Hip Hop 10290 Items
Founded in 1992 during the golden era of Hip Hop, the trio from St. Louis, Missouri, consists of Shorty Live, P Da Wicked and DJ Alejan. In the mid-90's the crew recorded and self-released a few 12" titles full of quality that still keep diggers worldwide being on the lookout. "The Classic Collection" includes 14 tracks from that era plus 11 instrumental versions.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 3LP, 2CD in jewel case, double cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.
For us, the Canadian undergound scene of the mid-to-late 90's has something very special about it and delivered a few magic releases. Combining progressive beats with thoughtful rhymes, "Rush Of The Planet" of Toronto's legendary Brass Tacks crew from 1997 is one of those nuggets with a massive impact not only to us. Step into the realm of Battle Cat and Diamond Eye's and let your mind blow.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 1LP, CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.
Stakes is High is the 4th studio album by De La Soul, released on July 2, 1996. Stakes is High was critically lauded for its music, lyricism, and its overall message concerning the artistic decline rap music began to face in the mid-90s. The title track and first single was produced by J Dilla and the album's second single, "Itzsoweezee (HOT)", with only Dave on vocals, was accompanied by a creative music video. The album spawned a third single "4 More", featuring Zhane. The album did provide a launching pad for future star rapper and actor Mos Def, who appeared on the track "Big Brother Beat" and Common who is featured on "The Bizness".
Don't forget to grab your Stakes Is High poster from our Bonus Coin section.
R.I.P. Trugoy the Dove
Bringing a sound and energy unlike any other, De La Soul quickly became one of the most revered, game-changing artists in hip-hop and forever cemented their legacy in the hearts and minds of fans around the world. Despite their rapid success and recognition, De La Soul continued to prove themselves as one of the most original, authentic and creative groups in hip-hop, following on May 14, 1991 with the release of their sophomore album, De La Soul is Dead. Featuring, once again, the production of visionary producer Prince Paul, their second album further fanned the flames; landing on charts around the world. “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays,” “Ring, Ring, Ring (Ha Ha Hey)” and “Keepin’ the Faith” have become certified classics in the De La Soul catalog.
It might blow up, but it won't go pop!
De La Soul’s third studio release, Buhloone Mindstate, released on September 21, 1993, saw the group evolve into a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically. There were several moments on the album which proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone playing by Maceo Parker. The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La Soul at their most self-referential to date. "Long Island Wildin'" was a collaboration with Japanese hip hop artists Kan Takagi (Major Force) and trio Scha Dara Parr (sdp). The album's first single, "Breakadawn", used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" and Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm". De La Soul collaborated for the first time with Gang Starr's Guru on "Patti Dooke", and female MC Shortie No Mas who was prominent on many tracks on the album and showcased particularly on "In The Woods". The album ended with an old school Biz Markie collaboration called "Stone Age".
The most sought after HipHop Live-Album comes as a limited reissue upon HHV request.
Recorded in 1999 when the band members where Questlove, Black Thought, Kamal, Leonard Hubbard and Scratch, but also featuring friends Dice Raw and Common. For the first time ever reissued, coming as an extended version featuring bonus tracks prior only available on the Limited Edition of this album released in 1999 featuring Jaguar Wright and former members Rahzel and Malik B. Don't miss it this time.
Founded in 1992 during the golden era of Hip Hop, the trio from St. Louis, Missouri, consists of Shorty Live, P Da Wicked and DJ Alejan. In the mid-90's the crew recorded and self-released a few 12" titles full of quality that still keep diggers worldwide being on the lookout. "The Classic Collection" includes 14 tracks from that era plus 11 instrumental versions.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 3LP, 2CD in jewel case, double cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.
Founded in 1992 during the golden era of Hip Hop, the trio from St. Louis, Missouri, consists of Shorty Live, P Da Wicked and DJ Alejan. In the mid-90's the crew recorded and self-released a few 12" titles full of quality that still keep diggers worldwide being on the lookout. "The Classic Collection" includes 14 tracks from that era plus 11 instrumental versions.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 3LP, 2CD in jewel case, double cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.
The Grammy-nominated US American began rapping in 2004 and released free mixtapes on the Internet. His musical role models and inspirations include rap greats such as Tupac Shakur and Scarface. On September 30, 2022, the gangsta rapper then released his major label debut album "$oul $old $eparately", followed on 10/28 by the bonus edition of the record. Two weeks after its release, the album already counted more than 40 million global streams and reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and entered the Top 3 of the U.S. rap charts.
Killer Mike, known for Run The Jewels, releases with Michael his most personal solo album so far.
Michael is to Killer Mike what Logan is to Wolverine. This album tells the story of Michael Santiago Render, giving us a very personal glimpse into his life, refracted through the black culture of the South. You feel the catharsis of a Sunday morning in church where young Mike first heard a B3 Hammond and gospel singers live. You hear the fast-paced shit-talking that goes on at a backyard BBQ in Adamsville on a hot Friday night. You feel the rattle of an 808 while eating a plate of lemon pepper wings on a Wednesday afternoon at Blue Flame. We've known Killer Mike for his long career as a thought-provoking rapper, but on Michael he tells his story for the first time.
Benny The Butcher blazed a trail as an elite voice in rap’s underground to become a top artist in all of music. The prolific Buffalo, New Yorker has established two legendary (and concurrent) album series, broken bread with industry leaders, and twice reached the Billboard Top 40 albums chart as an independent. Now Benny sets the table for a definitive 2022. Soon, he will unveil his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4. By 2004, Benny combined these experiences to launch the Tana Talk series while on house arrest. As TT3 promised, Benny delivered two volumes of The Plugs I Met, in 2019 and 2021, on his Black Soprano Family imprint. In between, Benny inked with Roc Nation management and made songs with Drake, Lil Wayne, Black Thought, and Freddie Gibbs. He also partnered with Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy to flaunt his range on 2020’s acclaimed Burden Of Proof. If the third installment of Tana Talk made Benny a formidable presence in Rap, Volume 4 propels him to stardom. Debut single “Johnny P’s Caddy” partners The Butcher with J. Cole over The Alchemist production. Al’ and Daringer handle the album’s music, just as they seamlessly did on TT3. Conway, Westside Gunn, 38 Spesh and more guest on TT4, as does Stove God Cooks. Benny’s skills and authenticity have cemented his place in the game. However, in a career defined by will and perseverance, The Butcher’s blade keeps getting sharper.
When Leon Michels and El Michels Affair released their first record, Sounding Out The City, in 2005, it was hard to guess what was next for Michels and his then-introduced, now-patented "cinematic soul" sound. Now, four EMA studio albums and scores of tribute and remix projects later - all while producing for some of the biggest names in the industry - Michels has trademarked his sound, with each project taking audiences somewhere new and pushing the boundaries of what he is known for. The man is a river, not a lake and this time he takes his golden touch into the realm of hip-hop laying down a musical bed for one of the greatest to ever rhyme into a microphone: Black Thought of The Roots crew. Releasing on Big Crown Records, the LP is called Glorious Game, and it is a remarkable debut partnership in more ways than one. Michels provides his bottom-heavy, soul-tinged production for Black Thought who gives us some of the more personal and transparent verses we've ever heard from him. Michels and Black Thought have been in each other's orbit for a while now. The two first met in the 2000s when Thought was first getting familiar with the contemporary soul scene. "Out of that whole world, Menahan Street Band was probably my favorite," recalling the funk and soul group Michels was a founding member of back in 2007. Fast forward a few years and musicians from that collective - Dave Guy on trumpet and Ian Hendrickson-Smith on sax - are now full time players with The Roots. This connection eventually led Leon and Thought to doing a few fundraising events around NYC and Philly together. "Before long, Black Thought was coming around the studio and would jam with us from time to time," Michels explains. "Then, fast forward to 2020 and Covid lockdowns, he just hit me up out of the blue, wanting me to send him stuff to write to. We both were looking to stay busy." Being that, Black Thought is the co-founder and emcee for, hands down, the best live-band group in hip-hop. Michels took a decidedly different approach to this project and instead of sending recorded tracks of live compositions, he pulled out the sampler and sampled himself and some records from his collection. "I'm a big fan of soul music," as if Michels has to remind us. "And part of hip-hop's appeal to me has always been the sample-based production" For Glorious Game, Michels would make wholly composed and recorded soul songs in his studio, sample himself, then chop and/or loop up his sounds and create instrumentals for Black Thought. On some tracks he took a more traditional hip-hop approach, starting from samples of other people's music but then adding live instrumentation on top. But for the most part, it's him reinterpreting his own compositions into something new. The result is an organic feel of loop-based tracks that breathe and uctuate enough for Black Thought to ex on. "What I write about is determined by the equation of the producer's energy and my energy," Black Thought says. "It's about where we meet." So, armed with Michels sampled and re-sampled soul cinematics, Black Thought rhymes through personal memories.
For us, the Canadian undergound scene of the mid-to-late 90's has something very special about it and delivered a few magic releases. Combining progressive beats with thoughtful rhymes, "Rush Of The Planet" of Toronto's legendary Brass Tacks crew from 1997 is one of those nuggets with a massive impact not only to us. Step into the realm of Battle Cat and Diamond Eye's and let your mind blow.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 1LP, CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.
When Leon Michels and El Michels Affair released their rst record, Sounding Out The City, in 2005, it was hard to guess what was next for Michels and his then-introduced, now-patented "cinematic soul" sound. Now, four EMA studio albums and scores of tribute and remix projects later - all while producing for some of the biggest names in the industry - Michels has trademarked his sound, with each project taking audiences somewhere new and pushing the boundaries of what he is known for. The man is a river, not a lake and this time he takes his golden touch into the realm of hip-hop laying down a musical bed for one of the greatest to ever rhyme into a microphone: Black Thought of The Roots crew. Releasing on Big Crown Records, the LP is called Glorious Game and it is a remarkable debut partnership in more ways than one. Michels provides his bottom-heavy, soul-tinged production for Black Thought who gives us some of the more personal and transparent verses we've ever heard from him. Michels and Black Thought have been in each other's orbit for a while now. The two first met in the 2000s when Thought was first getting familiar with the contemporary soul scene. "Out of that whole world, Menahan Street Band was probably my favorite," recalling the funk and soul group Michels was a founding member of back in 2007. Fast forward a few years and musicians from that collective - Dave Guy on trumpet and Ian Hendrickson-Smith on sax - are now full time players with The Roots. This connection eventually led Leon and Thought to doing a few fundraising events around NYC and Philly together. "Before long, Black Thought was coming around the studio and would jam with us from time to time," Michels explains. "Then, fast forward to 2020 and Covid lockdowns, he just hit me up out of the blue, wanting me to send him stuff to write to. We both were looking to stay busy." Being that Black Thought is the co-founder and emcee for, hands down, the best live-band group in hip-hop. Michels took a decidedly different approach to this project and instead of sending recorded tracks of live compositions, he pulled out the sampler and sampled himself and some records from his collection. "I'm a big fan of soul music," as if Michels has to remind us. "And part of hip-hop's appeal to me has always been the sample-based production" For Glorious Game, Michels would make wholly composed and recorded soul songs in his studio, sample himself, then chop and/or loop up his sounds and create instrumentals for Black Thought. On some tracks he took a more traditional hip-hop approach, starting from samples of other people's music but then adding live instrumentation on top. But for the most part, it's him reinterpreting his own compositions into something new. The result is an organic feel of loop-based tracks that breathe and uctuate enough for Black Thought to ex on. "What I write about is determined by the equation of the producer's energy and my energy," Black Thought says. "It's about where we meet." So armed with Michels sampled and re-sampled soul cinematics, Black Thought rhymes through personal memories.
For us, the Canadian undergound scene of the mid-to-late 90's has something very special about it and delivered a few magic releases. Combining progressive beats with thoughtful rhymes, "Rush Of The Planet" of Toronto's legendary Brass Tacks crew from 1997 is one of those nuggets with a massive impact not only to us. Step into the realm of Battle Cat and Diamond Eye's and let your mind blow.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 1LP, CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.
20 years HHV: our team has selected an album from each of these years that is particularly relevant and precious to us. On a monthly basis we release exclusive and limited pressings of these records in collaboration with some of our favorite labels.
Give it up for Cologne's talented producer Midan who is dropping his "Lost & Found" project, a sweet collection of tracks deeply rooted in Jazz in all its variations. 15 tracks in total, incl. a guest feature by Flitz&Suppe.
Available on vinyl and all digital platforms.
Finally back on vinyl. Now as a double vinyl LP, officially reissued. Must have! 3 Feet High and Rising is the debut studio album by hip hop trio De La Soul and was released on March 3, 1989 It marked the first of three full- length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. Critically, as well as commercially, the album was a success. It contains the singles, "Me Myself and I", "The Magic Number", "Buddy", and "Eye Know". The album title came from the Johnny Cash song "Five Feet High and Rising". It is listed on Rolling Stone's 200 Essential Rock Records and The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. When Village Voice held its annual Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for 1989, 3 Feet High and Rising was ranked #1. It was also listed on the Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Released amid the 1989 boom in gangsta rap, which gravitated towards hardcore, confrontational, violent lyrics, De La Soul's uniquely positive style made them an oddity beginning with the first single, "Me, Myself and I". Their positivity meant many observers labeled them a 'hippie' group, based on their declaration of the 'D.A.I.S.Y. Age' (Da. Inner. Soul. Yall). Sampling artists as diverse as Hall & Oates, Steely Dan and The Turtles, 3 Feet High and Rising is often viewed as the stylistic beginning of 1990s alternative hip hop (and especially jazz rap).
Mixed by Tom Caruana, who also did the Wu-Tang vs. Jimi Hendrix
akua naru’s 2011 groundbreaking album, “...the journey aflame”, is now available on vinyl. The album, a melange of dope beats, politics, poetics and power, long sought after is finally here!
This first official repress contains high quality audio, a double vinyl LP with a gatefold-cover. In addition to classics like "the backflip", "the world is listening”, and “the block", this repress features the underground smash "poetry: how does it feel???", a hit lately revealed to be supermodel Cara Delevingne’s favorite Valentine's Day song. "poetry: how does it feel?" is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded and it’s available now on vinyl for the first time.
LA's amazing young vocalist & drummer Anderson .Paak comes up with another nice record!
Spirit Roaming is Akai SOLO’s first full length collaboration with Backwoodz Studioz. The new album arrives on the heels of his Body Feeling EP, building on its material and existential themes. Here, Akai’s unique palette is applied to a bigger canvas, without losing the intimacy and the sardonic self-awareness that help define him as an artist— alongside a delivery and cadence all his own. “Spirit Roaming is essentially self wandering through various self-engineered hells searching for the silver lining,” Akai explains. “Not quite a shell but not quite full either; rather freshly devastated. I made a lot of foolish decisions and neglected even more important ones. The price for that is being paid in real time. Can I grow post payment or does the crater resulting from the transaction overwhelm me?” Spirit Roaming features an eclectic group of producers, from vets like Preservation, Animoss, Messiah Musik and August Fanon, to emerging talents Theravada, ibliss, WifiGawd, Roper Williams and Junie. Akai lends bits and pieces of his own production to the mix, but goes mostly dolo on the mic, with Armand Hammer as the lone feature arriving just in time for the curtain call. Working amidst a renaissance in NYC indie rap, Akai is both part of that wave and a man apart. The 27-year-old Brooklyn native has collaborated extensively with many of the scene’s stalwarts (including Pink Siifu, Armand Hammer, Navy Blue), but, true to his name, has always navigated his own course
Debuted #198 on Billboard Top 200 in its original release
8.9 review on Pitchfork
Ranked #11 top album of 2002
#21 hip-hop album of all time by Fact Magazine
Fantastic Damage marked the beginning of El-P’s career as a solo artist, following a groundbreaking career as frontman and producer of legendary NYC underground hip hop crew, Company Flow. Fan Dam was a foundational release for his fledgling record label. Definitive Jux, which would soon establish itself as an iconic juggernaut of independent rap in the wake of trailblazing solo records by El-P and label mates Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, RJD2, Murs, and more. The template El-P established on Fantastic Damage - a singular aesthetic pairing futuristic, post B-Boy production style with insightful, provocative & often prescient subject matter - was met with accolades across the media landscape, including Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, NME, VIBE, and SPIN among many others. The impact and influence of Fantastic Damage established it as one of the most important independent releases of its era, and charted a course to be followed by generations of artists in its wake. The album has been widely unavailable since El-P put Def Jux on hiatus in 2010, making it ripe for rediscovery in the new music ecosystem due to El-P’s monumental success with Run The Jewels.
Producers Es-K and Type.Raw team up for a collaborative drop laying the instrumental foundation for a creme de la creme of Jazz-infected MC's by the likes of K. Sparks, Kid Abstrakt, Ill Conscious, A-F-R-O, General Steele of Smif-N-Wessun, Napoleon Da Legend and many more. 12 vocal tracks paired with the respective instrumentals bundled on a 2LP as well as digitally available on all major platforms.
Comprised of group members ILL Bill, Lord Goat (f/k/a Goretex), Sabac Red and DJ Eclipse, The Future Is Now remains the group’s sole full length effort, garnering much acclaim among both critics and fans alike. Considered by many as an underground classic, Tfin boasts a production dream team that includes DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Large Professor, who had yet to appear credited together on the same album since the release of Nas’ Illmatic. Additional producers tapped include JuJu of The Beatnuts, Dave 1 of Chromeo, T-Ray and Necro. The album features guest appearances from MF Doom, Necro, The Beatnuts, Al Tariq, Marly Metal, Moonshine, Stephen Carpenter of Deftones, and Christian Olde Wolbers and Raymond Herrera of Fear Factory. The album's cover art was created by Mear One, and the logo is a tribute to Canadian metal band Voivod, and was created by Voivod’s own, Away.
The album includes the singles "Black Helicopters,” "Drug Music" b/w "If You Got Love" and "Rock Stars" b/w "The C.I.A. is Trying to Kill Me.”
The 20th anniversary edition of The Future Is Now is set for release on March 24th via Uncle Howie Records in partnership with Fat Beats Distribution.
The album boasts a never before revealed, updated version of the album cover designed by revered illustrator, Mear One.
The 2xlp is pressed on orchid colored discs and are contained within full color sleeves abound with liner notes.
Finally back on vinyl. Now as a double vinyl LP, officially reissued. Must have! 3 Feet High and Rising is the debut studio album by hip hop trio De La Soul and was released on March 3, 1989 It marked the first of three full- length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. Critically, as well as commercially, the album was a success. It contains the singles, "Me Myself and I", "The Magic Number", "Buddy", and "Eye Know". The album title came from the Johnny Cash song "Five Feet High and Rising". It is listed on Rolling Stone's 200 Essential Rock Records and The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. When Village Voice held its annual Pazz & Jop Critics Poll for 1989, 3 Feet High and Rising was ranked #1. It was also listed on the Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Released amid the 1989 boom in gangsta rap, which gravitated towards hardcore, confrontational, violent lyrics, De La Soul's uniquely positive style made them an oddity beginning with the first single, "Me, Myself and I". Their positivity meant many observers labeled them a 'hippie' group, based on their declaration of the 'D.A.I.S.Y. Age' (Da. Inner. Soul. Yall). Sampling artists as diverse as Hall & Oates, Steely Dan and The Turtles, 3 Feet High and Rising is often viewed as the stylistic beginning of 1990s alternative hip hop (and especially jazz rap).
AOI: Bionix is De La Soul's sixth full-length album, released on December 4, 2001. The first single, "Baby Phat" featuring Yummy Bingham and Devin the Dude, was an ode to larger sized women. Elsewhere, "Held Down", featuring Cee-Lo, found Posdnuos in an introspective mood as he mused on fatherhood, religion, and fame. Slick Rick also made an appearance on "What We Do (For Love)"; a humorous song about puberty and sexual discovery. The album featured skits with a character by the name of Reverend Do Good, which worked as social commentary as well as the intros and outros of the songs. The final Reverend Do Good skit acts as one final advertisement for Ghost Weed as heard on De La Soul's previous album, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump. A mischievous teenager takes a hit of the substance, then morphs into Slum Village frontman J Dilla, who provides the intro and outro to the marijuana-themed song "Peer Pressure" (which he also produced).
O.C.'s sophomore album "Jewelz" dropped in 1997 with an all-star cast of guests and producers. The line-up included the likes of Big L, DJ Premier, Buckwild, Organized Konfusion, The Beatminerz, Freddie Foxx and others and "Jewelz" became a worthy successor to "Word...Life".
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 2LP+7", CD in jewel case and cassette.
For RSD 2023 Bobby Digital’s origin story is revisited on an exclusive colored vinyl offering.
In November of 1998, Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA unleashed his first solo record, and his memorable alter-ego, Bobby Digital. Bobby Digital In Stereo is essentially a soundtrack. A soundtrack to a Blaxploitation/martial arts film that never was - at least outside of the imagination of the artist and the listener - as RZA channels the martial arts superhero (or perhaps anti-hero) inspirations of his youth into his Bobby Digital persona.
The recording follows a loose storyline of RZA’s endeavors as Bobby Digital - out to enlighten the people of the projects to the poisons of the hood that surrounded them every day. Production-wise, the release features a different approach from RZA’s work with Wu-Tang – a layered experimental keyboard driven sound instead of dusted sample-heavy beats – a technique RZA called the “Digital Orchestra.”
Bobby Digital In Stereo rode to #16 on the Billboard top 200 – peaked at #3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop albums chart – and went on to RIAA Gold status. Bobby Digital In Stereo is now regarded by manyas the best of RZA’s Bobby Digital projects.
Originally released in 1994, the debut release of O.C. is one of those highlights in a year full of classics in rap. "Word...Life" includes productions by D.I.T.C.'s Buckwild and Lord Finesse, Organized Konfusion and DJ Ogee as well as features by Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po on the mic.
Available in a limited run on black vinyl 2LP+7", CD in jewel case and cassette.
With Hand Numbered OBI Limited TO 1994 Copies
Deluxe edition vinyl which includes the original album plus 3 Resurrection remixes with liner notes featuring interviews with Common and NO I.D all in a beautiful gatefold jacket.
Get On Down is proud to present, Commons sophomore album, Resurrection. While the album was originally neglected by the mainstream, it has since received a great deal of critical acclaim and is now on The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums. In comparison to his debut album, Commons musical style evolved lyrically by his expressing of himself rather than just describing street life. With its Jazz and Hip Hop flavors, Resurrection furthered the growth of both genres. Overall, the album is commonly perceived as an underrated Rap classic and now this legendary album is available in a much anticipated, 2xLP gatefold jacket edition.
Resurrection was produced almost entirely by No I.D., who has gone on to work with heavyweights like Usher, Alicia Keys and Rihanna, and he recently produced the first two singles for Jay-Zs new album The Blueprint 3. In addition, No I.D. is credited as the man who introduced Kan ye West to Hip Hop production, inviting him to his sessions with Common when West was only starting out.
The 2xLP features the original 15 album tracks (all cuts remastered from the original masters) and three remixes of Resurrection. Two of the remixes were produced by the one and only Large Professor of Main Source fame and the third is another track by No I.D. The gatefold jacket art features in-depth liner notes written by Brian Coleman with Common and No I.D.
Moving fluidly through sleek electronica, avant-garde jazz, vintage hip hop and so much more, Misch and Dayes take you on a journey that is by turns surprising and spontaneous, heady and head spinning, and nothing less than compelling – a singular vision which fuses the DNA of both musicians with spectacular results, as can be seen in the title track, which comes backed by a gorgeously atmospheric video by XX.
Even though the fundamental bones of this project came together very quickly, its actual provenance stretches back much, much farther back, with the pair not only growing up in the same area of South East London, but Misch actually seeing Dayes play on drums in the school talent show for the first time when he was roughly 8 or 9. They both kept tabs on each other – Misch becoming a fan of Dayes’ act Yussef Kamaal, Dayes clocking his videos in 2014 – but it was only when they met at a launch party for Misch’s debut LP “Geography” in 2018 that the proverbial creative sparks began to fly. “As a musician you’re always looking for contemporaries who can push you and challenge you and make you better”, says Dayes. “I instantly felt that with Tom – he was such a gifted musician, and so prolific”. That summer they decided to go into the studio together, jam a little, and see what happens, with no other expectation placed upon it.
As it turns out, the music came fast and furiously. Two initial tracks were suddenly followed by a handful of others, and the pair found themselves contemplating what to do next. “Pretty soon, we knew that something was gelling”, Dayes says. “It didn’t feel like a one-off collaboration, it felt like a body of work”. What made the pair click, according to Misch and Dayes, were the exact same factors that meant it shouldn’t, by all rights, work. Misch says, “Yussef comes from a more experimental background, and he has a lot of loose, crazy ideas. I know how to write a catchy melody, but with interesting chords and have a good understanding of popular song forms, so I think I streamlined those ideas and made them accessible”. And certainly, in “What Kinda Music” you can sense the DNA of both musicians, but fusing so effortlessly and beautifully that it creates something else entirely, the appropriately named “Lift Off” sending goosebumps with its jazz flecked crescendo, and “Night Rider” hynotising with its deeply mesmeric grooves. “I have a love for harmony and chords”, Misch adds. “Working with someone like Yussef, who has such a gifted sense of rhythm allowed a perfect balance”.
Throughout the record, there is an utterly joyful feel of two musicians at the top of their game sparking off one another, picking up ideas and running with them – zigging where the other zags, ebbing where the other flows, with Misch producing the majority of the record and both having a hand in the overall sound and feel of the record.
“Working with Yussef has actually changed the way I work as a musician”, Misch muses. “He’s pushed me and unlocked a more experimental part of me that I hadn’t really allowed myself to explore before. I think we really did impact each other in a fundamental way”. Dayes is similarly effusive in his praise for Misch. “A musician like him, who’s at the top of his game, he doesn’t need to do this”, he raves. “He can just keep doing the same thing and why not? He’s killing it. The fact that he’s so humble, that he’s so curious about everything and open to collaboration, speaks a lot to him as an artist, because it’s not easy finding musicians who want to collaborate. Something always gets in the way, whether it’s ego or their team or whatever. But with Tom it felt like the intention was purely creative, and that’s what made it exciting”. In fact, Dayes says that the intentions of the record go even deeper than just music. “Both our parents who’d never met each other before, are now best friends as a result of this, they now see each other more than we do! I’d like to think, in some small way, that this album has a similar impact for people too – everything feels so divided these days, it would be nice for people to hear the record and hear two very different musicians coming together and realise it doesn’t have to be that way”.
The band around Sebastian Dürre aka Porky, Henning Besser aka La Perla as well as Philipp Grütering aka Kryptik Joe had started working on the new album during the pandemic and the general mood and atmosphere of that early pandemic phase has inscribed itself quite automatically into lyrics and music of the new songs. So Deichkind are back - at exactly the right time.
The first single release from the album, the ambiguous song "In Der Natur", combines cryptic yodeling art with abstract criticism of civilization and shows: Deichkind's social criticism works so well because it doesn't come from the bleachers and certainly not from the ivory tower. Deichkind always mean themselves, too, when they mock the impositions of the present - and in the process, as if in passing, dress up even the supposedly most unwieldy topics in potential hits that you want to sing along to right away.
Deichkind are getting better and better, more precise, more biting. So it's good that it's finally starting again. With the eighth Deichkind album and a tour in summer 2023.
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert follows Little Simz’s 2019 album, Grey Area. Simz produced the album with her regular collaborator Inflo, and it will feature guest appearances from Cleo Sol, Obongjayar, and even The Crown star Emma Corrin.
