HHV Exclusives 526 Items

Limited to 300 copies.

Coalmine Reissues is pleased to announce this special edition reissue of Royal Flush’s time honored debut LP, Ghetto Millionaire, marking just the second time that the vinyl has ever been repressed. Royal Flush first jumped on the scene as a part of New York’s burgeoning Queensboro hip-hop scene of the mid 90s. Coming up under the wings of Mic Geronimo as part of the infamous Wastlanz crew, Flush shadowed Geronimo on over half of the album cuts featured throughout Geronimo’s The Natural, creating a memorable one-two punch akin to Ghostface Killah’s heavy presence on Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Flush’s solo debut Ghetto Millionaire hit in August of 1997 and perfectly captures the mid-to-late 90s sound of East Coast street rap with a notable production roster that boasts Da Beatminerz, L.E.S., Buckwild, Hi-Tek and Chyskillz among others. Ghetto Millionaire is a memorable trip to the latter half of the Golden Era, abound with Flush’s crime-ridden world of hardcore street rap that’s backed by a first-rate soundscape.

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on multi-colored vinyl, limited to 100 copies. Only available at hhv.de!

Joe Yamanaka, born in Yokohama, was of mixed descent. His father was a US Army soldier who hailed from the Caribbean. He played Psychedelic Rock with the Flower Travellin' Band. He was also a philanthropist, travelling around the world to help people in countries where conditions aren't great. He himself was raised in harsh conditions as well, being born in a brothel and growing up in an orphanage. In post-war Japan, it was not easy for him to grow up looking racially different from his peers. Joe Yamanaka joined The Wailers after Bob Marley had passed away and recorded with them 'Reggae Vibration'. The very first track is also called 'Reggae Vibration' and can be seen as his introduction to the genre, being a Rock artist in his home country. You will still hear a strong Rock influence in his songs. 'Reggae Vibration' was Recorded And Remixed At Tuff Gong Studios, 56 Hope RD Kingston Jamaica, In April 14th 1982 ~ April 30th 1982

Check out the first official repress of akua naru's classic 2011 debut album, "the journey aflame" only available via HHV!

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.

Limited edition of 100 copies, only available at HHV!

Limited edition of 300 copies of the title track "Van Full Of Pakistans". Comes with the album version on side A backed with the Spearhead X remix on the B.

Yall So Stupid came from Atlanta's underground and gave their listeners the low down on their town on their debut album "Van Full Of Pakistans", originally released on Rowdy Records in 1993. MC's Unkle Buk, H2O, and Logic, with DJ Sha Boogie on the turns, stuck to what they knew and did best: busting straight up hardcore tracks for macks, honeys and tricks. Entirely produced by Spearhead X eccept a few productions by label mates Da King & I and Sylvan Sargeant.

Available in a limited run on 2LP+7", extra 7" of the title track "Van Full Of Pakistans" ("Album Version" b/w "Spearhead X Remix"), CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

Originally it has been releases on CD as well as on 3 separate 7" vinyls. Thanks to the fine people at Tru Thoughts - we are very pleased to offer the full album on LP now in collaboration with the HHV Label!

"Quantic presenta Flowering Inferno" is one of the latest in the constantly evolving series of musical outings from the unstoppable Will Holland - aka Quantic - and amazingly "Death Of The Revolution" represented his tenth full album release on Tru Thoughts.

Limited to 1000 copies worldwide, only available with GUTS and HHV.

In 2022, Guts brought together his musical family for his ‘Estrellas’ album. An ambitious project that brought together musicians from: Franc, Cuba and various African countries. For a journey that was as rich artistically as it was humanly. The list of superlatives was almost endless, "Formidable", "incredible", "unforgettable" and "magical" all thrown into the pot, during these magical moments in the Dakar studio. From the seventeen tracks heard on the original album, three have been entrusted to the expert and inventive hands of four producers, who have come up with new interpretations bringing Africa and the Caribbean together for a modern dancefloor.

‘Por Que Ou Ka Fe Sa’ (Poirier Remix)

From his studio in Montreal, Canadian Poirier has opted for a strong groove and relentless bass drum to keep out intruders, putting vocalists David Walters and Brenda Navarrete in a rhythmic cocoon. Accompanied in a slightly moody bassline that adds some driving muscle to the track. The hooky guitar line eventually gives way to the saxophone that emerges from the mix to parade around the front line. The original electric piano is replaced by a synth pad that loops and spins driving the track to its conclusion.

