Illingsworth
Illingsworth – Mr. Glow Body
Black Milk: The Illingsworth instrumental project was one of my favorites released on House Shoes’ Street Corner Music label. I like the sample selection here. I love the melody of the guitar during the hook.
J Dilla
Slum Village – Love Is (ft. Bilal)
Black Milk: I mean, what more can I say? Here, we’ve got that classic Dilla bounce, that swing that has you nodding until your head falls off.
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (co-production by Royce Music Group)
EarthGang – A.W.O.L.
Strict Face: In a year where I was particularly enamoured with 808s, this tune felt like a breath of fresh air.
Jake One
Rick Ross – Money Dance (ft. The-Dream)
Harold Stallworth: Jake One and Rick Ross have developed a unique chemistry over the last few years. Out of their half-dozen or so collaborations to date, “Money Dance,” the lead street single from Ross’s Black Dollar mixtape, probably makes the best case for that chemistry. The production is smooth as silk, and Ross is as poised and self-assured as he’s ever been.
Kevin Parker
Tame Impala – Eventually
Black Milk: I’m a fan of beat switches. This year, there were a lot of really well-executed beat switches and some cool sound juxtapositions. I like how this track comes on explosive with the rock riff and transitions into a more melodic sound. The drums sound like they were played live, then programmed. Overall, a good marriage of hip-hop and indie rock/pop.
Knxwledge
NxWorries – Suede
Shafiq Husayn: Loved how he chopped “The Bottle” by Gil Scott.
Knxwledge, Taz Arnold
Kendrick Lamar – Momma
Tuamie: It’s a favorite of mine because it shows that you can accomplish anything you want to do if just put in the work. Heat. Fire. Flame. Ice cold.
Lido
Towkio – Heaven Only Knows (ft. Chance The Rapper, Lido, Eryn Allen Kane)
Craig S. Jenkins: Every time Lido’s “Heaven Only Knows” beat drops at the chorus, it’s like falling out of the sky but landing in a bed of cotton candy. Gospel juke is the way, the truth, and the light.
London on da Track
Young Thug – Power
Rabit: Hard to pick one beat Young Thug got on this year, but this one stuck with me.
Lotic
Lotic – Heterocetera
Rabit: This track is a monster.
LoveDragon
Kendrick Lamar – How Much a Dollar Cost
Shafiq Husayn: Watched the beat be put together in the studio. The piano chords correlate with the drums and how the space in between the beat comes together perfectly.
Matt Martians, Nick Green, Steve Lacy
The Internet – Gabby (ft. Janelle Monae)
Black Milk: The Internet’s Ego Death album has some great moments and really effective beat changes on it. I like the beat change on this song from 2:24 on. I couldn’t tell if the vocal part was a sample or Syd’s voice; either way, it’s dope. I love the melodics from the bass line to the cords. It’s also nice to hear young artists incorporating musicianship and live elements along with programming.
Metro Boomin, Southside
Meek Mill – Jump Out the Face (ft. Future)
Rabit: Not much to explain here. Ignorant and cinematic.
Metro Boomin, Tre Pounds
Future – I Serve The Base
Christian Rich: Sounds like an updated Neptunes beat. Shit’s hard. Metro Boomin, of course, is on an ill streak.
nineteen85
Drake – Hotline Bling
Strict Face: Mr. Graham has had a pretty solid 2015 production-wise, so this wasn’t particularly easy. There was something that stuck out with me for this particular track though… the Timmy Thomas sample brings a new depth of warmth I hadn’t really felt in Drake’s work before (“Karaoke” being one rare exception), and after a spate of A+ hard-ass tracks, hearing him croon once more this year was such a sweet blessing.
The Beat Drop is one of the greatest features in the entire hip hop blogosphere. You need to keep these coming on the regular.