Hip Hop -- In Stock  

Nice stuff from Ritz -- rhymes by Apoc, beats by Rels, cuts by DJ Onceamonth -- gritty beats and solid underground style that reminds us a bit of grittier Rhymesayers records. Speaking of Rhymesayers, guests include the mighty Psalm One, plus Racecar of Modill, Brendan B, Moodswangz & Elfamail.... read more

The Horror of early aughties RJD2 -- when he had really hit his creative stride on Def Jux -- stellar stuff from one of the most exciting underground hip hop figures of the decade. Includes the great single "The Horror" plus a host of b-sides, outtakes, remixes, & exclusives tracks... read more

RJD2's signature style epic hip hop! This time out -- no rappers allowed, which was a good move in our book, considering his production really shines when he doesn't cater to an MC. This effort has got a little bit of fusion flare, with wisps of synths on some tracks and space age ricochet drums... read more

An hour-long collage of dj work, samples, beat boxing and found vocals spread over two LPs from Rob Swift -- one of the earlier efforts on Stones Throw reissued on Fat Beats Records! Unlike most DJ based records we've come across over the years, Swift and crew have made a record that is actually... read more

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Not strictly hip hop, but a breakin/electro/dance classic! With that early 80's club sound and sung vocals, produced by Arthur Baker and Jellybean. The 10-minute Rockin On Sunshine mix is a mostly instrumental version, with much more spare production, where each drum/bass/snyth line is allowed to... 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 great cut by the Roots -- and the first single from the Tipping Point album! "Don't Say Nuthin'" is one of the most head-nodding, electro keyboard funky numbers we've ever heard from the group -- and another curveball from the legendary Philly crew that still seems capable of anything!... read more

The first, independent, Roots LP with so many classics that never made it to their later import and major label releases. What more can we say... Tracks include "The Roots Is Comin", "Pass The Popcorn", "The Anti-Circle", "Writers Block", "Good... read more

The first, independent, Roots LP with so many classics that never made it to their later import and major label releases. What more can we say... Tracks include "The Roots Is Comin", "Pass The Popcorn", "The Anti-Circle", "Writers Block", "Good... read more

With the LP versions of "Proceed" and "What Goes On", which are dope enough by themselves, but this single has the promo-only version of "Proceed Part III", with new vocals and some extra-dope verses from Bahamadiah.... read more

The Roots make kind of a return to their own roots with the Tipping Point -- a loose, funky, hip hop soul opus from the legendary Philly crew! The record's got a much more streamlined and focused ambition than Phrenology or Things Fall Apart -- and it's a brilliant extenuation of their established... read more

"UNIverse at War" features verses from Common.... read more

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Re-workings of Roots Manuva's "Do Na Boddi Mi" single by Wrongtom, Xrabit and Redlight.... read more

Marley Marl produced single from Shante's last LP, "Bad Sister" from the days just before Shante, Marley Marl and Cold Chillin seemed to fall off. With one of those CJ Mackintosh remixes we love to hate.... read more

In our opinion, Shante's best cut, from the Pop Art label's glory days. The story of how she hooked up with Marley Marl and Pop Art. Produced by Marley with some nice DJ work.... read more

Production by the Beatminerz.... read more

This electric four-piece lineup delivers a new independent Chicago sound; from sexed-up, sugary sweet hits and intense dark epics, to bangin' live hip-hop beats (featuring Qwel of Typical Cats on two tracks). Their sound, led by producer DJ White Lightning on the boards and low end, is driven by... read more

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A bit past their prime, but still with enough redeeming moments to make it worthwhile to you even if you're not a completist or hip hop historian, like "Sucker DJ's", "What's It All About", "Back From Hell" and "Livin In The City".... read more

Dancefloor jams, post disco soul, early NYC hip hop beats and straight up amazing 80s NYC progressive club genius from Arthur Russell -- a compilation of great tracks he performed on, authored, remixed, edited or produced for Sleeping Bag in the early-to-mid 80s! Includes underground classics from... read more

Samurai hip hop funk from the RZA -- in his comfort zone with this second volume of soundtrack work for and inspired by the animated Afro Samurai series and video game! This is the kind of thing you'd think the legendary Wu Tang founder and sonic architect could spin in his sleep, but the truth is... read more

Samurai hip hop funk from the RZA -- in his comfort zone with this second volume of soundtrack work for and inspired by the animated Afro Samurai series and video game! This is the kind of thing you'd think the legendary Wu Tang founder and sonic architect could spin in his sleep, but the truth is... read more

