The Visioneers - Dirty Old Hip Hop

The idea behind the Visioneers is fucking awesome - started by Marc Mac (of 4hero, look them up if you don't know), it's a bunch of UK studio musicians paying homage to their favorite U.S. hip-hop producers such as Jay Dee and DJ Premier. In effect, these guys "resample" their samples, turning them into extended instrumentals. They have a really sweet organic jazzy sound - the drumming in particular is too dope. Great to work/chill to.

"Runnin"

"The World Is Yours"

The Visioneers - Dirty Old Hip Hop

Danny! - And I Love H.E.R.

The year's next concept-mixtape comes from Danny!, a rapper/producer from SC very much in the Lupe/Kanye camp. Loosely based both on the Common classic "I Used To Love H.E.R." as well as the Beatles, its basically a 70-minute metaphor on hip-hop as woman. Really cool, loungey production, and a breezy flow make this another to throw in the rotation.

"The Groove"

"Yoko Ono"

Danny! - And I Love H.E.R. (REUPPED)