most well-mixed hip-hop album

scius · 14th December 2005, 06:46 AM

what's your favorite hip-hop album as far as the production?

i'd have to say 2pac's greatest hits (ok not really one album), even though it's mad old. everything is super clean.

anyone have any information relevant to 2pac's production/engineering?

PhonoquO · 14th December 2005, 10:17 AM

Dr Dre: Chronic 2001

Tha DoggPound: Doggfood

s-boogie · 14th December 2005, 01:06 PM

how can a "best of" album belong to the most well mixed hiphop albums?
these songs may have been mixed within a decade...
no disrespect here,but i think " best of " cuts cannot really count?!

well mixed hiphop-records...hmmm...difficult.

foxy brown :
broken silence
(i really like axel niehaus mixes!!!

stray dog!)

i liked the sound of
scarface :
the fix
(soft & gentle vocals,low but still present enough)

50 cent :
get rich & massacre
(the 1 album sounded more homogeneous,2nd had ups &downs)

missy:
under construction

hi-tek:
hi-teknology

jadakiss:
kiss of death

game:
nwa vol.1 (some exceptions)

...damn there are so many.
i try not to consider the 90´s sound

Melly · 14th December 2005, 02:32 PM

I second the Dr. Dre albums
Outkast - Aquemini (thats my favorite outkast album, but they all sound pretty great)
Biggie - Life After Death
Jay Z - The Blueprint
just to name a few

farjedi · 14th December 2005, 03:14 PM

I think commons album 'like water for chocalate' has a great sound to it..you could definately hear the $$'s spent. Great recordings and mixes by Bob Power complement Jay Dee's stellar production work to a t.
I also liked the engineering work on slum villages 'Trinity' album work by RJ Rice. Lots of imaginative effects, panning and eq. It's an example of the mix as an integral part of the creative process. It's very stereo and always moving. A benchmark in my opinion. A crazy amount of sibilance at times, I wouldn't have let that go, but it doesn't distract at all.

Tibbon · 14th December 2005, 04:59 PM

I'll have to admit, i'm more of a rock guy, but to keep up on "The Sound" of hip hop, i'll pick up a few things here and there.

For some reason unknown to myself I have purchased every M&M album so far (just to keep up on what Dre has been doing). The stuff is good, but it sounds overcompressed to me. I always have to turn it down a bit, but what's probably just from M's voice getting annoying after a while.

OutKast is the only group that I am really impressed with their recordings. They have a nice studio in Atlanta and put it to use. The stuff always sounds fresh to me, and it's not so canned and dark that I can't take it.

I'm not sure if you guys would consider it hip-hop, but it's pretty damn close to hip-hop at points- the Gorillaz consistantly have the best sounding, best written and just overall best CD's that use hip-hop stylings that I know of. Then again did anyone expect the writing to be poor coming from the guy that wrote "Parklife"?

And the best "Rap" album recording is Paul's Botique by the Beastie Boys. Their other early albums are amazing as well but Paul's Botique was groundbreaking and still sounds fresh to me. It makes me want to go grab an Akai S900 and start sampling all of my records!

I'm pretty sure that Dre did some work on NIN's The Fragile as well on "Even Deeper" and "The Wretched" (not 100% certain, and I need to doublecheck). If so, it's some of the best stuff I have heard Dre touch.

paultools · 14th December 2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scius

what's your favorite hip-hop album as far as the production?

i'd have to say 2pac's greatest hits (ok not really one album), even though it's mad old. everything is super clean.

anyone have any information relevant to 2pac's production/engineering?

Mics: U87 or 414 or U47

Preamp: SSL E or G

Compressor: SSL E or G

Studios: Enterprise, Soundcastle, Unique, Quad

Mixdown: Studer 1/2"

Monitors: Yamaha NS10, Meyer HD-1, Radio Shack Minimus 7, auratones

blazinheat · 14th December 2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scius

what's your favorite hip-hop album as far as the production?

i'd have to say 2pac's greatest hits (ok not really one album), even though it's mad old. everything is super clean.

anyone have any information relevant to 2pac's production/engineering?

most of his recording was done by his producer , i believe his name is johnny, but i cant recall his last name. i saw a video where he said they would track 8 songs a night, he just through a beat on and went through w/o stopping

paultools · 14th December 2005, 06:52 PM

Well, he had several producers...
You may be talking about Johnny J, who did some early tracks at Echo Sound.