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An exclusive Sa-Ra track featuring Jay Electronica & Ta'Raach -- plus the tight "Powder Bump" on vinyl for the first time ever -- and a Serato Control Tone on the flip! "Love Czars II" is not a remix of the Nuclear Evolution LP track -- it's an all new number that's a... read more

Cosmic hip hop soul from Om'Mas Keith, Shafiq Husayn & Taz Arnold -- a long awaited proper full length from the Sa-Ra Creative Partners -- and an excellent one! Sa-Ra's signature spacey funk & beatcraft, hypnotic and boundless grooves have been critical behind the scenes for some of their... read more

Cosmic hip hop soul from Om'Mas Keith, Shafiq Husayn & Taz Arnold -- a long awaited proper full length from the Sa-Ra Creative Partners -- and an excellent one! Sa-Ra's signature spacey funk & beatcraft, hypnotic and boundless grooves have been critical behind the scenes for some of their... read more

Pretty much the only Hobo Junction MC we could get with, we wonder what happened after these early great tracks. Of the 2 singles pulled off the first LP, this one was battle rhymes (go figure from the titles) while the other,"Just Riden" was his more abstract verses.... read more

Late oughties material from Sadat X of the legendary Brand Nubian! Sadat has stayed pretty busy over the years, and Brand New Bein keeps things raw, with production and scratches by DJ JS 1, and other cuts produced by JW -- with appearances by Lord Jamar and Grand Puba on the title track, plus C... 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

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Their big hit, plus one of their nice early ones, and a nice bit of idle chatter.... read more

Scaramanga Shallah = Sir Menelik = what was his other alias? Anyways, even though only a couple tracks are produced by Godfather Don, the whole LP has the feel of the other projects he's produced -- which we think is a good thing. A cross between NY abstract and NY hardcore underground. ... read more

The Seaside Posse is Playboy Chill and MC Scooter D.... read more

15 tracks in all, including "Opus", "The Covenant", "Best Part", "The Long Run", "Cash Craft", "Three Kings", "We All Need", "Murderation", "You Can't Fall", "The Self Science", "Duality",... read more

Nice solo single from the Freestyle Fellowship alum. "Discouraging Quotes" features fellow Blowdians Jizzm & J-Smoov, and "4808-4911-A" features Fellowship member Aceyalone.... read more

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Sharp stuff from Providence MC Shawn Jackson -- rhyme centric, but not lacking in murky funk beatcraft. Another winner for Tres Records! Tracks include "First Of All", "Fix Ya Face", "Traveling Salesmen" feat Comel of Time Machine, "Backstage", "Strate... read more

"Feeling Jack" produced by Fly Ty & Chordz. "Strategies" featyres Guilty Simpson on the mic, and production by Snowman.... read more

Hard to find Clapper's hip hop release with a long lost female MC.... read more

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An unpredictable ride through the "Tunnel" with beatmaker Shuttle, otherwise known as Etan "Tunnel" is blends electro funk and a little bit of dancehall, and rolls from moody to heavy pretty quickly! Also includes a High Rankin remix. "Rotten Guts" is a pretty wild... read more

Maybe this isn't the best Wu-related LP ever, we still think the album was unfairly slept on. There's some nice tracks including the hit "Jiggy Coming", "What Makes The World Go Round" featuring Smooth The Hustler and DV Alias Christ, and a couple tracks with Pop the Brown... read more

Furious Anger features Big L.... read more

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"You Know I'm Wit' It" features Kool G Rapp & Ma Barker. "Feels So Good" features Earatik Statik & Pacewon. "Kaboom" features Binkis Recs.... read more

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One of the best rappers most people never heard of, Virginia's Skillz has ghostwritten for the biggest names in the game and does his annual "Rap Up" for underground hip hop heads -- and after a few false starts the Million Dollar Backpack CD dropped in summer 08! Longtime fans Freeway,... read more

Keys, laidback beats and hip hop soul from Slakah The Beatchild -- a nice blend of percolating beat craft, soulful vocals and rhymes -- featuring a host of vocal collaborators for a fresh approach that's unpredictable but flows quite seamlessly! The sounds roll out nicely prominent keys and... read more

3 versions of this track from The Ruler's Back -- one of them a remix by Large Professor.... read more

The first Def Jam single from Slick Rick, a slower track with Slick Rick's classic storytelling that, despite the late-80's guitar and synth production, still holds up. With a nice quote from "Mahogany", too!... read more

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"Get Live!" is produced by Scott Storch, and "One" is produced by Karreim Riggins.... read more

