Hip-Hop News

LIMITED REPRESS - JUNE 2006 - FORTHCOMING!

Released for the first time on 2LP, 500 limited. NBN Archives’ fourth reissue is the debut album by Louisiana R&B singer Tina, «Are U 'Bout It?».

Originally released in 1998 on Lynch By Lynch Enterprises, Tina Ashton's first album truly establishes itself as a cult R&B album from the «Dirty South».

Tina Ashton was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in the early 80’s, she grew up singing at the Church, and after trying out with a few high-school girlbands and performing at local talent shows, her family encouraged her to pursue a career in singing due to her obvious talent. Tina got hired as a receptionist by Lynch By Lynch studios during the summer of 1996 and when they needed some background vocals for one of the artists they were recording, Tina got her opportunity to record for the first time, and the rest is history.

For the dance-floor, for the ride and for the bedroom, the album contains all the right ingredients of classic mid-90's R&B/Hip-Hop. Uptempo songs such as «Inhale/Exhale», «Crazy Thang» were made for Radio, but the tracklisting is also filled with infectious Slow Jams such as the single «Are U 'Bout It» and the contagious «Wiggle It». Tina showcases her exceptional vocal talents all over superior productions from the Lynch brothers. This independently-produced album could have definitely competed with the ones from R&B biggest stars of that time.

The hit single «Are U ‘Bout It?», a gentle nod to local superstar Master P, ended up peaking at 73 on the Billboard Top 100 in January 1998, a beautiful accomplishment done without the help of a video.

Dafuniks is a full live band based on a core of samples and Breakbeats plus various vocal appearances. It will blow your mind with references to the cradle of hip-hop and inspiration from the 60’s and 70’s Funk and Soul.

The 2 songs are remixed by south London-based artist Klein (Hyperdub), and Tokyo-based
experimental hiphop musician Killer Bong (Black Smoker Records)
Mastered by Bunsho Nishikawa, who is known for his works with goat and Tenniscoats,
among others.

The ominous clockwork nursery song “Kazega Fuitara Sayonara” (Goodbye When The
Wind Blows) was originally written by Koichi Yamanoha and released under the name of
Grimm Grimm via Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) and Charlotte Marionneau (Le
Volume Courbe)’s Pickpocket Records / Honest Jons in 2014.
London-based Tokyo-born singer-songwriter experimentalist Koichi Yamanoha has been
operating under the guise of Grimm Grimm since 2013. The project is an outlet for his
fragile, haunted, otherworldly forays into baroque folk, futurist lyricism and electroacoustic
oddities. His debut album, “Hazy Eyes Maybe”, was released by ATP Recordings in 2015. A
track “Last Word Is Mine” from the album was used over the end credits for the Aaron
Brookner / Jim Jarmusch directed documentary film “Uncle Howard” (2016), featuring
William Burroughs. His sophomore album, “Cliffhanger” was released in June 2018.
And currently the 3rd album has been mixed and co-produced by Marta Salogni.

The virtual 3D music video for Klein remix has been directed and edited by London based
film maker Kenichi Iwasa. He filmed the footage in Tottenham using Super 8, 3rd
generation iPhone and 4K Camera, and created the zero zone virtual world with glitchy SFX
work by William Cunningham. Iwasa is also known for his legendary Krautrock Karaoke
night as well as being a sought after collaborator throughout Europe.

Cairo’s Dijit follows that smoked out, killer debut album for YOUTH with the first release on newly minted Cairo/London based label diy. Highly recommended if yr into Jabu, Andy Stott, Tricky, ZULI,
ManonMars.
Picking up where he left us with ‘Hyperattention: Selected Digital Works Vol.1’ earlier in 2020, Dijit meets one of that album’s standout vocalists, SD on ‘Natfo’, a slinky slice of trip hop placing smoked
vocals on a sunken groove that wouldn’t sound out of place on Young Echo.
On the flip, Bristol’s Kinlaw returning a more sandblasted sort of screwed beat that morphs into a Martyn-esque 2-stepper, layered and spaced out with extra vocals.
As the first mark from diy, the 7” makes a strong first impression for the label, living up to their remit to support and represent artists from the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, and diversify their bonds with experimental UK artists.
Definitely one to watch.

chalo is a nascent interdisciplinary creative community and collaborative platform featuring the work of ethnically South Asian artists. With a long term aim to strengthen cross-cultural bonds by showcasing the vast breadth of talent within the community, the first volume features artists with heritage in Pakistan, India and Kashmir. Net proceeds from the compilation are going towards the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) and Zindagi Trust.