He was fast, very few punches, and could "throw the switch" in an instant.

Teacher · 14th December 2005, 07:16 PM

The Notorious BIG

"Life After Death"

Big, Wide, Deep and Smooth

scius · 15th December 2005, 12:07 AM

ok, if i had to pick one 2pac album, i'd say all eyez on me.

2001, how could i forget that.

anyone heard of Nicolay? producer from the netherlands...i don't think i've heard a wack beat from him yet. check out "Foreign Exchange - Connected" which is Nicolay on production, and Phonte from Little Brother on vocals. not to mention "Dutch Masters Vol. 1" which has a bunch of remixes...very clean production, catchy beats.

3rd world order · 15th December 2005, 12:10 AM

wu-tang : 36 Chambers is still my favorite...

Charlie-O · 15th December 2005, 12:29 AM

The chronic 2001.

And from up to date stuff, if you wann know how to mix a 808 and sub , as well as a few other low ins, listen to Young Jeezy, "Thug Motivation" This albums mixes are phenominal.

Seriousely check it out, bottom for days, but clear as a babies skin.

(DC) · 15th December 2005, 04:18 AM

I can't believe you have not mentioned Biggie Smalls first album:

Ready to Die

Have you heard the track "Ready to Die"????? It's a MASTERPIECE. It's a perfect example of how to produce an amazing hiphop track... make sure to listen to all the little things that go on at the same time... Also Suicidal Thoughts is an amazing track on that album that starts off with a phone call and biggie raps like it was a phone conversation to p diddy on the other line... amazing. I thought Life After Death was not as good because it sounded like Biggie was no longer using his old style.... it was like pdiddy ****ed him up or something... lol anyway... just get that album.

JohnnyPraze · 15th December 2005, 04:26 AM

Aquemini... mos def

Methlab · 15th December 2005, 05:11 AM

charlie..good call on jeezy..that is some bottom and a half on those beats..my fav record of the year.

2001, and old outkast are great mixes.

the new chamillionaire is a great mix..really stuck out to me..his vocals are pristine.

killahertz · 15th December 2005, 06:40 AM

come on. The Roots "things fall apart" did you hear ?uestloves snare!?!?! Bob Power all day every day. If i had a budget he'd be the first number i'd call.

beatzz · 15th December 2005, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killahertz

come on. The Roots "things fall apart" did you hear ?uestloves snare!?!?! Bob Power all day every day. If i had a budget he'd be the first number i'd call.

ya that's true man, the mixing on that album is great.

otoh i cant blame early nineties rap from sounding too grimey

jsrockit · 16th December 2005, 01:09 AM

I love the sound of DJ Vadim's stuff. Love the sound of Gang Starr's Hard to Earn as well. Of course the Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique is great as well. These may not be the best quality...but they are done right in my opinion.

BOO BLADES · 17th December 2005, 12:21 PM

METH LAB AND CHARLIE

YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY...I LISTEN TO JEEZY'S ALBUM EVERY DAY WONDERING HOW THE HELL THEY GET IT TO SOUND LIKE THAT...DONT FORGET LIL JON AS WELL...I COMPARED USHERS ALBUM TO EVERYTHING I HEARD AFTERWARD AND JEEZY AND LIL JON ARE THE ONLY 2 THAT CAN COMPARE...ALTHOUGH THE SOUND COMING OUT OF DRE'S CAMP IS GOOD AS WELL YET DIFFERENT...THE BOTTOM SEEMS TO BE MORE WET (IF U KNOW WHAT IM SAYING?) AND THE VOCALS ARE OUTRAGEOUS...IM PERSONALLY STRIVING FOR A BALANCE OF THE 2...DONT KNOW HOW IM GONNA DO IT BUT AXEL NIEHAUS IS MY MIX ENGINEER SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER.

s-boogie · 17th December 2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOO BLADES

METH LAB AND CHARLIE

...DONT KNOW HOW IM GONNA DO IT BUT AXEL NIEHAUS IS MY MIX ENGINEER SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER.

