100 (More) Producers You Need To Hear Right Now...

First things first, this list was produced by Dart Adams over at Poisonous Paragraphs. It may get a bit "beat nerd" for some people but stick with it if you like fresh sounding instrumentals.

This is the article I'm talking about, a pretty comprehensive list of people that make noise in an exceptionally good way. I'm planning on working my way through the list to check them out but I can already tell you from experience/current listening habits that there are some amazing producers in that list, particularly Daru, FS Green, Aspect 1, Roddy Rod, Exile, Grooveman Spot and S-Type.

There are plenty of beatmaking talents that aren't on the list, and as soon as I used the phrase "beat nerd" it made me think of Louis Den and all the people involved there. I think they probably deserve a post of their own when I have a bit more time.

Critical Madness - Bringing out the dead

Critical Madness are a duo originally from Florida, made up of Critical and Madness funnily enough. Their new album "Bringing out the Dead" is out very soon and you can check a sampler of it here. Check it out, and when you love it more than sandwiches then hit them up on Myspace to get your very own copy.

Damu & Buff 1 - When the winter comes

So the weather is starting to get a bit more chilly and we've finally got the heating on at home. Damu and Buff 1 come with something to warm your cockles which you can find here along with a few other bits and pieces. Enjoy!

Breakage feat Roots Manuva - Run Em Out

Out this week I believe, this tune is going to be big.

OCDC - Ralph Ripshit & Stophe

A free to download project from Ralph Ripshit and Stophe, the result is OCDC. Some will know Ralph from his own releases (and features) on Associated Minds.

To quote their site:

This is for those who made tapes. This is for those who liked Busta more when he had hair. This is for those who still love Maseo blowing soul through the horn. This is for those who are convinced Dres is the greatest MC ever. This for those who want to swagger with earphones in, clean their sneaks with a spare toothbrush and rock a crisp tee in the summer.

Go here to download the whole thing and make your own mind up.

London Posse - insanely well written feature

Once again Jimbo Jones comes with the quality, and this time it's a London Posse feature that must have taken some time to put together. Check it here and show Jim some love, it's people like him that help to keep quality music alive.

BET Hip Hop Awards Cyphers

*All the embedded vids have been taken off Youtube but you can check them on the BET site here*

The first one features Mos Def, Black Thought and Eminem. I'll be honest, I didn't really know what to expect before I watched these but this vid killed it, Black Thought and Em in particular. Em hasn't been up to his own high standards for a while but this took me by surprise, he might well be back.



There are a couple more below, and to be honest the highlight is Joe Budden which is another sentence I didn't think I'd be typing. Nicki Minaj makes me chuckle though, what is up with her voice? My only other comment is how depressed I was to see someone asking what this beat is on a forum somewhere. Have we got to the point now that "Funky Drummer" isn't known immediately? Don't really know where I'm going with that one but it surprised me.