Mixtape Monday: The Micro-Chop Edition presented by Gino Sorcinelli
Gino Sorcinelli kicks off the Mixtape Monday tastemaker series with Mixtape Monday: The Micro-Chop Edition.
Gino Sorcinelli is the writer, creator, and editor of Micro-Chop, a Medium publication and Substack newsletter that dissects beatmaking, DJing, music production, rapping, and sampling. He is also responsible for The Micro-Chop Daily X, a 10-beat playlist posted daily on the Micro-Chop Twitter feed.
His articles have appeared on Ableton, HipHopDX, Okayplayer, Passion of the Weiss, Red Bull Music Academy, Reverb, UndergroundHipHop.com, and Still Crew. His Micro-Chop article on the making of Madvillainy was selected for inclusion in the book Best Damn Hip Hop Writing: 2018.
Taking a deep dive into the Bandcamp archives, Sorcinelli came up with a handful of personal favorites. His choices reflect a commitment to finding and sharing the very best in music as well as his uncanny ear for rising talent. There’s also a bonus at the bottom of the box for the beat lovers. Scroll down to get the deets from Gino, himself.
Juicy The Emissary - Attention Kmart Choppers
Whenever someone samples 59 Kmart cassette tapes from the '80s and '90s and makes a beautiful instrumental album out them, how can you not be impressed? A must-own for beat tape and instrumental album fanatics, both the backstory to Attention Kmart Choppers and Juicy The Emissary’s music continued within are well worth your time.
Raggedy Jeans - In Clover
Bucks County, PA producer Raggedy Jeans demonstrates an impressive gift for diverse drum patterns and interesting sample flips on her sophomore album. With tracks ranging from experimental to more traditional beat tape aesthetics, this rich and complex effort should not be overlooked.
eu-IV - ItsCold EP
This short, powerful, and moving collection of instrumentals from Baltimore producer eu-IV is a slightly more under-the-radar release from his discography. Each beat was conceived during a snow day and the mesmerizing production is a perfect reflection of melancholy winter vibes.
TOKiMONSTA - Creature Dreams
An early record from a producer who played an integral role in the evolution of the L.A. beat scene, TOKiMONSTA’s Creature Dreams is a hypnotic collection of straight instrumental production and vocalist-assisted tracks. With a running time of just over 28 minutes, Creature Dreams is a carefully constructed, compact, and unforgettable listen.
Jay Alpha - Night Drive
Dropped during this Brooklyn-based producer’s formative years as a sample splicer, Night Drive helped put Jay Alpha on the beat scene map. The album’s evocative cover art sets the tone for the gorgeous instrumentals that play throughout, as Jay simultaneously demonstrates a reverence for his producer elders while crafting a style all his own.
DJ Harrison - Vault Series: #1 - Good Vibes
Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, DJ Harrison is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist producer and a member of the band Butcher Brown. His VAULT SERIES: #1 - Good Vibes. provides a captivating mix of dusted drums, beautifully played keys, and intricate vocal samples.
Georgia Anne Muldrow - oLIGARCHY sUCKS!
Prolific singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer Georgia Anne Muldrow serves up an impressive array of sounds and vibes with oLIGARCHY sUCKS!. Showcasing the incredible depth and breadth of her musical knowledge with each instrumental, she somehow blends a full spectrum of styles and influences together into one seamless project.
Apollo Brown - Skilled Trade
Released in 2007 as a collection of partially completed beats, prolific Mello Music Group producer Apollo Brown’s Skilled Trade holds up remarkably well 12 years later. Though perhaps not as polished as some of his more recent work, the energy and emotion embodied on each track is undeniable.
Roland SP-404 master Ohbliv has built himself an epic discography of distinct sample chops and unique production on Bandcamp over the past decade. Whether you’re just discovering his work or a long-time fan, his potent Rugged Tranquility debut from 2009 is required listening.
AJ Rios - Pastimes Vol. 4
Hailing from Virginia Beach, AJ Rios started the Pastimes series as a way to showcase his early work as a producer. This entry demonstrates that Rios had a gift for nuanced compositions from the very beginning of his career, as he offers several beautifully dark and brooding instrumentals for listeners to digest.
Gino Sorcinelli - 179 Micro-Chop Instrumentals
It’s impossible to give all of the amazing music discovered through Micro-Chop the adequate coverage it deserves. In an effort to further highlight some deserving producers, here’s a collection of 179 essential beats from 179 different producers that have appeared on various Micro-Chop playlists over the years.
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Karas Lamb writes and digs for tunes you haven’t heard yet. She actually wants to listen to your mixtape. Follow her on Twitter @karaslamb.