Jazz Hip Hop May 2026

: Pushing or pulling the beat off the grid—specifically in the drums—to create a "swinging" or "lazy" groove typical of artists like J Dilla .

: His Jazzmatazz series explicitly brought jazz musicians and rappers together. Jazz Hip Hop

: Known for hits like "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," they are a pillar of the soulful, jazz-heavy sound. : Pushing or pulling the beat off the

by Bob James (one of the most sampled songs in hip hop history). Making the Music by Bob James (one of the most sampled

For producers and musicians, creating Jazz Hip Hop often involves:

This genre took shape when producers began sampling jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, and Roy Ayers. While early pioneers like and De La Soul often layered drum loops over jazz samples, the genre has evolved to include live instrumentation and deep collaborations with jazz musicians. Essential Artists & Albums

by Herbie Hancock (heavily sampled by Us3 for "Cantaloop").