#2. The Time – The Time
Morris Day is the king, but it’s important to know that he would not be anything close to the legend he is now without Prince. Prince composed, arranged, produced and recorded most of this, The Time’s debut LP in 1981, and you can tell
#3. Mocky – Saskamodie
Mocky, the Berlin-based, Canadian multi-instrumentalist and musical genius who loves to flex his musical gifts, crafted this lovely orchestral and largely instrumental treasure with both playful and melancholy moods in mind
#4. Mad Skillz – From Where???
This young MC’s debut LP slipped quietly into the night after its 1996 release, robbing him of the honor of one of the 90’s most entertaining voices on the mic. Oh, and the beats were provided by Jay Dee, Buckwild, Shawn J. Period, Large Professor and the Beatnuts
#5. Frank n Dank – 48 Hrs
My boy Erik Hove bought this CD for me on the street in NYC back in 2003. Back then, we still thought this Dilla produced album was still coming out on MCA. No dice, and I’m always surprised at how even devout J Dilla fans slept on this classic combo of slack-rhymes and bangin’ beats
#6. Pharrell & the Yessirs
Out of My Mind: Although this album became noteworthy because it was never officially released, it’s really hard to understand why it never came out. Pharrell and Questlove team up and make gold, bringing in heavyweights Jay-Z, Snoop and Jamie Callum
#7. Dimlite – Runbox Weathers
2005 doesn’t seem that long ago, but if you’re into the now exploding and evolving “beats” scene, I have to go back to the future to Dimlite and this LP. Miles ahead of the game, there’s enough head-noddable glitch in here to stun Kenlo, Dorian Concept and Flying Lotus no problem. Listen and learn
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