Instrumental hip-hop recommendations

Been trying for the last 5 years to convert Mrs Thirstydog to hip-hop, and made a breakthrough on Saturday night when she watched Ghost Dog with me for the first time & loved the soundtrack. Already got her listening to DJ Shadow and J Dilla, so please recommend me some similar stuff.

Company Flow - Little Johnny from the Hospitul. Early production from El-P (and someone else I can’t remember)

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RJD2 to an extent, Clams Casino, the instrumental version of Madvillainy

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Madlib - beat konducta series

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This. Something for everybody in this series/Madlib’s discography in general.

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Dr No’s Oxperiment is pretty good, as is some of his other work. Don’t actually find myself listening to that much instrumental hip hop, but a good way to get into it I guess

a lot of crap in there, I reckon. but worth a cherry pick, for sure

Noir by Blue Sky Black Death might do it for you.

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Micky Mouse Operation by Little People

<3

Friendzone - Collection 1 is good, in a similar vein

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0RDZ9iPiVQ

this shit never fails to floor me. glorious

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Suppose there’s lots of vocal loops on the record but I’d say that’s closer to instrumental than an MC rapping over beats so Double Cup may be worth a shout?

Doesn’t seem to get any acclaim but Beastie Boys The Mix up is a personal favourite.

Other obvious stuff -
Madlib - Shades of Blue
J Dilla - Donuts

btw I adore the Ghost Dog soundtrack.

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yeah - is there a compilation of the best stuff or just any suggestion of where the start?

Reminds me as well I must listen to Piñata beats

J-zone

his instrumental stuff i mean

I’m by no means an expert on all things madlib, man. I just siphon off what I consider to be the gems and create a playlist accordingly. my madlib knowledge is still pretty weak, tbf

@theShipment @littlebirds @kyle and someone else I forgot are probably your go-to guys for this

Vol. 5: Dil Cosby Suite is great. Kind of a gift to people who would have loved a Donuts follow up. Vol 6: Dil Withers suite is the same thing but less good. Vol. 1: Movie Scenes is great, Vol 2 also same concept but weaker. Neither of the India ones are that consistent, and I’d go for the Medicine Show 3: Beat Konducta in Africa personally.

Those 3 albums are a good start.

yep. tremendous stuff

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Joe Beats has a couple of nice instrumental albums. Reverse Discourse and Diverse Recourse. Both great.