Hip-Hop News

- Latest offering from J. Rawls, the super producer who has worked with the likes of the Beastie Boys, Yasiin Bey ( formerly known as Mos Def ) & Talib Kweli, modern Soul stars, Aloe Blacc and Eric Roberson, as well as founding and producing the coveted Hip-Hop / Jazz outfit, The Liquid Crystal Project.

These are a few amongst the many collaborations J. Rawls has done over the last two, plus, decades in music!

- This 7" is the followup release to his 2022 #JazzHop LP, which is sold out.

- This is the first dancefloor record from Rawls, mirroring where his soul is now and reflected in his personal DJ style

-"I Believe" features big drums and synth bass that lead the way, a chilling organ, a funky tambourine and vocals that are chopped and embedded into the track, with precision.

-#Brazil, the stand out track on #JazzHop, is an instrumental sonic tribute to the beautiful country that has brought Rawls so much musical inspiration. On this one, horns soar and the percussion drives. Beautiful woodwinds and Jazz harmonies envelope the rhythm section, creating a higher vibe!

-Plug up the sub-woofer and let this limited 7" bump!

Knucks takes the Hip Hop world by storm as he gears for the release of his highly anticipated new project "Alpha Place"'.Following the release of his unorthodox visuals, Knucks delivers heartfelt messages through addictive rap compositions

A dynamic new face to the genre, "Alpha Place" focuses on the feelings and thoughts that the artist and producer has been experiencing growing up in London, channeled through the stirring essence of music. Highlighting important narratives and revitalising the Hip Hop genre, with a composition which is both soulful, moving, and memorable, the rising new artist is changing the rules of the
game.Knucks is taking his artistry to new heights in Alpha Place, with soulful samples and distinctive production styles paired with some of the UK's biggest names in the rap game. The project is more than just an ode to the neighbourhood Knucks grew up in Alpha House but a representation of life and culture on all sides of the capital. Giving a voice to many experiences shared by young people growing up. Knucks makes his mark on the industry with this new body of work pushing boundaries and channelling his authentic flow and flair.

From selling out headline shows and opening for the likes of Wretch 32, Knuck's approach and unorthodox style has garnered over 150 million streams across all platforms independently as well as earning critical acclaim from outlets such as GQ Style, Wonderland, Notion and many more. Boasting a range of noteworthy features including contributing show-stealing verses on collaborations like "Beg To Differ" with Emil, "Ting Tun Up, Pt. II '' with Montreal's Skiifall.

Repressed! There are few musicians – let alone beat–makers - in the world whose output in its raw form provides his listener with a full on musical experience before anything is added. Madlib is such a talent. Hip hop is his canvas, but he creates the most wondrous things with it. Before a microphone is switched on, before a rhyme even uttered, a Madlib beat stands alone as a complete thing.

Since the issue of the collaborative album with rapper Freddie Gibbs - Piñata, already being hailed as contender for rap album of the year - we’ve been asked countless times to issue the beats Madlib created for the project as instrumentals. And we've conceded. Piñata put Gibbs in the spotlight, one that a growing audience is finally acknowledging that he deserves. On Piñata Beats, though, it’s Madlib, quietly spinning on the center stage. Through seventeen cuts of arcane film snippets, dusted funk and soul, psych and prog rock musical diversions, Madlib proves to live up to what Gibbs once said of him: “Madlib quite simply, is music.”

The 16-track album opens with “War & Wonders'' as Smoke begins his journey foreshadowing an upcoming battle featuring impassioned flows and rhymes describing the violent challenges of urban living. The track opens with a storyline of Smoke getting knocked down from his ongoing battles and a woman calling his name to wake up. The narrative then progresses with latest singles “Shame On You” and “Common Sense” featuring SiR commenting on humanity’s unique simplicity and embracing our differences. At the core of the album, “Stay True” featuring John Legend accentuates the meaning of living your best life by staying true to your authentic self regardless of what life throws your way and the hardships you may face. Then “Good Thing” featuring Ty Dolla $ign offers an upbeat, positive track bringing light to companionship and finding joy in life through many avenues. Smoke wraps the project with rhythmic, jazz infused “Free Write” reflecting on the crusade of each track leading to the end of his battles, and bringing awareness to the grieving of his city from politics to systemic racism and his influence on making the situation better for future generations. War & Wonders spotlights poignant themes, necessary social commentary, and the hurdles we overcome in order to appreciate what we have in this life. For Smoke, he showcases Inglewood’s war on losing love, being in love, and battling himself as he is always being led in different directions. It is a continuous journey of learning, growing, self-discovery, and reinventing a better version of himself.