‘Por Que Ou Ka Fe Sa’ (David Walters Remix)

Before recording this track, David Walters and Brenda Navarette didn't even know each other. So in the magic of the moment that brought them together is a genuine and sincere artistic bond. It is no longer Guts but David who is at the musical helm, and before they too can savour the connection between the two artists, the dancers will have to pass through an overheated corridor where a Caribbean rhythm resonates with percussion. Digital and woodwind swirl and clash until the vocal encounter with the artists. It's a moment of respite that's as suspended as it is life-saving, because the exit is also via the famous corridor.

‘San Lazaro’ (Bosq Remix)

On Bosq’s mix, he’s opted to maintain things focused on the dancefloor, keeping the percussion persistent for the unleashed bodies of the dancers to smile. It's once again the walking bass line rises to the forefront of the groove, softening the shocks of the relentless kick drum. Roberto Valdes's timeless piano has disappeared, while guitars float and add to the atmosphere. The track is no longer awash in cigar smoke. Under Akemis's powerful vocals the low ceiling has disappeared, and the open roof is more a brass-lit spectacle. That doesn't make things any less overheated though, this one is sweaty until the end.

‘Medewui’ (Captain Planet Remix)

Captain Planet brings the dancer’s attention to the Afrobeat flavored jam that rocked the original, highlighting the Pat Kalla & Assane Mboup duet. Despite the track remaining mid tempo, laying back is no longer the order of the day as this mix really develops. The drums are more present jolting along with the organ in the first half. Once all the storytellers have taken their microphones, the rhythmic beats are doubled and the track is carried towards a frenzy of Afro-Latin dancing. Fired up by the brass and percussion, it’s this almost switch up that takes hold of the second part of the tune, with some righteous authority and relentless piano and trumpet.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Piece of Me, the sophomore full length offering from Lady Wray. This is something of a homecoming for Nicole. Where her 2016 solo debut Queen Alone leaned more towards Soul and R&B with tinges of hip-hop, this record changes the mixture. It's still R&B with the textures of analog Soul, but there is a heavy Hip Hop influence that brings the sum of Nicole's career together in a new sound that will define her future. Boom-bap drums and chunky bass lines are front-and-center creating a perfect head-nodding backdrop for Lady Wray to take on the good, the bad, the difficult, and the joyful on her most personal collection of songs to date.

The title track, "Piece of Me," which has already become a classic since it's 2019 release is about the people in your life who need more than you are willing to give. This tune and the B side of the 7” “Come On In” were the first songs put to tape for this album and they were recorded with Nicole sitting in a chair 8 months pregnant with her daughter. Her voice is so powerful, so raw, so thorough on these initial songs—it's wild to think that they were recorded this way. And even wilder to know that she knocked them all out in one take. Long time collaborator and producer Leon Michels keeps the musical backing restrained and expertly executed, setting up Lady Wray for the full spotlight and setting the tone for the rest of the album.

While the upbeat energies of “Under The Sun” and “Through It All” are sure to become hits that reconnect Lady Wray with her 90s R&B fanbase, “Where Were You” offers a behind the scenes look at what those days of stardom in her youth were really like. Nicole takes on the racial tension in America with her poetic and powerful “Beauty In The Fire” and leans heavy into her faith and church upbringing on the showstopper, “Thank You”. She gushes about the profound love she’s come to know for her daughter on “Melody” and celebrates life’s ups and downs on “Joy & Pain”. In 2021 it is rare to hear a varied yet cohesive album with no “skippers”, but that is what you have here in spades. The tried and true chemistry between Lady Wray and Leon Michels has undeniably found a higher level and this album stands as a testament to conviction and dedication for all of us to enjoy and be inspired by.

With this in mind, when talking about this record, for Lady Wray, it's about a larger purpose. "My goal is always to help and to heal people with singing," she explains. "Part of that is to try and bring back real music, real singing, so people can feel something again." Now, she's not dissing anyone here, to be clear. It's just that Lady Wray cannot sing without tapping into something deeper, searching for that shared compassion between all of us. Perhaps it comes from her church upbringing, or maybe from her years of trials and tribulations in the music industry. Either way, Lady Wray is looking to bring that "Good Sound" back and the good feelings that come with it. She calls it "those inner hands," and she always means to stir them up, grabbing your attention from within.

With past albums like the Lady project and Queen Alone, it's hard to not acknowledge that Lady Wray plus Leon Michels production equals magic. But this magic is also coming from the fact that Lady Wray is now squarely herself, calling her shots, and singing to help heal first—everything else is secondary. "It's a beautiful thing I've always wanted in my career, and now I have it," Lady Wray says. "They encourage me to be me all day long." This is Lady Wray at her finest, and she's giving us all a piece of where she's at these days.

Limited edition of 300 copies, exclusively available at HHV!

Following his debut EP ‘En clair-obscur’ and a series of singles earlier this year cementing his place as a rising name in the world of cinematic soul & funk, Hamburg’s finest cinematic soul artist ‘The Offline’ announces his debut album 'La couleur de la mer'.

