A Memphis classic from Project Pat – his second set, and one that really comes together in a mighty way – effortlessly mixing a few key skits with hard-hitting cuts that owe nothing to the sound of Atlanta, Houston, or LA! There's a lean quality to the record that really comes through right away – spare production that really foregrounds the lyrics, and which maybe makes the whole thing feel more real than other overproduced efforts of the time – a perfect showcase not just for Pat, but also for featured guests who include Three 6 Mafia, Crunchy Black, DJ Paul, Hypnotize Camp Posse, Lord Infamous, Namond Lumpkin, and Edgar Fletcher. Titles include "Chickenhead", "Don't Save Her", "Break Da Law 2001" feat Three 6 Mafia, "Gorilla Pimp", "Ski Mask", and "Ooh Nuthin". LP, Vinyl record album

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With tracks by Finsta, Napoleon Da Legend, Njema Nefertiti, Finsta, and Shabaam Sahdeeq. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Ghostface once again lends his stellar mic skills for some lesser known, but hungry producers – this time with a little help from Trife! This track features 5 versions of "Milk 'Em" – with styles the range from rugged, pounding synth funk to a more experimental groove! 12-inch, Vinyl record

With tracks by Talib Kweli & Hi Tek, Aceyalone, Blackalicious, Poor Righteous Teachers, Medina Green, J Rocc of The Beat Junkies, Rakaa-Iriscience, Saul Williams, Mike Ladd, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A sharp Statement Of Intent from DJ Format – whose format is timeless boombap and deft live instrumention on this solid set – which includes collaborations with Sureshot La Lock, Phill Most Chill, Nostalgia 77 and others! Classic craft, though timelessly inventive. The spacey sci fi funk of the Nostalgia 77 collabos is as hot as you'd expect, as are the other diverse sounds at play here. Includes "Staetement Of Intent", "A Quick Ego Trip", "Dope Pusher" and more with Sureshot La Rock, "Spaceship Earth" feat Edan, "Notes In Quotation" and "The Long Goodbye" feat Nostalgia 77 Quintet, "Terror" feat Mr Lif, "Beyond Disco" with The Simonsound, "Live At The Place To Be" with Phill Most Chill & Sureshot La Rock and more. LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual project from Butcher Brown – a set that was originally written as a hip hop project for MC Tennishu, and which only gets plenty of instrumentation from the Butcher Brown combo, in their best funky jazz mode – but also has an added large ensemble really bumping up the sound! There's still plenty of hip hop on the record, but instrumentation is all live jazz and in a mode that so many others tried to do years back, but maybe never got this right. Titles include "Lawd Why", "Breevin", "Cusian", "Unbelievable", "777", and "Git Along" (Deep Funk, Hip Hop) LP, Vinyl record album

Hard to believe this is the fifth project together between Curren$y and Harry Fraud – and definitely a standalone project, despite what you might guess from the title! The album was originally supposed to be a deluxe take on Outrunners, but the duo are so quickly collaborative, they ended up creating a whole new work in the process – often with the kind of cool crispness of the previous record, but with fresh material throughout – and guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Trippie Redd, Styles P, and Larry Lune. Titles include "White Ashes", "Work Too Hard", "Vintage Haze", "180 Days", "Quicksand", "Kitt", "New On Mute", and "The Crow's Nest". CD

Hard to believe this is the fifth project together between Curren$y and Harry Fraud – and definitely a standalone project, despite what you might guess from the title! The album was originally supposed to be a deluxe take on Outrunners, but the duo are so quickly collaborative, they ended up creating a whole new work in the process – often with the kind of cool crispness of the previous record, but with fresh material throughout – and guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Trippie Redd, Styles P, and Larry Lune. Titles include "White Ashes", "Work Too Hard", "Vintage Haze", "180 Days", "Quicksand", "Kitt", "New On Mute", and "The Crow's Nest". LP, Vinyl record album

