This is essential instrumental hip-hop from prodigal NYC producer Sporting Life. You might know him as the producer and live electronics performer behind the legendary experimental trio Ratking with rappers Hak and Wiki. Haks departure marked the end of the short lived but very influential group, and Wiki has since ascended to a certified legend and your favorite rapper’s rapper. Despite being a great deal of the secret sauce behind the group’s record and incredible live show Sporting Life kept it low key and remains in the underground. Of course I’d give my left arm for another Ratking tour. I have only seen them once opening up for psych icons Animal Collective but it was absolutely amazing. Still the wealth of music Sporting Life has released since their indefinite hiatus is itself a complete treasure trove.

It’s easy to miss his tapes but I consider them essential listening and extremely ahead of their time to the point that 2016s trio of EPs, collected on LP as Slam Dunk, sounds fresh a decade later. It’s mostly beats but there are diverse features from singer Evy Jane, Actress, Babyfather (Dean Blunt,) Dev Hynes (Blood Orange,) UK grime rapper Novelist, fellow nyc producer Galcher Lustwerk and of course the great Wiki himself. Those features should have you drooling but the quality of the beats really speak for themselves and need no help or introduction.