"Post me up some great piano-based hip-hop tracks." Sat Mar-19-16 08:43 PM by Brew
Where the piano is the most prominent or at least a major component of the beat. I'd even take a track like "2000 Seasons" where the piano is subtle but important.
I've noticed in recent years that the piano is easily my favorite instrument in any hip-hop beat. Most of my favorite beats of all time have piano in them.
Anyway I want to try and make a Spotify playlist of a bunch of great piano-based hip-hop beats. I have a bunch in mind but figured I could be reminded of some great ones here if not introduced to some new ones I never heard before.
Give me title and artist in the subject then a YouTube or Soundcloud link so I can take a quick listen. Feel free to write up some info on it too if you like, of course (sample sources, production credits, or even just a blurb about why you like it).
Xzibit told me that Muggs gave him that beat for free because he knew he either couldn't clear the sample or that he wasn't gonna get any publishing from it anyway.
that was a great day. my homie worked for BMG, so we were backstage for the whole show (X & The Liks). they're all cool AF. X's album hadn't dropped yet, but his buzz was ridiculous and we'd been bumping the sampler. homie put the fucking sampler on in the tour bus and rhymed along with the WHOLE thing...a mini fucking concert. he was REALLY hungry and passionate about rap back then, lol. super dope memory.
156. "Wow. That's a fucking awesome story." In response to Reply # 136
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnlvPoDU5LY > >Xzibit told me that Muggs gave him that beat for free because >he knew he either couldn't clear the sample or that he wasn't >gonna get any publishing from it anyway. > >that was a great day. my homie worked for BMG, so we were >backstage for the whole show (X & The Liks). they're all cool >AF. X's album hadn't dropped yet, but his buzz was ridiculous >and we'd been bumping the sampler. homie put the fucking >sampler on in the tour bus and rhymed along with the WHOLE >thing...a mini fucking concert. he was REALLY hungry and >passionate about rap back then, lol. super dope memory.
I love Xzibit and have forever so I love hearing this type of stuff.
<---------------------------------------- "Consider me the entity within the industry without a history of spittin the epitomy of stupidity!" - Talib Kweli http://www.takotron.com/news/2006/mets_cap.jpg
Also, I'd give you Meek Mill's "Amen", even though it's an organ sample, and not a piano.
I may be back with links later.
You're such pests...now, what is it you want? In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want? Well, whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. - Orson Welles
the piano here is so eerie and mysterious. and that snare? and the bassline? pssht. this is a gem I never hear come up when people discuss Pete joints.
my absolute favorite PR production. there is so much confidence and mastery at work here. the beat is really spare, with the piano chords, horns and guitar (?) placed *just so*, leaving all this air and empty space in the track. the way it all fits together is nothing short of genius, imo.
You're such pests...now, what is it you want? In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want? Well, whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. - Orson Welles
64. "I'll count it cause it gives me the opportunity to present this..." In response to Reply # 28
>Although the piano piece doesn't really kick in until the end >of the song, so I'm not sure if it counts.
...absolute production gem, which similarly is sans-piano until the last minute. Whole song is flames but the piano at the end gives me chills every fucking time.
43. "Jeru The Damaja - Me Not The Paper" In response to Reply # 0 Sun Mar-20-16 10:34 AM by fatboybrandon
is a track that had Fat Joe sayin' "this is the fattest beat" on an episode of The Stretch & Bobbito show in the late 90's. Premo had some nice piano-based bangers at the height of his output in the 90's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrIYdS_wYtc
Gangstarr's What I'm Here 4
King Tee's Played Like A Piano
Nas' The World Is Yours, one of the best piano sample flips imo
Public Enemy's Black Steel Isaac Hayes piano flip by The Bomb Squad still gets me amped
