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Do you like drums? Do you like drum breaks? Well then, do I have news for you.

You may have liked 100 Drum Breaks Volume 1. You may have liked Volume 2.

Allow me to introduce you to Volume 3 - 100 songs compiled into one playlist for easy listening and sampling.

Maybe this playlist will inspire you to dive into the extensive discography of a group like The Chi-Lites.

Or maybe you’ll be inspired to sift through the excellent catalog of one of my favorite reissue labels, Athens Of The North.

And of course, many of you will find added value in these songs for sampling purposes, which is great.

Whatever the case, I hope the songs on this playlist spark some curiosity and bring you a bit of joy. What do you think of my selections? Let me know in the comments.

Last but not least, check the full playlist below. Make sure to dive deeper into these artists, their stories, and their work, and tell other people about them while you’re at it.

1. “Christine” by J.K. & Co.

2. “Soul Meeting” by Big Jay Bush and The House Rockers

3. “Soul Meeting” by Ronnie Mitchell

4. “Bouncy Lady (Album Version)” by Pleasure

5. “Simple Song” by Zebra

6. “Say I’m Your No. 1 (12” Remixed Version)” by Princess

7. “The First Time” by William Stuckey

8. “What You Do for Me” by Pure Silk

9. “Hustle On Down (Part 1&2)” by Michael Legrair

10. “Mystery of Ages” by Carlos Garnett

11. “Party Is A Groovy Thing” by People’s Choice

12. “Out On the Coast” by Larry Willis

13. “I’m The Man” by General Caine

14. “Nobody but Jesus” by Shirley Caesar

15. “Family Again” by Sly & The Family Stone

16. “Checkin’ Out Your Love” by T. Life

17. “E S P” by Richard “Popcorn” Wylie

18. “Do Whatever Sets You Free” by Johnny Frigo

19. “After the Love Has Gone” by Princess

20. “I Keep Comin’ Back to You” by The Chi-Lites

21. “Disco King” by Barry Stoller

22. “Campbell Lock (Instr)” by Don Soultrain Campbell

23. “I Like the Way You Do Your Thing” by Little Beaver

24. “Only Make Believe” by Bell & James

25. “Marvins Groove” by B.W. Souls

26. “Help Yourself” by The Undisputed Truth

27. “Get Out of My Life” by Bobby James

28. “Light Four” by Herbie Flowers And Barry Morgan

29. “Get Out of My Life, Woman” by Tages

30. “A Man Could Get Killed (Rock) (Funk) (1974)” by Sunship

31. “Upon This Rock” by Joe Farrell

32. “The Soil I Tilled For You” by Shades of Brown

33. “(Blame It On The) Pony Express” by The Pioneers

34. “You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me” by Dixie Cups

35. “Air Cushion” by Bobby Alessi

36. “Train Of Thought” by Gene Pitney

37. “Hot Line To Jesus (Album Version)” by The Rance Allen Group

38. “Sweet Pea” by Floyd Cramer

39. “Beautiful World Out There” by Mac & Katie Kissoon

40. “Don’t Be Cruel” by Roy Williams Trinity

41. “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” by Los Únicos

42. “Things Yet to Come” by Randy California

43. “Beautiful Country” by Turley Richards

44. “Better Be Sure” by The Road

45. “Windy City Boogie” by Chicago Gangsters

46. “The Godfather, Part II” by Ettore Stratta and His Orchestra

47. “Boxcar Hobo” by Sassafras

48. “Hupendi Muziki Wangu?! (You Don’t Like My Music) (Original Mix)” by Kid

49. “Training Day” by Herbie Hancock

50. “Hopscotch” by Charlie Rouse

51. “Essa Menina Tá Ficando Moça” by Dom E Ravel

52. “Yes We Can Can” by The Pointer Sisters

53. “Funky Chunky” by Peter Green

54. “Blue” by Sadistic Mika Band

55. “We All Got To Help Each Other” by Kenny Rogers

56. “Nigeria” by The Hippy Boys

57. “Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6

58. “Mongoose” by Elephant’s Memory

59. “Lament” by Movement In The City

60. “Repent Walpurgis (2009 Remaster)” by Procol Harum

61. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Willis “Gator Tail” Jackson

62. “Candy Maker” by Tommy James

63. “Te Amo” by Aposento Alto

64. “Dirty Feet” by Daly Wilson Big Band

65. “Cherrystones” by Eugene McDaniels

66. “Philadelphia” by B.B. King

67. “Mainline” by Stuart Bascombe

68. “The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)” by Ramsey Lewis

69. “New Orleans” by Nat Adderley

70. “Do You Care - Academy International” by Liberation Singers

71. “Nice ‘N’ Naasty” by Salsoul Orchestra

72. “Useless (I Don’t Need You Now)” by Kym Mazelle

73. “What It Is (Funk)” by Apollis

74. “Wandering Man” by Giuliano Sorgini

75. “I Got Some (Pt. 1)” by Billy Garner

76. “Sweet Pea” by Tommy Roe

77. “We Got Our Own Thang” by C.J. & Co.

78. “Doggone” by Love

79. “Cool Hand Stanley” by Wynder K. Frog

80. “Rubber Lips” by Young-Holt Unlimited

81. “Soul Struttin’” by 1910 Fruitgum Company

82. “Little Man In A Little Box” by Barry Fantoni

83. “You Can’t Do It Alone” by Nile Rodgers & CHIC

84. “On The Way” by Release

85. “Fekete gép” by Mini

86. “Found The Groove” by Wreckin Crew

87. “Sideway Shuffle” by Linda Lewis

88. “Money (Dollar Bill Y’all) (7” Version)” by Jimmy Spicer

89. “Father Time” by Newban

90. “Soul Song” by Shirley Scott

91. “Return To Me” by Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers

92. “Woman” by Barrabas

93. “The Thing” by Carleen & The Groovers

94. “Talk” by Big Jullien And His All Star

95. “Funky Donkey” by Pretty Purdie

96. “Tio Macrô” by Dom Salvador

97. “Baretta’s Theme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow)” by Rhythm Heritage

98. “Get Down” by Release

99. “A Possibility (Back Home)” by Wanda Robinson

100. “Down Stretch” by Eddie Gomez

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Bob James’ catalog has been sampled thousands of times by countless artists spanning many different genres. Throw on a James selection at random, and you’re practically guaranteed to hear elements that you’ll recognize from rap classics from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and beyond.

None of his songs, however, has spoken to sample-based producers more than “Nautilus.” Featured at the end of his Creed Taylor-produced six-song LP One, James had modest expectations for its potential cultural resonance. “My point about ‘Nautilus’ is that nobody paid any attention to it,” he told Daniel Isenberg aka Stan Ipcus in an essential 2013 NahRight feature. “We weren’t thinking of it as being one of the important tunes. And we had put it in on the last cut of Side B, which traditionally at that time would be the least important place.”

It may have seemed like a non-essential album element at the time, but “Nautilus” is now regarded as a classic that has been interpolated and sampled many hundreds of times. Reimaginings range greatly in how obvious the sample is, to which part of the sample the producer decided to flip.

On the creative but obvious end of the spectrum, there are offerings like Lord Shafiq’s David Sanchez and Rodney Lundy co-produced 1987 gem “My Mic Is On Fire.” For this number, Sanchez and Lundy layer a section of “Nautilus” over hard-hitting drums for the verses, while the hook makes excellent use of a scratched snippet from the song’s opening.

There are also subtler, difficult-to-detect usages of “Nautilus,” like The Ummah’s gorgeous 1996 remix of Keith Murray’s “The Rhyme.”

