Hip Hop — In Stock  

Their second (or third?) single that has the tight old school back-and-forth MC'ing style (we think is still dope) than the social commentary stuff, like "The Message", that they did for Sugarhill. The music is uncredited, but sounds similar to Sugarhill's Doug Wimbush, Keith LeBlanc... read more

A Sugar Hill party in one sweet little package – 2CDs worth of music that features some of the biggest hits from the Grandmaster Flash generation, plus a few surprising bits from later years too! The package features a whopping 23 tracks in all – one disc that mostly hovers around the... read more

Fantastic! We can remember when this one came out – an early "scratch" record with loads of tricks on the turntable, and a collage of early break records – the first commercial cut and paste track that really put the block party DJ style on the map, a landmark moment in... read more

The original message rhyme, or at least the biggest one of its day, a track that would spawn a lot of imitiations, including more than a handful of followups from the Furious 5 and Melle Mel.... read more

We couldn't fit all the mixes in the title above, so for "1-800 Suicide" the mixes are: "New vocal version", "New vocal acapella", "Flip Squad mix", 'Gangsta mix", "Poisonous mix", "Poisonous mix inst", "Guillotine mix" and... read more

A massive early 80s electro club groove, with great syn drum beats and some nice soulful vocals over top!... read more

Group therapy is Nas, B Real, KRS One and RBX, with production by Dr Dre.... read more

Big Guru steps out for a solo shot on Traffic Records.... read more

Once again the GZA shines as the true Genius of the Wu Tang Clan. He continues to move in a more straight ahead rhyme direction, but there's still some nice metaphorical, numerological and knowledge dropping moments sprinkled in between the all-up-in-your-face Wu attitude alongside his acronym... read more

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The follow up to Herbie's groundbreaking hit album Future Shock. There's some rehashing of themes here, with the remake of "Rockit" called "Hardrock" here – basically the same number with some heavy guitar added and a few different solos – plus similar numbers that... read more

Electro funk, boogie soul and spacey hip hop from Hawthorne Headhunters – completely delivering on the promising earlier EP and rivaling the best of their similarly-traveling peers – particularly Plug Research labelmate Shafiq Husayn, along with leftfield leaders Dam Funk and Georgia... read more

Soulful hip hop soundscapes from Parisian beatmaker and producer Hazel – nice stuff with the beats and bass nice and prominent in the mix – with spacier, more atmospheric elements floating over that solid backdrop. The instrumental atmosphere carries the vibe, but there's a couple... read more

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One of Heather B's finest, with production by Kenny Parker.... read more

On the "Jeep Bass" mix, Heavy D comes with a little harder vocals and production than usual.... read more

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6 tracks off the LP in edited radio playable versions: "Here We Come", "Letha Brains Blo", "Sean Price", "Soldiers Gone Psyco", "Prowl" & "Grate Unknown".... read more

Production by E-Swift of the 'Liks and Mr. Walt of the Beatminerz.... read more

Production by Baby Paul and Sean J Period.... read more

A megamix of Herbie's excellent proto hip hop tracks "Rockit", "Autodrive", "Futureshock", "Rough" and "Chameleon '84" by Grandmixer D St., plus the album versions of "TFS" and "Earthbeat" from the Future Shock LP.... read more

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The dizzyingly creative rhymer Homeboy Sandman's first full length for Stones Throw – an MC who makes no bones about his against the grain stylistic approach – and it's one of the rare hip hop albums of the past couple of years to benefit from sprawling list of producer credits! ... read more

Homeboy Sandman delivers a nicely gritty EP for Stones Throw – paying tribute not only to the legendary DJ Kool Herc in the title – and ultimately honoring blueprint, funky break beats era hip hop in general! Homeboy specifically names it after Kool Herc, but it's not a covers EP or... read more

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The record that finally pushed so many blue-eyed doubters into the embrace of hip hop – and one of the few of its type that could deliver the same sort of punch as the best of the underground! In later years, the album's come to be associated more with fratboys than the group probably would... read more

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"Insanity" has a nicely trippy groove – a bit of a head-nodder, but with vocals that bristle out from the back and keep things moving upward – especially when Jimetta Rose opens up! "In The Place To Be" is funkier, with some cool spacey breaking drums – and... read more

