Search "career crooks" 311 Items

Nnamdi has never been able to stay in one place. The Chicago multi-instrumentalist and songwriter set a blistering pace in 2020 with his critically acclaimed genre-fusing LP Brat, a punk EP Black Plight, and Krazy Karl, a full-length tribute to Looney Tunes composer Carl Stalling. Add in his role as co-owner of label Sooper Records, as well as recent tours with Wilco, Sleater-Kinney, and black midi, and it's an overwhelming schedule. However, his latest album, Please Have A Seat, is the result of a much needed pause. "I realized I never take time to just sit and take in where I'm at," says Nnamdi. "It's just nice to not be on `Go, Go, Go!' mode, and reevaluate where I wanted to go musically." This period of reflection allowed him to take stock of his life and his relationships. "I wanted to be present," he says. "Each song came from a moment of clarity." Please Have A Seat serves as an invitation to listen. It's a request to sit down, be present, and take in a moment. With this quiet introspection, Nnamdi found inspiration in silence and nuance. While making the record, he decided to stretch the limits of his pop songwriting: every track had to be hummable. Though he's written earworms throughout his career from playing in bands in Chicago's DIY community or releasing goofy raps as Nnamdi's Sooper Dooper Secret Side Project, here, his shapeshifting hooks are undeniable. Each of the album's fourteen songs, which Nnamdi wrote, produced, and performed entirely himself, are relentlessly replayable, careening into unexpected and disorienting places. With Nnamdi's singular vision, Please Have A Seat is yet another leap from Chicago's hardest working musician. By taking a minute to sit down and catch his breath, he reemerged with the most ambitious, accessible, and nuanced work of his career.

Nnamdi has never been able to stay in one place. The Chicago multi-instrumentalist and songwriter set a blistering pace in 2020 with his critically acclaimed genre-fusing LP Brat, a punk EP Black Plight, and Krazy Karl, a full-length tribute to Looney Tunes composer Carl Stalling. Add in his role as co-owner of label Sooper Records, as well as recent tours with Wilco, Sleater-Kinney, and black midi, and it's an overwhelming schedule. However, his latest album, Please Have A Seat, is the result of a much needed pause. "I realized I never take time to just sit and take in where I'm at," says Nnamdi. "It's just nice to not be on `Go, Go, Go!' mode, and reevaluate where I wanted to go musically." This period of reflection allowed him to take stock of his life and his relationships. "I wanted to be present," he says. "Each song came from a moment of clarity." Please Have A Seat serves as an invitation to listen. It's a request to sit down, be present, and take in a moment. With this quiet introspection, Nnamdi found inspiration in silence and nuance. While making the record, he decided to stretch the limits of his pop songwriting: every track had to be hummable. Though he's written earworms throughout his career from playing in bands in Chicago's DIY community or releasing goofy raps as Nnamdi's Sooper Dooper Secret Side Project, here, his shapeshifting hooks are undeniable. Each of the album's fourteen songs, which Nnamdi wrote, produced, and performed entirely himself, are relentlessly replayable, careening into unexpected and disorienting places. With Nnamdi's singular vision, Please Have A Seat is yet another leap from Chicago's hardest working musician. By taking a minute to sit down and catch his breath, he reemerged with the most ambitious, accessible, and nuanced work of his career.

In hugo, there’s a central question that Loyle Carner keeps coming back to: “I’m young, Black, successful and have a platform - but where do I go next?” The answer is explored in this epic scream of a third album. With urgent delivery and gloriously widescreen production, Carner confronts both the deeply personal (“You can’t hate the roots of a tree, and not hate the tree. So how can I hate my father without hating me?) and the highly political (“I told the black man he didn’t understand I reached the white man he wouldn’t take my hand”). Cinematic in scale and scope, hugo is both a rallying war cry for a generation forged in fire and a study of the personal internal conflict that drives the rest of the album - as a mixed-race Black man, as an artist, as a father and as a son. With Mercury and Brits nominations, NME Awards and appearances in global brand campaigns (Nike, YSL, Timberland), Carner has undoubtedly had a meteoric rise to the top, culminating with his second album Not Waving, But Drowning charting at number 3 in the UK albums chart in 2019. However, hugo sees Carner taking a sharp detour from his previous work, putting it down to lockdown and the “hedonistic side of career being stripped away. There were no shows, no backstage, no festivals, no photoshoots”. By continuing to write in these tumultuous times with a renewed clarity and sense of artistic freedom, Carner reached deeper beneath the surface than he ever had before. The result is his most cathartic and ambitious record yet, a coruscating journey into the heart of what it means to be alive in these tumultuous times, and one which looks set to neatly cement his position as one of the most potent and vital young talents around today. Working alongside renowned producer kwes. (Solange, Kelela, Nao), Carner leaves no stone unturned on this album, in both its sound and its stories. In a 10-track album that moves from gorgeous neo-soul moments to thundering hip hop, with immediate, infectious bangers and sampled interludes from non musicians (mixed-race Guyanese poet John Agard and youth activist and politician Athian Akec) Carner shifts seamlessly from micro to macro, confronting everything from strained relationships with family to the societal tears caused by class stratification. It also lays bare bruises in his personal life that he has never revealed before – often in painful, deeply uncomfortable ways, focusing on Carner's experience of becoming a father in the context of growing up without contact with his biological father. With the song “Polyfilla”, against the backdrop of a warm melodic beat, Carner explores his desire to “break the chains in the cycle” of dysfunctional Black fatherhood, commenting on the narrative of fatherhood in the genre, and saying a key part of the process was realising that his father “grew up in a world where nobody showed him how to love or nurture”. The follow up track “A Lasting Place” is an exploration of the MC’s failure and inability to be perfect in this mission. The album closer is a powerful statement of love and forgiveness; with his signature lyrical dexterity, Carner declares his relentless commitment to his son and sees forgiving his father as a key part of this. The song closes with an emotional ending of Carner telling his dad “still I’m lucky yo that we talk”. There’s a striking duality of hugo’s bold, multilayered tracks and its often starkly intimate and tender lyricism, and that dichotomy is deliberate - it is a message for young Black men, but really, anyone, who is listening. Cognizant of the immense pain and fear and confusion that we are faced with everyday, Carner has thrown down the gauntlet, defying us not to rise above the fray, wake up each day and be ambitious. Ambitious in building strong personal relationships. Ambitious in our pursuit of our goals. Ambitious in never refusing to back down against injustice. Rejecting the title of leader, Loyle Carner sees himself “as holding up a mirror”, and that clearly translates into the album's universal messages.

In hugo, there’s a central question that Loyle Carner keeps coming back to: “I’m young, Black, successful and have a platform - but where do I go next?” The answer is explored in this epic scream of a third album. With urgent delivery and gloriously widescreen production, Carner confronts both the deeply personal (“You can’t hate the roots of a tree, and not hate the tree. So how can I hate my father without hating me?) and the highly political (“I told the black man he didn’t understand I reached the white man he wouldn’t take my hand”). Cinematic in scale and scope, hugo is both a rallying war cry for a generation forged in fire and a study of the personal internal conflict that drives the rest of the album - as a mixed-race Black man, as an artist, as a father and as a son. With Mercury and Brits nominations, NME Awards and appearances in global brand campaigns (Nike, YSL, Timberland), Carner has undoubtedly had a meteoric rise to the top, culminating with his second album Not Waving, But Drowning charting at number 3 in the UK albums chart in 2019. However, hugo sees Carner taking a sharp detour from his previous work, putting it down to lockdown and the “hedonistic side of career being stripped away. There were no shows, no backstage, no festivals, no photoshoots”. By continuing to write in these tumultuous times with a renewed clarity and sense of artistic freedom, Carner reached deeper beneath the surface than he ever had before. The result is his most cathartic and ambitious record yet, a coruscating journey into the heart of what it means to be alive in these tumultuous times, and one which looks set to neatly cement his position as one of the most potent and vital young talents around today. Working alongside renowned producer kwes. (Solange, Kelela, Nao), Carner leaves no stone unturned on this album, in both its sound and its stories. In a 10-track album that moves from gorgeous neo-soul moments to thundering hip hop, with immediate, infectious bangers and sampled interludes from non musicians (mixed-race Guyanese poet John Agard and youth activist and politician Athian Akec) Carner shifts seamlessly from micro to macro, confronting everything from strained relationships with family to the societal tears caused by class stratification. It also lays bare bruises in his personal life that he has never revealed before – often in painful, deeply uncomfortable ways, focusing on Carner's experience of becoming a father in the context of growing up without contact with his biological father. With the song “Polyfilla”, against the backdrop of a warm melodic beat, Carner explores his desire to “break the chains in the cycle” of dysfunctional Black fatherhood, commenting on the narrative of fatherhood in the genre, and saying a key part of the process was realising that his father “grew up in a world where nobody showed him how to love or nurture”. The follow up track “A Lasting Place” is an exploration of the MC’s failure and inability to be perfect in this mission. The album closer is a powerful statement of love and forgiveness; with his signature lyrical dexterity, Carner declares his relentless commitment to his son and sees forgiving his father as a key part of this. The song closes with an emotional ending of Carner telling his dad “still I’m lucky yo that we talk”. There’s a striking duality of hugo’s bold, multilayered tracks and its often starkly intimate and tender lyricism, and that dichotomy is deliberate - it is a message for young Black men, but really, anyone, who is listening. Cognizant of the immense pain and fear and confusion that we are faced with everyday, Carner has thrown down the gauntlet, defying us not to rise above the fray, wake up each day and be ambitious. Ambitious in building strong personal relationships. Ambitious in our pursuit of our goals. Ambitious in never refusing to back down against injustice. Rejecting the title of leader, Loyle Carner sees himself “as holding up a mirror”, and that clearly translates into the album's universal messages.

Following several tragedies in his personal life, New York rapper El Gant had a decision to make—face those losses head on or bury them deep within. Luckily for us, he chose the former. The result is O.S.L.O., the emcee’s most gripping and personal project yet. It’s also his most relatable, because it shows what we’re all capable of when we’re equipped with the right tools to cope and, in El Gant’s case, transform that tragedy into something powerful.

The album arrives nearly a decade after his previous solo effort, 2014’s great Beast Academy, and after several years spent touring and recording with his group, Jamo Gang, with Ras Kass and J57. Despite the highs associated with that time, El Gant also experienced major personal losses. In particular, he lost three close friends—The Last Original, Bones, and Jim Misa—all of whom had a major impact on his life and career. In fact, the album’s title, O.S.L.O., references the Last Original, because it’s an acronym for “Our Sun the Last Original.”

But it wouldn’t be an El Gant project without some straight-up dope hip-hop, too. Tracks like “Avirex (feat. Innocent? & King Magnetic)” and “Chromed Out (feat. Ras Kass & Planet Asia)” are absolute bangers filled with shape-shifting flows and crazy wordplay.

There’s a reason for these tonal shifts, too; El Gant didn’t want to simply create a linear album. “I want to take the listener on a few ups and downs, just like life does for most of us,” the emcee says. It’s those qualities that make O.S.L.O. so immediately satisfying, and why it’s his most accomplished work to date.

Chris Crack is back with a brand new album called, Growthfully Developed. Fans and critics alike are already calling it the Westside Chicago native’s best album in the last few years. Pitchfork said “Crack’s latest album is a delicate balance of fresh and familiar from one of the funniest and most thoughtful rappers working today.” With song titles like “Pussy Better When You Eat It First” and “Shitting With The Door Open,” it’s no wonder why he’s said to have the best song titles in the game. Whether it’s heavy hitting 808’s, soul loops or head nodding boom bap Chris laces up the variety of beats with style and finesse. Praised by media outlets such as Billboard and Rolling Stone as well as by iconic hip hop artists such as Earl Sweatshirt and Madlib. Like the album title suggests, Chris has fully grown and developed to reach this point in his career and critics will believe that Growthfully Developed be looked back upon as a pivotal album in his prolific career.

Before the acclaimed albums "Legends Never Die" and "All My Heroes Are Dead" brought his career to new heights, R.A. The Rugged Man spent years as an underrated rap enigma, with a slew of storied records to his name that had never received a proper release. With the 2009 compilation "Legendary Classics Vol. 1, R.A. finally unleashed many of the lost gems that earned him a reputation as one of hip-hop's most feared lyricists, showcasing his undeniable history. An essential collection from a true hip-hop original, the album features appearances by The Notorious B.I.G., Havoc of Mobb Deep, Jedi Mind Tricks, Kool G Rap, J-Live, Hell Razah, Tragedy Khadafi, Akinyele, and Sadat X, along with track-by-track commentary from the Rugged Man himself. This "Legendary Classics Vol. 1" reissue also includes the new bonus track “The Greatest” featuring famed Italian singer Marcella Puppini, which has never before been available on vinyl.

Next on Extra Soul Perception, we're very proud to welcome a new artist to the label, Paddy Fred, with three tracks of antipodean psych soul for his 'Spells' 7".
Paddy Fred is a musician based on the south coast of Wellington, New Zealand, where he grew up. He's played guitar since he was a teen, and went on to study music performance, and toured with a number of bands throughout his twenties. When these bands dissolved in 2011, he began beat making and music production of his own, losing himself in the freedom of making music on his terms.
Inspired after hanging with Flying Lotus & the Brainfeeder crew and clubbing at Low End Theory in Los Angeles, Paddy created his first release, 'Laminate', which dropped in 2013; the same year Paddy entered fatherhood.
After emerging from the "survival zone" of the first five years of parenting, Paddy emerged a little lost, separated from the momentum of his musical career. There then followed a period of self-reflection. As he ran up and over the same coastal path repeatedly, he slowly but surely rekindled his passion for music making, and the work began again…
Paddy came to the attention of the Extra Soul Perception crew courtesy of fellow New Zealander, Mara TK (who provided the label's highly acclaimed 2021 album 'Bad Meditation'). When the guys heard the demos, they signed him on sight.
The lead track 'Spells' consists of big sludgy drums, a growling synth bass, ethereal guitars and spacey vocals, mixing the washed-out slow-mo beat construction of Toro Y Moi with the heady psychedelic soul of Tame Impala and Mildlife. On the flipside 'Found You' is a more tranquil affair, with languorous drums befitting DJ's Khruangbin rhythm section, whilst closer 'Kids' (digital only) offers a robust yet airy finish with an uptempo instrumental akin to the sound palette of late 00s Four Tet.
'Spells' is the first taste of Paddy's new material. Inspired by lost love, babies feet, social fatigue and universes held within rock-pools, this is Paddy Fred at his most true to self, and just a small sample of what's to come.
'Spells' is released on 7" vinyl & digital worldwide via Extra Soul Perception in late October 2022.

Further to cementing 2021 as his huge breakout year, Digga D returns with his mammoth new single ‘G Lock’ featuring US rap star, Moneybagg Yo - out now via Cgm/ega alongside the he news of his highly-anticipated third mixtape, ‘Noughty By Nature’ - set for release this coming April 15th, 2022 via Cgm/ega.

‘G Lock’ follows on from Digga’s previous releases which include ‘2k17’, ‘Pump 101’ and ‘Wasted’, the latter two of which were his second and third top 10 records. Since the release of his critically acclaimed 2021 mixtape, ‘Made In The Pyrex’ – a project which showcased the lyrical dexterity of the West-London rapper – Digga D has firmly cemented his position within drill, a genre which he has dominantly spearheaded over the last few years. The tape featured hit single’s 'Chingy', 'Woi' and ‘Bringing It Back’ - all of which charted in the UK at #24, #18 and #5 respectively whilst also earning him a 4* review from The Guardian. Digga D has continuously been commended for his consistent work rate during which he showcases his technical lyrical ability and charisma, married with his unorthodox flow.

Breaking onto the scene with his 2019 hit single ‘No Diet’ – the track subsequently peaked at #20 in the UK singles chart and to date, has amassed over 26 million YouTube views. Shortly after, his debut mixtape ‘Double Tap Diaries’ charted at #11, making it the highest charting debut for a UK solo drill artist, ever. With over 300 million global streams under his belt, 2020 saw Digga D also became the first solo drill artist to be nominated, and subsequently win an AIM Independent Music Award. Thereafter he was nominated for a Mobo Award for ‘Song of The Year’, as well as ‘Best Rap Track’ at DJ Mag’s Best of British Awards. His BAFTA-winning BBC Three documentary ‘Defending Digga D’ detailed the many hurdles and setbacks Digga has faced since the beginning of his career however, in spite of this, the 21-year-old rapper has defied all odds, rapidly becoming a household name within the UK music scene.

