The classic first solo album by Big L – with bedrock DITC production by Buckwild, Showbiz and Lord Finesse – perfectly framing the rhymes by Harlem's finest. Big L didn't leave a huge wealth of recordings before he was taking away from the world, but he started out strong, and this ... read moreCD
A full length from QB's Big Noyd – with production by Havoc, Alchemist, Ric Rude and Masberg. Tracks include "Hu, What", "Most Famous" feat Godfather III & Prodigy, "Come Thru", "Hoody Like That", "Louder" with Prodigy, "All My ... read moreCD
The legendary debut of Black Moon – and a landmark indie hip hop classic from the early 90s east coast scene! Beloved by the deeper digging hip hop heads back in the day, and making a few waves commercially with the singles "Who Got Da Props?" and "I Got Cha Opin", this ... read moreCD
A Native Tongues classic from 1991 – one that sounded great way back when, and has held up beautifully over the years – and rightly considered amongst the greatest hip hop albums ever! Wolf In Sheep's Clothing is playful rap at it's best, with funky and and funny cuts galore – ... read moreCD
Tracks include "Some-O-Next Sh*t", "I'm The Man", "Pop 'Nuff Sh*t", "Don't Drink The Milk", "The Hatred", "Lost In The Storm", "Which Way Is Up", "Black Trek IV The Voyage Home", "The Funky", "3 Men At ... read moreCD
The first Clipse album to see release – and a neo-electro/drug rap/crossover hip hop masterpiece produced by the Neptunes – the debut LP on their own Star Trak label. Malice and Pusha T arrive as smooth, confident rhymers with plenty of standout moments, while the Neptunes reach an ... read moreCD
(Clean edited edition, punch through barcode & small sticker on booklet cover.)
"I rap with the Passion of Christ, Ni**a, cross me!" BE isn't exactly a back-to-basics LP in the vein of his classic work for Relativity – but it is indeed a return to a focused, genuinely soulful, no BS approach – and it's a very welcome one at that! It seems like Com was a ... read moreCD
The second LP from Cypress Hill, and as far as we're concerned, the last good one. Muggs' beats get a bit darker on this album, but are still sharp enough to cut through even the thickest clouds of smoke. 14 tracks in all, including "I Wanna Get High", "I Ain't Goin' Out Like ... read moreCD
Danger Mouse feat Jemini The Gifted One —
Ghetto Pop Life ... CD Lex, 2004. Used ...
$6.99
Beat architect Danger Mouse and MC Jemini pair off for Ghetto Pop Life – a pretty solid full length that's actually getting the notice it deserves, thanks to DM's much celebrated Grey Album. Prince Po, Cee Lo, Alkaholiks, J-Zone and Pharcyde (who's Delicious Vinyl sound is a clear influence ... read moreCD
By this point, De La Soul seemed to be looking for a direction, after "Three Feet High..." was the Daisy Age and "De La Soul Is Dead" was the death of the daisy age, though they hadn't split with Prince Paul yet. Still, they manage to come up with some nice, if underrated, ... read moreCD
Includes "Return Of The Crazy One", "Doo Woo You", "Holly Wanstaho", "Humpty Dance Awards", "Body Hats", "Wussup Wit The Luv", "Carry The Way (Along Time)", "Circus Entrance", "Shake & Bake", "Do Ya ... read moreCD
The Diplomats are Jimmy Jones, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, and Freeky Zeeky. Tracks include "Un Casa", "Who I Am", "Ground Zero", "Real Ni**as", "More Than Music", "Beautiful Noise", "Dipset Anthem", "Gangsta", "Hell ... read moreCD
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince —
Homebase ... CD Jive, 1991. Used ...
$4.99
12 tracks in all, including "I'm All That", "Summertime", "The Things That U Do", "This Boy Is Smooth", "Ring My Bell", "A Dog Is A Dog", "caught In The Middle (Love & Life)", "Trapped On The Dance Floor", "Who ... read moreCD
The classic album by the DOC from the glory days of Ruthless Records – really up there in excellence with NWA in the gritty west coast canon – with timeless production by Dr. Dre! Nice mic skills paired with tight, funky production from Dre when he still hungry and on the ascent. 13 ... read moreCD
50 returns for his hotly-anticipated second album – setting up another year of bangin' singles with unrivaled charismatic rhyme delivery, and a fresh crop of beefs! As on 50's Shady/Aftermath debut, he does more with street hop thug archetypes than just about anyone out there, and he does it ... read moreCD
Game —
Documentary ... CD Aftermath/G Unit/Interscope, 2005. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
The Game, Dr. Dre, and G-Unit make a wise investment with the west coast MC's debut LP – ignoring new hot trends and laying out blueprint street rap that'll have a satisfying sound for years to come! Tracks include "Westside Story", "Dreams", "Hate It Or Love It" ... read moreCD
Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge team up for this intriguing collaboration – one with a promising concept and they deliver on it in full – shadowboxing their way to a knockout! On the mic tip, Ghostface is in his comfort zone here – spitting lyrics laced with martial arts, ... read moreCD
Did this LP come before or after the Real World? Is being the star to the first reality TV show or this actually pretty dope LP Heather B's biggest claim to fame? What ever happened to her anyway? Beats by Kenny Parker and the Beatminerz. 10 tracks: "Da Heartbreaka", "All Glocks ... read moreCD
(Out of print. BMG Direct pressing.)
