Gold Standard.

Check Out The Fiery New Mixtape From Fort Worth Producer Cardo.

Once upon a time in the late '00s and early '10s, there was quite the flirtation going on between North Texas and DJ A-Trak's New York-based indie hip-hop and dance label, Fool's Gold Records.

At every turn, we heard the same rumor: Fool's Gold had signed the North Texas-bred VEGA — the post-Ghosthustler, pre-Neon Indian project of one Alan Palomo — to its label and was readying itself to release its debut album. A-Trak himself even confirmed the word.

Alas, almost three-and-a-half years after VEGA dropped the still-ridiculously great “No Reasons,” VEGA appears dead in the water, with Palomo now firmly focused on his Neon Indian outfit. nonetheless, VEGA retains a page on the artist roster section of Fool's Gold's site, complete with a bio that promises a still-“upcoming” release.

We won't hold our breath.

And, fortunately, if it's simply a North Texas and Fool's Gold collaboration we seek, there's no need.

Late last month, the label released an effort from another North Texan on the up-and-up.

Fort Worth-based hip-hop producer Cardo is described by Fool's Gold in their own literature as a “peerlessly funky young producer who has provided smoked out soundbeds for a literal Who's Who of rap's new generation,” and, to be sure, that all is quite accurate.

Quietly from within the walls of his Fort Worth home, the Taylor Gang-affiliated producer has been instrumental in crafting Wiz Khalifa's sound, while simultaneously working with similarly fast-rising hip-hop entities such as Curren$y and Big Sean.

It's not hard to understand the draw of Cardo's sound. His DJ Quik- and West Coast-indebted beats also incorporate a healthy Houston lean into their laid-back blend.

And, as is demonstrated clearly on his Fool's Gold-released Everything I$ Gold beat tape, it's a sound that Cardo has certainly mastered while impressively somehow also managing to sound unique. Long story short: Dude deserves more recognition here in his home region, where he remains a relative unknown.

Stream the tape in its entirety below.