A tight EP set from Aesop – a stronger, more focused listen than Bazooka Tooth – plus a great booklet! The book is a comprehensive collection of Aesop's lyrics from throughout his young career – more than 80 pages, with illustrations, art and photos – a really cool little ... read moreCD
Nice!!! This is the tightest full length effort yet by the extended Family Tree collective. Tone B Nimble, Capital D, Iomos Marad, Greenweedz, Rita J, Daily Plannet and the rest have reined in their sound for this one – a very strong set of classically-trained hip hop that should take ... read moreCD
A stunning surprise from Andre 3000 – at least if you only know him as part of Outkast – and a record that finally gives us an audio document of the sounds that Andre has really been involved with in recent years – a beautiful blend of spiritual jazz with mellower currents, aided ... (Jazz, Hip Hop)read moreCD
A masterful later album by the Beastie Boys – who always preferred to put out a great record every five or six years, than a sub par album every 2 or 3! All these years after Paul's Boutique, when the world of difficult, expensive sample clearance could've kill the layers of pop pastiche ... read moreCD
Not the great early Kane, but not the sad later Kane either. Includes "The Lover In You", "Git Bizzy", "Raw '91", "Prince Of Darkness", "Ooh, Aah, Nah-Nah-Nah", "Brother Brother", "Groove With It", "I'm Not Ashamed", ... read moreCD
(Out of print, punch through barcode and booklet. Crease through traycard artwork.)
The classic first solo album by Big L – with bedrock DITC production by Buckwild, Showbiz and Lord Finesse – perfectly framing the rhymes by Harlem's finest. Big L didn't leave a huge wealth of recordings before he was taking away from the world, but he started out strong, and this ... read moreCD
Bisso Na Bisso —
Racines ... CD V2 (Canada), 1999. Used ...
$2.99
Blu & Shafiq Husayn —
Out Of The Blue ... CD Nature Sounds, 2024. New Copy ...
$14.9915.99
The cover looks all sort of soft and dreamy, but the record has a bite from the very first second – beginning with an old school news report about gang violence in LA, then serving up a gritty set of rhymes from Blu that really live up to the glory days of west coast hardcore hip hop! Shafiq ... read moreCD
A bit of a rarity for hip hop albums – how many live sets can you name? With 19 live versions of classic KRS tracks, including "Lick A Shot", "Jack Of Spades", "My Philosophy", "Still #1 (freestyle)", "Poetry", "Criminal Minded", ... read moreCD
(Punch through barcode, crease through tray card.)
David Boykin (Dr Belsidus) —
Monkey Pox EP ... CD Sonic Healing Ministries, 2022. New Copy ...
$6.99
An unusual side-project from David Boykin – not a jazz record, as his other releases, but a hip hop track that answers the threat of monkey pox with some rhymes delivered by Dark Mery! The first take on the track has some very old school beats – making the whole thing feel like an ... (Jazz, Hip Hop)read moreCD
(CDR release – direct from the artist!)
BPM —
Premeditated ... CD Explicit Entertainment/Sunset Blvd, 1995. Used ...
$4.9914.99
One of the records that forever cemented Cee-Lo's role in the contemporary soul cosmos – a set that's got the singer in superstar territory that nobody could have imagined back when he was part of the Goodie Mob! Here, Cee-Lo's an uber-confident soul singer – soaring with a spirit that ... (Neo Soul, Hip Hop)read moreCD
In 1994 when everyone seemed to be turning hardcore, Common Sense wasn't having it – and gave the world this superb second album that formed a key part of his soon-to-be huge legacy! The album's very near and dear to our Chicago-born hearts – and is filled with introspective tales of ... read moreCD
Cookie Crew may not have been the hardest-hitting hop hop act of their generation, but they had a great way with a catchy crossover tune – as you'll hear in this overstuffed set of work from their classic years on record! The duo of MC Remedee and Susie Q may have confirmed US thoughts that ... read moreCD
The mindblowing debut of De La Soul – a set that's inarguably one of the most important records in hip hop history – overflowing with playful, endearingly oddball trio rhymes and Prince Paul production at it's most sprawlingly sampled and creative! The set has classic songs that stand ... read moreCD
The mindblowing debut of De La Soul – a set that's inarguably one of the most important records in hip hop history – overflowing with playful, endearingly oddball trio rhymes and Prince Paul production at it's most sprawlingly sampled and creative! The set has classic songs that stand ... read moreCD
An insanely wonderful record from De La Soul – a set that's sometimes eclipsed by its legendary precursors, but which would easily stand as the best record in the catalog by any other group! Prince Paul's production is impeccable – leaner than before, likely due to new restrictions on ... read moreCD
If De La Soul took the world by storm with their groundbreaking debut, they definitely pushed hip hop even farther ahead with this killer second album – a record that refines all the best impulses of the first set, and has the trio coming across with an even greater command of the space of a ... read moreCD
Def Jef —
Soul Food ... CD Delicious Vinyl, 1991. Used ...