Saigon's Better Way, inspirational piano arrangements by Just Blaze
Nicolay & Kay's I've Seen Rivers sounds very uplifting
Return Of The Crooklyn Dodger
50 Cent's High All The Time, beautifully-dark piano arrangements throughout
Obie Trice, 50 Cent & Eminem's Love Me beautifully-dark as well
Killarmy's Wake Up, dark and sinister RZA production at it's finest
___________________ cratesofjr.blogspot.com. If you think you'll get out alive, you're dreaming.
The Wordsmith Member since Aug 13th 2002 17070 posts
Sun Mar-20-16 08:23 PM
68. "I feel you on those piano joints." In response to Reply # 67
It's something about songs like "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers", "The World Is Yours", "Up Against the Wall (Getaway Car Remix)", etc. that really sticks with me. I love piano based hip hop; both acoustic and electric piano/Rhodes joints.
69. "Yea man." In response to Reply # 68 Sun Mar-20-16 08:26 PM by Brew
>It's something about songs like "Return of the Crooklyn >Dodgers", "The World Is Yours", "Up Against the Wall (Getaway >Car Remix)", etc. that really sticks with me. I love piano >based hip hop; both acoustic and electric piano/Rhodes >joints.
^^ totally. Somehow they have the ability to simultaneously hype me up and chill me out/give me that nostalgic vibe. Whenever I'm listening to a new album the songs that catch me immediately are piano-based.
I've been listening to that track a lot lately and every time it comes on it's like a breath of fresh air. Just so smooth. Great 90s golden era hip hop
I dated a German chick who was heavy into Trap music but loooovved this joint since her hip hop head friend put her onto it. Said she loved the piano. She was open to hearing the underground stuff outside of the clubs (of course).
188. "The Roots - Adrenaline" In response to Reply # 93
Love that beat
<---------------------------------------- "Consider me the entity within the industry without a history of spittin the epitomy of stupidity!" - Talib Kweli http://www.takotron.com/news/2006/mets_cap.jpg
94. "I'm done posting, but" In response to Reply # 0
I created a similar post 2 years ago, only asking for songs with vibraphone and Rhodes playing/sampling, since those are often my favorite instruments to hear in hip hop. Check it out if you want! Moar musikkkk lol
95. "Haha you posted a LOT of great ones so thank you..." In response to Reply # 94
...for the contributions. My tracklist is gonna be fire.
I will *definitely* check out your post. Thank you. Was glad to see that someone else pulled a similar move upping a "guitar-based hip-hop" post from last year. Give me all of the music. Haha.
The Wordsmith Member since Aug 13th 2002 17070 posts
Mon Mar-21-16 09:17 PM
138. "I remember that post." In response to Reply # 94 Mon Mar-21-16 09:18 PM by The Wordsmith
I love hip hop with pianos (the kind of piano playing/samples that give you that chill, good feeling vibe), electric piano/Rhodes, and like you said, vibraphones. I had forgotten to mention vibraphones up top as another of my favorites. It's something about those instruments that get me.
Certain organs too like the kind used in The Boogiemonstas' "Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress."
Very mainstream ones but best examples I could think of:
Pusha T - Pussy money alcohol Big Pun - Still not a player Kanye West - blame game Kanye West - New God Flow Nas - On the Real De La Soul - Rock Co. Kane Flow
I can't believe that I forgot to include this last night. As much as I love the feeling the piano in this joint gives me (alongside this joint having dope lyrics), it should've been tops in my memory.
187. "RE: ... Talib Kweli - Get By" In response to Reply # 154
I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned sooner! Great one!
<---------------------------------------- "Consider me the entity within the industry without a history of spittin the epitomy of stupidity!" - Talib Kweli http://www.takotron.com/news/2006/mets_cap.jpg
I have always loved this track. DJ Mitsu The Beats is always dope with the jazz sample flips, and he does a great job flipping some Ahmad Jamal on this one. He switches the sample up at the end which is like the cherry on a very wonderful cake. I have no idea what MC Hunger is saying though ...
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