Tape B Will Show You How It's Done During Miami Music Week

Bass music, which encompasses many subgenres like future bass, dubstep, drum 'n' bass, and UK garage, is having a bit of a resurgence. Tape B can certainly attest to that.

Known for his iconic tagline "Yo Tape B, show 'em how it's done!" the South Florida native has been making waves in the scene thanks to head-banging remixes and collaborations with John Summit, Subtronics, and Juicy J. He has become synonymous with the rising appreciation for bass-heavy music and melding with hip-hop.

His latest mixtape, CarTunes Vol. 4, released in January, has been getting devoured by his fans, amassing over 600,000 listens on SoundCloud alone.

"The main goal is always to have fun with it, but I also strive to outdo myself every time," Tape B tells New Times. "I want to feel like I'm improving, and if I can't improve, then at least I want to keep the same level of quality. There's always room to grow.

"With this mix specifically, I was extremely nervous because I felt like CarTunes Vol. 3 was the best work I'd ever done," he adds. "Coming into this one, my expectations were really high, and it was honestly nerve-wracking. For about two months, I didn't even want to release it because I didn't think it was good enough. I kept second-guessing myself. But now that it's out, I feel really good about how it turned out and how it all came together."

South Florida Origins

A fan of hip-hop since his early youth, Tape B (real name Kemal Berk Alkanat) has learned to combine the two worlds, which in return has helped him gain traction from fans of both genres.

Among his fans was hip-hop legend Juicy J, who collaborated with the producer on "Trippy Land." It was a dream partnership for Tape B, with acts like the Underachievers, Wiz Khalifa, and Flatbush Zombies on his wish list.

One collaboration that will sadly never happen is with his favorite artist, Mac Miller.

"GO:OD AM is my favorite album by him. I still listen to it a couple of times a week; it's something I never get tired of. I also loved his early SoundCloud era in high school, with mixtapes featuring Schoolboy Q, Vince Staples, and his work as Larry Fisherman. Tracks like 'New Faces V2' with Earl Sweatshirt were some of my favorites from that time."

Growing up in Boca Raton, Tape was aware of the SoundCloud rap movement that emerged in South Florida in the 2010s, as well as the music from radio staples like Lil Wayne, Akon, and T Pain.

He dove into electronic music in high school after a friend bought a pair of LED gloves from EmazingLights. "I thought they looked sick, so I checked out their YouTube videos, which featured popular dubstep tracks at the time. That led me to explore channels like UKF, where I discovered artists like Doctor P, Bar9, and Flux Pavilion," he says.

During his senior year, he attended raves and EDM events like Life in Color, Ultra Music Festival, and Sunset Music Festival. Like anyone new to the scene, he first devoured music by big-room house acts like Tiësto before eventually moving on to trap and dubstep. He credits his musical journey as pivotal to the formation of his sound. "Each phase, genre, and artist brought something new, and it just kept building from there," Tape B explains.

Always the Perfectionist

Tape B's goal is always to deliver the best set possible since there is no bigger critic about a Tape B set than Tape B himself.

"Even if it's one of the biggest performances of my life, if I come off stage feeling like I could've done better or wasn't happy with it, my whole day or night is ruined. I'll beat myself up, thinking I messed up, and worry that my fans didn't enjoy it," he says. "On the other hand, when I feel like I gave it my all, it's an incredible high."

He points to his set at Ultra last year as an example of the latter. "I felt like I delivered the best performance I possibly could, and I actually cried afterward because it was everything I'd ever dreamed of," Tape B adds.

His meticulous nature will undoubtedly be on display when he headlines a Miami Music Week block party at Wynwood Marketplace on Thursday, March 27. Cyclops, Phrva, and Ricky Remedy are also on the lineup, along with a secret special guest.

"My main focus was making sure the lineup was fun and exciting. We sit down and brainstorm for as long as it takes, thinking about who's exciting right now and who we'd want to see live. Since we stay tapped into the underground scene, I'm always keeping an eye on who's releasing cool new music. I'm especially excited about the special guest, an OG dubstep artist who got me into music through UKF."

With 2025 just getting started, Tape B isn't slowing down after MMW. Later this year, he'll play a sold-out show at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Don't worry — South Florida is also on the agenda.

"The goal is to start with this, but I really want to expand and do more in South Florida. I've been getting so much love from Florida recently, and this is where I'm from, where my roots are. I want to give back as much as I can by creating the coolest events and starting them here."

Tape B Block Party. With Cyclops, Phrva, and Ricky Remedy. 3 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at Wynwood Marketplace, 2250 NW Second Ave., Miami; blnkcnvs.com/mmw25. Tickets cost $55 via tixr.com.

Find the full list of Miami Music Week 2025 events here.