Instrumental hip-hop recommendations

#1

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.

#2

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

#3

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

#4

Madlib - beat konducta series

#5

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

#6

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

#7

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

#8

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

#9

Micky Mouse Operation by Little People

#10

<3

Friendzone - Collection 1 is good, in a similar vein

#11

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

this shit never fails to floor me. glorious

#12

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?

#13

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.

#14

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

#15

J-zone

#16

his instrumental stuff i mean

#17

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

#18

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.

#19

yep. tremendous stuff

#20

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