An album from 1990, but one with a much more old school vibe – electro soul with plenty of beats, and much more in an early 80s breakin sort of mode overall! Pretty Tony handles most of the sounds, with vocals from the group. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic classic from the Cali scene of the early 90s – one of the key records that had the west coast going head to head with some of the smarter acts back east – a great balance to the up and coming genius of Wu Tang and Brand Nubian! There's a similar sense of message and play going on here – rhymes from Mikah 9, PEACE, Aceyalone, and Self Jupiter – set to beats that bounce nicely, but never in a way that undercuts the lyrics – nicely crisp production with assist from the Earthquake Brothers. Titles include "Inner City Boundaries", "Shammy's", "Everything's Everything", "Park Bench People", "Mary", "Cornbread", "Way Cool", "Heavyweights", "Pure Thought", "Hot Potato", and "Six Tray". CD

A really great album from the LA scene of the early 90s – very different than most of the west coast work of the period, and much more in the spirit of some of the east coast work from the Native Tongues posse! The group features early work from Mikah 9, Self Jupiter, PEACE, and Aceyalone – all working in a really inventive mix of jazzy and inventive samples that come together in a great way – leaner than the layering of Q Tip, and not nearly as polished as work of its type would sound on bigger labels. There's almost a "what if" vibe to the record – glimpse at a less thuggish, posturing west coast that never full came to be – on titles that include "We Are The Freestyle Fellowship", "My Fantasy", "7th Seal", "Let's Start Over", "Sunshine Men", "Physical Form", "120 Seconds", "We Will Not Tolerate", "It's On", "Sike", "5 O'Clock Follies", "Legal Alien", "Convolutions", "Jupiter's Journey", "For No Reason", and "Here I Am". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-done look at a genre that kind of snuck in under the wire – music that carries some late traces of electro, touched with underground club styles, but also delivered in a way that's plenty darn catchy, with a great ear for a hook and a groovy sort of sing-song lyric! The music is heavy on beats, basslines, and keyboards – all bursting out with plenty of energy – maybe a brightened up take on street soul from the early 80s, but usually with a younger female singer, which helps the music bubble along in a really great way! The package is new territory for Ace Records, but they've done a great job of bringing together both key cuts and overlooked gems – all hand-picked by Bob Stanley, with a set list that includes "Two Of Hearts (12" version)" by Stacey Q, "Don't Be Shy (radio voc)" by Janelle, "Lover Girl" by Meg, "Let's Go (radio)" by Nocera, "Funky Little Beat" by Connie, "When I Hear Music" by Debbie Deb, "I Wonder If I Take You Home" by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force, "Together Forever (radio)" by Lisette Melendez, "Dreamin" by Will To Power, "Take Me In Your Arms" by Lil Suzy, "Thief Of Hearts" by Cynthia, "Fascinated (12" version)" by Company B, and "Baby Talk" by Alisha. CD

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Sampler tracks from Funkmaster Flex Mixtape Vol 3. 12-inch, Vinyl record

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A well-done look at a genre that kind of snuck in under the wire – music that carries some late traces of electro, touched with underground club styles, but also delivered in a way that's plenty darn catchy, with a great ear for a hook and a groovy sort of sing-song lyric! The music is heavy on beats, basslines, and keyboards – all bursting out with plenty of energy – maybe a brightened up take on street soul from the early 80s, but usually with a younger female singer, which helps the music bubble along in a really great way! The package is new territory for Ace Records, but they've done a great job of bringing together both key cuts and overlooked gems – all hand-picked by Bob Stanley, with a set list that includes "Two Of Hearts (12" version)" by Stacey Q, "Don't Be Shy (radio voc)" by Janelle, "Lover Girl" by Meg, "Let's Go (radio)" by Nocera, "Funky Little Beat" by Connie, "When I Hear Music" by Debbie Deb, "I Wonder If I Take You Home" by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force, "Together Forever (radio)" by Lisette Melendez, "Dreamin" by Will To Power, "Take Me In Your Arms" by Lil Suzy, "Thief Of Hearts" by Cynthia, "Fascinated (12" version)" by Company B, and "Baby Talk" by Alisha. LP, Vinyl record album