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Featuring Dwele.... read more

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Slum Village returns with a proper follow up to Fantastic Vol 2, after a way too long three year break! This is the Slums' biggest outing so far without the full participation of Jay Dee -- but never fear, Jay shows up here on a few tracks, and you also get beats by Hi Tek and others. The tracks... read more

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"La La" produced by Waajeed, "Club Banger" by Karriem Riggins, with guest vocals by Dwele.... read more

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Big Snoop is back for some Ego Trippin' -- with the instant classic single "Sexual Eruption" -- plus "Press Play", "SD Is Out", "Gangsta Like Me", Neva Have 2 Worry", "Cool", "Sets Up", "My Medicine", "Ridin' In My... read more

The G-funk classic, remastered and repackaged in a 2LP set. Tracks include "Bathtub", "G Funk Intro", "Gin And Juice", "Tha Shiznit", "Lodi Dodi", "Murder Was The Case", "Serial Killa", "Who Am I? (What's My Name)",... read more

Niceness from the Soul Position squad -- producer RJD2 and MC Blueprint! The Soul Position sound takes ominous, rock & roll born beats and and overall impact, with a loud, out front rhyme style.... read more

Another RJD2 & Blueprint adventure.... read more

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The celebrated Speech Therapy album from Speech Debelle -- it's worth it! The live, jazzy instrumentation in the production gets your attention -- but it's Speech Debelle's focused & forthright storytelling that really gets this one over. Pretty solid stuff, and a record you'll go back and... read more

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One of the best Sequence singles, with the classic old school live-in-the-studio feel to the vocals and the early Sugar Hill backing band throughout the 8 minute track. Plus some added verses from Spoonie Gee.... read more

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Produced by Spyder D, with some nice heavy beats, and an overall approach that's somewhere between the hard Queens sound of Run DMC and electro-ish UTFO/Whodini sound.... read more

Spyder-D gets busy old school style, with "wave your hands in the air" style rhymes over a bouncing roller disco track on this great early single from the dawn of the rap age.... read more

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After a long wait - the return of the SD50s, featuring Del, Sadat X, Casual & the Missin Linx.... read more

Beats by DJ Fashion and Professor Q. Rhymes by Fat Joe, Dion Broad, Grand Puba, RMR and Chill Will.... read more

Since we couldn't put it any better, here's a quote from Frankie Knuckles off of discogs -- "For the first 6 months of my arrival to the U.K. back in the later months of 1989, this was my most treasured track, the one people would remember me for. The vocal "Let The Bass Kick"... read more

Blearly eyed hip hop beatcraft from Suff Daddy -- beats, samples, synth & keys -- lacing boombap, jazz and spacier bits -- coming straight of of Berlin! Suff has a keen ear for the best 90s hip hop styles, put his own unpredictable spin on the aesthetic. There's usually an underlying layer of... read more

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Super rare test press of the classic 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... read more

One of their later LPs, with the cuts "Space Race", "Real Funky", "Troy", "Girls", "Fast Lane", and "Kick It Live".... read more

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The second LP by Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rudd, this time without the benefit of Paul C, though still a decent effort, in the vein of other early 90s Wild Pitch albums. More of an EP, with only 8 tracks: 'What Do You Know (radio)", "This Dub's For You (radio)", "Life Of... read more

Superstar Quamallah does a better job of describing the vibe with the title of this 7-inch EP -- but it's not a pure throwback, it's got loads of the timeless soul jazz and funky beats, coupled with fresh rhymes. "88 Soul" and "Sh*t" (clean) appear as a prelude to the Invisible... read more

Lyrically and spirtually fresh wordplay from Superstar Quamallah -- working with blueprint era funky hip hop beatcraft, done with a timeless style! Titles include "You Need Knowledge", "88 Soul", "Black Shakespeare", "For My People. . .It's Spiritual", "... read more

"Get You Mad" is with Eminem, during the dope in-between stage in his career just before he blew up commercially, and "Ego Trippin 99" features Kool Keith & Motion Man reprising their Masters Of Illusion duo. Featuring DJ Revolution on the cuts, too.... read more

Sweet Tee has resurfaced over the years with the Poison Posse and with the Deadly Venoms, but her first singles for Profile are still our favorites.... read more

Later recording by T La Rock, this time with Todd Terry, who actually does some nice hip hop production, not the house sound he later became famous for. The vocal style is just about as nice as T La Rock's singles with Mantronix. On "Flow With The New Style", Todd Terry's style is... read more