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2023 repress.
“Shook Ones Part II” might be one of the biggest records to come out of New York in the mid 90’s. From the moment you hear the bare hi-hat and the infamous line “to all the killers and the hundred dollar billas” it is an immediate adrenaline rush. The beat alone is a work of art, Havoc constructed what would go on for years as “how did he actually come up with that beat?!” amongst DJ’s and Producers alike. The infectious piano, cinematic sirens, it was no doubt that it was one of (famed New York nightclub) The Tunnel’s most signature records. As Cipha Sounds put it - “How could it not rip in The Tunnel? Just classic. 'Shook Ones Part I' was actually pretty big in the Tunnel, but ‘Part II' ripped everything." When “Shook Ones Part II” came you couldn’t help but nod your head and get lost in Havoc and Prodigy trading verses breaking down the meaning of a crook…making you shook son. Not to be left out “Shook Ones Part 1” is on the flipside that came out months earlier with a much more subdued beat and slightly different lyrics. Most 12” aren’t built like this, so to be on 7” for the first time ever this is a must have….son.

LP+CD+7"

Tkay Maidza, the first female rapper signed to 4AD, announces details of her highly anticipated new album, Sweet Justice. The follow-up to her 2016 self-titled debut will be released on 3 November and includes the recent Flume-produced earth-shuddering single ‘Silent Assassin’. Today, Tkay shares a blistering new track, ‘Ring-A-Ling’ and official video directed by Jocelyn Anquetil.

“I’m never choosing compliance,” a defiant Maidza utters ‘Ring-A-Ling’; a warning from the Zimbabwean-born, Australian-raised, Los Angeles-based rapper, singer and producer and a mantra for Sweet Justice. Produced by Two Fresh, Tkay says of ‘Ring-A-Ling’, “I wanted to make an empowering song that tells others that my biggest focus are my goals.”

The result of a dark night of the soul—and ensuing epiphany—that led to a series of professional and personal reckonings, Sweet Justice isn’t a revenge album, but it does stem from a profound sense of karma. In a traditional sense, it’s a breakup record: about Tkay splitting off from her self-doubt and warped sense of self; the toxic figures that populated the last chapter of her life; and the idea that she should stick to any one lane.

After severing ties with old friends, she found some new ones on the same creative wavelength: Canadian producers Stint and Kaytranada, and fellow Australian Flume, all of whom contribute production. Sweet Justice is an album that embodies the beautiful contradictions of Tkay’s art: it’s a coming-of-age record by someone who’s mastered the game; an album about karmic justice and accountability that’s bright, breezy and incredibly fun. In Tkay’s mind, it’s a rebirth album, a record about harnessing the feminine power that was innate in her the whole time.

Tkay Maidza says, “Sweet Justice was a way for me to channel my emotions from what I’ve experienced in the last two years. It’s a diary of things and thoughts I’ve kept to myself. Making the record was a healing experience and I’m grateful to have worked with producers who have inspired me throughout my career.” Sweet Justice follows the 3-year-long, 24 song-strong genre-bending Last Year Was Weird trilogy exploring Maidza’s own African-Australian experience. The project earned her a 2021 ARIA Awards win for Best Soul/R&B Release and an NME Award for Best Solo Act From Australia in 2022. Following on from tours with Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, Tkay is currently in the southern hemisphere for arena shows with Lizzo with her own headline shows to be announced soon.