A sweetly grooving bit of spiritual jazz from the 80s – done at a time when groups like this were letting a bit of R&B into their music, yet still coming across with a nicely righteous vibe that's far from mainstream modes of period! The group's led by Daoud Abubakar Balewam, pictured on the cover – who blows these lean, soulful solos over warmer work on keyboards and guitar – and the record's got a vibe that's maybe in the mode that Lonnie Liston Smith had been exploring on some of his early 80s material too. Daoud's work on soprano sax is quite nice – even on the album's smoother numbers – and there's some nice laidback tunes that have a sweet smooth fusiony groove with a slight current of jazz funk in the mix. Titles include "Samba Para Mi", "Naima", "The Camouflage", and "I Dream Too Much". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare bit of UK soul from Rick Clarke – a sweet little set that's got a nicely lean feel – part of that 80s UK style of R&B that really seemed to set the scene for the coming years that would give the world artists like Omar and Soul II Soul! The groove here definitely echoes some of the kick of the latter – a focus on drum machine beats, spare basslines, and keyboards that underscore Rick's vocals in a great way, and never overwhelm them. The homegrown approach makes the whole thing a really timelessly appealing set – done in collaboration with Peter Hinds, on cuts that include "If You Think You're In Love", "Better Luck Next Time", "Grooving On", "Time Keeps Moving On", "See You Along The Way", "Don't Say A Word", and "I Wanted Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

When Jessica Lauren first grabbed our ears 20 years ago, she was a keyboardist on the London contemporary scene – but with a much deeper jazz vision than most – an artist whose appearances on record always made any sort of song come across with a spiritual sound that was unique for the time! Move forward to the present, when so many others have finally hit Jessica's territory – and the pianist has stepped far forward again – to open up this rich flow of ideas that's overflowing with global elements as well! The album's easily Jessica's deepest work to date – and not only features her own great keyboards and percussion, but also this very cool wordless vocal style – borrowed a bit from Brazilian fusion of the 70s, but given a fresh spin here – and combined with instrumentation that includes woodwinds, marimba, percussion, flugelhorn, and drums. The whole thing's wonderful – with echoes and elements that evoke the special genre-crossing space of Bobby Hutcherson in the mid 70s, the work of Flora Purim and Airto, the 70s South African recordings of Dollar Brand – and some of the hippest sides of some of Lauren's London contemporaries. Titles include "Simba Jike", "Amalfi", "Kofi Nomad", "Teck Et Bambou", "Chocolate Con Churros", "Argentina", and "Beija Flor". CD

Sam Nobrega's got roots in Brazil, and currently lives in Portugal – and his music here shares the kind of crossroads in which he lives – definitely steeped in older traditions in MPB, but also served up with a more contemporary vibe that goes beyond some of the usual Brazilian musical boundaries! Make no mistake – this isn't a remix product, or clubby cuts with a touch of bossa – as Sam's got a depth of songwriting and sense of delivery that almost reminds us of Lo Borges at his best – and the vibe here is great throughout, with a mixture of loftiness and intimacy that's really breathtaking at times! Titles include "Labios Lambidos", "Sangue Latino", "Espelho Animal", "Surpreenda Se", "Natural", and "Somos". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums in years from reedman Courtney Pine – a set that firmly reminds us just what an important part of the British scene he was many years back! In the years after the experimental waves of British jazz rock and avant jazz, Pine was a surprisingly strong voice in the 80s and 90s – one whose talents reached these shores, as one of the first soulful British jazz musicians to really show a different side of the London scene – where his strong vision and talent for collaboration were continually opening new ears and new possibilities! That aspect of Pine's music is very firmly in place here – on a set that's got a strong combo at the core, but which also features vocals from Omar on four tracks – an addition to the set that also changes up the rhythms a bit, and reminds us just how important Courtney was at giving younger musicians and singers a chance to shine. Pine plays tenor and flute, and the album also features electric and acoustic piano from Robert Mitchell, organ from Ed Bentley, bass from Alec Dankworth, and drums from Rod Youngs. Omar sings on "Rules", "Butterfly", "Darker Than The Blue", and "In Another Time" – and other titles include "You Know Who You Are", "The Morning After The Night Before", "Rivers Of Blood", "Word To The Wise", and "A Change Is Sure To Come". CD