Ice Cube —
Predator ... CD Priority/Lench Mob, 1992. Used ...
$4.99
Cube's last truly great full length, from 1992, when he was leaving the gangsta stuff behind and had grown into an incredibly sharp social commentator and ghetto portrait painter. The rhymes, and even the liner note acknowledgements ("Ice Cube wishes to acknowledge white America's continued ... read moreCD
Jay-Z brings in a huge ensemble of producers including Kayne West, Just Blaze, Dr. Dre, Neptunes, Timbaland, No ID and more. There are also more guests than any other Jay-Z album, including Faith Evans, Notorious BIG, Beyonce Knowles, Big Boi, Rakim, Lenny Kravitz, and more. Tracks include "H ... read moreCD
Tracks include "Speech Cobras" featuring Mr. Lif, "Words From Mr. Len, Part One", "Deer Hunter" featuring Chief Kamachi, "Words From Mr. Len, Part Two", "Trinity" featuring Louis Logic and L-Fudge. CD
Another batch of fine, underground sweetness from the Jedi Mind Tricks! Tracks include "Tibetan Black Magicians", "Canibus", "Blood In Blood Out", "The Rage Of Angels", "Crypt", "The Warchild Of Outerspace", "Demonwomb Interlude" ... read moreCD
Key Kool & Rhettmatic —
Kozmonautz ... CD Up Above, 1995. Used ...
$6.99
Kool G Rap's comeback album for Rawkus came pretty damn close to never seeing the light of day, thanks to all that bungled Rawkus/MCA business. Here 'tis, thanks to some licensing from Koch. Production by Buckwild, Younglord, Ghetto Pros, Amar, Rockwilder, and others. 14 tracks including "Th ... read moreCD
We know we spend a lot of space on these pages propping up early 90s hip hop, but you have to admit it was the salad days of the east coast. Finesse's second LP's no exception, with tight lyrics and beats – keeping it real before it became a cliche – a DITC classic that we never grow ... read moreCD
Furious, battle-tested early 90s mastery from Lord Finesse – with pitch perfect production by DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz and Mike Smooth – an east coast golden age classic! Funky Technician is mysteriously slept on in too many discussions of the best hip hop of the era, but it's ... read moreCD
Tracks include "Get Back", "#1 Spot", "Put Your Money" feat DMX, "Virgo" feat Nas & Doug E Fresh, "Hopeless" feat Trick Daddy, "Blueberry Yum Yum" feat Sleepy Brown, "Two Miles An Hour", "Pimpin' All Over The World" ... read moreCD
The first release in the Madlib Medicine Show series of releases from the prolific genius that is Madlib – this one a full scale collaboration with no nonsense rapper Guilty Simpson – sort of a prelude to Guilty's OJ Simpson LP with Madlib in the production booth! The set is a pretty ... read moreCD
Formative Madlib beatcraft – music made by 'Lib from 1990-2000 – crafted into a tight full length album that feels as fresh as ever! History Of The Loop Digga features funky hip hop instrumentals made at a time when he was producing underground beat tapes for himself and the Crate ... read moreCD
Beats and mixes by Madlib & rhymes by unnamed rappers – an unplanned appendix to the Madlib Medicine Show series – The Black Tape! Number 13 finds Madlib flipping the script on the hip hop DJ mix racket – applying his deep-digging, adventurous style to rhymes by a broad ... read moreCD
This album was produced entirely by Kutmasta Kurt, featuring rhymes by Kool Keith and Motion Man. Yep, ANOTHER Kool Keith project! This one has it's hilarious moments, as they all do, but Kutmasta Kurt's the star of the show this time around, with head nodding production throughout. Includes ... read moreCD
18 tracks deep, with titles including "Big Bad Sister", "Kamikaze", "2 Young 4 That", "Eyes Are The Soul", "Poor Georgie", and "Beyond The Hype". CD
(Out of print.)
Sergio Mendes —
Timeless ... CD Concord/Hear Music, 2006. Used ...
