HHIR's Year-End Lists, Part 4: Top 11 Beat Tapes/Albums of 2007

'07 was a pretty good year for beat albums (not to be confused with instrumental albums). These guys put out some quality material that unfortunately doesn't often get picked up on by the mainstream; But I was listening.

Though most of them are purely Hip-Hop albums, some of these records verge off into jazz, some into electronica. But all in all, they're straight up Hip-Hop to the very core. Anyways, here's my list of the top 11 (don't ask) beat albums that stayed in my heavy rotation throughout '07:

#11


Rob Viktum
Progress
[Rappers I Know (free download!)]



#10


DJ Day
The Day Before
[Myspace]



#9


The ARE
featuring Dem Damb Jacksons
[Rappers I Know (free download!)]



#8


DJ Babu
The Beat Tape, Volume 1
[Nature Sounds]



#7


Arts the Beatdoctor
Transitions
[Myspace]



#6


Blockhead
Uncle Tony's Coloring Book
[Myspace]



#5


Ronald Jenkees
Ronald Jenkees
[Official Site + YouTube]



#4


Madlib
Beat Konducta Volume 3 - 4 (Live in India)
[Stones Throw Records]



#3


Oh No
Dr. No's Oxperiment
[Stones Throw Records]



#2


The Stance Brothers
Kind Soul
[Myspace]

#1


Fat Jon
Hundred Eight Stars
[Myspace]

Here's a quick playlist of some of my favorite tracks from each individual album:





More lists coming soon!
Stay tuned...