$6.99
Includes "Get Up 4 The Get Down", "Soul Provider", "Here We Go Again", "Cali's All The Way", "Soul Is Back", "Fa Sho Shot", "Soul Food", and "Voice Of A New Generation". CD
(Out of print. Traycard has a crease and barcode has a cutout hole.)
A pivotal set for DJ Cam – once a producer in the trip hop/abstract realm – transformed here into full-blown hip hop producer in his own right! The album features scratching, beats, and keyboards by Cam – plus guest appearances by the likes of Channel Live, Silvah Bullet, Otis, ... read moreCD
Titles include "45 Automatic", "Secret Plan", "Da Hereafter", "Exotix Sh*t", "From Ruthless 2 Death Row", "Brand New Formula", and "Return Of Da Livin Dead". Also includes the CD bonus track "Crazy Bitchez". CD
Eazy's first and best solo set! As we all know, Eazy Duz It is a lot more of a companion piece to Straight Outta Compton than a standout solo album by Eazy E, with a lot of involvement from the NWA fam – and it's stellar showcase for the puckish MC. As an instrument of helium voiced anger ... read moreCD
The overlooked legacy of John Fekner – a New York artist who works here in the world of hip hop and electro soul – on tunes that are sometimes infused with lyrics that refer to the art concepts that inspire his creations! The sound is spare – just drum machine beats, bits of ... (Rock, Hip Hop)read moreCD
Ginger Does Em All —
Get It EP ... CD Delic (Japan), 2007. Used ...
$6.999.99
Soul break, beats and cut & paste grooves from Japan's Ginger Does'Em All – casting a wide net to pull in loads of soulful elements on the Get It EP! Ginger clearly has a deep love of classic soul in all its forms, from mellow to cosmic soul, disco to hard hitting funk and more – ... read moreCD
A groundbreaking meeting of musical icons – with veteran jazz greats, a couple of then-young guns, and one of the MCs who helped bring jazz into hip hop in the first place! Jazzmatazz bridges both stylistic and generational boundaries in incredible ways, not only an earnest effort by Guru to ... read moreCD
(Tray card has a crease and a small cutout notch.)
Jordan Hamilton —
Project Freedom ... CD Mello Music Group, 2024. New Copy ...
$11.9912.99
Jordan Hamilton locates this album halfway between Chicago and Detroit – which is maybe a good way to think about his style of music – as it's partly the mix of acoustic instrumentation, jazz improvisation, and inventive production from the scene around International Anthem – and ... (Neo Soul, Hip Hop)read moreCD
A late 90s classic from that moment when Dan The Automator was stepping out from his role as an underground hip hop hero on the west coast – and into superstardom in a range of different guises! Here, Dan's working as Nathaniel Merriweather, alongside the Chest Rockwell of Prince Paul – ... read moreCD
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 – ... read moreCD
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 – ... read moreCD
Kanye West —
Graduation ... CD Def Jam, 2007. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Kanye's tightest, most heavily synth soaked set yet – and possibly the best – a leap ahead for his evolving sound! Graduation gleams and shines more than it bounces on the bottom end, and if his LP titles to date overtly suggest that this caps off a trilogy – it really goes ... read moreCD
We loved the debut as much as the rest of the world did, but this one's an easier listen from beginning to end. The production is tight, the guests earn their spots, and the whole thing's furiously soulful. Much is being made of LA hipster/orch pop troubadour Jon Brion's co-production, but this ... read moreCD
Kapsoul —
Ascent ... CD P-Vine (Japan), 2024. New Copy ...