..curious about that

GL Respect Due · 17th December 2005, 08:34 PM

Lord Finesse - The Awakening LP
Mobb Deep - Infamous LP
Dres - 1st & 2nd LP
Group Homes - Livin Proof LP
Roots - Illadelph Halflife LP

nickp · 17th December 2005, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I'm not sure if you guys would consider it hip-hop, but it's pretty damn close to hip-hop at points- the Gorillaz consistantly have the best sounding, best written and just overall best CD's that use hip-hop stylings that I know of. Then again did anyone expect the writing to be poor coming from the guy that wrote "Parklife"?

........

Yeah...ummm...yeah.
-Nick

illynoise · 18th December 2005, 12:49 AM

Without a doubt Whodini "Escape". Listen to that album if you want to learn how to mix! I think it was produced by Larry Smith and recorded in London.

Honorable mentions:

Pete Rock CL Smooth - Main Ingredient
Heavy D - Peacefull Journey
ATCQ - Low End Theory

BaseJase
Illynoise

BOO BLADES · 18th December 2005, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s-boogie

..curious about that

what are u curious about?...how we are gonna get it to sound bottom heavy and clean like jeezy's album or about axel being my mix engineer?...if its about axel well u can just call him...(i would assume u have his or eric's cell or the number to the dog-haus)...if its about getting the sound...well lets just say im not the easiest producer to work with (partially due to the fact that i know what i want to hear but sometimes dont bring him the correct sounds)...also i see ur in Germany so perhaps there is some bias cuz he's german as well.

s-boogie · 18th December 2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOO BLADES

what are u curious about?....

i was just curious about the project you guys will mix together.,
because it happens that he´s also mixing one of my songs these days.
he already did the tracking and soon it hopefully gets to be mixed....
there is a possible feature-artist we are waiting for..

nothing to do with young jeezy

,
but i guess i´ll have to listen to that record too...
i didn´t really have it on my list..

sorry for being off-topic here....

so, i think "paid the cost to be the boss" was the best mixed snoop album?

tommymakestapes · 18th December 2005, 04:55 PM

I always liked the sound of quasimoto - the unseen. nice depth of field at points.
All gimmicks aside, the dangerdoom has great sounds on it.

BOO BLADES · 19th December 2005, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s-boogie

i was just curious about the project you guys will mix together.,
because it happens that he´s also mixing one of my songs these days.

we already mixed my album but i dont like the sonics...i didnt really didnt know how to produce the sounds that i wanted to hear...i used the triton and didnt eq or compress the sounds when i was making the beats and i also recorded into a vs-2480 so the whole shit sounds thin...im about to get a protools setup and redo the whole thing cuz i need that 3 dimensional sound...btw, good luck on the song...axel will lace it.

PhonoquO · 19th December 2005, 06:12 AM

My guess with the Jeezy album would be multiband compression on anything with bass, bassline, 808 whatever. They are splitting the bass into freq bands to make them all punch through real nice.

r0ck1r0ck2 · 19th December 2005, 10:04 AM

1stt Whodini LP...vocoder mad..
ODB...N**ga Please....what???
EPMD= Strictly Business...
2 $hort...Early...that boom is sick....
Miami Ba$$ cassettes...

anything banging out a trunk

14th December 2005, 06:46 AM	#1
scius Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 161	most well-mixed hip-hop album what's your favorite hip-hop album as far as the production? i'd have to say 2pac's greatest hits (ok not really one album), even though it's mad old. everything is super clean. anyone have any information relevant to 2pac's production/engineering?

14th December 2005, 01:06 PM	#3
s-boogie Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: germany Posts: 195	how can a "best of" album belong to the most well mixed hiphop albums? these songs may have been mixed within a decade... no disrespect here,but i think " best of " cuts cannot really count?! well mixed hiphop-records...hmmm...difficult. foxy brown : broken silence (i really like axel niehaus mixes!!! stray dog!) i liked the sound of scarface : the fix (soft & gentle vocals,low but still present enough) 50 cent : get rich & massacre (the 1 album sounded more homogeneous,2nd had ups &downs) missy: under construction hi-tek: hi-teknology jadakiss: kiss of death game: nwa vol.1 (some exceptions) ...damn there are so many. i try not to consider the 90´s sound __________________ _______________________________________ "...work through a room's gear — I'd sit there with the gear for hours. I think that helped me become a mixer, and to be able to come up with things that were creative and new." -maserati _______________________________________ http://www.myspace.com/sashliq

