Real name: Ole-Birger Neergård

Effective period / Period of releases: 2012 - 2022

Ol’ Burger Beats has remained a dominant force in the beat scene since releasing his debut, High Rhodes, in 2014. With that album, the Oslo-based producer, deejay, and vinyl collector introduced the world to his innovative approach to flipping dusty jazz and soul LPs into stunning slices of instrumental hip-hop.

In addition to dropping purely solo albums like 2019’s beautiful Daybreaks, he has displayed a love for collaboration in a number of ways. There are his producer-helmed projects—2017’s Mind Games and 2018’s Out of Sight, Out of Mind—where he connects with some of his favorite emcees like Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin, Maxo, and Illa J. But then there’s 2022’s jaw-dropping Loft, a 12-track exploration of jazz featuring fellow jazz lovers like Ralph Thomas and Wendell Harrison.

Burger’s ability to work with others has led to fully collaborative efforts as well. He’s recorded joint projects with Trondheim emcee Kjartan Gaulfossen and Oslo artist Vuyo, as well as his sister, the gifted singer Née Pauline. In particular, Burger’s 2021 full-length album with Vuyo, Dialogue, received ample critical acclaim from Pitchfork, Passion of the Weiss, and Bandcamp.

It’s the year 2024 that marks perhaps his most ambitious release yet, the phenomenal 74: Out of Time, on Coalmine Records. The idea for the album has been lingering in his head for years: a collection of songs all recorded at 74bpm that capture the urgency and energy not just of 1974 but our current political and cultural climate. He’s again working with some of his favorite collaborators (Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, and others) and entirely new ones, too, like billy woods, Lil B, Vic Spencer, Lojii, and Ill Camille. The result is an eye-opening and gorgeous contemplation on the world from one of hip-hop’s most talented producers.