Speedometer have been giving us great funky music for many many years – yet this album may well have the group hitting a whole new level in sound – able to hold on to all the gritty elements of their early days, while also expanding in ways that touch onto Afro Funk, psychedelic funk, and cinematic funky modes too! The core instrumentation is great – with a lineup that's maybe bigger than at the start, but which also adapts to some well-placed shifts in style – on tunes that are half instrumental, and half vocal – the latter of which feature contributions from Vanessa Jamie, Najwa Ezzaher Perso, and James Jr. Titles include "We Gave Up Too Soon", "Abuja Sunrise", "Kashmir", "Edge Of Fear", "Mo Crunch", "Funky Amigo", "Mind Escape", "Look No Further", and "Time To Slow It Down". CD

Heavy funk from Speedometer – a UK power-combo who've really grown their sound over the years – their titanic This Is Speedometer Vols 1 & 2 in a single 2CD set! Vol 1 is the group's first full-length effort, and it's a really kickin little record with even more to offer than their great 45s! The group's expanded their lineup to feature some great horn work, smoking Hammond, and even some occasional sock-soul vocals from The Speedettes – a female group with a really great sound – not hokey or cliched at all, but with the searing style of some of the best deep soul female groups of the funk years, like The Emotions or The Exciters in their later recordings. The sets shifts easily from vocals to instrumentals – staying funky all the time, but nicely changing up the mode of the tunes. Titles include "What Am I Gonna Do", "Monkey Stick", "Wait Up", "It's Our Turn", "You Know You Can", "Mullet", "Growbag", and "Episode In Palmetto". For Vol 2, the group's really got their sound down to a "T" – and are working with raw production that makes every instrument come through even more strongly than before, in a way that really highlights the band's masterful work on guitar, organ, and funky funky horns! A few cuts feature lead vocals by Ria Currie, and titles include "Dapper Dan", "Have You Got The Message", "Work It Out", "You Got Me Started", "Foot & Mouth", "Power Generation", "Return To Palmetto", "City Strut", and "Crew Cut". CD

Lance Ferguson has given us plenty of great work over the years – from his work in The Bamboos, to all his many other projects – yet as much as we've liked all of those, this one might actually be one of his best – a fantastic reworking of rare groove tracks from the 70s, all with a nicely changed-up sense of instrumentation! The set's mostly instrumental, and Lance takes on tracks originally recorded by James Mason, Pleasure, Funk Inc, and other names who are big heavyweights 'round these parts – served up with very strong instrumentation by a combo that includes members of The Bamboos, Hiatus Kaiyote, and The Putbacks. Titles include "Sweet Power Your Embrace", "Goodbye So Long", "Joyous", "Egg Roll", "Brazilian Rhyme", "Am I Wrong", "A Love I Believe In", "Noches De Viaje", "The Panther", and "Smokey Joe's La La". CD also features a great version of the Jack McDuff tune "Oblighetto". CD

Spiritual sounds from a group who just seem to get better and better with each release – a combo headed up by Lance Ferguson, who you'll know from previous funk projects, including work in The Bamboos – an artist who's turned out to be a surprisingly strong jazz leader as well! There's definitely some soulful currents of Lance's previous work mixed in with the music – including some female soul vocals that help the record soar at points, almost with a Roy Ayers righteousness, especially in the way the singers join together – and the rest of the ensemble features Fender Rhodes, tenor, soprano, trumpet, and some mighty nice percussion – on titles that include "Arrival", "Danieda's Dance", "Of", "Shores Of Infinity", "Kingdom", and "Earthrise". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge career overview of the music of Omar Lyefook – one of our favorite soul singers of the past few decades – right from the moment he first wowed the world with a bedroom-produced album that rivaled the greatness of Stevie Wonder! Omar's placement on the UK scene has maybe got him less attention than he's deserved on our shores – but don't let that stop you from diving in and really digging the sublime array of sounds on the set – music that was some of the freshest, most original soul of the 90s – and which continued to move at a very high level as Omar kept creating over the decades. The 2CD package includes out of print gems from his early records, and other bits from more recent years – and a fair bit of collaborations with artists who include Carleen Anderson, Terri Walker, Stevie Wonder, Caron Wheeler, Erykah Badu, Leon Ware, and Robert Glasper. 33 tracks in all – including "Music", "Last Request", "There's Nothing Like This", "Pass It On", "Feeling You", "Kiss It Right", "The Man", "Treat You", "F*ck War Make Love", "De Ja Vu", "Insatiable", "Doobie Doobie Doo", "Gave My Heart", "Be Thankful", "This Is Not A Love Song", "Little Boy", "Tell Me", "Vicky's Tune", "Bully", "Who Chooses The Seasons", and "Last Request". CD

