ll Personally I’ve had wonderful experiences with M-Audio Midi devices. But keep in mind, I’m a pianist so I like to use weighted or semi-weighted keys to simulate an actual piano feel - which GREATLY improves the performance of your playing style. Those types of devices are a bit more expensive - if the weighted keys are not a factor for you, then this model is excellent: M-Audio Oxygen 49 MKIV | 49-Key USB MIDI Keyboard

I've been looking at more 49 key MIDI's (most of the 49 keyboards don't have drum pads and other essential hip-hop features, for whatever reason, which doesn't leave a lot to choose from... on Amazon at least) and I'd like to get your input one more time between two controllers, one of which you linked earlier. I might make a separate post tomorrow with all the new information and boards I've narrowed it down to.

So, it's between the M-Audio that you linked earlier and this other M-Audio that I found on Amazon. The one on Amazon is slightly more expensive, and they're definitely different, but the pictures make it hard to tell exactly what the differences are. Despite the price, the one you linked actually seems nicer tho, would you agree?

They seem to literally be the only 49 key controllers I can find on Amazon within my price range that are suited for hip-hop production. Everything else is either $300+ or made for another genre, unless you have any other suggestions. I'm curious why 25 key controllers seem to have much more options to choose from for hip-hop than 49 key.