Hip-Hop News

This month we have three beautifully pressed mostly unreleased Ike Noble 45s with o.g style silver Ink overprinted labels, they look just

On side A we have the only previously released (but very rare) track on these three 45s. A brilliant, mid-tempo soul chugger that falls between Syl Johnson and James Brown, undeniable, how this did not blow up at the time is beyond comprehension.

On the flip, it is Deep Soul time again with a version of 'Best of Luck to You', also recorded by Sam baker and Earl Gaines, but easily toping both.

Singer, songwriter and producer Johnny Burgos returns with veteran producer Jeremy Page (Kendra Morris, Czarface, MF Doom) for "Hit Me Like," the
instrumental is dripping with retro soul nostalgia, serving up the drums and bass-forward and funky, under
a blanket of buttery guitar chords. The production carries Burgos' silky smooth and heartfelt delivery
effortlessly, offering a brilliant take on a timeless-sounding, soul-inspired love song.

Singer, songwriter, and producer Johnny Burgos returns with

veteran soul producer, Jeremy Page, (Kendra Morris, Czarface, MF Doom, That Handsome

Devil) for "Get Back." The fourth single off of the duo's upcoming album titled, 'All I Ever Wonder,' is a vulnerable retrospective of a love gone cold, with hopes of rekindling the

magic that once kept its flame alive. In true Neo Soul form, the song is driven heavily by the

drum and bass groove, distinctly reminiscent of an early 2000's J Dilla beat. Page's signature

colorful chords evoke the struggle in Burgos' story, as he confronts his inability to accept the fate

of his relationship and let go of the magic it once embodied.

Johnny Burgos is a Brooklyn - born singer, songwriter, producer & engineer. His brand of retro-soul embodies a

raw uncompromising sound revealing beauty from pain, hope from despair, and the will to keep fighting.

Influenced by his uncle and world-class percussionist, Andre Martinez, growing up Johnny developed a

fascination with the percussive rhythms of salsa and soul music, eventually manifesting into a devoted passion

for hip-hop production using an Akai MPC. With influences from Michael Jackson, OutKast, J Dilla, Lauryn Hill

and D'Angelo, Johnny's music draws upon the core principles of R&B, while encompassing elements of

hip-hop, funk, pop, salsa, and reggae. Collaborations include artists such as DJ Skizz, Mobb Deep & M.O.P.,

Marco Polo, Frans Mernick, and Liza Colby (The Gold Setting) and his band Bridge City Hustle, with whom he

toured nationally.

As a solo artist Johnny debuted with back-to-back brand endorsements from French's Mustard and Samsung

US, using them as a platform to launch his 2018 EP Love Through it All. In March 2021 his debut album Gone

Into The Grey received critical acclaim and has since been added to multiple editorial playlists by Spotify, Apple

Music and Tidal, resulting in an ever-growing listening fan base. In 2022, Burgos' song "Wild About You" was

then used as the soundtrack for Neiman Marcus' It's Your Moment global streaming campaign.

As one of the most recorded session singers in the music industry LYNN DAVIS is finally stepping back into the spotlight after four decades of singing background for icons like George Duke, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder.

BEAUTIFUL YOU was one of the outstanding soul tracks from last year and CAN I COME OVER a highlight from the year before. Now paired together on a 7” single - the release is made extra special with a beautiful portrait of Lynn, painted by the uber talented Arjan van Gent and on the back cover is Lynn’s musical biography, documented in full!

Reissue des superseltenen Modern Soul-Dancers der New Yorker Formation Premonition (bzw. Premonitions), dessen Original-Release rückwirkend nicht mehr datiert werden kann. Die A-Seite "Here In The Name Of Love" ist ein exzellentes Proto-Disco-Stück, während man "Righteous Love" auf der Flip als Sweet Soul, leicht kitschig, aber mit grossartigen Momenten beschreiben kann. Weltweit limitiert auf 500 Stück.

Remastered reissue of this italo electro classic!

Produced by Henry Jenkins (Surprised Chef), cinematic funk combo The Diasonics are back with a limited edition 45 feat. an explosive version of soul stormer "Beggin'. Limited to 500 copies worldwide.