A huge career overview of the music of Omar Lyefook – one of our favorite soul singers of the past few decades – right from the moment he first wowed the world with a bedroom-produced album that rivaled the greatness of Stevie Wonder! Omar's placement on the UK scene has maybe got him less attention than he's deserved on our shores – but don't let that stop you from diving in and really digging the sublime array of sounds on the set – music that was some of the freshest, most original soul of the 90s – and which continued to move at a very high level as Omar kept creating over the decades. The 2CD package includes out of print gems from his early records, and other bits from more recent years – and a fair bit of collaborations with artists who include Carleen Anderson, Terri Walker, Stevie Wonder, Caron Wheeler, Erykah Badu, Leon Ware, and Robert Glasper. 33 tracks in all – including "Music", "Last Request", "There's Nothing Like This", "Pass It On", "Feeling You", "Kiss It Right", "The Man", "Treat You", "F*ck War Make Love", "De Ja Vu", "Insatiable", "Doobie Doobie Doo", "Gave My Heart", "Be Thankful", "This Is Not A Love Song", "Little Boy", "Tell Me", "Vicky's Tune", "Bully", "Who Chooses The Seasons", and "Last Request". LP, Vinyl record album

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Great UK soul from Take Three – a trio of singers who previously worked in a lovers rock mode, which makes them perfect for the harmonies on these boogie-styled tunes! The group get help here from Peter Hinds, who you'll know for his long legacy in UK soul groups – from the underground years and beyond – and the tunes have this lean style that's part electro soul, and part some of the richer, warmer modes that would soon step forth on the London scene at the end of the decade! Titles include "Music & Time", "Breakers Night", "This Good Feeling", "Can't Get Enough", "Tonight's The Night", and "Givin It Up". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn wonderful work from Nathan Haines – and proof that the reigning prince of the London cosmic scene is still going strong! This long-awaited set is every bit as wonderful as anything we've heard from Haines before – a sublime blend of soulful rhythms, jazzy riffs, and righteous energy – put together with a sound that draws heavily from the most soulful music of the 70s – the kind of funky fusion and spiritual jazz records that we've always loved so much! Nathan's one of the few cats who can get a sound like this so right – so much so, we'd easily rank a record like this next to some of our classics on labels like Fantasy Records or Black Jazz. The album's stacked with plenty of great keyboards, wrapped around Haines' soulful saxophone lines – and about half the cuts feature vocals, by guests who include Marlena Shaw, Vanessa Freeman, Ty, and Tama Waipara. Titles include "Tell Me What You're Feeling", "Home", "Talkin Around", "Right Now", "Today", "Pick It Up", "Creation Calling", and "Gitmo Ritmo". Also features bonus tracks – "Creation Calling (summer street rmx)" and "Tell Me What You're Feeling (Domu voc mix)". CD

Wonderfully soulful work from M-Swift – one of the best producer/performers we've heard in years, working here with an assortment of great singers who include Eric Roberson, Vanessa Haynes, Marcus Begg, Donna Gardier, Tony Momrelle, and Marcina Arnold! Swift's talents really take us back to those great days of the London/Tokyo producers of the 90s – those cool cats who had a way of setting up a groove beautifully, then letting a key guest singer really stretch out and do their thing – expanding out the original work with a personal approach that makes you feel like it's all their own, yet getting enough direction from the producer to keep things plenty tight throughout. There's lots of Fender Rhodes on the set – a really warm mix with some of the beats and jazzy instrumentation – and although many voices participate in the production, the album's got a unified groove throughout all its many flavors. Titles include "Brighter Days", "Make It On My Own", "Greater Love", "Evening Sun", "Feeling", "Time", "Anything", "Joy Of Life", "All This Love", "Come Freak With Me", "Set You Free", "The Sun", and "This Is It". CD

