Instrumental Hip Hop Vinyl 358 Items

We're thrilled to present our first-ever compilation "Don't Sleep Records: The Instrumentals Volume One". This collection features a blend of our most popular records and personal favorites, including some slept-on beats that deserve a second chance to shine.

These tracks represent the diverse range of sounds and styles that have shaped the unique sonic fingerprint of Don't Sleep Records over our ten-year history. From jazzy, soulful tunes to hard-hitting boom bap and soulful bangers, this compilation offers something for every discerning listener.

We're excited to share this collection with our fans and we hope you'll enjoy it as much as we've enjoyed putting it together.

- Don't Sleep Records

We are excited to present Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes’ “What Kinda Music” – an astonishing collaboration between two artists of very different disciplines, and one of the most unique and seamlessly original projects of its ilk to date.

Moving fluidly through sleek electronica, avant-garde jazz, vintage hip hop and so much more, Misch and Dayes take you on a journey that is by turns surprising and spontaneous, heady and head spinning, and nothing less than compelling – a singular vision which fuses the DNA of both musicians with spectacular results, as can be seen in the title track, which comes backed by a gorgeously atmospheric video by XX.

Even though the fundamental bones of this project came together very quickly, its actual provenance stretches back much, much farther back, with the pair not only growing up in the same area of South East London, but Misch actually seeing Dayes play on drums in the school talent show for the first time when he was roughly 8 or 9. They both kept tabs on each other – Misch becoming a fan of Dayes’ act Yussef Kamaal, Dayes clocking his videos in 2014 – but it was only when they met at a launch party for Misch’s debut LP “Geography” in 2018 that the proverbial creative sparks began to fly. “As a musician you’re always looking for contemporaries who can push you and challenge you and make you better”, says Dayes. “I instantly felt that with Tom – he was such a gifted musician, and so prolific”. That summer they decided to go into the studio together, jam a little, and see what happens, with no other expectation placed upon it.

As it turns out, the music came fast and furiously. Two initial tracks were suddenly followed by a handful of others, and the pair found themselves contemplating what to do next. “Pretty soon, we knew that something was gelling”, Dayes says. “It didn’t feel like a one-off collaboration, it felt like a body of work”. What made the pair click, according to Misch and Dayes, were the exact same factors that meant it shouldn’t, by all rights, work. Misch says, “Yussef comes from a more experimental background, and he has a lot of loose, crazy ideas. I know how to write a catchy melody, but with interesting chords and have a good understanding of popular song forms, so I think I streamlined those ideas and made them accessible”. And certainly, in “What Kinda Music” you can sense the DNA of both musicians, but fusing so effortlessly and beautifully that it creates something else entirely, the appropriately named “Lift Off” sending goosebumps with its jazz flecked crescendo, and “Night Rider” hynotising with its deeply mesmeric grooves. “I have a love for harmony and chords”, Misch adds. “Working with someone like Yussef, who has such a gifted sense of rhythm allowed a perfect balance”.

Throughout the record, there is an utterly joyful feel of two musicians at the top of their game sparking off one another, picking up ideas and running with them – zigging where the other zags, ebbing where the other flows, with Misch producing the majority of the record and both having a hand in the overall sound and feel of the record.

“Working with Yussef has actually changed the way I work as a musician”, Misch muses. “He’s pushed me and unlocked a more experimental part of me that I hadn’t really allowed myself to explore before. I think we really did impact each other in a fundamental way”. Dayes is similarly effusive in his praise for Misch. “A musician like him, who’s at the top of his game, he doesn’t need to do this”, he raves. “He can just keep doing the same thing and why not? He’s killing it. The fact that he’s so humble, that he’s so curious about everything and open to collaboration, speaks a lot to him as an artist, because it’s not easy finding musicians who want to collaborate. Something always gets in the way, whether it’s ego or their team or whatever. But with Tom it felt like the intention was purely creative, and that’s what made it exciting”. In fact, Dayes says that the intentions of the record go even deeper than just music. “Both our parents who’d never met each other before, are now best friends as a result of this, they now see each other more than we do! I’d like to think, in some small way, that this album has a similar impact for people too – everything feels so divided these days, it would be nice for people to hear the record and hear two very different musicians coming together and realise it doesn’t have to be that way”.