Blue Vinyl

After the hot first single with Sadat X (Brand Nubian) & El Da Sensei (Artifacts), Moar present the full LP Boom Bap Mentality featuring the legendary Dumi Right (Zimbabwe Legit), the underground Finsta (Finsta Bundy), the explosive duet Dirt Platoon, le real Mc Napoleon da Legend, Rita J from Chicago, LS Brigandes from NYC & the newbie & homie Miss Kraze from Nantes (France). All beats produced by Moar on the MPC’s & SP1200 with many taste of Jazz, Soul & Sera Groove vinyl samples ! Cuts by Moar himself & Dj Impact (Switzerland)

Sherrie B's super rare Nah Tek It gets the remix treatment from Interplanetary Criminal - flexing acid tinged basslines & 2-step FWD drums.

We have two versions (two different covers) - black vinyl or multicolor, limited, hand nubered (111 copies) vinyl.

Two years after the well-received compilation "Nebula," Himalaya Collective (probably the largest team of beatmakers in Poland) returns with another release. This time the Himalayan section of 24 producers (and some exceptional guests from outside the collective) will take us on a journey into the skies. On "Latawce" (which means "Kites" in English), we will hear 24 tracks with one goal in mind - to allow a maximum two-minute flight. The premiere (not accidentally) will take place on the 1st day of summer.

The sound of each Kite has been colored thanks to the excellent mastering done by Eprom. The album's vinyl version was made in two options and with two different covers. @Eloprzemi is responsible for the design of the classic version, and the cover of the limited surprise vinyl was designed by Gbur. The limited edition is hand-numbered (111 copies), and the surprise is worth emphasizing the different colors of each vinyl! Crazy Action! Great album! The perfect soundtrack for the summer holidays 2022!

First album from Cologne based Jazz / Hip-Hop band for Melting Pot
Music home to artists such as FloFilz, Twit One, Summers Sons,
Pachakuti & young.vishnu, etc.

Bokoya is a four-piece jazz/hip-hop band from Cologne who plays
improvised beat music. Like a four-headed human drum machine, Bokoya improvise, shape, and develop beats in the electric field of repetition and variation. It's impossible to put a tag on Bokoya's music.

BADBADNOTGOOD, Dilla, Krautrock, Ambient and dub might work as
rough reference points for the music but don't do it justice. After a sling of releases on Wadada Records, Bokoya are now signed to Melting Pot Music where they will release their forthcoming projects.

When Rey Sapienz was eight years old, the Democratic Republic of Congo was plunged into the Second Congo War. The conflict last five years and was the bloodiest since World War II, leaving an indelible mark on East Africa and creating mass displacement and loss of life. But Sapienz endured, cutting his teeth as a young rapper at twelve, first performing to celebrate Congo's independence day. When he finished school, he headed to nearby Kampala to hone his craft and collaborate with local producers. But civil war broke out back home and he was forced to extend his stay in Uganda. Since then, Sapienz has established himself as a force to be reckoned with, co-founding the Hakuna Kulala label, teaching his Ableton Live skills to Kampala's young producers and releasing two acclaimed EPs. For his debut album, Sapienz embarks on an ambitious project that travels beyond the avant beatscapes of his early material. Alongside traditional percussionist, vocalist and dancer Papalas Palata and rapper Fresh Doggis, he has formed The Congo Techno Ensemble, utilizing their skills and experience to offer a statement that speaks to the past, present and future of the DRC. On "Eza Makambo", the trio channel rich musical traditions and historic tension, evolving electronic and traditional forms into boundless sci-fi mutations. The track breaks open the stories all three artists accumulated in the DRC, augmenting radioactive techno-dancehall beats with radical, open-hearted words and rhymes. "Eza Makambo" is a heady cocktail of stylistic futurism and harsh reality that could be compared with Zizou Bikaye's seminal "Noir et Blanc or Danis Mpunga & Paul K.'s genre-breaking electronic experiments. But marked by the DRC's recent scars, it's a critical work that stands painfully alone.

The Bay Area legend – Rapper, entrepreneur and Cookies Don, Berner, is back with his 19th solo studio album, Gotti. Paying homage to the infamous mob leader, John Gotti, Berner flexes his mafia favors and assembles one of his most impressive cast of features on the 19-track album, including Future, Cozmo, Rick Ross, Nas, Jadakiss, Kevin Cossom, Rod Wave, Mozzy, Conway The Machine, Styles P, Benny The Butcher, Ty Dolla $ign, Ryn Nicole, Millyz, Wiz Khalifa, Janelle Marie & Madeline Lauer, as well as never-before-heard audio from from the mob leader’s trial. After a banner year with both highs and lows, Berner ends the year on a high note with some of his finest work.