A really great record, and maybe one of the few hip hop soundtracks to get at the real feel of the music on the streets – maybe no surprise, as the film for which it was created did the same thing! This isn't a fluffed-up Hollywood take on hip hop, with mainstream soul thrown into the mix – as the record was put together by Fab 5 Freddy and Chris Stein – the latter of whom really invests in his hip hop cred away from Blondie, and also provides some cool guitar bits and effects in the music too! There's some great freestyle bits and turntable tracks that really get at the underground side of the music that was alive and well at the time – and titles include "Wild Style Theme Rap 1" by Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein, "Basketball Throwdown" by Cold Crush Bros & The Fantastic Four, "Stoop Rap" by Double Trouble & Rodney Cee, "Rammellzee & Shock Dell at the Amphitheatre" with Grandmixer DST, "Wild Style Subway Rap 2" by Grand Master Caz & Chris Stein, and "Cold Crush Brothers At The Dixie". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the Biggie/Tupac freestyle, "If I Get Locked Up" by Dr Dre and Eminem, "Real Gs" by Snoop Dogg, "True" by Method Man, "QBG" by Kool G Rap and Progidy, "Dem Want War" by Raekwon, "Millenium Thug" by Nas, and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of work from a real golden age in hip hop – a period that you'll probably guess from the image of the Native Tongues posse on the front – served up here in a compilation that brings together classics from De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, and many others! The set list is superb – and while most of the tracks are well-remembered gems, and not the kind of rare cuts we usually hear from Ace Records – taken together, they're a tremendous reminder of a time when hip hop really came alive – bursting with wit, wisdom, and a whole new sense of musical imagination! As usual with Ace, the liner notes and other details are great – making this way more than just a slap-dash mix of hits – and titles include "You're Not Coming Home (Mase's funkay recall mix)" by Groove Garden, "Age Ain't Nothin But A #" by Chi Ali, "Bonita Applebum" by Tribe Called Quest, "Sunshine Men" by Freestyle Fellowship, "Peachfuzz" by KMD, "K Sera Sera" by Justin Warfield, "It's A Shame" by Monie Love, "Doin Our Own Dang" by Jungle Brothers, "OPP" by Naughty By Nature, "Doowutchyalike" by Digital Underground, "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays" by De La Soul, "The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep, "All For One" by Brand Nubian, "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style" by Dream Warriors, "Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children" by Queen Latifah with De La Soul, "Where I'm From" by Digable Planets, and "We Run Things (It's Like Dat)" by Da Bush Babees. CD

French downtempo and hip hop producer put together this nice set, one of the earliest in the long running Studio K7 series! Like other vinyl installments in the DJ Kicks series, this set isn't mixed, and it features a great lineup of cuts, including "Unassisted" by Rasco, "Juggling" by the Ragga Twins, "Milan" by Tommy Hools, "Things In Time" by Rodney P, "Zero G" by Minus 8, "Tell The World" by Sci Fi Select, "Freestyle 2" by Awesome 2 + Jem and "Dark Jazz (DJ Cam rmx)" by Daphreephunkateerz. CD

The crew mixed that solid Freestyle Fellowship styled vocal prowess with a nice production that mixed in live instrumentation without rubbing your nose in it. Tracks include "Haiku D'Etat", "Non Compos Mentis", "Studio Street Stage", "Los Dangerous", "Pro Tool Robots", "Firecracker", "Other MC's", and "West Side Slip N' Slide". CD

10 tracks that sum up the hopes for modern funk and underground soul – circa 1993! The set was a big one back in its day, and it still provides a good picture of what the kids were digging during those difficult years for modern groove. Titles include "Chameleon" by Jazz Warriors, "Taurus Woman" by The Subterraneans with Mardou Fox, "Don't Say Nothin" by Opaz, "Kickin Jazz" by Outlaw, "Bad Brother" by Ronny Jordan, "Inner City Boundaries" by Freestyle Fellowship, "Loud Minority (club mix)" by United Future Organization, "Revival (rebirth edit)" by Martine Girault, and "Caroline" by MC Solaar. CD

