Instrumental Hip Hop 369 Items

The producer’s own mixes – recently rediscovered – of his seminal EP, expanded with bonus tracks and now available in a special instrumental edition.

When Ruff Draft saw its initial release in 2003, J Dilla possessed production skills on par with anyone in hip-hop – technically and creatively. “At the top of his game,” says longtime friend and collaborator, Karriem Riggins. After years of building while modestly deferring to others of both greater and lesser notoriety, Dilla finally completed the first solo endeavor on his own label, entirely on his own terms. The significance of such an autonomous success often gets overlooked, and partly accounts for why Ruff Draft is one of the lesser-referenced entries in Dilla’s oeuvre. “It’s a mysterious little project,” says his mother, Maureen Yancey. “But out of his entire career, that was the happiest time.”
Prior to recording the EP, Dilla found himself at a crossroads. Estranged from his label, MCA, and separated from the mother of his youngest daughter, frustration abounded both personally and professionally. Dilla spent parts of 2002 and 2003 working on an album for MCA that featured his rapping over contributions from other producers with whom he had connected and whose music he respected. At the time, he was known primarily for his beats, yet reviled for his MCing by most anyone not from his hometown of Detroit. The project was to be an intentional freak of the industry.
The project would go on to spur his collaborative album with Madlib, Jaylib, and would first showcase the template that he would take to his greatest heights with 2006’s Donuts. The Stones Throw reissue of Ruff Draft from 2008 featured remixes of the songs from the album, done without Dilla’s involvement. This version of the album takes Dilla’s recently discovered mixes of the album and restores his vision for the project.

Over the last two decades, 20syl has crafted a unique, hip-hop infused, electro musical universe. He inherited a rich musical knowledge and a genuine understanding of analog and vintage sounds form years of classic beat making. He first got his start with Hocus Pocus, a band he founded in 1995. As the mastermind behind the band’s five LPs, including their Gold Record Place 54, 20syl has proved himself to be a visionary artist. A member of C2C - a turntablist quartet with whom he has won 4 DMC world titles – he took the genre mainstream with the groundbreaking album Tetra (2012). This successful opus was rewarded with 4 French Grammys and a Double Platinium Record.

In 2014, 20syl launched his solo career while still working with a few hand picked underground artists such as Grems, Raashan Ahmad and Blitz the Ambassador. In the recent years the prolific producer has taken his trademark overseas with popular remixes of ScHoolboy Q, Rihanna, and King Krule – setting up a booming environment for the 2014 release of his anticipated first solo EP, Motifs.

Co-founder of On And On Records, 20Syl has imposed himself as a flagship of the expanding new scene. Passionate about visual arts, 20Syl designs his artwork and direct his music videos.

A free electron, he seduces the public with his sharp identity and his ability to turn his own original creations into major musical trends.

A scratch music supergroup. Nozl and Oslo Flow come together to give birth to a direct, dark and

aggressive record. Beats of impact, high-level scratching. Flow and technique. Featuring the

legendary D-Styles and Manipulate. "Dark Matter" is all of this. As if that weren't enough, the cover

really makes it a collector's item: black cardstock with the artwork debossed on the front and

back. The vinyl also contains a skipless bonus scratch track! Very limited edition of 300 copies.

“Metropolis” takes one to a trip through metropolitan Berlin at night, a melting pot, where cultural exchange is a constant reality. At his backyard studio in Berlin-Neukölln digitalluc captures the fusion of jazz and hip-hop creating a unique sound that values both musical movements. Thereby he invites plenty of fellow collaborators and old acquaintances to bring his concept of organic hip-hop grooves to life. Contributions come from FloFilz, Made in M, Hubert Daviz, Spanish saxophonist Escandaloso Xpósito and Mexican bass player Monno Briceno, just to name a few.

The out of print vinyl debut album from Poldoore, originally released in 2015, is now getting a repress on colored vinyl. Now you don't have to pay $240.00 on Discogs to get it. Street Bangerz Volume 6: Playhouse comes from Belgium resident Poldoore, an instrumental immaculate album blending elements of Funk, Soul and Lounge. ‘Shrooms’ kicks things off with a feel good vibe and beats at about 96bpm, a smooth bumping sub bass line, funky horns, and soulful vocal samples, resonating and charming. ‘Banana Hammock’ is a unique tune with Reggae Dub influences; a crooning reggae singer sings sweetly over a velvety generous bassline and high staccato notes, and an easy going beat all bring appeal. ‘But I Do’ uses clever production, slight beat repeats with soulful organ, sincere vocals, weighty drum breaks and sweet electric guitar notes that move the listener. ‘Cali Sun’ is a song with bright tones, crescendo trumpets, steady drums, percussions and funky vocal snippets create an airy feeling of sunshine and vintage 70s influence. ‘Industry Of Love’ starts with alluring drums, a smooth snare and silky melody, an infectious rhythm with a sexy sax freely purring and adding flair. Ending the album is ‘Long Walk Home’ featuring Roselien beginning on a chill vibe with a fatty bassline and subtle percussions, the female vocalist singing earnestly, a fuzzy guitar soloing, the singer and strings seducing. Continuing the legacy of high quality street banging tunes, Poldoore creates an enticing warm atmosphere you won’t want to miss with Street Bangerz Volume 6: Playhouse.

