US Hip Hop 384 Items

2UGLi’s new album, My Day Begins When Your Ends, is more than just his second full-length release; it’s an entirely new starting point for the rapper who hails from Chula Vista, Calif. He spent nearly two decades in the game by the time he released his debut, 2017’s Leaving My Mark, and then stepped away due to industry BS. But he knew his time as an artist wasn’t over yet—not by a longshot—and he immediately started working again with his favorite producer, The Premonist. And with the help of some other producers, 2UGLi crafted one of 2022’s best albums of the year so far with Mdbwye. For longtime fans of 2UGLi, you may be surprised by the material you hear on this record. The emcee purposely avoided more personal stories on this record and instead focused on having fun with the writing process. As he told us, “Many of my supporters will be able to hear the growth and versatility in my writing, but I still stuck to the roots of grimy hip-hop.” And to say he nailed that approach would be a massive understatement, a sentiment that’s clear as soon as the murky intro, “I Am Chicano,” emerges from your speakers. Mdbwye blends a modern and throwback sound masterfully through both 2UGLi’s approach to the mic and his team of producers. While The Premonist handled the bulk of the production, he also worked with the likes of Snowgoons, Zentna, and a few others who stayed true to the emcee’s vision. Not only that, but 2UGLi enlisted prominent like-minded emcees to bless the album, including Raekwon on the dust-covered “The Code,” Cage on the snarling “Eye For An Eye,” and Chino XL on the cinematic “Start to Finish.” The result is a cohesive, engaging look into 2UGLi’s creativity as not just a lyricist, but an artist with a clear concept in mind. That’s what makes Mdbwye such a successful project, and why we’re excited to know 2UGLi isn’t done yet. The 20 track LP becomes available on April 22 via UGLi Business in partnership with Fat Beats.

Limited edition CD!
Produced by J Dilla aka Jay Dee!!
5-Elementz formed in Detroit in 1992. The group met while attending Osborn High School on 7 Mile. The original members consisted of Thyme, Proof, Mudd, Jay Dee & DJ Head.
These great tracks produced by Jay Dee only released on cassette later in 1998. Chopped Herring had access to the original studio DATs and presents to you this great EP. Ya better don’t sleep!

50 Cent is one of the most polarizing figures in hip-hop. With the aid of Eminem and Dr. Dre he became one of the world's bestselling rappers and rose to prominence. During his career 50 Cent has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won several awards, including a Grammy Award, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards and four BET Awards. This compilation is made up of 18 of 50's biggest songs ever.

The incredible new album by Souls Of Mischief/Hiero member A-Plus, with ridiculous production from The Architect (Homeliss Derilex].

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is, quite simply, one of the finest albums in hip-hop. It's easy to argue that a Tribe Called Quest reached their zenith on this, their debut album: though they went on to produce another world-class disc (The Low End Theory) and broadened their palates and their consciousness, never again were they quite this naturally free and easy. Q-Tip and Phife's delivery is deceptively simple, flowing like wine and tasting like candy, and Jairobi adds some contrast. The music, so self-assured that it never raises it's voice to make a spectacle, follows suit. Four albums later, on their last tour, songs from Paths of Rhythm still were at the top of the set list. - Randy Silver.

Limited edition of 100 copies on cassette.

We are very pleased to present Adagio!'s "Str8 Off The DAT", the third release of the duo comprised of Obvious Wonder (also known as Carta' P.) and Ray Foges (also known as Ray Supreme) on 90's Tapes. The group dug deep in their crates to come up with 7 unreleased tracks recorded between 1992 and 1997, bringing you that special Adagio! vibe once again.

Available in a limited run on LP, CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

Limited edition of 500 copies on black vinyl.

We are very pleased to present Adagio!'s "Str8 Off The DAT", the third release of the duo comprised of Obvious Wonder (also known as Carta' P.) and Ray Foges (also known as Ray Supreme) on 90's Tapes. The group dug deep in their crates to come up with 7 unreleased tracks recorded between 1992 and 1997, bringing you that special Adagio! vibe once again.

Available in a limited run on LP, CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

Brand new album incl. Empire State Of Mind Part 2.

Described at one point as "the new Eminem", Apathy has gone on to carve out a unique niche all his own. Apathy laid down “No Place Like Chrome” with producer Celph Titled for the UK label Antidote just after signing to Atlantic. Collaborations between the two Army of The Pharaohs and Demigodz members continue to this day. Hot off his first all instrumental outing, “Dive Medicine”, it’s a great time to head back towards the beginning of Apathy’s now storied career with this reissue of “No Place Like Chrome.

Seasoned MC and producer, Apathy, delivers his 9th full length album as an integral piece of his impressive 25+ year career. Back in 2014, he blessed hip hop heads with "Connecticut Casual", one of his most personal and fan-favorite outings to date. Once again heavily inspired by his hometown surroundings and shore-life encounters, Ap brings to fruition the next chapter in the soundtrack to the New England way of life with this new-age sequel to the original "CT Casual". The majority of the project is painstakingly produced by newcomer beatsmith, Playa Haze, with additional production from Apathy himself, along with contributions from Alcapella, plus Little Vic on both the boards and the mic. Ap's longtime partner-in-rhyme, Celph Titled, appears as one of the few guest features blessing the LP. Sail along this ride through murky waters, mysterious folklore, brash talk, and experience the East Coast lifestyle through the eyes of a Demigod.

