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 powerful as the rest of the Ruthless crew, but in a different way too – almost more sophisticated, with the messaged buried a bit more in the lyrics. Titles include "The Formula", "It's Funky Enough", "Mind Blowin", "Lend Me An Ear", "Portrait Of A Master Piece", "Whirlwind Pyramid", "No One Can Do It Better", and "The DOC & The Doctor" – plus "The Grand Finale", which features guest work from Ren and Ice Cube. LP, Vinyl record album

A spacey soul classic – with a sound that never gets old! Faze-O will be forever remembered for their massive cut "Riding High", the leadoff on this album – a stretched out slow funk jam that has amazing keyboards, floating guitars, and a super-dope groove that's stayed fresh from the moment it was first set to wax back in 1977! This album's the group's first, and best – and it's a really wonderful record that blends together funky fusion and heavy soul – filled with killer cuts arranged by the Ohio Players, and with lots of great keyboards by the group! Includes, of course, the massive cut "Riding High" – plus "Toe Jam" and "Funky Reputation"! CD

Ghostface's follow up to Supreme Clientele – a career benchmark of a predecessor to live up to, no doubt about that – and the Ghost does just with that with Bulletproof Wallets! It's a strong, deep cut above a lot of the Wu work of the later 90s and early 00s – with some tracks like "Ghost Showers" being straight up classic level track, along with others like "Never Be The Same Again" with Raekwon and Carl Thomas – and all-in-all, this one holds up well after all these years. Other titles include "Flowers" with Method Man & Superb, "Jealousy", "The Juks" feat Trife & Superb, "Walking Through Darkness" feat Takitha, "The Hilton", "Ice" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the instant classic Wu Tang solo projects – Ghostface Killah's essential, early peak Ironman – and a a record that stands strongly among the best hip hop albums of the its era! Produced by The RZA at a point in which it seemed there was little he could do wrong. An absolute high water mark for Ghostface and the entire Wu Tang empire. Titles include "Winter Warz", "Daytona 500", "Motherless Child", "Soul Controller", "Wildflower", "Poisonous Darts", "Fish", "Camay", "Black Jesus", "The Faster Blade", "260", "Assassination Day", "Box In Hand", "After The Smoke Is Clear" and "All That I Got Is You". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the instant classic Wu Tang solo projects – Ghostface Killah's essential, early peak Ironman – and a a record that stands strongly among the best hip hop albums of the its era! Produced by The RZA at a point in which it seemed there was little he could do wrong. An absolute high water mark for Ghostface and the entire Wu Tang empire. Titles include "Winter Warz", "Daytona 500", "Motherless Child", "Soul Controller", "Wildflower", "Poisonous Darts", "Fish", "Camay", "Black Jesus", "The Faster Blade", "260", "Assassination Day", "Box In Hand", "After The Smoke Is Clear" and "All That I Got Is You". LP, Vinyl record album

Their first LP, foretelling the shape of things to come out of Atlanta, alongside Southernplayalistic. . .with "Cell Therapy", "Blood", "The Coming", "Free", "Dirty South", "Thought Process", "Soul Food" and "Goodie Bag". LP, Vinyl record album

The only album ever from Groove Theory – but the set that introduced the world to Amel Larrieux – whose vocal talents alone are worth the price of admission! The feel here is a bit more mainstream soul than some of Amel's later work – but given the mid 90s date of release, the sound is still plenty underground – and filled with the warmer tones and deeper soul styles that wouldn't be that common until years later when the Neo Soul scene rose to prominence. The overall package is the work of former Mantronix member Bryce Wilson – who plays some keys, and ensures that the rhythms are never too bombastic to overwhelm Amel's vocals. Titles include the massive stepper's cut "Tell Me" that hit huge here in Chicago – plus "Baby Luv", "Didja Know", "Come Home", "Hello It's Me", "Hey U", "Good 2 Me", "You're Not The 1", and "Boy At The Window". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing Latin soul – and the first record ever by the youthful George Guzman! The grooves kick in from the word "go" – with strong electric bass setting the scene, and lots of dark, descending blue notes – copped from 60s soul and jazz influences, and crafted perfectly to fit the Spanish Harlem sound of the time! Lyrics are mostly in English, and nearly every track is a mad groover – of the sort that will make your stereo perk up its too-tired ears! Trust us, this one's a gem – a record we'd recommend to anyone – and filled with wonderful tracks like "Lazy Boogaloo", "French Boogaloo", "Herba Buena", "Chant Of The Isles", "Marilu", and the goofy "Banana Freak Out"! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest songs ever from Issac Hayes – presented here in the non-stop, 33 minute jam session that gave the world the shorter single! The whole thing is amazing – and even more of a chance to see Hayes' genius in the studio than some of his full albums – as Ike conducts the core Bar-Kays group, and some additional strings and vocals – through passages that are tight and funky one minute, then freaky and fuzzy the next – with lots of cool time changes, instrumental shifts, and other sweet styles that make the whole thing feel more like an extended funk symphony than just a single song! This is the first time this full performance has ever been released – and the single features both parts, plus a bonus "rhythm section mix". Also comes with a cool booklet of notes! LP, Vinyl record album