A1 - 45 rpm - “Magia Negra”
Mixing elements of afro-brazilian percussion and universal funk, Magia Negra is a homage to James Brown
and how his "black magic" influenced every danceable music in the world.

B1 - 45 rpm - “Cartoon Adults”
There is something about the adults speaking on the Peanuts cartoon always has made us think that we don't
really need word to understand certain messages especially if it's funky

Dj Elohim - Is a Brazilian Drummer/percussionist, DJ and an enthusiast of blending samples into the MIDI keyboard and recycling it into funking else.

Electronic jazz pioneer, pianist, producer, re-mixer Mark de Clive-Lowe has an envious reputation as a cross genre creative artist who blends acoustic, electronic and world music exploring themes of belonging and identity. Equal parts jazz, house, hip hop and broken beat artist, Jazziz summed him upperfectly - "way before jazz hybridity became a worldwide phenomenon, de Clive-Lowe was busy designing its blueprint." Freedom is a live concert recording made at the Blue Whale, Los Angeles -where Mark put together a Los Angeles based collective made up by very accomplished and suitably talented Teodross Avery - saxophone, Corbin Jones - bass, souzaphone drummer Tommaso Cappellato Carlos Nino -percussion and the highly renowned spiritual jazz vocalist Dwight Trible.

Das ursprünglich am 11. Februar weltweit erschienene fünfte Album des LA-Trios Moonchild, Starfruit, wird nun auf einer superlimitierten farbigen Marble-LP veröffentlicht. "Starfruit" ist das fünfte Album des LA-Trios Moonchild (Amber Navran, Andris Mattson und Max Bryk). Es ist das Ergebnis von zehn Jahren gemeinsamer Arbeit und Entwicklung und zeigt den Respekt, das musikalische Verständnis und die Liebe des Trios, sowohl füreinander als auch für die bemerkenswerte Liste der auf dem Album vertretenen Mitstreiter wie Lalah Hathaway, Alex Isley, Tank and The Bangas, Rapsody, Ill Camille, Mumu Fresh, Chantae Cann und Josh Johnson.
Alongside the LP’s extensive list of featured artists, the release sees Moonchild experimenting with new synths and sounds. While still rooted in their trademark tones, these textures and sound palettes elevate ‘Starfruit’ to new and impressive Moonchild musical territory. “Max has this arpeggiator synth patch that makes me so happy every time I hear it, Amber incorporated this super cool octave pedal patch on her vocals and I made a keyboard patch I’m obsessed with,” Andris remarks.

“The magnificent Moonchild” – GILLES PETERSON |“Love” – JILL SCOTT | “Delicious” – LAURA MVULA | “I love the way their records sound” – JAMIE CULLUM | “They make really silky warm music… Perfect” – CLARA AMFO (BBC RADIO 1) | “I’m obsessed with them” – SIAN ELERI (BBC RADIO 1) | “Moonchild continues to hypnotize” – THE FADER | “Isn't this the most gorgeous piece of music you've heard?” – PHIL TAGGART (BBC RADIO 1) | “This is stunning” – JAMZ SUPERNOVA (BBC 1XTRA) | “Big fan of Moonchild” – ANTHONY VALADEZ (KCRW) | “Voyager” – NPR’s 5 R&B Albums You Slept On (2017) | “This heavenly… more than worth the wait.” – SAINT HERONONCHILD…

AKRIBIE: Eine Vier-Track starke Rückmeldung von RAG´s very own APHROE. Der Ex - Ruhrpott AG Rapper und 50% Raid aus den frühen 90ern, ist schon längere Zeit Wahlkölner und scheint nun mit seiner ersten EP seit über 8 Jahren zu einer gewissen Leichtigkeit, trotz aller vorhandenen Komplexität, gefunden zu haben.

Das Ergebnis ist ein Tonträger im Bestseller Design. Das klassische Layout von Henrik Büren, ist in Anlehnung an den, mit internationalem Literaturpreis ausgezeichneten 90er Jahre us Roman "JAZZ" von Toni Morisson entstanden, und bringt den, von MARTIN STIEBER produzierten Classic Titeltrack, AKRIBIE, sowie die übrigen drei, mit viel AKRIBIE und Liebe zum Detail produzierten Banger von HADE und APHROE´s unverkennbar flammende Raps, mit einer simplen grafischen Aussage auf den Punkt. APHROE kann Jazz, Soul, Funk und Boogie und besonders gut kann er RAP. Eine EP mit einem hohen Maß an Musikalität und Traditionsbewusstsein zu Sample-basierten Beats ohne abgedroschen oder althergebracht zu klingen. Fresh und frei von Druck und mit viel Liebe zum Detail von HADE, Mr.MAR STIEBER und APHROE macht definitiv Lust auf mehr, als diese geballte Viertelstunde Laufzeit. On Repeat!