By the way, here’s an amazing 30-minute beat extension of the instrumental by the YouTube channel La Fuerza, which has a gang of beat extensions.

I’ve been researching and listening to “Nautilus” flips a lot recently and wanted to share two interpolations that I’d never heard before. The first is Gábor Szabó’s 1975 recording “Time,” which features a nice replay of the opening of “Nautilus” before moving into a gorgeous, mellow number that has also been sampled more than a few times. I believe this is the first time anyone has sampled or replayed James’ classic.

The second one takes more creative liberties with its “Nautlius” replay, but it still makes for a great listen. The song is Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic 3’s 1983 single
It’s Life (You Gotta Think Twice).” Using music provided by Harold McGuire, Jay Burnett, Jerry Bloodrock, and John Fowlkes, producer Jerry Bloodrock crafted a catchy, head-nodding blend of synths, sparse drums, and sound effects. This is a song that I could see having a resurgence someday if it were put to use in a movie, TV show, or viral video.

There are hundreds more “Nautilus” chops and flips to explore, so having fun deep diving if you decide to dig into more. I hope you’ve enjoyed the ones I put in front of you today.

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Back in November/December of 2020, I decided to do a couple of sample challenges on Twitter. The #SwinginFlipChallenge had a big response, and it was really fun to see what people concocted using Mint Condition’s all-time classic “U Send Me Swingin’” as source material. Here’s a memorable flip from Naj Ahead.

I also did a #ChristmasFlipChallenge with BRKLSbeats and some additional help from STLNDRMS. Producers crafted very memorable entries. A-Side 45 even cooked up a Dipset Christmas flip.

Several of the flips stood out, but a few evoked an especially strong emotional reaction. One of them was a fresh take on Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Christmas Time Is Here.” Both the instrumental and vocal versions of that song are beautiful, timeless creations. A Charlie Brown Christmas is up there with the best Christmas albums ever recorded and it gets plenty of burn in my house every year.

It’s a sacrosanct Christmas song and one that many artists seem hesitant to touch. That didn’t seem to faze California-based producer/funk musician DADPNTS. He offered a textured, vibrant, and mesmerizing interpolation of the original that gives it a modern twist while respecting the OG version. I highly recommend checking it out.

If you’re looking for an interesting mix of Christmas classics and unheralded gems, both new and old, here’s a 32-track playlist I put together a few years back, which you can check out on YouTube. It also features the DADPNTS cover.

Before I leave you alone, here’s one more for the road - Butcher Brown doing another excellent cover of “Christmas Time Is Here” live and in studio circa 2013.

Enjoy. And let me know what you think in the comments.

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I love creating absurdly long instrumental playlists. I enjoy playing them in my classroom and at home. There are so many amazing beats, it’s impossible to give them all the attention they deserve.

However, compiling them in one place and pairing classics alongside lesser-known gems gives unsung artists and songs a shot at getting some shine.

So here’s a YouTube playlist of 100 beats by 100 different producers. I’m going to include the first eight songs below because they slap. So do the next 92.

I hope you take some time to listen and find something to add to your listening repertoire. Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments.

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With a new teaching job and two young children, there hasn’t been a whole lot of time for writing or music curation. That said, I did make several 100-song YouTube playlists at various times early in the morning and late at night throughout this past summer.

I’ve shared some of these playlists via Twitter and my newsletter, but I’ve also sat on a number of them. I wanted to compile them all in one place. I know everyone’s brains and lives are overflowing, so please allow yourself the freedom to ignore all of these if you aren’t interested.

However, if you want to discover some music, both new and old, these lovingly compiled playlists might catch your ear.

I wish I had more time to write about each one in depth, and that might happen at some point, but for now I’m putting them all in one easy-to-use list for you to browse at your leisure.

Fans of this newsletter might be especially interested in the UPROXX music video playlist. They have an amazing collection of rap videos with upload dates going back almost two decades. With a heavy focus on the 90s, selections include an impeccable mix of obvious classics, forgotten favorites, and songs that never quite broke through from all over the United States. I stopped making the playlist at 141 videos, but I could easily double it with all the great videos in their archives.

Anyhow, here’s the list of 100-song YouTube playlists. Love them? Hate them? Either way, let me know in the comments!

• 100 Drum Breaks
  

• 100 Drum Breaks Volume 2
  

• 100 Instrumental Songs from Various Genres
  

• Legacy: Celebrating Lil’ Keke’s Remarkable Career in 106 Songs
  

• 141 UPROXX Music Videos
  

• Ohbliv: A 112-Beat Production Journey
  

• The Other ’89: A Journey Through Essential & Forgotten Funk, Jazz, House, and Rap in 100 Songs
  

• 100 Beats By 100 Different Producers
  

• 100 Songs from Horror Movie Scores
  

• A Micro-Chop Deep Dive: 100 Library Cuts, From Ultra-Obscure to Essential
  

• 100 THE SOULPRANOS Songs
  

• Sifting Through The Archives: 103 Athens Of The North Essentials
  

• Digging Coolfunk Zézé 2: 101 Vintage Funk Grooves from the Vault

• 102 OGDonNinja Cuts
  

• Memphis Dust & Digital Gold: Micro-Chop Selects 105 SouljahFromTheNorth Songs
  

• Dream Dial: Micro-Chop Digs Into 100 Songs from Paradise Is a Frequency
  

• 100 Gangsta Boo Tracks: From Solos, Collabs, and Features to Mixtape Treasures and Mafia Classics

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Dream Dial: Micro-Chop Digs Into 100 Songs from Paradise Is a Frequency is a selection of 100 essential cuts from the incredible Paradise Is a Frequency YouTube channel, celebrated for its deep catalog of ambient jazz, synth-heavy soul, and private press obscurities. I compiled this over the summer of 2025 with thought and care, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

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On April 22nd, 2009, the YouTube channel SouljahFromTheNorth posted a music video for “I Got That Drank (Remix)” by Frayser Boy featuring Mike Jones and Paul Wall. Over the next six-plus years, the account posted nearly 300 videos.

The early uploads were exclusively Three 6 Mafia-related, including live clips and the group’s legendary pre-Three 6 solo tapes and collaborative projects. Lord Infamous’ Freestyle-sampling, DJ-Paul produced classic “South Memphis” from his Solo Tape project is a standout moment from this part of the collection.

As the SouljahFromTheNorth archive grew, so did its scope, expanding to include songs by luminaries like Al Kapone, DJ Squeeky, and Tommy Wright III.

The channel also features lesser-known cuts that have become more broadly known with time, like The Legend Lady J’s hypnotic 1996 gem “Chronic Dope,” which is long overdue for a proper reissue and a film and/or TV placement ASAP.

Whoever curated the page also selected several rare, little-know instrumental tracks from this era of Memphis rap, which enrich the archive as a whole.

SouljahFromTheNorth also pulled several late-‘90s and early-2000s tracks that fall outside the typical ‘90s underground tape canon on YouTube. However, much like the instrumental tracks, they add valuable layers and textures to an already remarkable collection of music. One of my favorites is Shank and Chrome’s excellent 2000 effort “North M.E.M.P.H.I.S.”.

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SouljahFromTheNorth’s final upload, posted on October 1, 2014, is a DIY blend video featuring mostly Memphis artists rapping over alternate beats and classic Memphis production. It’s a great way to cap off a remarkable run and an indispensable digital archive.

There is no doubt that the person behind SouljahFromTheNorth helped a lot of Mempis artists find a wider audience. It’s remarkable that songs like Lo Key’s “On That Devil Shit” has over 1.4 million views considering the channel hasn’t uploaded anything new in over a decade.

