The early 90s hip hop masterpiece from Diamond D! Along with Showbiz and AG's first EP, and Lord Finesse's first couple releases, this record helped introduce the world to one of the most solid crews in hip hop, DITC – who reigned supreme for years, making top quality records one after ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A jazz-inspired hip hop uberclassic! While Digable Planets might not have pioneered the jazzy hip hop vibe – we mightnod to the Native Tongues scene and DJ Premier's productions in the late 80s for that – Digables set a new standard with breezy but head nodding production and mellow, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Limited 25th Anniversary edition of 1000 on double vinyl for better sound, liner notes by Larry Mizell Jr interviewing Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler.)
We'd locate this track somewhere between the Funky 4 and Run-DMC. They're using that early old school four-part vocal style along with an early version of the big beat Pumpkin production. 12-inch, Vinyl record
A solid and concise anthology of some of DJ Devastate's work from the early-to-late teens – collecting material from both the Coalmine & Counterweight labels – and with appearances from CL Smooth, Skyzoo, Bishop Lamont, Wildchild, MED, Illa Ghee, El Da Sensei, Baby Blak, Chapee & ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition on purple/mustard swirled vinyl!)
Jay Dee productions featuring Danny Brown on rhymes, with cuts by DJ Dez on "Jay Dee's Revenge" – while Big Tone, Guilty Simpson and Finale hold it down on "Birthwright". 12-inch, Vinyl record
Jazzy Jeff's return after much too long a hiatus. Just when we were on the verge of giving up, with too many radio ready hot jams and abstract non-funky off beat rappers being passed off as the real hip hop these days, BBE continues with it's series of albums focusing on producers. While many of ... read moreCD
DJ Muggs in a raw, neo classic NY gritty hip hop mode – and if you're going to pull that blueprint off convincingly, you may as well be one the architects – really doing a solid, timeless job here! This is tough, terse, top notch stuff with a strong guestlist to suit, including legends ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An incredibly well-captured set by the legendary DJ Shadow, Live In Manchester in October of 2017 – and come to think of it, the live album format is pretty underutilized in hip hop – who better than Shadow to pull it off so well! It's impeccably recorded and sounds great, so get enough ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An incredibly well-captured set by the legendary DJ Shadow, Live In Manchester in October of 2017 – and come to think of it, the live album format is pretty underutilized in hip hop – who better than Shadow to pull it off so well! It's impeccably recorded and sounds great, so get enough ... read moreCD
For everyone who wasn't there the first time around, Shadow was kind enough to compile his early MoWax material, released originally as 12" singles. Unfortunately none of the really early, really hard to get stuff is here, but cuts like "Influx" and "Hindsight" are still ... read moreCD
Shadow's more or less stayed away from remixes, both of other people's stuff and of his own work, but he drops a rare reworking of the next installment in his fascination with number songs on this single with guest vocals by Mos Def, which we might have called a slightly odd combination before we ... read moreCD
Double LP import compilation of all new tracks from Beyond Real artists. Production on almost all tracks by the always nice DJ Spinna, ranging from low- to mid-tempo, but all maintaing the high level of energy missing from too much 'extra-undaground' production. The same goes for the MCs – ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some edge wear.)
DJ Spinna —
Here To There ... LP Beat Generation (UK), 2003. Near Mint- 2LP ...
$9.99
BBE keeps up their flawless track record, propping up yet another of hip hop's finest producers in their terrific Beat Generation series, this time spotlighting the man who's name graced every other dope underground single from the late 90s onward. And as you might hope for, he's fully in his ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
DJ Spinna's third and maybe best beat tape yet for the Redefinition label! It's head nodding beatcraft with raw soul power, but going deeper than that with some seriously deft use of samples and layered atmospheric elements. The beats clap and the bass bounces, keeping it in straight forward boom ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
All the samples used in DJ Woody's Flexicuts 3 and 4 – served up here on a special album of skip-proof scratch phrases! The whole thing takes us back to the sorts of DJ tools albums that emerged at the end of the 90s – lots of short vocal bits and sound snippets, all waiting to be ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The classic single! "X Gon' Give It To Ya" kicks of loudly but loose, a horns and a growly intro from DMX before falling into that steady beat and DMX balancing wild energy and on beat control. We paired with the equally huge "Party Up" (Up Here)" on the flip. 12-inch, Vinyl record
The classic debut album by the DOC, from the glory days of Ruthless Records – one of the few records on the label to live up to the brilliance of NWA at their height! Dr Dre handles the production here – and there's a razor-sharp edge that really matches DOC's wordcraft – as ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Seriously distinctive, certain to stand the test of time underground hip hop from Seattle's DoNormaal! There's some something almost fiercely contemporary in the sounds, rhymes and rhyme style on Third Daughter – not that it hews to current trends, just that it doesn't lean on past sounds and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Unlike the normal high-energy Doug E Fresh style, as you might guess from the title "Play This Only At Night" utilizes the creepy theme from the Phantasm soundtrack, and the dark lyrics about death match the mood of the music. 12-inch, Vinyl record
The triumphant return of Dr Octagon – finally a worthy follow-up to the Dr Octagon/Dr Octagonecologyst album, one of the most influential hip hop LPs ever – we can't imagine Madvillian and so many other other willfully out there rap classics would've happened without it! Keith's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Clear splatter vinyl, including the printed inner sleeves, but without the lithograph.)
