J Dilla - Donuts

One of the best hip hop albums ever made. 'Donuts' is accessible without being typical or easily defined: it's hip hop without MCs; electronic music that at times sounds like a '70s soul mixtape; J Dilla doing what he does best - crafting hip-hop, soul and electronic music into his own sound. you might not have heard of J Dilla, but you know his sound. He produced classics for A Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde, Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Q Tip, Common (including two tracks on 'Be', and the whole preceding album), and was a founder member and driving force behind Slum Village. Add to that a slew of classic remixes (D'Angelo); his incredible 'Jaylib' album with Madlib and his B.B.E 'Beat Generation' LP and the prolific underground trading of his legendary beat-tapes, and you've got the story of a hip hop legend.