Leon Michels has given us plenty of hip hop-inspired funk over the years, but this might be his first real hip hop project overall – a stunning set that mixes the live instrumentation of El Michels Affair with rhymes from Black Thought of The Roots – all at a level that might well set a new standard for both styles of music! The grooves are great – that subtle sense of drama that Michels always brings to the music – informed by old school action scores, but with the lean energy of a funky 45 – and although Black Thought has had live backing before, the El Michels approach here really seems to unlock something different in his vocals – maybe more power and drama than we might have guessed. Titles include "I'm Still Somehow", "Miracle", "Glorious Game", "That Girl", "The Weather", "I Would Never", "Grateful", and "Hollow Way". (Deep Funk, Hip Hop) LP, Vinyl record album

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

A classic masterpiece from J Dilla – a record that set the tone for countless hip hop releases in years to come – but which still shows Jay Dee as one of the smartest, sharpest, most forward-thinking producers to rule the roost! The set's got some incredible live instrumentation – lots of funky drums from Karriem Riggins, and a wealth of Fender Rhodes and other keyboards from Dwele – two artists brought along from the Detroit underground by Dilla. The whole thing is fantastic, this amazing blend of instrumentals and vocal numbers that show that hip hop had plenty of new territory to open up in the 21st century. This one returns the project to more of that pre-planned breakbeat feel. A stellar set, with lyrics, or without – one that laid the groundwork for Dilla's subsequent production aesthetic! Features great remakes of "African Rhythms" (Oneness of Juju), "Brazilian Groove" (Earth Wind & Fire), and "Think Twice" (Donald Byrd), plus the cuts "Y'all Ain't Ready", "Shake It Down", "Give it Up", "The Clapper", and "Come Get It", "Think Twice" and more! CD

The restlessly inventive Madlib beats and production for Pinata, the excellent duo project with MC Freddie Gibbs! If you'll forgive us a little bit of repetition – because we KNOW we've written this before – there's just something extra riveting about Madlib's production work for straight-shooting, street lingo-slinging, no nonsense MCs. The freewheeling inspiration and bottomless depth of unpredictable sample funk is there, as always. It's just leaner, tighter and with a thicker backdrop of beats than on some the more freeform Madlib projects. We wouldn't dream of fronting on Freddie Gibbs' impeccable rhymes on the vocal version, but these moody instros are incredible, on par with Madlib's best work. Titles include "High", "Bomb", "Robes", "Scarface", "Deeper", "Harold's", "Thuggin'", "Real", "Uno", "Pinata" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The restlessly inventive Madlib beats and production for Pinata, the excellent duo project with MC Freddie Gibbs! If you'll forgive us a little bit of repetition – because we KNOW we've written this before – there's just something extra riveting about Madlib's production work for straight-shooting, street lingo-slinging, no nonsense MCs. The freewheeling inspiration and bottomless depth of unpredictable sample funk is there, as always. It's just leaner, tighter and with a thicker backdrop of beats than on some the more freeform Madlib projects. We wouldn't dream of fronting on Freddie Gibbs' impeccable rhymes on the vocal version, but these moody instros are incredible, on par with Madlib's best work. Titles include "High", "Bomb", "Robes", "Scarface", "Deeper", "Harold's", "Thuggin'", "Real", "Uno", "Pinata" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A really revolutionary album – both at the time it was released, and all these many years later! In a surprising nod to the younger generation, Blue Note opened the door to Madlib – already making a name with his array of great projects at the start of the century – an early part of his legacy of bringing in lots of jazz energy to hip hop production! The album wasn't the first effort of this nature, but certainly set a new standard – one that so many others have tried to match over the years, but never got this right. The set's got a fair bit of live jazz work – in the mode of Madlib's Yesterdays New Quintet project – mixed with all sorts of cool production elements too. We love the vibes of Ahmad Miller especially in the lineup – and titles include reworks of "Montara", "Song For My Father", "Footprints", "Stepping Into Tomorrow", "Peace/Dolphin Dance", "Stormy", "Distant Land", and "Slim's Return" – plus the original "Funky Blue Note". LP, Vinyl record album

