Download: Ayatollah “It Came From His Fingertips” (Alt Link)

In the world of instrumental hip-hop, Ayatollah needs no introduction. Since making his name producing tracks for hip-hop icons like Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, Rakim, Ghostface Killah, and Talib Kweli, the New York beatsmith has turned his attention to vocal-less music. “I get peace of mind from doing instrumental albums,” explains Tollah. “There’s no words to lead you in any one direction. Plus I don’t have to wait on rappers to finish the creations. I like the freedom of it.” After eight acclaimed instrumental collections, Ayatollah is proud to announce his first vinyl offering in over five years, Fingertips.

Musically, Fingetips reflects the gritty sound the producer has become known for. Horns blare, drums pound, basslines rumble, and vocal snippets drift in and out. “It’s raw, it’s cutting edge, and it’s soulful,” describes Tollah. As has been well-documented, Ayatollah still uses his trusty Akai MPC 60, meaning the music on the album did in fact come straight from the tips of some famously dusty fingers. Tollah Music will release Fingertips exclusively on vinyl and digital download on February 1st, 2011.