Hip Hop -- In Stock  

Madlib invades Blue Note! He gets free reign of the catalog for this mix of sampler genius and live band interpretations, too, as/with Ahmad Miller, Yesterdays New Quintet, Malcolm Catto, Medaphoar, and others from the Stones Throw camp. This one's truly a conceptual triumph, if there ever was... read more

A collection of tracks recorded by Madlib Invazion during the years 1997 to 1999. All cuts are by DJ Romes, and the single features 6 tracks in all -- with performances by Wildchild, Medaphoar, Madlib, and Kazi.... read more

A few more slices of sci fi weird hop from MC Doom, and mad, mad, Madlib! "Illist Villains" is the villain manifesto showcase for Madlib, burying deep, creepy organ and synth washes into a bunch of layered sci fi flick sound bites and beats. Doom does his thing on "Curls",... read more

A Stones Throw sci-fi masterpiece -- one that was destined for greatness from conception, but we're still pretty well blown away by the final product! MC Doom and beatmaster Madlib couldn't be better suited for a collaboration. As much as we've dug the best of Doom's material of the last couple... read more

A Stones Throw sci-fi masterpiece -- one that was destined for greatness from conception, but we're still pretty well blown away by the final product! MC Doom and beatmaster Madlib couldn't be better suited for a collaboration. As much as we've dug the best of Doom's material of the last couple... read more

A Stones Throw sci-fi masterpiece -- one that was destined for greatness from conception, but we're still pretty well blown away by the final product! Madlib brings nothing but the best sci-fi sound collages, scratches, and titanically driving funky beats -- the grooved out 70s side of 'Lib's... read more

MF Doom and Madlib, two of the most ubiquitous characters in underground hip hop -- hell, perhaps THE most ubiquitous characters in underground hip hop, pair up for an outing on Stones Throw! "Money Folder" is Doom's real showpiece of the couple of tracks here. Metal Face kicks his... read more

Original pic sleeve version of this one -- super rare! Includes the great b-side "Watch Roger Do His Thing", which is as dope as anything on the Breaking Atoms LP.... read more

The classic first LP from Kurtis Mantronik & MC Tee -- early hip hop and funky electro at its mid 80s finest -- richly expanded with a wealth of bonus material! We'll never tire of style here -- electronic funky beats, synthesizers and vocader vocal effects, and those benchmark old school... read more

One of Mantronix last worthwhile cuts, that sounds almost like it could have been on the first LP. With MC Tee on vocals.... read more

The seminal turntable cut up track reissued here with a reproduction of the original sleeve, and thankfully disposing of the flip (Finess & Synquis). They got the spelling right on Shan's name on the sleeve, too.... read more

"He Cuts So Fresh" is by Marley Marl featuring MC Shan, who is mis-spelled on the sleeve as "Sham". "Bass Game" is by Finesse & Synquis.... read more

We're not entirely certain how this single relates to the Strafe single issued a year earlier, except that they share some of the same lyrics, but it's an entirley different but still quite fresh electro track I nthe same vein.... read more

From the "Slaughterhouse" LP. The original version of "Jeep...", with Black Sheep style production, much better than the later version that used the Original Concept bass line. Also includes a beat box verson.... read more

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Delicious Vinyl gone G Funk! Masta Ace's second solo helmed album may not be the most topically innovative thing you'll find on the lyrical side, but the low ridin' gangsta thing rarely ever sounded sweeter than it does on these sides! A very worthy release that gets lost in the shuffle of high... read more

Masta Killa continues to keep the Wu Tang flag flying with pride -- with appearances by nearly the whole clique -- including Ghostface, Raekwon, RZA, Meth, Deck, U-God and GZA! 16 tracks including "Born Chamber", "Last Drink", "Secret Rivals", "Digi Warfare"... read more

2 tracks from the Masta Killa/Wu Tang reunion album Made In Brooklyn.... read more

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Essential material from the rap-mogul-turned-ballroom dancer. Some key cuts from the Ghetto D album including "Ghetto D" and the huge No Limit posse-cut "Make 'Em Say Ugh".... read more

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Not your grandma's Matlock, this is bedrock Chi hip hop Matlock -- a hard thumpin' batch from an MC that doesn't mince words -- with appearances by RA The Rugged Man, Rusty Chains, Pace Won and JUICE. Titles include "Pignose" feat RA The Rugged Man, "Don't Sleep", "Dear... read more