Amidst a sea of MCs wielding average talents at best and substandard jewels at worst, West Coast hip-hop crew the Tunnel Rats have consistently challenged the LA underground scene for over the past 20 years with top notch innovations from the studio to the stage. The Tunnel Rats were notorious for producing hard-hitting 90s West Coast hardcore hip-hop albums such as the collective’s first disc Experience and the subgroup LPG’s inaugural classic entitled The Earthworm (both efforts produced by Peace 586 and also the album responsible for hosting the legendary Pigeon John’s first appearance on record). The crew entered the early 2000s with a better label situation and distribution thru Uprok Records and perfecting their progressive sound, combining their evangelical Christian commitments with the rawest and audacious hip-hop content (mixing both organically to the point that many fans had absolutely no idea that they doubled in the “Christian hip-hop” market). The 2000s saw the Tunnel Rats releasing The Battle for LA (2003), a provocative documentary on the Los Angeles battle scene (in which various members of the crew took on opponents, one of whom was Blu of Blu and Exile, battling Tunnel Rat member Propaganda), as well as both producing and featuring on KRS-One’s album Life (2006). This special 7” showcases infamous and feared TR lyricist Jurny Big alongside original Tunnel Rat producer Peace 586, known together as “The Battery.” After returning to the scene after about decade hiatus, Jurny linked up with Peace and released three Battery EPs (One, Two, and The Change Up) on indie label Illect Records (Theory Hazit, Braille), all well-received by their core fanbase and newcomers. On “Rear View,” Jurny, known and respected for his exceptional and abrasive conceptual battle rapping, head to head and on record, approaches a raucous and heavy Peace beat alongside fellow Tunnel Rat soldiers Propaganda and Sojourn of TR former subgroup Future Shock with punchlines that take us back to his earlier days as a formidable verbal foe who showed up and showed out on tracks with the likes of Myka Nyne (Freestyle Fellowship, Haiku D’Etat, Project Blowed) and Ahmad (4th Avenue Jones). “Rear View” features three seasoned lyricists doing more than justice to this massive Peace track, showing die-hard fans why the Rats still aren’t to be taken lightly. Also, this is Jurny’s first appearance on vinyl in his long and remarkable career, an occurrence many Tunnel Rats enthusiasts have anticipated. Limited to 200. This 7” is truly a very important and unique contribution to West Coast hip-hop history, past and present.

Since receiving critical acclaim for their debut LP Good Luck With That, an album which was praised for the duo’s classic east coast touch, and secured a spot on Bandcamp’s 10 Best New Hip Hop Releases of 2017, Career Crooks (producer Small Professor and rapper Zilla Rocca) are back to prove that no idea is original. The two have kept busy throughout 2017, not only performing alongside Busdriver, Billy Woods, Quelle Chris, Elucid, and B Dolan, and releasing their LP, but also gearing up for their new air tight collection of remixes, titled Thieving As Long As I’m Breathing.

The new single “Crook With a Deal”, is a reworking of the 50 Cent and Mad Rapper classic “How to Rob”, targeting indie rappers like Open Mike Eagle and Run The Jewels. The album also features five in-house remixes from Small Pro and Zilla Rocca, draped in styles inspired by the likes of DITC and the Beastie Boys. Canadian MPC champ FreshKils also makes an appearance and flips the fan favorite “Steve Martin” into a soundtrack for a car chase outside a Chemical Brothers show. Other remix features include DJ Manipulator, Willy, Shane Great, Rolled Gold Beats, and John Morrison.

The twelve track LP moves as fast as a cat with its tail on fire and maintains its own vibe while paying homage to that which has come before it. The group’s primary sound encompasses “…raw ‘90s flows while still maintaining a modern edge.” (Philip Mylnar, Bandcamp.com)

