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Guerilla Warfare, the second record by the New Orleans hip-hop group Hot Boys, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a vinyl reissue. The album was originally released under Cash Money Records on July 27, 1999.

Hot Boys was a super group formed in 1997 by Cash Money co-founder Bryan “Birdman” Williams. The project was composed of a teenaged Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., and Turk; Original member Bulletproof AKA Lil Derrick left the group shortly after recording the group’s first album, 1997’s Get It How U Live! The success of Hot Boys’ debut contributed to Cash Money’s historic publishing and distribution deal with Universal the following year.

The platinum-certified Guerilla Warfare was Hot Boys’ most commercially successful album. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and debuted at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 142,000 copies in its first week of release. Produced by Mannie Fresh, the album features singles like “We On Fire,” “I Need a Hot Girl,” and “Too Hot.”

The members of Hot Boys frequently appeared on each other’s solo projects, including tracks on Juvenile’s 1998 classic 400 Degreez, Lil Wayne’s 1999 debut Tha Block Is Hot, and B.G.’s 1999 album Chopper City in the Ghetto.

Originally scheduled for release way back in March 1996, "The Raw Factor" by North Carolina native Omniscence is one of the last of the unreleased mid-90's albums to see the light of day. Despite being awarded The Source's coveted "Hip Hop Quotable" and dropping two well-received singles ("Amazin" and "Touch Y'all"), record label politics meant the full-length "The Raw Factor" album was never released and fans were left wondering what might have been.

28 years later, "The Raw Factor" is finally being released on vinyl, CD and digital stores. Featuring punchline-driven lyrics from Omniscence delivered in his unmistakable cadence, and backed by head-nodding production from Fanatic, the album is a must-own for fans of 90's Hip Hop.

Omniscence haunted the same early 90's cyphers and stages that many lyrical greats from the era had to cross. With a gruff delivery and equal adeptness with punchlines and metaphors, his high finish at the 1994 edition Battle For World Supremacy at the New Music Seminar assured heads across the culture were watching. After this, Omniscence locked in with producer Fanatic (who also laced tracks for Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e and Michael Jackson). The result was "The Raw Factor" album, fifteen plus tracks of jazzed out boom-bap, replete with crackin' drums.

Now Below System Records has not only given the album its first deluxe physical release (including 2xLP, CD and digital) as well as a slew of bonus/unreleased tracks.

Originally scheduled for release way back in March 1996, "The Raw Factor" by North Carolina native Omniscence is one of the last of the unreleased mid-90's albums to see the light of day. Despite being awarded The Source's coveted "Hip Hop Quotable" and dropping two well-received singles ("Amazin" and "Touch Y'all"), record label politics meant the full-length "The Raw Factor" album was never released and fans were left wondering what might have been.

28 years later, "The Raw Factor" is finally being released on vinyl, CD and digital stores. Featuring punchline-driven lyrics from Omniscence delivered in his unmistakable cadence, and backed by head-nodding production from Fanatic, the album is a must-own for fans of 90's Hip Hop.

Omniscence haunted the same early 90's cyphers and stages that many lyrical greats from the era had to cross. With a gruff delivery and equal adeptness with punchlines and metaphors, his high finish at the 1994 edition Battle For World Supremacy at the New Music Seminar assured heads across the culture were watching. After this, Omniscence locked in with producer Fanatic (who also laced tracks for Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e and Michael Jackson). The result was "The Raw Factor" album, fifteen plus tracks of jazzed out boom-bap, replete with crackin' drums.

Now Below System Records has not only given the album its first deluxe physical release (including 2xLP, CD and digital) as well as a slew of bonus/unreleased tracks.

Jenova 7 emerges once again as a beacon of auditory innovation with his latest opus, Lost Sci-Fi Movie Themes. Released under the banner of Cold Busted, this collection of 16 tracks serves as a time machine, whisking listeners away on a journey through dimensions both familiar and uncharted since his last foray with 2019's Dusted Jazz Vol. 3. Jenova 7 has meticulously crafted an album that resonates with the essence of ‘90s trip hop nostalgia while propelling us into the cosmos of futuristic soundscapes. The album's standout tracks—“The Future 1995,” “My Zero G Love,” and “Downtown Lost In The City Of Lizards”—are masterclasses in genre-blending and atmospheric storytelling. "The Future 1995" envelops one in a nebula of boom-bap beats, cosmic sound effects, and b-movie vibes, creating a sonic experience that feels like intercepting radio signals from a distant, funk-infused galaxy. Meanwhile, “My Zero G Love” floats the listener through the velvety darkness of space with its sexy lounge feel, portamento synth lines, and the undeniable funk that glimmers under starlight—evoking the sensation of grooving in weightlessness. Then, there's “Downtown Lost In The City Of Lizards,” a track that saunters through the urban jungle with sparkling keys, evocative guitar spurts, and strutting jazz bass, painting a picture as vivid and surreal as its title suggests. Jenova 7's skill lies in his ability to fuse moody, jazz-inflected samples with grooves that draw one into a distinctly atmospheric sound—a cinematic journey through time, space, and emotion. His tracks are experiences, wrapping the listener in a cocoon of vibrant soundscapes that are both introspective and expansive. Lost Sci-Fi Movie Themes is an invitation to explore the unknown, to lose oneself in the depths of imagination and emerge on the other side transformed. For DJs looking to transport their audience to another dimension and for music fans yearning for a taste of nostalgia wrapped in the allure of the future, Jenova 7's latest release is a must-discover treasure. Dive in and let the odyssey begin