The instrumental companion to the triumphant return of Dr Octagon – finally a worthy follow-up to the Dr Octagon/Dr Octagonecologyst album, one of the most influential hip hop LPs ever – we can't imagine Madvillian and so many other other willfully out there rap classics would've ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(With printed inner sleeves and bonus CD. Cover has a bumped corner.)
Dred Scott —
Breakin' Combs ... LP Vinyl Digital (Germany), 1993. New Copy 2LP (reissue)...
$26.99
A largely unsung, but classic level early 90s set of jazzy soul reverent hip hop from Dred Scott – a brillant record that really deserved to break out in a big way! It's a testament to Dred's love for classic sounds that he's waxing nostalgic on the opening track "Back In The Day", ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A solo shot from Dumi Right of African hip hop pioneers Zimbabwe Legit – neo-classic rap from a pivotal figure – doing right by the legacy of his groundbreaking blueprint era work! The rhyme style and production aesthetic is true thi Dumi's roots in the early 90s era, but are anything ... read moreCD
Sort of a public service announcement for responsible fatherhood, with smooth jazz sounding production by the Awesome 2. "I'm Different" reminds us of the 3 Times Dope material from around the same time with mid-tempo production that falls halfway be between underground and commercial ... read more12-inch, Vinyl record
A motherlode of great mixes on this hard to find 12". "As Long As You Know", in both poisonous and clean mixes, features Scientifik and is from his first LP. "Easy Comes Easy Goes" features Umar Bin Hassan in a special jazz poet mix. All that, and a pic cover, too. 12-inch, Vinyl record
Mid school MC Edo G teams up with mid school-to-the-future maestro Pete Rock for a back-to-basics set of blueprint hip hop! Pete lays off the mellower soul flourishes that work into his style on occasion for a more rugged, funky beats approach here to better suit Ed. Straight up, no BS hip hop! ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A 4 X 7" testament to the longevity and timeless craft of 3 hip hop legends – MC Edo G and masterful producers DJ Premier & Pete Rock! It's a great little round up of old school style rap singles in a single package, pairing vocal versions with instrumentals, with 4 rock solid tracks ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A 4 song/8 track testament to the longevity and timeless craft of 3 hip hop legends – MC Edo G and masterful producers DJ Premier & Pete Rock! It's a great little round up of old school style rap singles, pairing vocal versions with instrumentals, sequenced for the CD just as they'd be ... read moreCD
El Michels return again to the Wu-Tang chambers – and the results this time might even be better than before! Wu-Tang forged their initial sound out of a love of offbeat samples and unusual funk – so it's only fitting that one of the hippest funk groups around strip the music right ... (Deep Funk, Hip Hop)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download! Please Note – LP sleeves are variable.)
Elaquent's entry in the Baker's Dozen series! Elaquent has a way of bringing out a lot of the atmospheric elements prominently in the mix alongside the beats – be it looped bits of piano, some jazzy vibes, thick layers of spacey synth or more mellow keyboard soundscapes – without ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
16 instrumentals by Eligh: "The Crow", "I Know Gandalf", "It's Simple", "Melancholiest", "Legendary Slump", "A Plethra", "Tundra Dome", "My House", "Traveler", "Sandstone", "Gandalf's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
EPMD's incredible full length debut – a straight up all caps CLASSIC late 80s effort – raising the bar for the genre and helping pave the way for so much of the best golden age hip hop to come! Bottom heavy funky soul beats and masterful use of samples anchor the production, and the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
No sophomore slump for the second Eric B & Rakim album – benchmark hip hop of the first order and up there with the best of all time! Following up Paid In Pull was no easy task, and the appropriately titled Follow The Leader makes it look easy, completing one of the great one-two punches ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
No sophomore slump for the second Eric B & Rakim album – benchmark hip hop of the first order and up there with the best of all time! Following up Paid In Pull was no easy task, and the appropriately titled Follow The Leader makes it look easy, completing one of the great one-two punches ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The classic! Featuring that great Bobby Byrd riff from the track of the same name, and one of the most outright "steals" from the old days of hip hop. 12-inch, Vinyl record
(Yellow label pressing in a 4th & B'way sleeve.)