Regulate recordings are back and in full effect with the third 7" vinyl release, a selection of up-tempo b-boy party bangers!

This release sees Regulates scratch master DJ Deviant take control of production duties with his debut release, offering party anthems for the breakers, party shakers and DJ party makers.

Side A :Turn The Party Out is a classic-sounding cut n paste breaks track that includes heavy horns and funky guitars and hip hop samples that is sure to get heads nodding and fill the peak-time dance floor.

Side B: Rock N Drop has more of an underground moodier big beat feel that it has all of the elements that appeal to a late-night dance floor or those getting home from the party, but who still need the beats tight for the after-party at home!

Bay Area hip-hop luminary Lyrics Born unites with the high-energy funk band, Con Brio for a dynamic 7” packed to the gills with two standout singles taken from LB’s recently released full length LP, Mobile Homies Season 1.

Side A boasts the cathartic yet lively single, “Mistakes” first recorded at Con Brio’s West Oakland rehearsal space. “In the studio, I felt like I understood them instantly, and it was effortless,” LB says about the exhilarating group. When asked about the inspiration behind the track, LB adds, “Love and loss ain’t always easy but we live and learn. Everybody makes mistakes. This collab however, is def not one,” he concludes.

This same studio session proved to be invaluable, as this spirited alliance also recorded the flip side, “Sundown,” an intoxicating dance party-starter coupled with psychotropic electric guitar work and powerful lyrics. Led by vocalist Ziek McCarter, the talented songwriter explains to the San Francisco Examiner in a recent interview, ”I really studied his wordplay and how he’s able to paint a picture with words,” when speaking of Born.

Chicago-meets-Philly when Vic Spencer and Small Professor connect on Mudslide, the incredible new album from this pairing of raw talents. Coalmine Records is proud to share this project with the world, and it marks Small Pro’s third collaborative release on the label after he previously linked with Guilty Simpson and the late Sean Price.

For the producer, it was an exciting new opportunity to team up with an emcee who’s gruff-voiced, hilarious, and can out-rap anyone on the planet. “Plus, my past Coalmine projects have their own neo/prog-boom-bap vibe, and ‘Mudslide’ continues that particular sonic blueprint,” Small Pro said.

And for fans of that sound, you’re not going to find a better example of that sound than this album. It’s just as experimental as it is steeped in the traditions of rap thanks to Vic’s boundary-pushing rhymes and Small Pro’s immensely satisfying instrumentals.

Tracks like “Lil Jon’s Weed Stash,” “Ew McNasty’s Revenge,” and “Selfcare Welfare” marry psychedelic vibes with grounded and clever lyricism. Another immediate standout is the lead focus track “Pitfall Music,” which features a mean-mugging guest verse from Flee Lord with cuts supplied by acclaimed turntablist, DJ Revolution.

Mudslide will be available digitally, as well as on CD, cassette and vinyl in three configurations; classic black, brown w/ white color-in-color, and a limited Ghostly Brown vinyl edition.

repress

What more can I say? Top Billin’… Iconic hip hop gold from Audio Two that could run for the title as one of the most sampled beats in hip hop history. A straight-up classic from back in ’87 pressed to 7 inch and backed with the instrumental version on the flip.

Top-Sampler mit den Tracks der vierteiligen ZONEZ 1-4 Mixtape-Serie der Produzentin, Songwriterin, Komponistin und Performerin Suzi Analogue aus Miami. Ihr musikalischer Prozess umfasst elektronische Experimente mit modernster Musiktechnologie und Synthesizern, um einen weltweiten Sound zu kreieren. Ihre globalen Gigs umspannen Kontinente wie Afrika, Asien, Europa und Amerika. Sie ist eine energische Pionierin der neuen Welle von Produzentinnen in der elektronischen Musik und darüber hinaus. Suzis Arbeit ist kulturprägend. Limitierte Erstpressung auf violettem Vinyl mit doppelseitigem A2-Faltposter und DL-Card.