Jenova 7 emerges once again as a beacon of auditory innovation with his latest opus, Lost Sci-Fi Movie Themes. Released under the banner of Cold Busted, this collection of 16 tracks serves as a time machine, whisking listeners away on a journey through dimensions both familiar and uncharted since his last foray with 2019's Dusted Jazz Vol. 3. Jenova 7 has meticulously crafted an album that resonates with the essence of ‘90s trip hop nostalgia while propelling us into the cosmos of futuristic soundscapes. The album's standout tracks—“The Future 1995,” “My Zero G Love,” and “Downtown Lost In The City Of Lizards”—are masterclasses in genre-blending and atmospheric storytelling. "The Future 1995" envelops one in a nebula of boom-bap beats, cosmic sound effects, and b-movie vibes, creating a sonic experience that feels like intercepting radio signals from a distant, funk-infused galaxy. Meanwhile, “My Zero G Love” floats the listener through the velvety darkness of space with its sexy lounge feel, portamento synth lines, and the undeniable funk that glimmers under starlight—evoking the sensation of grooving in weightlessness. Then, there's “Downtown Lost In The City Of Lizards,” a track that saunters through the urban jungle with sparkling keys, evocative guitar spurts, and strutting jazz bass, painting a picture as vivid and surreal as its title suggests. Jenova 7's skill lies in his ability to fuse moody, jazz-inflected samples with grooves that draw one into a distinctly atmospheric sound—a cinematic journey through time, space, and emotion. His tracks are experiences, wrapping the listener in a cocoon of vibrant soundscapes that are both introspective and expansive. Lost Sci-Fi Movie Themes is an invitation to explore the unknown, to lose oneself in the depths of imagination and emerge on the other side transformed. For DJs looking to transport their audience to another dimension and for music fans yearning for a taste of nostalgia wrapped in the allure of the future, Jenova 7's latest release is a must-discover treasure. Dive in and let the odyssey begin

* This 10th Anniversary Edition will be one pressing and then gone, the album is remastered, pressed on Transparent Red Vinyl, features new sleeve art by Cold War Steve, comes with a fanzine and a flexi disc featuring an unreleased track. **

Chinese-born singer "Rushika (る鹿)," active as a fashion model in Japan, made her debut by releasing a cover of Yura Yura Teikoku's "Kudou Desu" (Hollow). Her 3rd single, "Karada ga Shibareru Atama ga Yorokobu," released in October 2023, features an original composition by Shintaro Sakamoto and Seiichi Yamamoto, influential figures in Japan's alternative music scene. The song, a blend of catchy, danceable, and psychedelic elements, intertwines with a memorable poetic world carrying an unsettling atmosphere, bringing out Ruka's newfound charm. This 7-inch single includes versions sung in Japanese on the A-side, and B-side is a remix that features remixes by Meitei.

Vince Staples’ Dark Times serves as the Long Beach rapper’s sixth studio album and is a snapshot of Staples presently: on top of the world on the surface, but reality might be trickier. Throughout the album’s thirteen tracks, he grapples with life’s heaviness, all while understanding what the gravity of his work means in the grand scheme of things.

Nearly a decade after their last album, Lilacs andChampagne picks up right where that record, MidnightFeatures Vol. 2: Made Flesh, left off. With bizarreexcursions into pillowy, sentimental made-for-TV music -and children's choirs incanting the blackest dread-filledmusic the band has conjured to date - Fantasy World isboth transcendent and traumatic.Despite sharing two founding members of Grails(multi-instrumentalists Emil Amos and Alex Hall)Fantasy World only peripherally resembles their coregroup. Lilacs & Champagne have exaggerated theirearly record's implications and accelerated their mercurialrearranging of music history by deftly incorporating liveinstrumentation and samples with equal amounts ofdeference and disregard.Previously existing primarily in a realm adjacent toinstrumental hip-hop (J Dilla, Clams Casino, Madlib),Fantasy World exposes Lilacs & Champagne's deeperlineage as playful tape-collage culture jammers in thevein of legendary sound satirists, Negativland andSevered Heads. It embraces the effect of a child enteringa dollar store: the immediate euphoria felt upondiscovering the seemingly endless aisles piled impossiblyhigh with novelty toys, utensils, party decorations, andtoiletries eventually gives way to the overwhelmingrealization that they're actually just a tourist in a perilousmountain of colorful garbage. From those mountains,Lilacs & Champagne mold monuments to curiosity andconfusion.