Limited to 300 copies on purple vinyl, available at HHV only.

"Insomnia" is the third solo album of the Italian jazz beat maestro Koralle for Melting Pot Music. Without exaggerating, the Bologna-born producer's album can be described as his most mature and progressive work. On "Insomnia" Koralle unites a few of his favorite artists and musicians, exchanging sounds, ideas, beats, melodies and lyrics with them. The guest list consists of fellow producers FloFilz, Pachakuti, Figub Brazlevic, Kuranes, Phoniks and Brous One, as well as vocalists Kid Abstrakt, KeepVibesNear and Ryshon Jones.

Strictly limited edition of 300 copies on splattered vinyl.

Here's the 2nd drop of Boora's "Soundogolism" jams with beats produced between 2016 and 2020. Boora is a beatmaker, sound producer, crate digger and hip-hop DJ hailing from Sovetsk (Tilsit), Russia, now based in Moscow. His new album was produced on drum machines like the Akai MPC 3000 and E-mu SP1200 plus synthesizer's and Logic X mainly using soviet samples. Guest musicians include Roman Miussky, Yarik Hvos, Craig Crofton and Dmitriy Artemyev. Tip!

Limited to 300 copies!

Introducing "Lab Progression" the exciting collaborative project of Midan and Jammin Berries. This talented duo brings together contemporary Neo-Jazz beats and groovy lofi-esque tunes, creating a captivating blend of musical genres.

Their debut album is a collection of authentic jams recorded in the studio. Despite both being beatmakers, their collaboration feels more like a band, thanks to their shared musicality and creativity.

Jammin Berries is a skilled pianist and guitarist, while Midan shines as a bassist and multi-instrumentalist. Influenced by oldschool Jazz legends like Oscar Peterson and Jammin Berries interest in classical artists such a Bach, the duo has engaged in numerous discussions on how to infuse Hip Hop beats with a fresh, melodic twist including more interesting and complex Jazzy chord progressions. Hence the origin of their name “Lab Progression”.

Inspired by contemporary artists such as the Jazzbois, FloFilz and Kiefer, as well as the timeless creations of J Dilla, Lab Progression strives to combine the best of both old and new, resulting in a unique and captivating album.

The duo is eager to share their project with the world and there's no sign of them slowing down. Stay tuned for more exciting releases from Midan and Jammin Berries as they continue to push musical boundaries.

Strictly limited edition of 500 copies in funky textile cover plus printed innersleeve.

DJ Buzz is repping his Vienna hood with the next episode in the KEATS series. The original Waxolutionist drops 16 beats based on slices of Jazz, Funk and Soul with the typical loop digger approach. Available on limited vinyl as well as digitally on all platforms.

Hailing from Aarhus, Denmark, the quartet Clapper juxtaposes classic soul- and fusion jazz vibes with inspiration from instrumental hip hop and future beats. Their debut album "On Tempo" is showcasing the group’s knack for melodic improvisation and neck-snapping switch-ups, and, once and for all, underlining the potential on the young Danish scene today.

The four members - Frederik Emil Bülow (drums), Adrian Christensen (bass), Jeppe Lavsen (Guitar), and Malthe Jepsen (Piano & Rhodes) - are well-known faces in Danish music, also playing in acts such as Abekejser, Hvalfugl, Karmen Rõivassepp Quartet, Bangin’ Bülows Nice Jazz Quartet, and Casper Hejlesen Kvartet, respectively. Together, they’re able to strum out new music instinctively:

”It’s not important for us to adhere to any particular genre or style”, Jeppe remarks. “We just meet up, have fun, and improvise over riffs we’re digging. Having played together for so many years, it takes a very short time to click and move in the same direction. And from there, it’s simply a matter of picking and working with the best ideas from our improvised sessions.”

