will have a more "qualified" opinion. and in re-assessing the situation, i was speaking more on the "skill" of programming rather than "feel" or anything else. i can understand why people find a kanye, blaze, or dilla beat more interesting.

but no one is touching dj shadow in terms of skill. guy's made a whole career out of making a chopped up break still sound like a loop or a live drummer from the 70s--complete with the original swing (see "the number song"), or even match the swing to a loop that he takes away (see "the right way"). i haven't seen another producer outside of his camp use 100+ pads dedicated to drum sounds on ONE song.

if you want a real education, listen to "swan lake". shadow and excel took a whole damn trumpet solo that's almost a minute long and MANUALLY time stretch it on an mpc to match the song. do you know how hard that is?!?!??

...again, only a person who has made beats will know.