Reminiscent of film scores from the 60s and 70s, The Offline worked with co-producer Tim Liztenberger to channel the influence of film composers such as Francois de Roubaix and Brian Bennet, creating his own soundtrack on ‘La couleur de la mer’. Inducing images of manorial, fog-swept villas at the sea's edge, silhouetted sailing boats and cigar-chomping villains attempting to thwart the mission of an imaginary hero, the record is a masterfully composed sonic journey. Experimenting with themes and atypical song structures, the music moves from dramatic cues to fragile romanticism. It incorporates psychedelic spaciness, retro soul and hip-hop sensibilities informed by The Offline’s extensive record collection and crate-digger status.

“Ever since I was a child, I was fascinated by the soundtracks from the 60s and 70s, and I always wanted to make an album in the film score direction. I wrote about 30 demos, kicked half of it and stuck to the ones that felt right in the dramaturgical structure of the ‘movie'. Interestingly the main theme was set early on while writing the album, which made the writing process much easier.”

Aptly named, ‘Thème de la couleur de la mer’ opens proceedings, establishing the core motifs of the record. Haunting flutes and xylophones lead the way into Khruangbin-esque guitar lines, which sit against a hip-hop canvas that returns on boom-bap head boppers like ‘Quelque chose reste’. Retro soul revival takes precedence on deep cuts like ‘Un bout de chemin’, with wah-gated guitars interacting with emotive cello lines and symphonic string & horn sections.

The Offline came to life when composer and photographer Felix Müller travelled the Atlantic coastline in the south of France with his analogue camera, capturing beach life on film. After coming back to Hamburg, he started writing songs as the sonic counterpart to the analogue visuals. His Debut EP ‘En Clair-Obscur’ includes five tracks that capture the essence of his journey and the feeling of a cool summer soundtrack.

Limited edition of 300 copies of Pete Rock's remix of "Fades Em All" backed with the instrumental version. Comes in original picture sleeve.

Originally released in 1995 via Rowdy Records, Jamal's solo debut "Last Chance, No Breaks" finally gets the reissue treatment sporting three unreleased tracks from the demo version. Productions and features include artists such as Redman, Erick Sermon, Pete Rock, Keith Murray, George Clinton and many more.

Available in a limited run on 2LP+7", extra 7" of "Fades Em All (Pete Rock Remix)", CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

Limited to 1000 boxes for the European market, 3000 in total worldwide.
In Europe exclusively available at HHV.

HHV is thrilled to be able to offer this milestone of rap history, one of the most iconic and important albums of all time as a limited box set of 45s. We can not be happier. Illmatic 30th Anniversary Box Set Includes:

-The full album plus 2 remixes on six big-hole 7-inches pressed on black vinyl.

-The 7-inches are housed in a custom hardbound casebook that includes a 64-page book of extended liner notes by Sacha Jenkins with full lyrics, photos, and 12-inch singles discography.

-The casebook is housed in a premium outer slipcase, featuring the iconic album art printed in gold.

-Limited to 3000 copies worldwide

Thirty years ago on April 19, 1994, Nasir "Nas" Jones dropped Illmatic which is regarded by many as the greatest hip-hop album of all time. Before 1994, Nas (under the name "Nasty Nas") was rapping and making demo tapes with Large Professor, and in 1991 performed an unforgettable verse on Main Source's "Live at the Barbeque." The next year Nas released "Halftime" for the Zebrahead soundtrack, another Large Pro cut, and signed a deal to record an album for Columbia Records. Nas was being compared to one of the lyrical greats, Rakim, and the pressure was on to drop a debut album to top all rappers. A dream team of hip-hop producers including DJ Premier, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, and L.E.S. was assembled to work on what would become the 5 Mic classic Illmatic. Not only did it establish Nas as the Best Rapper Alive in 1994, but it also raised the stakes for hip-hop production, lyrical technique, content, and overall artistic ambition.

Illmatic is the crown jewel of the mid-90s classics that still define the genre. No filler, one intro, and 9 tracks of hip-hop perfection. Every song on this album matters. From Premier's masterful "N.Y State Of Mind" to the AZ-assisted "Life's A Bitch" and Pete Rock's piano-laced "The World Is Yours" Illmatic starts with a powerful trio of songs that easily could solidify this album as classic if it stopped right there. Other tracks such as "Memory Lane" and "One Love" show Nas focusing on his neighborhood and local legends that molded him into the person he was which made them all just as important to us. Large Professor delivers the album's first single "It Ain't Hard To Tell" while Premier delivers the album's certified street anthem "Represent". Serious to a fault, and lyrically dense to an extent that has possibly never been matched, the 20-year-old Nas stood on the shoulders of his predecessors and made them proud with this one. Thirty years later the album stands the test of time, where time is truly illmatic.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of Illmatic, Get On Down in partnership with Sony's Certified is proud to present the entire album on six 7-inches with 2 remixes.

