10 Essential Sango Hip Hop & R&B Tracks

Sango is one of the few producers who has developed a fully original sound. His Da Rocinha mixtape series, which synthesizes trap drums and the "baile funk" aesthetic borne of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, is truly a marvel of modern electronic music. 

Like the great producers, much of Sango's best work is purely instrumental. He has also collaborated extensively with vocalists from various genres. Read our comprehensive interview with Sango here and click through the gallery to hear ten of his best hip hop and R&B tracks -- all originals, none of his Drake/The Weeknd remixes -- except for his best remix...

"Wassup" was something of a breakout track for both Goldlink and Sango. Goldlink doesn't have Louie Lastic handy to complete his "future bounce" aesthetic, it is certainly present in his flow, which meshes nicely with Sango's unforgettable flute sample. The world needs more flute samples, man.

One of Sango's hallmarks is combining slick, jazzy samples with biting trap drums. His hi hats and snares are razor sharp, as evidenced in "3AM In Cape Town (Swag Worth A Mill Pt. 3)."

Tinashe has gone on the record stating that one of her favorite songs on her debut album Aquarius is "Cold Sweat." a song produced by Sango, Boi-1da, and SykSense. Together they craft a pulsating synth, voluptuous bass line, and sensuous clap that pair nicely with Tinashe's sexy vocals.

Before he released Da Rocinha 2, Sango released his Soulection debut full-length North -- "a love story of two people, on a journey, who find better things in themselves when they are with each other." 

For "Middle of Things, Beautiful Wife" he recruits San Antonio crooner SPZRKT. At the core of the song lies a slow moombah groove and a drowzy synth (reminiscent of XXYYXX's "About You") elevated by SPZRKT's bristling vocals.

Another North standout, "Affection" serves as a good example of Sango's masterful mixes. He fine-tunes a crisp snare and firm kick to take care of the heavy lifting groove-wise and lets skittering hi-hats and a woozy synth fill in the gaps.

One of Sango's closest collaborators over the years has been Grand Rapids rapper Waldo. Together they formed the Michigan-based collective AGO (ASTRONAUT GANG) that released the highly slept-on project Tuebor in 2014. One highlight is "Royal Oats," featuring an exquisite chipmunk'd sample and an immaculate snare from Sango.

As "Mandarin Oranges" (another Tuebor standout) demonstrates, flute and harp does not preclude a song from being a banger. Once again Sango's drum programming is a highlight. "Mandarin Oranges" sounds like a bumblebee hitting his dougie... or something.

Appearing on the double EP NSDE/OUTSDE, "Kobe's Room" is Sango & Waldo's answer to "Marvin's Room." The song showcases Sango's creative sampling and underrated arranging capabilities. Note how he expertly manages the output of energy as the song unfolds.

A highlight of S & W's Until Then EP, "Crossroads" contains a swirling, almost messy sample that contrasts nicely with SPZRKT's crystalline vocals. Sango wrote that Until Then is about "how we live our silent days... The days in which we spend working towards or away from our goals. Until then, we just live and wait to see what God has planned for us." Do you see it?

"JMK" contains an uplifting choir sample that wouldn't have felt out of place on Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book. The sample is one of Sango's best known, and "JMK" is the most popular track off his EP with SPZRKT Hours Spent Loving You, "a summation of how relationships are viewed both earthly and heavenly.

The upgrade in quality from the original "What is Love," which appeared on the "Rio 2" soundtrack, and the Sango version cannot be overstated. Sango's remix draws an incredible emotional depth out of Monae's voice that the original completely obscured. See for yourself: