What are your top 3 head-nod, unworldly dope beats ever? My list shifts around a lot but these are my favorites right now. Of course this is all a matter of opinion.

1.) Montego Slay - People Under The Stairs. This beat makes you think of drinking Red Stripe and blazing a blunt on the beaches of Jamaica. Nothing smoother

2.) I Used to Love H.E.R. - Common. This beat is silk and it's my favorite hip-hop song ever. Sets the mood perfectly for a great story and one of Common's finest performances.

3.) Binary Star - Reality Check. This beat is incredible and One Be Lo (the emcee) should get some recognition for being so great. He kills everything he's on.


Honerable Mentions:

Camp-Lo - Luchini/Rockin It
Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell
Gangstarr - Work
Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck

I think Tone Loc's Wild Thing has to be one of the simplest most recognizable beats in all of music.

It's still catchy to this day.

I think The Dust Brothers produced the album. It's definatly one of the best rap albums of all time. Too bad Tone sucked the stink star after that.

notorious thugs -bone thugs feat biggie

1.Mobb Deep - Hell on Earth
2.Notorious Thugz - The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Bone Thug-N-Harmony
3. AHhhhhhhh...why can't I think of these things when I'm asked about it...I'll have to get back to you on that one..

Alarm and Detonator by Nasum

the message by Nas

the decline by N.O.F.X.

The Message by Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five!
Loved when Cube used it for Check Yo'self ;)

best beat ever: Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids

ambition az a ridah- tupac
boss tycoon- mac dre
lets burn- militia

mobb deep- shook ones...classic
the geto boys- mind playin tricks... classic
black rob- can i live... fits perfect for the hook
nas,az,canibus- desperados....spanish kind of feel,fits the name
big pun-beware...intense beat, pun kills it
cormega-beautiful mind.....great flow
ja rule- clap back...dont care what you say that beat was crazy
marly marl- the symphony... almost forgot but classic

Off the Top of My Head...

DAS EFX - They Want EFX (or Jin - Learn Chinese)
Black Sheep - The Choice is Yours
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Part II
Jay-Z - HOVA
SWV- Right Here (Human Nature Remix)
Dr. Dre f/Rage, Snoop, RBX and Kurupt - Stranded on Death row
and yes

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

There has been several that I have heard.

Some of the hardest beats I have heard

Murder Outro- ESG
Funky Funeral- Street Military
Shook Ones- Mobb Deep
Late Nite Tip- Three Six Mafia
Life Story- Z-Ro
For My Dogs- DMX
There are countless others.

It Ain't Hard to Tell-Nas
Shook Ones Part 2.-Mobb Deep
The Light- Common (Shut Up!)

Shook Ones is a sick beat...even though I think Survival of the Fittest is just as dope. A lot of these classic beats (the message, you gots to chill, paid in full) are excellent, but are not the greatest IMO. Many beats are great because the emcee rides them perfectly and enhances how they sound. The first beat I listed, for example, has 2 rather ordinary emcees over it...but it doesn't matter because the beat and its production are just so incredible.

I also think that these songs deserve a mention for best all-time beat.

A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

Aesop Rock - Daylight

Gangstarr - You Know My Steez

Foxy Brown - I Can't

Heiroglyphics - Cab Fare

Method Man feat. Mobb Deep - Extortion

Tupac - I Get Around

Nas - One Love

Outkast - Jazzy Belle

Public Enemy - Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

Boot Camp Clik - Think Back

Snoop Dogg feat. Dr. Dre - Ain't Nothin but a G Thang

Pharcyde - Pack The Pipe

The Roots - Concerto of the Desperado

Twista - Korrupt World

Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.

method man-bring the pain
wu tang clan-triumph
biggie- machine gun funk
jay-z - d'evils
westside connection- bow down
ice cube- today was a good day
biggie- kick in the door....i think it sampled that "spell on you" song

3 6 Mafia - Late Night Tip
Dead Prez - Hip Hop
2Pac - Ambitions as a ridah

What's that DOC song that J-Kwon recently remade? The original deserves a mention in this conversation...