NEW RED ASTAIRE (AKA FREDDIE CRUGER) drops the 12 more dope tracks influenced by classic reggae, hip hop, R&B, downtempo and dub vibes. Includes several hard to find/out of print gems including "GHETTO HELL", "MAMBO EL KINGSTON" and a previously
unreleased version of his classic "FOLLOW ME". Full pic sleeve (with some dope artwork from BASTARD JAZZ’s JJ MARLEY). Don't miss!

10th Anniversary Edition, 180 Grams, Orange Colored Vinyl, Limited Edition

Zehn Jahre ist es her, dass CRO mit „Raop“ sein Debüt vorlegte. Mit dem Album wurde der Rapper und Produzent aus Stuttgart über Nacht zum Star. Mehr noch: „Raop“ war mit seiner Hitdichte, dem Mut zu Melodien und dem enormen Erfolg zweifelsohne wegweisend für die Entwicklung des ganzen Genres. Wegweisend und visionär auf der einen Seite, war das Album mit seiner unbedarften Leichtigkeit der unabdingbare Einfluss für eine ganze Generation neuer Rapper:innen.

Vollkommen zurecht stieg "Raop" also von 0 auf 1 in den Offiziellen Albumcharts ein und hält sich auch eine ganze Dekade später noch beständig in den Top 100. Mehr als 600.000 verkaufte Einheiten und alleine in Deutschland fünffacher Goldstatus gaben dem Erfolg genauso recht, wie die wohlwollenden Kritiken in Feuilleton und Fachpresse gleichermaßen.

Erstmals am 6. Juli 2012 veröffentlicht, erscheint nun das Re-Release des Albums zehn Jahre später am 8. Juli 2022 zur Feier des Jubiläums als orangene Vinyl. "Raop" ist somit zum ersten Mal seit dem ursprünglichen Erscheinen im Sommer 2012 wieder auf Vinyl in limitierte Auflage verfügbar!

Limited run of 300x. No repress!

The Pearl is a collaboration between Planteaterz and the mercurial NYC rap-mystic, Sensational. The EP features four songs recorded in the winter of 2021 with Sensational on the mic and eaterz on production, and is accompanied by instrumentals and killer remixes by Maara, J. Albert, and Lowjack.

The Pearl is a sound, a world, and definitely a vibe.

We’re pleased to share the fruits of this collaboration with you here.

The background of this artist’s narrative pops out across themes, disciplines and styles. Hailing from Germany, having lived among others in Uganda and Morocco and calling Hamburg and Brussels a home, HDDDs journey can be felt and of course heard in every song on this record. Traditional folk wise percussions as well as deep synth lines unfold the makings of his sounds. Think of a Jazz Player who is into Fantastic Vol.1! Or maybe what Minnie Ripperton would play
for Jazzy Jeff. Listen to this record and you'll make the
journey yourself.

Guesthouse Music is ecstatic to welcome the ultra-talented, chart-topping Joey Youngman back to the realm of classic house music with two officel remixese of Bobby D'Ambrosio's So Thankful, And Elevate Me. These stunning remixs, Youngman's first house productions in more than a decade, demonstrates with absolute clarity Youngman's roots in and love of the house music genre. As an added bonus we've got two more tracks from Peter Brown and label boss DJ Mes.

Detroit Electronic Quarterly serves up the latest volume of tracks in their ongoing series and it is another crucial one that starts with a particularly potent spoken word. Nandi's 'Detroit Tells Its Techno Story' speaks about how the genre is often referenced by huge stars of the music world but never itself gets much credit. After that A7MC drops a nice raw hip hop beat and Shawscape Renegade offers some slippery analogue electro to make your ass wiggle. The ever underrated Eddie Fowlkes also contributes a vibe-y and dynamic deep house cut amongst other great tunes from Luke & Jeff Hess and ADMN which all show the varied and vital nature of the Motor City's output.

Released to coincide with a pan-European tour kicking off in the UK, themulti-platinum double Grammy Award winning group Arrested
Development deliver 'For the FKN Love', a true hip-hop tour de force, once again executively produced by charismatic veteran frontman Speech and British production maestro Configa.Significantly, it marks the first time that Arrested Development have worked with equally legendary collaborators, making this their biggest ever release

Big Daddy Kane, The Sugarhill Gang, Masta Ace, Freddie Foxxx, Monie Love, Kxng Crooked, G. Love, Tony Momrelle (Incognito), Dee-1 and Fatman Scoop all feature. Legends of this calibre rarely do features and yet have graced this album. Arrested Development have always been dedicated to supporting up-and-coming talent, and this trend continues with the likes of Twan Mack, Dell-P, Lish, Ke'Andra,
4ize, Twisted Royalty, Cleveland P. Jones, MRK SX and Jahah all adding weight to proceedings. When it comes to boom bap and classic rap, few artists come close to Arrested Development.