The latest mash up masterpiece from AMERIGO GAZAWAY unites the NOTORIOUS B.I.G. and the Godfather of Soul JAMES BROWN for 10 crucial cuts cleverly titled "B.I.G. POPPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG", "THE B.I.G. PAYBACK", "SEX MACHINE GUN FUNK", "TEN CRACK COMMANDMENTS" and more.
Good Stuff Carefully Composed in 14 stickers.
On the sheet:
• HHV Logo Sticker, square
• KEATS Logo Sticker, square
• Beat Jazz International Logo Sticker, square
• For the RECORD Logo Sticker, round
• PMC Lettering Sticker, round
• PMC Logo Sticker, round
• HHV Mag Logo Sticker, round
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One of the greatest albums in HipHop ever with one of the most iconic album covers of all time - right next to Nas' Illmatic and Wu-Tangs "Enter The Wu". How to describe this album with words that have not been used over and over again? Without superlatives? Not possible. It's simply one of the best albums ever, one that every rap fan can talk about with lyrics everyone can quote - or should be able to quote from. From the recording process to the label situation, the legal hustle provoked by the samples, it is not just one story, it's multiple stories surrounding this album.
In 2018 we find hip-hop’s storied journeyman, Masta Ace, at the helm of another sharp, tightly wrought project. He’s traversed hip-hop’s ever-changing landscape for nearly three decades, navigating different eras while expanding his already extensive catalogue. From his formative work with the legendary Juice Crew, to a bombastically renowned stint with Delicious Vinyl, it’s hard to find a more humble master of ceremony than Ace—even harder is finding another figure whose work is equally embraced on both coasts, East and West, as well as abroad.
Despite amassing 7 solo albums, 5 collaborative projects and countless additional one-offs, Ace is still trying to show and prove, still moving the needle forward for himself, his fans, and his career. Says Ace: “My goal on A Breukelen Story was to do more lyrical stuff. I’ve done a lot of concept songs, and a lot of topical records, but I made a point to put a couple straight rhyming joints on here to remind dudes I can still do this.”
“I met Masta Ace for the first time while interning at Cutting Room studios in Manhattan,” says Marco Polo, longtime Canadian producer whose exploration of samples and boom-bap aesthetics certainly suite his moniker. “Ace came in for a session in the studio years and I introduced myself and gave him a beat CD.” While Polo was a young intern on the rise, he quickly worked the situation to his advantage, eventually producing for giants he grew up admiring— Kool G Rap, Large Professor, Scarface, Sean Price, Black Thought, Talib Kweli, to name a few.
Polo is not new to forming quality collabs with others in the art form, with notable stints on the aforementioned Port Authority as well as it’s follow up, PA2, and others like 2016’s work with young MC, A-F-R-O, fittingly titled A-F-R-O Polo. Yet out of Polo’s previous collaborative efforts, this one stands out and is a bit more special, according to Polo: “Ace does not like to write random songs, its usually conceptual and topical,” he says. “But we do have some straight spitting joints on A Breukelen Story which is what makes this album possibly the most diverse of all of my collaborative albums.”
The random meeting and a beat CD resultantly birthed A Breukelen Story, a collaborative release between the venerable veteran and an incredibly detailed and prolific producer. 14 tracks with pronounced guests (Pharoahe Monch on “The Fight Song” for example) all strewn together through Ace’s signature skits and interludes that frame the music and while telling the story of Polo manifesting his vision of being an NY transplant via Toronto while pursuing his dream of being a renowned record producer. Other guests range from younger MCs like Marlon Craft to spry OGs like Lil Fame (of M.O.P.), to Smif ‘n’ Wessun, to Styles P (of the Lox) Polo’s pastiche style boom-bap is the drum-driven centerpiece that perfectly couches Masta Ace’s thoughtful stanzas and vivid storytelling for this effusive Brooklyn narrative. – David Ma
Columbia) despite leaning much more towards the burgeoning indie aesthetics of the day. But this was a good thing – using major label muscle to wake up righteous hip-hop fans who might have fallen asleep at the wheel.
The group itself – consisting of MCs stic.man and M-1, who produced or co-produced most of the duo’s music – was formed in Tallahassee, Florida in the
early 1990s (M-1 originally hailed from Brooklyn). By later that decade, the duo had started making significant waves, having their music heard on the soundtracks to “Soul In The Hole” and “Slam,” as well as appearing on albums by Big Pun and The Beatnuts.
By 1998, they released their first official single, the serious, stark “Police State,” on Loud, appropriately brought to the label by Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian.
After building a solid rep over the next two years with fiery live performances, in 2000 they unleashed their debut album, Let’s Get Free. The album was a welcome return to provocative and often radically political rhetoric that hearkened back to hip-hop forebears including The Coup, Public Enemy and KRS-One (as well as poetic descendants like the Last Poets and Watts Prophets).
