As if one wasn't enough, this is a follow up to the novelty hit "Rappin Duke" (the one Biggie name drops in "Juicy".) The record features vocal samples and a fake imitation of John Wayne.... read more
Second single off Ras Kass's second LP. No one's better than Ras Kass in giving up-to-the-minute, hilarious, intelligent commentary on the current state of hip hop or America in general – with puchlines that still hold up on the third or fourth listening. And the production is as nice as... read more
Titles include "Pressure Dem", "Dem A Murderer", "Dance Hall Scenario", "Ya Can't Test Me Again", "Ghetto Gospel", "Born Again Black Man", and "Hey Mr Rude Boy", with Brand Nubian.... read more
The amazing first Redman LP, back on reissue! Looking back, it's amazing the number of 'hits' off this one that still hold up today – with "Time 4 Sum Akshun", "A Day of Superman Lover", "How To Roll A Blunt", "Blow Your Mind" (and rmx), "Rated... read more
Great sounds from a very fresh moment in the New Orleans scene – a time when the older street band style came into play with the hip hop styles of the younger generation – presented here in a blend that's pretty darn amazing, and surprisingly free of cliche! The work here is mostly... read more
Karriem Riggins —
Alone Together ... CD
Stones Throw,
2012. New Copy ....
$12.9913.98
The Alone Together project from producer, beatmaker and instrumentalist Karriem Riggins – who's a brilliant jazz drummer, when that's what he wants to do – and he's also a beat-heavy hip hop production guru when duty calls! Alone Together finds Karriem wearing his hip hop... read more
The Together sides of the Alone Together project from producer, beatmaker and instrumentalist Karriem Riggins – who's a brilliant jazz drummer, when that's what he wants to do – and he's also a beat-heavy hip hop production guru when duty calls! Together finds Karriem wearing his hip... read more
Raw and direct Strong Island hip hop from Roc Marciano on Fat Beats – the instrumental versions of the solo debut from The UN MC! Sharp underground NY hip hop inspired by the classics and living up to the legacy. Titles include "It's A Crime", "Whateva Whateva", "Raw... read more
We never know whether we should call this their second album or not. We know it's their second, but their first was so poorly distributed for years, and besides, this one's light years ahead of that in both the approach to production and rhyme style. A modern hip hop essential, that blew our... read more
A less tense and caustic Roots than the crew that hit us on the majority of Rising Down a couple years earlier – and this one's as strong of an album as they've delivered since moving over to Def Jam. In truth, we were a little scared when we saw some of the guests credited – Monsters... read more
A landmark effort from the Legendary Roots Crew – one that a lot of folks hail as their greatest album – and there's a strong case to be made for that! Jazzy soul backdrops and lyrics that both personally and culturally reflective – and it's also the best produced Roots album to... read more
Solid work from Roots Manuva – a diverse range of styles, most of it fairly immediately engaging and not as all out experimental as some of the past couple records – with some moody, string-backed atmosphere and more straight forward thumpers. Roots Manuva's been one great, most... read more
DJ Wrongtom takes on the canon of Roots Manuva – giving some dubby Caribbean flavor to Roots Manuva's modern UK hip hop classics! There's not much in the way of consessions to trendy dubstep here, and that approach works very well! Includes the new track "Jah Warriors" feat Ricky... read more
The score to RZA's major motion picture directorial debut (and just how cool is it to be writing that)!– Whatever the creative and/or financial fate of the movie Man With The Iron Fists, RZA's score with collaborator Howard Drossin is a classic! You already know that RZA is a genuine student... read more
Unlike too many hip hop groups that break up, only to have each individual MC release a lot of weak material, Sadat X stays on track with production by Showbiz and Diamond D. If you ever thought that Brand Nubian was all about Grand Puba, Sadat's verses on these two overlooked cuts will remind you... read more
Spacey and funky hip hop from 7even Thirty for Mello Music Group – with some heaving, block-rockin' beatcraft, some great sci fi samples and fairly boisterous rhymes! Heaven's Computer is described as concept album with alien-themed story line – but on a simpler level, it's a straight-u... read more
An excellent 80s groove album masquerading underneath a kind of cheesy but equally 80s looking cover. There's no shortage of popping electro grooves here, with loads of great keyboards and nice funky boogie appeal. 6 tracks in all, including "I Need A Freak", "If I Gave You A... read more
8 track promo version of the Lost Generation LP, including "Shit Iz Real", "Dear God", "Shaolin Style", "Don't Front/Let's Chill", "5 Elements", and "What Makes The World Go Round".... read more
Four more dope West Coast underground tracks from the k/Impact label. Like the other releases on this label we've heard, mellow underground production, conscious lyrics, and vocals that are a nice change from the normal tri-state sounds.... read more
Slick Rick's third LP, as the title suggests released during his time upstate. A short LP, just 11 tracks, but a few dope ones including "Sitting In My Car" with the nice Bobby & James Purify "Puppet" sample, "Cuz It's Wrong" and a remix of "It's A Boy".... read more
Tracks include "3 Kings", "Like A Boss" feat Bun B & TI, "Diamonds", "I Ain't Heard Of That (rmx)" feat Bun B, "Click Clack" feat Pusha, Everybody Loves A Pimp", "Already Platinum" feat Pharrell, "Ashy To Classy", "P... read more
Banquet of Sarcasm has that noisy distorted underground sound, but with a little more energy and a little less abstract/off-beat vocals. Mr. Complex and D-Story of the Arsonists are featured on Three Men In A Bar.... read more
Sweet beats from this cool French duo – a pair who've got that same sort of genre-jumping quality we've loved in French grooves since the days of MC Solaar! The approach here is mostly hip hop, but there's strains of Neo Soul, jazzy funk, and more – shifting the vibe nicely from track... read more
The timeless classic Cali hip hop standard bearer from Souls Of Mischief – on 2LP vinyl! As much as we love all the best Hiero output of the 90s & beyond, this is still our favorite, and besides, it's pretty much the blueprint for the Hieroglyphics sound. Smoothly jazz and headnodding... read more
This is a promo only twelve inch of the title cut from "93 'Til Infinity", but it's packaged in the pic-sleeve from the regular 12-inch, which has a slightly different track listing. Odd, but that's just what Jive was doing at the time.... read more
