Various - Downtempo Classics ('96-'03) Vol 1

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-upped

01 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...