Let’s Get Free was critically acclaimed and benefited from multiple singles, including the infectious, thick analog drive of “Hip-Hop” (which became the de facto theme song for “Chappelle’s Show”); “It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop,” with a remix co-produced by a young Kanye West; “Mind Sex” (with Abiodun Oyewole of the
Last Poets); and the poignant “I’m An African.”
But the singles weren’t the only worthy songs, as just about every cut here has deeper meaning than most full albums by their early 2000s peers. Highlights:
the thought-provoking, anti-drug album opener “Wolves”; “We Want Freedom” (co-produced by frequent collaborator Hedrush); “They Schools” and “Propaganda”
(co-produced by Lord Jamar, one of five songs he assisted on).
All in all, this is one of the more underrated and possibly Top 5 fully-realized political hip-hop albums of all time. If you don’t agree with the previous sentence, give Let’s Get Free another listen… you might be surprised at how well it has held up over the years."
With the release of Zelda & Chill in 2018, Mikel & GameChops broke new ground. The album was met with overwhelmingly positive reactions and paved the path for many more videogame music and lofi concept albums to come. Mikel released a follow-up, Zelda & Chill II, in 2020 — and it was once again met with rave reviews. Now, he returns in Zelda & Chill III: a fourteen-track album filled with classics and deep cuts from the Legend of Zelda series.
Mikel is a music producer and engineer based in Germany. His sound is characterized by organic grooves and instrumentation, and a minimalist lofi vibe. While the Zelda & Chill series stands as his most popular work, he is also the creator of Poke & Chill, and frequently collaborates with his brother, Jokabi (known for the Chilltendo series).
Zelda & Chill III includes tunes from the GameBoy hand-held Link’s Awakening, the Nintendo 64-era Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess for GameCube and Wii, and the 2010s’ A Link Between Worlds for 3DS and Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch. Composers heard on the album include Koji Kondo, Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Toru Minegishi.
Zelda & Chill III is pressed on heavyweight 180g collector's grade frosted-glass vinyl, with mastering by Nick Townsend.
Kool Kat - Reservoir Dogz is here! Get your Hennessy and your finest cigar 'cause the luxorius, grimey Renaissance continues.
Some of the most dangerous underground mcs have contributed to this compelling compilation. Major artists like NEMS, Griselda affiliates like Estee Nack, Lord Flee and Elcamino or wordsmiths like Tha God Fahim or ETO all kill each verse while the newcomer producer Kool Kat is able to combine their crafts perfectly.
In August of 2007, the Port Arthur duo of Bun B and Pimp C known as UGK released their epic fifth studio album, Underground Kingz. Sadly, this was the last release recorded by Pimp C before his untimely death in December of the same year. Production was overseen by legendary Rap-A-Lot producer N.O. Joe and Pimp C himself with contributions from Three 6 Mafia, Jazze Pha, Lil Jon, Scarface, Swizz Beatz, and Marly Marl among others. The second single "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) was nominated for a Grammy and won video of the year at BET's 2008 Music Awards. Features on this expansive offering include Outkast, Too $hort, Rick Ross, Dizzee Rascal, Talib Kweli, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, T.I. and more!
Bringing pure Hip-Hop in the classic MC/producer constellation, Ell & Jo invited illustrious guests like Upfront, BlabberMouf, SQB and Astro. Artwork design by Rob Worst.
Available on vinyl as well as digitally on all major platforms.
Hip Hop
Hip hop has long been more than simple scratches, looped breaks and MCs celebrating their DJs. Since Kool Herc’s block parties in the mid-1970s, the culture has grown and developed rapidly. Today, graffiti can be found on every corner. Breakdancing and b-boying have long since become a way of life for many. Hip hop music today is defined by an enormous variety. There is something for everyone. The Roots have been thrilling friends of virtuoso live bands for over 20 years. Old warhorses from the 1980s prove that there is no age limit for good rhymes. Exceptional artists like Pharoahe Monch or Homeboy Sandman connect generations thanks to intelligent content and clever wordplay. Many ambitious musicians also hold up the flag of German, French or British rap. There are no limits to the raps: from abstract lyricism to street prose to eloquent storytelling, everything is on offer. And more and more musical styles are influencing the world of hip hop today.
Hip Hop at HHV: the full range from A to Z
In order to do justice to Hip Hop with all its faces, we have put together a rich programme. This includes classics as well as novelties from young talents. Major productions are on the programme, but also underground releases produced in very small editions. US hip hop, German hip hop, UK hip hop and hip hop from France are represented. As well as spoken word from exotic countries. Of course, the range of our online shop also includes beats without rhymes. Exclusive releases and bundles give our offer that special spice. As long as it has to do with Hip Hop, Vinyl LPs, CDs or Tapes are always welcome. No matter if it’s an album, an EP or singles.