Nearly a decade after their last album, Lilacs and Champagne picks up right where that record, Midnight Features Vol. 2: Made Flesh, left off. With bizarre excursions into pillowy, sentimental made-for-TV music - and children's choirs incanting the blackest dread-filled music the band has conjured to date - Fantasy World is both transcendent and traumatic. Despite sharing two founding members of Grails (multi-instrumentalists Emil Amos and Alex Hall) Fantasy World only peripherally resembles their core group. Lilacs & Champagne have exaggerated their early record's implications and accelerated their mercurial rearranging of music history by deftly incorporating live instrumentation and samples with equal amounts of deference and disregard. Previously existing primarily in a realm adjacent to instrumental hip-hop (J Dilla, Clams Casino, Madlib), Fantasy World exposes Lilacs & Champagne's deeper lineage as playful tape-collage culture jammers in the vein of legendary sound satirists, Negativland and Severed Heads. It embraces the effect of a child entering a dollar store: the immediate euphoria felt upon discovering the seemingly endless aisles piled impossibly high with novelty toys, utensils, party decorations, and toiletries eventually gives way to the overwhelming realization that they're actually just a tourist in a perilous mountain of colorful garbage. From those mountains, Lilacs & Champagne mold monuments to curiosity and confusion.

Nearly a decade after their last album, Lilacs and Champagne picks up right where that record, Midnight Features Vol. 2: Made Flesh, left off. With bizarre excursions into pillowy, sentimental made-for-TV music - and children's choirs incanting the blackest dread-filled music the band has conjured to date - Fantasy World is both transcendent and traumatic. Despite sharing two founding members of Grails (multi-instrumentalists Emil Amos and Alex Hall) Fantasy World only peripherally resembles their core group. Lilacs & Champagne have exaggerated their early record's implications and accelerated their mercurial rearranging of music history by deftly incorporating live instrumentation and samples with equal amounts of deference and disregard. Previously existing primarily in a realm adjacent to instrumental hip-hop (J Dilla, Clams Casino, Madlib), Fantasy World exposes Lilacs & Champagne's deeper lineage as playful tape-collage culture jammers in the vein of legendary sound satirists, Negativland and Severed Heads. It embraces the effect of a child entering a dollar store: the immediate euphoria felt upon discovering the seemingly endless aisles piled impossibly high with novelty toys, utensils, party decorations, and toiletries eventually gives way to the overwhelming realization that they're actually just a tourist in a perilous mountain of colorful garbage. From those mountains, Lilacs & Champagne mold monuments to curiosity and confusion.

Quar and Peace is an album of beats made during Covid-19 quarantine on IG Live sessions.

King Chino's first full length instrumental album.

2LP Gatefold release of the celebrated Amapiano Now compilation from NTS. Showcasing some of the most notable South African artists from the centre of the scene, from DBN Gogo to Vigro Deep, Mr JazziQ to Kamo Mphela. Whether lengthy hypnotic instrumentals with jazz indebted key solos or rugged township productions, Amapiano Now is a celebration of this essential sound and a document of the evolution of post-apartheid club sonics. Curated by Shannen SP & Joe Cotch, with NTS.

Limited to 100 copies on 180 gram galaxy color way. Featuring Breeze Brewin, Elzhi, Rasheed Chappell & more.

Giants Of The Fall is the highly anticipated debut collaboration between Guilty Simpson and Kong The Artisan. Detroit legend Guilty Simpson needs no introduction - he has already cemented his legacy with his collaborations with J Dilla. "Giants Of The Fall" finds Guilty Simpson at his lyrical peak and at his most introspective version. Kong The Artisan is a former UK DMC DJ Champion and rising underground hip hop producer, whose credits include Cappo, Sonnyjim, Da Flyy Hooligan and others.

The definitive scratch tool! Available for the first time as a deluxe double-vinyl edition, DJ Js-1 has compiled both volumes of his best-selling series “Scratch Roulette.” These records contain several hundred sound fx, phrases, hits, drums, and tones. No redundant looped beats--only scratch sounds and phrases. Over 60 minutes of scratch-friendly material: from the typical “kaaa” and “fresh” to new and never before used sounds and phrases, these 12”s cover them all. The inside of the gatefold jacket features an exclusive original illustration from the legendary Queens graffiti artist Jerms of the Rail Killas.

Spanning 23 years of recorded output, Grammy Award winning artist Bilal performed a mid-career retrospective featuring an ensemble of luminaries from his storied musical tribe. For one night only, the supergroup re-worked standouts from a genre-defying catalog including Bilal’s debut, "1st Born Second", his famously unreleased sophomore album, "Love For Sale" (from which "Something To Hold" and "All For Love" herein become its first commercially available releases), "Airtight’s Revenge", Common’s seminal Soulquarian-era "Like Water for Chocolate", as well as premiering Bilal’s newest song, "Humility". The concert was recorded, filmed and livestreamed from Glasshaus in Brooklyn, New York on December 02, 2023 for a studio audience of 100 guests.

An immersive journey through the depths of soul and consciousness, this masterpiece weaves together elements of R&B, neo soul, and hip-hop, enveloped in a message that transcends the ordinary, Erin has previously worked with the likes of Talib Kweli, Bugz IN THE Attic, and Atjazz.