Seafood Sam is a futuristic artifact. If that description might sound confusing at first, it matches the eclectic dualities found in true originals. With his effortless cool and timeless style, the North Long Beach native defies convention and exact comparison. He's a virtuosic rapper, a stop-you-in-your tracks singer, and a symphonic producer. Welcome to the lavish life of a laid-back transcontinental man of mystery, rolling in old school Cadillacs, eating caviar with a blade in his pocket, and making plays in vintage Pelle Pelle gear. A blaxploitation icon for the Instagram age, blessed with the bars of a `90s legend and 23rd century swagger. Seafood Sam is a true hero of modernity. On his full-length album debut for up-and-coming label drink sum wtr (Kari Faux, Deem Spencer, Aja Monet) debut, Standing on Giant Shoulders, Sam splits the difference between Snoop Dogg and D' Angelo, Curren$y and David Ruffin. The songs reveal a forward-thinking sensibility rooted in ancestral soul. He creates spiritual hymns for the streets that tap into universal ideals and irrepressible groove. In an era plagued by short-term thinking, his ambitions reveal a crate-digging depth of music history and a meticulous ear for detail. The giant shoulders in the album's title refer to James Brown, Bobby Brown, and Miles Davis - the holy trinity who inspired Sam's process. From the Godfather of Soul, Sam took a perfectionist's rigor and focus. The example of Bobby Brown lent an unshakeable confidence and self-belief. While the constant artistic left turns of the trumpeter that birthed Ccool offered an aspirational archetype. The story starts in the glory days of Long Beach hip-hop. As a young child, the G-Funk era soundtracked rides in Sam's father's car. Some of his earliest memories are trying to memorize Snoop's verse on "Nuthin' But a "G" Thang." Beyond gangsta rap, the LBC has historically doubled as a capital of lowrider soul and carwash oldies. At any intersection, you could hear Dogg Food or Brenton Wood, Warren G or Barbara Lynn. This too was absorbed via osmosis. It also just so happened that the art of performance was always in Sam's blood. So at family functions, he and his sister supplied entertainment by singing karaoke renditions of The Isley Brothers. While his Harlem Shake remains a thing of local lore. Long Beach is a culturally diverse mecca of skate parks and gang life, street fashion and tricky dance moves. This is the place that raised Sam on a diet of Wu-Tang and Nelly Furtado, Lil Bow Wow and Allen Iverson. He was the middle ground between his two older brothers: one who gangbanged, the other who graduated with a master's degree from UC-Santa Barbara. But it wasn't until the end of high school that Sam started to take rap seriously. Alongside long-time collaborators like Huey Briss and Reaper Mook, Sam's name began to make waves on the northside of the city, but he was partially distracted by a modeling career that paid the bills and took him all to way to walk in Paris' fashion week. The first turning point arrived with 2018's "Ramsey," a self-produced, slick-talk anthem with over 10,000,000 streams across all platforms. With each subsequent release, Sam showcased his peerless consistency, building buzz both online and in the city streets. Spin hailed his "smooth and unhurried cadences and understated lyricism_ that sounds like nothing else in Long Beach." Clash raved about Sam's "evolution as an artist, cruising through nostalgic production with slick, witty rhymes." The culmination arrives with Standing on Giant Shoulders. It's the evidence of a master, a young sensei in the model of Quincy Jones. All rhymes, singing, production, and arrangements were handled by Sam - with an assist from his close Long Beach kinsman Tom Kendall from the group Soular System. It's hard-edged and lyrical enough for disciples of Larry June and Roc Marciano, but orchestral and melodic enough for fans of Anderson .Paak and H.E.R.

Madvillainy is the debut and only studio album by Madvillain, a collaboration between legendary rapper MF DOOM (Daniel Dumile) and acclaimed producer Madlib (Otis Jackson Jr.), released on March 23, 2004 by Stones Throw Records. The album is often hailed as a masterpiece of underground hip-hop, characterized by its unconventional structure, eclectic production, and MF DOOM’s intricate, surreal lyrics.

Madvillainy was a highly anticipated project in the underground hip-hop scene, bringing together two of its most respected figures. MF DOOM, known for his complex wordplay and villainous persona, and Madlib, celebrated for his experimental and sample-heavy production, combined to create a dense, atmospheric album.
The project was recorded over several years, with Madlib working on beats while traveling and MF DOOM crafting his lyrics with a stream-of-consciousness style.
The album has a lo-fi aesthetic, featuring short, fragmented tracks, many of which do not follow traditional song structures like verses and hooks. Instead, Madvillainy is more of a collage, with some tracks acting as interludes or musical sketches.