14th December 2005, 02:32 PM	#4
Melly Gear interested Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 18	I second the Dr. Dre albums Outkast - Aquemini (thats my favorite outkast album, but they all sound pretty great) Biggie - Life After Death Jay Z - The Blueprint just to name a few __________________ "Its not the fiddle, its the Fiddler" said a wise man

14th December 2005, 04:59 PM	#6
Tibbon Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boston/MA Posts: 4,629	I'll have to admit, i'm more of a rock guy, but to keep up on "The Sound" of hip hop, i'll pick up a few things here and there. For some reason unknown to myself I have purchased every M&M album so far (just to keep up on what Dre has been doing). The stuff is good, but it sounds overcompressed to me. I always have to turn it down a bit, but what's probably just from M's voice getting annoying after a while. OutKast is the only group that I am really impressed with their recordings. They have a nice studio in Atlanta and put it to use. The stuff always sounds fresh to me, and it's not so canned and dark that I can't take it. I'm not sure if you guys would consider it hip-hop, but it's pretty damn close to hip-hop at points- the Gorillaz consistantly have the best sounding, best written and just overall best CD's that use hip-hop stylings that I know of. Then again did anyone expect the writing to be poor coming from the guy that wrote "Parklife"? And the best "Rap" album recording is Paul's Botique by the Beastie Boys. Their other early albums are amazing as well but Paul's Botique was groundbreaking and still sounds fresh to me. It makes me want to go grab an Akai S900 and start sampling all of my records! I'm pretty sure that Dre did some work on NIN's The Fragile as well on "Even Deeper" and "The Wretched" (not 100% certain, and I need to doublecheck). If so, it's some of the best stuff I have heard Dre touch. __________________ David Fisher (aka tibbon) What is Noise, Blog (DIY, gear, tech, etc) Follow me on Twitter imVOX- Voice for Gamers

14th December 2005, 06:52 PM	#9
paultools Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,108	Well, he had several producers... You may be talking about Johnny J, who did some early tracks at Echo Sound. He was fast, very few punches, and could "throw the switch" in an instant. __________________ We are creating enemies faster than we can kill them.

14th December 2005, 10:17 AM	#2
PhonoquO Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North of Toronto Posts: 979	Dr Dre: Chronic 2001 Tha DoggPound: Doggfood

14th December 2005, 03:14 PM	#5
farjedi Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 299	I think commons album 'like water for chocalate' has a great sound to it..you could definately hear the $$'s spent. Great recordings and mixes by Bob Power complement Jay Dee's stellar production work to a t. I also liked the engineering work on slum villages 'Trinity' album work by RJ Rice. Lots of imaginative effects, panning and eq. It's an example of the mix as an integral part of the creative process. It's very stereo and always moving. A benchmark in my opinion. A crazy amount of sibilance at times, I wouldn't have let that go, but it doesn't distract at all.

14th December 2005, 07:16 PM	#10
Teacher Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NY Posts: 1,767	The Notorious BIG "Life After Death" Big, Wide, Deep and Smooth __________________ "I hate it when they tell us how far we came to be, as if our people's history started with slavery...." Immortal Technique www.sicbeats.com

15th December 2005, 12:07 AM	#11
scius Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 161	ok, if i had to pick one 2pac album, i'd say all eyez on me. 2001, how could i forget that. anyone heard of Nicolay? producer from the netherlands...i don't think i've heard a wack beat from him yet. check out "Foreign Exchange - Connected" which is Nicolay on production, and Phonte from Little Brother on vocals. not to mention "Dutch Masters Vol. 1" which has a bunch of remixes...very clean production, catchy beats.

15th December 2005, 12:10 AM	#12
3rd world order Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: grosse pointe, michigan Posts: 2,531	wu-tang : 36 Chambers is still my favorite... __________________ 3WO - Mixing Without Tears "Some think I should teach men the way to heaven. But I would rather teach them the way to hell so they'll know how to go around it..." -- Niccolo Machiavelli

15th December 2005, 12:29 AM	#13
Charlie-O Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: California Posts: 691	The chronic 2001. And from up to date stuff, if you wann know how to mix a 808 and sub , as well as a few other low ins, listen to Young Jeezy, "Thug Motivation" This albums mixes are phenominal. Seriousely check it out, bottom for days, but clear as a babies skin. __________________ It is not what you have, but what you create with it....... www.myspace.com/charlieomusic Grassroots

