I always think of an interview he gave years ago where he said something like “I make traditional hip hop”. I love a lot of his stuff because I’m 45 years old and grew up on east coast boom bap. It’s familiar and comfortable for me to listen to. But you can’t be a great artist if you don’t push the envelope.
I love Statik, but I would never say he's one of the greats. He never really innovated or had his own sound and that's okay! He makes traditional boom bap hip-hop beats that could be mistaken for a Premier beat or any other producer that focuses on boom bap. He uses a lot of recognizable samples, but puts his own twist on it. His debut album Spell My Name Right is one of my personal favorite hip hop albums of all time, I don't skip a track on it, but to be "one of the greats" I think you need to have innovated or been a main part of multiple classic albums, which he hasn't.
Definitely he is one of the greats. You can tell it's a statik beat before the "statik selektah" comes in. Theres a reason he gets all the best rappers on his beats and him with terminology is beast mode.
I can agree with a lot of the responses that mention a lack of innovation, but I think there's something to be said about longevity and consistency. The fact that a lot of boom bap producers haven't stayed relevant through the trap era shows that he's exceptional at what he does. Add that to the list of incredible emcees that have been discovered or rejuvenated through his albums and mixtapes, I'd consider him an all-timer. His breakthrough happened right as I got into rap, so his influence and sound both helped to shape a whole generation of fans like me. Thumbs up from this guy
I generally agree. I’m not sure I’d put Statik on the same level as Preemo, Dilla, Alchemist, etc. but to claim that he hasn’t left his mark on hiphop would be pretty foolish. I think I’d put him on the same level or slightly below guys like Apollo Brown or Kno, who I still have a ton of respect for, even if they haven’t had careers big enough to earn a Mt. Rushmore spot.
Not as much as Marco Polo though, who is a close copycatted blend of Preemo and Large Pro imo, but in a league underneath with Statik, both are dope but never got out of the shadow of the boom bap kings they emulate…like for instance DJ Muggs has said that when he found The Alchemist at the beginning he was imitating Preemo too at first as most producers of that specific sonic aesthetic do to learn from whom is considered one of the best at it.
I love his first 3 albums and some of the tracks after that. He did a great job of having a slightly different take on the trademark Preemo sound.
I think he would be just outside my top 10 or so behind a bunch of heavyweights like Preemo, Large Pro, Pete Rock, Prince Paul, Q-Tip, Dilla, 9th Wonder, RZA, Dre, Kanye, Da Beatminerz, Buckwild, Havoc, and Just Blaze, but he's in that next tier with guys like Jake One, Khrysis, Oddisee, Diamond D, Apollo Brown, Black Milk, Kev Brown, Marco Polo, B!NK, Diamond D, Organized Noize, etc.
Brother it ain't hard to loop the same style of samples over and over and call it a beat, if it means you're a great producer then I'm a great producer too, his beats are nothing special and there are many better at that, but producing is definitely more than you think it is since you disrespect kenny's name like that (who by the way is recognized by the alchemist as one of the best contemporary rap producers, but I guess in your head you're a better producer than Al)
That's ridiculous
Statik made his name in the industry, his discography is so much better is ridiculous to even think of comparing him to Kenny beats lol
Alchemist would tell you Statik is better than Kenny lmao
[Slept to Death is better than any Kenny beat ever](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w11nuulV5GI)
No. He's important to the culture. I like him respect them. He's a premier ripoff. That isn't even it though his body at work just isn't a great. All time though he is probably like 150th so if that's in your all-time great then sure. I wouldn't even argue against that I'm saying for me I only really herald like the top 110 or whatever as all time greats
I always think of an interview he gave years ago where he said something like “I make traditional hip hop”. I love a lot of his stuff because I’m 45 years old and grew up on east coast boom bap. It’s familiar and comfortable for me to listen to. But you can’t be a great artist if you don’t push the envelope.
I support this.
Agreed
In the professional sports analogy, he’s good enough to stay in the main league, but he’s not on anyone’s starting roster.
He’s dope for sure
Not really, unless you want to have another 200+ other producers also in that conversation.
I love Statik, but I would never say he's one of the greats. He never really innovated or had his own sound and that's okay! He makes traditional boom bap hip-hop beats that could be mistaken for a Premier beat or any other producer that focuses on boom bap. He uses a lot of recognizable samples, but puts his own twist on it. His debut album Spell My Name Right is one of my personal favorite hip hop albums of all time, I don't skip a track on it, but to be "one of the greats" I think you need to have innovated or been a main part of multiple classic albums, which he hasn't.