Eric B & Rakim —
Paid In Full ... LP 4th & Broadway, 1987. Very Good ...
$39.99
Paid In Full, indeed! Eric B & Rakim's seminal debut still pays off in so many ways, and it was such a vital link between the party rockin' style of the old school and the terse, hard-hitting beats and rhymes of the nascent school, we can't even come up with the words for the praise it's due. ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Third solo effort from MC & producer Evidence – with appearances from Styles P, fellow Dilated Peoples veteran Rakaa, Jonwayne, Alchemist, Rapsody, Defari, Slug, Krondon and more! Ev's legacy has been solid and set for quite a while, going back the best work with Dilated Peoples, but he's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Beautifully done package, too – 2LP in a gatefold with booklet, custom-colored vinyl and download code.)
This instrumental with vocoder track has a slower, funkier sound than the usual Sunnyview 12"'s, but it's still got that electro sound. 12-inch, Vinyl record
An excellent reissue of the Wild Style soundtrack that exactly reproduces the original single LP format! The album's nice and lean, with 12 great tracks – including "Wild Style Theme Rap 1" by Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein, "Basketball Throwdown" by Cold Crush Bros ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
9 tracks in all, including "Sex Machine", "Breakdown", "Rapp Symphony (in c-minor)", "Beat Box, Part III", "In The House" and "Beat Box Is Rockin'". LP, Vinyl record album
Fat Boys —
Crushin' ... LP Polydor, 1987. Very Good+ ...
$4.99
With "Crushin", "Rock Ruling", "Making Noise", "Protect Yourself/My Nuts", "Boys Will Be Boys", "Falling In Love", "Wipeout", "Between The Sheets", "Hell, No!" and "Fat Boys Dance". LP, Vinyl record album
Fat Boys —
Fat Boys ... LP Sutra, 1984. Very Good+ ...
$7.99
The Kurtis Blow-produced debut album by The Fat Boys! We'll say it: respect is due to The Fat Boys – novelty status, fat comedy cliches and Disorderlies aside. If you're a child of the early 80s, there's a reasonable chance The Fat Boys were the first rap group you ever heard – and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Produced by Kurtis Blow – and featuring the tracks "Human Beat Box part 2", "Hard Core Reggae", "Fat Boys Scratch", "Rock N Roll", and "Don't Be Stupid". LP, Vinyl record album
Unpretentiously excellent beatcraft from Chicago's Fess Grandiose – it's NOT all in the name, Fess delivers an instrumentals LP that's great in ways that are understated and easygoing rather than lofty or bombastic – and mesmerizing all the way. Fess is a veteran of the Chicago live ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
How 50 Cent manages to stand out as such a genuinely exciting MC is in such a crowded field of street hip hop around the time this breakthrough came out is as mysterious as it is beside the point. Dr. Dre's love for that minimalist ghetto synth orchestra sound is in full depth here – this is ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Limited deluxe edition features the Marvel Comics variant cover & 3D lenticular sleeve. On trans red colored vinyl – and comes with a corresponding comic book! )
How 50 Cent manages to stand out as such a genuinely exciting MC is in such a crowded field of street hip hop around the time this breakthrough came out is as mysterious as it is beside the point. Dr. Dre's love for that minimalist ghetto synth orchestra sound is in full depth here – this is ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Translucent red vinyl – in an alternate Marvel Comics cover!)
Super rare random rap out of Indiana! 12-inch, Vinyl record
Freddie Gibbs —
Freddie ... CD ESGN, 2018. New Copy ...