The same energy translates to their live shows - regular tour de forces in beat-focused jazz that, although the melodic cheerfulness might deceive new listeners, often end up in high-octane fusion workouts with crowds and musicians alike on their feet.

After the 2019 release of their debut album "Dark Smoke", the Danish trio Athletic Progression has gone from strength to strength in Denmark. Multiple sold out shows in DK and abroad, as well two Danish Jazz Award nominations - and even one for Danish musician of the year! - later, the group is now ready to release their next album, an instrumental opus years in the making. Highly recommended for fans of Thundercat, J Dilla, Comet is Coming and the likes.

Phoniks' latest album "Dreams" is a captivating journey that seamlessly blends live instrumentation and chopped samples across 19 tracks. The beats are carefully crafted to create a unique atmosphere and mood, taking the listener on an immersive journey through lush soundscapes and jazzy hip-hop beats. Phoniks' skillful layering of sounds from a diverse range of sample sources results in richly textured compositions that delicately capture the listener's attention.

As the spiritual successor to Phoniks' popular 2018 instrumental album "Down To Earth," "Dreams" builds upon the groundwork laid by its predecessor and elevates it to new heights. From the soulful chops of "That's All" to the mellow groove of "Ghosts," each track invites the listener to sit back, relax, and get lost in the dreamy vibes.

The Silhouettes Project a new platform for up and coming Hip-Hop, Soul and Jazz artists from the UK. It is not a record label or management team, it is a community project. The Silhouettes Project provides an open space - a recording studio and live venue located within the Total Refreshment Centre in Hackney, London - where MCs, singers, musicians and producers can connect and create.The Silhouttes Project was founded by community organisers/artists Asher Korner (aka Kosher) and Jaden Osei-Bonsu (Eerf Evil) in 2019. When they told us about the project and played us some of the music we were instantly hooked and joined the collective as label partner. The art direction is executed by Sergio „SagaUno“ Alferez, an acclaimed designer and illustrator from Medellín, Columbia.Starting in September, we release a new single each Thursday from artists like Kofi Stone, Summers Sons, Enny, KeepVibesNear, Manik MC, Lex Amor, Louis The Hippie, Summer-Pearl, Joe Beard and many more.

Here is the story of the Silhouettes Project as told by its founders Jaden and Asher: „We started The Silhouettes Project in February 2019, to shine a light on the new generation ofunderground Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Soul music in the UK. Community is everything to us, and wewanted to show that with a proper support network, access to professional facilities, and theencouragement of a family of artists, our community could produce something incredible. We felt a joint frustration that the current music scene in the UK only had structures in placeto support talent of a certain genre whilst overlooking a buzzing alternative Hip-Hop culture.We wanted to unify artists who are making ground-breaking music but who are in need of asolid structure to work within - artists who we felt deserved more recognition. This led us tothe name ‘The Silhouettes Project’, as we wanted to shine a light on those artists in theshadows. The journey started by embarking on a collaborative album project which allowed us to bringtogether more than 30 artists on a single tape and to create a network of incredibly talentedartists of the same calibre. The album took more than a year, working almost every day at theRoot 73 studio, a community space in Hackney. We knew from the first few sessions that wewere on to something, and the energy around the project kept it moving. As artists ourselves we understood that the creative process can be challenging and sometimesisolating, especially when there is no clear support network to fall back on. This led us to bringour efforts into the physical realm by organising a series of free live music events for all ofthese artists to come to, showcase their work alongside our house band, and connect witheach other. These events take place at The Total Refreshment Centre in Dalston, anunderground studio complex and warehouse space, which gave the events an intimatecommunity feeling and the people a sense of belonging. There is a desperate need for spaces in which people can come together and develop theircreative potential, especially with the consistent withdrawal of funding from the arts sector inthe UK and with the constant threat of gentrification which has seen the closure of countlesscommunity and grassroots creative organisations. As we grew as a brand and organisation, webegan to fully understand the importance of what we were doing. From the studio sessions tothe events, we saw the impact on people’s outlooks on their own careers, we saw them growin confidence in performing and collaborating and even taking their own initiative to utilise thenetwork provided for them. We heard their feedback, we felt the excitement in theatmospheres at our events and studio sessions, and we saw the community grow every timewe brought it together.“

Edition of 150 Copies.