"The Remedy," is I G Culture's latest album under Likwid Continutal Space Motion, Culture draws parallels between the complex world of fungi and London's Underground dance music scene. Both are intricate networks that thrive beneath the surface, connecting diverse elements and influencing one another. The London dance music scene, like fungi, encompasses a variety of styles and genres, from drum and bass to Garage Dance Subcultures may go unnoticed to the casual observer but are musical corner stones in our society. Dance floors and clubs serve as spaces for communal healing, allowing people to let go of daily stresses and connect through music and dance. I G Culture's "The Remedy" celebrates this vibrant underground culture and highlights the interconnectedness of all musical styles. Through his innovative production and thematic depth, he underscores the transformative power of dance music, emphasizing its role in promoting well-being and unity. The idea of Fungi also is expressed in the artwork by Amsterdams 'Machine' with IG's direction, who used fungi in an original collage revealing a secret world.

This Japan edition was produced as a limited project for Willie The Kid's Japan tour in 2011 and it's compiled based on "The Fly 2.0" which featured The Alchemist, V DON, Styles P, Cory Gunz and Lee Bannon etc. Although it was originally released just in digital format, it is now available in a long-awaited vinyl format with obi-strip.

As the vinyl revival continues to sweep the globe, Copenhagen finally wakes up and launches this new white label edition, which showcase some of the hidden jewels that has stirred the floors of the Danish capital. Supplies are super limited, and demand is expected to be high because these stands out – and too hot to mention, but the focus remains squarely on the music itself…Copenhagen floor fillers…!!

Record Store Day 2020 Release.
Limitation: 1000 copies.

Just in time for Record Store Day 2020, Coalmine Records and Duck Down Music are happy to announce the 7’ release of "Latoya Jackson," the commanding, gritty posse cut first appearing on Sean Price & Small Professor's LP, 86 Witness. The A-side is the original version which features Quelle Chris with cuts from DJ Revolution, while the flip side features the “Back to the Old School Remix,” with a gracious guest verse from the luminary lyricist Masta Ace.

Adding to the record's allure for bonafide collectors and hip-hop fans alike, the artwork has been handled by Atlanta-based heavyweight FRKO (Action Bronson, Gucci Mane), who expertly reimagined the cover of Just-Ice's classic Back to the Old School (Fresh Records, 1986). With an aptitude for details, FRKO's vibrant visual take superimposes Masta Ace into the scene, drawing from the rap veteran's cover artwork for his 2004 album, A Long Hot Summer. The parallel merger of classic iconography and refined cultural references accents the 7" release with exemplary execution, giving new legs to a track that further personifies the coveted energy of its initial release as an exclusive Record Store Day drop, all while paying homage to the late legend Sean Price.

This collector’s edition 7-Inch of "Latoya Jackson" is pressed on striking bubble gum pink vinyl.

Limited edition glass mastered CD edition of "The Toronto Tape" by Bozack Morris. Featuring the illest emcees from Toronto. Includes bonus track "Karate Practice" featuring Daniel Son.

Young Roddy & Trademark Da Skydiver's "Day Ones" from their latest series of projects. Available on vinyl with all new artwork exclusively from Near Mint.

New York City rapper/producer duo Double A.B. and Dub Sonata bring to you their joint album Media Shower, presented on vinyl for the first time courtesy of Man Bites Dog Records. The special edition 2xLP includes five brand new Alternate Media remixes on Side-D from Bronze Nazareth, Blockhead, Kount Fif, Maitre’ D & Opto. Media Shower features A.B.’s vivid storytelling alongside guest appearances from Evidence, Roc Marciano, Sean Price, Scram Jones, Rhymefest and Cannibal Ox, over Dub Sonata’s production laden with live instrumentation over deftly chopped samples. A veteran of the New York underground circuit, Double A.B. got his start in the Blaze Battle, eventually making records and touring the world with Cannibal Ox, Gza and Elzhi, while Dub Sonata’s production credits include songs for Sage Francis, Rhymefest, Guilty Simpson, and Jidenna.

Crew fascinated music on a hardcore street level. Draw from all corners of rock-n-roll or hip-hop and punk-rave music. Mission to release music with a positive intent and will not release anything which adhere s to a done to death ideal constructed by the commercial business world. Must be some balance to the mass output of the global commercial music industry which delights in promoting anything irrelevant of its moral value or ethical philosophy. To encourage young kids to buy, follow, mimic and support nothing more than a profit pulling product. As opposed to encouraging the kids to support true art which aims to impart the truestate of genuine artists creating for themselves with a desire to share their original creations. All artists who choose to create for themselves with no thought to the selling factors of their art are true Renegades and create from the source. Through music and creativity - aim to work together across divisions of nationaity and artistic divergence. Remember Yourself.