Pivotal early dub! Depending upon whose history of the Jamaican recording industry you subscribe to, this is can be considered by many to be the first dub LP – and whether that's proveable or not, it's certain among the first! History aside, it's a mighty set with some raw early dub style workouts at the hands of Errol Thompson at the renowned 16 North Parade recording studio run by Randy's, with some deft production by Clive Chin. Needing virtually no introduction, the Impact All Stars drop some incredible rhythms, many which will be immediately recognizable as having been versioned from massive numbers for Augustus Pablo, Junior Byles and the Soul Vendors. Titles include "Java Dub", "Cheating Dub", "ET Special", "Ordinary Version Dub", "Hide Away Dub" and "Black Man's Dub". CD

Funky funky Thailand – just about the only 70s funk group we've ever seen from that part of the globe, and a great one at that! The Impossibles work in a tightly-crafted ensemble funk style that's clearly influenced by Kool & The Gang – but which also has the group hitting some well-polished notes on a few of the album's vocal numbers – in a totally cool groove that's got plenty of hard funky riffs at the bottom, sweet horns in the middle, and some great compressed pop vocals on the top! The album's a real lost treasure – one that we've never seen on this side of the Atlantic – and was oddly recorded and issued in Sweden in the mid 70s! But this album is way more than just a musical oddity – as it's super-funky all the way through, with a level of quality that will have it at the top of your crates for a long, long time! Titles include "Hotpepper", "Give It Up", "California", "C'mon Baby", "Easy To Be Hard", "Pretty Thing", "Love Will Keep Us Together", and "Love The Life You Live". CD

Way more than just an anthology of work by Instant Funk – and instead a massive 5CD set that features all 7 of the group's albums for Salsoul – plus lots of bonus tracks too! Instant Funk first came to fame as one of the key studio combos behind the sound of Philly International in the mid 70s – but when the Salsoul/Gold Mind imprint got rolling, the group moved over to that label and recorded a great run of hard-grooving albums! And while the "funk" in their name isn't the same sort as you'd imagine from deep funk or funky 45s, Instant Funk definitely have a tightly-crafted sense of musicianship that made them one of the best groups working on the east coast disco scene in the 70s – an ability to focus in on a groove and ride it out over a range of tasty riffs and changes! The massively overstuffed package features the full albums Get Down With The Philly Jump, Instant Funk, Witch Doctor, The Funk Is On, Looks So Fine, Instant Funk V, and Kinky – plus bonus tracks that include "Float Like A Butterfly (parts 1 & 2)", "I Got My Mind Made Up (7" version)", "Slap Slap Lickety Lap (7" version)", "Bodyshine (7" version)", "I Got My Mind Made Up (special 12" disco version)", "Crying (7" version)", "It Ain't Reggae (7" version)", and "Witch Doctor (7" version)". CD

The record that really put Jurassic 5 on the map – a set that came out after some key indie fame, but with a platform that helped the group become one of the more important mainstream hip hop forces of the century! All the creative lyrical interplay of the underground is firmly in place here – as the record's a major label effort, but one that's not sacrificing quality for success – thanks in part to the wonderful production from Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist – well-schooled in the more sophisticated styles of the 90s, yet also able to keep things lean and sharp – without some of the headier bedroom hip hop modes. Rhymes are by Zaakir, Chali 2na, Akil, and Marc 7 – every bit as sharp as the production – and tracks include "How We Get Along", "Contact", "Quality Control", "World Of Entertainment", "The Influence", "Monkey Bars", "Quality Control", "Twelve", "Contribution", "The Game", "Improvise", "Swing Set", and "Jurass Finish First". LP, Vinyl record album

The percussion-heavy soul gem from Herman Kelly & Life – recorded in both Brazil & Miami – and awash with killer drum work all the way through! The album's a key part of the Miami sound especially – and really shows the way that city's 70s funk scene used congas heavily – really filling up the middle of a cut with even more energy than usual! The album's best known for the classic sample cut "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" – which is offered up here in a nice extended version, with a long percussion break that makes it even tastier than usual – and the record's also got a few other uptempo cuts like "Who's the Funky DJ?" and "Do The Handbone" – plus the tracks "Time After Time", "A Refreshing Love", and "Share Your Love". CD

The only album we've ever seen from Khemistry – but a heck of a sweet little set, and one that's always been dear to our hearts! The trio features two gals and one guy, all working with a great sing-song approach on the vocals – and a snapping 80s groove on the rhythms! There's a warmth here that you don't always find in sets of this type – a simple, straightforward feel that keeps the whole album humming along nicely – even through some of the mellower numbers. Production is never too commercial, and the instrumentation's never too electric – and the album's got a simple charm that's kept it a favorite on rare soul lists for decades. Titles include "Can You Feel My Love", "There's No Me Without You", "I Can't Lose With The Stuff I Use", "Sucker For The Boogie", "I Got A Feeling", and "Walking Papers". CD