From the bootlegs and b-sides album.... read more

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We have to give it up to Ice T. Aside from being one of the cornerstones of west coast and gangsta rap, he's probably the only rapper to successfully make the transition to acting (sorry Cube. . .). In fact, we'd rather watch him on TV than hear any of his later albums or singles. But we're... read more

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J Dilla's brother Illa J collaborates with the departed Dilla for the Yancey Boys album – produced with a batch of Jay Dee beats! This album could have gone wrong in a number of ways for a number of reasons – but truth be told it's a quality record that's actually worth checking out! ... read more

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For your collection of little kid rap records, though this one's a bit more worthwhile for the Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Biz Markie and Erick Sermon beats. Includes "Head Or Gut", "Crumbsnatcher", "We Getz Buzy" and "Stick 'Em Up".... read more

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Produced by True Master, who takes the Wu-sound back to its roots, with a track dope enough to stand on it's own. Similarly, Inspectah Deck delivers some straight-ahead hip hop lyrics and avoids the creative dead-ends of some later Wu-associated releases.... read more

Tight hip hop from the superhero team of Inspectah Deck with 7L & Esoteric – mostly produced by 7L, with a most welcome guest producer in the legendary DJ Premier – and it's a strong statement from the underappreciated Wu Tang gamer and the ever-creative DJ 7L! On the production... read more

Classic schooled superhero team Czarface – with Wu Tang veteran Inspectah Deck with 7L & Esoteric – and they get even heavier with a guest appearance Action Bronson! Includes the standout "Czardi Gras (It's Raw Again)" plus the instrumental and "Wake Up Show"... read more

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The first in the Lost Scrolls series of unreleased J Dilla recordings – and a pretty strong representation of Dilla's strength son a few different levels – with a couple cuts featuring Dilla on the mic , a prime level (almost) instrumental, plus a nice one with rhymes by his brother... read more

Thumpingly playful, spacey and funky beatcraft from the J Dilla archives – a packed couple sides of short, instantaneously addictive material – great stuff that does the Dilla legacy proud! Lost Tapes, Reels & More is Dilla at his most insistent – with one memorable beat... read more

A glorious send off from J Dilla – with some of the most soulful productions Dilla's ever laid down – and appearances by Common, D'Angelo, Pharoahe Monch, Madlib, MED, Black Thought and others! It's impossible to listen to The Shining without considering the sad circumstances... read more

Dilla beats and an allstar roster of guest Detroit MCs – and a strong debut full length from Ruff Draft Records! Posthumous releases by favorite departed figures can be a dicey proposition – and much to our relief, Rebirth Of Detroit delivers – with both high quality beats &... read more

The 8 X 7" box set version of this classic batch of instrumentals from J Dilla – one that strongly transcends the hip hop genre – and perhaps his rawest, and most adventurous listening experience ever! The loopy soul samples, rich synth/electro shine, and thumping bass and soul... read more

A pair of top shelf J Dilla tracks from the archives – with rhymes by Dilla and compatriots Frank N Dank! "Anthem" is a definite gem, particularly on the production tip. It's got a raw, powerfully effective way with the beats – which are mirrored by some nice, minimalist bit... read more

This is the first full length by underground favorite J-Live. He rhymes like a veteran rapper on this album, although this was actually shelved and in label limbo for some time. Tracks include "Got What It Takes", "Get The Third", "Vampire Hunter J", "Them That's... read more

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The first of BBE's forays into current hip hop – and a wonderful debut in the series! The album started as a breakbeat project from Detroit's Jay Dee, but soon morphed into a full-on hip hop album – complete with real instrumentation on Fender Rhodes, trumpet, keyboards, and drums,... read more

The J Dilla beats that provided the stellar backdrop for his brother Illa J's worty rhymes – and the instrumentals for the Yancey Boys album – a record that stands up very well against many of the better Dilla productions in his lifetime. It could have gone wrong in a number of ways... read more

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Bhangra.... read more

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The follow up single to "Come Clean", from "The Sun Rises In The East" LP with the usual outstanding Premier production.... read more