Produced and mixed by Henry Jenkins (Surprised Chef), Russian cinematic funk combo The Diasonics unleash a limited edition 45 featuring an explosive version of soul classic "Beggin'. Composed by Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina and initially brought to success by the Four Seasons of Frankie Valli in 1967, "Beggin" became a classic of the Northern soul scene in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. With a tight rhythm section, a super funky bassline and heavy wah-wah guitars The Diasonics version is an instant floorfiller. On the flip side the brand new track "Take One", an irresistible hammond-funk mover, full of heavy breaks and eastern spices.

Active since 2019 The Diasonics are five young and seriously talented Muscovite musicians: Anton Moskvin (drums), Maxim Brusov (bass guitar), Anton Katyrin (percussions), Daniil Lutsenko (electric guitar) and Kamil Gzizov (keyboards). In just a few years the band has amassed a cult following, releasing collectable and in-demand 45s on labels such as Funk Night Records and Mocambo Records. In 2021 they released their debut album "Origin of Forms" on Record Kicks produced by Henry Jenkins, producer amongst the others of the Australian cult instrumental band Surprise Chef. Thanks to the Diasonics's unique style that blends infectious Funk Instrumentals, East European flavours, abstract hip-hop and psychedelia, the album rapidly went sold out on vinyl and it's heavily praised on the international cinematic-funk scene.

Hey Joyce (BlackCash & Theo Edit) by Lou Courtney b/w Soupy (BlackCash & Theo Edit) by Maggie Thrett | Galaxy Sound Co. — GSC45-36 If you know, you know. & I know many of you have been digging for the very rare donut “Hey Joyce” by Lou Courtney. Even if you first heard it back in the day via #CutChemist & #DJShadow, this gem has long been popular amongst #raregroove dancers & dusty-fingered hip-hop DJs/beat-makers. “Hey Joyce” is a rare 1967 single from soul man Lou Courtney. Featuring a rasping, impassioned lead vocal from Courtney, sweet female backing vocals & the kind of semi-stomping beat that's so beloved by Northern Soul heads. In 1991, Main Source sampled it on their track “He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)”. & thanks to the fine folks at @galaxy_sound_company you can cop it all for yourself.

On the flip, we have another lost funk jam, “Soupy” by Maggie Thrett, that has been sampled by #PrincePaul & #DeLaSoul for 1989’s “Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)”. Black Cash & Theo do the track right with a proper edit that'll put smiles on faces all across the dance floor. Like the A-side, “Soupy” is also a fave of Cut Chemist & DJ Shadow, as evidenced by their live sets & sample of it for their 2008 track “Fused Of Course”.
As with all GSC45s, another true must-have treat & 45-crate essential.

$1 Bin Breaks: Sakura (Edit) by Odetta / On The Hill (Edit) by Oliver Sain / Enchanted Lady (Edit) by Milt Jackson With The Ray Brown Big Band b/w Survival (Edit) by Annette Peacock / Sunrise (Edit) by The Originals / A Few More Kisses To Go (Edit) by Issac Hayes / Go On & Cry (Edit) by Les McCann | Galaxy Sound Company — GSC45-041 | Very special hot-off-the-test-presses donut via the always on-point @galaxy_sound_company crew. This will be number 41 in their cop-on-site 45 series, set to be released in 2024. This time out we are treated to 7 “$1 Bin Breaks” &, as with many in the GSC45 series, these are the sources of some of your fav hip-hop jams.

Side A:
1) “Sakura” by Odetta; Sampled in “Tried By 12” by The East Flatbush Posse

2) “On The Hill” by Oliver Sain; Sampled in “Tell Me” by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, “Day One” by D.I.T.C., “Young G’s” by Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z & Kelly Price

3) “Enchanted Lady” by Milt Jackson With The Ray Brown Big Band;
Sampled in “Dinnit” by De La Soul, “Escape” & “Carmel City” by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, & “Ijuswannachill“ by Large Professor

Side B:
1) “Survival” by Annette Peacock; Sampled in “Braggin' Writes” by J-Live, “Rules We Live By” by Lord Finesse, “Scientists of Sound” by Brand Nubian, “Kunta Fly Shit “by Ghostface Killah, “Video Game” by J Dilla

2) “Sunrise” by The Originals; Sampled in “Accepte Mon Concept” by 2 Bal 2 Neg' & “Guess Who’s Back” by Scarface, Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel

3) “A Few More Kisses To Go” by Issac Hayes; Sampled in “Tonight's Da Night” by Redman, “Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)” by Snoop Dogg, “Rough Life” by Shabba Ranks, “Is There a Heaven 4 a Gangsta?” by Master P, “B-Cuz I Got a Girl” by Nate Dogg, “The Life” by Alicia Keys

4) “Go On & Cry” by Les McCann; Sampled in “Tha Next Episode” by Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre, “Runnin' Wit No Breaks" by Warren G, “No Pain” by Lords of the Underground

Mr. Thelonious Edits
File under: HIp Hop breaks , Jazz Funk, Funk, Samples breaks

„Worldwide Underground“ ist das dritte Studio-Album der amerikanischen Sängerin Erykah Badu und wurde erstmals am 16. September 2003 von Motown Records veröffentlicht. Das Album enthält HipHop- und Funk-Elemente und zeichnet sich durch eine unkonventionelle musikalische Struktur und ein minimalistisches Songwriting aus, dass sich mit der Hip-Hop-Kultur, der Liebe, dem Leben im Ghetto und der Gang-Kultur befasst. Auf dem Album treten die Rapper Dead Prez und Common sowie die Sängerinnen Queen Latifah, Bahamadia und Angie Stone auf.

Am 25. Februar erscheint „Worldwide Underground“ als Deep Purple Coloured 1LP.

This is the second 12" EP featuring reinterpretations of tracks taken from the brilliant Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella's jazz dance album "People Need People" released in 2021. The song "Inner Light" gets here a further interpretation by the great Anthony Nicholson, one of the most respected producers and key characters in the tribal / afrocentric house scene, while DJ Spinna has put his artistry on "New World Shuffle" for an uplifting result: Bridgette Amofah's original vocals shine over a sunny house groove full of keys and moog lushy layers, in a distinctive 'Spinna feel'. Coming next: new versions of "People Need People" songs made by Tall Black Guy, Andrés and Fred P.! Stay tuned!!!

Back In Stock

... and many more Tracks: > Dance, Dance, Dance > Bumper To Bumper > Shake It > Let's Turn It Out > Voyage Of No Return > Showdown > Mama Won't Papa Don't > Into The Milky Way > Tale Of Three Cities

Promised Heights solidified Cymande’s place in music history, and contains some of their most-beloved and often-sampled tracks such as “Brothers On The Slide”.

As children of the Windrush Generation, Cymande were part of the first wave of innovators and originators of the fledgling Black British music scene. Taking influences from their Guyanese and Jamaican roots, the band fused reggae bass lines, Afro-tinged Nyabinghi percussion, psychedelic rock touches, and American style funk instrumentation into a unique sound they dubbed as “Nyah-rock.”

14 tracks, all great examples of real soul music, a mix of well-known classics, overlooked gems, and 4 original unreleased songs.

As the title implies, it's the fourth installment in the series of the same name, which kicked off in 2016 and has since comprised the bulk of Parrish's output. This one includes the full mix of "Leave The Funk To Us," a track that initially appeared on Gentrified Love Part 2. The full version features contributions from Amp Fiddler, John Douglas and Ideeyah.

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Manchester jazz-funkers, Secret Night Gang return with their sophomore album “Belongs on a Place Called Earth”, due for release on Digital, CD & 12” vinyl formats on 23rd June 2023 via Brownswood Recordings. “Belongs on a Place Called Earth” is a record birthed from the emotional rollercoaster the world collectively faced over the past few years, as a result of the pandemic. A time which cultivated self-reflection and profound life questions leading to an evolution for the Manchester natives. This new record is undeniably a fresh & bold new sound, with the leading purpose of permeating hope & light through their music. In continued strength to strength, Secret Night Gang are carving their own lane across the British jazz & street soul scene and this upcoming album, is set to take them to new heights.

Force of Nature is the debut studio album by legendary R&B singer, Tank. Originally released in 2001 by Blackground Records, Force of Nature debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200. With hits such as "Maybe I Deserve," and "Slowly," the album features production from several notable Blackground regulars, including Bud'da, J. Dub, and Eric Seats. At just over an hour long, Tank makes his mark as one of the heavyweight R&B singers of the next decade to come.