Limited to 200 copies, in this coor way only availabble at HHV.

Karate Boogaloo are proud to present Hold Your Horses, a mesmerizing new long-playing disc of original instrumental tunes from Melbourne, Australia’s most dedicated.

Sitting at the core of Melbourne’s burgeoning movement of cinematic instrumental soul, Karate Boogaloo’s roots go deep into the fabric of the DIY soul idiom. A mainstay of the Melbourne underground over the last decade, their now sought-after series of LPs delving into hip-hop sample culture and its relationship to funk music, The ‘KB’s Mixtapes’, are evidence of their long-standing contribution to the development of the Melbourne cinematic soul sound.

Henry Jenkins, Hudson Whitlock, Callum Riley, and Darvid Thor have been playing music together since their playground days. Meeting as high school preteens, these four friends explored the teachings of the great small combo instrumental bands à la Booker T & The MG’s and The Meters. With these lessons in one hand and their characteristic sense of goofy humor in the other, the ensuing 15+ years saw Karate Boogaloo develop the kind of shared musical language that can only be built through countless hours spent together existing as friends and musical allies.

Karate Boogaloo’s singular bond shines brightly on Hold Your Horses, the second album of original Karate Boogaloo compositions. Following on from the cult classic Carn The Boogers (College Of Knowledge Records, 2020), Hold Your Horses is a document of KB’s distinct interpretation of instrumental funk. A bona-fide journey from start to finish, each tune melds seamlessly into the next, deftly creating a world built on moments of cinematic tension, whimsical melodies and eerie discordance and underpinned by undeniable super heavy funk. Hold Your Horses respectfully builds on a legacy of soul music whilst remaining unimpeachably unique and authentic.

Limited to 100 units on blue vinyl, exclusively available at HHV.

Limited to 200 copies. Transcendental outernational funk and psychedelic jazz from mystery L.A.- based collective Sun Atlas

Little is known about Sun Atlas. The group members are hidden behind masks and costumes to keep their identities secret and to put the focus entirely on the music and oneness. A sense of community and universal spirit as an alternative to idolization and individualism is heavily reflected in their eclectic musical style.

The sound of Sun Atlas is mystical and cosmopolitan, combining afrobeat, cinematic soul, spiritual & ethio jazz with space sounds, hiphop-breaks and a garage funk vibe.

Their cryptic first 45 single “The Mystic Parade” b/w “Grand Theft” sold out immediately after release and has often been mistaken for either “lost” hiphop samples, 70s habibi funk or another project in disguise from the inner circles of the Mocambo, Big Crown or Daptone families (which it is not).

Return To The Spirit picks up where Sun Atlas’ first single left off, with everyone wondering where the journey might lead. With the door to a colourful universe opened, the full-length format gives time & space for further exploration.

This colorway is limited to 150 copies and only available at HHV.

With the broader adoption of the internet around the turn of the century, how people would engage with and discover underground music would change forever. As a result of the new digital era, DIY was now worldwide, and no band embraced this new frontier better than Have A Nice Life. Formed in 2000 by duo Dan Barrett and Tim Macuga, the Middletown, CT-based pair would, throughout the 00s, self-release and share a number of demos and home recordings via early social media channels as well as establish its in-house label Enemies List Home Recordings. These first steps set in motion Have A Nice Life’s rise to renown as an icon of underground music in the internet age, culminating with the release of its pivotal 2008 debut album, Deathconsciousness. Through word of mouth and online discussion, Deathconsciousness became subject to viral praise thanks to its synthesis of bleak post-punk, lo-fi shoegaze, and carpets of hypnotic drone music. Eventually, this humble self-released project would attain the status of a post-internet cult classic, amassing Have A Nice Life a fervent online following that the band would interact with in kind.