The first volume of chalo comprises of Pakistani and Indian artists across classical composers and underground hip-hop, visual artists and videographers, journalists and illustrators. It is a multi-tiered release featuring a video, podcast, print series and, most importantly, a music compilation.

Featuring an all-star cast of artists like that range from the cerebral (V.S Narasimhan), to editations on immigrant culture (Riz Ahmed), to post-modern pop (Kavya), to Kashmiri hip-hop (Ahmer), floating left-field electronica (Nabihah Iqbal) to meditative jazz (Sarathy Korwar) to tunes that will leave you sweating on the dance floor (MadstarBase), chalo vol. 1 showcases the diversity and musical range of South Asian artists. It dispels the notion that an often overlooked culture can be painted by one brush, a single narrative.

The compilation will be accompanied by a video piece that gives insight to the plight of artists of colour whilst also highlighting the unique cultural melting pot of influences. This ethos will be extended to an eight-episode podcast where discussions between artists from various parts of India and Pakistan will meditate on discussions of caste, class, politics, race and, amongst it all, the meaning of art. This will be released after the compilation’s launch on November 6th, with the album artwork by Shweta Sharma.

The net proceeds from the chalo project will be split between the Human Rights Law Network and Zindagi Trust which will contribute to the ongoing initiatives they are working on, including Rights to Food, Dalit Rights, Educational Reform, Women’s Justice and Empowerment.

"chalo stems from recognising that there’s a gap in the media we consume. Despite global political, industrial and technological significance, culturally, South Asia’s status is hidden in the margins. With a long term to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations while also elevating and showcasing peoples respective talents, چلو chalo aims to build, however we can, between people.”

Multi-disciplinary creative Jude Greenaway presents his latest project Parallel Action, and reveals the lead single ‘10/10’ featuring the enigmatic MC Charlie Boy Manson, out on the 11th December.

Heavy acidic sonics from Parallel Action meets intense, confident and twisted raps, written and performed by Charlie Boy Manson, a mysterious character challenged by the constant plight of debauchery. ‘10/10’ drops us into a psychedelic arcade, cranking the bass valve up a notch, telling a rebellious story of hedonistic invincibility and freedom - a cocktail of grimey dystopian arrogance, trip-hop breaks, sound-system basslines and lyrical gymnastics.

Detroit Rap Sista jewel ! Featuring French producers Mr Modo & Ugly Mac Beer !

Grey Marbled Vinyl

Turntablism electro tool !

So much legendary hip-hop begins with a misunderstanding. You might not realise it on first or even hundredth listen, but ‘Insane in the Brain’ is a diss track. What has become one of the hip-hop’s most iconic party anthems, and one of Cypress Hill’s biggest hits, started out with them taking offence at Chubb Rock.
He’d flipped some of their lyrics on his own ‘Yabba Dabba Doo’ song in 1992 and the group didn’t like it. While B-Real’s lyrical attack on Chubb is subtle and almost subliminal, Sen Dog spends most of his verse making fat jokes at Chubb’s expense.
It’s a little known beef, hidden beneath the vast success of this single in 1993, with it reaching number one in the US rap charts and proving a pop hit worldwide too. At this stage, the group’s producer DJ Muggs had perfected an idiosyncratic sound all of his own, lending it to tracks for the likes of House of Pain and Funkdoobiest.