Special Ed —
Revelations ... LP
Profile,
1995. Near Mint- 2LP ....
$14.99
The third and last album from Special Ed, not as much of a stand out as his first two, but still a great slice of mid 90s hip hop. Guest spots from Bounty Killer and Nine, beats by Special Ed, Akshun, Mark Sparks and Howie Tee. 14 tracks in all, including "Lyrics", "Neva Go... read more
Bedrock beatcraft and DJ mix mastery from Steve Stein – including the hugely important Double Dee & Steinski mixes of the early 80s – paired up with solid later work for this excellent 2CD compilation! The Double Dee & Steinski stuff really couldn't be more important to the... read more
The return of west coast hip hop veterans Substance Abuse – with appearances by contemporary and legendary figures such as KRS-One, Sadat X, Percee P and others – plus production by Vibes 1, Waes One, Hanif Hobbs, G-Naut, Nebz Supreme and more. Includes "How Many", "Don't... read more
A strong set from MC Substantial and fellow DMV hip hop heavy Oddisee on mixing and executive production duties – with production by Eric Lau, M-Phazes, Slopfunkdust, Street Orchestra and others. Includes "Spilled Milk", "See Her" and "The Verge" with Steph, The... read more
Suff Daddy —
Suff Sells ... CD
Melting Pot (Germany),
2012. New Copy ....
$16.99
Heavy grooves from Suff Daddy – but augmented with lots of great guest work too – the kind of collaborative effort that always seems to stem from his great inspiration in the studio! Core grooves are nicely diverse – and filled with funky stuff that draws heavily from 60s and 70s... read more
A lively little groover from the Sugarhill Gang – one based around the excellent "Daisy Lady" sample from 7th Wonder! The track makes great use of the original's brassy horns – inflecting a bright, almost Latiny finish on the tune – all to set the stage for some great... read more
Sugarhill Gang —
Sugarhill Gang ... LP
Sugar Hill,
1979. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)....
$9.99
The eponymous LP by the Sugarhill Gang – with some of the most infectious late 70s/early 80s grooves ever laid to wax! This is one of the first-ever full-length hip hop albums – cut on the success of the massive "Rapper's Delight" single! The record purports to feature... read more
Talib Kweli references has reputation as the concious rap torch carrier – and the perceived restrictions therein on Prisoner Of Concious – and delivers some of his best tracks in years. With a guest appearance by Nelly and featuring appearances by as varied a guest list as Miguel,... read more
Dandy Teru —
Adventures ... CD
Ubiquity,
2013. New Copy ....
$12.9916.99
A great full-length set from Dandy Teru – a producer who's been making a fair bit of waves in the underground in recent years – finally stepping into the limelight here himself! Teru's got a great ear for a crispy beat and cosmic keyboard line – often fusing the two together in a... read more
Head-nodding, truth-telling soulful hip hop from underground Chi producer/MC Thaione Davis – who we actually hadnt heard much from in the previous couple of years – so it's good to have him back! Even though it's been a minute since he's checked in with us, this is actually Thaione's... read more
All the hits: "Steppin To The A.M.", "Brooklyn Queens", "The Gas Face", "Product Of The Environment", "Words Of Wisdom" and seven more full-length cuts.... read more
Rare promo only 12", with three different mega mixes of Tommy Boy's best from the early days, with 3D (Ralph D'Agostino, Tommy Musto and Tommy Sozzi) dropping bits of "Renegades Of Funk", "Play That Beat", "Looking For The Perfect Beat" and more in a continuous... read more
Major label debut from the Memphis innovators. Waaay before winning an Oscar, these guys were watching too many late night horror flicks, and it shows. Classic M-Town buck that influenced the entire Southern Rap genre. Contains "Prophet Posse", "Spill My Blood", "Tear Da... read more