In an effort to thank and continue to engage with Have A Nice Life’s internet cult following, Barrett and Macuga would regularly share links to old demos, works in progress, and outtakes from the recording of Deathconsciousness. Over time, a group of fans would compile these demos into an unofficial release. Dubbed Voids, this fan-made compilation several alternate takes of tracks from Deathconsciousness, as well as a handful of early versions of songs that would appear on Have A Nice Life’s two following albums, The Unnatural World and Sea of Worry. While undeniably reminiscent of their final album version counterparts, the earlier versions of these tracks each feel distinct in a way that makes the moody, decidedly lo-fi aura of Voids an essential slice of the Have A Nice Life discography. Hungry for more from the enigmatic duo, fans swarmed around this compilation, accompanied by loud calls for it to receive a physical release. Seeing that demand and with the band’s blessing, a pair of fan-made tape pressings of Voids would be released via Music Ruins Lives, a DIY label run by Have A Nice Life superfan Thom Wasluck, also known for his band Planning for Burial. Between both instances of the tape swiftly selling out and the compilation’s long absence from streaming services, Voids has historically been an elusive release to track down, only available in the obscurest corners of the internet or physically on the secondary market at eye-wateringly high prices. Over a decade since its initial, unofficial release in 2011, The Flenser is proud to reissue Have A Nice Life’s Voids for the first time ever in an official capacity in physical form. Originally released digitally in early 2023 and freshly remastered for the occasion, this reissue of the beloved compilation will receive its first-ever wide release on physical formats (CD/LP/Cassette). This release also marks the first time fan-favorite tracks from Voids “Sisyphus”, “I’m Doctor House”, and “Human Error” will be available on vinyl and CD. Like a symbolic passing of the torch, the physical versions of the 2023 Voids reissue come with a foreword essay written by Wasluck, the previous custodian of Voids during the Music Ruins Lives days.

Limited edition of 300 copies on colored vinyl.

Paris-based producers Alcynoos and Parental team up again for "Night Shift", another beautiful instrumental outing delivering that mellow vibes to make your head nod. 13 delights with features by Soul Intellect, Lawiss and Dan Amozig. Tip!

Limitierte Auflage von 500 Stück auf schwarzem Vinyl von DJ Stylewarz' neuestem Album "Hall Of Fame" mit Gästen wie Umse, Heliocopta, Ferris MC, King Kolera, D-Flame & Flo Mega und anderen.

Der letzte seiner Art ist immer noch da! Kein Corona, keine geschlossenen Clubs, kein Hamburger Weg bei der Rückforderung von Hilfsgeldern, keine Musikbranche in der Dauerkrise kann ihn aufhalten: Man hätte dem letzten Breitmaulnashorn Bullen Sudan die gleiche Resilienz gewünscht, die Michael Whitelov aka DJ Stylewarz bis heute an den Tag legt.

Seit Sommer 2023 versorgte der gebürtige Bremerhavener über die letzten Monate die deutschsprachige Rapwelt erneut mit monatlichen Singlereleases. Nach dem 2019er Album „Der letzte seiner Art“ und „Mein Weg“ aus dem Jahre 2022 bündelt Stylewarz diese Singles nun auf dem Album „Hall of Fame“. Blickt man auf die Tracklist, kann man sich einer Sache sicher sein: Stylewarz bleibt seiner Linie als Producer treu und pickt die gecoverten Artists nach der lieb gewonnenen Tradition „Style over Fame“.

Nach dem Intro wartet bei „Family Biz“ mit Umse bereits der erste Protagonist hinter dem Mikrophon, der dieses Castingkriterium vollständig erfüllt. Über einen von einem Streichersample getragenen Beat philosophiert Umse wiederum über die Castingkriterien seines Inner Circle, seiner Family, die mit ihm zusammen sein Rap Biz trägt. Eine Hommage an seinen Bruder, die mit der Refrainzeile „… ich habe jederzeit die allerbesten Menschen um mich!…“ im Ohr hängen bleibt.

So verwundert es dann auch nicht, dass mit Flo Mega und D-Flame zwei weitere Rapper auf diesem Album vertreten sind, die ohne weiteres zu den Best Buddies von DJ Stylewarz gezählt werden dürfen. „Wegweiser“ heißt das catchy Rootsreggaebrett und lässt die Augen von jedem Yardi leuchten. Stylewarz’ gemeinsame Gigs mit den Hamburger Reggaelegenden von Silly Walks haben hier definitiv ihre Spuren hinterlassen. Trockene Offrhythm Snares gepaart mit Hammondorgel-Sequenzen verleihen dem Hamburger Frühling einen Hauch von Kingston, während Flo Mega den Refrain im feinsten Singerstyle präsentiert.

Und während der Booty noch am Twerken ist, wartet nur einen Track später mit „Message“ eine physiotherapeutische Herausforderung für jeden Nacken. Heliocopta aka die eine Hälfte der Kölner Rapcombo Peti Free reißt ab. Zornige Punchline über einen trockenen BoomBap Beat funktionieren sowohl mit 50er Kurzhanteln in der Hand als auch in der Karre am Strip und versorgen einen mit ausreichend Energie für den Rest des Tages.
Lange her, dass „Mies, Digga!“ so auf einen Track zutraf wie hier bei „Message“!