A really revolutionary album – both at the time it was released, and all these many years later! In a surprising nod to the younger generation, Blue Note opened the door to Madlib – already making a name with his array of great projects at the start of the century – an early part of his legacy of bringing in lots of jazz energy to hip hop production! The album wasn't the first effort of this nature, but certainly set a new standard – one that so many others have tried to match over the years, but never got this right. The set's got a fair bit of live jazz work – in the mode of Madlib's Yesterdays New Quintet project – mixed with all sorts of cool production elements too. We love the vibes of Ahmad Miller especially in the lineup – and titles include reworks of "Montara", "Song For My Father", "Footprints", "Stepping Into Tomorrow", "Peace/Dolphin Dance", "Stormy", "Distant Land", and "Slim's Return" – plus the original "Funky Blue Note". LP, Vinyl record album

A great single-only track from Main Source – and maybe the greatest thing ever about the White Men Can't Rap project! The tune's a sharp attack on wanna-bes in the hip hop world, served up by one of the best of the time – all delivered with that sharp crackle that makes Main Source so wonderful over the years! "He Got So Much Soul" is great too – this really skittish little number that cascades with funky drums, bassline, and a bit of trumpet as Main Source spins out their rhymes effortlessly! All served up on a limited pic disc single too! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Marley Marl's behind the controls on this early MC Shan LP. 9 tracks in all, including QB classics like "Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing!", "The Bridge", and "Kill That Noise", plus "Down By Law", "Project 'Ho", "Left Me Lonely", "MC Space" and "Living In The World Of Hip Hop". LP, Vinyl record album

Nas balancing classic level depth and dexterity with more off the cuff and spontaneous rhymes on the once written off, belatedly better respected Nastradamus LP – his second album of 1999! How anyone could ever have completely disrespected an album with a track as masterful as "Project Windows" is a mystery – it's Nas at an all time best level on the mic, and the track is real deal soul with Ron Isley singing the hook – and bringing the goods, too – but there's some other standout tracks here that make it well worth a spot on your shelf! Other tracks include "Life We Chose", "Nastradamus", "Some Of Us Have Angels", "Come Get Me", "New World", "Family" with Mobb Deep, "Big Girl", "God Love Us", "New World" and "Shoot Em Up". LP, Vinyl record album

A timeless collaboration between Nujabes and Fat Jon – tracks done for the animated Samurai Champloo project, but music that stands more than strongly on its own – with a sublime mix of soulful currents and beat-heavy rhythms! The set begins with a number of tracks that have Nujabes in the lead – with that soul-heavy style that makes his work of this moment so wonderful – balanced by Fat Jon contributions that are maybe even better than records issued as a solo act! Titles include "Ole", "Genome", "No Way Back", "Transcendence", "Aruarian Dance", "Battlecry", "The Space Between Two Worlds", "1st Samurai", and "How You Feel". LP, Vinyl record album

Pick any 10 words out of any Outkast album description on our pages at random, and you'll see how dearly we've loved these boys throughout the years – but truth be told, deep down we didn't think that they would be able to pull off the double album/solo album project(s). We were seriously wrong – Speakerboxxx/Love Below is HUGE in every way, and both halves are great all the way through! If you were worried Big Boi's Speakerboxxx half would be lazy southern hip hop without Andre's freaky presence throughout, you can put those fears to rest right now. Speakerboxxx is a deeply soulful electro hopping pounder from front to back – every bit as innovative as Andre's half! Tracks include "Ghettomusick" (which features one of just two appearances by A3000 on the whole disc), "Bowtie" with Sleepy Brown, "Bust" with Killer Mike, "Church", "Tomb Of The Boom" with Konkrete, Big Gipp and Ludacris, "Flip Flop" with Jay-Z, "The Way You Move" and more. A lot of press has been given to the assumption that Andre 3000 has largely forsaken hip hop on his half (The Love Below) and has instead dived head first into cosmic future funk. Well, the rumors are true. There's lots of straight up jazz piano and horn bits on the Love Below, with Andre's half serious, half tongue-in-cheek romantic soul cabaret croon way over the top. It's steeped in the classic Outkast party vibe, but with lots of Sign Of The Times-era Prince (complete with androgynous distorted vocals), Parliament and Cameo thrown into the mix. Sick, energetic genius! Tracks include the deliriously great "Hey Ya!" single, "She Lives In My Lap", "Love Hater", "Happy Valentine's Day", "Roses", "Good Day, Good Sir", "Behold A Lady", "Pink And Blue", "Spread", "Dracula's Lady" with Kelis, and more. Who the hell knows what they can possibly do to surprise us after this – but wherever Andre 3000 and Big Boi go from here, they each have yet another classic in the discography! LP, Vinyl record album