The two-time Grammy Award winning hip-hop group was the first hip-hop group to ever receive the Grammy for Best New Artist, while also receiving one for Best Rap Single. Showing the group's widespread appeal, its track 'Tennessee' was later named by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as one of the Top 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll, while the group was recognised at the Black Music Honors Awards in 2019. Meanwhile, 1993's 'Unplugged' album was not only Gold-certified
by the RIAA, but proved influential as one of the first hip-hop performances from the institution that is MTV.

'Vibe' is the latest single from Arrested Development, as featuring Big Daddy Kane, Cleveland P. Jones and Tasha LaRae. Part of the new studio album 'For The FKN Love', 'Vibe' was produced by the aforementioned boom bap specialist Configa. Configa had previously worked with Arrested Development on 2020's acclaimed 16-track studio album 'Don't Fight Your Demons'.

(incl Demuir remix)

For our second release we are thrilled to have Toronto House legend Jason Hodges on Purveyor Underground Limited! We have re issued 3 timless tracks from Jason's vast catalog and enlisted label boss DEMUIR to remix the title track! Enjoy our second release!!

The first AE Productions release of 2022 comes in the form of a 7” by J & Mo – otherwise known as J Man (of Cut Beetlez) and DJ Mo Money. Finnish DJ/producer duo who are in the midst of creating an album. To pre-empt the album release this lead off 7” serves as a taster of what is to come - a mix of well-crafted vocal and instrumental Hip Hop tracks with some great guest MC’s.
The main cut here ‘Rhymes Be Bomb’ features Emcee G Roc Gayle (of The Vibe Drops/Piece Of Mind), and is a perfect example of a track that works on 45 for DJ’s with a nice bouncing groove, excellent turntable work and good vocals that are clean so great for radio play.
The flipside ‘Pelottaa’ (Finnish for frightened) is exclusive to this 7” but is an indication of the flavour of the instrumental tracks that appear on the album and features J Man’s fellow Cut Beetle HP Lovescratch on the vanishingly rare vinyl appearance of human beatbox.
Sleeve design and direction by Mr Krum references a vintage board game with superb results by replacing the bombs with microphones which takes the theme of musical bombs and applies the same metaphor to the artwork.

Now Available On Cassette Tape! Music By Madlib Arranged By Kieran Hebden. Gil Evans to Miles Davis…. Holger Czukay to the ensemble known as Can….Jean Claude Vannier to Serge Gainsbourg on Histoire de Melody Nelson. That’s the only way to explain the specificity of Four Tet and Madlib’s collaboration, in this special album that showcases a two-decade long friendship that has resulted in an album that follows Madlib’s classics like Quasimoto’s The Unseen, Madvillainy and his Pinata and Bandana albums with Freddie Gibbs. “A few months ago I completed work on an album with my friend Madlib that we’d been making for the last few years. He is always making loads of music in all sorts of styles and I was listening to some of his new beats and studio sessions when I had the idea that it would be great to hear some of these ideas made into a Madlib solo album. Not made into beats for vocalists to use but instead arranged into tracks that could all flow together in an album designed to be listened to start to finish. I put this concept to him when we were hanging out eating some nice food one day and we decided to work on this together with him sending me tracks, loops, ideas and experiments that I would arrange, edit, manipulate and combine. I was sent hundreds of pieces of music over a couple of years stretch and during that time I put together this album with all the parts that fitted with my vision.” - Kieran Hebden AKA Four Tet

Soul Jazz Records' new 'Boombox' features some of the many innovative underground first-wave of rap records made in New York in the period 1979-82, all released on small, independent, often family-concern record companies, at a time when hip-hop music still remained under the radar.
This first exuberant wave of innocent, upbeat, 'party on the block' rap records were the first to try and create the sounds heard in community centres, block parties and street jams that initially took place in the Bronx in the mid-1970s. But where Flash, Kool Herc and Bambaataa were back-spinning, mixing and scratching together now classic breakbeat records like The Incredible Bongo Band's 'Apache' or Babe Ruth's 'The Mexican', these first rap records were all made using live bands, often replaying then current disco tunes, whilst MCs rapped over the top, creating a unique sound that later became known derisively as 'old school'.
And while hip-hop started in the Bronx, rap on vinyl began in Harlem where long-time established rhythm and blues producer-owned record companies such as Joe Robinson's Enjoy Records, Paul Winley's Winley Records, Delmar Donnel's Delmar International and Jack 'Fatman' Taylor's Rojac and Tayster were the first off the mark to realise the commercial potential of rap music - releasing early ground-breaking records that all quickly followed in the wake of the first rap record, The Sugarhill Gang's 'Rappers Delight', a million-selling worldwide hit.
This collection celebrates these first old-school rap records, bringing together rare, classic and obscure tracks released in the early days of rap.
Deluxe double CD-pack comes with slipcase, 40-page outsize perfect-bound booklet, extensive notes, exclusive photography and original label artwork. Triple heavyweight vinyl includes full artwork, text and notes as well as free download code.