Further to cementing 2021 as his huge breakout year, Digga D returns with his mammoth new single ‘G Lock’ featuring US rap star, Moneybagg Yo - out now via Cgm/ega alongside the he news of his highly-anticipated third mixtape, ‘Noughty By Nature’ - set for release this coming April 15th, 2022 via Cgm/ega.

‘G Lock’ follows on from Digga’s previous releases which include ‘2k17’, ‘Pump 101’ and ‘Wasted’, the latter two of which were his second and third top 10 records. Since the release of his critically acclaimed 2021 mixtape, ‘Made In The Pyrex’ – a project which showcased the lyrical dexterity of the West-London rapper – Digga D has firmly cemented his position within drill, a genre which he has dominantly spearheaded over the last few years. The tape featured hit single’s 'Chingy', 'Woi' and ‘Bringing It Back’ - all of which charted in the UK at #24, #18 and #5 respectively whilst also earning him a 4* review from The Guardian. Digga D has continuously been commended for his consistent work rate during which he showcases his technical lyrical ability and charisma, married with his unorthodox flow.

Breaking onto the scene with his 2019 hit single ‘No Diet’ – the track subsequently peaked at #20 in the UK singles chart and to date, has amassed over 26 million YouTube views. Shortly after, his debut mixtape ‘Double Tap Diaries’ charted at #11, making it the highest charting debut for a UK solo drill artist, ever. With over 300 million global streams under his belt, 2020 saw Digga D also became the first solo drill artist to be nominated, and subsequently win an AIM Independent Music Award. Thereafter he was nominated for a Mobo Award for ‘Song of The Year’, as well as ‘Best Rap Track’ at DJ Mag’s Best of British Awards. His BAFTA-winning BBC Three documentary ‘Defending Digga D’ detailed the many hurdles and setbacks Digga has faced since the beginning of his career however, in spite of this, the 21-year-old rapper has defied all odds, rapidly becoming a household name within the UK music scene.

The instrumental album "Gumbo", released in 2008, marked the beginning of Brenk Sinatra's international career as a producer. Voted one of the top 20 best instrumental albums of all time by the German JUICE magazine, "Gumbo" made the leap out of Austria with its rough and at the same time very soulful, sample-based instrumentals and put Brenk’s producer skills in the spotlight for the first time.

The follow-up "Gumbo II" was released in 2011 via the Cologne-based label MPM, which helped ignite the growing hype around instrumental hip-hop with Brenk Sinatra and other exceptional producers on board. Brenk's uncompromising second part of the Gumbo series catapulted him into the ranks of the most sought-after beat producers in Europe. Since then, the third and final part of the Gumbo series was also in the planning stage, but the ever-increasing number of musical projects and not least the pressure to top the first two album parts prevented Brenk from completing his instrumental trilogy. The folder with the instrumentals selected for it grew to well over 100 beats, was partially deleted and constantly changed in its composition, until Brenk stopped the targeted collection of Gumbo material in 2017 for the time being. At that time, Brenk made a stylistic shift that led him away from classic, sample-based beats to those laid-back trap hybrids that are now known as his trademark sound. Also, the mindset to complete "Gumbo III" would not settle and other projects were brought forward until the album took a complete back seat. Over the years, fans and journalists were repeatedly put off by Brenk when asked about a release date and "Gumbo III" became an eagerly awaited phantom project.

Fast forward to the year 2021: for the first time in four years Brenk clicks through the folder with the interludes, musical sketches and already finished beats once produced for "Gumbo III". With a new label and publishing situation in the background (in 2021 Brenk founded the music label Wave Planet Records as well as the associated publishing company Wave Planet Publishing) he makes the decision that the time is now ripe for the completion of the Gumbo trilogy and Wave Planet Records must become the new home of this project. This is followed by weeks of painstaking restoration of the instrumentals produced between 2012 and 2016. Brenk's focus was to keep the musical spirit of the instrumentals unchanged and not to modernize the sound. From today's perspective, "Gumbo III" bursting with countless vinyl samples sounds like Brenk's earlier beats, anachronistic and refreshingly different precisely because of that. The only update allowed for the "Gumbo III" instrumentals was a new mix by Brenk and mastering by his top-notch producer colleague Dexter.

The perfect visual complement to the Gumbo sound universe is provided by the playful cover artwork, bursting with details, by Cone The Weird, who already provided the striking artwork for the "Gumbo II" album.

The completion of the trilogy will be celebrated among other things with a very special "Gumbo Trilogy Box", which will be released in November 2022 and will make the heart of every passionate collector beat faster.

Black Friday Record Store Day 2022 First Release. Color: Black. Limitation: 3500.
Tommy Boy Records, the legendary hip-hop label founded in 1981, launched the careers of so many notable hip hop legends. Tommy Boy’s Baddest Beats features the greatest hits of Naughty by Nature, Digital Underground, Queen Latifah, Coolio, House of Pain, Stetsasonic, K7 and Apache. The package is 140g black vinyl in an old-style tip-on full color jacket, with full color labels, wrap and RSD sticker.

Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA and Girl Talk have released their collaborative LP Full Court Press. The product of over a decade-long friendship among the artists, the new album is a timeless and upbeat rap record.

On the project’s lead single, March’s “Put You On,” the group drops bars about the come-up of their respective careers. Leading up to the release, they shared more songs and accompanying music videos, including a visual for the party track “Ain’t No Fun” directed by kee and Bawwse.

“Collaborating with Girl Talk, Big K.R.I.T., and Smoke DZA on this album has been a long time coming,” Khalifa said. “Putting it together and throwing the house party for the “Ain’t No Fun” video was the perfect way to wrap the album.”

Spanning ten singles in total, Full Court Press is a nostalgic throwback, featuring undertones of the seventies and eighties alongside the musical stylings of each individual contributor. The album also packs in an additional guest appearance Curren$y.

Stay Close To Music’, the forthcoming new studio album from Mykki Blanco, is unlike anything they have released before. Adventurous and expansive, it shatters any previously held assumptions about Mykki’s artistry, leaving them free to define their sound for themselves. The LP is being released on October 14, 2022 via Transgressive. Throughout their evolution, poet, artist, musician Mykki Blanco has continuously blurred genres - pulling rave, trap, grunge and punk influences into a swirling pool of experimental hip hop that celebrated queer and trans experiences. Yet, Mykki admits that “at that point in my career, I didn't know what my own music sounded like without any kind of direct, outside reference. That's not a bad thing; that's how the majority of music is made.” Ultimately Mykki concluded they wanted to create their own sonic universe from scratch. To facilitate this, they collaborated with producer and multi-instrumentalist FaltyDL, who allowed them to envision new soundscapes built from lush, live instrumentation. “It just transported me,” they admit. “It enabled me to dream in a way that I had never dreamed with my own songwriting. All of a sudden, I felt like I had this template where I could make that sound my own.”

The songs spun together through numerous jam sessions, with writing taking place in Lisbon, Paris, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. By 2019, Mykki realized that they were working on two different records concurrently. The first became 2021’s lauded mini-album Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep and now Mykki readies the second collection of the sessions via Stay Close To Music. “I wanted to see what it would be like to go back and be a musician from another time where you had to start every ingredient raw from scratch. That process, ideology and that way of making has not only changed me as a musician, it has creatively changed me as a person.” Stay Close To Music features from Michael Stripe, Saul Williams, Anohni, Dianna Gordon, Devendra Banhart, Jónsi and more.

Mykki Blanco is an artist revered for their fearless ability to evolve, placing their creative exploration at the forefront of their career. With ‘Stay Close To Music’, Mykki Blanco is leveling up. By stepping into unchartered territory untethered and free, they have fulfilled their ambitions and created a rich, complex and accomplished sound that belongs entirely to them and which only solidifies their status as one of the world’s most innovative musical pioneers.

