Chillhop Music is proud to present the next chapter in our global series: Timezones France.

For this third installment, we return to the roots of beatmaking with a compilation built entirely around sampling vintage records. Many tracks began with a dig into 70s French library music, as French and international beatmakers lifted samples from old film and television scores by composers whose records have since become essential crate-digging material. Among them are pianist Janko Nilović, whose work has been sampled by Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and The Alchemist, as well as musicians such as Bernard Lubat and Jean-Jacques Debout. Others tracks draw from more contemporary sources such as NCY Milky Band and Le Commandant Couche-Tôt. Sampling is about the ear behind it as much as the era it pulls from.

France has its own deep tradition in this music, while its broader cultural impact in Europe dates back hundreds of years. Sample-based hip hop specifically has long had a home here, with the influential work of DJ Cam, Onra, Hocus Pocus and Wax Tailorrooted rooted in the same era of samples these producers returned to. Timezones France brings that spirit forward again, while connecting to the early years of Chillhop.

The producer lineup on Timezones France is as rich as its samples. French Chillhop mainstays such as C Y G N, L'Indécis, ØDYSSEE, Evil Needle, j’san, and more contribute groovy productions, while renowned international artists like Aso, The Deli, FloFilz, Freddie Joachim, Datsunn and Philanthrope offer additional interpretations of the original material.

With Timezones, we continue to shine a light on the instrumental scenes and musical traditions that shape the music we love. We crafted this edition with care and appreciation; press play and enjoy.