Instrumental Hip Hop 481 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”.

Finally back on wax. Great album feat. Sach of The Nonce, Yesh, Count Bass D, Ladybug Mecca & other fine MCs!

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!

Yeah, this is the 1st real album by Matthew Tavares (Keys), Chester Hansen (Bass) & Alex Sowinski (Drums).

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.

Fifth pressing, this time via Sekito.

The album finds the Haitian born, Montreal raised producer delivering on the promise of his early self-released EPs and remixes.

Since the age of fourteen, when he first began to DJ and when his brother introduced him to music production software, his output has been relentless. He explains, “after he showed me the basics, from that day on I couldn’t stop making beats,” pumping out a handful of tracks per day for the next couple of years.

Having released singles like ‘Drive Me Crazy‘ with Vic Mensa and ‘Leave Me Alone‘ with Shay Lia, Kaytranada has since cemented his reputation and his sound; an undeniable swing of the drums comparable to Dilla’s, a signature soulful touch in the melodies, and a healthy dose of funky bass lines.

99.9% features guest turns from Anderson .Paak, Vic Mensa, Little Dragon, Syd, Craig David, Goldlink, Alunageorge, BADBADNOTGOOD and many more.