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)

Murs and 9th

Murs and the Carolina kid at it again. A little snack before he drops his first major label, Murs for President (which apparently DJ Quik is producing from top to bottom). A little different feel than the last two collabs, 9th's gets into some different tones, but still brings the funky soul. All in all these two can't do wrong in my opinion. great shit.