‘Lightweight Heavy’, Fat Jon’s third solo offering, is a concoction of “loping beats, dub bass lines, classical piano, breathy vocals and sparkling harmonies…” (bbc). From the gentle piano-led intro of ‘Talk to Me’ and threading through the album’s 14 dazzling tracks, Fat Jon’s subtle use of vocals and his bass-heavy beats take listeners on a heartfelt journey. “I lived in Japan while I made this record and produced the whole album there. Being able to make a project like this from beginning to end the way I had envisioned it was a dream come true,” Jon reflects. “I recorded and produced the whole album in my friend Nujabes’ studio. I told him about my concept for the album, and he said I could use his studio while I was there. We had similar studio setups so it was a very easy transition and fun experience.” We are very pleased to announce that ‘Lightweight Heavy’ is getting its first vinyl reissue via YHS Records, a vinyl-focused imprint of Detroit label Young Heavy Souls.

YELLOW COVER: 2xLP, Widespine Jacket, Black & White Cookie SplitVinyl, Alternate Yellow FrontCover, Marketing Sticker. Ltd to 50 copies.

With help from Jerry Seinfeld himself, one of the classics from the mixtape era, Wale’s More About Nothing sees its first official release on CD & Vinyl. Originally released in 2008, the album is nothing short of a masterpiece in his celebrated catalog, and features appearances from then-budding artists Wiz Khalifa & Fat Trel, among others. True fans of the musician will undoubtedly know how crucial this project is to the culture; a Jerry Seinfeld collaboration with Wale finally available for all.

“Forever Jan” packt 25 Jahre in die derbstmögliche Compilation – und macht, bei aller stilistischen Diversität, dabei vor allem den roten Faden dieser in jeder Hinsicht außergewöhnlichen Karriere erkennbar. Jan Delay ist selbst zu einer Ikone des deutschen Pop geworden: Er hat geprägt, wie Musik in diesem Land klingt, und er hat ganze Generationen dazu inspiriert, auf ihr Raveheart zu hören und konsequent ihr Ding zu machen.

Vor allem aber ist er immer Fan geblieben. Wer einmal morgens um fünf Uhr einen Dancefloor mit Jan geteilt oder mit ihm über die letzte Platte von Soundso diskutiert hat, ja wer ihn auch nur einmal auf der Bühne erlebt hat, weiß, was ihm Musik bedeutet, wie sie ihn antreibt, wie sie sein Wirken definiert. Die Beats, der Bass, der ganze Bumms, das ist sein Element. Und er hat diese Leidenschaft stets sehr direkt in seine eigenen Projekte überführt. Wer “Forever Jan” hört, weiß: Dieses Feuer wird für immer brennen.

"Forever Jan" kommt inkl. 2 neuen Tracks, Klassikern und Floorfillern.

This year Natty Wylah has been cementing himself in London’s rich contemporary music scene with festival performances at Glastonbury, We Out Here with Silhouettes Project and a headline Southbank show as part of Nabihah Iqbal’s ‘Glory To Sound’ series. As well as contributions to Rhythm Sections, compilation ‘Shouts’ all in the run up to his next EP, Willowisp. Moth Wings / FB Trap is the perfect introduction to Natty’s world where magic, slime and reality all mix together. With his cinematic lyrics on MothWings, Natty conjures up the imagery of celestial moths, who when seeking the moonlight end up stuck chasing flickering artificial light bulbs. The track features the unmistakable characteristics of Natty’s sound: traipsing across hip-hop, the psychedelic and punk, all adorned with ethereal vocals and woozy synths from Poppy and Finn Billingham. Moth Wings/FB Trap are the first tracks available to listen to from his debut EP, Willowisp. Taking its name from a painting by Jamaican artist John Dunkley based on the myth of Will-’o-the-wisp, a ghost light seen by travelers over bogs and swamps at night that often led them to their demise. This world of light and dark is expressed by Natty throughout the EP, questing through the unknown forest in the dark, wet air and moss, in order to move past constraints and to find freedom.

Pressed ON Orange Colored Vinyl With Hand Numbered OBI Limited TO 1000 Copies 2023 is the year of Too $hort at Get On Down with our 4th reissue and album number 7 in the catalog of the Bay Area legend. Shorty The Pimp was released 31 years ago on July, 14, 1992 and has not been in print since we originally reissued it on wax in 2018. Taking the title from the incredibly rare 1973 Blaxploitation film, Too $hort does what he does best on Shorty The Pimp: funk beats, boastful braggadocio, a few conscious rhymes and layers of straight up pimp talk. The lyrical content can certainly be considered comical and entertaining. Shorty The Pimp is also a stand out project for producer Ant Banks who did many of the beats for the project, his first working with Too $hort with many more to follow over the next decade.

