With this April 2025 mix, DJ/producer Dan Greenpeace salutes an early architect of hip-hop whose enduring contribution still resonates today—particularly in his pioneering work with sampling. “Paul C is a hugely important but under-celebrated figure in hip-hop,” Greenpeace tells Apple Music. “He was a recording engineer at the legendary 1212-Studio in Queens between 1987 and 1989 where many classic hip-hop tracks were recorded. He was also a producer and artist in his own right. He really had the Midas touch, and anything he worked on around that time was just sonically superior, so he set the gold standard for years to come. He contributed to seminal albums by Stezo, Ultramagnetic MC’s, Eric B. & Rakim, and Queen Latifah.” Alongside those names, this mix’s honor roll of MCs and groups who collaborated with the producer/engineer includes Black Rock & Ron, Black by Demand, and Too Poetic. “Many of the records he worked on as an engineer or producer have never been available on Apple Music before so I wanted to produce the definitive Paul C mix to ensure his contribution to hip-hop is never overlooked,” says Greenpeace. “I also wanted to set the tone for my own mix series by unearthing and sharing some of the most coveted records from my personal collection, compiled in my own inimitable style to ensure it remains timeless.”