BA3

Released in 2016, BA3 stands as a cornerstone of the Future Funk movement, a subgenre that emerged from vaporwave by injecting it with high-energy disco and French house influences. Yung Bae, a central figure in this scene, uses this album to refine his signature technique: sourcing obscure and beloved Japanese city pop tracks and re-contextualizing them for modern club environments. Unlike the more slowed-down, 'slushy' side of vaporwave, BA3 is characterized by its upbeat tempo and crisp, hi-fi production. The album features heavy use of sidechaining - a production technique where the volume of melodic elements 'ducks' whenever the kick drum hits - creating a pumping, rhythmic sensation that is synonymous with the genre. Critics and fans alike point to BA3 as a peak example of the 'Bae' aesthetic, blending anime-inspired visuals with infectious, sample-heavy grooves that helped spark a global revival of interest in 1980s Japanese pop music.