15th December 2005, 04:18 AM	#14
(DC) Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 375	I can't believe you have not mentioned Biggie Smalls first album: Ready to Die Have you heard the track "Ready to Die"????? It's a MASTERPIECE. It's a perfect example of how to produce an amazing hiphop track... make sure to listen to all the little things that go on at the same time... Also Suicidal Thoughts is an amazing track on that album that starts off with a phone call and biggie raps like it was a phone conversation to p diddy on the other line... amazing. I thought Life After Death was not as good because it sounded like Biggie was no longer using his old style.... it was like pdiddy ****ed him up or something... lol anyway... just get that album.

15th December 2005, 04:26 AM	#15
JohnnyPraze Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: PA - 724 Posts: 154	Aquemini... mos def

15th December 2005, 05:11 AM	#16
Methlab Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 2,970	charlie..good call on jeezy..that is some bottom and a half on those beats..my fav record of the year. 2001, and old outkast are great mixes. the new chamillionaire is a great mix..really stuck out to me..his vocals are pristine. __________________ ********Professionally played Basslines for $30 a Track. PM me for more!***********

15th December 2005, 06:40 AM	#17
killahertz Gear Head Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 69	come on. The Roots "things fall apart" did you hear ?uestloves snare!?!?! Bob Power all day every day. If i had a budget he'd be the first number i'd call.

16th December 2005, 01:09 AM	#19
jsrockit Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,185	I love the sound of DJ Vadim's stuff. Love the sound of Gang Starr's Hard to Earn as well. Of course the Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique is great as well. These may not be the best quality...but they are done right in my opinion.

17th December 2005, 12:21 PM	#20
BOO BLADES Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brooklyn,N.Y. Posts: 125	METH LAB AND CHARLIE YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY...I LISTEN TO JEEZY'S ALBUM EVERY DAY WONDERING HOW THE HELL THEY GET IT TO SOUND LIKE THAT...DONT FORGET LIL JON AS WELL...I COMPARED USHERS ALBUM TO EVERYTHING I HEARD AFTERWARD AND JEEZY AND LIL JON ARE THE ONLY 2 THAT CAN COMPARE...ALTHOUGH THE SOUND COMING OUT OF DRE'S CAMP IS GOOD AS WELL YET DIFFERENT...THE BOTTOM SEEMS TO BE MORE WET (IF U KNOW WHAT IM SAYING?) AND THE VOCALS ARE OUTRAGEOUS...IM PERSONALLY STRIVING FOR A BALANCE OF THE 2...DONT KNOW HOW IM GONNA DO IT BUT AXEL NIEHAUS IS MY MIX ENGINEER SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER.

17th December 2005, 08:34 PM	#22
GL Respect Due Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wally World, AR Posts: 523	Lord Finesse - The Awakening LP Mobb Deep - Infamous LP Dres - 1st & 2nd LP Group Homes - Livin Proof LP Roots - Illadelph Halflife LP

18th December 2005, 12:49 AM	#24
illynoise Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,647	Without a doubt Whodini "Escape". Listen to that album if you want to learn how to mix! I think it was produced by Larry Smith and recorded in London. Honorable mentions: Pete Rock CL Smooth - Main Ingredient Heavy D - Peacefull Journey ATCQ - Low End Theory BaseJase Illynoise

18th December 2005, 04:55 PM	#27
tommymakestapes Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 398	I always liked the sound of quasimoto - the unseen. nice depth of field at points. All gimmicks aside, the dangerdoom has great sounds on it. __________________ "I do not believe the geeks will inherit the earth. I believe we already have." -R. Emerson

19th December 2005, 06:12 AM	#29
PhonoquO Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North of Toronto Posts: 979	My guess with the Jeezy album would be multiband compression on anything with bass, bassline, 808 whatever. They are splitting the bass into freq bands to make them all punch through real nice.

19th December 2005, 10:04 AM	#30
r0ck1r0ck2 Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Barcelona!! Posts: 1,620	1stt Whodini LP...vocoder mad.. ODB...N**ga Please....what??? EPMD= Strictly Business... 2 $hort...Early...that boom is sick.... Miami Ba$$ cassettes... anything banging out a trunk

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