Keelon Donnel, the Tyler, Texas beatsmith who created his own genre called AstroHop, stands out as truly unique. A producer who has earned the attention of established underground voices — most notably through his work with The Village, whose Anthology EP drew a feature from North Carolina’s Sean Boog, a respected figure in hip-hop’s underground with roots in 9th Wonder’s Justus League collective — Keelon has been quietly building credibility the right way: through the music.

Journeys is a four-track project, intentionally concise, but its short length is deceiving. This is a complete statement with a clear direction. The project invites you in, takes you somewhere unexpected, and leaves you feeling like you’ve been on a galactic journey.

Track 1: “Gold Chain” serves as the invitation, and it’s a strong start. Keelon doesn’t gently introduce you; instead, he pulls up and opens the door. The drums hit hard, and the mix is balanced right away, with airy samples floating above the pocket like heat rising from asphalt. This opener feels clean and confident. The Young Beatsmith knows exactly where he’s taking you before you even settle in.

Track 2: “DWADE” is where the AstroHop style is most clearly defined. Keelon created this genre himself, blending spacey, chopped soul with the structure of boom-bap and the wide-open feel of something much less grounded. “DWADE” is the best example of this sound on the project. Otherworldly is the right word. The track has a pull that’s hard to describe and impossible to ignore.

Track 3: “Starlink” changes the pace. Chopped keys play over breakneck drum patterns that make your head nod. This is the energetic center of the project, the point where the journey speeds up. But Keelon doesn’t stay in that lane. Around the 45-second mark, the beat opens up and becomes more relaxed, with layered samples creating a calm balance to the track’s earlier intensity. This shift, and the skill to blend two moods in one track, is what sets great producers apart.

Track 4: “Shadow Boxer” feels like the ride home, and it fits perfectly. The drums still hit hard, but guitar, keys, and spaced-out effects build on top of each other, slowing things down and making you reflect. It’s an introspective ending that works because the first three tracks set it up. You only reach this feeling because of the journey before it. The project ends just where it should.

Journeys lives up to its title without trying to impress with its ambition. It’s four tracks, carefully made, skillful, and clear about its purpose: a musical journey through the AstroHop world Keelon Donnel has been creating since his earlier years in high school.

Keelon is a producer with real vision and steady dedication to his craft. Stream it, download it, and give the Young Beatsmith the attention this work deserves.