Thornton Reed
Member
I'll be honest i need a distraction from the horribleness that is the UK election.
I want to focus this thread on the (for me) the real stars of hip hop, the producer/beat maker. Don't get me wrong i love a rapper who can spit hot fire but they need that beat to carry the message. I just want to see a simple top 5 with links to some of their best beats.
Feel free to add some honourable mentions.
1. The neptunes/Pharrell Williams
Goes with out saying these guys defined an era of hip with their unique sound. They had the ability to smash out a club banger and a slower RnB joint. Pharrell has gone on to be one of the most influential producers over the past 20 years.
There is no denying, between Pharrell and Chad, these 2 guys have been the most influential in hop hop over the last 2 decades.
Pharrell has managed to stay relevant with tracks like pink + white and Alright. The guy is nothing but pure class and still as important today as he was nearly 20 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QWQVm9J5DM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-JVjP1sARk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY
2. J Dilla
Arguably the the greatest hip hop producer of all time and probably the most respected. Everyone please listen to Donuts. An absolute passion project made on his death bed. The beats are nothing but quality and just ooze emotion. I could listen to dilla's beats all day long. A real genius who has influenced so many.
People will listen to a dilla beat and say "what is so special?" its the snap in the drums, the focused direction and jazz influence that captures the imagination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUgpd7zZIghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upeY7toe0hs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s732BigTxZk
3. Madlib
Is there something Madlib can't do? From spaced out stoner hiphop to full on gangsta shit, Madlib can do it all. His beats are weird, unconventional and from accounts of rappers who have worked with him difficult to rhyme over.
Madlib's range is unrivalled. A living genius with a back catalog which you can get lost in for days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohHnHcBFSqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbxcPy1qJTU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewc1hixzYPY
4. RZA
The man with the beats behind the wu tang clan. Soulful and fierce at the same time. The RZA's beats are totally unique. His dirty and grimy sound defined the wu-tang clan. His knowledge of soul and funk are unmatched which created a number of brilliant samples from the stax vaults .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgh10of6DKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUz5_UlvqQ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPRKsKwEdUQ
5. Kanye West
love him or hate there is no questioning Kanye is one of the best hiphop producers of all time. The guy has the midas touch and can flip a sample better than anyone. Kanye early sound was so good and had rappers clambering for his beats. I may criticise Kanye for his rapping ability but his beat making is phenomenal and he's one of the best to have ever have done it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIS3KouPdgM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DawrlSwHUiM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LHuzs4MmcU
honourable mentions
the alchemist
sounwave
Knxwledge
organized noize
heatmakerz
I want to focus this thread on the (for me) the real stars of hip hop, the producer/beat maker. Don't get me wrong i love a rapper who can spit hot fire but they need that beat to carry the message. I just want to see a simple top 5 with links to some of their best beats.
Feel free to add some honourable mentions.
1. The neptunes/Pharrell Williams
Goes with out saying these guys defined an era of hip with their unique sound. They had the ability to smash out a club banger and a slower RnB joint. Pharrell has gone on to be one of the most influential producers over the past 20 years.
There is no denying, between Pharrell and Chad, these 2 guys have been the most influential in hop hop over the last 2 decades.
Pharrell has managed to stay relevant with tracks like pink + white and Alright. The guy is nothing but pure class and still as important today as he was nearly 20 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QWQVm9J5DM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-JVjP1sARk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY
2. J Dilla
Arguably the the greatest hip hop producer of all time and probably the most respected. Everyone please listen to Donuts. An absolute passion project made on his death bed. The beats are nothing but quality and just ooze emotion. I could listen to dilla's beats all day long. A real genius who has influenced so many.
People will listen to a dilla beat and say "what is so special?" its the snap in the drums, the focused direction and jazz influence that captures the imagination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUgpd7zZIghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upeY7toe0hs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s732BigTxZk
3. Madlib
Is there something Madlib can't do? From spaced out stoner hiphop to full on gangsta shit, Madlib can do it all. His beats are weird, unconventional and from accounts of rappers who have worked with him difficult to rhyme over.
Madlib's range is unrivalled. A living genius with a back catalog which you can get lost in for days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohHnHcBFSqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbxcPy1qJTU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewc1hixzYPY
4. RZA
The man with the beats behind the wu tang clan. Soulful and fierce at the same time. The RZA's beats are totally unique. His dirty and grimy sound defined the wu-tang clan. His knowledge of soul and funk are unmatched which created a number of brilliant samples from the stax vaults .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgh10of6DKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUz5_UlvqQ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPRKsKwEdUQ
5. Kanye West
love him or hate there is no questioning Kanye is one of the best hiphop producers of all time. The guy has the midas touch and can flip a sample better than anyone. Kanye early sound was so good and had rappers clambering for his beats. I may criticise Kanye for his rapping ability but his beat making is phenomenal and he's one of the best to have ever have done it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIS3KouPdgM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DawrlSwHUiM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LHuzs4MmcU
honourable mentions
the alchemist
sounwave
Knxwledge
organized noize
heatmakerz