Another collective effort from Freestyle Fellowship alums Aceyalone and Mikah 9, plus Abstract Rude! The crew kind of mines the same reservoir of other west coast underground players such as the Heiros and some of the Quaanum characters in the cool breeze, loungey beats and slap shot vocal deliveries. But Haiku D'Etat stands apart in its manner of taking aim and shooting at wack and tired formulas, and consumer hip hop culture. Beats by Fat Jack, Chief Xcel, Spacek and others. Tracks include "Mike, Aaron And Eddie", "Kats", "Dogs", "Stoic Response", "Transitions And Eras" featuring Busdriver, "All Good Things", "Triumvirate", "Top Qualified" featuring Blackalicious, Lyrics Born & Lateef, "Coup De Theatre", "Built 2 Last" and more. CD comes with a bonus DVD – which includes live footage, interviews, music videos and more! CD

Music from After 7, Definition Of Sound, Dirt Nation, Simple E, the Terence Blanchard Quintet, DBC, Freestyle Fellowship, Snoman, Afro Plane, Chaka Khan & Screechy Dan. CD

A dream come true for fans of the best mid 90s hip hop – a massive reissue of Aceyalone's lost classic All Balls Don't Bounce – completed by an hour long bonus disc of remixes and unreleased material! Freestyle Fellow Aceyalone's first solo album is filled with the kind of solid, mellow and jazzy sounds that we love so much about mid-period Tribe and the Jay Dee/De La Soul collaborations – full of those brassy beats, piano and vibes samples. But Aceyalone's mic mastery far outshines that of his peers in many cases – particularly on "Mic Check", one of the greatest and most unsung cuts of the era! Amazing stuff overall – and a thrill to FINALLY see on this long-overdue reissue! Tracks include "All Balls" (another classic single), "Anywhere You Go", "Deep And Wide", "Knowknots", "Arhythamatics", "The Greatest Show On Earth", "I Think", "Makeba", "B-Boy Kingdom" and more. The bonus disc features new, unreleased, and remixed material – plus it's and enhanced CD, with four music videos including "Mic Check" and "I Think"! CD

"Vapors" is, of course, the mellow Biz classic off his first full-length LP, and probably the best use of the "Papa Don't Take No Mess" sample. "Biz Is Goin Off (dub)" is a nice echoey 6:30 minute reworking of the song with added beatboxing and scratching that aren't on the original. "The Do Do" is a track not on any LP, with a freestyle-type rhyme and shoutouts from the Biz. 12-inch, Vinyl record

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, Dadou/Kdd, and JMDee. Titles include "I Love Hip Hop", "Broadcasting Live", "Renegade", "Success", "Inside In A Mind", "Raise Up", "Hardcore Freestyle", "L'Invasion", and "Brooklyn 1/2". CD

Tracks include "Live From The Plantation", "The Fringes", "Elektro/Cro-Magnon", "Stop The Record", "Be Out", "The Nothing", "Universal" featuring Insight, "Triangular Warfare", "Earthcrusher", "I Beat Ak In FIFA 98", "Inhuman Capabilities", "Dreadfro", "Get This Paper", "Retrospect", and "Freestyle Session" featuring Akbar and Akrobatik. CD

A fantastic collection of work from a real golden age in hip hop – a period that you'll probably guess from the image of the Native Tongues posse on the front – served up here in a compilation that brings together classics from De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, and many others! The set list is superb – and while most of the tracks are well-remembered gems, and not the kind of rare cuts we usually hear from Ace Records – taken together, they're a tremendous reminder of a time when hip hop really came alive – bursting with wit, wisdom, and a whole new sense of musical imagination! As usual with Ace, the liner notes and other details are great – making this way more than just a slap-dash mix of hits – and titles include "You're Not Coming Home (Mase's funkay recall mix)" by Groove Garden, "Age Ain't Nothin But A #" by Chi Ali, "Bonita Applebum" by Tribe Called Quest, "Sunshine Men" by Freestyle Fellowship, "Peachfuzz" by KMD, "K Sera Sera" by Justin Warfield, "It's A Shame" by Monie Love, "Doin Our Own Dang" by Jungle Brothers, "OPP" by Naughty By Nature, "Doowutchyalike" by Digital Underground, "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays" by De La Soul, "The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep, "All For One" by Brand Nubian, "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style" by Dream Warriors, "Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children" by Queen Latifah with De La Soul, "Where I'm From" by Digable Planets, and "We Run Things (It's Like Dat)" by Da Bush Babees. LP features two bonus tracks – "Case Of The PTA" by Leaders Of The New School and "What's Up Doc (K-Cut's fat trac rmx)" by Fu Schnickens. LP, Vinyl record album