An almost-accidental classic by Prodigy – a great solo project after the split of Mobb Deep, and a set that was originally intended to just circulate as a mixtape – but which got issued properly based on the quality of the tracks! Alchemist is a key partner here – and the tracks have this approach that's straightforward, yet sophisticated – that subtle blend that Mobb Deep did so well, but pushed into more of a 21st Century east coast vibe. Titles include "Down & Out In New York City", "Return Of The Mac", "Stop Fronting", "My Priorities", "Nickel & A Nail", "That's That", "Take It To The Top", and "The Rotten Apple". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet, hip hop-leaning side project of the mighty Q-Continuum crew – adding a propulsive party rap groove to their eclectic stew of funk and modern soul groove! Features mysterious vocalists rocking it under the names Father Metro and MC Paleface, plus Axl Smith, Puppa J, and others – with a nice backdrop of turntables, live horns, bubbling bass and percussion! Tracks include "Nothing But A Q-Thing" feat Organ Kane and others, ", "Travelling Phrase" feat Axl Smith, "Girls (Ladies)" feat Father Metro, "Fire It Up (Bossa)" feat Father Metro & MC Paleface, "Cheeky Monkey" feat Smulton, "The Mogul" feat Tuomo, "Destination Unclear" feat Father Metro, "They Dream To Be Free" feat Axl Smith and more. (Neo Soul, Hip Hop) CD

CD to benefit the Prison Moratorium Project, dedicated to working against the 'prison-industrial complex'. We're normally suspicious of 'benefit' records but this one works – dope underground production and nice verses, 23 tracks in all, including DJ Shame "Infomercial (Meet The Press)", BKNY "Where Ya At", Sister Asia/Steele/Top Dog "Dedicated", Danny Hoch "Criminal", Vinia Mojica & Last Emperor "Evolution", Apani B-Fly Emcee & LIFE "Outa Site", Hurricane G "No More Prisons", Hedrush/Dead Prez/People's Army "Murda Box", Daddy-O "Voices", Rubberoom "M.O.V.E.", The Coup "Drug Warz", Helixx C Armageddon & Pri The Honey Dark "Lunchbreak", Prof. Cornel West "Inspiration", The Reepz "The Plan", Dead Prez "Behind Enemy Lines", Kool DJ EQ & The Last Poets "More Prisons", Akbar "Battle Cry", El Battalion "Siege", Scientifik El-D/God Wize/L The Head Toucha/K Slaughta "Hold The Key", Chubb Rock/Lil Dap/Edo G/Paw Dukes "The Rich Get Rich", Grandmaster Caz "Too Much", Lyric & Mike Ladd "Let Us Go", Yazeed "Underground Railroad" and Rocker T "The Petition" (bonus track). 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

A synthy soul funk project from the team of Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo – a set that's just trippy enough – and it's possibly the best full length from either party, ever! You don't need us to tell you that DM has had a finger in a handful of the best fringe pop/leftfield hip hop projects of the mid 00s, and Cee-Lo has been threatening to deliver a strange soul classic for years – and he brings it with Gnarls Barkley. The sound runs from stuttering synth funk, to bubbling hip hop soul, to funky modern pop in a way that equals any other genre blending cats out there – and probably betters them! Tracks include "Go Go Gadget Gospel", "Crazy", "St. Elsewhere", "Gone Daddy Gone" (Yup, THAT "Gone Daddy Gone"), "Smiley Faces", "The Boogie Monster", "Feng Shui", "Just A Thought", "Transformer", "Who Cares?", "Online", "Necromancer", "Storm Coming" and "The Last Time". CD