Madlib’s production is eclectic and layered, drawing from jazz, soul, Brazilian music, obscure soundtracks, and 1970s psychedelia, creating a moody and experimental backdrop for MF DOOM’s vocals.
The album’s beats are sample-heavy, often gritty, and feature unorthodox tempos and time signatures. Madlib also uses interludes and vocal samples from obscure sources, giving the album a cinematic, almost comic book-like feel.
MF DOOM delivers his signature abstract and multi-syllabic rhymes, filled with internal rhyme schemes, pop culture references, and complex wordplay. His delivery is intentionally offbeat, which complements the nontraditional structure of the production.

Lyrically, Madvillainy is a blend of surrealism, humor, and complex storytelling. MF DOOM’s persona as the masked supervillain is ever-present, with much of the album reflecting his mischievous, sardonic view of the world.
His lyrics often appear cryptic, with layers of meaning that reward close listening. He plays with words in ways that defy conventional hip-hop norms, eschewing clear narratives in favor of dense, puzzle-like rhymes.
Themes in the album include betrayal, paranoia, and the villain’s perspective, often narrated from a detached, almost nihilistic point of view. However, DOOM’s approach is often playful, filled with irony and wit.

Key Tracks and Highlights:
"Accordion" – A minimalist, standout track where MF DOOM delivers one of his most well-known verses over a sparse accordion loop. The track captures DOOM’s style perfectly, with cryptic, tightly-packed bars and Madlib’s minimalist approach.
"Meat Grinder" – A haunting, jazz-infused beat serves as the backdrop for MF DOOM’s dense wordplay, as he raps with a stream-of-consciousness flow, dropping surreal imagery and twisted humor.
"America’s Most Blunted" (featuring Quasimoto) – A playful, weed-themed track featuring Madlib’s alter ego, Quasimoto. The track is both funky and chaotic, with vocal samples interspersed between DOOM and Quasimoto’s verses.
"Curls" – One of the shorter tracks, with a smooth, almost nostalgic beat. DOOM’s verses are filled with detailed, vivid descriptions, encapsulating his ability to turn everyday observations into poetic rhymes.
"All Caps" – Perhaps the most iconic track on the album, known for its booming beat and DOOM’s punchy, comic book-inspired verses. The title refers to MF DOOM’s alias, urging fans to spell it in all capital letters, reinforcing his larger-than-life persona.
"Rhinestone Cowboy" – The album’s closer, featuring a soulful, downtempo beat and some of DOOM’s most introspective and reflective lyrics. It’s a contemplative end to an otherwise chaotic and fragmented album.

Madvillainy is a nonlinear album, with many of the tracks flowing directly into each other without clear transitions. It’s constructed more like a sonic collage, making the album feel like a continuous, abstract narrative rather than a collection of separate songs.
The album contains numerous interludes and brief tracks, some less than a minute long, but all contributing to the overall mood and atmosphere. Tracks like "Sickfit" and "Do Not Fire!" are instrumental breaks that give Madlib’s production room to shine.

Upon release, Madvillainy was met with widespread critical acclaim. It was praised for its innovation, lyrical complexity, and cohesive production, with critics noting its departure from conventional hip-hop formulas.
It quickly became regarded as one of the most important and influential underground hip-hop albums of all time, with its influence extending beyond just hip-hop into broader experimental music.
MF DOOM’s and Madlib’s artistic approach on Madvillainy helped solidify their reputations as avant-garde artists, unafraid to push the boundaries of the genre.
The album is frequently included in lists of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and is particularly beloved by fans of alternative and underground hip-hop. It has been noted for its lasting influence on the sound and style of future hip-hop artists, especially in the abstract, lo-fi, and experimental spaces.
Impact on MF DOOM and Madlib's Careers:
MF DOOM further cemented his legacy as one of hip-hop’s most enigmatic and talented lyricists. His use of the supervillain persona, combined with his intricate rhyming style, made him a cult figure in the genre.
Madlib also gained widespread recognition for his unique production style, which merged elements of hip-hop, jazz, and experimental music. His ability to create deeply layered and textured beats without sacrificing their lo-fi charm became a hallmark of his production style.
Madvillainy’s success paved the way for other projects in the underground scene and inspired a new wave of artists who saw hip-hop as a medium for abstract, avant-garde expression.