Seasoned MC and producer, Apathy, delivers his 9th full length album as an integral piece of his impressive 25+ year career. Back in 2014, he blessed hip hop heads with "Connecticut Casual", one of his most personal and fan-favorite outings to date. Once again heavily inspired by his hometown surroundings and shore-life encounters, Ap brings to fruition the next chapter in the soundtrack to the New England way of life with this new-age sequel to the original "CT Casual". The majority of the project is painstakingly produced by newcomer beatsmith, Playa Haze, with additional production from Apathy himself, along with contributions from Alcapella, plus Little Vic on both the boards and the mic. Ap's longtime partner-in-rhyme, Celph Titled, appears as one of the few guest features blessing the LP. Sail along this ride through murky waters, mysterious folklore, brash talk, and experience the East Coast lifestyle through the eyes of a Demigod.

Features guest vocals from: Celph Titled, Vinnie Paz, C-Rayz Walz, Louis Logic, Esoteric, Lexicon, Rise, Open Mic, Alius, Punchline, Wordsworth and many many many more...A founding member and unofficial leader of the Demigodz crew, one part of the super-group Army of the Pharaohs and down with the Connecticut crew Doe$Rakers, Apathy is a highly skilled and versatile lyricist able to spit verses on nearly any topic from girls, to battling, to chess. He is also known for his freestyle ability which is often the highlight of his live performances. This double CD collection of Apathy tracks has 45 tracks and is a full 160 minutes long. That’s just under 3 hours! All the songs are from the original masters and everything has been digitally remastered to professional standards, including the old classics like “Compatible”, “Smackdown”, “Ain’t Nuthin’ Nice”, and “Just Begun”. You’ll never find a collection of all these songs in perfect quality anywhere else. A lot of tracks have never before been released on CD, and many are super rare. Every track is the full length version, nothing has been cut or faded out early. There’s even three new, previously unreleased heaters: “Y’All Ain’t Good Enough”, “Public Execution (Demigodz Mix)” and “Don’t Talk To Me”. A must for any Apathy, Demigodz, Army of the Pharaohs or Doe$rakers fan!

Apathy (Demigodz, Army of the Pharaohs) and O.C. (D.I.T.C. - Diggin' In The Crates) combine forces to form 'Perestroika', a supergroup inspired by the cold war being waged on the rap industry.

Anti-mainstream propaganda has become a bit of a cliche, so instead of speaking out against the unflattering direction that today's hip hop music has gone in, Apathy and O.C. have taken action by building a pillar in the ruins of what's left of true school hip hop.

Picture the first time you heard Wu-Tang Clan's debut album "Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers" and were immediately swept up in to a dark Kung Fu movie, with the sound effects and painted visuals - "Perestroika" is intended to have the same effect... except it transports you to Cold War, Soviet Russia. From the Kremlin, to small villages affected by the economically devastating times of Perestroika, this album is a salute to the underdog and all those who are able to survive the coldest winters.

Not entirely conceptual however, the album allows both wordsmiths to flex their greatest strengths over solid head-nodding East Coast-styled production. Showing up for the cause, guests Celph Titled, Slaine, Marvalyss, Kappa Gamma and Jus Cuz add to the palate alongside production that is mostly handled by Apathy, with MoSS and Illinformed (The Four Owls) contributing tracks as well. In a time of worldly political conflict and scandals, this project plays as the perfect soundtrack to the madness.

Featuring Pharoahe Monch, M.O.P., Celph Titled, A.G., Locksmith, Ryu and Diabolic. Production by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Buckwild, Nottz, Stu Bangas, Chumzilla and more.

After developing a loyal cult following which spans over 15 years worth of catalog, seasoned veteran Apathy unleashes his 6th studio full length, which undoubtedly is one of the biggest albums of his career thus far. The Demigodz/Army of the Pharaohs MC maintains a hardcore vibe with surgically-precise writing and has brought along a who's who of legendary hip hop heavyweights to contribute on the project. Conceptually, the album is steeped within the mysteries of Freemasonry, showcasing songs that touch upon subject matter that only a Master Mason could craft. A theme running throughout the album that evokes intrigue with a sneak peak behind the curtain of an ancient fraternity. The concepts also delve in to the metaphysical, philosophical and spiritual -- Dissecting corruption of the government and holding a mirror to the ills of society, without losing the tradition of classic boom bap hip hop.

In the months leading up the new album, Fishing Blues, Atmosphere released a total of seven digital singles. Much to the surprise of their fans, none of these singles appeared on the album, and they remained available only as digital singles… until now.

Now packaged together as Frida Kahlo vs. Ezra Pound, these singles are available for the first times as a limited edition 7” boxset and on CD. Featuring guest appearances from Aesop Rock, Blueprint, Grieves, Prof, deM atlaS & Eric Mayson.

