Instrumental Hip Hop 459 Items

LIT is a snapshot of Bluestaeb und JuJu Rogers' musical endeavors in Fall 2016. Both had a successful 2015 & 2016 with highly acclaimed albums and a European support tour of Oddisee for JuJu Roogers. Both musicians are working on new solo albums and both of them are not happy with having the "boom bap" stamp forced on them. Their perspective is about progression, live music, changing the formula and going new ways. This doesn’t mean that they’re blindly following trends but to question and adapt one’s own formula. In the case of lit it means adding live musicians to the equation, going for a sound that refines the direction they took on their previous releases.

With regard to content, JuJu's raps on the project deals with the important questions of our time. The trend word „lit“ becomes „LIT“, an abbreviation for "lost in translation" and a metaphor for the disconnection from trends of our society in general and hip hop especially. Racism, police brutality, gangsta rapper turning activists while still following a pattern of hate and destruction. Bluestaeb’s productions fluctuates from soulful and smooth to raw and gritty without sounding redundant or interchangeable.

After scoring a surprise hit in 2006’s red-hot 7” funk market with their cover of “C.R.E.A.M.,” El Michels Affair quickly turned around another smash 7” double-single of re-imagined takes of the Wu-Tang Clan. “Duel of the Iron Mics” sees the hypnotic piano hook of the “Liquid Swords”-classic elevated to intriguing heights with dramatic strings and Catch the blast of a hype version on the b-side, where “Bring Da Ruckus” is brought to life in imaginative ways not hinted at on the bulletproof original. The raw sample stabs and sub-bass of the stripped-down Wu-Tang stunner are replaced with mind-bending bass notes, and the re-played organ hook turned way up. Both of these tracks would eventually feature prominently on El Michels Affair’s landmark LP “Enter the 37th Chamber,” celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2024.

Limited to 50 copies.

After a couple of years without a new solo release & makin moves with his
Betty Ford Boys Brenk & Dexter, it was time for Suff Daddy to lay another
egg in the form of a new album entitled „Birdsongs“.
Deeply rooted in the Suff Daddy signature sound, it is also proof of an
evolutionary process. A little less sample chops, a little more synth, a little
less straight hip hop, a little more melody. This doesn’t mean that you won’t
be able to recognize the bird by its call anymore, it’s just a slight change in
tonality.
After extending his stomping grounds to neighboring European countries by
frequently playing international shows, including a London Boiler Room, he
also opened for the mighty Anderson.Paak during his German shows in
early 2016. Suff Daddy also remixed Lion Babe's “Wonder Woman” for
Gilles Peterson Worldwide. He'll also be featured on the next “Spring in
Jakarta“ compilation.
The album features some of the fellow birds Suff Daddy is known to fly
with. Betty Ford Boy's Dexter adds drums and baselines, and Mayer
Hawthorne delivers some vocals.

“Tokyo Candy Box” is a musical echo to Koji Onaka’s book of photographs of the same name (on the transformations of the city’s architecture between 1999 and 2001). 6 new tracks from samples collected during Lex's travels to Japan over the past 10 years. Without falling into the exoticism of a fantasized Japan, the producer captured the sensations and scraps of memory of an always elusive city that he wanted to share through this instrumental project.

To celebrate "Full Cycle"'s 10th anniversary I've decided to share some of the many beats I did at the time I was working on it.

It was such an important moment to me as I was living in Berlin half a year for my art studies. I've never produced that much, probably made 5 beats a day for 6 months.

"Full Cycle" is also the album that helped me to reach Japanese audience thanks to Shing02 who featured on 2 tracks. I contacted FK, as I was a huge fan of his track 'Shades of Nostalgia". He eventually connected me to Takumi Koizumi (ex-Nujabes' manager) who releases my music since then.

Today I've carefully selected some of my favorite joints from that period. Some of them were really close to be part of the LP, some others I've totally forgot but re-discovered when I realized how fast time flies.

I hope you'll enjoy this batch of instrumentals. Get ready for (really) new music in the next months !

Thank you for your continuous support and let me know which track is your favorite.

