The never-issued second album from Main Source – and a set that's a very worthy successor to their classic Breaking Atoms! As with that record, the production here is superb – Large Professor at his best, with all the right sort of early 90s jazz influence in the samples, balanced with the group's trademark bite and wit in the lyrics – all at a level that makes for a record that shoulda been a classic back in the day! The set's got a fair bit of interludes, maybe to space out the vocal tracks for the full length release – but given the production, and great ear for found spoken bits, they seem to further the delightful quality of the record, as on an early De La set. Titles include an uncut version of "Looking At The Front Door", an unreleased version of "Fakin The Funk", and the tracks "Hellavision", "How My Man Went Down In The Game", "Time (part 2)", "Raise Up", and "Bootlegging". CD features the bonus track "Fakin The Funk (soundtrack version)". CD

A record that no hip hop home should be without – the debut album from Main Source, but a set that's more than strong enough to stand next to the best from contemporaries like De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep! Like all three of those groups, these guys have a way of bringing together fresh rhythms and samples, sharp-edged writing, and a keen sense of wit – all part of that next-generation level of intellectual hip hop that made them so groundbreaking at the time – and which still makes this album a fantastic delight all these many years later! The album introduced the world to the genius of Large Professor – and continues to shine for decades, thanks to tunes that include "Snake Eyes", "Looking At The Front Door", "Live At The Barbecue", "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball", "Peace Is Not The Word To Play", "Watch Roger Do His Thang", "He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)", and "Just Hangin Out". CD

A long-delayed album from Main Source – one that was recorded back in the early 90s, but never really saw the light of day until 5 years later – a record that features a revised version of the group, but still working with all the best energy that made them so wonderful on their debut! Large Professor is out, but Mikey D does a mighty nice job as the MC – working with cuts that are mostly produced by K-Cut, with a few more by Sir Scratch – all sharing that lean love of key samples and laidback vibes that make Main Source such a standout act, even all these many years later! The style here is almost a refinement of the Native Tongues approach, taking things to a core, while also adding a bit of NYC street to the mix – on titles that include the classic "Set It Off", plus "F*ck What You Think", "Down Low", "What You Need", "Where We're Coming From", "Hellavision", and "Diary Of A Hitman". CD features the bonus track "Breaking It Down". CD

A record that no hip hop home should be without – the debut album from Main Source, but a set that's more than strong enough to stand next to the best from contemporaries like De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep! Like all three of those groups, these guys have a way of bringing together fresh rhythms and samples, sharp-edged writing, and a keen sense of wit – all part of that next-generation level of intellectual hip hop that made them so groundbreaking at the time – and which still makes this album a fantastic delight all these many years later! The album introduced the world to the genius of Large Professor – and continues to shine for decades, thanks to tunes that include "Snake Eyes", "Looking At The Front Door", "Live At The Barbecue", "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball", "Peace Is Not The Word To Play", "Watch Roger Do His Thang", "He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)", and "Just Hangin Out". CD

Music from Main Source, Poor Righteous Teachers, Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth, YZ, Master Ace, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, D-Nice, The D.O.C., Special Ed, and more. CD

Tracks include "Can I Get Open" by Original Flavor, "Lyrics To Go (Tumblin Dice remix)" by A Tribe Called Quest, "Best Kept Secret" by Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics, "Hot Potato" by Freestyle Fellowship, "The Return Of The Crazy One" by Digital Underground, "Snake Eyes" by Main Source, "93 Til Infinity" by Souls Of Mischief, "Popcorn" by KMD, "Them That's Not" by J-Live, "One Of Those Days" by Schoolz Of Thought, and more. CD

Tommy Boy Records takes a new step into the hip hop archeology game with this series of essential hip hop hits – tracks ranging from late 70s bedrock slabs of essential old school to the 90s party movers – going well beyond Tommy Boy label staples to include pioneering tracks and hugely influential hits from across the hip hop spectrum! 12 tracks in all: "Rebel Without A Pause" by Public Enemy, "Nobody Beats The Biz", by Biz Markie, "Goin' Back To Cali" by LL Cool J, "Looking At The Front Door" by Main Source, "Cinderfella" by Dana Dane, "Be A Father To Your Child" by Ed O G & The Bulldogs, "Just Buggin'" by Whistle, "F**k Compton" by Tim Dog and more! CD

Queen Latifah's second album – still very much in the prime of her early hip hop career! Latifah's got some great help here – and is working with beats by the 45 King, Naughty By Nature, K Cut of Main Source, and an incorrectly credited Louie Vega – all of whom bring some sharper edges to the work than you might expect from her later years. Titles include "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here", "Nuff Of The Ruff Stuff", "Give Me Your Love", "Fly Girl", "Nature Of A Sista", "That's The Way We Flow", and "How Do I Love Thee". CD

A pivotal album from the early 90s – one that not only furthered the rebirth of live funk instrumentation at a time when ditigal elements dominated the scene – but also really opened up that mode to a whole new generation of hip hop as well! At a time when the music was all about the samples and beats, Brand New Heavies took it back to the generation before – and provided live instrumentation for a host of fantastic talents – a legendary lineup that includes performances from Main Source, The Pharcyde, Black Sheep, Kool G Rap, Gang Starr, and Masta Ace – all young and at the top of their game, with a quality level that alone would make the album great – then really sends it over the top when paired with the instrumentation! The whole thing's amazing – still maybe yet to be topped in such a style – and titles include "Who Makes The Loot", "It's Getting Hectic", "Wake Me When I'm Dead", "Soul Flower", and "Bonafide Funk". CD

Live old school hip hop and funky disco breaks from the first school – previously unreleased material recorded straight from the Ecstasy Garage Disco sound board at the dawn of the 80s – party rockin' rhymes from a loose collective of "Ecstasy Garage All Stars"! Live Convention 80 includes a non stop party with rhymes by a whos who of early hip hop who all found their way to the stage – including Grandmaster Caz, JDL, and Kay Gee (of the Cold Crush Brothers), Whipper Whip, Ruby Dee, and Grand Wizard Theodore (of the Fantastic Five Freaks), the Soul Sonic Force, and the Nice and Nasty Four. Broken into 7 cuts, a couple shorter and a jams that run 5-6 minutes. Digitally remastered from grainy source material, but the vibe transcends! CD

A really great chapter in the career of Madlib, and one that shows the really diverse musical inspirations that have informed his contributions to hip hop – served up here in a set of instrumentals based on samples from rare rock tracks from a hip variety of sources! For the project, Madlib dug deep into the worlds of psych, prog, and other scenes from years back – shuffled, restacked, and presented with that denseness that makes Madlib's production so great – and which likely also hides some of the sources for the music as well! The CD version compiles every track from the Part 1 and Part 2 vinyl releases, and more – no tracklist, but who cares – it's all about the experience. Madlib in mix master mode, blending diverse, seemingly disparate material into a distinctive whole – to put it succinctly, it's Madlib at his best! 48 tracks on 2CDs! CD