"The Russell Exchange", where east meets west. Danish beat afficiando Sofa T takes you on a vivid trip, pairing dusted sounds from India with crackling productions in the vein of masterminds like Madlib or Onra. A big one for the heads!

Beat Konducta in Africa is a 37-track instrumental hip-hop album produced & mixed with Madlib, featuring J. Rocc. This album bases itself on the obscure vinyl gems from the afro-beat, funk, psych-rock, garage-rock & soul movements of African countries as diverse as Zambia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Botswana and Ivory Coast

New Gasoline releases, dropping a series of 3 limited-edition 7” colored vinyl EPs. For this first volume, directly out of the emblematic album "A journey into abstract Hiphop, it will feature: Introduction of a Jedi, The Hardest, Downtown Beirut and a bonus FX scratch track for turntablists

Bologna-based producer, DJ, and sound collector Godblesscomputers (122k Spotify listeners) has returned with the release of his fourth full-length record, "Faded Views." Godblesscomputers's latest LP "The Island" (2020, La Tempesta Dischi) earned him placement on Spotify playlists like "Brain Flood" and "Coffee Club." Since then, his appearance on Willie Peyote's track "La colpa al vento" landed GBC on "Best of Indie Italia 2022." On "Faded Views," it was Godblesscomputers's creative project to explore the sonic potentials of his direct environment, picking up recordings and threads of inspiration from the most commonplace occurrences. A sonic scavenger, Godblesscomputers explored the expanses of his-both digital and physical-soundscapes. "Faded Views" does the work of crafting a unified, yet complex compilation of the noises that mark the experience of being digital natives in ever-expanding dimensions.

Godblesscomputers's use of musique concrète and found-sound composition melds curiously with his undeniable electronic and techno acumen. Superimposing metallic electronica onto esoteric sound bytes creates the occasion for complex sound collage. "Faded Views" marks a decade since the genesis of the Godblesscomputers project; the entire LP testifies to how time warps perception and sound. Godblesscomputers's music seems to decorate time, both commemorating the moments passed with mind-melting sonic collages and looking forward to the infinitudes of the future with frenetic electronic experimentation.

Themes of impermanence and transience-hence "Faded Views"-pervade the record. Godblesscomputers blurs time as each track seeps into the next in what feels like a seamless transition. He makes these swift passages in genre as well-the record opens on "Colors" with a rich horn section which frictionlessly becomes a lo-fi dance groove. It is this melding of the analog and the electronic that makes sense of his found approach to beat-making: Godblesscomputers marries the found and the synthesized; the creator and the created; the past and the future. The process of sonic dissection and recomposition that drives much of Godblesscomputers's creative process yields not only assertive breakdowns and animated dance tracks, but also complex tapestries of sound that keep the listener ever-intrigued-piano, saxophone, and modular synthesis all find a natural home on tracks like "Hello." In an apt description, the producer's work has been described as "sounding like wood, metal, and microchip."

Godblesscomputers's artistic objective lies in blurring definitive lines, constantly shifting perspectives, genres, and origins of inspiration. On "Faded Views," this design cultivates a folktronica record that truly evades definition.

Phoniks' latest album "Dreams" is a captivating journey that seamlessly blends live instrumentation and chopped samples across 19 tracks. The beats are carefully crafted to create a unique atmosphere and mood, taking the listener on an immersive journey through lush soundscapes and jazzy hip-hop beats. Phoniks' skillful layering of sounds from a diverse range of sample sources results in richly textured compositions that delicately capture the listener's attention.