Bluestaeb's evolution from a beatmaker to a producer is his sophmore album “Everything is Always a Process”.

He is one of the key figures of a new generation of up and coming HipHop beatmakers, who have emancipated from genre thinking and instead merge old school aesthetics with a new school attitude and organic instrumentation.

Everything Is Always A Process re-iterates Bluestaeb's overall approach to life (and thinking), but also has direct reference to the making of the album itself, which began with moving from Berlin to Paris in 2015 in the search of new influences and a new creative environment.
Created between 2015 and early 2018, EIAAP embodies the process of this transition - as well as collaboration with instrumentalists and vocalists from all over the world and recording in different studios in Paris, London & Berlin.

"Meeting all those musicians and trying out new ways of producing by using real analogue synths, Rhodes, drums and percussion etc. made it possible to overcome the creative boundaries of a home studio with just a midi keyboard" / Bluestaeb

Influenced by Madlib's "Shades Of Blue" and trained in African drum techniques such as Djembé and Daruka, Bluestaeb had been crafting his own beats since his teenage years and gradually found his sound identity through experimenting with HipHop and Jazz – first to be heard by a broader music community in 2013, when he released his debut album "1991 Extraterrestrial" (Radio Juicy). Since then the prolific young artist has released numerous solo and collaboration projects ("B.L.U.E. Friday" in 2015 and „Sidekicks“ with S. Fidelity in 2016). In 2016, he produced collaborative album "LIT - Lost In Translation“ with rapper JuJu Rogers, a keen manifesto against racism, xenophobia and the rise of anti-heroes such as Donald Trump.
Today, Bluestaeb lives and works in Paris and Berlin and is set to release his third solo album “Everything Is Always a Process”, a smooth Neo Soul-induced epic featuring artists such as Noah Slee, Harleighblu and Melodiesinfonie.

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

Give it up for Cologne's talented producer Midan who is dropping his "Lost & Found" project, a sweet collection of tracks deeply rooted in Jazz in all its variations. 15 tracks in total, incl. a guest feature by Flitz&Suppe.

Available on vinyl and all digital platforms.

Limited edition of 400 handnumbered copies! Dumbo Station is a dope nu-jazz ensemble out of Roma, Italy!

Out of print El-Aylien Volume 1 & 2 cassettes on Leaving Records now resurfacing on wax!

Duan Wasi's new album is the perfect conclusion to a new journey into the unknown. Listen to ambient lo-fi beats with a nostalgic feel. Dreamy synths, calming field recordings, gentle drums are contrasted with thick warm bass and accompanied with a myriad of beautiful strings, little effects and addition sounds sprinkled over the tracks. Escape from every day life with the beautiful and really unique sound of the lofi beat-artist Duan Wasi.

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

Limited cassette edition!
Only one copy per customer!
Hip Hop producer L-One from Munich presents his new album “Medusa”. “Medusa” is a 44-minute long instrumental album that includes a vocal-feature by Akere.

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

“The spiritual successor to The Gospel According To Budgie mixtapes and The Good Book albums with Alchemist. Holy Ghost Zone picks up right where they left blending 90's Gospel with a 2018 bounce.”

Corner Bump

The essentials return for 2023, adding to the ever growing collection of limited edition seasonal releases on vinyl!

The hard-hitting, meticulously assembled collage of Indian music spanning Bollywood samples, Bengali religious chants, and more, finally on vinyl for the first time.

he 2nd release on 823, a creative project founded by Ta-ku, is featuring the label debut of Portland wunderkind quickly, quickly.

823 is also the numerical representation of the phrase 'Thinking Of You'. It represents the appreciation for the people/ideas/places that inspire us and push us forward. As a label we are proud to present a series of musical releases that showcase the artists musical & visual endeavors. The artwork is shot by the artist themselves & each release has an accompanying photo zine that acts as a visual story that compliments the music they wrote at that time.

There’s a maturity to the sound of Portland, Oregon-based producer quickly, quickly that makes it difficult to believe he’s just 17 years old. Using elements of jazz, hip hop, and R&B, quickly, quickly weaves a tapestry of wispy productions that feel equally inspired by the dusty drums of early ’90s boom bap as they do by the whimsical electronics of head-turning contemporaries like Tennyson. Taking over on vocals, bass, drums, and piano, he offers insight into a greater understanding of musicality, There’s time devoted to each audible layer and it shows.

