I've been obsessed with Amerigo Gazaway for years, ever since I heard his album Fela Soul, a reimagining of De La Soul songs using original beats sampled from Fela Kuti music. Not only was the album incredible all the way through, it also introduced me to Fela's music and his cultural significance simultaneously, as the album incorporates snippets of interviews and documentary-style audio in the interludes between songs.
Since then, I've been listening to more and more of Gazaway's music, and I quickly became convinced that he's the most underrated hip hop producer in the game right now. Not only are his beats superb, but he can consistently task himself with sticking to a specific theme or sample source, and he still kills it even within the limitations he sets for himself. He also knows how to pay homage to his predecessors while still keeping his music fresh. Take for example his album "Bizarre Tribe," which is essentially Pharcyde raps mixed with remade Tribe Called Quest beats. Case and point is his version of Runnin', which employs a remade version of Tribe's "Electric Relaxation" beat. Sampling from the same sources ('Outside Love' by Brethren and 'Mystic Brew' by Ronnie Foster), Gazaway takes the beat in a totally new direction, expanding upon the original while still giving us something we can recognize as Tribe.
Gazaway is incredibly prolific, putting out music almost faster than I can even keep up with listening to it. Some of his other highlights include a UGK/ BB King album, a Common/ Stevie Wonder album, a Mos Def/ Marvin Gaye album, a Biggie/ James Brown album, and now, his newest, a Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill album. Titled "The Miseducation of Eunice Waymon," this new joint is definitely up there with his best work. Best of all, like all of his other music, it's available for free on his bandcamp page: https://amerigo.bandcamp.com/
If you're into hip hop, do yourself a favor and check this guy out. You won't regret it.
(Cover photo and youtube videos courtesy of youtube channel "A-OK All Day")