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Tasty grooves in the Stones Throw tradition! The set's got all the best feel of recent Stones Throw instrumental work -- kind of a stripped-down take on 70s funky jazz styles, especially those of CTI. Joe McDuphrey plays some monster keys on the set -- jamming in a mellow way over laidback bass,... read more

Straight up hip hop from MED -- dropping no nonsense rhymes over Madlib's heavy, heady beatcraft! Madlib seems to relish the opportunities to sideline his some of his more abstract tendencies once in a while when producing solid, hard hitting hip hop for cats like Guilty Simpson & MED -- still... read more

A sweet blend of jazzy and soulful hip hop beatcraft from the French production crew Melomaniac -- really a nice homage to the golden age of hip hop that's aurally region free -- featuring rhymes by Dave Ghetto and Othello! "Yesterday" is the a-side gem, with an insistent bass groove and... read more

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Some first round RZA joints, back when everyone was feeling the Wu, still sounding fresh and menacing today.... read more

The return of Mr Mef & Funk Doc -- 10 years on from the original Blackout LP -- and it's a solid duo hip hop LP the likes of which we don't hear nearly enough of in the late 00s! It seems like Blackout! 2 has been in the works almost since the first LP had run its course, but if you haven't... read more

"Mrs. International " is produced by Buckwild & "How Bout Dat" features Ready Roc & Street Life.... read more

The first full length from MF Doom -- busting out the future of underground hip hop -- capping off the 90s with a record with more jazzy soul in the beats, and some semblance of straightforward, if busy rhyme mastery from Doom & his guests -- taken to the outer limits! What really pushes this... read more

The first full length from MF Doom -- busting out the future of underground hip hop -- capping off the 90s with a record with more jazzy soul in the beats, and some semblance of straightforward, if busy rhyme mastery from Doom & his guests -- taken to the outer limits! What really pushes this... read more

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Early oughties underground gem from MHz -- a terse, moody, but still funky set from Copywrite, RJD2, Jakki Da Motamouth, DJ Tage and the Camu Tao! The MHz tracks have a deserved reputation as the blueprint material for some underground genius to come from the cast of characters, but it holds up... read more

Produced by M.I.A. and Switch.... read more

9 tracks in all, including "DO You Want To Party", "For Ever Stand By Me", "Get Off Miami Boyz", "Love Signs", "Miami Boyz Ready To Go", "Bug Out", "Let's Get Down", "Get Stupid" and "Who's Running Things".... read more

The second LP. Includes "Nothin Move But The Money", "Vendetta", "Survival", "Life N Lessons", "For Tha Family", "Street Life", "Be Like Mic", "Unstoppable", "Single Life", "Things Ain't What They Used... read more

A tasty plate with some stellar cuts by the one-and-only Missy Elliot -- proving once again that she's one of the best generators of great hip hop singles of the past decade -- with or without Timbaland! Cookbook as a whole goes down a little bit smoother than This Is Not A Test! did, with some... read more

Two great recipes from the Cookbook LP! "Lose Control" is another masterstroke from Missy -- who we're quite comfortable in declaring as probably the single greatest mainstream singles artist of the 00's -- a self-produced bouncer featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop. "On &... read more

With Nas.... read more

The single that redefined the sound of East Coast gangsta rap. . .... read more

The single that redefined the sound of East Coast dunny rap. . .... read more

Here you get both parts of the "Shook Ones" saga that put Mobb Deep on the map. We'll take these over their first LP on 4th & B'way anyday. Part 2 is from the first LP and Part I, was a promo only version with better lyrics (Or was it the other way around?).... read more

Mobb Deep's tale of the cops turning up the heat. The remix includes the same vocals but, to us, the production moves the already dope LP version up to classic status.... read more

Underground niceness from Moe Pope and Headnodic as Megaphone, with guest spots by Zion I, Oh No, and Gift of Gab, just to give you an idea of which brand of tennis shoes these cats are wearing. To our ears it's Headnodic's nice sample based beats that set this release apart from the every... read more

