Emerald Steps

Waajeed

Platinum Pied Pipers, Bling 47, USA

Keeping that Detroit-harvested bump moving forward, Waajeed led a parade of kids to his musical waters when his group Platinum Pied Pipers came out in 2005. Just one listen to their gorgeous rendering of Paul Simon's 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, and you'll hear why. The current Brooklyn resident was also a long time Dilla affiliate - the first beats he threw down were made on a busted MPC Jay Dee passed down to him. A long time friend of the group, Waajeed also had a hand in Slum Village's now-classic early work, going from creating the cover art for Fantastic Vol. 2 to producing on Trinity (Past, Present and Future). Though he's been known to liken himself to Quincy Jones, Waajeed has the studio know-how to back that claim up. He's also a production perfectionist, as you can hear by the detail in his songs. "I could hear a killer track... but if there's no progression, or something that provides interest in the second verse, I cut it off," he told Popmatters.com. "I make music for producers, for cats who talk shit like me." Check this mix from The War Room in Seattle - Platinum never sounded so good!