In autumn 2019 the label Beat Art Department released Soia's third album "Where Magnolia Grows" with great success. With "Where Magnolia Grows Remixes" the album gets a new coat of paint. A handful of greats from the European hip-hop scene were won over for the remixes. L One (atp Crew, Beat Art Department) and C.O.W.? (Compost Records) from Munich, Moo Latte (U Know Me), Copenhagener by choice, from Warsaw, Franchise and MEZ, both from Vienna and Fvlcrvm from Bratislava.

Moo Latte provides the first remix of Soia’s “Where Magnolia Grows” album, and took “Fractal Spirits” for a new ride! The two Hip Hop/Neo Soul/Jazz artists first met on Soundcloud and have been sending vibes through the ether between Copenhagen and Vienna since then. The “Fractal Spirits” Remix is a first taste for their upcoming EP called “Spiritual Housekeeping".

The second “Where Magnolia Grows” Remix EP teaser re-work comes from C.O.W. ?. Running with the cows. Soia’s sound is so exceptional that the German-Chinese producer collective didn't have to think twice when asked to remix her success single Running With Wolves. This chilled but pressing version is another highlight in the collective's career…

As the third remix comes the smooth, laid back “My Tiny” Remix by Bavarian beat smith L One.

For the new remix from Soia's "Where Magnolia Grows" album, Bratislava-based house producer Fvlcrvm has taken on "Hoe For Love". Fvlcrvm made a real floor filler out of the slow jam "Hoe For Love" with a mixture of house, glitch and broken beat.

In hugo, there’s a central question that Loyle Carner keeps coming back to: “I’m young, Black, successful and have a platform - but where do I go next?” The answer is explored in this epic scream of a third album. With urgent delivery and gloriously widescreen production, Carner confronts both the deeply personal (“You can’t hate the roots of a tree, and not hate the tree. So how can I hate my father without hating me?) and the highly political (“I told the black man he didn’t understand I reached the white man he wouldn’t take my hand”). Cinematic in scale and scope, hugo is both a rallying war cry for a generation forged in fire and a study of the personal internal conflict that drives the rest of the album - as a mixed-race Black man, as an artist, as a father and as a son. With Mercury and Brits nominations, NME Awards and appearances in global brand campaigns (Nike, YSL, Timberland), Carner has undoubtedly had a meteoric rise to the top, culminating with his second album Not Waving, But Drowning charting at number 3 in the UK albums chart in 2019. However, hugo sees Carner taking a sharp detour from his previous work, putting it down to lockdown and the “hedonistic side of career being stripped away. There were no shows, no backstage, no festivals, no photoshoots”. By continuing to write in these tumultuous times with a renewed clarity and sense of artistic freedom, Carner reached deeper beneath the surface than he ever had before. The result is his most cathartic and ambitious record yet, a coruscating journey into the heart of what it means to be alive in these tumultuous times, and one which looks set to neatly cement his position as one of the most potent and vital young talents around today. Working alongside renowned producer kwes. (Solange, Kelela, Nao), Carner leaves no stone unturned on this album, in both its sound and its stories. In a 10-track album that moves from gorgeous neo-soul moments to thundering hip hop, with immediate, infectious bangers and sampled interludes from non musicians (mixed-race Guyanese poet John Agard and youth activist and politician Athian Akec) Carner shifts seamlessly from micro to macro, confronting everything from strained relationships with family to the societal tears caused by class stratification. It also lays bare bruises in his personal life that he has never revealed before – often in painful, deeply uncomfortable ways, focusing on Carner's experience of becoming a father in the context of growing up without contact with his biological father. With the song “Polyfilla”, against the backdrop of a warm melodic beat, Carner explores his desire to “break the chains in the cycle” of dysfunctional Black fatherhood, commenting on the narrative of fatherhood in the genre, and saying a key part of the process was realising that his father “grew up in a world where nobody showed him how to love or nurture”. The follow up track “A Lasting Place” is an exploration of the MC’s failure and inability to be perfect in this mission. The album closer is a powerful statement of love and forgiveness; with his signature lyrical dexterity, Carner declares his relentless commitment to his son and sees forgiving his father as a key part of this. The song closes with an emotional ending of Carner telling his dad “still I’m lucky yo that we talk”. There’s a striking duality of hugo’s bold, multilayered tracks and its often starkly intimate and tender lyricism, and that dichotomy is deliberate - it is a message for young Black men, but really, anyone, who is listening. Cognizant of the immense pain and fear and confusion that we are faced with everyday, Carner has thrown down the gauntlet, defying us not to rise above the fray, wake up each day and be ambitious. Ambitious in building strong personal relationships. Ambitious in our pursuit of our goals. Ambitious in never refusing to back down against injustice. Rejecting the title of leader, Loyle Carner sees himself “as holding up a mirror”, and that clearly translates into the album's universal messages.

Certainly one of the core figures in the beat scene of Sofia, Bulgaria, Bojidar Vasilev – Trombobby combines his long-time passion, the trombone, with peculiar beats for a truly contemporary sound. Studied jazz trombone at Conservatorium van Amsterdam, he’s also part of acts like Southwick, Dayo, and Android Ethics. Trombobby has played with and produced for numerous musicians in Bulgaria’s thriving soul, r&b, and instrumental hip hop scenes and also teaches music production at Sound Ninja Music Academy.

Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, TromBobby’s collaborator on Pause vol 1 – Jermaine Holmes began embarking on his musical career at the age of four as a member of his grandfather’s choir of Mount Calvary Baptist church. Jermaine performs as lead singer for Pete Rock and The Soul Brothers, and appears alongside artists like Nicole Bus, Keyon Harrold and many others on albums and stages around the world. Previously he had become an active member of the group The Vanguard since 2012 with popular R&B/Soul artist D’Angelo.

4 years ago Bojidar Vasilev embarked on a journey that’s both solo and packed with friendships. Indebted to Dilla, Knxwledge, and a whole galaxy of influential beat makers, the the fresh-out-of-Amsterdam-studies musician released his debut album Run.

With more than 100k streams on all major DSPs, the world saw TromBobby solidifying his place in the production scene and another example for the rise of the producers as lead artists. While he was already a household name in the Bulgarian r&b / soul and instrumental scene, it was Run that put TromBobby on the path of self-discovery and growth as a musician.

TromBobby’s new approach is a juxtaposition to the Forest Gump inspiration behind Run (2018) and while running did save Forest before, this new record channels his last 4 years of experience and learnings into a more laid-back and grounded destination.

On his new EP, Pause VOL.1, Bojidar, now 27, expands his attitude to beat music with neo-soul, jazz and r&b elements, going beyond sampling and with focus on live instrumentation and vocals as a production element. All that designed to create complex multi-layered music with vast emotional horizons. The take-everything-from-life-and-don’t-stop-for-a-second energy is now transformed. Still there, but somehow matured due to the realization that you really need to focus on certain things in order to achieve your goals.

It is that focus that translated into TromBobby’s ever-growing desire to play more and more instruments. Something that’s not only evident in the album’s artwork and credits, but when experiencing his music live.

On the new record TromBobby manifests the 4 years of exploration and love for collaboration with friends and same-energy people. That leads him to crossing paths with Jermaine Holmes who is an active member of the group The Vanguard since 2012 with artist D’Angelo. Their 2 collaborative tracks “longing” and “tony’s Lament” don’t only cross borders, but genres and sensations.

A big leap forward to TromBobby is utilizing his singing abilities on “box OF Chocolates” and “sunday”. Being fearless is that Run energy that translates into Pause VOL.1 and what’s going to carry on in VOL.2.