The first solo set by KRS-One on his own – maybe a bit of a surprise, given that he was really the driving force and main voice of Boogie Down Productions after the first album – yet one that also gives him a chance to spotlight some new wisdom and a growing sense of identity! The set has KRS working with some great producers – DJ Premier, Showbiz, and Kid Capri – while also doing plenty of production on his own – all at a level that seems to only intensify the sound and increase the sense of urgency in his music! That quality really comes through on the timeless cut "Sound Of The Police" – maybe even more powerful now than when it was recorded – next to other classics that include "Outta Here", "I Can't Wake Up", "Black Cop", "Stop Frontin'", "Uh Oh", "Hip Hop Vs Rap", "Brown Skin Woman", and "Return Of The Boom Bap". LP, Vinyl record album

Very very very groovy stuff by this masterful jazz vibist, recorded with a sort of late 60s swingin' feel – but still very much in the pocket and warm as a summer breeze! Lytle has a pretty remarkable way of playing the vibes with speed and energy, yet the overall feel still has kind of a relaxed West Coast vibe – a beautiful blend that rivals, if not beats, the sound of Cal Tjader on late 60s Verve! Jimmy Foster grooves along on organ, and the interplay with Lytle is key to the classic sound – but the whole group is great here – Major Holley on bass, Peppy Hinant on drums and Don Alias on conga, which brings in plenty of Latin kick. 6 of the 10 numbers are Lytle originals, including "Done It Again", "Sleepy Dozier", "Zote", "Jungle Child" and "Happy Preacher" – plus "If Ever I Should Leave You", "People" and "The Nearness Of You". CD

A groovy moogy classic! This was one of the first records to apply the moog sound in a pop idiom in a major way – and boy, is it a resounding success with us! Hugo Montenegro scores a number of pop tracks and originals in the same cool jazzy style that he used on his best 60's soundtracks, then, he builds in a lot of groovy moog parts, and peppers the tracks with some vocals by male members of his chorus. The tracks have a lot of nice sharp bits that might be used as samples, with good quirky moog moments, and occasional heavy drums. Tracks include "Moog Power", "Dizzy", "You Showed Me", "More Today Than Yesterday", "Hair", and a very cool cover of "MacArthur Park". CD

A trio of classic albums from The Muscle Shoals Horns – with bonus tracks too! First up is Born To Get Down, by a group who were definitely born to get down – as they'd proved before on countless funk and soul sessions in the south – and as they prove once again with this masterful album on their own! The style here is surprisingly well-formed – not just horn players getting to shine in the lead, but a soul group with a tightness that matches some of the hippest, most sophisticated groups of the time – working here with really well-crafted rhythms that often hit an excellent midtempo groove, and avoid any disco-era cliches. Muscle Shoals legend Barry Beckett helps the group out on keyboards, arrangements, and production – and trumpeter Harrison Calloway turns out to be a surprisingly great singer in the lead. Titles include "Born To Get Down", which has a nice keyboard break in the middle, plus "Bump De Bump Yo Boogie", "Give It To Me", "Open Up Your Heart", "Where I'm Coming From", and "Break Down". Doin It To The Bone is a killer album from the Muscle Shoals Horns – and way more than just a set of studio players stepping out for some time in the spotlight! Sure, the MSH had worked on hundreds of sessions by this point – but there's also a sense of ownership and leadership they never had before – a real sense of trying something fresh, and really making the album all their own! To that respect, they certainly use their horns – but also work in plenty of vocals, too – and definitely emphasize the rhythms, which often have this cool compressed vibe that's very much in the best Earth Wind & Fire style – especially on the midtempo numbers that really make the album a killer. Production is by Barry Beckett, who goes for a nicely modern soul approach – and of all the horns, Harrison Calloway is probably the lead talent here – handling most of the arrangements, songwriting, and vocals. Titles include "What's Goin Down", "Dance To The Music", "I Just Wanna Turn You On", "Addicted To Your Love", "Beware Of The Rip Off", and "Keep On Playing That Funky Music". Last up is Shine On – an early 80s set from the mighty Muscle Shoals Horns, but one that cooks every bit as much as their funk classics from the 70s! At some level, this album may well be the group's funkiest – but in a style that's got some of the best 80s qualities in the grooves – the kind of tight basslines and sweet keyboard lines that marked some of the best work of the time – mixed with the group's sublime horn lines, which provide these jazzy inflections that really warm things up in a brilliant way! Most of the rhythms are nicely right in the middle – neither too uptempo, nor too head-noddy – and the whole thing's a really overlooked gem that's a standout funky set from the time. Titles include "Celebrate Recreate Participate", "She Was Once My Woman", "Shoalin", "More Than Ever Now", and "Don't Bust Yo Bubbles". 2CD set features bonus tracks – 7" mixes of "Born To Get Down", "Bump De Bump Yo Boodie", "Where I'm Coming From", and "She Was Once My Woman" – plus "I Just Wanna Turn You On (12" mix)". CD

One of the records that marked a key moment when Nas was returned to the glory of his earliest years – coming across with a renewed sort of intensity, and lyrics that maybe put even more of the man himself inside of his music! There's still plenty of street show going on here, but Nas blends that front with energy going on behind it – in ways that still hold up strongly all these many years later, and which maybe set a new standard for work of this nature at the time. Production includes key efforts from Salaam Remi and The Alchemist, and the set has a ghostly guest appearance from 2Pac, as well as features from Alicia Keys, Bravehearts, and Kelis – on tracks that include "Revolutionary Warfare", "Hey Nas", "Zone Out", "Made You Look", "Get Down", "The Cross", "Mastermind", "Warrior Song", and "Thugz Mansion NY". LP, Vinyl record album