To give people a point of entry into this essential collection, I sifted through hundreds of uploads and compiled a 105-song playlist of some of my favorites. Click here to listen. Let me know what you think if you decide to give it a spin. And make sure to his the SouljahFromTheNorth archive so you can do your own digging.

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The past few years have brought about a whirlwind of transitions. My wife and I bought our first house in 2021, our daughter was born in 2023, and our son was born earlier this year. This spring, I decided to leave the academic support teaching job I’ve held for the past 13 years. My dad just celebrated a major landmark birthday after experiencing some health challenges. It’s an exciting and overwhelming moment in my life. I’m feeling lots of emotions simultaneously.

I also turn 42 this summer. I was 33 when I started Micro-Chop. How the hell did that happen?

With so much change happening at once, I’ve found comfort in making massive playlists as a form of catharsis, self-education, and digital archiving that I can share with others.

For some reason, I had the hankering to make a 100-song playlist of music from 1989 a few days ago. I was 5 in ‘89 and I don’t really have a special attachment to that year outside of the debut from my favorite group (De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising) being released then.

Nonetheless, the music of 1989 became an obsession as I poured through well-known and ultra-obscure releases from the end of the ‘80s. The volume of quality music I’d never even heard of before taking on this assignment blew me away. I found myself addicted to the soul ballads, deep funk, obscure rap, and ambient jazz of the time.

I also found myself drawn to the amazing music people made in South Africa, France, Japan, and all over the world. Having lived most of my life in the United States, it’s very easy to overfocus on music released in America while neglecting everyone else. This playlist was a healthy reminder that I can’t do that.

The Other ’89: A Journey Through Essential & Forgotten Funk, Jazz, House, and Rap in 100 Songs was a labor of love. It has some incredible music on it. I genuinely hope you’ll sit with it for a bit. Expect a wide range of material: dusty Memphis soul, basement house cuts, synth-funk oddities, and everything in between. Listen to it by clicking here. Drop me a note in the comments and let me know if you do.

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Before I leave, I need to shout out a few amazing YouTube channels that were key in putting this thing together: Paradise is a Frequency, Music for empty rooms, and Coolfunk Zézé 2. Do yourself a favor and get lost in their archives.

Also, I’m trying to take my YouTube channel and playlists to another level. It’s a gigantic help to me if you subscribe, listen, and share the playlists.

Thank you for your support. I’ll be in touch again soon.

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I shared a YouTube playlist with 100 drum breaks yesterday. People seem to love it, so we’re going to keep the good times rolling with more 100-track playlists.

I’ve compiled 100 songs from various horror movie scores for today’s listening experience. Much like organizing a playlist with drum breaks as the central theme, focusing on horror movie scores allowed me to explore various composers, eras, and geographic locations.

I love movie scores of all kinds and horror movies are probably my favorite. Perhaps it’s the way they go hand in hand with rap/sample-based music and are an oft-utilized sample source.

For one of my favorite examples, check out Three 6 Mafia’s pitch perfect use of “Brainscan Theme” on “Fuckin Wit Dis Click” from their debut studio album Mystic Stylez. It’s almost like George S. Clinton’s ominous tones were custom-made for them instead of an Eddie Furlong flop.

I enjoy listening to horror scores in their entirety, and there are many great ones to explore. For this particular playlist, I decided to push myself outside of my comfort/familiarity zone and explore scores that I was largely unfamiliar with before the past couple of days. In the process, I discovered so many heaters, including the ‘Messiah of Evil’ score.

I want this to be a useful resource, so I also provided a numbered list with all the song titles and artists. If a video in the playlist contains multiple songs from a score, or it’s unclear which song is being highlighted, I put the movie title in single quotation marks.

This is another playlist that is great for sampling and listening. Whether you're a producer looking for some new sounds, an avid horror movie fan, or just a curious listener, I hope you’ll spend some time with it. Please give it a spin and let me know what you think. Click here to listen.

1. ‘Messiah of Evil’ by Phillan Bishop

2. "Lisa and the Devil (Main Titles)" by Carlo Savina & Edda Dell'Orso

3. "Brainscan Theme" by George S. Clinton

4. "Nosebleed" by J. Peter Robinson

5. "Mother’s Room #2" by Jerry Goldsmith

6. "The Equestrian Vortex" by Broadcast

7. ‘The Black Cat’ by Pino Donaggio

8. ‘The Bird with the Crystal Plumage’ by Ennio Morricone

9. "Stridulum Theme" by Franco Micalizzi

10. "Maniac Cop Theme" by Jay Chattaway

11. "It (1990) - Main Title I" by Richard Bellis

12. "Sensual Hallucinations" by Les Baxter

13. "Blood Lake End Credits" by Russell D. Allen

14. "Sette Note - Single Version" by Fabio Frizzi, Franco Bixio & Vincenzo Tempera

15. "Hello Mary Lou: Main Theme" by Paul Zaza

16. "Child’s Play Ending Credits Song" by Joe Renzetti

17. "Haddonfield" by Alan Howarth

18. "Trapped in the Shaft" by Alan Howarth

19. "Locked Up" by Simon Boswell & Stefano Mainetti

20. "The Wind" by Thomas Newman

21. ‘Frogs’ by Les Baxter

22. "Main Title" by Fuzzbee Morse

23. "The Shape Stalks Again" by John Carpenter

24. ‘La dama rossa uccide sette volte’ by Bruno Nicolai

25. "Deadly Needle" by Pino Donaggio

26. "6.30 a.m Explosion" by Stelvio Cipriani

27. "The Exorcist III Main Title" by Barry De Vorzon

28. "Forbidden World Titles" by Susan Justin

29. "Headlights" by Mark Isham

30. "All the Colors of the Dark" by Bruno Nicolai

31. "Wait For The Rain" by David Alexander Hess

32. "Sadness Theme" by Franco Micalizzi

33. "Main Title (The Shining)" by Wendy Carlos

34. "Prologue / Welcome to Creepshow" by John Harrison

35. "Démonica" by Simon Boswell

36. "Opening" by Tomandandy

37. "She Comes" by Wojciech Golczewski

38. "Title" by Disasterpeace

39. "Intro & Credits" by Steve Moore

40. "1983 - Main Theme" by Sinoia Caves

41. "Starless Night / The Void" by Jeremy Gillespie

42. "Night of the Demons Theme" by Dennis Michael Tenney

43. "Witchboard 2 Open Title" by Dennis Michael Tenney

44. "Deathwatch" by Stelvio Cipriani

45. "Main Title" by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave

46. "Preludio & Titoli" by Bruno Nicolai

47. "Stress infinito (Version 2)" by Ennio Morricone

48. "Il Fantasma Suona Piano" by Libra

49. "Your Vice is a Locked Room (Main Titles)" by Bruno Nicolai

50. "Resident Evil Intro Song - Tokyo" by Tomandandy

51. "Terrifier Theme" by Paul Wiley

52. "Love" by Mica Levi

53. "Gun in Gut" by Howard Shore

54. "Belvedere, Ohio" by Howard Shore

55. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Main Title" by Steve Jablonsky