As the spiritual successor to Phoniks' popular 2018 instrumental album "Down To Earth," "Dreams" builds upon the groundwork laid by its predecessor and elevates it to new heights. From the soulful chops of "That's All" to the mellow groove of "Ghosts," each track invites the listener to sit back, relax, and get lost in the dreamy vibes.

The vinyl edition is limited to 300 copies and comes in a cardboard sleeve.

Here we have "Jazz Mince", the all new album by Kiev-based producer KLIM beats. 14 tracks in total full of jazz-infected beats straight from the E-mu SP-1200 and Akai S-900 to your channels. Play it loud!

Available on vinyl and all digital platforms.

Limited edition of 300 copies of the instrumental version on regular black vinyl.

French producers Alcynoos & Parental team up with Norwegian beatsmith Type.Raw and the Loop.Holes crew to lay a jazz-infected groundation for an all-star cast of MC's like Mathematik, Ill Conscious, Verbz, Kid Abstrakt, Illa J & Frank Nitt, Kev Brown & J Scienide and many more.

Available in a limited run on colored 2LP (vocal version), black 2LP vinyl (instrumental version), CD in digipak (vocal version), cassette (vocal version) and digitally (vocal & instrumental version).

Hugo Kant 3rd album, Out Of Time.
© Bellring 2017

Berlin Zoo’s debut LP "Super Bad Disco" is the result of a chance encounter between three Danish beatheads (I Kicked A Cloud Once, Shatter Hands, and Fou Fou) in the German capital. The record is steeped in Soul and Jazz, with an uncanny view to both the past and future of instrumental Hip Hop, and a deliciously obscure sample selection. Straight killer, no filler, carefully sequenced and arranged. Highly recommended!

Limited Edition of 3000!

2024 Repress!

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on colored vinyl, limited to 100 copies.

Otis Jackson Jr aka Madlib is one of Hip Hops most inspirational producer. With self produced classic releases such as Quasimoto, Madvillain w MF Doom, Piñata w Freddie Gibbs, Jaylib co-produced w the great J Dilla and Bad Neighbor w Blu and MED.. he proves he is in his own lane and the best at loop digging. Madlib doesn't disappoint and delivers heavy bangers on his new release Flying High Instrumentals. LMD (LMNO, MED, DECLAIME) provided a solid performance on the vocal version of Flying High w stellar bars thru out the album so its only right BYH gives you the beats to vibe to from the sensei himself.... Madlib the Bad Kid.

“Insomnia” is the third solo album from Italian jazz beat maestro Koralle for Melting Pot Music. Without exaggeration, it can be described as the most mature and advanced piece of work by the beatmaker and producer from Bologna. On “Insomnia” Koralle invites some of his favourite artists and musical peers to collaborate and exchange sounds, ideas, beats, melodies and lyrics. The guest list includes fellow producers & musicians FloFilz, Pachakuti, Figub Brazlevic, Kuranes, Phoniks and Brous One as well as rappers and singers Kid Abstrakt, KeepVibeNear, Ryshon Jones.

Shuko´s new LP is something different. He and the producer Basti (Kanye West, Joey Badass, Timbaland) spent the last 3 years creating samples, learning vintage recordings and putting their knowledge of vintage soul jazz, 60´s and 70´s composer and r&b music into crafting this 31 track album. What makes this release so special is that you now are able to use those samples for your own music and recreating something new without the hustle and pain of clearing samples. Just visit tracklib, pay a little licence fee and register your new work with them. And even if you are not into creating music, this LP is a perfect soundtrack for a calm start into the day or something you will love to relax to.

Apart from the overall trend in the contemporary music industry, the second collection album on the Hydeout Productions label, a rare independent label that has gained a large following among listeners by releasing purely sound=works without any advertising activities, the 2nd Collection is the second 2LP album on the label. It was released on. It is another world of Hydeout, parallel to the Nujabes' albums Metaphorical Music and Modal Soul, with a wider range of works and people. The album is a label collection album, including 'Another Reflection', which is another chapter of 'Reflection Eternal' from the last album 'Modal soul', but also shows the label's direction after Nujabes' second album 'Modal Soul'. This work shows the direction of the label after Nujabes' second album 'Modal Soul'.

