This is a Spotify playlist for all of the listeners out there who enjoy some heavy drums. So yup… This one is a dedication to all of the drummers, percussionists, and producers out there who bring these drum breaks to us. Solo drum sesh at the back end of an 80’s heavy metal track? Yup… That has to go in here. Some hard drums on some Al Green? Why not… All genres… Only prerequisite is those drums better be crackin.
It doesn’t matter what color you are, how old you are, or when your music was made. Shit… If you only have one arm but can thrash? Welcome to the party my friend. Shout out Rick Allen from Def Leppard!
You can even just be a hip hop producer who samples from magic from yesteryear, collabs with some homies, and stretches the boundaries what rock and hip hop could do with each other. Shout out to Dan the Automator, Kool Keith, and DJ Q-Bert for this one.
And while we’re talking rock, let’s not skip out on songs even if they’re more than 20 minutes long like this gem from Rush.
And when you think drums, you can’t not have “When the Levees Break” right? When I think drums I go right to Jon Bonham but maybe all of us do?
But I also think of musicians like Yussef Dayes who I think are simply next level on the drums. Hope you all didn’t sleep on Yussef Kamaal but if you did, spend some time and go down that rabbit hole. Your ears will thank you later.
If you’re a hip hop head and love drums, I know you’re not sleeping on that early Eazy-E are you? Dr. Dre on production back in the late 80’s and early 90’s? Dude changed up styles when he had to and help birth several transcendent rap sounds. And yeah, I know… He didn’t birth g-funk but let’s be real… Dre made g-funk what it is today.
More of a fan of that 90’s independent alternative hip hop? Sure, we can go that way as well if you’d like. Shout out to Blueprint out of Columbus, OH who laced Aesop Rock with one of the hardest rap beats ever made…. EVER.
I tried to capture the OG samples like Funk Factory but then also give love to those that sampled them like the Beastie Boys. Here’s both of those…
These are songs I’ve always appreciated for their drums. I’ve never played the drums but if I did, I would do everything I can to fit on this playlist. This playlist is also open for suggestions too because I know I’m missing some heaters. Drop them in the comments here… Let me know what to add. Hope you all enjoy!