jade tree
I produce instrumental hip hop rooted in old-school rhythms. My tracks have thick drums, soulful samples, and textures and fx I've captured on walks through San Francisco.
jade tree is the instrumental alias of Canadian-born, San Francisco–based artist Cara Best. A multi-instrumentalist on guitar, bass, piano, and drums, she's spent 20 years producing — sharpening her focus into a distinct, analog-inspired sound since relocating to San Francisco in 2018. Working in Ableton Live with an MPK mini, or using an MPC Sample, she layers organic textures captured on a Zoom H5 into warm, cinematic grooves that sit between chillhop, lo-fi hip hop, and jazzy boom bap. As a Tracklib and LANDR sound pack supplier, she expands her creative world by sharing the same textures and tones that shape her beats.
Style & Influences
jade tree blends lo-fi hip hop, boom bap, and chillhop with analog textures and soulful layers. Influenced by producers like Marco Polo, J Dilla, Nas, The Alchemist, Apollo Brown, Sweeps, and MF DOOM, she crafts immersive soundscapes using samples, field recordings, and processed textures. Armed with a Zoom H5, she captures and sculpts audio, from birdsong and eagle caws to bustling markets and the rumble of San Francisco's Muni trains — sounds that end up folded into her rhythm section or layered into the mix.
jade tree Live - Radio Show
Hosted on Substack, 'jade tree Live' is a radio-style podcast that blends her own beats with curated
tracks from fellow artists. Each episode offers a laid-back, soulful listening experience like a warm
hangout in sound.
Sync Licensing
jade tree's music is available for sync licensing and custom creative work. She takes on commissioned projects — personalized sample packs for producers, brand sound design, and exclusive beats — shaping each one to match the tone and vibe you need.
Contacts & Links
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