Oh No - Oh No vs. Now-Again 3 (2021)

When it comes to creating fresh instrumental hip-hop jams out of record label catalogues, Oh No has an impressive track record. The long-serving producer - famously Madlib's younger brother - has previously performed the service for Stones Throw, Miserable Beast Music and Now Again, a label he first worked with a decade ago. Here he returns with a third set of tracks created from gems in the Now Again vaults. It's a sparkling set, all told, comprising head-nodding beats and musical treats deftly sculpted from obscure, inspired and overlooked jazz, soul, funk and boogie rubs. Those with a good knowledge of the Now Then back catalogue will have fun spotting the samples; everyone else can just sit back and enjoy the producer's brilliant work.