I was fortunate to come across this collection of new hip hop production from a Dutch source, this is a compilation of beats from the European extension of Red Bull's famous beat battle traveling showcase. I encourage you to check this out as a refreshment for your ears, and you want take the chance of hearing new innovative sounds and ideas to come from producers. I must admit, I get a little tired hearing the basic ideas of 90's hip hop production repeated time & time again in some of the underground hip hop I listen to today, so I try to balance out my listening with music like this, finding undiscovered talent, fresh ideas and enjoying other genres of music. This compliation is one of those sources that helps me to realize the balance I need every now and then.

The producers featured in this showcase take chances in experimentation of hip hop sound through new reaches in sound design by synths, interesting samples choices and new ideas of drum patterns and arrangements. In listening I could hear some influenced from the work of Madlib and Jay Dee, you know the synth style and ideas they brought into their production around mid-2000 or so for JayLib and other projects? If you liked this sound, you'll hear these guys using parts of the style in their own way, with head-nodding drums, good ideas and arrangements that tell a story.

From dark beats that showcase skills on the synth for a more futuristic sound like I-Sa's "Syco3" or Wan's Jay-Dee esque "BoomClickClap", to the soul-influenced, energetic sound and horns of StatikMusic's "Drummond", I think the people of Red Bull did a good job in selecting a group of new talent that seem to understand the basic elements needed hip hop production, but at the same time are looking to push it's creative boundaries in a good direction. Listen and enjoy this one:

Here's a few of my favorite's out of the compilation