Here are who i think might be the best indie hip hop producers at the moment when it comes down forward thinking, more on the electronic end and catchy. Its great to see that a few went the extra mile and got a proper designer for album covers like Dabrye’s WK Interact artwork and Eliot’s someoddpilot artwork.
[audio:lotus2.mp3] [audio:dabrye.mp3] [audio:lipp.mp3] [audio:daedelus.mp3]
Most certainly. FlyLo, Daedelus, Dabrye. Always doing great things. “Love to Make Music To” and “Los Angeles” are two of my favorite albums this year so far. Hopefully Darbye will bring “Three/Three” soon…
I couldn’t agree more on the Flying Lotus album, one of the best instrumental albums I have heard in a while. Thanks for the heads up on the other three!
Yeah, Flying Lotus has been doing a killer job of staying in front of our eyes. Also, i should of also mentioned the masterminds Madlib, MF Doom, and the late J Dilla.
http://www.myspace.com/alias
First song, Well Water Black, going to be on the new Album out on the 28th this month, check it out if you haven’t already.
Adam –
Thanks but can you really set those beats next to someone like Flying Lotus or Dabrye? that kick and synth in Well Water Black don’t sound too good and its pretty straight forward and empty, also that guitar line and vocal is alright but its very beginner sounding in my opinion. I hope im not stepping on any toes, it might be good comparable to some smaller label indie pop. I just think these 4 guys have taken sampling to a proper level a level that i know i can’t just sit down and knock out without really digging deep for a sound.
i never really got much into dabrye, i find his production really flat and thin, similar to p73’s thinly produced beats.
otherwise some decent selections. daedelus is kinda on another trip that i’m not sure i’d file it under ‘hiphop’. but whatever.
i think, in my opinion, besides flylo, another guy that is pretty much heads above the competition is jneiro jarel. the guy’s production is smooth money.
Yes! Nice list, I would also agree with the Jneiro Jarel mention, he also produces instrumental/hip hop tracks under the name ‘Dr. Who Dat’ and ‘The Shape of Broad Minds’ – all excellent stuff
Glenford –
Dabrye flat and thin?! wow really? if anything its like he ties weights to each beat, listen to anything on Two/Three, its almost some of the best simple dirty sequencing out there imo.
Glenford– good call on Jneiro, I just came across his music a few weeks ago, some great stuff from this Dilla-influenced Philly-based producer/rapper.
Jakub– this is a great post, I didn’t realize Los Angeles was out either, I went straight to the iTunes Store after hearing this track. I wasn’t big on some of Dabrye’s older stuff, but this track you posted sounds awesome, so I’ll have to dig a little deeper.
I get a little sad every time a hear a Dilla beat (or one of the many many beats that were inspired by his work), he truly was, in Black Thought’s words, “the greatest hip-hop producer of all time.” One interesting track of Dilla’s (I’m pretty sure) I came across last month is Okayplayer’s Steve Spacek, the song is called Dollar. Great beat that I’m told 9th Wonder (another great producer) made a song out of as well…haven’t found that yet, so if someone knows it, plz post!
Alex –
Yeah, i’m working on a follow up to this post with Dilla in it for you 🙂
I saw Flying Lotus live in Manchester last May, his set was the opening act for Wu Tang Clan’s RZA. His set was massive an I still have a nice memory of his show. Yet I still have to put his productions to the test when on record… I’m confident I’ll be positively surprised