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Mos Def brings a veering diversity to New Danger -- his first album in five years -- a record that hits on tried-and-true Rawkus flavored beats and rhyme schemes, slow-rolling, smoked out soul & blues, and Quickness era Bad Brains-esque arena rock! Of course our favorite cuts are the straight... read more

One of our favorites of '97. Nice mellow production, reminding us a bit of No ID, courtesy of Shawn J Period. One of the pieces that helped put both Mos Def and Rawkus on the map, and a bonafide hip hop classic.... read more

A nice one from Rawkus, one of their dope underground singles with "Body Rock" by Mos Def, featuring a guest appearance by Tip and some nice lines from the Alkaholiks' Tash. Nice jazzed out beats by Shawn J. Period, with "Manifesto" by Talib Kweli from Reflection Eternal on... read more

Space funk specialist Mr Chop takes on the beatcraft genius of Pete Rock on For Pete's Sake -- blueprint Pete Rock singles and benchmark beats -- refashioned as fuzzed out psychedelic funk instrumentals! It works out masterfully, and very much in the mold of some of our other favorite material by... read more

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"Wages Of Sin" features Talib Kweli. "Street Team" features Pharoahe Monch & DCQ.... read more

Georgia Anne Muldrow's cosmic funky soul keeps rolling on -- bring even more depth to her evolving, unstoppable creative energy with Umsindo! The album is a dedicated Afrocentric social awareness, but she steers clear of strident righteousness in favor of a funky, soulful elemental vibe -- mixing... read more

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Split single, not a collaboration.... read more

A mixtape style set of raw rhyme, free styles and more from Naledge of Kidz In The Hall. Features production by Black Spade, Nez & Rio, Sa-Ra, Tha Bizness and Double-O -- and appearances by Fooch, GLC, Jay Electronica and more. Titles include "In My Own Words" feat Fooch & Mick... read more

14 tracks in all: "The Cross", ""Made You Look", "Hey Nas", "Thugz Mansion (NY)", "Revolutionary Warfare", "Get Down", "The Last Real N***** Alive", "Zone Out", "I Can", "Book Of Rhymes", "M... read more

Using both Kurtis Blow's "If I Ruled The World" and Whodini's "Friends" may have been too obvious, but it's still the Nas style we knew and loved before he discovered Cristal. Lauryn Hill provides backing vocals.... read more

The first album, with "Life's A Bitch", "One Love" and "It Ain't Hard To Tell" -- what more do we need to say? How about beats by Primo, Pete Rock and Large Professor? Did this one get 5 mics from the Source? Didn't that count for something at the time? At any... read more

One of our favorite Nas tracks, and one of our favorite Large Pro productions. His second single after his part on Main Source's "Live At The Barbecue". Classic mid-tempo production by the Large Professor.... read more

The second LP, not as dope as Illmatic, but how could anyone hope to live up to those expectations? Nas is leaning a little too heavily on the Trakmasterz here, though they do come up with some nice beats, even if they are a bit on the commercial side. Dr Dre and Premier contribute a couple of... read more

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Classic single about a visit to Riker's off the Illmatic LP, and still the nicest use of the Heath Brother's oft-sampled "Smilin' Billy Suite" -- produced by Q-Tip, with additional vocals by Sadat X.... read more

15 tracks including "Stillmatic", "Got Ur Self A...", "2nd Childhood", "One Mic", "You're Da Man", "The Flyest" featuring AZ, "Rule" featuring Amerie, "Ether", "What Goes Around", "Every Ghetto",... read more

Two cuts off the second Nas LP. "Street Dreams" adds some bonus verses. "Afirmative Action", is sort of an updated version of Marly Marl's "The Symphony" featuring The Firm, Foxy Brown, Cormega. And both the original and remixes are far better than anything on The... read more

Beats by LES, Chucky Thompson and Salaam Remi. Rhymes by Nas. Lots of rhymes by Nas. Almost more Nas than anyone needs in one place. Appearances by Olu Dara, Kelis, Scarlett, Ludacris, Doug E Fresh, Busta Rhymes, Maxwell, Quan, Keon Bryce, and Emily. Titles include "Nazareth Savage",... read more

The top of the heap from the indie class of '96, where Jean Grae, then known as What What got her start. Dope rhymes over smooth, spare beats, from the prime years of the East coast underground.... read more