Building on the styles showcased on the first “Beatbox Studios” LP, Hi-Tek was clearly developing his own personal style on the studio’s in-house Akai MPC 60II sampler. The drums were swinging more; the grooves were deeper; the bass thumped harder. Even when choosing familiar samples, he was chopping them in fresh and unexpected ways, which would eventually help shape his signature sound.

As his reputation was becoming cemented in the local Cincinnati scene, his relationship with the rap group Mood was helping to catalyze more regular visits to New York City. The beats collected for “Beatbox Studios 2” were the ones that would stick in the auto-reverse tape deck for those road trips, as were the demo tapes he crafted with Mood, which would eventually earn them a record deal with Blunt Records in 1996—the same label and year where he would land his first major placement on Royal Flush’s “Ghetto Millionaire” album. It was also on one of those 1996 journeys to NYC that he would meet a young Brooklyn emcee named Talib Kweli—with whom he would form one of the most iconic duos of the indie-rap boom of the late-nineties.

“Beatbox Studios 2 (1996 MPC 60II)” showcases Hi-Tek as a hungry young talent on the rise, and his continued elevation would lead him to a career as one of the few producers who can claim to have worked with such a broad range of legendary artists; from superstars like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak, to underground heroes like Mos Def, Common, and J Dilla.

After 25 years of living his dream as one of hip hop’s most respected producers, Hi-Tek is digging back into his roots with a brand new trio of instrumental vinyl LPs in 2023. “Beatbox Studios (1995 MPC 60ii)” is the first of the series, each featuring a selection of restored and remastered beats, carefully chosen from an archive of DAT tapes. These LPs manage to both provide a window into Tek’s development and to shine light on the work of an already enormously-talented musician whose beats would’ve sounded right at home on classic releases from the mid-1990s. Having learned to make beats off of borrowed equipment as a teenager, the aspiring DJ/producer born as Tony Cottrell achieved a break of sorts when he was hired in 1995 to manage one of the rooms at Beatbox Studios, a sprawling complex in the Clifton neighborhood in Cincinnati. It became the go-to-spot in town for emerging talent, giving him a chance to learn about the intricacies of recording and to sharpen his communication skills with artists to maximize their performance The gig also gave Tek plenty of down time to practice on and to master the studio’s Akai MPC 60ii while making his own music. It was around this time he began to collaborate with the top rap talent in Cincinnati, and he started regularly visiting New York City to plant seeds for new relationships in the industry. Though his work eventually evolved far beyond the styles present on “Beatbox Studios,” here you’ll find many signature elements of that era’s contemporary New York sound: some snappy drums reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest or Easy Mo Bee, plenty of horn stabs a la Pete Rock or Lord Finesse, and the kind of dark pianos and filtered basslines that producers like the Beatminerz were steadily employing. These were his biggest influences at the time, and that was the sound of 1995. As it turns out, that classic sound remains in demand today, and while Hi-Tek was not a well-known name in hip hop circles at that time, the caliber of beats on “Beatbox Studios” prove that he was a talent to be reckoned with, even then.

Limited to 50 copies.

Hailing from Hiroshima, Meitei, unveils the final chapter of his transformative Kofū trilogy. “Kofū Iii” marks the apex of a musical journey that began in 2020, unraveling an introspective exploration of the artist's psyche while delving deep into the essence of Japanese culture. This latest release invites listeners into the innermost sanctums of Meitei's existence — a passage filled with serenity, self-discovery, and the triumphant conquest of personal demons.

Meitei's journey has been deeply intertwined with his surroundings. His move from bustling Kyoto to the tranquil rural town of Onomichi in Hiroshima wasn't just a change of location but a profound shift in his life. Navigating through the ebbs and flows of mental well-being, Meitei found solace in the quiet, low-key energy of Onomichi, where he began creating his distinctive brand of "ambient" music dedicated to resurrecting ‘lost Japanese moods’.

"Kofū Iii" is not just a collection of songs; it's a window into Meitei's mind, where he reflects on ‘the Japanese mental landscape,’ as experienced during the period of his return to his hometown. This album stands as a testament to Meitei's evolution, from his tentative inner quest to a state of deep healing.

"Kofū” and its precursor, "Kwaidan,” germinated in the solitude of Onomichi, embodying the mysterious, vanishing essence of Japan that Meitei unearthed in the shadows of his hometown. With "Kofū III," this exploration reaches its zenith, weaving musical landscapes that transcend temporal bounds. Each track vividly paints bygone eras and vignettes, all while drawing on the rich tapestry of Japanese literature and mindscapes.

Meitei introduces listeners to the tranquil Hiroshima countryside in 'Reimei,' while 'Hiroshima' reflects upon the city's transformation. It explores Meitei's intricate relationship with the city and contemplates the ever-changing visage of contemporary Japanese progress.