Jeru's first LP, a double vinyl set of great tracks that more than lived up to the "Come Clean" single. Now classic, with great production by DJ Premier, and loads of good stuff like "Come Clean", "You Can't Stop The Prophet", "D. Original", and more.... read more

An oft-quoted, classic old school track from one of rap's pioneering MC's, essential to any hip hop collection, that ought to need no introduction from us. Gets a place in the history books too for the early appearance of Russell Simmons as producer.... read more

Classic electro production from the Willesden Dodgers on these instrumentals released here as part of Jive's Rhythm Tracks series. Eight 4-5 minute tracks, all named after some of our favorite BPM's – "130", "114", "122", "108", "102", "1... read more

Janeiro Jarel and MF Doom – united as JJ Doom – and it's one of the fresher Doom collaborative projects of the past couple years! As unique as MF Doom is on the production tip, we gotta say we dig his joint efforts more when he's on the rhymes and another producer is behind the beats. ... read more

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Featuring Camp Lo.... read more

The album that catapulted Jurassic 5 from the underground! Quality Control is one of the great hip hop albums, a record that's filled with great tracks, yet flows along as the ultimate headphones experience. The rhymes by Zaakir, Chali 2na, Akil, and Marc 7even are top notch in group dynamics and... read more

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Produced by Premier.... read more

A nicely done compilation of the some of the best of Just-Ice – culled from the legendary Fresh, Warlock and Sleeping Bag recordings – a solid entry point for hardcore hip hop pioneer if you don't already own those records! Includes some the most legendary Mantronix productions, the... read more

A nicely done compilation of the some of the best of Just-Ice – culled from the legendary Fresh, Warlock and Sleeping Bag recordings – a solid entry point for hardcore hip hop pioneer if you don't already own those records! Includes some the most legendary Mantronix productions, the... read more

Funky hip hop instrumentals from the mighty K-Def! "Ghettoman's Hideout Theme" has that string-backed blaxploitation funk vibe you'd expect from the title – and the subsequent cuts are just as great! A wicked little limited instros EP from this underrated producer!... read more

Volume 1 in the K-Def Signature Sevens series from Splice Of Life – with vintage beats from the classic early 90s House Of Hits period – on the previously unreleased "What Goes Up" from Rated R. Includes the vocal & instrumental versions of this timeless cut.... read more

Sparely funky, yet heavily atmospheric hip hop productions from unsung titan Kankick – made up mostly of late 90s material – and it's right up with some of our favorite leftfield producers of the period! Kankicks was perhaps best known as a Lootpack affiliate around this time, and sure... read more

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With LL Cool J.... read more

Keith Murray's finest moment, introducing the word to his mic skills, the most complex of the Def Squad MC's. Erick Sermon provides the bottom heavy east coast funk style on the beat side. Includes the single that got everyone open on Keith "The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World",... read more

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Jazzy Bay Area hip hop from producer/MC double threat Kero One – an unabashedly rearward leaning hip hop head from the left coast – with skills on par with the Soul Providers, Lightheaded and others on the scene! It's no secret that we have eager ears for hip hop that's schooled in the... read more

"Follow Me" features Buckshot and Cocoa Brovas. "Creepin'" features Kurupt, 8Ball and Too Short.... read more

From the days of the foot-and-a-half fade, Kid-N-Play's big hit that used a Go Go track and their usual feel-good vocal style.... read more

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Dawn of the 80s party rap from Kool DJ AJ! "Ah, That's The Joint" is notable as an early Terry Lewis production, but what's really great about it is how brilliantly it rocks a 70s funk vibe underneath the vocals. The bass groove is unstoppable and the the beat is incredible – with... read more

Prime, hard hitting Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – a killer collection of their pioneering, classic cuts from the Cold Chillin' era! The MC & DJ duo was plenty popular in this period – which essentially covers '89-'92 – but they're one of those combos whose influences on east... read more

Prime, hard hitting Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – a killer collection of their pioneering, classic cuts from the Cold Chillin' era! The MC & DJ duo was plenty popular in this period – which essentially covers '89-'92 – but they're one of those combos whose influences on east... read more

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Original versions, plus instrumentals, of these two tracks from the "KRS-One" LP, issued on KRS's own independent Front Page records, before they came out on Jive. Production by Showbiz and Diamond D.... read more