Ähnliche Banlieus Vibes bekommt man im weiteren Verlaufs des Albums nochmal bei „Crier ou se taire“ serviert. Trocken an Pianomelodien spitten die Brüsseler Legenden CNN199 über den Beat, und auch wenn man des Französischen nicht mächtig ist, catcht einen der Flow der beiden belgischen MCs sofort und lässt den Kraftausdauertest der Nackenmuskulatur in die nächste Runde gehen.

Mit „Hall of Fame“ setzt Michael Whitelov sein nächstes musikalisches Ausrufezeichen. Ebenso vielfältig wie in seinen DJ Sets präsentiert sich der Wahlhamburger in seinen Producerskills. Von BoomBap über Reggae bis hin zu Uptemponummern ist alles dabei, was das „2 Turntables & a Mic“-Herz höherschlagen lässt. Denn auch die übrigen Trakcs wie „Fresh“ mit L.A.A.S oder „Hall of Fame - Bounce Edition“ mit Ferris MC reihen sich in dieses Album ein, das einen gute 45 Minuten euphorisch mitnicken lässt. Die Bremen-Bremerhaven Connection, die aktuell landauf, landab die Livebühnen der
Republik abreißen, hat sich hier noch eine kleine Besonderheit für ihre Fans einfallen lassen. Der HOF-Track ist ebenfalls auf Ferris’ neuem Album vertreten, hier allerdings als „Hall of Fame - Monster Edition“!

Hall of Fame ist ein Album, das sich mit „Fühl’ ich“ zusammenfassend beschreiben lässt: Rap, wie er sein muss. Wahlweise deep oder dreckig, aber immer straight und on point. Oder um es mit den Worten von Stylewarz zu sagen - I feel (Track 10)!

Limited to 200 copies.

It’s a producer’s dream: Being given access to a vast library of material to construct something completely new and exciting out of all of it—and when Blockhead’s at the controls, the results are a listener’s paradise, too. The New York City-based hip-hop production legend’s latest album, Luminous Rubble, is also the fifth release in the London-based label Def Pressé’s KPM Crate Diggers series, which hands the keys to the KPM Library’s storied collection—home to over 70 years of music and sound designs made for television, film, and radio—to some of the best behind the boards. The results are like witnessing a kid unleashed in a candy shop, as Blockhead unleashes his boundless creative mind on the KPM Library’s limitless potential—pure inspiration and joy, for your listening pleasure.

Luminous Rubble is the latest missive in a particularly busy period for underground hip-hop veteran Tony Simon, who’s spent the last decades lending his considerable talents to work from artists like Armand Hammer, billy woods, Murs, and Open Mike Eagle; in 2021, he released the critically acclaimed collab LP Garbology with rap legend and longtime collaborator Aesop Rock, just last year he unleashed his twelfth solo album, The Aux. Luminous Rubble had its origins in a chance meeting after a Hamburg show between Simon and a KPM rep, who explained the Crate Diggers conceit to him.

“For me, as a producer who uses samples, there’s nothing better than free rein,” Simon recalls. “I was like, ‘Are there any rules?’ And he said, ‘Just make whatever you want.’ That was so exciting for me. I don’t get that on my own releases, but in this case every sample is cleared and it’s all good.”

As is the case with many sample excavators, Simon already had a deep history with what the KPM library had to offer him as well—to the point where, while digging through the crates in the making of Luminous Rubble, he even came across records he’d sampled from in the past. “Their vault is the one I’m most familiar with,” he says with a laugh. “Back when I used to go record shopping a lot, I would pretty much buy any KPM record on sight. They were always a huge find at record stores. So to be able to tap into these records with no limitations was really nice.”

“The challenge for me was trying to boil down what I wanted to do,” Simon continues while discussing the genesis of Luminous Rubble, which came together over the course of 2022. “I thought about making an album of super-long songs, but it would’ve been a whole different undertaking. So I just went with what I knew, because it’s a foolproof approach to me.” Of course, Simon’s track record as Blockhead meant that the familiar path was tried and true—but as Luminous Rubble’s ten tracks prove, it’s foolish to assume that would mean any laurel-resting on his part.

“My music is always very quirky and melody-driven,” Simon states while talking about how he stretched his creative wings in the studio. “I took chances more than usual when it came to samples and how I used them for foundation.” Indeed, Luminous Rubble finds Simon using the KPM library’s vastness to craft new and engagingly twisted beat-driven shapes; “Dork Crystal” radiates a sinister ominousness, with streaks of strings rubbing against stabbing guitar chords, while a delightfully scuzzy horn line dances around a hi-hat shuffle in “Scumlord.” “There’s something dirty about the horn sample,” Simon explains while discussing the track’s title. “It reminds you of oil-slicked streets in an alley. I wanted to embrace that feeling.”