With I Will Make a Baby in this Damn Economy, Fat Tony embodies the kind of quixotic figure he would rap about; a singular entity who’s motivated, confident, and hungry; a perpetual-motion-machine locked in a staring contest with his country. It’s the latest album in his catalog produced entirely by L.A-based producer Taydex since 2020’s Wake Up. Later that same year Fat Tony released Exotica, and ever since he’s demonstrated he is in his own lane as a professional rapper with the mind of a magician, as quick to conjure an image as pull it out from under you, deftly manoeuvring through so many details and references a listener feels as if they have witnessed the work of an illusionist. He paints these canvases inside of songs that rarely spill past three minutes; they’re pocket-sized diaries replete with acute observations, character studies, microdoses of storytelling, and single-minded ruminations on a topic that bud, blossom, and fade before too long. Fat Tony & Taydex’s I Will Make a Baby in this Damn Economy cements Tony’s status as someone whose albums are not so much lyrically-lyrical as they are picaresque.

As with any Fat Tony project, the bars are tight as ever, but are so fluid for the 34-year-old it’s almost easy to take for granted the details, warmth, and humanity inside his free-associative tales of day-one friends who’ve passed, edgelord grifters who want to spit game, and nights on ketamine. Taydex’s production sprints through disparate yet simpatico styles, dipping its toes into Pi’erre Bourne-esque bass (see lead single “Spectacular”), house (“Loosen Up”), and even hyperpop. Meditations on loss and grief are woven throughout, but Tony throws a few curveballs as well: Consider “Alexis,” which sweetly reflects on a long-term platonic friendship. Taydex finds a Teddy Riley-indebted New Jack Swing groove just deep enough for the feeling to land and underlines the song’s sincere candor. This is the appeal of Fat Tony writ-large: his boisterous voice and genial personality invite you to the party, then you stick around to hear what he’s saying, which is frequently more introspective and complex than one assumes.

Written and recorded in Taydex’s new studio in North Hollywood, Tony says, “We had much more freedom and flexibility in making this album and you can hear it. It felt like a family project.” If the album is comfortable and loose, it is also dense and substantial. The album’s final two tracks contextualize the immediacy of what came before it—the mezcal with ices drank, Paul Wall swangin’ through to drop knowledge, the Polaris Prize-winning rapper Cadence Weapon providing a vibe check. “Make a Baby” accounts for Tony who’s seen everything, and knows he’s met the one to be a father with, and yet chooses to take his time to get it done. Taydex’s beat recalls turn-of-the-century R&B and the millennial promise of an endless good time. Sombre closer “Jasper, TX” is Tony coming to grips with the story of James Byrd, Jr., a Black man from East Texas dragged to his death by three white supremacists in 1998. These songs are not only trademarks of Tony’s fastidious rapping—they are deeply personal examples of his approach to artistry and life itself, where every decision is made in the shadow of history.

It’s here the mission statement of I Will Make a Baby in this Damn Economy comes into focus—you get the sense he means it, he’s ready for it, he’ll fight for it. He’s waiting to take the world at its word.

7 Shots in a Neon Violet pressing with full color OBI strip 38 Spesh has quietly become tastemakers’ top pick for “next to blow.” Just ask LeBron James, Kevin Durrant, DJ Premier, Sway, Method Man, or Lloyd Banks, all of which have co-signed this Upstate New York emcee. His 7 Shots EP, the third and final instalment in his fan-favorite “Shots Series,” marked the moment that many caught on to the Trust movement. The 8-track offering gives underground Hip-Hop fans exactly what they want, hard bars over soulful beats. The project features guest verses from Freeway, Ransom, Eto, and Che Noir, as well as production from Streetrunner, The Heatmakerz, LT Beats, Thanos Beats, and more.

After a brief pause in the Medicine Show series, Madlib returns with a 28-track, full-length hip-hop album of collaborations with AG, Guilty Simpson, MED, Oh No, Strong Arm Steady and others. Karriem Riggins pops in for a short Supreme Team session, Madlib & Oh No debut their group The Professionals, and we hear for the first time a Jaylib-era track from Madlib & Dilla's never-realized second album. Limited edition 3LP contains 14 additional Madlib beat instrumentals.

Samurai Champloo Music Record: Departure is a soundtrack album, originally released on June 23, 2004. It is the second of four soundtrack albums released for the show. The album was produced by Japanese DJ / producer Nujabes, and American MC/producer Fat Jon, and featured Japanese rapper Shing02 and Japanese singer-songwriter MINMI on the album’s first and last tracks, respectively. Departure was critically lauded and is the best known album from the series, with especially high praise being reserved for “Battlecry”.

The music of the Samurai Champloo anime series was created by a group of producers: Japanese hip-hop producer Tsutchie of the rap group Shakkazombie, American hip-hop producer & emcee Fat Jon of the rap group Five Deez, Japanese hip-hop producer Nujabes, and Japanese DJ & production duo Force Of Nature. The music genre is primarily instrumental hip-hop.

DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With his fourth album Rhythm-Al-Ism he created his masterpiece, a perfect hip-hop album. As Quik explains, “the name Rhythm-Al-Ism alone tells you what I was doing. I was mixing up rhythms. I was meshing R&B with hip-hop and jazz. And a little bit of comedy”. It’s absolutely sensational and as with a lot of mid-90s albums those original vinyl copies are now rare so here’s the Be With re-issue. A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He’s released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he’s also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik’s tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton’s more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barb

2021 double vinyl re-issue, 140g vinyl, includes “Pure Thought” bonus track from the original CD version, original picture sleeve and printed inner sleeves based on the original one. Innercity Griots, the second album from Freestyle Fellowship, is perhaps *the* essential West Coast left-field rap album of the early ’90s. Released in 1993 on 4th & Broadway, it’s a towering, progressive hip-hop masterpiece that expanded rap’s boundaries through lyrical elevation and production innovation. Their talent was ahead of everybody else by light years. This is pure b-boy jazz. The original single vinyl LP is now hideously scarce, and of course the sound suffers from not being officially released as a double. This Be With re-issue fixes both problems, and for completeness also includes “Pure Thought” from the CD version of the album. This incredible display of imaginative hip-hop sounds better than ever. Freestyle Fellowship were some of the earliest technically dazzling rappers to come out of California. Mikah 9, P.E.A.C.E., Aceyalone and Self Jupiter - along with DJ Kiilu - forged their famed lyrical dexterity in the ultra-competitive crucible of the Good Life Cafe. Founded in Leimert Park, South Central LA in December 1989, this earthy health-food store and cafe was where the city’s finest microphone fiends would gather to showcase their freestyle skills at the Thursday night open-mic.

Featuring appearances from Jsoul, Georgia Anne Muldrow, JUS, J Felix, Guilty Simpson, Inkswel, BLU, Pugs Atomz, KID Sublime, and many more, this star-studded 2x LP comp from Australia's Inner Tribe runs the gamut from RnB & Neo Soul to Hip Hop, House, Broken Beat and Boogie. Full pic sleeve.

Doctor Zygote is an alter ego I use for hip hop tempos alongside The Maghreban for the dancier stuff. I have a lot of beats lying around that I keep meaning to use for something. File under "Beats to Use". I thought I'd put them together on a little beat tape.
In my folders, my beats have random names like "beats 114 S_Z - 82" so in needing to give these ones names and in homage to "Special Herbs" I have named them all after drugs. Broadly these beats are pretty menacing, and have a big electronic influence. I use all the same sounds for this slower stuff and The Maghreban material.
I thought they sat well together and alongside the vocal feature from Jam Baxter. Some beat tapes are full of vocal samples or play continuously. I wanted this one to hark back to some of the beat albums of the late 90s that were meant for beat juggling with, cutting or rapping over. So here we are.

Here’s the summer 2k24 banger from Flexi Cuts. This time they’ve roped in Daniele Tomassini, aka Feel Fly, DJ and producer from Perugia who’s graced labels like Hell Yeah, Internasjonal, Bosconi, International Feel, New Interplanetary Melodies, and co-founded the Afro Templum party. “Sole” is a euphoric, powerful, liberating track that’ll blow your mind and get you moving. It's a little anthem, versatile and dance-worthy, with those beloved Italo-house vibes that Daniele (and us) are totally into. Flip it over for the “Tramonto Mix” on the B-side, which teleports you to ethereal Balearic atmospheres, be it mesmerizing sunsets over the sea or dawns at the end of a club night.

Limited cream white edition, 300 made. German beatmaker FloFilz announces new project "handful" set for summer release

Berlin-based beatmaker FloFilz is gearing up to unveil his latest musical journey "handful" via Cologne beat label casual low grind this summer. With a career spanning over a decade, FloFilz has earned international acclaim for his distinctive production, capturing the attention of listeners worldwide.

His new release serves as a culmination of 10 tracks crafted over a two-year period, showcasing FloFilz's skill as an artist. Collaborating with both longtime friends (Hubert Daviz, Wun Two) and new musical companions (Rob Araujo, Hnny, Gabiga), the record reflects his diverse influences and experiences, including a stay at a songwriting camp in France in late summer '23. The impressive roster of internationally renowned producers and the additional feature by talented Los Angeles-based singer Kallitechnis, adding a dynamic dimension to the project.

Describing the project FloFilz shared, "It’s kind of a breather, a way to remind myself of the journey so far and what’s to come. A handing to old and new listeners, a waypoint and a thank you."

The „handful" EP will be released on limited vinyl with only 500 copies available including two vinyl only bonus tracks. Release date: July 5th, 2024.

a casual low grind service!

Limited black vinyl edition, 200 made. German beatmaker FloFilz announces new project "handful" set for summer release

Berlin-based beatmaker FloFilz is gearing up to unveil his latest musical journey "handful" via Cologne beat label casual low grind this summer. With a career spanning over a decade, FloFilz has earned international acclaim for his distinctive production, capturing the attention of listeners worldwide.

His new release serves as a culmination of 10 tracks crafted over a two-year period, showcasing FloFilz's skill as an artist. Collaborating with both longtime friends (Hubert Daviz, Wun Two) and new musical companions (Rob Araujo, Hnny, Gabiga), the record reflects his diverse influences and experiences, including a stay at a songwriting camp in France in late summer '23. The impressive roster of internationally renowned producers and the additional feature by talented Los Angeles-based singer Kallitechnis, adding a dynamic dimension to the project.