56. "A Message" by John Carpenter

57. "Puppet Walk (2015 Remaster)" by Angelo Badalamenti

58. "Pick Up At High Noon" by Tangerine Dream

59. "Ai Margini Della Follia (Alternate Take 2)" by Goblin

60. "High Street Spasm" by Cavern of Anti-Matter

61. "Run Nancy" by Charles Bernstein

62. "Narcotic" by Kenji Kawai

63. "Panic Attack" by Adam Wingard

64. "Humanity (Pt. 2)" by Ennio Morricone

65. "No Time For Games" by Joseph LoDuca

66. "The Neighborhood" by Douglas Pipes

67. "Leaving the Farm" by Marco Beltrami

68. "doll box" by Joseph Bishara

69. "Hellraiser Theme" by Christopher Young

70. "It's Over, Sid" by Marco Beltrami

71. "The Entity Main Titles" by Charles Bernstein

72. "Twisted Nerve" by Bernard Herrmann

73. "Tentacles" by Stelvio Cipriani

74. "Wolf Creek: Main Title" by François Tétaz

75. "Possession Main Theme" by Andrzej Korzynski

76. "Quiet Drops" by Carlo Pennisi

77. "Spookies Main Titles" by James Calabrese & Kenneth Higgins

78. "Brain Damage End Theme" by Gus Russo & Clutch Reiser

79. "Chopping Mall Theme" by Chuck Cirino

80. "Radio Station Rampage" by Jerry Lambert

81. "Dead Silence (Main Theme)" by Charlie Clouser

82. "Clamp Logos" by Jerry Goldsmith

83. ‘The Kindred’ by David Newman

84. "Main Title (The Gorgon)" by James Bernard

85. "Loss Without Memory" by Joseph Bishara

86. "Leaving Town" by Roque Baños

87. "Prelude / Last Day of Sun" by Brian Reitzell

88. "Down the Pipe" by David Julyan

89. "Good Night" by Fernando Velázquez

90. "Kristen's Haunted Dream" by Craig Safan

91. "Main Title" by Martin Cooper and David A. Hughes

92. "End Theme (Pin)" by Paul Zaza

93. "The Keep (Main Title)" by Tangerine Dream

94. "Bones Opening" by Elia Cmiral

95. "Piano Theme (The Devil’s Backbone)" by Javier Navarrete

96. "Mimic Main Title" by Marco Beltrami

97. "Mandy Love Theme" by Jóhann Jóhannsson

98. "Weapons Ready" by Brooke Blair

99. "Reborn" by Colin Stetson

100. “3M3b” by James Newton Howard

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I love listening to and learning about songs with great drum breaks. For those new to the term, a drum break is an “open” section of drums with no other instruments. In other words, it’s a moment in a recording that’s just percussion and nothing else.

Breaks make for especially juicy sample fodder because the drums are already isolated and easier to chop, loop, and sample. Famous breaks come from every imaginable genre and range from straightforward to jaw-droppingly complex.

Check out “Sunshine Superman” by Eric Closs below for a drum break example. The song has some nice, crispy drums right at the song’s opening.

I love making drum break playlists because it’s a fun exercise in organizing music from all eras, geographic locations, and genres, around one distinct trait. In thinking of new ways to share music with my audience that might be interesting or useful for them, I decided to make a mega 100-song drum break playlist. My goal was to pull together disparate songs into a cohesive list that would inspire producers and/or provide people with an enjoyable listen and some new music.

I’ve included an organized list of all 100 songs and artists featured on the playlist below. Many of the artists featured here have catalogs that warrant further exploration and celebration. The Crusaders, for example, have 51 album credits on Discogs, and their work has been sampled hundreds of times. Bits and pieces of their songs appear on many rap classics. Shirley Scott has an even more vast collection of collaborative and solo albums, with a remarkable 64 in total. Though not sampled as frequently as The Crusaders, those who know, know. Her body of work is incredible.

So please, take a moment to immerse yourself in this playlist and enjoy the incredible music within. Flip a sample, make a DJ mix out of some of the tracks, or just appreciate the music for what it is as you give it a listen. You can listen to 100 Drum Breaks by clicking here.

I’d love it if you dropped me a note in the comments to let me know what you think.

1. "Moonlight Lady" by Chris Gilbey

2. "Stitch" by Chaplin Harness

3. "Stock no. 1 - 1976" by André Ceccarelli

4. "Ghetto Song" by Jon Lucien

5. "Last Chance to Dance" by King Errisson

6. "Mean Streets No Bridges" by Jimmy Ponder

7. "The Body Rock (Instrumental)" by The Treacherous Three

8. "1812 Overture" by The Philharmonics

9. "Lilies Of The Nile" by The Crusaders

10. "Freedom Ride" by Caribbean Torpedos

11. "I'll Take You There" by Rueben Wilson

12. "I Remember" by Melvin Van Peebles

13. "Out Of Your Head" by Man

14. "Mama Get Yourself Together" by Baby Huey

15. "Badd Motor Folk" by Uncle Louie featuring Walter Murphy

16. "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic

17. "Sunshine Superman" by Eric Kloss

18. "Cztery ściany świata" by Czesław Niemen

19. "New York City" by Alphonse Mouzon

20. "Bad Side Of The Moon" by Bo Diddley

21. "Sweetheart" by Charles Kynard

22. "Do What You Wanna Do" by Poison

23. "Sunshine of My Life" by Blue Mink

24. "Hand Dance" by The Reddings

25. "Go Away from Here" by Mutiny

26. "Give It Up" by The Impossibles

27. "De alegria raiou o dia" by Carlos Dafé

28. "Use Me" by Isaac Hayes

29. "You Should've Listened" by Black Heat

30. "Bags and Strings" by Milt Jackson & The Hip String Quartet

31. "Get Up" by Vernon Burch

32. "Got To Get Me A Job" by Ann Alford

33. "808 Volt Mix (808 Beatapella Mix)" by D.J. Battery Brain

34. "You Are The One" by Eddie Harris

35. "Take Me Back" by Johnny Nash

36. "Get Out of My Life Woman" by The Leaves

37. "Get Out of My Life, Woman" by Iron Butterfly

38. "Lady Groove" by The Fatback Band

39. "I Can't Get Enough of Your Love" by Archie Bell & The Drells

40. "Jade East" by Ramsey Lewis

41. "A Possibility (Back Home)" by Wanda Robinson

42. "Quantrale" by Curtis Fuller

43. "Caribbean Festival" by Kool and the Gang

44. "Express Yourself" by New York Community Choir

45. "Everyman's Your Brother" by The Fourth Way

46. "These Are My Friends" by Jazzberry Path

47. "Sudden Senility (Vocal)" by Herb Geller featuring Mark Murphy

48. "Nipple To The Bottle" by Grace Jones

49. "Mr. Fantasy" by Trilark

50. "Noche Azul" by Shirley Scott

51. "Kissing My Love" by Al Jarreau

52. "Restless Wave" by Compost

53. "The Blue Gate" by Janne Schaffer

54. "Wichita Lineman" by Bobby Pierce

55. "Through All Times" by Chuck Jackson

56. "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" by Willie Hutch

57. "Memories of Georgia" by Thom Janusz

58. "Summer Fool" by Ronnie Laws

59. "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by The Spotnicks

60. "Trust In You" by Wishbone Ash

61. "You're a Sweet Sweet Man" by Aretha Franklin

62. "Why Did You Do It" by Chicago Gangsters

63. "Friends" by Whodini

64. "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps

65. "It's My Turn" by Stezo

66. "You're A Customer" by EPMD

67. "Let's Ride" by Q-Tip

68. "BNH" by The Brand New Heavies

69. "Bu-Bu" by Arp Life

70. "This Is Soul Medley" by Paul Nero

71. "Honey Dove" by Lee Fields

72. "The Addict's Psalm" by Ralph Carmichael

73. "The Landlord" by Al Kooper

74. "Rock Candy" by Montrose

75. "Dance Girl" by The Rimshots

76. "I'm Gonna Get You" by Joe Quarterman and Free Soul

77. "Fire Eater" by Rusty Bryant

78. "Evil Ways" by Brothers Seven

79. "Superfunk" by Vern Blair Debate

80. "Godofallofus" by New Hope

81. "Melody For Thelma" by Blue Mitchell

82. "L' Alpagueur" by Michel Colombier

83. "Blow For The Crossing" by Billy Butler

84. "Hallelujah, Alright, Amen" by Gus Poole

85. "Come Let Me Love You (Instrumental)" by Jeanette 'Lady' Day

86. "Super Mellow" by Louis Bellson, Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo, and Paul Humphrey