$2.99
A new record by the legendary Sergio Mendes – bursting into the 21st century on a catchy wave of Will I Am production – reworking gems from the Brazilian songbook and more with guest appearances by Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Q-Tip, India Arie, Black Thought, Chali 2Na, Marcelo D2, John ... (Brazil, Hip Hop)read moreCD
A heap of the production is handled by M-Boogie. Includes 'Do The Math" with Iriscience, "Triggernometry", "The Illest", "Wanna Be An MC", "Who Am I", and "It's Been A Long Time Coming". CD
A stone classic from the west coast scene – and a record that just seems to get better and better over the years! What sounded like a disappointing, and way too calculatedly provocative follow-up to Straight Outta Compton back in 1991 now sounds to us like the peak of Dr. Dre's career as a ... read moreCD
The first ep from the West Coast MC, from back when he was really, really underground! Features "On The Corner (part 1)", "Handlin Business", "Cali Breeze", "Moonlight Melodic Rush", "Kalidascope", "Schoolyard Riders", "Perfection Is ... read moreCD
Sixteen tracks in all, from the Flipmode's female MC. Guest spots by Busta Rhymes, the Flipmode Squad and a few others, and beats by Primo, Rockwilder, Pete Rock, the Nottz and others. Includes "Do The Ladies Run This. . .", "Tight", "Harriet Thugman", "What ... read moreCD
The debut of Ras Kass – kind of a watershed mark of the intellectual/complicated rhyme style for the mid 90s era, if you will – finding the west coast MC bursting out of the starting gates with some his best ever work! Includes all of the early singles and some classic level deeper ... read moreCD
The classic self-titled LP that changed hip hop (and much of modern pop) forever! There's little we can add to the canon for this record. Run DMC ushered in a new era in contemporary urban culture, a harder hitting style of rap the bust out of the inner cities and into consciousness of an entire ... read moreCD
The impossible to get debut from the only noteworthy member of the Hobo Junction crew, Saafir. The Saucy Nomad drops sideways abstractions and in-your-face battle rhymes over beats that often remind us of the Beatnuts around the same time, hard but with a jazzy feel from the horn stabs and ... read moreCD
Not quite the classic of the first two albums, but still dope all the way through, with Code Money on the turntables. Includes the title track, "No More Rock N' Roll", "Mr. Big Dick", and "Signifying Rapper", an adaptation of the traditional Signifying Monkey. CD
Probably the best track Show & AG's "Goodfellas" LP. Plus a remix from Premier that give the song a more mellow, late-night feel that works with the more laid-back rhymes than the first Showbiz & AG LP. CD
Maybe one of the most sharp-edged albums in years from Thievery Corporation – if not ever – thanks to the presence of a fair bit of hip hop guest stars, in a large roster of talent that includes Mr Lif, Raquel Jones, Zee, Notch, Lou Lou Ghelichkhani, Shana Halligan, Elin Melgarejo, and ... (New Grooves, Hip Hop)read moreCD
Beats, Rhymes & Life – crucial aspects of Tribe Called Quest and hip hop in general – and the fourth album by the inimitable Tribe! After a couple or three years of down time following Midnight Marauders, the Tribe returned with this extra stripped down sound, collaborating with ... read moreCD
A pretty great follow up to the previous hits package Retrospective – this one with many of the Tribe's OTHER hits, plus 2 previously unreleased nuggets! Alternate mixes, out of print soundtrack and 12-inch cuts, plus album tracks that weren't ingrained into the mainstream consciousness ... read moreCD
The second album from Chicago's Typical Cats – far-and-away our favorite album yet from Chi's Galapagos4 label, and a rock solid set of timelessly funky, tersely rhymed group hip hop! Qwel, Denizen Kane, and Qwazaar have the pass-the-mic routine down like clockwork, each with their own ... read moreCD
The classic first album with The RZA, The GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspektah Deck, U-God, Ghostface... you know the rest. The start of a generation, and of the hip hop enterprise that overshadowed a lot of the mid 90s! 12 tracks, including "Can It All Be So Simple", "Method ... read moreCD
An underrated later Wu Tang effort from '01 – a lean 12 track set that lacks little to our ears, except for the then incarcerated ODB. RZA keeps the production solid, tight and simple – rugged, grimy foil for the rhymes, which sound pretty damn nice all these years later – as ... read moreCD
Tracks include "On Course" by Lone Catalysts featuring LG, "Live Cats" by Caleesh, "Rewind" by Prime, "Rock My Sh*t" and "Super Soul" by The 3rd, "I Can't Stand It" by S.P.I.R.I.T., "Out For Blood" by 151, "Who Am I" by ... read moreCD
Throw away your crates and sell off your scratched up originals – because this tasty set serves up a great assortment of classics from the days when hip hop really had an edge – a total of 12 great cuts that we couldn't have chosen better ourselves! Most numbers served up in supposed ... read moreCD
Music from Westside Connection, Flipmode Squad, FT, Nappy Roots, 50 Cent, Krayzie Bone, Roscoe, Slave, Leon Haywood, Ertha Kitt, the Temptations & more. CD
Features tracks from 2 Live Crew, King Tee, Kyna Antee aka The Mistress, Ice T, Darryl Strawberry, World Class Wreckin Cru, Fila Fresh Crew, Bobby Jimmy & The Critters, and 7A3. CD
Music from Sugarhill Gang, Furious Five Meets The Sugarhill Gang, Sylvia, Treacherous Three, Spoonie Gee, Newcleus, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Trouble Funk, West Side Mob & Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. CD