This 7” boxset contains seven different 7” vinyl, each song featuring individualized artwork by Dave Quiggle printed on full-color vinyl jackets, surrounded by a custom printed hard slipcase including a free digital download card. Each record contains the original track b/w the accompanying instrumental. Guaranteed to be the perfect Holiday gift for any Atmosphere fan.

In their 25-plus years as a duo, Atmosphere's rapper Slug and producer Ant have built a legacy that is embedded in the fabric of underground hip-hop. Rising in the ranks of Minneapolis, their debut album, Overcast! was released in 1997. Presented as a flurry of vignettes, and paired with an unending touring schedule, the album was a springboard from which the group was able to become a fixture in the midwest music scene. It wasn't long before their songwriting evolved from telling inventive third-person tales to delivering introspective first-person eviscerations, and by the early 2000's Slug would jokingly birth the phrase "emo rap" in an interview before publications began running with the genre tag to describe them and others. In the decades since their debut, Atmosphere has maintained a course of rigorous output, releasing over two dozen studio albums, EP's and collaborative side projects in as many years. The venerated duo have built a legacy out of bringing honesty, humility and vulnerability to the forefront of their music. Slug has proven masterful at storytelling and writing compelling narratives, leaving a trail of his own influence while paying homage to the rappers and songwriters that helped shape him. Meanwhile, Ant has skillfully molded the soundtracks with inspiration from soul, funk, rock, reggae, and the wizardry of hip-hop's pioneering DJ's and producers, creating his own trademark sounds and providing the pulse for songs about life, love, stress and setbacks. At its essence, Atmosphere has been a musical shepherd, guiding generations of listeners through this thing called life. Their newest album, 2023's So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously, captures perhaps some of Atmosphere's most personal work to date. The odyssey opens with a gentler approach than recent works, with the lead-off track "Okay" seemingly focused on comforting and reassuring the listener. As Slug raps over one of the most twinkling productions Ant has ever released, the song lays the groundwork for an album-length exercise in fumbling consciousness. Yet, as gently as the album begins, there's an unmistakable sense of unease from the outset that continues to evolve throughout the project, as Slug and Ant weave the listener through indistinct themes of insomnia and woe. From the subtle panic at the heart of songs like "Dotted Lines" to the overt anxiety of songs like "In My Head," the unease across tracks is unmistakable. Yet, as the tears might begin to well, they find resolve again through songs like "Still Life," whose hopeful outlook undercuts the tensity of the album. All the while, the rhythms on So Many Other Realities are some of the most inventive of Atmosphere's career. Ant's playful percussion on "In My Head" acts as a nice counterweight to the roiling writing, while the drum patterns on "Holding My Breath" and "Bigger Pictures" allow Slug to play with his flow to emphasize the anxiety driving the record. Where previous records in this most recent act of Atmosphere's career have been focused on emphasizing the parts of life that carry the most meaning_family, brotherhood, purpose_So Many Other Realities is an almost unnerving excavation of paranoia inspired by the general malaise of a pandemic weary society full of civil unrest. The tension in these songs is palpable, but the album's mere presence is a testament to the hope that has to underpin even the most stressed out epiphanies. The greatest risk Atmosphere has continued to take across their career is that of being vulnerable and unafraid. The world has inconceivably changed since Slug and Ant entered into the underground hip-hop scene, but despite the seismic shifts in music and culture, they've held strong to a foundation rooted in sly innovation and truth. The duo's relentless release & touring schedules only tell a piece of the story, but spending time with their records_whether you're a new fan or a longstanding listener_reveals a pair of friends who love to create and live for unabashed self-expression. Their bare reflections on life and the mundane traumas and joys that make living worthwhile are a gift, and that is Atmosphere's legacy in and of itself. If the music stopped tomorrow, the duo would go down as two quiet titans who changed the course of everyman rap forever.

Af Ter Being Out Of Print For Years, Atmosphere's Fif Th Studioalbum, You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having, Returns On Vinyl. Following The Breakthrough Success Of Their Fourth Album, Seven's Travels, The Group Returned In 2005, Showing Impressive Growth And Inventiveness In Their New Compositions. Citing Inspirations From A List Of Less-Than Expected Sources, Including Tom Waits, Mark Lanegan, Shawn Phillips, Spoon, The Mars Volta, Alopecia, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, The Beauty Pill, Infected Wisdom Teeth, Craig Finn, Tv On The Radio, Australia And I-94 East, Among Others, The Album Pushed Boundaries Without Overreaching. "[Atmosphere] Has Never Sounded As Pointed And Focused As It Does Here On Its Fifth Album." -Billboard [8 Oct 2005]"Both A Return To Form And A Major Step Forward." -Urb Magazine[Dec 2005, P.94]"Ant Has Never Captured Slug`S Pen Strokes Quite Like This, And As An Emcee And A Songwriter, Slug Has Never Sounded This Good Over The Course Of An Lp. [You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having] Is Absolutely Their Zenith, In Every Sense." -Hiphopdx [4 Oct 2005]