Sometimes people ask me what I can recommend before they go buying CD’s. I’m talking about those friends who like good music but aren’t as mad as us to buy the latest dope releases seconds after they are pressed or dig deep in the crates worldwide looking after some obscure Rare Groove bombs. People who just want to hear some fine music in the car or while doing the house chores.

Usually when I get those questions I’m too staggered to give a proper answer. Or I don’t know if it was released on CD or not. So I’m gonna start a topic on this Blog with recommendations which y’all can click too before going on a buying trip.

First up is a collection of music from fresh up and coming beatsmiths. All influenced by the late Dilla, no doubt, but all great artists in their own right. Some with vocals or raps, some instrumental. Producer No. 1, released by the nice people from Fat City, is a collection a selection of tunes done by some of the most talented cats around like Domu, Rednose Distriktn Ta’Raach, Samiyam, Marc de Clive-Lowe and Eric Lau. All winners no fillers. Soulful, abstract but without going boring or too intellectual. A fine introduction into the world of music with its origins in Hiphop but going way beyond what most people’s idea is of this genre. The vinyls have been on constant repeat at my home and most tracks have been played by Lefto, Benji B, Simon Harrison and alike in their radio shows.

Other similar releases I can recommend are Wajeed – The War LP (Fat City), V/A - Beat Dimension (Rush Hour), Sotu the Traveller - Daydreams (Appeltree), V/A – From L.A. with Love (Milan), Flying Lotus – 1983 (Plug Research), Rdnose Distrikt – Poes (Rush Hour)

And recommended Dilla: J Dilla – Donuts (Stones Throw), J Dilla – Ruft Draft (Stones Throw)