Here he melds samples from Sly and the Family Stone and The Youngbloods with a beat lifted from George Semper’s instrumental cover of ‘Get out my life, woman’. Those subtle songs are alchemised into a boot-stomping head-nodder that transcended hip-hop to become a festival favourite, a rise that ended in Ned Flanders delivering the line, “this may sound just a teensy bit insane in the old membrane, Homer,” in The Simpsons.

The only official 7” of this was released in the Philippines, and fetches prices in the hundreds of pounds – this reissue puts a hip-hop classic in crate-friendly form.

A.g. Returns With All-start Cast, Featuring The Likes Of Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Alchemist And More. For This Album, He's On His A-game, From Beginning To End. Touching On Topics From The Hip Hop Biz, Street Tales And Political Hypocrisy. The Taste Of Ambrosia Is A Full Meal Serving For Mature Rap Devotees Who've Grown Tired Of Contemporary Rhymesayer Laziness. Joined By Guests Including Diamond D, A-bless And Thirstin Howl Iii, A.g. Backs Up His Claim That He Is Ill Enough To Paint His Own Portrait, And Illustrates And Vision Of Rap Immortality That Hardcore Heads And Fellow Legacy Mcs Alike Can Worship Eternally.

''Ruyzdael presents Writers on Wax Volume 1: The Sound of Graffiti, a compilation album with 8 exclusive, primarily electronic tracks by producers from four different countries who are more (in)famous as graffiti writers than as musicians.''Letters on a wall, letters on a train. When you take it back to that essence, it?s really not so strange that graffiti writers call themselves and each other writers. With just a few letters ? a word, a name ? they write their mythology for a general audience. No huge vocabulary needed, just imagination and a need for expression. It can come as no surprise that those qualities extend to other disciplines as well. Graffiti has long been associated with musical styles (hip-hop, punk) that contain an abundance of imagination and expression. Less well known is the fact that graffiti writers have embraced the DIY approach of electronic music. Writers on Wax Volume 1 is a group exposition of beats and basslines, imagination and expression. Sometimes using a lot of words, usually none or very few. The dance floor has its own myths.

Two Shaolin classics remixed and edited from the original stems. On Shimmy, Big Mac adds more thump to the drums and a actual second verse (not just the first verse repeated). On Brooklyn Zoo, Big Mac adds cut up skull snaps drums into the mix for a more drum heavy mix.

Two Roc classics reconstructed from the original samples with fresh drums for a different feel.

On the A Side the Notorious Brooklyn Bad Boy is back, moaning about the fact that he’s got noth-ing to do on a Saturday after a crazy lit Friday night. This funked up boogie edit is one for the dance floor once lockdown has passed and will surely rock for years to come. On the flip, big Q warms things with the heat. This well known sample is so understated and smooth, yet instantly recognisa-ble not just by die hard fans. It’ll rock any venue from Bar to BBQ back to the dancefloor. Special Edition in gold vinyl.

Oonops is back with his second selection for the Resense-Series and he selected two tracks from DJ and producer FLIPOUT out of Vancouver. He already opened shows for Afrika Bambaataa, Grand Master Flash, Mos Def, Ice Cube, Questlove and is known for his fiery gigs around the world.

"Let The Soul Pride In" is a b-boy driven soul / psyche rock classic with heavy breaks and much energy for the dancefloor with a very DJ friendly intro and outro at 120 BPM. On the flipside we've got the Hip Hop monster "Clipse Comin' Thru" in a JBz style. It's a re-make of the Jungle Brothers "J Beez Comin' Through" blended with Clipse "When The Last Time" plus bonus beats for all the djs who love to play around. Both tracks are mixed by Nick Bike and the handwritten (as usual in this series) is by the artist himself.

Mit "Special Request" veröffentlicht Taiwan MC sein zweites Studioalbum. 14 brandneue Tracks, darunter Features von Jamalski, Paloma Pradal, Anouk Aïata, Davojah, SOAP, Miscellaneous (von Chill Bump), und ,vielen anderen!

