Takin' a minute to look back...
Disclaimer: This one isn't for MC's. It also isn't for anyone who's been paying careful attention to downtempo/instrumental hip-hop since
Endtroducing. But if you're relatively new to the genre, it's a good introduction, and hits gems by some of the heavyweights (Shadow, RJD2, Bonobo, Four Tet, Vadim, etc). It obviously reflects my own bias of what dope downtempo sounds like (or sounded like) from predominantly hip-hop (Shadow, RJD2) to heavier jazz-influenced (Bonobo, Cinematic Orchestra) to post-rock influenced (Four Tet, Kid Loco) to electronica (Groove Armada, Talvin Singh).
Various - Downtempo Classics***Archived fixed & re-upped01 Cut Chemist "Layered Laird" (from
Audio Alchemy)
02 DJ Frane "Every Cloud Can Cause Amazement" (from
Frane's Fantastic Boat Ride)
03 Bonobo "Change Down" (from
Dial M for Monkey)
04 DJ Vadim "Beyond Thought (rmx)" (from
USSR Reconstruction)
05 DJ Shadow "What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 4)" (from
Endtroducing)
06 Cinematic Orchestra "Channel 1 Suite" (from
Motion)
07 Four Tet "The Weight of My Words (rmx)" (from Kings of Convenience's
Versus)
08 RJD2 "Rain" (from
Your Face or Your Kneecaps)
09 Mumbles "Lost in the Funhouse" (from
Audio Alchemy)
10 Automator "Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi (rmx)" (from Air's
Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi 12")
11 Peace Orchestra "The Man Pt. 1" (from
Peace Orchestra)
12 Four Tet "Unspoken" (from
Rounds)
13 Groove Armada "Edge Hill" (from
Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub)
14 Talvin Singh "The Traveller (rmx)" (from Kid Loco's
Jesus Life for Children Under 12 Inches)
15 Kid Loco/Mogwai "Tracy (rmx)" (from Kid Loco's
Jesus Life for Children Under 12 Inches)
16 Greyboy "Smokescreen" (from
Mastered the Art)
17 Bonobo "Noctuary" (from
Dial M for Monkey)
Look for more comps like this -- "classics" or "best of the last few years" (contributers?). My representative Shadow joint is probably different from yours, and I can already see I missed Amon Tobin in my list (and Groove Armada's "At the River" is probably more 'classic'). It's obvious that everyone has different taste in beats, but I'm sure there are joints (if not albums) that the community can come to a consensus on in terms of gem-status...