Glittering bells and a woozy gait to “Serious About My Fitness” makes the tune sound as if you’re sweating it out on the Stairmaster (in a good way), while there’s a distinct thousand-karat shine to “Oh You Fancy,” which nearly resembles a glitzed-out haunted house in its gilded spookiness. “It just sounds like royalty,” Simon exclaims, before going into greater detail about how the creative parameters of the Crate Diggers series proved its own inspiration.

“I’ve always appreciated working within limitations,” he says. “Having no boundaries can be overwhelming when it comes to the creative process. Working with these samples forced me to find middle ground in cases where I’d typically just walk away and look elsewhere.” After hearing Luminous Rubble, you’ll be happy he stuck around.

Limited to 200 copies in this color way, only available at HHV in Germany.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Brainstory's sophomore full-length album Sounds Good. Based in L.A. but hailing from the Inland Empire's own Rialto, California, two-thirds of Brainstory, Kevin and Tony Martin are brothers by blood, while Eric Hagstrom is a brother through their music and long term friendship. Since they started the band they have constantly faced situations that forced them to rise to the occasion. They got signed to Big Crown Records, they stepped up their game. Covid happened, they learned to record themselves. They started touring a ton sharing the stage with the likes of Lady Wray and they got their live show super tight. All of this time spent grinding and growing has certainly paid off. The path to take their art to the next level is clearer than ever, and once again, they are here for it. If there is one thing that is abundantly clear on Sounds Good, it's that Brainstory has leveled up. Part of this evolution is undoubtedly attributed to having access to and working constantly in their own studio in Long Beach. Another major factor is that their brotherhood has expanded. "I've been playing music with my brother all my life and now with Eric for a long time," Tony tells us. "Leon, though, is like another brother I've just met." Leon Michels, Big Crown's co-owner, produced this record and applied his unmistakable golden touch in crucial ways. The other member of the extended Brainstory brotherhood whose contributions were essential to the album, is studio engineer legend Jens Jungkurth who controls the tones and textures of the music. "That's what you're hearing, our connection, the fun moments, the little details," Kevin describes. "This record isn't half what it is without them_and it made us want to match that effort," and match that effort they did. Album opener "Nobody But You" is an uplifting, dance ¬oor burner, that shows off a new side of Brainstory's range. Drummer Eric Hagstrom's crushing back beat lays the foundation for an inspirational feel good banger that manages to take the uncomfortable truth that "nobody will save you but you" and turn it into pure blissful motivation. "Peach Optimo" is a laid back half time tune that blends the bounce of Down South Hip-Hop with California G funk and Jazz. They once again show off their B said ballad talents with "Gift Of Life" but this time taking the genre to a new place with lyrics about existentialism and a track that is drop dead gorgeous, haunting, and profound all at once. "NyNy" is an homage to Kev and Tony's recently deceased grandfather while "Too Yung" is a show stopping, deeply personal, stripped down number about being introduced to alcohol at a young age. They put another hit on the boards with "Hanging On," a Latin / Psychedelic Soul inspired banger featuring Claire Cottrill on background vocals while "XFaded" addresses the all too common vicious cycle of smoking and drinking too much over a trippy shuf¬e. "It's been four years since our last full length record, and with everything that's happened since, it's like we've been catching up to ourselves." That's one way to describe change: catching up to oneself. Each member of Brainstory has gone through shifts, both personally and musically, and all of that threads through Sounds Good. It's easy to say that the music industry can be short on lasting, genuine relationships. However, for Brainstory, from day one it's been about standing by each other, for each other.

Limited to 200 copies.

12 new songs by Berlin singer-songwriter Katharina Kollmann, which she recorded with her band and choir.

12 new songs about precarity, about necessary solidarity, about clans and necessary shelters.

12 ravishingly good songs that will certainly offer us a good, emotional home.

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on clear vinyl, limited to 200 copies.

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on yellow vinyl, limited to 100 copies. Only available at hhv.de!

