The 13th Duke

DJ Battlecat is the first to get a video run through of his past productions and work in this new series designed to give producers the recognition they deserve, and in some cases give them some much needed sunlight when theyre usually kept underwraps in the hip-hop underground (see: wilderness).

Battlecat is a name that shouldnt be alien to ANY hip-hop fan. He’s produced with your favourite artists, probably even your favourite songs. The guy is west-coast g-funk personified, even surpassing the alumnis who made G-Funk what it was in the 90s can barely stand next to Battlecat when looking through his producer credits.

The following posts are a collection of some of his beats, some of his classics, and many reasons why he should be a name you never forget when you discuss who the top producers in rap are.

So thats a quick retrospective view of their studio material, obviously not including their “Impossible Mission” mixtape from 2006, or any of their numerous soundtrack and compilation appearances or feature spots.

Unfortunately, the group haven’t released an official album since “The Grind Date” in 2004, but there have been long-running rumours and news that they’re finally working on the third installation of their ‘AOI (Art Official Intelligence)’ series of albums and it should be out within the next year.

Until then, I’m bumping their music from “Potholes In My Lawn” to “Much More” and everything in between.

I’m in a plug won, two and three mood tonight, so here is a selection of De La Soul tracks, one from each studio album they have released to date to show just how consistent and on point they’ve been as a group for twenty one years.

Are they one of the best hip-hop groups of all time? Definitely. Maybe even the best if you take into consideration the quality of their entire back catalogue and the way each of their albums has managed to be entirely different in sound and direction to the next one, yet still keeping their faith to the lyricism and musical consciousness theyre famed for.

Hit us with another album Pos, Dave and Maseo. I’m ready.