WYS has arrived in time to rescue winter with his album ‘South Pole’: a chilling, but warmly-welcomed sequel to the highly-acclaimed ‘North Pole’. Bundle up and grab your sled for this short, nostalgia-filled auditory trip. Comforting guitar riffs feel cosy as woollen gloves, and bittersweet melodies like icy serenades, together with soothing gusts of wind, will send you adrift into the endless expanse of white. A quiet, faraway place you can always return to - where the ice never melts, and your favourite memories are preserved beneath the sleeping glaciers. Close your eyes, and let your mind drift off in the snowstorm…

Two Scents emerges as a noteworthy producer in the jazz-hop scene with ‘Lately’, his debut album with the label, a novel project about self-reflection. Nostalgic, jazz-inflected keys combine with lilting tenor saxophone melodies to guide the listener through their own memories of places, people and experiences. Layers of grainy textures are reminiscent of dusty record players and old letters in boxes. Slip into your thoughts and enjoy the drowsy, late-afternoon tunes on repeat..

On the one-year anniversary of ‘mist, shadows & i’, Kanisan embarks on a deep-orchestral journey with Dario and Claudia Lessing in their atmospheric and mystical album ‘Edda’. Strings and haunting pianos evoke profound feelings, while vocals seep into your soul, tinged with melancholy and bittersweetness. It’s a path with an unknown destination, yet something stirring in the shadows speaks to you and draws you into their gloom - if you haven’t already, you’ll be back for more of this mysterious release.

When was the last time music saved your life? Yasumu has his own story to tell in ‘Escaping Reality’, a 13-track album that examines his relationship with music growing up; which shaped him into the skilled musician he is today. The German composer translates deep-rooted feelings of loneliness and uncertainty into sounds, through carefully composed drums and signature piano compositions. Intertwined with the melodies are orchestral elements that evoke the underlying beauty in his journey of self-discovery.

On 11 October 2010, Brainfeeder released the debut album by a 23 year old ex-skater, painter and music producer from Chino Hills called Teebs (real name Mtendere Mandowa). The title 'Ardour' means great enthusiasm, love or passion and was a fitting descriptor for his inherently warm, lushly textured beats. It’s an undisputed classic in the Brainfeeder canon and more widely considered an essential chapter in the ever-evolving puzzle of the global “beat scene”.

Brainfeeder and Teebs are celebrating the 10th anniversary with a limited special edition reissue of this landmark record. Pressed on deep pink 2LP and housed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve with artwork by Teebs himself, the new edition features six previously unreleased bonus tracks.

With roots at the ‘My Hollow Drum’ collective, Dublab and Low End Theory, Teebs has been a staple in Los Angeles music. “My creative family in LA is so important,” he explains. “It’s a part of who I am when I step outside and how others in LA view me. I love the feeling of community and trying to understand how I can be useful in it.”

Following 'Ardour' (2010), Teebs released 'Collections' (2011), 'Estara' (2014) and, after a 5 year hiatus, his most recent album 'Anicca' in 2019, with the help of a host of musical friends including Panda Bear (Animal Collective), Sudan Archives, Ringgo Ancheta aka MNDSGN, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Anna Wise. Universally acclaimed, Pitchfork gave 'Anicca' a glowing 7.8 review hailing Mandowa’s “effortless, shape-shifting tracks that make time stand still.” Meanwhile, FADER described the record as “deeply atmospheric... cool-headed and uncanny.”

Strictly limited edition of 300 copies on black vinyl. Kutmah's "Isolation Tapes" contains a sweet selection of tracks from his Bandcamp tapes Volume 1-4 made while on lockdown in Berlin. The project is named after one of his favourite Joy Division songs and shows the variety of musical influences of Kutmah. Tip!