Nas' debut LP masterpiece Illmatic – a record that will probably stand forever as one of the greatest hip hop full lengths of its time! Nas has had some creative ups-and-downs over the years, but nothing can take away the impact of this damn near perfect slice of east coast street hop – truly one of the great, filler free, beginning-to-end classics with not a wasted second! Part of the strength of the record is the top-shelf choice of production – work from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock and Q-Tip – all of whom help the young Nas really find his voice with the right sort of vibe – on titles that include "NY State Of Mind", "Life's A B***h", "Half Time", "One Love", "Memory Lane", "Represent", "The World Is Yours", and "It Ain't Hard To Tell". LP, Vinyl record album

Nas was a bit of an under-recognized figure at the time of this second set – but the record soon catapulted him to the top of the hip hop game – and really ensured that Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones would be around for a long time to come! The record's got an epic vibe in terms of the presentation and production – maybe fitting for the title, and handled by Trackmasters on most tracks – yet still with enough of a stripped-down, laidback vibe at times to tie Nas back to NYC sounds from a few years before. The Firm posse of AZ, Cormega, and Foxy Brown drop in on "Affirmative Action" – while Dr Dre produces and appears on "Nas Is Coming" – and Lauryn Hill makes a famous appearance on "If I Ruled The World". Other cuts include "I Gave You Power", "Street Dreams", "The Set Up", "Black Girl Lost", "Shootouts", "Live Nigga Rap", "The Message", and "Take It In Blood". LP, Vinyl record album

Given the strength of Nas at this point, his lost tapes are better than most folks found ones – and although the album features cuts that didn't make it onto I Am and Stillmatic, the whole thing stands strongly more than enough on its own! The set came out in 2002, and may have seemed a bit of an afterthought at the time – but it's definitely worth hearing as a follow-up chapter to the other two albums – thanks to cuts that include "Doo Rags", "My Way", "U Gotta Love It", "Nothing Lasts Forever", "No Idea's Original", "Blaze A 50", "Everybody's Crazy", "Purple", "Drunk By Myself", "Black Zombie", and "Poppa Was A Playa". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

The debut album from Ol Dirty Bastard, and maybe the first side project to really show that the expansion of the Wu-Tang empire was a mighty great idea! ODB was always a key part of the larger group, but here in a double-length set, he really expands his range and character – never getting too sidetracked by his inherent wit, and also helping to create a new sort of hardness for the NYC scene that was so different than some of the west coast modes that were fast becoming cliche! RZA handles most of the production, and the album's a fantastic unified whole – with classics that include "Brooklyn Zoo", "Baby C'mon", "Proteck Ya Neck II", "Cuttin Headz", "Hippa To Da Hoppa", "Shimmy Shimmy Ya", and lots more. Yeah baby, we like raw! LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Shuggie Otis – a wild and wooly batch of grooves that really stretches out the sound from the first! Shuggie's got much more of a hand in the arrangements here – and the tunes are grooving in a sweet blend of funk, rock, and soul – really drenched in the best cross-cultural influences going down on the west coast scene of the time – a kind of color-blind quest for the groove that comes across with a really righteous power! Tracks include the original version of "Strawberry Letter 23" – later made famous by the Brothers Johnson, but even trippier here in Shuggie's original – plus the cuts "Ice Cold Daydream", "Freedom Flight", "Sweet Thang", "Purple", and "Me & My Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

An insanely wonderful album! Shuggie Otis is the son of Johnny Otis – the LA R&B maestro who was moving heavily into funk at the end of the 60s – and he has this tripped out, super-dope guitar style that he played to strong effect on Johnny's albums of the late 60s and early 70s, and on his first two solo albums, which were kind of bluesy in tone. For this album, though, he shocked the world by moving into a stripped-down mode that pairs his guitar with spare drum machine rhythms, flanged-out deeply soulful vocals, and one of the most laidback conceptions of funk you'll ever hear. The album's a landmark – one of those gems that's unlike anything else you can think of, but which will redefine your concept of what you want in a record for years to come. Every track's a winner – and the whole thing's a perfectly unified batch of tunes that includes instant classics like "Inspiration Information", "Island Letter", "Aht Uh Mi Hed", "XL 30", and "Rainy Day". LP, Vinyl record album

Uber-classic dub from Augustus Pablo! Dubbing In A Africa was produced by Pablo and features a rhythm section of Bingy Bunny, Sly & Robbie and Gladdy. Here they deliver a nice, tight set of tunes which like many of Pablo's other classics, veer closer to rhythm workouts than deep space dub excursions – and we ain't complaining about that! Tremendous stuff from one the greats! Titles include "King Of Kings Dub", "Herbal Weed Dub", "Dub In Ethiopia", "Dubbing In A Africa", "Nigerian Love Dub", and "Mount Of Olives Dub". CD