Hailing from Queens, NY, the original members of Onyx were discovered by the legendary Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.COnyx released their ninth studio album, Onyx Versus Everybody. Almost 30 years since their debut, Onyx still have raw energy, undeniable boldness and their pulse on the culture. The 10-track LP is a cohesive body of work that is full of street tales featuring appearances by Big Twin, Ricky Bats, Harrd Luck and Termanology. If you're a diehard fan of Onyx, this is one of the group's best projects in their legendary career. According to Sticky Fingaz, the album was completed in just two weeks thanks, in part, to the group's new songwriting process. "We didn't really write anything," he recalls. "We wrote a little bit but you know, we got a new technique where we just vibe and get on it. We recorded everything in the Batcave. That's Fredro's studio." Fredro says their classic "Last Dayz" from their sophomore album, was the inspiration behind the production on their new album. "'Last Dayz' is a Hip Hop classic beat you know? It was in 8 Mile and that made it even more legendary so I wanted to get the vibe on the album," he says. "I know what I know when it comes to making beats and my style never changed. That's why it sounds like 1996 because I didn't change the way I make my beats. When it comes to producing, Fredro claims to have the hardest tracks in the game and he brought that same energy to the new album. "I don't get nothing from a beat machine," he added. "I don't even use a hi-hat. I got my own drums. I play my own drums. My shit is dirty. I need it to be dirty. My shit is filthy. I got the nastiest, grimest, beats in Hip Hop." With their signature hardcore lyricism and gritty production, Onyx Vs Everybody makes a strong case for being named among the best albums of 2022 so far, but that isn't the recognition they seek. "Onyx Vs Everybody is the hottest, grimmest, dirtiest album of the year," Sticky Fingaz boasts. "I don't want the best album of the year. They can have that. This...

Ramson Badbonez returns with his brand new album ‘fusion’.

Embedded in the streets and lanes of Dalston, Hackney and Islington, where Badbonez made his way up, no stone is left unturned as Badbonez dissects the many highs and lows that took him from a life running the roads, to documenting his experiences across thirteen brand new tracks.

The most impressive thing about ‘fusion’ is the dexterity Badbonez showcases across the release, expertly traversing a catalogue of rhythms and tempos with his now signature delivery; crystal clear, unapologetic, razor sharp, yet intricate and highly complex multi-syllables.

This genre blurring offering is, in part, down to the curated production talent joining forces to ensure a formidable spectrum of neck-snapping sonics are offered up to both Badbonez and the listener. From album opener ‘Alpha’ produced by the one-and-only High Plains Drifter Jehst, to offerings from Dead Players’ very own GhostTown, long-time collaborator Mark Fear and heavy-hitter Forest DLG, and with a features list that includes TrueMendous, Datkid and Confucius MC, ‘fusion’ marks a significant moment in Ramson Badbonez career; elevating his position as one of the great commentators on life in London town, but further, as one of the rap games most innovative outliers.

The ‘fusion’ Neon Green limited edition 2 x 12" vinyl comes with a digital download on release day & is limited to only 300 copies!

It's here! HHE secured a limited CD release of the new El Gant album O​.​S​.​L​.​O! Production and features by DJ Premier, Marco Polo, Ras Kass, Planet Asia, Killah Priest, King Magnetic, J57, Jon Doe and more! What's even better is that 2 bonus tracks will be added! Very limited one-time press of 150 joints only!



Check the breakdown...



“This album outlines my growth as a human. I wanted to share it as a way to help others who have experienced personal tragedies and may need help processing that.” —El Gant on his new solo album, O.S.L.O.



Following several tragedies in his personal life, New York rapper El Gant had a decision to make—face those losses head on or bury them deep within. Luckily for us, he chose the former. The result is O.S.L.O., the emcee’s most gripping and personal project yet. It’s also his most relatable, because it shows what we’re all capable of when we’re equipped with the right tools to cope and, in El Gant’s case, transform that tragedy into something powerful.



The album arrives nearly a decade after his previous solo effort, 2014’s great Beast Academy, and after several years spent touring and recording with his group, Jamo Gang, with Ras Kass and J57. Despite the highs associated with that time, El Gant also experienced major personal losses. In particular, he lost three close friends—The Last Original, Bones, and Jim Misa—all of whom had a major impact on his life and career. In fact, the album’s title, O.S.L.O., references the Last Original, because it’s an acronym for “Our Sun the Last Original.”



“His death really made me think about life and I made some huge transformations after that mentally, physically, and financially,” El Gant says. You can hear that personal growth on standout tracks like “Leave It Alone” and “Rubber Match,” produced by the legendary DJ Premier and J57, respectively. But it’s the stirring closing track, “Beautiful Disaster,” where El Gant speaks on losing his close friend, the Last Original, and how he found beauty amidst the chaos of those final days.



But it wouldn’t be an El Gant project without some straight-up dope hip-hop, too. Tracks like “Avirex (feat. Innocent? & King Magnetic)” and “Chromed Out (feat. Ras Kass & Planet Asia)” are absolute bangers filled with shape-shifting flows and crazy wordplay.



There’s a reason for these tonal shifts, too; El Gant didn’t want to simply create a linear album. “I want to take the listener on a few ups and downs, just like life does for most of us,” the emcee says. It’s those qualities that make O.S.L.O. so immediately satisfying, and why it’s his most accomplished work to date.

tobi lou cements a connection to countless listeners through his creativity. The Nigeria-born, Chicago-raised, and Los Angeles-based rapper and producer builds music meant to last with unpredictable flare and inimitable spirit. As the story goes, tobi lou flourished as a football player and baseball player until undergoing a dream-ending injury and jumping from a semi-pro career to the mic. A series of buzzing EPs—tobi lou and the Moon, tobi lou and The Loop, and tobi lou and The Juice—paved the way for his 2019 mixtape, Live on Ice. The latter included “I Was Sad Last Night I’m OK Now,” which racked up 42.9 million Spotify streams. Earning widespread acclaim, Pitchfork hailed 2020’s “Student Loans” as “a refreshing dose of joy.” Meanwhile, Lyrical Lemonade christened him, “Chicago’s Rising Superhero.” Along the way, he headlined shows coast-to-coast and shut down festival stages at Lollapalooza and beyond. He also collaborated with everyone from Smino to Dreezy. Throughout 2021, he assembled Non-Perishable out of his East Los Angeles apartment. He notably produced on every track, lending his touch to the entirety of the project. After amassing hundreds of millions of streams, packing shows, and receiving acclaim from GQ, W Magazine, and more, he architects an immersive experience on his second full-length project and the first installment of a 2022 trilogy, Non-Perishable.

Melonskin Records is proud to announce the official release of Eva Lazarus' brand new album 'Brandy Kisses'

Marking a new chapter in her career, 'Brandy Kisses' is a beautiful sounding record, emphasising her versatility, song writing and incredible vocal range. Effortlessly jumping from soulful croons to punchy rap verses, Eva showcases all avenues of her ability to create a seamless body of work deeply packed with with strong messages & meanings.

'Brandy Kisses' also shines a light on Dirty Dike's incredible growth as a producer. The two have created a modern R&B masterpiece which is bound to catapult both artists to higher heights.

“Ben Buck B Sides” is a remix compilation by rapper/beatboxer/producer, Ben Buck. Born and raised in Austin Texas, Ben Buck has become a mainstay of the underground hip hop scene in Texas for the past several years. “B Sides” came about during the height of the 2020 corona virus epidemic. With limited ways to collaborate with other artists face to face, Buck came up with a way to re-tool his past discography by sending out the acapellas from his past 3 albums (Kilroy, Speaker Bump Deluxe and The Marquee) to producers all over the country. What came about was the first volume of “Ben Buck B Sides”. With deep influences in the golden era and traditional styles of underground hip hop, Ben Buck strives to innovate and continue the legacy of artists who paved the way before him. Hailing from a musical family, Ben Buck’s father Mike Buck was a founding member of the legendary blues group “The Fabulous Thunderbirds”. Mike Buck is also the co-owner of the historic Antone’s Record Shop in Austin Texas where both Ben and his sister Billie work. His sister Billie Buck is also the frontwoman for the garage/punk band “Sailor Poon” (Austin Chronicle’s Best Punk Band 2018, 2019 and 2020). She is a gifted graphic designer and poster artist, and frequently does designs for Ben’s merchandising and album covers. Over the course of his musical career, Ben Buck has beatboxed on stage alongside several hip hop legends on their tour dates through Texas including: Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck (Wu Tang Clan), Skyzoo, Bushwick Bill (Geto Boys), Czarface, RA The Rugged Man, Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship, Project Blowed) and many others. Buck’s live performance centers around high energy lyricism and live beatbox looping, with large emphasis on crowd work, reminiscent of a blend of artists such as Reggie Watts, Rahzel and Action Bronson.

