Thirty Three Jones | Desktop Site
When you think of the top hip hop producers of the 90's, there are a ton of names to choose from. DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, Pete Rock, the Hitmen and Large Professor are some of the most frequently cited names, but often overlooked in that discussion is K-Def, one of the architects behind the wave of New Jersey hip hop that flooded the airwaves during a large portion of the previous decade. From the Lords of the Underground to the Artifacts to his own group with Larry-O, Real Live, K-Def was responsible for some of the best hip hop to come out of the 90's. He's done a lot of producing outside of Jersey, too, including a significant portion of Ghostface's Pretty Toney album and (what I would argue to be) the best beat Nas has ever rapped over, On The Real.
To any hip hop head from Jersey, K-Def is a legend. I clearly fall into that camp, so I was pretty excited when I got an email from K-Def's promoter last night with a link to a K-Def anthology mix, featuring 70 minutes of his best work. Filled with vinyl cuts and beat juggling by K-Def himself, this is easily the best mix I've listened to in a long time. All the mixtape djs in the audience should take note: this is how you put your turntables to proper use during a mix. The anthology is a promo of sorts for his upcoming instrumental album, Analog Past. Check it out:
Download link for the K-Def Anthology Mixed by K-Def (zShare link)
The mix is 70 minutes long, but it is unquestionably worth the time to download it. In the meantime, here are two cuts from the tape:
Ghostface, Killa Sin, Cappadonna, Lord Tariq and Larry-O - Real Live (remix)
Shabba Ranks - Ting-A-Ling (K-Def remix)
Big shout out to my man John, K-Def's promoter, for hooking up the mix. For more from K-Def, including a bunch of his videos, stop by kdef.biz. The site requires Flash, so if you don't have that installed just hit up his MySpace page.
Also, be sure to check out unkut's interview with K-Def from earlier this year.
10/25/2007 08:31:29 PM posted by Fresh