A stellar early 70s collection of Pablo instrumental sides, tracked between the groundbreaking Java, Java, Java and East Of The River Nile records – Landmark material from a master! Like the above mentioned classics, this one features Pablo's melodica prominently, over some nice roots rhythms laid down by an all star cast, including Carlton Barrett, Santa Davis, Familyman, Fully Fullwood, Chinna Smith, Ansell Collins and many more. Includes "Dub Organizer", "Arabian Rock", "Pablo In Dub", "Skateland Rock", "Dread Eye" and "Lover's Mood". Classic! CD also includes 3 bonus cuts: "Java", "Guiding Red" and "Marabi". CD

Pivotal Black Ark material from Lee Perry – with brilliantly tripped out echoey dub production – and scorching instrumentation laid down by the mighty Upsetters! Split roughly in half between Perry's nicely gritty instrumental moodcraft and hazy vocals, this collection features some uber prime Upsetters material. It's all hear – heavily rumbling bass grooves, tripped out, though spiritually resonant vocals and just enough of smoky haze without getting too thick to breathe. Amazing stuff! Includes "Scratch The Dub Organizer", "Bush Weed Corn Trash", "When Jah Come", "Curley Dub", "Serious Joke", "Who You Gonna Run To" and "Tighten Up". CD

Essential work from Pete Rock & CL Smooth – a set that may well even top their tremendous debut, even if it was a bit slept-on at the time! The sound here is perfect all the way through – Pete's blend of classic samples and contemporary crispness, and CL Smooth's ability to serve up lyrics that appeal to the sophisticated and street-bound hip hop listeners at the same time – a quality that few can do this well, and certainly not at a level that still sounds completely fresh and amazing after all these years! The whole thing's a masterpiece – and titles include "In The House", "Carmel City", "I Get Physical", "Sun Won't Come Out", "I Got A Love", "Escape", "The Main Ingredient", "Worldwide", "All The Places", "Tell Me", "Take You There", "Searching", "Check It Out", "In The Flesh", "It's On You", and "Get On The Mic". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut full length from Pete Rock & CL Smooth – a standard-setting record from the 90s that's still among one of the greatest of the decade! The set bristles with new energy and excitement right from the start – as Pete Rock's trademark mix of heavy soul, jazz, and funk production sets the bar to a level that really takes hip hop past some of the tinnier, clunkier modes of a few years before – delivering on the promise of Q-Tip's experiments in the studio, but with a very different vibe. CL Smooth handles the lyrics with effortless ease – again setting a new standard, with a balance between street and sophistication that was, and is, such a refreshing change from so many others. Titles include the classic "They Reminisce Over You (TROY)" – plus "Return Of The Mecca", "Straighten It Out", "Soul Brother #1", "Lots Of Lovin", "Skinz, "The Basement", "Anger In The Nation", "If It Ain't Rough It Ain't Right", "Can't Front On Me", "It's Like That", "On And On", "Wig Out", "Ghettos Of The Mind", and "Act Like You Know". Features bonus tracks – "The Creator (rmx)" and "Mecca & The Soul Brother (rmx)". 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

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 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

Chef Raekwon cooks up one of finest hip hop albums in history – a standout moment in the Wu Tang canon and the 90s in general! Given Ghostface's presence throughout, the prime RZA production and other top shelf guests, you could almost call this one a Wu Tang Clan album, if not for Raekwon's incredible leadership behind the mic. Guests include Nas, Method Man, Inspektah Deck and more from the Wu Tang family. An absolute standard-bearer! Titles include "Spot Rusherz", "Can It Be All So Simple", "Knuckleheadz", "Criminology", "Ice Water", "Wisdom Body", and "Wu-Gambinos". This beautiful Get On Down 2LP pressing includes the bonus track "North Star (Jewels)". LP, Vinyl record album

Run-DMC's great second album, with rock hard production by Russell Simmons and classic cuts! It's fascinating to listen to this album all these years later, with the knowledge that this hungry hip hop act from Queens was so soon to conquer the world. Great stuff from a legendary crew! This is the record where Run-DMC transitioned from their earlier style that put their own distinctive stamp on early-to-mid 80s east coast rap, to the rap group who fearlessly put rock music on notice that rap was coming to takeover. Amazing! Includes "Jam Master Jammin", "Can You Rock It Like This", "King Of Rock", "Rock The House", "You're Blind", "You Talk Too Much", "It's Not Funny" and "Darryl And Joe (Krush-Groove 3)". LP, Vinyl record album