One Man is the second studio album by acclaimed R&B singer, Tank. Originally released in 2002 by Blackground Records, the album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200. Though primarily featuring production from Tank himself, the album also sees work from acclaimed producers such as Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Bud'da. At just over 70 minutes, the album is filled with tender, sexed-up ballads, followed by up-tempo jams.

The third studio album by acclaimed R&B singer Tank, Sex, Love & Pain offers fans even more smooth, deep, seductive grooves. Originally released in 2007 by Blackground Records, the album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best R&B Album. At just under one hour, the album features production from TImbaland, The Underdogs, St. Nick, and Tank himself. Hit singles include "Please Don't Go," and "Heartbreaker."

Eine raue und schroffe Sammlung von alten Klassikern, die Schwärme von Killer-Beats inspiriert haben. Mit einem Kopfnicken zu den Klängen der Shaolin haben die zwölf Kammern von Shanghai'd Soul sowohl lyrische Meister als auch Produktionsgenies beeinflusst, einige ihrer bedrohlichsten Hip-Hop-Songs zu komponieren. Roher Funk und smoother Soul, später gesampelt von J. Cole, The Game, Cappadonna, The Avalanches, Kanye West, Hudson Mohawke, Anderson.Paak, Loyle Corner, Meek Mill, T.I., Quavo, Danny Brown und 100 anderen.

Japanese club jazz band "AVOCADO BOYS" . This single is based on AOR sound by beat maker MASAHIRO KITAGAWA of Kaho Nakamura band.

Afro-Cuban star Daymé Arocena has announced her new album 'Al-Kemi' which will be released on February 23 via Brownswood Recordings. It is her first album since 'Sonocardiogram' in 2019.



Dayme's new single "American Boy" accompanies her album announcement. No other song on the album embodies Arocena’s artistic liberation like “American Boy” - an exhilarating, futuristic slice of progressive pop. “I wrote it ten years ago, but thought it was too much of a pop song,” Dayme reflects. “In an indirect way, the music industry had shown me that I wasn’t welcome in that world. There isn’t a Black woman like me who enjoys the kind of success usually reserved for Rosalía or KAROL G. The image of music genres like salsa or bachata has been painfully distorted throughout the years. You are supposed to clone and fuse yourself in order to conceal your Black or indigenous side. They told me I didn’t fit in that world, but I’m going to prove them wrong.”



When Daymé decided to switch gears and record her fourth studio album in Puerto Rico with the iconic producer Eduardo Cabra (Calle 13), she never imagined that she would end up moving there.



“From the moment I stepped foot on the island, I realized that I never wanted to leave,” says the 31 year-old Cuban singer/songwriter with a hearty laugh. “At the time, I had spent three years away from Cuba, living in Canada with my husband. I called and asked him to come over to Puerto Rico, and to please bring all my stuff. It wasn’t a conscious decision on my part. It was simply love at first sight.”



Relying on instinct and intuition is how Daymé has managed her career since she burst on the international scene with 'Nueva Era,' her prodigious debut album, in 2015. Now, she has fully reinvented her sound with 'Al-Kemi,' a revolutionary – and transformative – fusion of neo soul singing, Afro-Caribbean beats and slick new millennium pop.



The album is titled 'Al-Kemi' with the Yoruba word for alchemy. "It means the cosmovision of transformation," she explains. "It is mixing all the elements to achieve an unbeatable result, full of shine and light, like gold springing from the skin."



From the cosmopolitan smoothness of lead single “Suave y Pegao” – an effortless fusion of jazz, bossa nova and urbano stylings with reggaeton star Rafa Pabön on guest vocals – to the smoldering neo-soul of “A Fuego Lento,” with Dominican singer Vicente García, Daymé’s latest album relies on sacred formats of the past but rearranges them in a conscious quest to redraw the very definition of what Latin pop is supposed to sound like.



“It was definitely a team effort,” she reflects from her new home in San Juan. “Flexibility may well be my biggest virtue. I’m always open to every possible suggestion when it comes to making things better. My piano player, Jorge Luis "Yoyi" Lagarza, and I worked on the demos with the rest of my band. Then with Eduardo Cabra’s direction, we enlisted musicians from all over the Caribbean – Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic. Everybody added their energy and coloring.”