87. "Ebony Jam" by Tower Of Power

88. "Advice" by Sly & The Family Stone

89. "Soul Drums" by Bernard “Pretty” Purdie

90. "Holy Ghost" by The Bar-Kays

91. "Light My Fire" by Young Holt Unlimited

92. "Love and Affection" by Ike White

93. "Good News" by The 5th Dimension

94. "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke

95. "Bust the Break" by Tuff City Squad

96. "Chicken Yellow" by Miami

97. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Shirley Scott

98. "Outside Love" by Brethren

99. "The Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers

100. "Jupiter's Child" by Steppenwolf

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Late bandleader, composer, and pianist Ahmad Jamal was such a prolific and legendary jazz musician that it’s difficult to fully capture the significance, size, and quality of his catalog in anything less than a book-length piece of writing. Discogs credits Jamal with 84 records. His first record, Ahmad Jamal Plays (later reissued as Chamber Music Of The New Jazz by Argo), came out 70 years ago on the short-lived record label Parrot.

18 years later, Jamal released a critical moment in his lengthy discography: Ahmad Jamal '73. At seven tracks and just under 40 minutes in total running time, the record is a mesmerizing blend of cover songs of hits of the day and original compositions. Jamal and Micro-Chop favorite Richard Evans’ co-production ensures that this is a beautiful, sophisticated-sounding record from front to back. It also represents a significant stylistic shift for Jamal, who exclusively played the electric Fender Rhodes on the album. Though he had dipped his toe into cutting-edge instruments before this release, Jamal had never used an electric piano as his lone form of creative expression while recording an album.

The perfect sequencing of the record helps elevate it to another level, as both the opening A-side cut “The World Is A Ghetto” and the B-side closer “Peace At Last” make perfect introduction and end points. On “The World Is A Ghetto,” Jamal provides a breathtakingly lush, hypnotic interpretation of the oft-covered War classic. (Check the Micro-Chop playlist of “The World Is A Ghetto” here.)

If you came of age in the ‘90s or are a fan of that era of rap music, you likely recognize the opening.

Arguably the strongest moment on a record full of standouts, the final song “Peace At Last” highlights the notable creative chemistry between Evans and Jamal. The arrangement and production here provide the right level of complementary elements to Jamal’s work on the Rhodes without overpowering him. The song straddles the line between carefully planned composition and improvisation, as the locked-in backing beat and song structure work well with Jamal’s creative flourishes and inspired moments of drifting off into his own world. This track is a beautiful work of art.

Music fans get burned out on the use of the word classic, but this album is most definitely a classic. Couple that with the gorgeous, frame-worthy cover art by esteemed visual artist, designer, and photographer Norman Seeff, and Ahmad Jamal '73' demands a high-quality physical reissue and availability on all streaming services. A record of this caliber by an artist of Ahmad Jamal’s stature deserves the opportunity for rediscovery and new listeners.

Listen to the YouTube playlist of Ahmad Jamal '73' here. Listen to my 27-track Ahmad Jamal YouTube playlist here.

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Two days ago I shared 40 producer playlists I’ve built in recent years. As promised, I’m sharing 15 more today for a grand total of 55. Articles with lists this long tend to mess with the Substack length limits, so I’m going to keep today’s writing brief. It’s all about these artists/producers/songs. There’s so much great music in these collections. If you take the time to sit with any, please let me know what you think.

I also have a bunch of producer playlists from the early years of Micro-Chop (2016/17/18) and I’m working on some ideas for reintroducing those. For now, enjoy this expansive list of 55.

1. Arif Mardin Production - YouTube

2. Ashford & Simpson Production - Spotify / YouTube

3. Barry White Production - Spotify / YouTube

4. Bob James Production - Spotify / YouTube

5. Bobby Martin Production - Spotify / YouTube

6. Brian Eno Production - YouTube

7. Buckwild Production - Spotify / YouTube

8. Count Bass D Production - Spotify / YouTube

9. Creed Taylor Production - Spotify / YouTube

10. Curtis Mayfield Production - Spotify / YouTube

11. David Axelrod Production - Spotify / YouTube

12. DeVanté Swing Production - YouTube

13. Dibiase Production - Spotify / YouTube

14. DJ Harrison Production - Spotify / YouTube

15. DJ Paul & Juicy J Co-Production - Spotify / YouTube

16. DJ Spinna Production - YouTube

17. Don Davis Production - YouTube

18. Easy Mo Bee Production - Spotify / YouTube

19. Elaquent Production - Spotify / YouTube

20. Esmond Edwards Production - YouTube

21. 14KT Production - Spotify / YouTube

22. Gamble & Huff Production - Spotify / YouTube

23. Georgia Anne Muldrow Production - Spotify / YouTube

24. Giorgio Moroder Production - Spotify / YouTube

25. Heavy D Production - YouTube

26. Illingsworth Production - Spotify / YouTube

27. Isaac Hayes and David Porter Production - Spotify / YouTube

28. J Dilla Production - YouTube

29. J. Rawls Production - YouTube

30. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Production - Spotify / YouTube

31. Joel Dorn Production - Spotify / YouTube

32. JWords Production - YouTube

33. Kashif Production - Spotify / YouTube

34. K-DEF Production - YouTube

35. Khrysis Production - Spotify / YouTube

36. Large Professor Production - YouTube

37. Lou Adler Production - YouTube

38. Mndsgn. Production - Spotify / YouTube

39. Narada Micahel Walden Production - Spotify / YouTube

40. 9th Wonder Production - Spotify / YouTube

41. Nottz Production - Spotify / YouTube

42. Oddisee Production - YouTube

43. Ohbliv Production - Spotify / YouTube

44. Pursuit Grooves Production - YouTube

45. Quincy Jones Production - Spotify / YouTube

46. Rashad Smith Production - YouTube

47. Richard Evans Production - YouTube

48. RJD2 Production - YouTube

49. Russ Titelman Production - YouTube

50. Skip Drinkwater Production - YouTube

51. Sonia Pottinger Production - YouTube

52. Sylvia Robinson/Sylvia Inc. Production - YouTube

53. Tommy LiPuma Production - Spotify / YouTube

54. TUAMIE Production - Spotify / YouTube

55. Willie Mitchell Production - Spotify / YouTube

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I love listening to albums. I also love playlists. I listen to and follow tons of them, and they’re the place where I discover a lot of great music.

A few years ago I started making producer-focused Twitter threads and accompanying playlists. It was such a rewarding process. In addition to deep-diving catalogs for sample-based/rap producers, I also had the opportunity to explore the production catalogs of producers working in a variety of genres. I learned so much about music just by going through people’s bodies of work and listening to different albums and songs. Asford & Simpson, for example, was just one production team whose work I explored thoroughly.