The massive third album from Run DMC – made at the top of their game – an pivotal effort that brought them to peak popularity and helped break hip hop in a huge way in the pop culture landscape! Part of the album's strength is its guitar-heavy sound on some of the grooves – produced by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons with a classic early Def Jam vibe, in the same manner that helped the Beastie Boys get their records in the hands of folks who'd never buy hip hop otherwise! That sound comes to culmination on the album's hit collaboration with Aerosmith on a remake of "Walk This Way", resulting in the commercial breakthrough, but the real triumph here is the increased complexity in both the lyricism, and the way Jam Master Jay serves up their beats – which makes for a stone classic all the way through, on tracks that include "Peter Piper", "It's Tricky", "My Adidas", "Proud To Be Black", "You Be Illin'", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album in a landmark package – a set that takes this gem from Sly & The Family Stone, presses it up on a special hi-fidelity gold CD, then cradles the whole thing in special box with a heavy hardcover book with lots of new notes – and a fabric American flag sewn right onto the cover! The album's a wonderful moment Sly and crew – moving way past the straight funk approach of earlier records, into a complicated crossover soul style that's filled with warmth and righteousness! Despite the political tone implied by the "riot" in the title and the co-option of the American flag on the cover, the album's strongest suit is its warmth and personal soul message – sometimes filled with politics, sure, but always sounding like a sexy love song, no matter how hard it tries to get righteous! The flow is wonderful throughout – a very well-thought out album that shows that Sly was singing way past the singles scene – and the record's filled with great cuts like "Family Affair", "Luv N Haight", "Brave & Strong", "You Caught Me Smilin", and "Thank You For Talkin To Me Africa". Also features "There's A Riot Going On" – which runs for "0:00" minutes! The whole thing's completely sublime already – but in this special box, it's really something else. CD

A record that may have the year 1993 permanently locked into its title – but a set that's got more than enough strength to survive strongly over the decades – the first great statement from Cali giants Souls Of Mischief, and a record that would set the tone for the Hiero Imperium scene for years to come! The set's filled with jazz inspired, headnodding boom bap production at its finest – topped with some of the finest ensemble rapping of the time, all at a level that breaks new lyrical boundaries with cuts that include "That's When Ya Lost", "Let Em Know", "Live & Let Live", "Make Your Mind Up", "A Name I Call Myself", "Disseshowedo", "What A Way To Go Out", "Never No More", "93 Til Infinity", "Limitations", "Anything Can Happen", "Make Your Mind Up", "Batting Practice", and "Tell Me Who Profits". LP, Vinyl record album

An East Bay classic from Spice 1 – and a great little record from that time before the west coast became a bit too much West Coast! There's a thuggish, early gangsta vibe that runs through the whole set – but as with some of the more enduring Cali hip hop of the time, the set's got a stripped-down vibe that is maybe more down to earth – a focus on core elements that help shape each track in a slightly different way, in a set that's very song-focused, and doesn't lose its way too much in a mix of shouts, skits, and samples. Production help comes from Ant Banks, Too $hort, and others – and there's some nice guitar in the mix from Rob Bacon too. Titles include "Dumpin Em In Ditches", "187 He Wrote", "Don't Ring The Alarm (The Heist)", "Smoke Em Like A Blunt", "I'm The Murderer", "The Murda Show", "RIP", "Clip & The Trigga", and "Trigga Gots No Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

The first full length classic from Spice 1 – an MC who came up in the wake of Too Short on the west coast, but has definitely found his own style by the time of this set! Some tracks almost have an Ice Cube mix of biting social commentary and view from the streets – while others are maybe more in the crossover gangsta vein that would rise strongly in years to come. Samples are all obvious, but well-used – records from Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Isaac Hayes – and the album also features some tight mixing and production from Ant Banks. Titles include "In My Neighborhood", "187 Proof", "Peace To My Nine", "Welcome To The Ghetto", "Money Or Murder", "City Streets", and "Break Yourself". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge set from the glory days of the southern hip hop scene – a trio of voices from the Three 6 Mafia of Memphis, coming together here in a set that's got a nicely raw, ragged sound throughout! This is definitely one of those sets where there's no reason at all to seek out a clean version – as the lyrics of DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous can't really be served up in any other way at all – supported here by guest work from a huge list of allies, including Too Short, Twista, Big Tymers, and Crucial Conflict – a list of names that definitely give you a feel for the vibe of the set. Titles include "Smoked Out", "Who The Crunkest", "Wet Party", "Elbow A Nigga", "Get Buck Get Wild", "Hell Naw", "Hypnotize Cash Money", "Slob On My Nob", and "All Dirty Hoes". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the only albums ever from Willie Tee – an artist who's usually known best for his funky 45s, but who really shines here in the space of a full-length record! Willie's got a killer vocal style, with a warm raspy style that reminds us a bit of Tyrone Davis – but he's produced here with a swinging soul vibe by David Axelrod, and he sings to some spectacular arrangements by HB Barnum that are in his best style of the late 60s! The tracks are a wonderful mix of raw soul vocals and sophisticated production, and the album's the kind of rare soul album that we only ever turn up once in a while! Includes a great vocal version of Cannonball Adderley's "Walk Tall", plus the tracks "Bring On The Heartaches", "I'm Only A Man", "Mirror", and "Take Your Time". Excellent stuff! CD

Three 6 Mafia may not have hit world domination with this set – but the record is a landmark in the growth of southern hip hop at the end of the 90s, and is a downright classic from the Memphis group! In some ways, the record takes off a bit from Texas sounds of a few years before – even some of the Geto Boys sense of terror mixed with paranoia – that undercurrent of personal struggle that can often redeem records like this, and take them past just thuggish cliches. Titles include "Prophet Posse", "Spill My Blood", "Tear Da Club Up 97", "Bodyparts 2", and "Weed Is Got Me High". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the biggest album ever from Three 6 Mafia – a set that has the trio really hitting on all burners for the harder side of the spectrum in the 21st Century! By the time of the set, hardcore was mainstream – and few folks know how to explore that territory like Three 6 – years from time when anyone had to worry about offending anyone too much with a record that was stepping too hard, and just able to revel in the kind of vibes they first crafted many records back. The set features the big single "Stay Fly", with work from Young Buck and Eightball – plus the cuts "Roll With It", "Knock Tha Black Off Yo Ass", "Half ON A Sack", "Hard Hittas", "Poppin My Collar", "Don't Violate", "Don't Cha Get Mad", "Dancin On A Pole", "Got It 4 Sale", and even the "Stay Fly (still fly rmx)". LP, Vinyl record album

