Nice laid-back production from the Beatnuts on this personal reminiscence on the history of hip hop, name-checking a lot of the early old school pioneers. And who can argue with doing a dedication to Afrika Bambaataa.... read more
An early start for Jocelyn Brown, but even in the mid 70s, she was still a formidable voice in the clubs! This excellent track has kind of a rolling funk feel, with less of the disco sound that was later associated with Jocelyn's later work – and some nice touches like a jangly guitar, hard... read more
Wicked electro grooves from Kavinsky – five mixes of the cut "Protovision", but brought together here with the fuzzy frenzy of a John Carpenter soundtrack! The initial version is a great instrumental – with some guitars from Raw Man that have a really classic 80s vibe –... read more
Includes "Snake", "Been Around The World" feat Ja Rule, "Step In The Name Of Love (rmx)", "Who's That" feat Fat Joe, "Ignition", "You Knock Me Out", and "Dream Girl".... read more
A great disco take on the Love Boat theme – one done here withs ome slightly Latiny club touches from Joe Quijano, and fragile vocals that shake a bit more than Jack Jones' on the original recording! There's some nice Miami club moments in the instrumentation – and the compelling thing... read more
Philly has got to be the center of the Nu Classic Soul universe. This is the latest group to come from the city of Brotherly Love with a rich, soulful approach to contemporary sounds. King Britt steps it up a bit on the flip, for a nice club take on the midtempo album version.... read more
A follow-up to the group's massive electro groover "Dirty Talk" – done with the same sort of percolating beats, electro keys, and whispered snakey vocals that really give the subject matter a run for the money! The groove and sound is very similar to the original – and the... read more
A wicked groover from Klein & MBO – bubbling over with the sweet electro touches we love in their work! The track's a percolated drum machine riffer – with whispered breathy vocals over the beats, and electric keys that come in nicely and take the tune over.... read more
Sweet jazz funk from 70s Finland! "Boots & Roots" is a wonderful groover from the group of saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen – a snapping groover with guitar on the rhythms, and freewheeling solos on soprano sax from Eero, plus some great solo work on piano! "Roots &... read more
Three remixes from the Konomka project – all of which really expand the spirit of the original! Chico Mann remixes "Sibashaya Woza", and somehow manages to bring this really earthy, almost muddy vibe to the track – but we mean that in a good way – as his style kind of... read more
A huge crossover hit for the group – but a pretty tasty dancefloor single as well! Deodato's producing track here – and it's got a nicely compressed sound that pops along the bassline and catchy hook wonderfully!... read more
A funky later classic from Kool & The Gang – not as hard and heavy as their early work, but still plenty darn great! And while "Ladies Night" is a well-known hit, there's always great bits on the track that we always fall in love with again – like the tightly compressed... read more
(Promo. Cover has a stain and some peeling on the spine and some marker on front.)
"Outta Here" is a history of KRS/BDP's early days combined with the story of what happens to performers after fame and fortune has passed, "$5,000 love seat – outta here!" With production by Premier. "I Can't Wake Up" is one of those bizarre rhymes that only... read more
Not the classic disco tune "I Feel Love", but instead a great modern groover from Uku Kuut – one that has these great stepping keyboards over beats, with a vibe that's just like some lost instrumental street soul cut from the mid 80s! The tune spins perfectly at both 45 and 33... read more
What can we say? Despite the stupid appearance of the band, "White Horse" was a classic breakdance/electro track that crossed over so big it had kids in Kansas running out to by parachute pants and squares of linoleum to play along with the kids in the Bronx. Despite that runaway hit... read more
Jesse Saunders has some fun with an 8-bit sampler and little vocal bits referencing the Amityville Horror film (we think) over this spare, almost electro-sounding early Chicago house cut.... read more
Two of the doper tracks from the "T.I.M.E" LP – two that still have the classic Leaders' sound from the "Future Without..." LP. To our ears, Busta's solo material has still never sounded nicer than these tracks with Charlie Brown and Dinco D. The Large Professor gives... read more
While most heads are checking for the "Real Deal" 12" with Shadow's Lesson 4 remix on the flip, this other single off the Lifer's Group album is still nice, with tight production by Organized Konfusion on the a-side, and nicer beats than we recall from Doctor Jam and Phase 5 on the... read more
A collaborative effort from Madlib and Freddie Gibbs – the union of the most prolific producer in abstract hip hop and hugely talented MC Gibbs – who has been poised to breakout for a few years now, and this tight handful of tracks with 'Lib is another strong step! We've said it before... 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... read more
Original pressing of "Boogie Down Bronx", one of the first hip hop tracks about The Bronx, and the early electro classic that Newcleus copied the bassline, drums and vocoder sound from on "Jam On It". The production almost sounds as if this could be a mid 80s Arthur Baker cut.... read more
An offshoot of the 4AD rock scene from the UK, this number sampled Rakim from "Paid In Full" to great effect – and it made quite a bit of sense that the track was issued on 4th & Broadway in the US (probably also a legal move, so that the label wouldn't sue 4AD for copping a... read more
A sweetly stepping mid tempo disco groover with a hypnotic, stripped down Euro-disco feel that never veers too heavily into the pulsating sequencer mode or cheesy over-synthesized excess!... read more