DJ Destructo and Thundercat Drop New Grooves on “What You Need”

“What You Need” cuts through the noise with smooth, sun-drenched swagger. The new single—courtesy of DJ Destructo and MxNxSTxR (Ty Dolla $ign’s electronic alias)—feels like a lost gem from a funkier dimension, dusted off and delivered just in time for summer. Add Thundercat and Channel Tres into the mix, and you’ve got a dream team of groove architects who sound like they built this track on a haze-filled afternoon in a Venice Beach studio, not via shared stems over email.

The song is a disco-tinged house cut with just enough attitude to keep it from floating away. Destructo’s production stays grounded and bumping, while MxNxSTxR infuses it with a layer of slick electronic sheen. Thundercat’s bass work adds depth and soul, and Channel Tres once again proves himself a master of minimal, magnetic cool. Together, they’ve created something more than the sum of their parts—a breezy jam that feels like a snapshot from a better, freer time.

But this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. “What You Need” is born from a pandemic-era writing session, which makes the track’s warmth and looseness feel like a breath of long-delayed fresh air. It’s carefree but not careless, retro but not gimmicky. Think roller-skating in slow motion, gold rims on a Cadillac, palm trees swaying behind tinted shades.

This is one of those rare collaborations where everyone sounds like themselves, not like they’re trying to fit someone else’s mold. There’s no urgency to chase a chart position here—just a commitment to the groove, the vibe, the ride.