Don't feel bad about making another thread about hip-hop, mang! It's a very expansive label. Would you feel bad about making another indie rock thread? No!
Abstract, Experimental, and Instrumental hip-hop are only really seperable by degree. On one end you have the instrumental version of "Dr. Octagynecologist," on the other side you have cLOUDDEAD's "Ten," and everything else falls somewhere in between.
Or something like that. Ishkur's separation of Abstract and Experimental was tenuous at best, probably an excuse to include more samples. A worthy cause, mind you.
And on that note, cLOUDDEAD is the most far-out stuff anyone could really call hip-hop. Beautiful production, gibberish lyrics, and queues stolen from indie rock make it very unique stuff.
DJ Shadow's "In Tune and On Time" is a bitchin' live album. The CD radiates energy, and the DVD ain't bad either.
Krush is great. The single coolest man in music, his turntable style is totally zen (watch a DVD of his performance...he's so into it. No theatrics, just the slightest movements). And I don't care what Pitchfork said, I actually liked the more raw feel of "Code 4109." "Kakusei" is quite awesome, and Jaku is cool too. His CDs feel like hour-long movie soundtracks, in that his characteristic building of tension and climax is very cinematic. Listen to the song 'pretense' and wonder why that isn't in a movie somewhere.
Coldcut is awesome. More Ninja Tune-style stuff, and that ain't a bad thing in the slightest.
RJD2 has great stuff, too, but then you already knew that. Everyone and their mother seems to be extolling the virtues of "Deadringer" (justifiably so), but his other works, such as "Since We Last Spoke" and "Constant Elevation Say" are bumpin' as well. He also has a collection of remixes called "Loose Ends," which features some amazing stuff. The man has a range. And he does a great live show.