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Greatest hits compilation with the best from the NBN glory days. Tracks include "Hip Hop Hooray", "OPP", "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", "Feel Me Flow", "Clap Yo Hands", "1, 2, 3", "Guard Your Grill", and the classic "Uptow... read more

The Neptunes, who did the beats for ODB's "Got My Money" & Mystikal's "Shake Ya A**" before they became the huge producers of the moment drop the first release under their own pseudonymous name. The music and verses are completely different from their big hits (and any hip... read more

Beatmaker Newman of Giant Panda teams up with MC Shawn Jackson for New Jack Hustle -- from laidback, hazed out hip hop, to some bigger, more soulful and uplifting beats & rhymes, to straight up funky boom bap. Tres Records rarely steers us wrong, and this another strong set for the label -- as... read more

Beatmaker Newman of Giant Panda teams up with MC Shawn Jackson for New Jack Hustle -- from laidback, hazed out hip hop, to some bigger, more soulful and uplifting beats & rhymes, to straight up funky boom bap. Tres Records rarely steers us wrong, and this another strong set for the label -- as... read more

"Automan" uses sung vocals. "Where's the Beat?" features, as usual, more goofy rhymes and vocoder dialog over electro beats.... read more

Still electro, but they replace Cosmo D with a much younger MC. Luckily, as with most of the Newcleus singles, they were thoughtful enough to include several stripped down dub versions.... read more

The second album from Gregg Nice & Smooth Bee -- an album that finds the duo rocking a bit more of a loopy, even kinda comic tone in spots despite the serious title -- and stands up strongly with the hugely influential teams best work! Features the early 90s classics "Hip Hop Junkies"... read more

Spacey soul soundscapes from Nicolay -- another big step for the unpredictable, but always soulful beatmaker, producer, and artist -- inspired by a consciousness awakening trip to Tokyo on Shibuya -- City Lights Volume 2! When we were first tipped to Nicolay's sounds, it was from a soulful hip hop... read more

Debut LP from Chicago's own No ID, who produced the first two Common Sense LP's, which was largely slept on, in spite of the nice rhymes and tight beats. With guest vocals by Doug Infinite, Common and Chicago's premier vocal duo - Syndicate. 15 tracks if you count the interludes, including "S... read more

No ID produced most of the first two Common Sense LP's so you know the production will be tight here. "Sky's The Limit" is a father's advice to his newborn son. As sappy as that might sound, it works and is a nice change from the "wanna be ballers" MC's. The production on the... read more

The mellow classic, plus "Who Falls Apart?", a non-LP track that fits in with that extra low key LA underground sound, along the lines of Aceyalone -- who contributes some vocals to "Bus Stops".... read more

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Anthemic group hip hop from Notes To Self -- featuring producer & rapper Bronze One, MCs Swamp Donkey and Roshin, and DMC champion DJ Dopey -- bringing a sound that's funk beat steeped, and schooled in the blueprint school of classic underground hip hop. Titles include "Yellow &... read more

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"Kick In The Door" produced, of course, by Premier using the "I Put A Spell On You" sample.... read more

NWA may have been on it's last leg by the time of this ep, but tracks like "100 Miles And Runnin", "Just Don't Bite It", "Sa Prize Pt 2", and "Kamurshol" still sound pretty great.... read more

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No matter what you think of what's become of the gangsta genre, 2 classics, served up in extended mixes, plus the non LP cut, "A Bitch Iz A Bitch"!... read more

The foundation of the sound that would rule hip hop throughout the 90s. Nice production from Dre, back when he was dropping more funk-sample based tracks, and plenty of attitude on the mic from Cube, Eazy and Ren. Off the Straight Outta Compton LP.... read more

One of the last dope releases from the Wild Pitch glory days, and an essential piece of early 90s hip hop from the Diggin' In The Crates crew. Nice, smooth production from Buckwild with lyrics to match, and a couple tracks produced by Lord Finesse and Organized Konfusion. With three tracks that... read more

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The long-awaited debut from Oh No -- featuring production by ON, his brother Madlib and J Dilla, with cuts by DJ Romes! The groove hops depending on the producer, but it's a strong record all the way through -- Oh No's self-productions hold up nicely with the above-mentioned underground A-listers.... read more