By Chris Campbell
On the latest edition of Liner Notes, we explore “Abstractions,” a 2021 collaboration between two of the most revered producers in modern soul, funk, and hip-hop: Zo! and Tall Black Guy.

On the latest edition of The Progressive Underground‘s Liner Notes, we explore “Abstractions,” a collaboration between two of the most revered producers in modern soul, funk, and hip-hop: Zo! and Tall Black Guy.

Metro Detroit-born Lorenzo “Zo!” Ferguson and Tall Black Guy, aka Terrel Wallace, took different paths to arrive at their shared groove-centric vision. Zo!, a multi-instrumentalist, came up playing jazz and classical before transitioning into the vibrant world of progressive soul and funk, producing for The Foreign Exchange and spearheading several solo projects. Tall Black Guy, known for his masterful beat-making, honed his skills through crate-digging and sampling, becoming a staple in the underground hip-hop and soul circuit.

Though they had admired each other’s work from afar, their creative paths finally converged through the Foreign Exchange Music family, an independent label founded by Phonte and Nicolay. Their shared love for deeply rooted soul, lush arrangements, and head-nodding rhythms made their collaboration inevitable.

“Abstractions,” released in 2021, is the product of this synergy — a sonic journey through jazz, R&B, and hip-hop, infused with their mutual respect for craftsmanship and storytelling. Let’s explore the album track by track.