New album from South London producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Wu-Lu.

Leader of the punk-rap awakening, Wu-Lu pulls inspiration from personal hardship and the underrepresented on his latest for Warp entitled 'LOGGERHEAD'. Miles Romans-Hopcraft based his artistic moniker on the Amharic word for water, “wu-ha”. True to his fluid sound and nature, he decided to change it to something that felt more liquid. He ended up with Wu-Lu, a name he has been using since 2015. His first record GINGA opened the floodgates to a career that would take him to various places, people, and genres. From breaking bones at skateparks as a teenager, to DJing as one of the original members of Touching Bass, and eventually getting signed to Warp in 2021.

As an artist, Wu-Lu seems concerned with feeling and communicating the full spectrum of human emotion. Throughout his varied discography, he touches on disparate themes and sounds, straddling a divide between blissed-out beats and grungy guitar dirges, and often mixing both into one amorphous, unclassifiable sound of his own.

On ‘'LOGGERHEAD'’, Wu-Lu hones his unique sound. On ‘Take Stage’, a despondent spoken word intro opens with sombre strings and underlying bows dragged delicately across them. Then the lights flicker to life on ‘Night Pill’, and the mosh pit with them - the bassline approaches like a hungry shark and the guitars snarl with a homemade 90s grunge energy. This grunge drawl and punk spirit is peppered with dry old-school drum sounds of classic hip-hop, with laid-back beat-oriented tracks are spread amongst those with intermittent growls, scratches, and shrieks. Sonic elements are constantly rearranged and juxtaposed throughout the album, like on ‘South’ where the fluctuating pitch of squealing guitars and screaming vocals is contrasted with the steady flow of Lex Amor.

Listening through the album you are constantly greeted with about-turns, and through the element of surprise and deft use of contrast 'LOGGERHEAD' sits at an exciting point in Wu-Lu’s genre-defying artistry.

After releasing two critically acclaimed albums in the span of 10 months (TA13OO and ZUU, respectively), Denzel Curry starts off 2020 with a menacing and concise full length produced entirely by Kenny Beats. Unlocked is the product of a manic 3 day studio session following Denzel recording for an episode of Kenny's YouTube show, The Cave. The project finds the two mining sounds outside of what prompted their respective rises in recent years. While Denzel pulls influence from various members of The Wu-Tang Clan, Kenny taps into a sound inspired by the holy trinity of Madlib, Dilla & MF Doom. Despite these classic influences, Unlocked sounds like something completely new and sees Denzel setting the tone for a new decade once again just as he and Raider Klan at the outset of the 2010's.

Made in two versions - classic black and limited multicolor vinyl. Limitied Surprise Edition was pressed in 200 copies and has got an OBI.

After a six year hiatus Twardowski returns with his fourth album on U Know Me Records. The newest outing is a retrofuturistic trip to the author's two biggest influences: instrumental hip-hop and… video games. The new album eschews Twardowski's previous synth-heavy style in favor of multiple layers of chopped and mended together samples, topped off by cuts from U Know Me's own jazz guitarist/turntablist Żyńy. The album invokes video games with the track titles, the LP's title being a homage to coin-ops and via the overall sound: wonky, heavily shuffled, almost-out-of-sync rhythms sounding almost as if the tracks were done sampler in one hand gamepad in the other, over a lengthy, laid back gaming/sequencing session. Maybe if a gamepad was a sampler and instrumental hip-hop was a game, "One Coin Clear" could have been its soundtrack.

(remixes)

A new spoken word track with Smokey him self on vocals featuring the talents of Smasher, reminiscing of late teen years going raving and the love of fashion, record shopping, and most importantly UKG culture! This is a smooth 2 step banger that will make you want to put your Moschino shirt & Gucci loafers and head to Camden Palace!