Within the sonic fabric of "Kofū III," "Shisei" brings listeners to Japan's past, when tattoos bore the name "Shisei." Fueled by Junichiro Tanizaki's "Shisei" narratives, the song paints a sensual tale of a tattooed man adorning a woman with a spider tattoo.

Meitei's authenticity shines through in "Kofū III," where complex emotions metamorphose into a kaleidoscopic fusion of lo-fi bliss. In "Yume-jūya," Meitei recounts a peculiar dream and the lingering anxiety it left behind. Also, inspired by the famous Japanese writer Soseki Natsume's "Yume-jūya," Meitei's interpretation offers his own perspective on this comical and bizarre tale.

"Edogawa Ranpo" stands as a mind-bending loop track that pays homage to the genius of the lesser-known Japanese author Edogawa Ranpo, a pioneer of the mysterious and bizarre. This experimental piece melds folklore, electronic rapture, and distortion, echoing Meitei's fascination with Ranpo's work since his elementary school days.

At the core of "Kofū Iii" lies "Heiwa," originally titled "1945," encapsulating Meitei's profound reflection on peace education in his hometown and the weighty significance of acknowledging historical tragedies. Its renaming as "Peace" symbolizes his personal odyssey towards understanding and reconciliation.

As Meitei concludes his Kofū trilogy, global listeners are invited to embark on this voyage to unearth the hidden treasures of Japanese culture and the depths of the human soul. "Kofū Iii" is a meditation on the intangible threads that bind us to our past - a portal to Japan's veiled history, capturing the essence of Japan's elusive spirit through the enigmatic landscapes of Meitei's inner terrains.

"Kofū Iii" is slated for release on December 1, 2023, in 180g LP, CD, and digital formats via Kitchen. Label. Both LP and CD format are presented in a debossed sleeve with obi strip and include an accompanying 32-page booklet. This album is mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama in Tokyo, Japan.

Fifth pressing, this time via Sekito.

The sounds on this tape were collected from a series of transmissions sent from Helios Prime. The recordings depict the culture of those who lived on the utopic planet, however, the current status of the civilization is unknown.

16 Bangers Produced and Recorded by Kenny Dope at Kay-Dee Studios Perfect for Beat Head’s & Producers Alike. Inner Glow takes the controls for Rk18, treating the DJs and dancers to a high grade house triptych. It's a pulsing, exuberant of heads-down & tripped-out jams, tailor made for the night.

Sun’s out, vibes are out - summer’s officially here! Bathe in the warm sunlight, or take a refreshing dip in crystal-blue water with Lofi Girl in the latest compilation ‘’, featuring __ lofi artists worldwide; a handful of new faces have come to join the beach party, along with some old-school favourites. Exotic instruments from ukuleles to maracas, sizzling melodies and grainy beats will whirl you far away to a lush tropical paradise. Lay down in the cool shade, press play, and feel your worries slip away below the rocks…

Dimension 32 is back with ‘The Legend of Orpheus’: a modern reinterpretation of the mythical tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, a tragic love story that underscores the power of music. Mystical guitars with a tinge of exoticism interlope with cinematic strings and drums, with earthly ambience of foreign lands. Would you go to the depths of the underworld and back if it meant everything you loved?

After a long day of work - or not - when the stars come out to play, it’s time to hit the hay. Listen to Lofi Girl’s newest compilation ‘’, featuring 35 talented international artists. Calming guitars and subdued melodie create an atmosphere as cozy as a woollen blanket, inviting you to doze off; rhythmic beats blend into the background, as your mind settles and your tension dissipates. No need to set a sleep timer - wake up to warm sunlight, together with Lofi Girl and Cat in the early morning hours.

Jazz drummer virtuoso Berlin Lama is likely to be found in the studio on any given day, adding his spice, kicks and snares to tons of songs and albums throughout Switzerland, or playing gigs as a drummer for a couple of big acts. On his free time he needs to relax his muscles and his mind, crafting incredibly smooth and at the same time banging beats for himself. Taking inspiration from the likes of J. Dilla, Q-Tip, D'Angelo, the Soulquarians and the whole Neo-Soul sound of the early 2000s, Berlin is an astute observer of drum patterns (of the above mentioned) but doesn't come short adding his own swing, complexity and density in a fashion only a virtuous drummer could. We have been banging these beats hard over the time they have been chosen from the artists archive, saved for you by us, hand picked for your enjoyment. Turn it up!

brillion. has returned from a deep slumber with ‘Bedtime Stories Pt.4’ - this time, you are invited to experience dreams in a new way, in this highly anticipated project. Memorable beats, diverse melodies and late night atmospheres are featured within every track, with rich contributions from some of our favourite lofi producers. From spots to observe the stars, to forests illuminated by fireflies, the album goes to many places, and we’re sure you'll love all of them.