$18.9924.99
Japanese beatmaker Kapsoul has clearly found his creative vision while living in LA – where he's opened the door to contributions from a whole host of very hip artists from the scene! There's a few instrumentals here that are great – jazzier numbers, with a great sense of warmth and ... (New Grooves, Hip Hop)read moreCD
A gem of a record from the mid oughties – but one that's got all the charm of some of the Native Tongues classics from farther back – thanks to a superb mix of jazz and hip hop from MC/producer Kero One! The album's maybe Kero's greatest calling card – a set that really does more ... read moreCD
The classic first solo album from Kool Moe Dee – pivotal solo rap from the onetime Treacherous Three rhyme slinger – formative stuff that works nearly as well, to our ears anyway, as his platinum breakout How You Like Me Now! 9 tracks on the original album: "Go See The ... read moreCD
Includes "Lost Ones", "Ex-Factor", "To Zion", "Doo Wop", "Superstar", "Final Hour", "When It Hurts So Bad", "I Used To Love Him", "Forgive Them Father", "Every Ghetto, Every City", "Nothing Even ... read moreCD
The massive debut of Leaders Of The New School – a short-lived spur of the Native Tongues posse, and one that's noteworthy for the early work of a young Busta Rhymes! Right from the start, LONS had plenty of support – including early mentoring from Public Enemy, and a warm reception ... read moreCD
The massive debut of Leaders Of The New School – a short-lived spur of the Native Tongues posse, and one that's noteworthy for the early work of a young Busta Rhymes! Right from the start, LONS had plenty of support – including early mentoring from Public Enemy, and a warm reception ... read moreCD
(Out of print, jewel case edition. Booklet & barcode has a cutout hole. Traycard has a crease.)
Lyrics Born of Latyrx fame drops a burning full length solo joint! This is pretty much entirely produced, arranged, programmed and written by LB, so if you know the style, you know you can expect a lot of funky live instrumentation, syrupy summer nightlife drums topped off with sexy soulful female ... read moreCD
The missing piece of the epic Madlib's Medicine Show series – No 9 in the eclectic soundscape architects year-long effort to release full length albums on a near-monthly basis ended up following No 11, but the collaboration with MC Frank Nitt is worth the wait! Nittyville is funky hip hop ... read moreCD
Low Budget Hi Fi Music from Madlib – the eleventh entry in his epic Madlib's Medicine Show series – 28 tracks of hip hop unofficially dubbed the Dirty Demos! The set feature sample enriched instrumentals by Madlib as Loop Digga and collaborations with Strong Arm Steady, J Rocc, Madlib ... read moreCD
A Japanese only compilation of one of our all time favorite hip hop groups! Includes "Just Hangin Out", "Fakin The Funk", "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball (rmx)", "Peace Is Not The Word To Play", "Live At The Barbeque", "Snake Eyes", ... read moreCD
(Out of print, 1999 Japanese pressing in the original oversized case! Case and booklet have light scuffs but still in nice shape!)
Main Source —
Breaking Atoms ... CD Wild Pitch/Mr Bongo (UK), 1991. New Copy ...
$11.9913.99
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 ... read moreCD
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! ... read moreCD
Masta Ace & Marco Polo —
Richmond Hill ... CD Fat Beats, 2024. New Copy ...
$13.9915.99
A second great collaboration between Masta Ace and Marco Polo – the latter of whom really seems to bring a new sort of open, honest quality to the proceedings – at a level that helps Masta Ace get there as well! There's this down to earth quality to the proceedings that's totally great ... read moreCD
NxWorries (Anderson Paak & Knxwledge) —
Why Lawd ... CD Stones Throw, 2024. New Copy ...
$9.9910.99
A great collaboration between Anderson.Paak and Knxwledge – and a long overdue follow-up to their great album Yes Lawd too! Anderson's vocals are always great, but they seem to have a special sort of crackle here – just the right sort of crisp Cali vibe to balance with the warmth in ... (Neo Soul, Hip Hop)read moreCD
Oh No —
Ohnomite ... CD Brick/Five Day Weekend, 2012. Used ...
$4.99
Oh No once again delivers on the conceptual front – an allstar hip hop project built on Dolemite samples – produced and arranged by Oh No and featuring a stellar guest roster with Erick Sermon, MF Doom, Evidence, Alchemist, Big Pooh, Frank Nitt, Roc C, Guilty Simpson, Jose James, Phife ... read moreCD
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 ... read moreCD
Post PE hip hop for the New World Order, from one of it's most serious wordsmiths. We'll put this one in the same category as some of the Coup's recordings, couching politically conscious rhymes in very west coast gangsta-ish production. Probably too smart for his own good, we're still guessing ... read moreCD
A mad bit of funk from the great Pete Rock! Pete's easily one of the best hip hop producers of the past decade – and this album's a sublime batch of instrumental tracks that focuses on his talent for remaking an older groove. The set's one of the first on BBE's groundbreaking Beat ... read moreCD
The best work yet from Chicago's Primeridian – featuring funky all international production for homegrown All Natural, Inc – with beats by Nicolay, J-Rose, Willow and DJ Steady – with appearances by Naledge of Kidz In The Hall and Imani of Pharcyde! There's an underground of funk ... read moreCD
Maybe one of the last moments of genius from Public Enemy – and a set that still has their power and politics very much at the top of their game! The message may even be more powerful than the music at points – no surprise for Chuck D and crew at this point in their career – but ... read moreCD
The massive second album by PE – and the one where where the hit their full creative stride, and their politics and philosphy hit at full force – moving Public Enemy from an imposing threat to both the hip hop and pop music status quo to a straight up cultural phenomenon! There's ... read moreCD
Rhymefest —
El Che ... CD dNBe, 2010. Used ...