When the U.S. State Department announced in the mid-1970s that they were sponsoring a South African tour for the Oklahoma-born, Paris-based saxophonist Hal Singer, producer Rashid Vally took note. Even though his nascent record label As-Shams/The Sun (established in 1974) was making waves on the local scene, the idea of commissioning a recording from an international artist was a ballsy idea. With a discography that stretched back to the 1950s, Hal Singer was already somewhat of a legacy artist by 1976. Vally was well-versed on Singer’s accomplishments and specifically enamoured by his composition “Blue Stompin’,” which appeared on a Prestige album from 1959 that had struck a chord in South Africa. With his irresistible charm, Vally managed to coax Singer into a studio in Johannesburg, South Africa, to record a new version of “Blue Stompin’” with South African sax star Kippie Moeketsi, which became the title track of a 1977 album by Moeketsi. The recording session also yielded an album’s worth of new material by Hal Singer and his quartet that took its name from a track inspired by Singer’s trip to South Africa entitled “Soweto to Harlem.” Released in 1976 and only available in South Africa, Soweto to Harlem captures a laid-back, cheeky and nostalgic rhythm and blues set from the Hal Singer Quartet that is unlikely to have emerged for a different target market. With her irresistible charm, Vally was able to convince Singer to enter a Johannesburg studio. The recording session produced this album of new material by Hal Singer and his quartet named after a song inspired by Singer's trip to South Africa, entitled "Soweto to Harlem." Released in 1976 and available only in South Africa, "Soweto to Harlem" captures a laid-back, unabashed and nostalgic rhythm and blues of Hal Singer's quartet that would hardly have been born for a different market. Cinedelic’s 2024 edition of this rare album is sourced from the original tape masters and presents it on vinyl internationally for the very first time. The reissue follows Singer’s passing at the 100 in August 2020 as we contemplate and celebrate his extraordinary contribution to jazz in the United States and beyond.

Limited edition of 300 copies on CD in jewel copies.

Yall So Stupid came from Atlanta's underground and gave their listeners the low down on their town on their debut album "Van Full Of Pakistans", originally released on Rowdy Records in 1993. MC's Unkle Buk, H2O, and Logic, with DJ Sha Boogie on the turns, stuck to what they knew and did best: busting straight up hardcore tracks for macks, honeys and tricks. Entirely produced by Spearhead X eccept a few productions by label mates Da King & I and Sylvan Sargeant.

Available in a limited run on 2LP+7", extra 7" of the title track "Van Full Of Pakistans" ("Album Version" b/w "Spearhead X Remix"), CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on yellow vinyl, limited to 300 copies.

Sonor Music Editions is excited to announce this revived issue of Open Air Parade, one of the most sought-after artifacts from the golden era of Italian library music.

This holy grail was originally released in 1972 on the legendary Sermi Records label (often referred to as SR Records). It features ten tracks composed by Ennio Morricone’s whistler, Alessandro Alessandroni revealing his great talent and unrivaled sense of melody, and two by the brilliant Italian jazz bassist Giovanni Tommaso, also founder and member of the legendary prog-jazz-rock ensemble Perigeo.

Open Air Parade is a masterpiece and rightfully sits among the top five in its genre. It has a beautiful cohesiveness throughout and can only be described as sincere. The music ranges from superb psychedelic lounge funk, compelling groovy jazz beat tunes, and far-ranging mood music with lush arrangements.

It’s an essential album, officially reissued by Sonor Music Editions. This 2024 repress has been carefully remastered, and packed in a thick cardboard sleeve with fully restored artwork using the original painting by Ernst Wilhelm Nay in full fidelity.

LIMITED EDITION COLORED 7" BOX SET WITH 60 PAGE BOOK AND 30TH ANNIVERSARY TRADING CARDS PACK

Thirty years ago on November 9, 1993, The RZA, The GZA, Raekwon The Chef, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Method Man and Ghostface Killah formed like Voltron and set off the worldwide movement of the Wu-Tang Clan.

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the release of Wu-Tang Clan's classic 1993 debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Get On Down, in partnership with Sony's CERTIFIED and the RZA, is issuing a new limited edition box set of the album pressed on six split black and yellow 7-inches housed in a custom canvas wrapped Wu-Tang album art box with a printed outer slip case.

Box Set contains:

-The full album on six split black and yellow colored big hole 7-inch records in printed full color inner sleeves.

-A 60 page liner notes book titled The Shaolinothology featuring RZA input / interviews, extensive research by journalist Chris Faraone, album lyrics, rarely-seen photos and other rare images from the Enter The Wu-Tang era, plus new additional photos by Wu-Tang album cover photographer Danny Hastings.

-A pack of 30th Anniversary 36 Chambers Trading Cards featuring never-before-seen photos by photographer Danny Hastings. The trading cards are only available in this box set.

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on red in clear vinyl, limited to 500 copies

You Only Live 2wice is the third studio album from Freddie Gibbs. Following a tumultuous time in Gibbs’ personal life, the album focuses on Freddie overcoming his obstacles and rising from the ashes anew, as reflected in the album art depicting the resurrection of Jesus. At 8 tracks, the album has no features, instead using the space to let Gibbs bear his soul. The album includes the chilling violin-laced single, “Crushed Glass,” as well as standout hits, “20 Karat Jesus,” &”Amnesia.” Executive produced by Ben “Lambo” Lambert & Gibbs himself, the album sees production from BADBADNOTGOOD, Kaytranada, Speakerbomb, Dupri, Jay Nari, Teddy Walton, Blair Norf & more. Back in print for the first time since its initial release.