Madvillainy continues to be revered as a benchmark in underground hip-hop. Its influence can be heard in the work of countless artists, from Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, The Creator to more experimental producers and MCs who were inspired by Madlib's and MF DOOM’s fearless approach to crafting an album.
The mystique surrounding MF DOOM, especially after his untimely death in 2020, only added to the album’s legendary status, with Madvillainy often considered his definitive work.
The album’s blend of complex lyricism, unorthodox production, and nontraditional structure helped redefine what could be done in the hip-hop genre, making it a timeless work of art.
In summary, Madvillainy is a landmark album in hip-hop, pushing the boundaries of both lyricism and production. Its influence is far-reaching, and its status as one of the greatest underground albums remains unchallenged. The partnership between MF DOOM and Madlib resulted in a project that is as dense, surreal, and captivating as it is groundbreaking.

Over the last two decades, 20syl has crafted a unique, hip-hop infused, electro musical universe. He inherited a rich musical knowledge and a genuine understanding of analog and vintage sounds form years of classic beat making. He first got his start with Hocus Pocus, a band he founded in 1995. As the mastermind behind the band’s five LPs, including their Gold Record Place 54, 20syl has proved himself to be a visionary artist. A member of C2C - a turntablist quartet with whom he has won 4 DMC world titles – he took the genre mainstream with the groundbreaking album Tetra (2012). This successful opus was rewarded with 4 French Grammys and a Double Platinium Record.

In 2014, 20syl launched his solo career while still working with a few hand picked underground artists such as Grems, Raashan Ahmad and Blitz the Ambassador. In the recent years the prolific producer has taken his trademark overseas with popular remixes of ScHoolboy Q, Rihanna, and King Krule – setting up a booming environment for the 2014 release of his anticipated first solo EP, Motifs.

Co-founder of On And On Records, 20Syl has imposed himself as a flagship of the expanding new scene. Passionate about visual arts, 20Syl designs his artwork and direct his music videos.

A free electron, he seduces the public with his sharp identity and his ability to turn his own original creations into major musical trends.

A lot of people don't realize that Freddie has actually been in the game for over a decade and came in on the same Freshman XXL cover as Meek Mill, Nipsey Hussle etc. Yet he was the only one with no major label backing or artist affiliation and his partnership with warner is his very first solo major label deal. With that being said, he feels as if he has made it thus far in his career without compromising his morals, creative integrity and principals as a man all while resisting temptations... hence the title $oul $old $eparately or $$$

The diabolical rhyme dynamics of Teknical Developments lyrics paired with beats cloaked in a blue cheese fog of THTC from Hey!zeus dwell and celebrate in the time of A.M. A time which reveals the full existence of the human cypher in its entirety, From the crooked corrupt cloaked by its shadows to the optimism of dreams and a new days break.
TO.AM is a dedication to the time
FREE.AM is an experiment in the freedoms of the infant hours
Two separate organism from the same body of concept naturally evolved from late night studio sessions all past the hour of midnight.

———————————
All Tracks Produced By Hey!zeus
All Tracks Recorded & Mixed At RDL Studios by Hey!zeus
All Tracks Mastered By Mr Cooper
Artwork & orginal paintings by Gordon of PMC/BBC.

LIMITED edition: ONLY 400 copies, worldwide!!

