Hip-hop has always been a conversation between generations. Yesterday’s vinyl crackle meets tomorrow’s bass, and artists in that space either develop a voice or get lost chasing trends. On “Take It Back (Remix),” New York duo designerdave and Bassic Instinct approach that tension with clarity. Brazilian-American rapper David Barley brings writing, vulnerability, and hunger, while Jamaican-American producer Justin Phillips draws from classical training, jazz, funk, neo-soul, and modern trap. Together, they create a record that remembers where hip-hop came from while pushing toward something darker.
The pair first met at Berklee College of Music in Boston. designerdave, who has released music independently since 2021, is a bassist, guitarist, drummer, and vocalist. Bassic Instinct began classical training at age five, then expanded into jazz, funk, and neo-soul. Their multi-instrumental backgrounds surface in the remix’s attention to rhythm, space, and arrangement.
“Take It Back” originally opened the duo’s 2025 EP Renaissance. Here, Bassic Instinct recasts it in a heavier frame, sharpening the urgency present in the writing. The production pulls listeners into a dark, bass-heavy world where each drum hit feels deliberate and every melodic detail carries tension. There is enough grit for boom bap listeners, while the low end lands with the punch of modern trap. The blend feels natural because neither influence is treated as decoration.
That urgency begins with the song’s personal history. designerdave wrote the original while facing a crossroads in his life and career. Events had left him feeling disconnected from his direction, and the song became a way to reclaim ownership of his decisions. Knowing that gives the title greater weight. It reads as a private instruction to regain control.
designerdave meets the production with a performance rooted in substance instead of empty bravado. When he says, “Doing shots but I don’t even need to write back,” the line lands as recognition that not every distraction deserves a response. Its simplicity is part of its strength. Maturity means knowing when to stop spending energy on what is already behind you.
The writing grows more personal as the track continues. “I was outside while the vibe was on some scary shit,” arrives in an almost matter-of-fact tone, though the lyric carries the weight of lived experience. It leaves room for listeners to bring their own struggles into the song. designerdave avoids overexplaining the moment, letting the emotion travel beyond the specifics of his story.
One of the record’s sharpest lines follows: “I’m on another plane, they might think that I’m a terrorist.” In context, the lyric reflects the discomfort of being misread when ambition, creativity, or perspective falls outside what others expect. That tension runs through the remix. As his determination hardens, a sense of isolation enters the performance, revealing vulnerability beneath the self-assurance.
I kept returning to the track’s discipline. At only two minutes, it builds around the cold, melancholic tension of a B minor scale and moves at a measured 97 BPM. The short runtime gives every choice greater weight. There are no unnecessary detours, and the verses never stretch past their purpose. Bassic Instinct gives the beat room to breathe. designerdave delivers with precision instead of crowding the production. The partnership works because neither artist tries to overpower the other.
That balance makes “Take It Back (Remix)” a rewarding listen. The song treats tradition and innovation as parts of the same continuum, which suits a genre that has always developed by reshaping its own history. It feels like a turning point for the duo, built from reflection but aimed toward what comes next. designerdave and Bassic Instinct are preparing to release a new single, “Let It Out,” in August 2026. For listeners drawn to hip-hop that respects its roots without standing still, this remix offers a focused statement of intent.
Stay connected with Dave & Bassic Instinct on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.