-Lex (de Kalhex)

Village Live Records is proud to present 'Monologue', the forthcoming new album by Malik Diao & Fred Red.

Available to pre-order on white vinyl (With Obi), black vinyl (With Obi) & digital at 7PM UK time, Friday 25th November (All copies are hand numbered)

'Monologue' is a collaboration between the Berlin based producer Fred Red and the composer and multi-instrumentalist Malik Diao. With a highly experimental, but still soulful and honest approach to writing and producing music, the duo effortlessly fuses their respective sound aesthetics, culminating in a very distinct experience between jazz, instrumental hip hop, indietronica and world music.

Driven by the desire to create new sound worlds and to take their listeners on a singular journey, Malik Diao and Fred Red rarely rely on the use of samples. Rather, the formation prefers to build sonic sculptures out of Malik’s range of instruments (including various saxophones, flutes, basses, pianos and string instruments) and propelling these through musical time with Fred Red’s very unique and human drum and percussion style.

While they both enjoy making their listeners move to heavy drums and complicated rhythms, the duo also understands how to create quiet and personal moments in their music, with their works often moving from elegiac, even melancholy moments to a pure celebration of their own drives and determinations.

As their upcoming vinyl release, Monologue, features some of their most cinematic music, the duo decided to lean further into their interdisciplinary approach to making music. Releasing the same day as their album, Malik Diao X Fred Red will debut a music video for their track Dighnasty, featuring various collaborators from the worlds of fashion, light and video art and dance.

“Nostalgic, soulful and, of course, boogie-woogie.” That’s how Belgian DJ producer Boogie Belgique (aka Oswald Cromheecke) describes the enticing combination of styles and sources from different decades that make up his music. Taking vintage inspirations, most notably from swing and jazz eras, and merging them with contemporary beats and textures is the young producer’s forte. This is pleasingly evident on Volta, the latest Boogie Belgique album for the Cold Busted label. “Jungle Law” gives a glimpse into Boogie Belgique’s sonic palette. Tough hip hop beats and funky live guitar follow an intro of jungle ambience as a trumpet presents the melody. Soon some swingy big band jazz enters the song in an almost ghostly manner, while the insistent beat keeps the dance floor moving. Album opener “Go Slow” shows a different side to the coin giving the listener an uptempo broken beat rhythm, some bouncy bass guitar, snippets of string loops, and a lovely, forlorn vocal line that echoes the past. It’s a beautiful concoction, and Boogie Belgique delivers on many aspects of this style throughout his eleven track album. Volta is a satisfying trip in an aural time machine.

Once again it’s about that time, Jazzsoon returns with not one but two new volumes of his archives series (basement tapes), volumes 6 & 7. Available for a short time only! Limited to 100 cassettes each volume. Jam packed with that traditional funky New York sound that we all know and love. Act now before they’re gone! Peace

The new LP by cologne based beatmaker Midan: An Ode to the Metronom

In the heart of Cologne, amidst the bustling streets lies a time capsule called the Metronom—a haven for jazz enthusiasts and a sanctuary for soulful conversations. It was within these hallowed walls that Midan found inspiration for his latest sonic journey.

Introducing „Conversations in Blue“ an album that transcends the boundaries of time, paying homage to the jazz-infused soul of a bygone era. As the needle gently graces the vinyl, Midan‘s beats unfold like a modern-day symphony echoing the essence of classic jazz.

Bundle includes the LP, the photobook (A NYC Photowalk), postcard & stickers!

Witches whisper, pumpkins glow, Halloween arrives, casting its eerie glow! Immerse yourself in the spooky charm of Halloween with Lofi Girl's latest compilation 'Halloween 2023'. Showcasing 33 talented lofi artists from around the globe, this musical cauldron of ghostly tunes harmonizes chilling beats with haunting melodies, offering a spine-tingling experience perfect for a chilling night in.

After rejoicing pet lovers around the world with his last album, Krynoze is back with the sequel called ‘Take A Paws’. From the tallest Great Danes to the smallest of pups, everyone’s invited to spend some time with their loved ones. Tender pianos, gentle guitars and mellow drums are as inviting as sitting in an empty large field with nothing but flowers, rain, stars, and a bright full moon.