$9.9910.98
One of the toughest, leanest, tightest and most on point efforts from Freddie Gibbs to date – and one of the best! Despite the dead on perfect homage to the Teddy Pendergrass's quiet storm soul classic Teddy with the cover art here, make no mistakes, the material is Freddie Gibbs at his most ... read moreCD
One of the toughest, leanest, tightest and most on point efforts from Freddie Gibbs to date – and one of the best! Despite the dead on perfect homage to the Teddy Pendergrass's quiet storm soul classic Teddy with the cover art here, make no mistakes, the material is Freddie Gibbs at his most ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
"Feelin' James" is a mostly instrumental track with lots of James Brown and Bobby Byrd vocal samples cut in, the flip, "I Believe In Music" has that early Stetsasonic sound. 12-inch, Vinyl record
13 tracks on double vinyl, including "How Many MC's", "Ready Or Not", "Killing Me Softly" (Lauryn Hill's amazing version of the Roberta Flack classic), "Fu-Gee-La", and "No Woman, No Cry". LP, Vinyl record album
"That's The Joint" is one of our favorite grooves from the classic years of Sugar Hill Records – a killer cut based around Cheryl Lynn's "To Be Real" – with the original groove slamming nicely on the bottom, as Funky 4 Plus 1 trade lines over the top! The track's ... read more12-inch, Vinyl record
A strong soundtrack album put together by Future! Of course Future doesn't set out to replicate the sound and style of the classic early 70s soundtrack to the original film by Curtis Mayfield, so we can honestly say there's really no reason to cry sacrilege here. It's mostly done in Future's & ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The Game's second major LP's worth of west coast street revivalism – and a set that's ultimately nearly as strong as his debut. Tracks include "Lookin At You", "Da S***", "It's OK (One Blood)", "Compton", "Remedy", "Let's Ride", ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear and marker through the barcode.)
The Game's back – sans G Unit & Aftermath, but with plenty of baggage for a weighty second major LP's worth of west coast street revivalism – and a set that's ultimately nearly as strong as his debut. Tracks include "Lookin At You", "Da S***", "It's OK (One ... read moreCD
(CLEAN.)
Game —
LAX ... LP Geffen, 2008. Used 2LP ...
Just Sold Out!
The third album by The Game – still striving to both modernize and represent the old school of LA gangsta – diversifying the production and the rhymes with a freewheeling selection of guests – including Common, Bilal, Keyshia Cole, Nas, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne and others. Production ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Gang Starr at pretty close to peak level here on 1994's Hard To Earn – and rather than continue to ride the waves they made on the previous couple classic albums, Guru sharpens the lyrical tone just a bit – spitting some more incisive rhymes over apporpriately gritty soul jazz beats ... read moreCD
The first Gang Starr single after they left Wild Pitch, from way back when Guru was still also known as Keith E. E. The original 12-inch version of "Just To Get A Rep" – the version included here – includes a whole extra verse at the end that gives a completely different ... read more12-inch, Vinyl record
A great club number from the early 80s, and we're not saying that because we love vocoder vocals so much either. Without as bass heavy an approach as Roger or Zapp, but not quite fully electro either, this mid tempo club number pops along nicely in a midtempo groove that'll stick in your head for ... (Soul, Hip Hop)read more12-inch, Vinyl record
A Shaolin hip hop essential! Heavy numerological rhymes, and the best production on any Wu project (still to this day, even). One of our absolute favorite albums in the classic Wu pantheon, and indisputably one of the very best – one of the very few that plays with hard solidity from start ... read moreCD
A Shaolin hip hop essential! Heavy numerological rhymes, and the some of the best production on any Wu project ever. One of our absolute favorite albums in the classic Wu pantheon – indisputably one of the very best – one of the very few that plays with hard solidity from start to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Limited deluxe edition features the Marvel Comics variant cover & 3D lenticular sleeve. On seaglass colored vinyl – and comes with a corresponding comic book!)
Nice joint effort from a couple of diverse figures – Texas producer Gensu Dean and Detroit producer/MC Denmark Vessey! Denmark is on the vocals here and Gensu is on the beats, with just a couple guest appearances, and pretty solid sound throughout! Strong stuff for sure. Includes "The ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Nice one from top notch producer/rhymer duo of Gensu Dean, one of the finer producers on the ever-strong Mello Music Group label, and MC Wise Intelligent of the legendary Poor Righteous Teachers! After the crackling soul beats & keys w/ spoken word intro, this one hits a gritty groove on the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Ghostface's second full length – maybe the most worthwhile Wu solo project, and the best of all them since the first wave of the Wu. Ghost's flow is raw as hell, furious and re-energized, and so startlingly poetic that we were completely blown away on the first listen. The guests seem to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(NOTE – White label Razor Sharp promo in a plain sleeve.)