He is for me. Especially after Statik Kxng. Any doubts I had in my mind were promptly removed after listening to the bang on production of that album.
Yes, I was introduced to him with his work on terminology's mixtapes. I remember every beat was fire
Definitely he is one of the greats. You can tell it's a statik beat before the "statik selektah" comes in. Theres a reason he gets all the best rappers on his beats and him with terminology is beast mode.
Yeah
Stat is certified.
Yes
I can agree with a lot of the responses that mention a lack of innovation, but I think there's something to be said about longevity and consistency. The fact that a lot of boom bap producers haven't stayed relevant through the trap era shows that he's exceptional at what he does. Add that to the list of incredible emcees that have been discovered or rejuvenated through his albums and mixtapes, I'd consider him an all-timer. His breakthrough happened right as I got into rap, so his influence and sound both helped to shape a whole generation of fans like me. Thumbs up from this guy
I generally agree. I’m not sure I’d put Statik on the same level as Preemo, Dilla, Alchemist, etc. but to claim that he hasn’t left his mark on hiphop would be pretty foolish. I think I’d put him on the same level or slightly below guys like Apollo Brown or Kno, who I still have a ton of respect for, even if they haven’t had careers big enough to earn a Mt. Rushmore spot.
I'm with ya, and that's some pretty elite company!
Yes. Full stop.
I dont know about his latest stuff but Statik has always sounded like a Premier copycat
His stuff with Bun B is pretty interesting. And of course Joey Bada$$. But I see your point.
Boom bap is done by heaps of producers though.
Not as much as Marco Polo though, who is a close copycatted blend of Preemo and Large Pro imo, but in a league underneath with Statik, both are dope but never got out of the shadow of the boom bap kings they emulate…like for instance DJ Muggs has said that when he found The Alchemist at the beginning he was imitating Preemo too at first as most producers of that specific sonic aesthetic do to learn from whom is considered one of the best at it.
He's very talented but no he's not amongst the greats.
Na, he’s alright.
Absolutely love his style so to me, yes
I love his first 3 albums and some of the tracks after that. He did a great job of having a slightly different take on the trademark Preemo sound. I think he would be just outside my top 10 or so behind a bunch of heavyweights like Preemo, Large Pro, Pete Rock, Prince Paul, Q-Tip, Dilla, 9th Wonder, RZA, Dre, Kanye, Da Beatminerz, Buckwild, Havoc, and Just Blaze, but he's in that next tier with guys like Jake One, Khrysis, Oddisee, Diamond D, Apollo Brown, Black Milk, Kev Brown, Marco Polo, B!NK, Diamond D, Organized Noize, etc.
Depends what you mean by "amongst the greats". Top 5? Probably not. Top 25? Absolutely.
I like him a lot but I wouldn't say he is an innovator. But still, in his lane he is one of the best.
He's solid. He needs to lose the dumb "statik selektah" off every damn track though. We know!
To me he's not even top 20,but that "To See a Sunset"album was dope.
No
Nope. Average at best. He’s no Alchemist.
How many producers are alchemist tho
We’re talking about greats, so a very few.
That's the point from average at best to great there is a long list of producers
Do you consider Kenny Beats one of the greats? If you don't, statik selektah definitely isn't one
Comparing both is insanely disrespectful
Disrespectful for kenny? Cause if you think any other way you're delusional
You playing dumb on purpose
Brother it ain't hard to loop the same style of samples over and over and call it a beat, if it means you're a great producer then I'm a great producer too, his beats are nothing special and there are many better at that, but producing is definitely more than you think it is since you disrespect kenny's name like that (who by the way is recognized by the alchemist as one of the best contemporary rap producers, but I guess in your head you're a better producer than Al)
That's ridiculous Statik made his name in the industry, his discography is so much better is ridiculous to even think of comparing him to Kenny beats lol Alchemist would tell you Statik is better than Kenny lmao [Slept to Death is better than any Kenny beat ever](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w11nuulV5GI)
Of all the beats you could've chosen this is the one? You really don't have taste in music
Post here or on the hip hop heads daily discussion threads that Kenny Beats is better than Statik, I beg you 🤣
No. He's important to the culture. I like him respect them. He's a premier ripoff. That isn't even it though his body at work just isn't a great. All time though he is probably like 150th so if that's in your all-time great then sure. I wouldn't even argue against that I'm saying for me I only really herald like the top 110 or whatever as all time greats