This is the first Vinyl LP ever released featuring a woman playing the Rudra Veena. Madhuvanti Pal is from Kolkata, teaches the Rudra Veena and builds her own instruments. Dhrupad is the oldest form of North Indian classical music that is still performed today. The term is said to come from two Sanskrit roots, dhruva (‘fixed’ or ‘permanent’) and pad (‘verse’). Although the earliest source naming dhrupad specifically comes from Abdul Fazl in the 16th century, some scholars of Hindustani music suggest that dhrupad music finds its origin in the Samaveda, an ancient Sanskrit scripture dating back roughly 3000 years. The name rudra veena derives from two Sanskrit roots: Rudra, which is a name for Shiva, and veena, which means ‘instrument.’ According to Hindu mythology, the Rudra Veena has a unique origin. It is said that Shiva saw his beautiful wife Parvati sleeping, with her arm over her breasts, and decided to build an instrument in her form. It is a stick zither, with two large gourds attached to a hollowed neck. The first historical accounts of the instrument are given in the Vedas, and then the Puranas. The first courtly descriptions are from the 15th to 17th centuries. During the Mughal period, the rudra veena was a popular Dhrupad instrument, and was often played in courts throughout north India. Dhrupad musicians, including rudra veena artists, enjoyed the patronage of various Kings and Princes. In recent years the rudra veena has gained some popularity, in part thanks to interest from musicians outside of India. Madhuvanti Pal is one of the new generation of rudra veena artists who is teaching students in India and abroad. Early documentation of the rudra veena suggests that women played the instrument. This can be seen in sculptures in Hindu temples—some dating back more than 2000 years—which depict only women playing the rudra veena, and miniature paintings from the 15th - 17th centuries often depict a woman playing the rudra veena. However, in more recent times there has been significant stigma around women playing the instrument. Some earlier texts went as far as to suggest that women could not play the instrument, lest they be subject to a “curse.” Jyoti Hegde, who is perhaps the most famous female rudra veena artist, broke this barrier; her courage enabled younger musicians like Madhuvanti Pal to learn. However, while Jyoti Hegde plays the so-called traditional rudra veena, Madhuvanti plays a modified Dagar-style instrument. Very few recordings of the rudra veena have been released; most current recordings are of Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and his son, Bahauddin Dagar. This is for a number of reasons, including that the rudra veena is notoriously difficult to capture in recorded form. Instead of traveling to a studio and availing technicians more accustomed to modern instrument needs, these recordings have been made in Madhuvanti’s apartment. In preparing the album, she has used her own equipment to record, mix, and master each raga. (Limited Edition Double LP spanning over 90 minutes in length, full-color Gatefold with extensive liner notes inside.)

For the 1st time vinyl release of a seminal beat tape, 30 raw Hip Hop productions crafted between 2005.

Sp-1200 beats made using postal service. Fredfades and Sraw collaborate through post, exchanging dusty beats for an experimental Hip Hop record. The process of sending floppy discs back and forth, where each producer added element over element on their own Sp-1200, has been on-going for almost 10 years, slowly building a collaborative body of work. The result is Double Density, an LP that oozes with the character of that infamous instrument which laid much of the foundation for the earliest Hip Hop artists and still manages to evoke those raw and visceral sounds of that era. Reinforcing those sounds are the voices of Planet Asia, Pink Siifu and Blue November, who deliver lyrics from US coasts to Scandanavia’s fjords. The duo's collaborative effort swims in a sea of eclectic influences where Jazz, Soul and Hip-Hop thrive in the construct of this unique instrument. The drum machine pops, crackles and hisses on a bed of big bass lines through 12 tracks that go from short instrumentals to fully arranged songs. Taking Hip-Hop back to its origins, everything is stripped bare to its essentials and for every vocal track, there’s its antithesis in the form of an instrumental break. It’s a record that plays with the archetypes of Hip Hop and Rap as something that we’ve lost over the years that begs for revocation. Double Density sounds exotic in the world of today’s gleaming beats.

Vinyl with scuffs and hairlines. Cover with bumped corner. Slipmats are missing!