I'm always on the lookout for CDs that have high quality recording and mixing going on to put in my collection as my Mixing Standards. I'm in the market for a rap/hip hop record or two, three. Can anyone point me in the direction of a couple CDs that represent quality in terms of recording, mixing, processing that you think can be classified as "standards" in terms of the mix.
I'm not looking for the best in lyrics or (necessarily) music content. I'm looking for records that I can compare my mixes to. Since rap and hip hop are pretty diverse in terms of sounds perhaps I should break it up into categories of regions:
1. East Coast-type CD
2. West Coast
3. South (since I have rarely heard a record from a down south artist where I respect the mix, I'd be really interested in what you guys think here)
4. Any other categories that you think applies (maybe "Raw" records, "glossy" records, etc.)
What do you think?
I'm not looking for the best in lyrics or (necessarily) music content. I'm looking for records that I can compare my mixes to. Since rap and hip hop are pretty diverse in terms of sounds perhaps I should break it up into categories of regions:
1. East Coast-type CD
2. West Coast
3. South (since I have rarely heard a record from a down south artist where I respect the mix, I'd be really interested in what you guys think here)
4. Any other categories that you think applies (maybe "Raw" records, "glossy" records, etc.)
What do you think?