Hip-Hop Albums of the Year

20 May, 2020

Cookin Soul — 4 Dilla Vol. 1-5


Kind of compilation by Cookin Soul that resumes four previously EPs dropped by the producer in the past three years, in another great tribute to J Dilla. Highly recommended to boom bap and jazz hip hop fans.

The first cut is composed of a jazzy rhythm, skinny and minimal drum machine, female soul sample looped tight in the background, a bit shrill and annoying, a track that you might not even bear, in that case skip it without too many problems. Then, deep dedication to Kobe: sample of the legend announcing "welcome to the Kobe show!", heavy and skinny boom bap, male soulful sample looped in the background, excellent ethereal jazzy rhythm, short, essential, nice tribute. "Fire" is another excellent jazzy soundscape, intriguing and tight drum machine, female soulful sample looped tight in the background, with great synths. Another phenomenal tribute to what for those who have not seen Michael, is the greatest basketball player in history: "and, what can I say? Mamba Out", officially there is not even in this compilation, but the producer provides you directly in the one present in his youtube channel (with modified tracklist), a touching tribute that gives life to another pearl signed by Cookin Soul. Light jazzy boom bap, another rhythm that seems ethereal, excellent strings in the background, and a female sample just mentioned. "Couldu" follows, a splendid soulful female sample looped tight in the background on a minimal and somewhat frenetic drum machine that provides a good boom bap jazzy.

Even the sixth choice doesn't bring down the overall quality of this effort, which is probably among the best of the year: simple, essential jazzy boom bap, excellent regular drum machine, splendid female soulful sample looped tight in the background and which becomes acute in that which should be the hook, excellent production. The cut is short and leads to "Sure", obviously, I would say, the sample of "Different Strokes" that you should recognize right now, here it's sampled so that it stands out in one of the heaviest way possible, in the midst of the excellent boom bap jazzy ethereal, wonderful, there would also be a looped female sample that should not be underestimated. Here Cookin Soul is still playing, but brings out a nice rhythm. The next one is made up of a simple jazzy boom bap, regular and calm drum machine, piano dope for the hook, a nice soulful male sample looped tight in the background. Then we've "Sweet Love": is a track that features a great male soul sample looped tight in the background, smooth jazzy bridge on the hook, lively and enthralling, energetic, excellent instrumental jazzy rhythm. "Understand" is a good, simple, jazzy, lively cut, female soul sample looped in the background, good cut.

It follows another classic, "Hello Girl": jazzy production simply dope, energetic, sunny, brilliant, offers another guessed male soul sample looped in the background, excellent soundscape. Closes "Luvdrug", jazzy choice with female soul sample looped in the background, good instrumental. "As Long As We Got Love" has sirens that introduce the track, boom bap vivid, cheerful jazzy beat, with good soul samples in background from "Just as Long as We're in Love" of Terry Callier. Pretty good instrumental. It follows by "With Ur Love", among the best production realized by Cookin Soul: the beatmaker samples a classic hidden gem from Atlantic Starr debut album, "With Your Love I Come Alive", to realizing a deep and wonderful instrumental cut. Jazzy cheerful beat, heavy, relaxing vibes, great boom bap that really gives value to this song, perfectly created. The next one is, like the previous one, among the best song invented by the producer. "Best Times of My Life" is composed by an incredible sick sample of "Those Were the Best Times of My Life", another hidden pearls from the debut album of The Modulations. The sirens open this track, as usual in this sick tape, then jazzy vibrant and cheerful rhythm, with that amazing sample that's perfectly fit with the beat in an ecstatic track. This extended play almost perfect is closed by "Heartbroken": dope samples in background from "How Could You Break My Heart" by Bobby Womack, cheerful and lively jazzy production, with soul shots scattered in background, pretty great instrumental cut.

Highlights: "Kobe", "Fireeeee", "Mamba Out", "Couldu", "Belong", "Sure", "Fallin'", "Understand", "Hello Girl", "As Long as We Got Love", "With UR Love", "Best Times of My Life", "Heartbroken".

Rating: 8.5/10.

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