctor Do decided to drop Keats 06: Beats To Sport Umbrellas, an album that's equal parts boom-bap banger and jazzy headphone hug. Released under the Keats label with HHV.DE backing it up, this record feels like someone handed a jazz club’s playlist to a hip-hop producer who just got back from a rainy day at Schusterplatz. It’s moody, smooth, and occasionally weird—but always memorable.
Let’s cut to the chase: this isn’t your run-of-the-mill rap album. There aren’t any flashy guest verses or overproduced hooks; instead, you get instrumental vibes so thick you can practically smell the vinyl dust as it spins. Tracks like “When the Sun Comes Out” and “Elephant On A Train” stick out because they’re basically earworms wrapped in velvet gloves.
“When the Sun Comes Out” hits different—it’s one of those tracks that makes you wanna sip coffee on a gray afternoon while pretending you’ve got life figured out. The beat is warm but not pushy, kinda like when your friend gives you advice without making it sound like a lecture. And then there’s “Elephant On A Train,” which is… well, exactly what it sounds like. Imagine if an elephant hopped onto public transport—chaotic yet oddly rhythmic. The track has these quirky little percussive stumbles that make you think, “Is this genius? Or did Doctor Do just have too much fun with his MPC?” Either way, it works.
The rest of the album follows suit, blending mellow jazz undertones with head-nodding beats. You’ve got jams like “Memory Lane (Sitting On The Hardt)” that feel nostalgic without being cheesy, and “Distopiastadt,” which is probably German for “this city sucks but also kinda rules.” Oh, and let’s not forget the bonus points for naming a track “Wir Kinder Vom Bahnhof Loh”—because nothing screams authenticity like shouting out your local train station.
Props to the crew behind this project, too. Artwork by V.Raeter? Check. Mastering wizardry courtesy of Carsten Bunse? Double check. Even the photography by Sven Dollbaum adds to the vibe—like flipping through old Polaroids while listening to something timeless.
But here’s the kicker: even though this album came out nearly a decade ago, it doesn’t feel dated. Maybe it’s the lack of trendy gimmicks or maybe it’s just good craftsmanship, but Beats To Sport Umbrellas holds its own against whatever modern playlists algorithms throw at us today.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for music that feels like wearing grey hoodies on cloudy days—or riding around town with an umbrella slung over your shoulder—you need this album in your rotation. Just don’t ask me why elephants keep showing up on trains. Some mysteries are better left unsolved.