Schneller Als Du Milchstraße Sagen Kannst Hat Rolf Seinen Phaser Aus Der Spandex Gezaubert. Phew! Phew! Phew! Jeder Schuss Ein Treffer, Denn Dieser Mann Weiß Was Er Tut. Schwer Getroffen Liegst Du Am Boden, Glückseeligkeit Durchströmt Dich Und Langsam Setzt Die Schwerelosigkeit Ein. Alles Schwebt. Wie Hat Dieser Royce Das Gemacht Physik Oder Vodoo Rolf Royce . Fruit Company. Weltfrieden Mit Der Brechstange. Dessau A.d. 2019

Rarefied Presents: Shades of Violet.

A compilation album showcasing the depth and diversity of talent that the Rarefied ensemble have to offer.

As a label, Rarefied have striven to provide an outlet for artists to express their talent without restriction. Shades of Violet is the apotheosis of this mission.

A change of format and flavour, this cassette crosses the boundaries of the dancefloor. A plethora of sonic expressions are on offer, from Trap infused Hip Hop to submerged Techno soundscapes.

An exercise in originality from reel to reel, this is not one to sleep on.

Repress!

Sought after instrumentals for critically acclaimed album Sour Soul, by Toronto jazz / hip hop band BadBadNotGood and Staten Island rap champ, Ghostface Killah. Inspired by 1960's and 70's music and taking inspiration from the recording techniques and production of that era, they embrace live instrumentation and zero sampling. BadBadNotGood with producer Frank Dukes created a dramatic, cinematic musical staging for Ghostface's vivid storytelling and this is the first and only time the instrumentals will be available as a standalone album.

״It feels odd to call this self-titled release by Soul Supreme his 'debut album'; the Amsterdam-based keyboardist, DJ & producer has been
widely recognized for over six years now. With best known his 45 records reinterpreting music by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Mos Def (sold out within a matter of days), and more recently his ATCQ 45Check The Rhime b/w Lyrics To Go(an instant success with two represses). But here we are, with his rst ofcial album with his own compositions and productions. Chasing more supreme sounds on this self-released LP.

The album nds Soul Supreme in a dizzying array of musical twists and turns. From the infectious house vibe on 'Rich in Soul' to broken beats on 'Keep Moving.' And from putting the soul in a synth on 'Mellow Thompson' as if the keys are singing over hip-hop drums, to the G-funk-inspace album closer 'Orbit.' And in good ol' Soul Supreme fashion, two reinterpretations of tracks he loves: French sample classic 'Huit Octobre 1971' by Cortex (sampled by MF DOOM, Madlib, Tyler, the Creator), and an ode to the late last year deceased L.A. jazz-fusion multiinstrumentalist Tony Palkovic ('Born With A Desire').
Let's skip the promotional gibberish of 'Sounds Like…' or 'For Those Who Dig…' This is Soul Supreme's ofcial introduction to Soul Supreme. Hope you're pleased to meet him.״

“All heads realize, recognize. Real heads on the rise, recognize. You better recognize”. Another milestone of Hip Hop's Golden Era gets an official 45 rpm on 7" vinyl release to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Smif-N-Wessun's debut album "Dah' Shinin”.

Representing Brownsville & Bed Stuy Brooklyn, rap duo Smif-N-Wessun, Tek and Steele, first appeared on Black Moon’s debut album Enta Da Stage in 1993. Adding relentless rhymes to tracks "U da Man" and "Black Smif N' Wessun," the pair paved the way for the Brooklyn Supergroup Boot Camp Clik.

25 years later, the raw and gritty sound of Da Beatminerz productions cut through the noise that is often found in the present day music industry, and was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums of all time.

