(This was originally posted on blip.tv a couple months ago. Volume 2 is in the works, so I thought it made sense to finally post Volume 1 here)

A DJ that produces his/her own beats has to know how to dig. They have to swim through miles of vinyl to find the best and most obscure samples to make their beats the awesome and original. DJ Shadow is the godfather of instrumental hip-hop and the king of digging. I heard his first record, “Endtroducing” in 2002 and was instantly mesmerized by the complex layers in his sound. His style of sampling and drumming has influenced some of the best producers in the business of instrumental hip-hop. Madlib, another digger, samples everything from reggae, to bollywood tunes, and blue note records. He recreates it and makes it something entirely his own. His album under the alias of Quasimoto is a phenomenal album with hundreds of beautiful jazz samples. This year a friend turned me on to Flying Lotus and DJ Nobody, both producers from Los Angeles who I’ve been listening to a lot this second half of 2008. They are the latest in a generation of Djs that are making cutting edge sounds.

This has become one of my favorite genres because I can listen and work simulaneously. Call it downtempo, trip hop, drum n’ bass, it doesn’t matter. Just give me the sweet guitar riff and piano melody over a knocking beat. I’m set.

“Sorry, honey… it’s time to off NPR. I have to put some beats on.”

This was originally meant to be a study mix and it might still be one depending on how you listen to music. The last song is certainly a dance track, and I apologize if you want to cut a rug at the workplace. Let’s get some work done in 2009.

Tracklist

Koushik - Welcome, Flying Lotus - Camel, Blockhead - Carnivores Delight, Eligh - Sandstone, Nobody - White Folding Slowly, DJ Shadow - Changeling, RJD2 - The Proxy, Zion I - Metropolis, Tommy Guerrero - Four Trk. Samba, A Tribe Called Quest - 4 Moms, Quasimoto - The Unseen, Urbs - Ununited, Bonobo - Recurring, Cut Chemist - The Garden

(Right click and save as to play in Itunes)

 

 Study Music Vol. 1 - Instrumental Hip-Hop: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Categories: Visine for the ears