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Hip-hop's 10 greatest beats

Can Kanye West beat these?

Alan Wardle, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 9:56 am UTC

Pete Rock

Where will Pete Rock rate in MusicRadar's Top 10 beats?

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Kanye West claims he's produced "probably one of the best hip-hop beats of all time" for Jay-Z's new album, The Blueprint 3. And that's fighting talk.

MusicRadar likes Kanye's self-confidence, but we can't let his claim go unchallenged. Yup, his beats for Jay-Z just might be the best (when we hear them), but MusicRadar has its own Top 10 of hip-hop's greatest beats.

Kanye - have you done better than these tracks? It's Parental Advisory all the way.

In reverse order, MusicRadar presents…

Hip-hop's 10 greatest beats

10. Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says

Producer: Pharoahe Monch
Album: Internal Affairs (1999)

Former Organised Konfusion spitter Pharoahe Monch returned on the solo tip with a thunderous self produced floor-shaker of a tune. Tearing up clubs all over the world with a cheeky uncleared sample from the Godzilla movie theme, a fight-starting chorus and a simple but effective plodding beat, it propelled Monch into the mainstream. Also check out the lesser-known UK remix which saw Skitz rework the track with added bars by Roots Manuva and Rodney P.

9. Dr Dre Featuring Eminem - Forgot About Dre

Producer: Dr Dre
Album: 2001 (2000)

The second single from Dre's long-awaited 2001 featured an instrumental that sounded like none of the good Dr's tracks before. It swapped the G-Funk he'd made famous for a dark and brooding electronic double timed track featuring an immense string intro, sparse keys, electronic blips and rumbling bass, with Dre and Eminem trading verses of comical horror over one of many amazing beats on the whole album. Will Dre switch his style up again for the forthcoming Detox album?

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User comments (4)

  • ticcthesoulrebel

    Avatar for ticcthesoulrebel

    39 weeks ago.

    This list is good but i think "jesus walks" should be there and Public Enemy "Rebel Without a Pause" should be there and maybe Any tribe called quest beat, but T.R.O.Y is the Best Hip Hop Track EVER you got that right !!!

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  • tenstrings

    Avatar for tenstrings

    39 weeks ago.

    Hm. What about the Anthrax-free "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy. And surely the jazzy beat that starts 5 minutes into DJ Shadow's "Blood on the Motorway" deserves a mention? It completely changes the song.
    J

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  • Mithaearon

    Avatar for Mithaearon

    39 weeks ago.

    What no N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton??? That was an amazing breakbeat that went on to be used in some of the best hardcore tunes in the early 90's

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  • rumblejazz

    Avatar for rumblejazz

    39 weeks ago.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP7fXh1uPnc&fmt=18

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