List of Hip-Hop Reference Mixes

[McGlown]

Hey guys what are your go to Reference mixes when it comes to hip hop?

[DRAZ]

"The Minstrel Show" by Little Brother is a great album.

[MediaMix]

A search in the Rap & Hip Hop section:

An Excellent Album To Study as a Modern Reference
Favorite mix / reference ?
Which hip hop beat should I use as a reference track for mixing beats?
Mix references for Hip Hop
good reference tracks
Mix References (again)
Reference Mixes
question for engineers: good reference songs
Reference CD decision

[tablo]

Chronic 2001

[Kre8 da RedBeerd]

Calle 13: Que Lloren.

It's in spanish, but Visitante (the producer) is maad on the boards.

Peace.

[KickDrum]

Originally Posted by tablo

Chronic 2001

+1

Also check out Kanye West's Late Registration album. I've had luck with these two CD's (Late Registration and Chronic 2001).

[E.rOk.stA]

Outkast - ATLiens and Aquemeni (albums).

Young Jeezy - Put On and White Girl (singles).

Fugees - The Score (album)

[DAH]

Dogg Food by DPG mixed by homie t.dizzle

[CWsounds]

I was just told to use Rihanna's 'Rude Boy' for a reference for a mix after i sent them an early mix for review...

[CTodd901]

Originally Posted by E.rOk.stA

Outkast - ATLiens and Aquemeni (albums).

Young Jeezy - Put On and White Girl (singles).

Fugees - The Score (album)

Those two Outkast albums were the first think i was thinking specifically Liberation off aquemini and two dope boys or atliens off Atliens... also listen to B.O.B off stankonia

[beat you down]

depends on the song you're mixing.

people always mention the chronic 2001.

but that's not going to work if you're trying to mix some 808 / synth type of stuff.

[Gax]

Goodie Mob - Soul Food (1995) is sonically one of most dynamic rap albums ever, everything sounds so "live" like im in the booth with them. Very underrated album.

2pac - Me Against the World.

Nas - I Am - "phat" mixes, big and punchy drums.

Dr. Dre - The Chronic ('92). - Everybody talks about Chronic 2001 but original album sounds much better.

[e-are]

Originally Posted by beat you down

depends on the song you're mixing.

people always mention the chronic 2001.

but that's not going to work if you're trying to mix some 808 / synth type of stuff.

+1
I ripped all of my cd library, wav files of course, to my hard drive. I normally search for 1-3 references that are close to the sound I'm looking for. May like the way the drums sound on 1. May only like the top end on another. Point is, I can use each for what I like from em.
I do like the way the cronic 2001 sounds tho.

[DAH]

Port Of Miami - to me sounds like the best 808driven southern style album. - thicker than usual a bit plasticky feeling 808-based stuff

[godphaser]

Common - Be

[Reggmail]

Originally Posted by beat you down

depends on the song you're mixing.

people always mention the chronic 2001.

but that's not going to work if you're trying to mix some 808 / synth type of stuff.

Agreed, it all depends on what type of tracks, R&B, Hip Hop, Pop,
even if you stay in one genre, it will still be various references for the cut.
You can like vocals on one, and another for the drums, bass and so forth.
I don't think there is ever a silver bullet reference for everything.
Except for Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis less reverb- echo, for today's mixes....Lol.
hummm I wonder what they are doing now?

Oldies but goody's





Jellybean.


Peace & blessings.

[MitchGeist]

The College Dropout also

[MuffinManRock]

Depends if you want a modern sound or a classic sound. I personally like new school modern hip hop mixes, so I reference Carter 4, and pop tracks like Pitbull etc,... Sounds like crystal !!

[Rutgar]

Eigen wereld - Opgezwolle. its dutch but the producer is a genius!

[hereticskeptic]

Originally Posted by Rutgar

Eigen wereld - Opgezwolle. its dutch but the producer is a genius!

Opgezwolle is dope

[Thysta]

Originally Posted by tablo

Chronic 2001

agree. however its more than a "mix". you won't be able to create that sound only if it's the goal from the start of the production process.

[Thysta]

Originally Posted by beat you down

depends on the song you're mixing.

people always mention the chronic 2001.

but that's not going to work if you're trying to mix some 808 / synth type of stuff.

this. there's no ultimate reference mix.

[Pr0blem]

how ... HOW ... HOW!!!! have u guys some how skipped mentioning Maybach music 3 .... ????? by far one of the musical tracks out there .. with a superb mix on it.

when it comes to live strings, brass, bass, drums .... that is the ultimate reference track the rest as you've all mentioned ... are great as well .. just cant figure out how u guys sleep on MM3 EVERY mix Reference thread

[JoeyXoto]

I like listening to some Preemo stuff and of course Dre.

[tablo]

This seems like a good reference for those Lex Luger/Drumma Boy 808 type beats, wonder who mixed it.

[Itsgrandzbaby]

Originally Posted by MuffinManRock

Depends if you want a modern sound or a classic sound. I personally like new school modern hip hop mixes, so I reference Carter 4, and pop tracks like Pitbull etc,... Sounds like crystal !!

I hated the carter 4 mixes. But keeping it YMCMB I liked most of the mixes on Take Care. But not Everybody can benefit from referencing that sort of vibe.

[infant]

depending on the sound i'm going for:

dj quik - 'safe + sound'

common - 'like water for chocolate'

a tribe called quest - 'beats, rhymes and life'

madlib - 'wlib: king of the wig flip'

[m3tr0n0m3]

Love the sound of Pete Rock's Soul Survivors albums

[JXile]

For me Chronic 2001 tops the list, but if it's something that feels less acoustic and more synthy (808's, Sub Bass) I might go for some Lil Jon - Kings of Crunk. That album bangs so hard in the car and that's what I'm usually going for with the 808's. Mixing with sub bass is always a little tricker than music without it imo. I also really like Rap-A-Lot stuff (UGK, Devin the Dude, Do or Die, Scarface, etc) as the mixes are always very clean to me. 2Pac - All Eyez on Me is another album that is a standard for production quality imo, so I might use that as a reference as well.

[e-smile-z]

the first the game album the documentary