Benny The Butcher blazed a trail as an elite voice in rap’s underground to become a top artist in all of music. The prolific Buffalo, New Yorker has established two legendary (and concurrent) album series, broken bread with industry leaders, and twice reached the Billboard Top 40 albums chart as an independent. Now Benny sets the table for a definitive 2022. Soon, he will unveil his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4. By 2004, Benny combined these experiences to launch the Tana Talk series while on house arrest. As TT3 promised, Benny delivered two volumes of The Plugs I Met, in 2019 and 2021, on his Black Soprano Family imprint. In between, Benny inked with Roc Nation management and made songs with Drake, Lil Wayne, Black Thought, and Freddie Gibbs. He also partnered with Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy to flaunt his range on 2020’s acclaimed Burden Of Proof. If the third installment of Tana Talk made Benny a formidable presence in Rap, Volume 4 propels him to stardom. Debut single “Johnny P’s Caddy” partners The Butcher with J. Cole over The Alchemist production. Al’ and Daringer handle the album’s music, just as they seamlessly did on TT3. Conway, Westside Gunn, 38 Spesh and more guest on TT4, as does Stove God Cooks. Benny’s skills and authenticity have cemented his place in the game. However, in a career defined by will and perseverance, The Butcher’s blade keeps getting sharper.

Limited to 500 copies.

Benny The Butcher blazed a trail as an elite voice in rap’s underground to become a top artist in all of music. The prolific Buffalo, New Yorker has established two legendary (and concurrent) album series, broken bread with industry leaders, and twice reached the Billboard Top 40 albums chart as an independent. Now Benny sets the table for a definitive 2022. Soon, he will unveil his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4. By 2004, Benny combined these experiences to launch the Tana Talk series while on house arrest. As TT3 promised, Benny delivered two volumes of The Plugs I Met, in 2019 and 2021, on his Black Soprano Family imprint. In between, Benny inked with Roc Nation management and made songs with Drake, Lil Wayne, Black Thought, and Freddie Gibbs. He also partnered with Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy to flaunt his range on 2020’s acclaimed Burden Of Proof. If the third installment of Tana Talk made Benny a formidable presence in Rap, Volume 4 propels him to stardom. Debut single “Johnny P’s Caddy” partners The Butcher with J. Cole over The Alchemist production. Al’ and Daringer handle the album’s music, just as they seamlessly did on TT3. Conway, Westside Gunn, 38 Spesh and more guest on TT4, as does Stove God Cooks. Benny’s skills and authenticity have cemented his place in the game. However, in a career defined by will and perseverance, The Butcher’s blade keeps getting sharper.

These copies have a damaged cover (seamsplit).

Benny The Butcher blazed a trail as an elite voice in rap’s underground to become a top artist in all of music. The prolific Buffalo, New Yorker has established two legendary (and concurrent) album series, broken bread with industry leaders, and twice reached the Billboard Top 40 albums chart as an independent. Now Benny sets the table for a definitive 2022. Soon, he will unveil his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4. By 2004, Benny combined these experiences to launch the Tana Talk series while on house arrest. As TT3 promised, Benny delivered two volumes of The Plugs I Met, in 2019 and 2021, on his Black Soprano Family imprint. In between, Benny inked with Roc Nation management and made songs with Drake, Lil Wayne, Black Thought, and Freddie Gibbs. He also partnered with Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy to flaunt his range on 2020’s acclaimed Burden Of Proof. If the third installment of Tana Talk made Benny a formidable presence in Rap, Volume 4 propels him to stardom. Debut single “Johnny P’s Caddy” partners The Butcher with J. Cole over The Alchemist production. Al’ and Daringer handle the album’s music, just as they seamlessly did on TT3. Conway, Westside Gunn, 38 Spesh and more guest on TT4, as does Stove God Cooks. Benny’s skills and authenticity have cemented his place in the game. However, in a career defined by will and perseverance, The Butcher’s blade keeps getting sharper.

Joell is 1/4 of the supergroup Slaughterhouse along with Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9, and Kxng Crooked. His career started on Dr. Dre's Aftermath and then lead to Eminem's Shady Records, before joining the Mello Music Squad. He appears on Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton soundtrack, as well as Eminem's most recent album "Music To Be Murdered By."

Joell's upcoming album "Autograph" features production from 9x Grammy Nominee Salaam Remi, the Grammy Winning Heatmakerz, Hesami, and Detroit legend Apollo Brown, along with features from Sheek Louch, Marc Scibilia, Kxng Crooked, Pastor LBS, and CyHi the Prynce.

Composed of rhyme-vets Pawz One and Evolve are Random Act Of Violence! The duo’s self-titled release is chock-full of grimy bars over bangin’ beats for the head-nodders. Lead single “Sixteen Shots” is a boom-bap bar-brawl set to a crackin’ instrumental (produced by EQ) with DJ Eyeball adds cuts to and featuring additional lyrical firepower from none other than Copywrite. Another track from the project is “Vaultures”. Speaking on that track Pawz revealed “the concept of that one was inspired by seeing a lot of these types in the game. The hook was inspired by Mobb Deep, these half-way-crooks bunched up to make each other feel tough and validate themselves.” Hailing from Los Angeles Pawz One has been repping the real and releasing music for the past decade. Most recently he teamed up with 90’s West Coast vet Mykill Miers for the aptly named “Double Homicide” album and has also appeared on tracks with such notables as Ruste Juxx, Sadat X, Percee P, Shabaam Sahdeeq and DJ Rhettmatic. Based out of Donna, Texas, Evolve has released over twenty albums through his Boom Bap Masterpiece Records label. He has collaborated on tracks with such notables as Chino XL, Fatlip (of the Pharcyde), Esoteric, Mickey Factz, Blueprint and many more. Touring the country over the past decade he has also shared stages with the likes of Raekwon, Murs, R.A. The Rugged Man, Masta Ace and Immortal Technique among others.

Over the past five years, Kenny Beats has emerged as one of the most important figures in rap. He's produced career-defining music for the likes of NBA Youngboy, FKA twigs, Dominic Fike, Rico Nasty, Freddie Gibbs and Vince Staples, made absurdist Christian rap with comedian Zack Fox and recorded agit-punk for Bristol-based Idles. He's also redefined what it means to be a producer today, guiding a generation of home beatmakers through his various tutorial livestreams and the episodic production series "The Cave." "louie" is Kenny's very first release as a solo artist. He draws from the rich, soul-soaked tradition of outliers like J.Dilla, Madlib and D "Angelo to explore themes of his own family, childhood and upbringing for the first time. "louie" is a tribute to Kenny's relationship with music as a whole, and with an ensemble of collaborators and musicians ranging from Mac De Marco to Thundercat, offers a new kind of producer album that adds whole new layers to his own still growing voice.

Jalaluddin Mansure Nuriddin was an American musician and poet. He was one of the founding members of The Last Poets, a group of poets and musicians that evolved in the 1960’s. Earlier in his career he used the names Lightnin’ Rod and Alafia Pudim. He is sometimes called, “The Grandfather of Rap’, and wa a devout Muslim, poet, acupuncturist, and marital art expert. Nurridin’s talent and genius with words and rhythm are renowned. He produced some epic poems. The band featured on this release just happens to be the one and only Kool & The Gang.

Limited to 150 copies. Jalaluddin Mansure Nuriddin was an American musician and poet. He was one of the founding members of The Last Poets, a group of poets and musicians that evolved in the 1960’s. Earlier in his career he used the names Lightnin’ Rod and Alafia Pudim. He is sometimes called, “The Grandfather of Rap’, and wa a devout Muslim, poet, acupuncturist, and marital art expert. Nurridin’s talent and genius with words and rhythm are renowned. He produced some epic poems. The band featured on this release just happens to be the one and only Kool & The Gang.

Embracing his career path as an emcee/entertainer, Crimapple returns with his latest solo effort, El Cantante, which serves as an ode to Hector Lavoe and The Fania Era of salsa music's profound storytelling.