Guizmo has for many years left a strong imprint in the French rap scene with his unique personal universe and an acknowledged gift to writing. Three years after release the album 'Dans Ma Ruche' and the surprise street album 'GPG 1 in 2016, the singles of this fifth album are already receiving praises from the fans and the medias, paving the way for another success for the 26-year old rapper. Guizmo is a viral sensation and strategizes his own social campaigns to reach his fans directly. He's gathered 400+K followers on YouTube and 160+M views, 730+K Facebook fans, 100+K Twitter followers and more than 95K followers on Instagram

This is an 18-song project featuring some of the most legendary emcees alongside some of today's newest emcees. Every song has scratches on it and each track has that traditional Boom Bap Hip Hop feel.

Los Angeles based DJ and Producer Tone Spliff drops his full-length LP Ardore Melodico (roughly translating to 'blazing melody'). Grounded in an east coast sound and steeped in tradition with an ever-present emphasis on the DJ, Tone links up with some talented emcees to deliver a solid album. Sounding like a beast on the drum machine and the 1's and 2's, it's apparent Tone Spliff has some skills to flex on his latest project.

The beat-creator, originally from Utica, NY, said he made around 70 beats between February and April of 2017. He then started hitting up emcees he's worked with in the past and new emcees he wanted to work with for the album. Tone details that 'All of these tracks were made in 2018, so some of them have only been stashed for a few months.

As Maya Jane Coles career continues to unfold, “Pull Up” that features. Gangsta Boo & Young
M.A captures the London based producer’s assured, and bold studio skills, executed teeming with
confidence.

Taken from the British-Japanese Producer/DJ’s sophomore LP as Nocturnal Sunshine that includes
a broad mix of collaborators including Peaches, Catnapp, Gangsta Boo & Young M.A. “Pull Up”
features Three 6 Mafia’s legendary Gangsta Boo and anchors Maya’s form and talent in mastering
many genres, an approach that has in incubated even further in the recent absence of dancefloors
and intensive home-studio sessions.

Taking Maya’s alias in a new direction and delving deep into her hip-hop influences “Pull Up” is a
album standout track that has seen support as diverse as from Resident Advisor and Mixmag to Q
Magazine, FADER and Billboard. This continued across the airwaves with support across Rinse FM
and BBC Radio 1, rounding off with Maya appearing on BBC Radio 6 Music for a guestmix with
Nemone’s Electric Ladyland.

Restock !

Be not afraid! Whether you’re simply sightseeing, enjoying temporary flights of fancy or considering a more permanent relocation, the all-new Spirit World Field Guide offers twenty-one insightful chapters of firsthand know-how into the terrain, wildlife, and social customs of our parallel universe. The narrator’s vast expertise of multiple global entry points and various modes of interdimensional transport informs a rich tapestry of tips, tricks and tools to unfailingly aid in your ultimate survival. If you are among the countless individuals who find themselves feeling both dead and alive at the same time, the information contained within may serve as an invaluable asset to your journey. Godspeed and good luck."

After a short hiatus, The Gaslamp Killer has returned with turbulent, moody, and gorgeous symphonies on his third full-length album, HeartMath. An intense and emotional masterpiece, it reaffirms why he remains one of the best DJs and instrumental hip-hop producers of his generation. This is a work conceived and creative with every last ounce of love and pain, all of it made in turmoil and psychic unrest, with music providing the only form of solace or opportunity to find even a fleeting moment of happiness. It is as pure as catharsis gets. Heart music to survive a season in hell

Volume number two in the Trip Hop Vibes Series.

„Beastie Boys Music“ umfasst eine Sammlung der 20 wichtigsten Beastie Boys Tracks aller Zeiten. Die Sammlung ist ein Pendant zu dem Dokumentarfilm Beastie Boys Story, der derzeit für 5 Emmys® nominiert ist, und dem Bestseller Beastie Boys Book der Gruppe, der auf Platz 1 der Bestsellerliste der New York Times aufstieg.
Das Album enthält 20 Beastie Boys-Klassiker aus der über 30-jährigen Karriere der Band, darunter ”Fight For Your Right”, ”Brass Monkey”, ”Paul Revere” und ”No Sleep Till Brooklyn”. Ebenfalls enthalten sind ”Sure Shot” und ”Sabotage” aus Ill Communication von 1994, mit denen die Band auf Platz 1 der Billboard 200-Charts zurückkehrte, ”Body Movin’” und der Smash-Hit ”Intergalactic” des mit einem GRAMMY® prämierten Nr. 1 Album Hello Nasty (1998).