Describing the project FloFilz shared, "It’s kind of a breather, a way to remind myself of the journey so far and what’s to come. A handing to old and new listeners, a waypoint and a thank you."

The „handful" EP will be released on limited vinyl with only 500 copies available including two vinyl only bonus tracks. Release date: July 5th, 2024.

a casual low grind service!

Dope collabo between Texan MC $os' [pronounced Sos] and Long Island beatmaker Lars Viola. These 2 cats met online and have been working on joints together for a couple of years. Lars played me the demos and I was instantly on board, like the true

fisherman that I am.



$os', like many great artists before him, growing up as the son of a Preacher[man], learned to play [drums] as a kid at church. He only listened to gospel and Christian music as a kid, but once he was exposed to the realness, he definitely changed his tune! He had always written poetry, even as a young'un, so the transition to rhyming was fairly natural. Hope you cats enjoy this 7" 4 track EP entitled "Food For Yo' Soul". Check the snippets - Lars' beats are crrrrrazy nice on this one...

Attention: This copy comes with a bent corner. There is no other damage. As this is a rare record, we decided to offer you these copies.

Yung Bleu, also known as, Bleu Vandross, is a Hip-Hop/R&B artist from Mobile, Alabama. After scoring several major hits and racking up over 1 Billion streams and YouTube views early in his career with a series of smash love anthems, the multi-talented artist scored his first Billboard Hot 100 hit with “You’re Mines Still,” a joint single featuring Drake, which debuted at #52. It’s parent EP, Love Scars: The Five Stages of Emotions, likewise hit the Billboard 200 Chart. Following the success, Yung Bleu delivers his debut studio album, Moon Boy. Featuring hit songs such as “Baddest (feat. Chris Brown & 2 Chainz),” “You’re Mines Still (feat. Drake),” Beautiful Lies (feat. Kehlani),” & “Way More Close (Stuck In A Box) (feat. Big Sean),” the album also sees appearances from heavyweight artists such as H.E.R, John Legend, Kehlani, Kodak Black, Davido, Moneybagg Yo, Jeezy, Gunna & A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Pressed on Black vinyl with White Splatter.

Unrecognisable” is a story about a city where buildings are used as weapons in a war between the government and the people. The initial chapter, “Eiffel Shard”, was published as an online graphic novel with an interactive soundtrack. It depicts a phone call between Paris Hell and Geneva Heat, two members of the resistance group Unrecognisable. During the call, Paris informs Geneva that a deadly building, The Shard, is now under the authorities’ control. What’s worse — the government also got hold of a secret building transformation plan developed by the resistance. Paris tells Geneva that the Unrecognisables decided to abandon the plan due to the number of civilian casualties it would inevitably cause. A series of intricate explosions would force the building’s glass surface to rip through the surrounding areas, destroying everything in its path and leaving only a pointed metal structure standing: an Eiffel Shard.

The second chapter, “Paris’ Dream”, was performed by Lolina as an improvised gig. Samples from the soundtrack to chapter one accompanied a video showing the protagonist sneaking into The Shard at night. The narrative continues with Paris’ anxiety dream of her time working on the Eiffel Shard project alongside another Unrecognisables member who she fears has betrayed them by handing over their dangerous plan to the government.

The third chapter is now being released as an album of new music. In a declining city, Paris and Geneva are tour guides to be followed at your own risk. Lies and petty crimes, mistrust, betrayal and, inevitably, war are the setting in which they seek to devise a plan for resistance. As members of a secret group, they hide their identities and meet after dark. Under dim lights of city streets and closed-down clubs, it’s hard to tell a dodgy detective from an eager philosophy student, friends are enemies in disguise, and it’s advised to park your car sideways for a fast getaway.

On this concept album, Lolina performs the role of both characters, her own voice often made unrecognisable by pitch-shifts and distortion. It was recorded almost exclusively on a Casio Sk-200 sampling keyboard boasting 1.62 seconds total sampling time. No beat preset (total of 20) is left untouched, unchopped or unlooped. Not one of the 49 mini keys is idle. Retains samples when turned off.

Marv Won is a Detroit musical alchemist – a street poet laureate entrenched in the battle rap scene, as well as a cinematic world class producer as capable of channeling Dr. Dre as Donald Goines. Marv breaks new ground with his first Mello Music Group album “I’m Fine, Thanks For Asking” - a soul-baring endeavor, that weaves tales of struggle and triumph, drawing inspiration from his storied life in the Motor City. As one of the most esteemed battle rappers, Marv Won brings a lyrical ferocity to his unapologetically raw and heartfelt rhymes. This album collaboration with Mello Music Group marks a pivotal moment in his career, showcasing a seamless fusion of his word play and production. The album, featuring collaborations with Quelle Chris, Elzhi, Freeway, Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother and more, cements Marv Won's status in the rap game. Marv Won's storytelling transcends mere verses, painting vivid portraits of life in the D. Over ten self-produced tracks Marv showcases his ability behind the boards with tracks that blend epic orchestration and Joe Louis drums that hit like Tommy Hearns.