Although devoid of any guest appearances, Crime is joined by a supporting cast of praise-worthy producers throughout the project whom include Bohemia Lynch (Westside Gunn), Michaelangelo (Avenue, Vel the Wonder) as well as his frequent collaborator, Buck Dudley, among others. And while there’s tracks that borrow aesthetics akin to latin music—such as the syncopated rhythm patterns on “Tuesday,” or the looping pan flute heard on “Out the Way”—you’ll still find the archetypal soundscapes that have defined Crime’s discography. These include the soulful/zone-inducing loops on tracks like the album opener, “My Song,” as well as “Together,” “Encore,” and “Precious.” And then there’s the chest-pounding bangers like “Cosos,” where Crime lyrically remains in his bag with unrelenting, braggadocious rhymes: “You cheesecake, rappers know I get on this shit and eat great / Get better at any take and drop on anyone’s release date”.

All in all, El Cantante is a self realization of sorts as the New Jersey emcee shares his current life perspectives as he touches on what it’s like to be considered a hip-hop legend by many, while also reflecting on the path that brought him to this point in his career.

Alive on Arrival is the new album by Danish producer Shatter Hands. The album was made over the course of 2022 when Johan got together in intervals with a few of his musician friends to collaborate in its creation. Each track was a specific shared moment between the artists and has a special meaning. While inspired by Electronica, Jazz and House music the foundations of the album are built with new techniques compared to Shatter Hands former works. Making „Alive on Arrival“ a brand new chapter in the producer’s musical career. The album originals are 7 impactful songs that are complimented by 4 remixes each as meaningful as the others. The project all together explores a lot of different genres that complement each other very well. Ranging from Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Electronica, Disco and House music, the listen flows in a very pleasant and familiar way. A lovely experience from start to finish with the touch of a talented bunch and their respective styles and vibes that were all masterfully curated and produced/mixed by Shatter Hands. The result is simply put delightful.

Hip Hop’s golden era constituent, Queens’ native, the godfather of Mafioso rap, legendary and influential emcee, Kool G Rap, broke out in the late 80s and early 90s as one half of the duo with DJ Polo. Together, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo released three undisputed classic albums; beginning with their debut album, Road To The Riches (1989), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992).

Simultaneously, G Rap and DJ Polo gained notoriety as members of the Juice Crew, whose noteworthy membership includes DJ Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace and Roxanne Shante At the height of hip-hop’s golden age, The Juice Crew was the definition of innovative and not only influenced the culture as a whole (style, lyricism, creativity), but also impressed the importance of style, substance and technique upon the next wave of street ambassadors.

After a successful run with DJ Polo and the Juice Crew, G Rap embarked on a solo-career, with his solo debut, 4, 5, 6, (1995), which was preceded by Roots of Evil (1998) and The Giancana Story (2002). Since then, we’ve only been intermittingly blessed by bodies of work from the Kool Genius Of Rap; Half a Klip (2008), Riches, Royalty, Respect (2011), Return Of The Don (2017) and Son Of G Rap with 38 Spesh (2018).

Now, the recent National Hip-Hop Museum inductee returns with his first solo-album in
five-years with Last Of A Dying Breed, entirely produced by Domingo, which features collaborations with AZ, NEMS, Vado, 38 Spesh, Royal Flush and Big Daddy Kane; with production supplied by Domingo. Kool G Rap’s "Last Of A Dying Breed" is now available on limited edition vinyl, digipack CD and cassette.

Limited Edition of 1.000 copies on colored blue / white 12" vinyl.

Kota the Friend's album "Foto" is a must-listen for fans of introspective and thought-provoking hip-hop. The album is various snapshots of Kota‘s life, an endearing invitation to the mind and mood of the NYC MC. With smooth beats and honest lyrics, the Brooklyn rapper takes listeners on a journey through his personal experiences and struggles, touching on topics such as mental health, relationships, and the challenges of pursuing a career in the music industry. Featuring collaborations with talented artists like Saba, "Foto" showcases Kota's versatility as a rapper and his ability to craft compelling stories through his music. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to Kota's music, "Foto" is an album that should not be missed.

For an hour, "Foto" flows like the gentle whisk of a breeze or the soft lapping of the waves. The project features mellow soundscapes with similar cadences to Australian producer Origami Beats, a carefully-curated selection of jazzy, lo-fi hip-hop replete with fuzzy static and spacious melodies.

Features with Saba, Hello Oshay, Lizzy Ashliegh, Isa Reyes & Richard Parker.

When Long Island emcee Diabolic broke into the rap scene with a hidden verse onImmortal Technique’s 2001 albumRevolutionary Volume 1, it was evident that his explosive, uncut rhyme style would be something underground circles could salivate over. However, despite his obvious prowess on the microphone, empty offers from labels in the beginning stages of his career left him no choice but to steer clear from commitment until the perfect opportunity arose; then came along Viper Records, who gave Diabolic full control of his debut album, Liar & a Thief. With over three years of work put into his inaugural LP, Diabolic rose to the occasion and let the industry know they had a problem on their hands. Produced entirely by the British Columbia-based native, Engineer, Diabolic found the ideal soundscape to complement his enraged, often self-destructive lyricism better than one could expect. Armed with a notable lineup of guest appearances from the likes of ILL Bill, Canibus, Immortal Technique, and Vinnie Paz, combined with Bolic’s razor sharp rhyme schemes that permeate through Engineer’s melodic and articulate production, all lend itself to the perfect storm, and one of the more promising debut efforts that we had hoped would live up to the hype. For the first time ever, Diabolic’s acclaimed debut, Liar & a Thief will be available on vinyl as a 2xlp, in time for RSD 2023. The 17 track LP will be pressed on two black and silver swirled discs in a sturdy 24pt jacket with metallic silver trim.

Brainorchestra has found plenty of DIY success through Bandcamp with over a dozen albums released selling well to a fervent fanbase. All physical iterations are either sold out or nearly sold out.
-Recent praise clocked at Pitchfork Media, Complex, and Bandcamp Daily.

New Jersey-based emcee/producer Brainorchestra returns with his latest effort, It Means A Lot. The eight track EP takes a look into his new perspective on life following the success of his previous release, Big Brain, which has made a major impact on his career. Pieced together by unapologetic honesty, new experiences and growth, Brainorchestra is joined by a supporting cast that includes both Butch Dawson and Kenn Starr, we are witnessing the start of practice paying off. The record is produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by the fast-rising artist, and comes equipped with the b-side instrumentals. It Means A Lot is set to be released through his recent partnership with Fat Beats.

Loftsoul Recordings' new life continues in this renewed "Re-works" series. This time we have the well known label owner Masahiko Uchikawa aka "Loftsoul" who releases this 7" for the occasion of his 40-year career. Downtempo rhythms and Japan vibes come together with a really energy-giving and slamming B side. All supported by the team with Keyco, H. Ikeuchi (Guitar) and Mbanja Ritchy aka B-Bandj.