I also got really into albums like former Dramatics member L.J. Reynolds’ 1982 release Travelin', which contains a slept-on cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Call Me” and other high-quality tracks. The entire b-side is produced by the late Don Davis, a visionary creator and businessman who isn’t talked about enough. The quality of his catalog on its own and the influence of his work on rap/sample-based music is considerable. Peep the absolute scorcher “Say You Will” for a taste of how well-produced his work is.

I put a lot of love into these playlists, and I wanted to share them all in one place. There are 55 total. I can’t fit all of them into one email because of length limits so I’m sharing 40 today. Some are YouTube-only, some have Spotify and YouTube versions. The Spotify versions typically have fewer songs because YouTube has a bunch of hard-to-find and out-of-print stuff that isn’t on other streaming services.

Enjoy. And drop a comment to let me know what you think about my selections.

1. Arif Mardin Production - YouTube

2. Ashford & Simpson Production - Spotify / YouTube

3. Barry White Production - Spotify / YouTube

4. Bob James Production - Spotify / YouTube

5. Bobby Martin Production - Spotify / YouTube

6. Brian Eno Production - YouTube

7. Buckwild Production - Spotify / YouTube

8. Count Bass D Production - Spotify / YouTube

9. Creed Taylor Production - Spotify / YouTube

10. Curtis Mayfield Production - Spotify / YouTube

11. David Axelrod Production - Spotify / YouTube

12. DeVanté Swing Production - YouTube

13. Dibiase Production - Spotify / YouTube

14. DJ Harrison Production - Spotify / YouTube

15. DJ Paul & Juicy J Co-Production - Spotify / YouTube

16. DJ Spinna Production - YouTube

17. Don Davis Production - YouTube

18. Easy Mo Bee Production - Spotify / YouTube

19. Elaquent Production - Spotify / YouTube

20. Esmond Edwards Production - YouTube

21. 14KT Production - Spotify / YouTube

22. Gamble & Huff Production - Spotify / YouTube

23. Georgia Anne Muldrow Production - Spotify / YouTube

24. Giorgio Moroder Production - Spotify / YouTube

25. Heavy D Production - YouTube

26. Illingsworth Production - Spotify / YouTube

27. J Dilla Production - YouTube

28. J. Rawls Production - YouTube

29. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Production - Spotify / YouTube

30. Joel Dorn Production - Spotify / YouTube

31. JWords Production - YouTube

32. Kashif Production - Spotify / YouTube

33. K-DEF Production - YouTube

34. Khrysis Production - Spotify / YouTube

35. Large Professor Production - YouTube

36. Lou Adler Production - YouTube

37. Mndsgn. Production - Spotify / YouTube

38. Narada Micahel Walden Production - Spotify / YouTube

39. 9th Wonder Production - Spotify / YouTube

40. Nottz Production - Spotify / YouTube

    ---

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I’ve been listening to a lot of long-form interviews lately. I recently decided to check out the Drink Champs episode featuring 9th Wonder & Smif-N-Wessun.

The episode coincides with the release of the new Smif-N-Wessun album Infinity. The record is entirely produced by 9th Wonder and Soul Council members Khrysis, Nottz, Kash, SNDTRK and Mu'aath.

The Drink Champs interview is a broad, wide-ranging conversation that goes into various aspects of Smif-N-Wessun and 9th Wonder’s respective careers. Around the 2:45 mark, 9th starts talking about the early days of his career when he was selling beats for $50 a pop around 2002. In 2003, he released an underground remix of Nas’ God’s Son album titled God’s Stepson.

First released on HipHopSite.com, 9th’s hat tip to the famed Queensbridge MC features a remix of Nas’ brutal Jay-Z diss track “Ether” as a bonus track. Though “Ether” is from Stillmatic instead of God’s Son, it provides a perfect closeout moment for God’s Stepson. Utilizing next-level creativity, 9th flips Brother to Brother’s “Hey, What's That You Say,” the same song DJ Premier flipped for the Jay-Z classic “Friend or Foe.” The result is a beautiful, haunting, ultra-filtered piece of production that eclipses the original version.

According to 9th, Mr. Walt of The Beatminerz called him to inquire about remix work after catching wind of 9th’s reimagining of Nas. Walt was so impressed by the resulting work 9th submitted that he flew the entire Boot Camp Click down to North Carolina to work with him. 9th subsequently produced a large body of work for the entire BCC and continues a close working relationship with BCC members like Smif-N-Wessun today.

The interview inspired me to revisit 9th’s early work, including God’s Stepson and his first productions for the Boot Camp Click. I also decided to go back to his Black Is Back album. This unofficial remix of Jay-Z’s The Black Album is intriguing because it came right on the heels of God’s Stepson. It’s also notable because 9th landed one of his first major production credits outside of Little Brother with his Black Album placement “Threat.”

Though Black Is Back didn’t generate as much buzz as God’s Stepson due to the vast number of Black Album remixes circulating at the time, it still had its share of impressive moments and holds up quite well.

One moment in particular is 9th’s somber “December 4th” remix. In a moment of sampling ingenuity that mirrors his innovativeness with the “Ether” remix, 9th repurposes the gorgeous piano and vocals from OutKast’s “You May Die” intro from their classic ATLiens record. It’s an unexpected flip that provides the perfect backdrop for Jay-Z’s autobiographical track. I remember geeking out when I first heard it over 20 years ago.

Going down the 9th Wonder production rabbit hole was a\ reminder of how deep his catalog is. From official album placements to underground and official remixes, he has truly done it all. It’s nice to see that both he and Smif-N-Wessun are still as active as ever decades into their respective runs. If you’d like to explore more of 9th’s work, here’s a YouTube and Spotify playlist. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

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There’s much to be debated about the cost/benefit and pros/cons of music streaming platforms. I have very mixed and complicated feelings that exceed this article. For today, I’m going to focus on some of the positives I’ve found over my many years using YouTube for music discovery.

YouTube is unlike any other streaming service. The intersection of live/in-studio performances, tutorials, music documentaries, and the music found on every other streaming service is dizzying and sometimes overwhelming. And that’s not even touching on YouTube curator uploads of demos and long out-of-print albums that aren’t available on streaming.

YouTube curators are a powerful driving force for discovery. Some of the most popular channels have hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and their carefully selected uploads can generate millions of views. There’s some debate over whether the term curator applies to someone who rips and uploads music to YouTube. I think it does. The best channels are clearly a labor of love and a lot of thought and time go into album and song selection and presentation. These accounts help some albums avoid the neglected dustbins of history while finding them a sizable new audience.

A fair share of beloved YouTube curators focus on single-song uploads. SouldjahFromTheNorth, an account that boasts over 50,000 subscribers, has long been one of my go-to sources for out-of-print Memphis rap tapes from the ‘90s. Several of the most popular songs on the channel have over 1,000,000 views.

Single song channels definitely do important work and I spend a lot of time digging through their archives. With time, I’ve discovered that full album upload channels are also a gift that keeps on giving. These channels also challenge the narrative that modern listeners are incapable of sitting with entire records. Technology has changed the way we experience music, for sure, but I find the popularity of so many album-focused channels one of several hopeful signs that there’s still a place in the world for whole record appreciation.

If you’re looking for some new albums to appreciate, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of three full-album YouTube curators I love along with some nice selections sprinkled in throughout.

1. Terminal Passage - Terminal Passage boasts 382,000 subscribers. It’s a unique page with a vast selection of 2,100-plus albums - by far the most of any account discussed in this article. The person who runs the channel also releases original music under the name Terminal Passage. A significant number of uploads are jazz, fusion, and adjacent records, but that doesn’t even begin to cover the incredible variety presented on the channel. There’s funk, soul, and all sorts of other treats, some of which aren’t easily definable. This is a can’t-miss page. You’ll fall in love with so many records you never realized you needed.

