... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Aggro experimental hip hop and fiercely creative noise from Death Grips – their first for Epic Records – and it's still one of the most surprisingly uncompromising, genre-defying records to get a major platform at the time! The way the group splices scattershot yet momentum-building beats with rawly shouted, yet hip hop-rooted rhymes makes them impossible to categorize, but it's truly gripping stuff. Includes "Get Got", "The Fever", "Lost Boys", "Blackjack", "Hustle Bones", "System Blower", "The Cave", "F*** That", "Punk Weight" and "Hacker". (Rock, Hip Hop) CD

This is really some different sh*t. Divine Styler takes abstract to the next level, about as out as you can get and still be hip hop, if this is hip hop – playing a ton of instruments himself, and backed by a live band for the most part, singing and delivering spoken word as often as he's rhyming. We seem to recall something in an interview well after the fact about a lot of mind altering substances being dabbled in around this time. Includes "Am I An Epigram For Life?", "In A World Of U", "Love, Lies And Lifetime's Cries", "Livery", "Grey Matter", "Mystic Sheep Drink Electric Tea", "Width In My Depth", "The Next", "Euphoric Rangers", "Walk Of Exodus", "Aura", and more. CD

Led by Kevin Beacham aka AMC, long-time pillar of underground hip hop in Chicago, finally in physical form after decades in the vaults! With production by Jel, Maker, and Overflo; with guest spot by Costume. LP, Vinyl record album

Beat-heavy work from the Tuff Crew – a group who definitely live up to their name on the bottom end! Much of the work here is very drum machine-heavy – in a style that was maybe used more widely a few years before in hip hop, but which still gives this album by the group a nice sense of urgency – this raw lyrical vibe from the Philly scene, which maybe had more of an edge than New York at this moment! There's a few nods towards more lyrical rhymes from time to time, and the record does have some nice samples and other bits that burst in here and there – often used starkly, but in a great way. Titles include "Let It Rip", "Smooth Momentum", "My Part Of Town", "North Side", "Open Field Attack", "It's Mad", and "Deuce Ace Housin". LP, Vinyl record album

The deepest jazz funk material Madlib has ever laid down – possibly the best album yet from Yesterday's New Quintet – featuring turns at freewheeling avant funk, electro jazz groove, furious sound library styles, a few chill moments, and a boundless sound overall! Yesterday's Universe features 15 unique tracks – purportedly played by 10 acts (The Last Electro, The Jahari Massamba Unit, The Eddie Prince Fusion Band, Young Jazz Rebels, etc), but in truth it's all from the feverishly talented mind of Madlib – with special guests including drummer Karriem Riggins and Azymuth precussionist Mamao! It's heavily steeped in fusion funk, but we're equally impressed by the cooler, slightly straighter moments – which display just how wide of a grasp Madlib has on the deepest, darkest corners of the spectrum. The wide range of influences flows naturally – amazing work from one of the most talented wizards in the game! Titles include a heady adaptation of "Bitches Brew", "Umoja (Unity)", "Slave Riot", "One For The Monica Lingas Band", "Street Talkin'", "Marcus, Martin & Malcolm", "Two For Strata East", "Cold Nights And Rainy Days", "Mtume's Song", "Vibes From The Tribes Suite (For Phil)", "Upa Neguinho" and more. (Deep Funk, Hip Hop) 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