In pursuit of new distinctive and wide-ranging music, Jupiter4 found DVLVCRVZ as an intriguing and enigmatic beatmaker from Texas, well known in the local scene for grow a very own and personal sound that comes from trap and hip hop but is coloured by shoegaze, ambient and noise, submerged in a constant dialogue with tape delays and big room reverberations, creating the sense of cold and distant emotions that represents his own life in music. Edge of reality is a sensitive and unique record that refuses to settle on a specific gender, starting with breaks, beats, pads and deep melodys in the first tracks, to then give space to some voices and lyrics from collaborators as Lunatic and STONEDOGG. The b side shows some New Wave influences with Anxious and concludes with an ode to darkness and a meaningful speech in Bound by evil.

3d amorphous characters are again present on the artwork, and short videos from this ones are displayed on the social media, developed by Buenos Aires based Narf Alvarez.

The debut No. 1 album of 2017 'Gang Signs & Prayer' is to be released on vinyl this summer on a heavyweight double LP. Topping the album charts back in February with a phenomenal 69,000 sales - the debut album from Stormzy has seen him elevate from Grime King to global superstar.Before the release of his debut album, Stormzy wasn't short of success - Releasing his debut EP only two years ago, Stormzy has won two MOBOs, won Best International Artist at the BET Awards, performed on Jools Holland, become the first unsigned rapper to feature on the BBC Sound Of... list, sold almost a million records, and made history by sending two grime freestyles into the UK chart top 20 for the first time in history.The 22 year old South London artist's won Best Grime Act at the 2014 MOBOs just a week after his Jools performance and that was quickly followed by an invite from Kanye to join him onstage at the Brit Awards.Both Shut Up' and Wicked Skengman 4' both went on to chart in the UK top twenty - the former beating that year's X Factor Christmas single - He finished 2015 with his own show on Apple Radio, aptly titled #Merky, making him the youngest presenter on the roster, alongside names like Pharrell Williams,& Dr Dre.For many who only know Stormzy as the six foot MC who spits fire on YouTube, the debut album may come as something of a pleasant eye opener. He's immersed himself fully in the craft of song writing and production, gleaned from those years of growing up on slow jams. Twelve tracks of grime this ain't. Lead track Big For Your Boots' is now A listed at Radio 1, 1 Xtra an Capital Xtra and a top 30 airplay track. The album features a host of collaborations including Raleigh Ritchie and grime cohorts Ghetts and J Hus. The album also features a new version of his massive hit Shut Up'. A UK tour announced last week which included 3 headline shows at London's Brixton Academy sold out in 24 hours

Born into a family of artists and musicians Jacob Otten began playing piano and drums at age 5 after hearing his grandfathers Duke Ellington record and trying to replay "C-Jam Blues". From that first pivotal moment Jacob- known as Kid Sublime- has since devoted his heart and soul to all things music. From his early days drumming in Hardcore Punk bands to touring the world with Brazillian band Zuco 103 and working in the infamous record store Fat Beats, he quickly laid down a strong and solid foundation to build his career as a producing musician and Disc Jockey.

After trying out an Akai MPC 60 in the late 90's, Kid Sublime got hooked to the machine and a few years later he released his first House 12", "Tea For Two" which was later re-edited by Francois K. He then crafted a myriad of future soul classics for Dutch label Kindred Spirits like his 'Basement Soul' album. From House anthems on his own 'Ballroom Radio Records' imprint that have rocked dance floors all over the world, to Japan only albums that where so hot that the legendary BBE records re-released them so that more ears could hear KS's unmistakable sound. A true master of his craft, "Straat Coach" an opus of sorts, is his first full blown Dutch Rap album, humorous and witty but backed by insane 'bang it in ya jeep' style beats.