DJ Babu, of the world famous Beat Junkies and turntablist-mastermind behind the Dilated Peoples’ headnodding work, is at it again in a follow-up to his 2007 instrumental The Beat Tape Vol. 1 with the aptly named record: The Beat Tape Vol. 2. With his already impressive discography and genre-defining work on Super Duck Breaks (1996), Super Duper Duck Breaks (2000), and the Duck Season series, DJ Babu is no newcomer to the beatmaking game. A pioneer in his own right, DJ Babu has been a prominent name in hip-hop since his introduction to the culture and has contributed vast amounts of innovation through his innovative and creative musical efforts. The Beat Tape Vol. 2, like its predecessor, is an album of short one-to-three-minute instrumental beats that showcase the versatility of DJ Babu’s abilities on the wheels of steel. His work has continually evolved, providing the soundscapes to the ever-changing world of hip-hop music. On The Beat Tape Vol. 2, DJ Babu comes correct with a dark and ominous flavor, a textured, layered, and intricately composed selection of satisfying compositions.  Installments such as “Manferd,” and “What R U Doing,” are two of the tracks that reveal a subterranean coolness rarely found in hip-hop these days.