2. 2666 - The Art Of Listening - This account has 283,000 subscribers and 704 uploaded albums. While Terminal Passage features a relatively high percentage of records from the ‘70s, 2666 - The Art Of Listening often pulls much more recent recommendations, and a number of their recommended projects are from the past decade or so. That isn’t to say the account doesn’t go further back into the archives from time to time. Dorothy Ashby’s beautiful 1984 release Concierto De Aranjuez is one of my favorite selections on the channel. Like Terminal Passage, this channel is highly recommended. You’ll get lost in their impeccably constructed collection.

3. Big Archive - Big Archive (formerly Stvait) is dedicated to rap from Tennessee with a heavy focus on Memphis. I might be breaking the rules by including this one because it features full albums and single song uploads. At 5,380 subscribers and 210 uploads, the account is a bit smaller than the aforementioned ones. It features plenty of the underground rap tapes from Memphis legends like Children of the Corn, DJ Spanish Fly, Three 6 Mafia (you’ll find various early solo and joint efforts from group members and affiliates), DJ Sound, DJ Squeeky, and DJ Zirk. It’s indispensable for that reason alone. But what takes it to another level is the incredible selection of ultra-obscure rap songs and albums that are likely known to very few people outside of Tennessee. I’ve noticed in recent months that the focus seems to be more and more outside of the established Memphis underground canon. It’s a treasure trove for curious listeners who are willing to give some ultra-deep cut selections a chance. (Note: Playback on a lot of the album uploads is disabled, so I’m including a single here.)

If you decide to check out any of these channels, I’d love to know what you think. Drop something in the comments.

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In 2001, the rap group CunninLynguists released their debut Will Rap for Food. One of my close friends discovered the record on a message board in high school. At the risk of rose-tinted glasses and nostalgia clouding my vision slightly, I remember this album going mini-viral throughout various social circles in my senior class and some friend groups in grades below us via burned CD. Everyone I hung out with couldn’t get enough of “Linguistics” and “Mic Like A Memory.”

Initially comprised of MC/producer Kno and lyricist Deacon The Villain, the group added rapper Mr. SOS to their lineup for 2003’s SouthernUnderground before eventually replacing him with Natti for their critically acclaimed 2006 effort A Piece Of Strange. Many albums and mixtapes later, the lineup remains Kno, Natti, and Deacon The Villain.

Kno handled the lion’s share of the production on Will Rap For Food, with Celph Titled contributing a beat for “So Live!” and Deacon and Kno co-producing “616 Rewind.” From there, Kno continued to produce the group’s future efforts entirely or almost entirely.

Kno has certainly built up a very impressive resume of production credits over the past quarter century. I highly recommend tapping into the CunninLynguists’ extensive offering of expanded/deluxe versions of several releases that include the instrumental versions of songs. There’s so much amazing music to unpack.

Deacon has also quietly contributed a nice selection of instrumentals to various projects over the years. Though he was primarily known as an MC at the group’s inception, his co-production on “616 Rewind” served as an initial indicator of production chops that have deservedly gotten more shine over time.

Some of my favorite production from Deacon is featured on the criminally underrated 2010 album N***** With Latitude (NWL) by him and Sheisty Khrist. This record is rock solid from front to back with high-quality beats, hooks, and raps. The lead track “Satellites” is a raucous, in-your-face adrenaline shot to the heart and one of my favorite moments.

I also firmly believe the song “Ascension” is a hip-hop classic and a gorgeous work of art that melds impeccable, layered lyricism, beautiful production, and a perfectly sung hook to take it to another level. The lyrics pack a lot of wisdom into a small space as they examine the tension between striving for spiritual wisdom and material wealth. They also speak to the vast number of people who are excluded from the promises of aspirational thinking because of systemic oppression via capitalism, racism, mass incarceration, and failed social systems.

As Deacon says, “Most’ll never get to bat at the field dreams/some people'll never see the sky, they in a guillotine/everybody lives to die, and the in between/is duckin’ gorilla swings and facing the realer things.”

Thankfully, Deacon decided to package the “Ascension” instrumental alongside 12 other beats for the 2015 release Instrumentals One. These include selections from the NWL album, contributions to Natti’s solo album, some unreleased tracks, and other projects as well. Available on Bandcamp for whatever price you’re comfortable paying, Instrumentals One is tough to pass up. It’s a great collection of work that speaks to Deacon’s production chops, which are often overshadowed by his talent on the mic.

For those of you who dig Instrumentals One, you’ll also want to check out the follow-up release.

With the 15th anniversary of N***** With Latitude (NWL) and the 10th anniversary of both Instrumentals projects rapidly approaching, now seems like a great time to give these projects some well-deserved love. Let me know what you think if you decide to do that.

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In 1968 The Beatles released The White Album, which included fan favorites like “Blackbird,” “Helter Skelter,” “Julia,” and “I Will.” Eight years later, celebrated reggae artist John Holt recorded an excellent rendition of “I Will” for his album 2000 Volts Of Holt.

Fans of Jay-Z’s The Black Album will likely notice Holt’s cover was repurposed for the Kanye West-produced “Encore.”

There are infinite amazing reggae renditions of songs to dig through and you could easily make a reggae covers playlist or DJ mix with hundreds of songs on it. Reggae covers also frequently become important sample sources for rap and sample-based records. Take Jackie Mittoo’s 1972 cover of Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose’s “Too Late to Turn Back Now.” The crispy drums at the beginning have been flipped and repflipped dozens of times.

A few years back I decided to make a YouTube playlist of some of my favorite reggae covers with 27 total songs. This is by no means a comprehensive list and I’m sure there are omissions here that will be glaring to some readers. But it’s a nice collection of tunes that ranges from famous/well-known to more obscure. There’s also a Spotify version of the playlist that doesn’t have quite as many songs because some aren’t available outside of YouTube, but it’s still pretty comprehensive. Another one of my absolute favorites from my playlist is Jennifer Lara’s remarkable cover of Evelyn "Champagne" King’s “I’m In Love” (with the slightly altered title “I Am In Love”).

I hope the songs included here and the playlist provide you with some nice Sunday listening. Let me know what you think of my selections and what I might have missed.

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There’s something powerful about listening to music on its own merits without a visual aid. However, visuals provide a powerful companion to the music we listen to, whether it’s compelling album art, stickers and promotional merch, or press photos. Building an image of an artist or group and their aesthetic is often part of the process of immersing yourself in their work.

In recent years, I’ve come to appreciate the ability we have as modern listeners to watch producers create/recreate beats from scratch or perform them live. Here are a few of my favorites below.

1. “See the light” by STLNDRMS - I started following STLNDRMS’ work eight or nine years ago and I’ve always been impressed by the way he intimately shares his creative process. If you check his YouTube channel, you’ll find countless videos of him passing along information and knowledge, playing his tracks out live, or inviting friends over to perform live beat sets.

One of my favorite videos of him performing live is this rendition of “See the light,” a gorgeous selection from his 2017 release Veggie tacos. I love this track and seeing him play it out live brings it to another level. The vocal sampling here is absolutely stunning and this song remains a standard of his ever-growing catalog.

2. “Dust” by Nothing_Neue - In 2018 I got a chance to see Nothing_Neue teardown Nightworks in Boston. Nightworks was an amazing producer showcase that sadly stopped running after COVID. The energy he put into his set was phenomenal and contagious. Nothing_Neue was really cool too, we had a chance to chop it up after his set and I’ve been following his work ever since. I love his YouTube channel, where you can find excellent beat sets like this one (check around the 3-minute mark for a killer D’Angelo flip).

Another highlight of the channel are the Mandled Mondays videos he posted for a while. They consisted of live, in-studio performances of songs from various releases. A personal favorite of mine is the beautifully hauting “Dust” from his 2018 record Foreign+familiar. I love the way he selectively incorporates effects and filters into his live work to underscore especially poignant moments in the music.

3. “Someone’s Second Kiss” by RJD2 - RJD2’s 2002 debut Deadringer is an incredibly impressive insturmental effort. It earned critical acclaim and certainly set a high bar for his sophomore record. Though 2004’s Since We Last Spoke was generally well-received, I always thought it would have gotten even more attention if it haden’t been preceded by Deadringer. I find that cuts like “Making Days Longer” (a cover of Labi Siffre’s “Bless the Telephone”) have aged incredibly well and sound just as strong if not stronger than they did at their time of release 21 years ago.

   “Someone’s Second Kiss” is a song it took me a bit longer to full appreciate. However, after years of repeated listens, I eventually fell in love with the track. RJ really packs a broad spectrum of emtions into the music through the use of electronic piano stabs, synths, and a vocal sample that sticks with you long after the song’s conclusion. In 2014 he gave a brief but detailed breakdown of how he put the song together that’s well worth your time.

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It’s a feeling many people who read this newsletter can probably relate to. You hear an instrumental intro or outro from a Pete Rock & CL Smooth classic like Mecca and the Soul Brother or The Main Ingredient. Or maybe one of the interludes from Pete Rock’s excellent solo album Soul Survivor. The intermission is incredible but fleeting. It helps tie the album together perfectly and gives it a personal touch, almost like a hidden easter egg on a mixtape from a close friend. You wish you could extend it into a much longer, fleshed-out track.

25 years ago someone decided to follow that impulse and create the white label/bootleg record Soul Brotha Beats. I remember being intrigued by this album and having it on my record wish list, but I can’t remember if I actually heard it at the time of release. It’s a mysterious recording and it’s unclear from the Pete Rock interviews I’ve read and listened to if he approved of the album or is even aware of its existence. Whatever the case, this is an essential listen if you’re a fan of Pete Rock’s production.

I understand the power in leaving your audience wanting more and his decision to keep his interludes nice and truncated. That said, there’s no denying how good some of these beats sound when they have a chance to breathe a little bit. I’d love to see Pete Rock get behind an official release of extended interludes. He could even add some new, short interludes to the project to take it to the next level.

You’ll find the track list and YouTube upload for Soul Brotha Beats below. Let me know what you think in the comments.

1. ‘Soul Survivor’ Intro

2. “#1 Soul Brother” Intro

3. ‘The Main Ingredient’ Intro

4. “Searching” Intro

5. “Escape” Intro

6. “All The Places And Spaces” Outro

7. “On You” Intro

8. “Respect Mine” Intro

9. “I Get Physical” Outro

10. “Worldwide” Intro

11. “Basement” Intro

12. “Carmel City” Intro

13. “It's About That Time” Outro

14. “Tru Master” Outro

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I love split, 50/50, two-producer beat tapes. Some of my favorites come from the early 2010s, which feels like a much different and more innocent time for instrumental hip-hop. Collaborations seemed to be organic and freewheeling, social media wasn’t the all-consuming monster it is today, videos of producers making beats weren’t as prevalent, and the smaller canon of beat tapes made the genre feel more intimate and easy to digest.

That isn’t to say there haven’t been positives with the explosive growth in popularity of beat tapes/instrumental albums over the past 15 to 20 years, but as with all things in life, there’s some tradeoff with positives and negatives as a cultural phenomenon becomes more widespread and popular.

I’ve been looking back on the blog era and blog era-adjacent time for raps and beats a lot lately. There’s so much good stuff from that time that kind of found an audience but never blew up in a major way. The music is also an interesting lens into a moment in time that feels simultaneously recent and several lifetimes ago in terms of art, daily life, and politics. Perhaps that’s why I’m taking the time to highlight some key split beat releases from this unique moment in time.

Several of the producers featured below have gone on to gain massive followings. These releases are essential entries in their catalog, even if they are lesser known. There’s no time like the present to dust them off and give them a listen.

1. The Boot D (2nd Press) by Ackryte and Culprit (2011) - This 2011 effort from Ackryte and Culprit (aka Culp) is one of the first two-person beat tapes I purchased on Bandcamp. As the years pass, I find this one continues to age very well, with tracks like Ackryte’s “Gravy” always providing an immersive, illuminating listen. Ackryte is still actively putting out beat tapes today, while Culp’s output is much more limited.

2. Zen Vapors by Fitz Ambro$e and Ohbliv (2013) - Over a decade ago, prolific producers Fitz Ambro$e and Ohbliv linked up to drop this beautiful bit of instrumental music on Paris-based Cascade Records. Highlighted by numbers like Ambro$e’s “ALDAY” and Ohbliv’s “JUSWANABE,” Zen Vapors will not disappoint if you’re familiar with either producer’s catalog. It’s Bandcamp-only and many tracks are locked, so you’ll need to pay to hear all of it. It’s well worth the price of admission.

3. AfrikanDivas. by Sir Froderick and Knxwledge. (2011) - Sir Froderick and Knxwledge. are both important figures in the development of the Los Angeles beat scene and the global obsession with instrumental hip-hop. Knxwledge. has gone on to have considerably higher visibility thanks to his work with Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak (as NxWorries), but Sir Froderick’s catalog is not to be underestimated. Their collaborative effort AfrikanDivas. is almost 15 years old, but I honestly completely missed it until a year or two ago when I was floored by the beauty of “Alwaysloveyou.” The album took on added meaning when I learned it was a tribute to Froderick’s late mother.

4. Seat of the Soul by vhvl and Ras G (2014) - vhvl and Ras G are a perfect match for a two-person instrumental album. Both of their styles defy simple classification and earned high praise from fans, peers, and the press. And, unfortunately, both of their careers were marked by profound, unfortunate turns of fortune. vhvl experienced severe and debilitating spinal issues around the time Seat of the Soul was released. Though she recovered to an extent, interviews indicate that she still had significant health challenges after recovering. And Ras G, a beloved and towerfing icon in the beat community, left this world far too soon in 2019. I am forever grateful I had the chance to interview him in 2017. This excellent release is a testament to both producer’s individual talents and their creative chemistry. Ras G leans into his more experimental side while maintaining some of his trademark bounces on joints like “Move Along…...” while vhvl’s “Fvrfew” is an gorgeous, unforgettable 15-minute chunk of electronic instrumental music.

5. Episodes by Mndsgn. and devonwho (2010) - Klipmode was a short-lived, remarkably talented crew of producers that included Suzi Analogue, devonwho, Knxwledge., and Mndsgn.. Though I’m not sure of the exact years that they were technically active, their output under the Klipmode monikor seems limited to 2009 through 2010. Mndsgn. and devonwho’s 2010 Bandcamp collabo Episodes captures early iterations of the sounds that would make them both sought after producers from their early careers through the present day. Songs like Mndsgn.’s “Skape” sound remarkably fresh, making this one prime for a revisit.

Bonus: Many of the producers listed above have had their work featured on the essential DIY video collage/music video website GodConnect. Please take a moment to check out videos featuring music from Ackryte, Fitz Ambro$e, Ohbliv, Sir Froderick, Knxwledge., vhvl, Ras G, Mndsgn., and devonwho. You’ll be glad you did.

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