Favorite instrumental hip-hop albums? Producers?
 

Anyone have any good instrumental hip-hop albums? I havent heard much but my favorites are J Dilla's Donuts (a masterpiece if there ever was one), Dr No's Oxperiment by Oh No, Dill Cosby Suite by Madlib, and the instrumentals used for 9th Wonder's Gods Stepson. (full remix of Nas' God's Son, one disc is the album, the other the instrumentals.)

Just to broaden this out a bit, I figured id add in favorite producers aspect too.
my top five would be something like:
Dj Premier (easily my favorite beat maker, so good he can make abysmal rappers such as Group Home sound great)
9th Wonder
Madlib
Pete Rock
RZA

among my runners up:
J Dilla, Dr Dre, The Neptunes, The Alchemist, Jake One, Tha Beatminerz, Diamond D, Lord Finnesse

I actually really like the Neptunes stuff too. I don't listen to too much "mainstream" anymore, but I've always liked Pharrell's work.

As for instrumental - RJD2 never disappoints. 'Deadringer' is a great album top to bottom, and I'm also real fond of the track "1976" from 'Since We Last Spoke'.

I'm really wanting to get J Dilla's Donuts. 32 tracks of instrumental, from what I remember. 16 dollars though, too much right now.

The Neptunes' (well most Pharrell) work on Clipse's Hell Hath no Fury is some of the best production Ive ever heard. The way it follows theme, and how different most of the beats are (check Keys Open Doors, Chinese New Year, and Ride Around Shining for instance) are unrivaled by just about any rap album.

Surrell, I can up Donuts for you if you like.

Damn, I'd appreciate that.

Ill have it up for you tomorrow hopefully, and if not tomorrow then by the end of the weekend.

Sounds great, good sir.

I absolutely loved Emancipator's "Soon It Will be Cold Enough"

Both Nujabes albums are amazing instrumental albums.

Another great one is Muziq and Foto by Nomak.

Shades of Blue by Madlib is a great one.
Liquid Hip Hop by DJ Cam is solid as well, although there's one or two tracks with vocals.

I think you can get instrumental versions of EL-P's solo albums, which would be brilliant, him Madlib and Dangermouse are my favourite producers.

Instrumental hip hop doesn't really do it for me though, without vocals I find it hard to completely get into a track other than background music. Lyrics give me something follow along with in my head and add a whole new level of appreciation.