Miguel - Come Through and Chill ft. J. Cole, Salaam Remi

Amy Winehouse - In My Bed

Salaam Remi is a very well respected and prolific hip hop producer. Remi is maybe best known for his producing work with the late, great Amy Winehouse. Marrying Winehouse’s love of mid-century sounds with a hip hop sensibility made a certain kind of magic.

Remi used a sample from Nas’ “Made You Look”, which he also produced a year earlier.

The sample uses elements from “Apache” by the Incredible Bongo Band.

Remi also produced this:

It's the way that we rock when we're doing our thing.

Jessie Reyez - Cotton Candy

Reyez is from Toronto and I've featured her before. She has a great sing-song-y voice and her lyrics are clever.

2017 was a breakout year for her.

Mase- The Oracle

Remember Mase? Russell Martin remembers Mase. This was his walk-up for a good chunk of the 2017 season.

(Side note: When this song was played at the Rogers Centre in the summer. My friend Adrienne says “I remember coming here as a teenager. I think the music is the same.” Yeah, it is. Also, green lamé hot pants. )

Anyway, Mase was everywhere with Sean “P Diddy” Combs at the turn of the 21st century. He left music in 1999 to become a pastor.

He came back in 2004 and has worked on and off. He is currently “on” and he has beef with Cam’ron.

Mase has always been a great emcee.