The original version of this now well known Heavyweights/Cali Underground comp, initially independently released, then picked up by Grand Royal for a minute. Put together in the interim between the breakup of the Freestyle Fellowship and the independent career of Aceyalone, this set features him, alongside other members of the So Cal Left Coast scene like Abstract Rude and Self Jupiter. Includes "Jurrassick", "What A Pity", "Don't Get It Twisted", "Hot", "Once Upon A Freak", "Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood", "Solo Is So Low", "This Evening", "Heavyweight Round 2" (with Peace, T Love, AC, Nefertiti, Jupiter, BJ, Ganjah K, Medusa, Ko Ko, Mikah 9 and Volume 10), "Yeh Man", "Narcolepsy", "I Think", "Maskaraid", "Treble & Bass", and more. CD

Features 6 new tracks, plus collaborations, rarities, b-sides, remixes, and more! Titles include "Left & Right" by D'Angelo featuring Method Man & Redman, "Re Up" by Two Da Road feat Shyheim, "Above The Clouds" by Gang Starr feat Inspectah Deck, "In Trouble" by Shyheim, "Only 4 My N*****" by Black Nights, "Hard To Kill" by Spice 1 with Method Man, "Catechism" by DJ Spooky feat Killah Priest, "To The Rescue" by U-God feat Leatha Face, "NYC Everything" by RZA as Bobby Digital & Method man, "Wu-Tang Clan Live Freestyle" by GZA & Masta Killa, "Eyes A Bleed (RZA rmx)" by Bounty Killer feat Masta Killa, and "Three Amigos (If It's On)" by King Just feat Method Man & SIC. CD

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", "Jimmy", "The Bridge Is Over", "South Bronx", 'Reggae Medley (including 9mm)", "Super Hoe", "Why Is That?", 'Stop The Violence", "Breath Control", "Self Destruction" and more. CD

A 90s hip hop masterpiece from Diamond D – and like some of the rest of the best of the decade, a set that was slightly slept-on at the time, but which has gone to have massive impact over the decades – still sounding completely fresh in comparison to bigger hits of the time! Diamond D comes from the same DITC underground as Showbiz & AG, Big L, and Lord Finesse – and like those others, when he got his time in the spotlight, he really took off – with beats that had an influence on so much more to come – and a very collaborative spirit that opens the door for contributions from Fat Joe, Mark The 45 King, Brand Nubian, Lakim Shabazz, and some of his old partners in DITC. Titles include the classic "Best Kept Secret" – with its fantastic Kool & The Gang sample – plus "Sally Got A One Track Mind", "I'm Outta Here," "Check One Two", "Freestyle", "Stunts Blunts & Hip Hop", "Pass Dat S**t", "What You Seek", "Confused", "A Day In The Life", "Step To Me", and "Shut The *!*! Up". LP, Vinyl record album

Clean edited freestyles over "Looking At The Front Door", "Who Got Da Props", "Warm It Up Kane", and "Children's Story" – essentially remakes of the original tracks from Black Rob's perspective! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A huge set of tracks from one of the most gifted MCs on 4 CDs! It collects 60 digitally mastered rarities, remixes, b-sides & freestyles – tons and tons of tracks, most of which have only ever appeared on 12-inch singles! Before you scoff at the price, think about how much you'd have spent on each and every 12-inch – a worthwhile effort to be sure, as there's not a stinker in the bunch. "Another World" (Black Star), "My Kung Fu", "Most Def", "Tinseltown" (Beatnuts remix), "Travelin' Man" (DJ Honda mix), "S.O.S." (with Bush Babies), "Brighter Day" (with Ronnie Jordan)", "Body Rock" (with Q-Tip), "Questions" (with Common), "B-Boy Document", (with High & Mighty), "Make it All Better" (with Weldon Irvine), and tons more. Highly recommended – you need this! CD