It was Daymé’s piano player who originally suggested she contact Eduardo Cabra known for combining commercial aptitude with a refined sense of craftsmanship. Not only did Cabra accept the singer’s offer, but he also invited her to stay at his home during the four months when they recorded 'Al-Kemi' in his Puerto Rico studio.



“I had no idea that he was familiar with my music,” she enthuses. “Eduardo has been in the industry for a long time, and he comes from a world that is more global and commercial than mine. He was the ideal candidate for this project, but I initially didn’t know if he would understand the social, psychological and personal complexities of the message that I wanted to express.”



“Daymé is one of the most talented musicians that I’ve ever worked with,” says Cabra. “Working together was a joy, because she knew exactly the kind of fusion that she was going for: a cross between her Afro-Cuban roots – which clearly are strong on this album – with the more contemporary vein of analogue synths, samples and a bit of electronica. We wanted both worlds to communicate, to be both respectful and disrespectful to the ancestral colors. I feel comfortable with both, and even Calle 13 walked the two paths. This is also the album where Daymé opened up to the Caribbean at large. Her understanding of harmony and her performance skills are out of this world.”



Born in Havana in 1992, Daymé grew up immersed in Afro-Cuban folk, but also listening to cassette tapes of Sade Adu, her father’s favorite singer. She was identified as a prodigious



talent at only 8 years old and soon started studying music. After studying at the prestigious Amadeo Roldán conservatory, she became co-founder and band member of the Cuban-Canadian jazz collective Maqueque in 2017. With the collective, she launched several international tours and earned a GRAMMY nomination.



“In Cuba, the emphasis on technique is exacerbated,” Daymé explains. "At the same time, opportunities are scarce on the island. A career in music provides a potential for escape, which is why the competitiveness is off the charts.”

Flevans, vielseitiger Produzent und Multiinstrumentalist aus dem südenglischen Brighton, ist bekannt dafür, sich nie auf einen bestimmten Sound festzulegen. Auf seiner neuen LP "Stand Tall" beweist er einmal wieder sein Gespür für den perfekten Hook, während er Genres wie Disco, Soul und Electronica durchquert und abschliessend auf Drum & Bass hinweist.

UK soul-jazz unit Paprika Soul, formed by Andrew Spiller and Alan Barnes, has been active since the 1990s.

For the first time, their cover work in 2019 is being released on vinyl. Smooth & balearic arranged of Kool and the Gang classic.

After 14 years Zambon is closing down the beloved Sampler Series with Vol.10. 7 tracks. 7 new producers. All killers no fillers.

‘Nordic Soul’ singer, producer, composer and DJ Astrid Engberg feels the light on new album, Tulpa. Overcoming a life-changing brain trauma through sonic explorations of contemporary electronic-organic jazz layered with strings, horns and percussive minimalism. Interplaying between contemporary soul, classical, electronic music, jazz improvisation and her hiphop roots, Astrid sketches sonic landscapes that are both steeped in her Scandinavian roots and infused with the kaleidoscopic hues of her many travels.

Numero's second bundle of cover 45s is all things soulful. The Rotterdam-based Another Taste electrifies Maxx Traxx's 1984 Chicago boogie grail "Don't Touch It," which makes its debut on the 7" format here. Colemine Records' Say She She delivers a glamorous rendition of Jim Spencer's yacht-disco hit "Wrap Myself Up In Your Love." Columbia Recording artist Leon Bridges effortlessly transforms Pastor T.L. Barrett's "Like A Ship," updating the 50 year old gospel soul classic for the 21st century. All three are housed in a newly imagined Numero custom sleeve, reflecting the many shades of our ongoing Eccentric Soul 45 imprint.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the reissue of Norio Maeda's cult classic "Rock Communication Yagibushi" released in Japan in 1970. The album has since become a Japanese Jazz Funk cornerstone and is now highly sought-after on the international DJ scene. The album reinterprets 14 traditional Japanese folk songs into jaw-dropping Jazz Funk instrumentals featuring killer arrangements by Maeda that would fit perfectly between David Axelrod and Lalo Schifrin. One of the most prolific Nippon arrangers, Norio Maeda on a par with Yuji Ohno and Kentaro Haneda and this album has long been on many collectors' wantlist. "Rock Communication Yagibushi" is reissued internationally for the first time, with newly remastered audio, original gatefold artwork and new liner notes by Paul Bowler