Not the first album from Too Short, but his first on a big label, and a set that undeniably set the tone for years of west coast hip hop to come! The record was a surprising Bay Area entry in a scene that was mostly rising up from LA – and although Too Short was always a bit more tied to his personal interest than a larger political stance, the overall approach definitely marks a certain spirit on the Cali scene! There's a nicely lean approach that sounds so great – drum machine beats, basslines, and the occasional cut or scratch – all the better to allow Too Short's street tales and profane rhymes pave the ground with singular power and charisma! Titles include "Freaky Tales", "Partytime", "You Know What I Mean", "Dope Fiend Beat", "Little Girls", "The Universal Mix", and "Playboy $hort II". LP, Vinyl record album

The early 90s debut of UGK and early triumph for Pimp C & Bun B, even if it was a little bit ahead of its time! Given a massive platform by Jive at the time, UGK proved a little Too Hard To Swallow for the mainstream early on, finally breaking out with Ridin' Dirty a few years later, but this is a solid set with the dope production and gritty, but on point rhymes. A tight 12 tracks in all: "Cramping My Style", "Feel Like I'm The One Who's Doin' Dope", "I'm So Bad", "Trill Ass Ni**a", "976-Bun B", "Something Good (Pimp C's rmx)", "Something good (extended version)", "Use Me Up", "Pocket Full Of Stones", "Short Texas", "Cocaine In The Back Of The ride" and "It's Too Hard To Swallow". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-remembered albums from the Underground Kingz – a set that was even more expansive than most of the big hip hop records on the charts at the time – which leaves plenty of room for the Kingz and all of their entourage to do their thing! The set features plenty of guests, both older school and newer artists, some of whom balance the harder sound at the core with some soulful warmth – others of whom fan the flames a bit more. Outkast famously help shape the sound of "Intl Players Anthem" – and other features include Too Short on "Life Is 2009", Rick Ross on "Cocaine", Charlie Wilson and Willie D on "Quit Hatin The South", Talib Kweli and Raheem DeVaughn on "Real Women", and Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap on "Next Up" – next to other tracks that include "Underground Kingz", "Like That", "Living This Life", "Stop N Go", "How Long Can It Last", "Grind Hard", "The Game Belongs To Me", and "Swishas & Dosha". LP, Vinyl record album

Sinister sounds from MF Doom – working here under his Viktor Vaughn identity, yet serving up the same fantastic blend of hardness and wit as in the other records under his own name! There's a lean, mean quality to the record that's wonderful – thanks to production from King Honey, Max Bill, and RJD2 – who help Doom find the best sort of spirit for these tracks. Titles include the wonderful "Open Mic Night", with some great Last Poets energy – plus "Vaudeville Villain", "The Drop", "Lactose & Lecithin", "A Dead Mouse", "Raedawn", "Modern Day Mugging", "Never Dead", and "Popsnot". LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a record from the funk-heavy period of Muddy Waters – a moment that once made the traditional blues fans mad, but which has gone onto become the stuff of legend – thanks to a real criss-crossing of Chicago talents in the studio! The set was co-produced by Chess Records talents Charles Stepney, Gene Barge, and Marshall Chess – and features expanded instrumentation that includes Phil Upchurch on added guitar, Louis Satterfield on bass, Charles Stepney on organ, and Morris Jennings on drums – plus even more guitar from Pete Cosey, who you might know from later work on some Miles Davis electric albums! Muddy is still very firmly the lead talent at the core, though – coming across with a badass kind of vibe that mixes his raw roots with the hipper soul of the new generation – a great Chess/Cadet hybird that was years ahead of its time. Titles include "I Am The Blues", "Hurtin Soul", "Bottom Of The Sea", "Honey Bee", "Rollin' And Tumblin'", "Screamin & Cryin", and "Blues & Trouble". LP, Vinyl record album

Muddy Waters definitely put the "unk" in funk – although back in his day, the word meant something different than in the 70s! This set features some great late Muddy for Chess – produced in conjunction with Ralph Bass, Muddy's longtime associate in the studio, and done with a style that's a lot more rootsy than the title might imply! Instead of the electrified funky style that other Chess bluesmen were going for in the early 70s, or which Waters used on his late 60s albums, this one is a more back to basics set – with stripped down arrangements, and the kind of electric down homey feel that must have been big with the college kids. Pinetop Perkins plays piano on the set, and Carey Bell Harrington throws in a lot of harmonica. Titles include "Electric Man", "Trouble No More", "Unk In Funk", "Everything Gonna Be Alright", "Waterboy Waterboy", and "Rollin & Tumblin". CD

