With Universal Beings, Makaya McCraven and International Anthem reached a pivotal point in contemporary jazz. Originally released in 2018, the album served both as a communal celebration and a technical breakthrough - a four-part document connecting scenes in New York, London, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Across its sessions, McCraven’s “organic beat music” approach took shape through live improvisation and meticulous post-production, transforming raw performance into something rhythmically sharp and sonically rich. The record brought together an ensemble of exceptional players - including Brandee Younger, Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Jeff Parker, Tomeka Reid, Joel Ross, and many more - capturing the creative pulse of a generation expanding the boundaries of jazz. Bold, fluid, and visionary, Universal Beings stands as both a defining statement of inter-city collaboration and a masterclass in McCraven’s cut-and-splice production artistry: “like Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, but for jazz.”