Kae Tempest ist Meister:in ihrer Disziplin, dem Wort. Das Sprachwunder ist Bestseller-Autor:in, Poet:in und Songwriter:in, verbindet mühelos Rap, Lyrik und Literatur. Nach Kaes jüngster Arbeit an einem Theaterstück und Sachbuch ist es nun endlich Zeit für die Rückkehr zur Musik. Auf das 2019er Album „The Book of Traps and Lessons” folgt jetzt ihr fünfter Longplayer, der den Titel “The Line Is A Curve“ trägt.

Darin geht es um den Druck, dem wir ausgesetzt sind und die Chance der Erlösung, die er bietet. Kae Tempest ist unvergleichlich ehrlich in der Auseinandersetzung mit sich selbst, die das Ausnahmetalent in
eindrucksvolle Poesie verwandelt.

Das Album spielt wie eine Chronik der Zwänge - das stumpfsinnige Streben nach einem bequemen Leben, das ewige Streben nach mehr, die Zwänge der Stadt, des Landes, der Zeit. Der Druck, Beziehungen
aufrechtzuerhalten, der Kampf gegen Krankheit, Sucht, schlechte geistige Gesundheit, das leere Leben unseres Online-Selbst. Im Laufe dieser Chronik hellt sich die Stimmung jedoch auf. Die Musik wird expansiver, während sich der lyrische Horizont erweitert und wir einen Blick auf Küsten, Straßen, Schrottplätze und Bahnhöfe im Regen werfen; das gesamte Album beginnt loszulassen. Wir begegnen den Beiträgen von Künstlern, die ich liebe und bewundere, Gastsängern und Instrumentalisten, und so besiegen wir das Gefühl der Isolation, das wir im Eröffnungstrack verspürten, mit einem Gefühl der tief verbundenen Gemeinschaft

KENDRICK LAMAR - GOOD KID MAAD CITY

Die britischen Alleskönner ”easy life” melden sich, nach einer kurzen Schaffenspause, mit Ihrem zweiten und brandneuen Studioalbum ”MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE” zurück. Die Songs setzen einen neuen Maßstab in der bereits erfolgsgeprägten Karriere der Leicester Band und bieten den Fans einen ausgewogenen Mix aus Melancholie und Feel-Good-Songs.

Auch die, von den Fans geschätzte, hedonistische Attitüde der ”easy life-Jungs” ist im neuen Album wiederzufinden. Dieses Mal allerdings gepaart mit einer zutiefst ehrlichen, aber auch messerscharfen Re-
flexion des Alltags in Großbritannien.

Eine weltenübergreifende Kollaboration zwischen Kevin Abstract (BROOKHAMPTON) und dem ”easy life”-Quintett lieferte schließlich den Grundbaustein für ”MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE”. Der Albumtitel
beschreibt eine sehnsüchtige und unerwiderte Liebeserfahrung zwischen Schüler und Lehrer: ”maybe in another life, we could try to roll the dice, and get it right”.

Die britischen Alleskönner ”easy life” melden sich, nach einer kurzen Schaffenspause, mit Ihrem zweiten und brandneuen Studioalbum ”MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE” zurück. Die Songs setzen einen neuen Maßstab in der bereits erfolgsgeprägten Karriere der Leicester Band und bieten den Fans einen ausgewogenen Mix aus Melancholie und Feel-Good-Songs.

Auch die, von den Fans geschätzte, hedonistische Attitüde der ”easy life-Jungs” ist im neuen Album wiederzufinden. Dieses Mal allerdings gepaart mit einer zutiefst ehrlichen, aber auch messerscharfen Re-
flexion des Alltags in Großbritannien.

Eine weltenübergreifende Kollaboration zwischen Kevin Abstract (BROOKHAMPTON) und dem ”easy life”-Quintett lieferte schließlich den Grundbaustein für ”MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE”. Der Albumtitel
beschreibt eine sehnsüchtige und unerwiderte Liebeserfahrung zwischen Schüler und Lehrer: ”maybe in another life, we could try to roll the dice, and get it right”.

Snap Your Neck Back by Gasoline is an album released in 2005 on a digipack CD by Pamplemousse Productions / La Fondation. First reissue at Beatsqueeze Records in 12inch yellow vinyl. Limited edition!

DRPN GEMS is back again with another summer BBQ heat rock. On the A side label boss Wally Puma gives the Queen of R&B Hip Hop an uptempo call & response treatment. Drawing from a more mellow previous mix he sprinkles the magic dust on the update and turns it into a prime time banger. Following the lead of the A side, Jim Sharp takes a mellow classic from Luigi’s brother and puts the boom and the bap into it, which gangsters will love. Yet again another gem dropped from Wallace Pumington.