With "Can't Let You Go" by Fabolous, "Hottest Of The Hot" by BG, "In Love Wit Chu" by Da Brat, "I Know What You Want" by Busta Rhymes, and more. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Seminal work from Liquid Liquid – one of the coolest, funkiest groups on the New York scene at the start of the 80s! The approach here is a blistering blend of different percussion modes – from batucada jamming to funky drums – all tied together with these basslines that really make the whole thing vibrated with a massive sound! The music's a bit in the spirit of ESG – who also recorded for the same label at the time – but is also a lot more adventurous, and played with even more tightness too. Titles include the wicked cut "Cavern", which was the massive sample for the classic hip hop track "White Lines" – and other titles include "Scraper", "Optimo", and "Out". (Soul, Hip Hop) 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Elzhi serves up plenty of great lyrical work here, but our favorite aspect of the record may be the work of Oh No – who definitely takes the title seriously, and uses plenty of vibes throughout! This may well be the best vibes-driven hip hop project we've ever heard – as each track has some very strong use of the warmly chromatic instrument, but in ways that shift up nicely – used in a strong Madlib-styled way, but balanced with some sharper cuts around the edges. The set includes features by Blu, Dank, and Guilty Simpson – and titles include "Doc No Check Up", "Trick Dice", "Possessed", "Fireballs", "Smoke", "Last Nerve", and "Twilight Zone". CD

Elzhi serves up plenty of great lyrical work here, but our favorite aspect of the record may be the work of Oh No – who definitely takes the title seriously, and uses plenty of vibes throughout! This may well be the best vibes-driven hip hop project we've ever heard – as each track has some very strong use of the warmly chromatic instrument, but in ways that shift up nicely – used in a strong Madlib-styled way, but balanced with some sharper cuts around the edges. The set includes features by Blu, Dank, and Guilty Simpson – and titles include "Doc No Check Up", "Trick Dice", "Possessed", "Fireballs", "Smoke", "Last Nerve", and "Twilight Zone". LP, Vinyl record album

Two mellow groove sample cuts, put back to back as part of this great 12" series of hard to find tracks. "Evil Vibrations" is the stone jam sampled by De La Soul for "Rollerskating Jam Named Saturdays", and "Mellow Mellow" has been used by more than one artist over the years. Both cuts are nice nice nice! (Soul, Hip Hop) 12-inch, Vinyl record

Missy and Timbaland (and the usual cast of guest stars) are back and hotter than ever before on Missy's fourth full length, much more of a hip hop record this time, with tons of old school party shouts and new school neo-electro production! Under Construction is kind of a concept album (don't worry, not in the Jethro Tull kind of way) with a theme that celebrates the hip hop golden age of the mid-to-late 80s but with a modern, probably timeless flavor. The status quo R&B that Missy can't seem to get out of her system is here only at a minimum – this is a hip hop record! Past guests like Method Man (turning in a great remake of "Bring The Pain"), Ludacris, and Jay Z show up as well as 50 Cent, Ms. Jade, Beyonce Knowles, and TLC – but as usual, no one steals the show from Mis and Tim. No one would claim Missy is the most scholarly of lyricists, but as a conduit for attitude and a spicy groove she can't be beat, plus her topical and scatological rhymes and choruses fit these hip hop party bumpers like a Kangol & a gold chain. Tons of shout outs to and samples of the old schoolers that are just way too true to be nostalgic, plus strong production from Timbaland that isn't afraid to risk his reputation as an innovator by referencing his influences. The duo may have produced more astoundingly great singles in the recent past, but this is Missy and Timbaland's magnum opus, as far as full lengths go. 13 tracks including "Work It", "Go To The Floor", "Bring The Pain" featuring Method Man, "Funky Fresh Dressed" featuring Ms Jade, "Slide", "Play That Beat", "Ain't That Funny", and more. CD