In their 25-plus years as a duo, Atmosphere's rapper Slug and producer Ant have built a legacy that is embedded in the fabric of underground hip-hop. Rising in the ranks of Minneapolis, their debut album, Overcast! was released in 1997. Presented as a flurry of vignettes, and paired with an unending touring schedule, the album was a springboard from which the group was able to become a fixture in the midwest music scene. It wasn't long before their songwriting evolved from telling inventive third-person tales to delivering introspective first-person eviscerations, and by the early 2000's Slug would jokingly birth the phrase "emo rap" in an interview before publications began running with the genre tag to describe them and others. In the decades since their debut, Atmosphere has maintained a course of rigorous output, releasing over two dozen studio albums, EP's and collaborative side projects in as many years. The venerated duo have built a legacy out of bringing honesty, humility and vulnerability to the forefront of their music. Slug has proven masterful at storytelling and writing compelling narratives, leaving a trail of his own influence while paying homage to the rappers and songwriters that helped shape him. Meanwhile, Ant has skillfully molded the soundtracks with inspiration from soul, funk, rock, reggae, and the wizardry of hip-hop's pioneering DJ's and producers, creating his own trademark sounds and providing the pulse for songs about life, love, stress and setbacks. At its essence, Atmosphere has been a musical shepherd, guiding generations of listeners through this thing called life. Their newest album, 2023's So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously, captures perhaps some of Atmosphere's most personal work to date. The odyssey opens with a gentler approach than recent works, with the lead-off track "Okay" seemingly focused on comforting and reassuring the listener. As Slug raps over one of the most twinkling productions Ant has ever released, the song lays the groundwork for an album-length exercise in fumbling consciousness. Yet, as gently as the album begins, there's an unmistakable sense of unease from the outset that continues to evolve throughout the project, as Slug and Ant weave the listener through indistinct themes of insomnia and woe. From the subtle panic at the heart of songs like "Dotted Lines" to the overt anxiety of songs like "In My Head," the unease across tracks is unmistakable. Yet, as the tears might begin to well, they find resolve again through songs like "Still Life," whose hopeful outlook undercuts the tensity of the album. All the while, the rhythms on So Many Other Realities are some of the most inventive of Atmosphere's career. Ant's playful percussion on "In My Head" acts as a nice counterweight to the roiling writing, while the drum patterns on "Holding My Breath" and "Bigger Pictures" allow Slug to play with his flow to emphasize the anxiety driving the record. Where previous records in this most recent act of Atmosphere's career have been focused on emphasizing the parts of life that carry the most meaning_family, brotherhood, purpose_So Many Other Realities is an almost unnerving excavation of paranoia inspired by the general malaise of a pandemic weary society full of civil unrest. The tension in these songs is palpable, but the album's mere presence is a testament to the hope that has to underpin even the most stressed out epiphanies. The greatest risk Atmosphere has continued to take across their career is that of being vulnerable and unafraid. The world has inconceivably changed since Slug and Ant entered into the underground hip-hop scene, but despite the seismic shifts in music and culture, they've held strong to a foundation rooted in sly innovation and truth. The duo's relentless release & touring schedules only tell a piece of the story, but spending time with their records_whether you're a new fan or a longstanding listener_reveals a pair of friends who love to create and live for unabashed self-expression. Their bare reflections on life and the mundane traumas and joys that make living worthwhile are a gift, and that is Atmosphere's legacy in and of itself. If the music stopped tomorrow, the duo would go down as two quiet titans who changed the course of everyman rap forever.

Ultramagnetic MCs are back. Known for their abstract and futuristic style, Kool Keith and Ced Gee pioneered the New York Hip Hop sound in the 80's alongside contemporaries such as KRS One and LL Cool J, before disbanding in the mid 1990s. Bolstering a long, genre spanning solo career Kool Keith cemented his legacy in the Hip Hop, Punk and Electronic music circles with thematic albums under aliases such as Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom and Black Elvis, while Ced Gee stayed mostly behind the scenes providing production work for iconic artists including The Prodigy and Lee ''Scratch'' Perry. Backing the legendary duo is Nashville based oddball band Thetan, who provided the entire instrumentation for the recent Kool Keith collaborative album 'Space Goretex'. Offering up 2 brand new tracks of spaced out funky hip hop, the B-side of this 12'' is emblazoned with an etching of the Ultramagnetic MCs logo, engraved by none other than Dan Emery at Black Matter Mastering.

Joyner Lucas is a two-time, Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist, entertainer, actor and entrepreneur. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has released several platinum and gold projects and singles, such as “ISIS,” “I’m Not Racist,” “Ramen & OJ,” “ADHD,” and “Your Heart,” among others.

Along the way, Joyner unveiled a never-ending stream of music and collaborations with fellow superstars such as Will Smith, J. Cole, Lil Baby, Eminem, Future, Chris Brown, Ashanti and more. His fluid flow, impeccable wordplay and vivid storytelling skills have made the Worcester, Massachusetts native one of the biggest and most talented independent artists in the world. He parlayed that passion into a career and, by 2015, Joyner reached a turning point with the release of his break-out viral video for “Ross Capicchioni” from his mixtape, Along Came Joyner.

He would make an indelible imprint on the music industry in 2017 with the release of his transcendent single, “I’m Not Racist,” which touched on race relations in America and resulted in his first-career Grammy nomination for “Best Music Video.” That same year, Lucas also earned a separate Grammy nomination for “Best Rap Song” for his collaborative effort with Eminem on “Lucky You.”

Benny The Butcher blazed a trail as an elite voice in rap’s underground to become a top artist in all of music. The prolific Buffalo, New Yorker has established two legendary (and concurrent) album series, broken bread with industry leaders, and twice reached the Billboard Top 40 albums chart as an independent. Now Benny sets the table for a definitive 2022. Soon, he will unveil his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4. By 2004, Benny combined these experiences to launch the Tana Talk series while on house arrest. As TT3 promised, Benny delivered two volumes of The Plugs I Met, in 2019 and 2021, on his Black Soprano Family imprint. In between, Benny inked with Roc Nation management and made songs with Drake, Lil Wayne, Black Thought, and Freddie Gibbs. He also partnered with Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy to flaunt his range on 2020’s acclaimed Burden Of Proof. If the third installment of Tana Talk made Benny a formidable presence in Rap, Volume 4 propels him to stardom. Debut single “Johnny P’s Caddy” partners The Butcher with J. Cole over The Alchemist production. Al’ and Daringer handle the album’s music, just as they seamlessly did on TT3. Conway, Westside Gunn, 38 Spesh and more guest on TT4, as does Stove God Cooks. Benny’s skills and authenticity have cemented his place in the game. However, in a career defined by will and perseverance, The Butcher’s blade keeps getting sharper.

RJ’s career took off while performing under the name Reign Man. He was selected as a finalist for MTV’s Making The Band 2 by P Diddy, and six months later won the MTV MC Battle, landing him a deal with Def Jam Records. Due to unexpected events involving the firing of then Def Jam President, Kevin Liles, Reign Man’s music was unfortunately shelved. Back in Philly, Reign Man linked with Reed Dollaz and joined Top Klass, the city’s largest independent label. He was an integral part of the battle rap DVD era and had a cult following on the internet. His last battle was in 2015 where he won against Urls Ty Law. Reign Man decided to drop the stage name and start recording music under his real name - RJ Payne. He released seven albums in 2017 under Educated Ignorance Music Group. Four albums were tributes to the late rappers, Big L, Big Pun, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Sean Price with all of the beats completely reproduced by PA Dre. He has continued on his relentless grind dropping dope project after dope project, and once again teams with Memphis born/Erie raised producer PA Dre for Beautiful Payne 4. These days, the rapper has been leaning toward more songwriting than battle bars through his Beautiful Payne EPs. BP4 sheds more light on Payne's personal life and musical journey. From honoring his late mother on "Momma I Made It" to fighting the thought of having a child in today's world on "The Curse," the indie artist offers transparency over light-hearted soulful production that gives him room to speak, but keeps listeners nodding their heads. In just nine tracks and two artist features (King Iso and Buffalo's own L Biz), you're taken on a wild ride through elaborate storytelling with countless gems to take heed of. The project allows Payne's words to resonate until the very end. It's safe to say that RJ Payne and PA Dre have created an undeniable experience for all of us to enjoy.

Embracing his career path as an emcee/entertainer, Crimapple returns with his latest solo effort, El Cantante, which serves as an ode to Hector Lavoe and The Fania Era of salsa music's profound storytelling. Although devoid of any guest appearances, Crime is joined by a supporting cast of praise-worthy producers throughout the project whom include Bohemia Lynch (Westside Gunn), Michaelangelo (Avenue, Vel the Wonder) as well as his frequent collaborator, Buck Dudley, among others. And while there’s tracks that borrow aesthetics akin to latin music—such as the syncopated rhythm patterns on “Tuesday,” or the looping pan flute heard on “Out the Way”—you’ll still find the archetypal soundscapes that have defined Crime’s discography. These include the soulful/zone-inducing loops on tracks like the album opener, “My Song,” as well as “Together,” “Encore,” and “Precious.” And then there’s the chest-pounding bangers like “Cosos,” where Crime lyrically remains in his bag with unrelenting, braggadocious rhymes: “You cheesecake, rappers know I get on this shit and eat great / Get better at any take and drop on anyone’s release date” All in all, El Cantante is a self realization of sorts as the New Jersey emcee shares his current life perspectives as he touches on what it’s like to be considered a hip-hop legend by many, while also reflecting on the path that brought him to this point in his career.