A funky fusion classic from guitarist Wah Wah Watson – his only album as a leader, despite countless appearances as a sideman on 70s soul, jazz, and pop sessions! The album's got a really wonderful sort of west coast groove – one that takes bits of spacey fusion, bassy funk, and mellower soul – and wraps them up with a fresh and imaginative approach, not to mention plenty of wah wah work on guitar! Players on the set are a superstar array of the best talents in Watson's field – and include Bennie Maupin, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grusin, Joe Sample, and The Waters, who sing vocals on a few cuts. The set includes the killer instrumental "Bubbles", one of our favorite mellow grooves ever – plus the tracks "Goo Goo Wah Wah", "My Love For You Comes & Goes", "Good Friends", "Love Ain't Somethin", and "Sunset Boulevard". CD

Quite possibly the greatest Larry Young album of the post-Blue Note years – and a massive bit of funk that totally redefines his sound! Larry's working here with his hip group Fuel – an ensemble that features Laura Logan on lead vocals, giving the tunes a real focus through her lyrics – and letting them pack a bit more punch too, since her voice sounds a lot like Betty Davis at the time! Larry's keyboards are forceful, but never too over the top – and he's notched things down a bit to focus on the overall groove of the set – still keeping things adventurous on the keys, but also working in a mode that's much more heavily jazz funk! The album's one of THE essential electric jazz sets of the 70s – and features the classic break cut "Turn Out the Lights" – plus other great tracks that include "Floating", "Fuel for the Fire", "I Ching", "H+J=B (Hustle + Jam = Bread)" and "New York Electric Street Music". CD

A set issued relatively early in the history of rap music – yet one that's still maybe one of the greatest-ever Christmas collection of hip hop tracks for the season! The album's from the glory days of Profile Records – from a time when the label was repping the New York scene strongly in the mainstream – thanks to the success of Run DMC, which let the label bring together some other top shelf-talent from the time! The set list here features some less-remembered acts, but all in top-shelf Holiday work – and titles include the classic "Christmas In Hollis" by Run DMC, which uses that perfect Clarence Carter "Back Door Santa" sample behind slice-of-life yet knowingly funny Run-DMC rhymes in their prime – plus other cuts that include Let The Jingle Bells Rock" by Sweet Tee, "Christmas In The City" by King Sun-D Moet, "Chillin With Santa" by Derek B, "He's Santa Claus" by Disco 4, That's What I Want For Christmas" by The Showboys, "Ghetto Santa" by Spyder-D, and "Dana Dan Is Coming To Town" by Dana Dane. The only clunker here might by "A Surf MC New Year" by Surf MCs – but that cut's the last, so you can easily pick up the needle before it starts! LP, Vinyl record album

Mad sounds from Cambodia – rock and roll at the core, but with a delivery that's unlike anything you'd hear in the Anglo world! There's plenty of Eastern elements going down in the music – not just the local lyrics, but other ways of putting together a rhythm, tuning a guitar, and hypnotically delivering a melody. Yet all the sounds are focused with an ear towards crossover pop as well – not really the stuff of chart hits, but tuneful, catchy modes that really make us dig the whole thing – even though we can't understand a word of the lyrics! The package features very detailed notes – plenty to help you figure out the music as you're digging the tunes – and the double-length set features 18 tracks that include "Kchol Kdot Tirk John" and "Prous Teh Oun" by Sinn Sisamouth, "Pros Reang Yeh Yeh" and "Chnam Oun 31" by Pan Ron, "Sora" by Yos Alarong, "Kom Nirk Oun Euy" by Ros Sereysothea, "Berk Tvea Auy Bong" by Im Sonserm, and "Jah Joh Aem" by Ros Sereysothea. CD

Tracks by Funky Horns, Holy Noise, Allen-Woody, and Lil Louie & Marc Anthony. 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the few rare albums on the Maple label – a 70s imprint that's known for some incredible funk and soul! Despite the title, the set's a record that sounds a lot more down-home than uptown – thanks to hard-wailing vocals from Gloria Barnes herself, and a nicely rough-edged quality to the instrumentation overall – supposedly handled by Lee Moses and The Ohio Players – the latter of whom wrote a few of the songs too! The album's one of the few on Maple – and in a way, it's almost a female soul counterpart to the Lee Moses record on the same label – done in a similar mix of rootsy modes and east coast indie soul – occasionally sweet at points, but mostly deep soul overall. Titles include "Gotta Get Away", "I Found Myself", "Old Before My Time", "I'll Go All The Way", "She Wants A Stand In", and "You Don't Mean It". LP, Vinyl record album

The Maybeck solo series produced plenty of greatness when it was going on – and one of the greatest moments was this sweet solo set from Kenny Barron! Barron's one of those players we never get tired of – and while we love him in group and trio settings, he's equally magical here working by himself – opening up on these long, lyrical numbers that have a really evocative feel – beautiful runs up and down the keyboard, but in ways that are extremely thoughtful and well-paced – and not just an unbridled display of his talents. There's a sense of soul to the set that never lets up – and titles include "Bud Like", "Witchcraft", "Sunshower", "And Then Again", "Skylark", and "Spring Is Here". CD