$5.99
Fresh rhymes from Rhymefest – the long awaited second album from the Chi's should be superstar – featuring production by BKS, S1, Terry Hunter & Scram Jones – and appearances by Glenn Lewis, Phonte, Saigon & Adad, Slique & others. Rhymefest's best served by ... read moreCD
A pretty nice set of sprawling, souful and thoughtful hip hop and much more from Rich Medina and guests! Medina's ambitious, yet quite still quite cogent styles bridge underground hip hop, house and club groove, and even a bit of a spoken word-learned effect on the vocals that really meld for a ... read moreCD
On Things Fall Apart ?uestlove, Black Thought, DJ Scratch, Rahzel and co. reinvigorated the scene with a Philly style soulful, melancholy groove that seemingly influenced the entirety of the NuSoul world – and it could even be argued that the Roots birthed that whole scene. Phrenology ... read moreCD
The Roots make kind of a return to their own roots with Tipping Point – a loose, funky, hip hop soul opus from the legendary Philly crew! The record's got a much more streamlined and focused ambition than Phrenology or Things Fall Apart – and it's a brilliant extenuation of their ... read moreCD
Produced by Swizz Beats, with the Lox, Drag-On, DMX, Jadakiss and guest appearances by Jay Z, Big Pun, Juvenile & Jermaine Dupri. Includes "Ryde or Die", "What ya Want", "Jigga My N*gga" & "Platinum Plus". 15 cuts in all. CD
The massive third album from Run DMC – a set that was done at a time when the duo were totally at the top of their game – and broke out big to a much wider audience than the usual hip hop crowd! Part of the album's strength is its guitar-heavy sound on some of the grooves – ... read moreCD
A massive hit and creative triumph for Salt N Pepa – a record that was both maybe their biggest ever, and which had the duo working with Spinderella at a level that also bridged both hip hop and R&B! Although there were some younger up-and-comers on the scene at the time, Salt N Pepa had ... read moreCD
A late 80s masterpiece on Def Jam by MC Serch and Pete Nice – mixing bitingly satirical rhymes and densely-layered, sample-heavy production. While the Bomb Squad-produced "Steppin To The A.M." and the Prince Paul-produced "The Gas Face" featuring an early appearance by Zev ... read moreCD
Beats, Rhymes & Life – crucial aspects of Tribe Called Quest and hip hop in general – and the fourth album by the inimitable Tribe! After a couple or three years of down time following Midnight Marauders, the Tribe returned with this extra stripped down sound, collaborating with ... read moreCD
A masterpiece from prime era Tribe Called Quest! Midnight Maurauders was Tribe's third LP, and even though there were no tracks yet credited to the Ummah, this is pretty much the beginning of Tribe's transition to that sound – with the same mellow, laid back vibe as their best early material ... read moreCD
Tsutchie does a really wonderful job here – blending hip hop elements and some warmer melodic moments – all with a vibe that makes the Samurai Champloo soundtracks so unique! Think of a hip hop take on the instrumental music from a Studio Ghibli film, and you'll get part of the charm ... read moreCD
Heavy sounds from two key forces on the Japanese scene at the start of the century – both united here in a fantastic batch of instrumentals for Samurai Champloo! The work at times almost feels as if there's been a return Pacific journey of some of the elements that influenced the Wu-Tang ... read moreCD
A record as powerful as the image on the cover – and a set that strongly continues the personal and political legacy of British rapper VV Brown! The set works very strongly as a whole, to examine issues of race in contemporary England – and Brown mixes hip hop lyrics with sung vocals, ... read moreCD
A heady set of French language hip hop from Zokush – an artist who might be to today's scene what MC Solaar was to the 90s – someone who's able to effortlessly shift the language in the music, in ways that use the difference in phrasing to really open up the sound! The approach here is ... (Neo Soul, Hip Hop)read moreCD
The most amazing and groundbreaking American musical phenomenon in ages gets some love from the hip hop and neo soul community that helped inspire it – spearheaded by Hamilton driving force Lin-Manuel Miranda and the mighty Questlove of The Roots! Much like the musical itself, there's a ... (Soundtracks, Hip Hop)read moreCD