The diabolical rhyme dynamics of Teknical Developments lyrics paired with beats cloaked in a blue cheese fog of THTC from Hey!zeus dwell and celebrate in the time of A.M. A time which reveals the full existence of the human cypher in its entirety, From the crooked corrupt cloaked by its shadows to the optimism of dreams and a new days break.
TO.AM is a dedication to the time
FREE.AM is an experiment in the freedoms of the infant hours
Two separate organism from the same body of concept naturally evolved from late night studio sessions all past the hour of midnight.

———————————
All Tracks Produced By Hey!zeus
All Tracks Recorded & Mixed At RDL Studios by Hey!zeus
All Tracks Mastered By Mr Cooper
Artwork & orginal paintings by Gordon of PMC/BBC.

LIMITED edition: ONLY 250 copies, worldwide!!

Sean Price (R.I.P!) teamed up with Small Professor for their 10-track project, ‘86 Witness.’ The album features Rock of Heltah Skeltah, scratches by DJ Revolution, Guilty Simpson, Your Old Droog, Reef the Lost Cauze & more. The CD also features a bonus Sean Price EP; a re-issue of his
project, Land of the Crooks, entirely produced by M-Phazes

The trio consisting of Montreal-based Le Makizar and Paris-based brothers Parental & Lex finally teams up again to present their new album "Résonance". The vinyl includes 12 tracks in total with features by MC Grey and Shing02 plus 10 instrumental versions. Additional production support is provided by Parisian beatsmith Alcynoos.

After more than a decade respectively developing their solo careers, Le Makizar, Parental & Lex drop all new music enlighted by multi-layered instrumentals & lyrics in a deep-Jazz infused vibe. Once again, Parental’s dreamy powerful beats perfectly serve Lex & Le Makizar’s poetic and abstract mellow flows.

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.

Gang Starr is undoubtedly one of the most revered, beloved and influential groups in Hip Hop. Over the course of their distinguished career, they became a cultural institution and a brand you could ultimately trust. With a handful of indelible classic albums on their resume, DJ Premier and Guru’s catalogue has not only persevered but mastered the test of time. Simply, Gang Starr did not follow trends, they created them. Album includes guest spots from: M.O.P, Q-Tip, Royce da 5’9”, Jeru The Damaja, J. Cole, Ne-Yo, Nitty Scott, Talib Kweli, Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx! Entirely produced by DJ Premier!

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.

After releasing a successful collaboration album last year, Memphis, TN artist, Young Dolph returns with his highest charting album in his career, Rich Slave. The title is Dolph's commentary on how he is perceived – that no matter how much money he has – in the eyes of America, he will always be a slave. Rich Slave is the album that Young Dolph has shown growth in the sense that he has touched on current events, and social commentary with songs like, The Land that say, "they say this the land of the free, but it looks like the land of bullshit to me". With little features aside from Megan Thee Stallion, Key Glock, and G Herbo, Rich Slave showcases Young Dolph's charismatic skill, and ability to inspire those after him to pursue entrepreneurship.

The Tipping Point is the seventh studio album by The Roots, released on July 13, 2004. Named after Malcolm Gladwell's 2000 book "The Tipping Point", which explores how small events can create a significant change in society, the album reflects on similar themes, particularly focusing on pivotal moments in personal and social contexts. The album stands out in The Roots' discography for blending their signature live instrumentation with a more mainstream sound, while still retaining their thought-provoking lyrics and genre-blending approach.

The Tipping Point represents a more commercially oriented sound for The Roots, with a balance of socially conscious lyrics and tracks that experiment with more accessible, radio-friendly production.
The album was a response to pressures from their record label, which wanted more hits, yet it still maintained the group's focus on lyrical depth and musicality.
The album’s production incorporates a mix of live instruments, samples, and digital production, with a stronger emphasis on funk, soul, and rock influences compared to their earlier, more jazz-heavy works.

The album contains a wide range of musical styles, combining live instrumentation with soul, funk, and R&B elements, but also introduces more polished and radio-friendly production than previous albums like Phrenology or Things Fall Apart.
Despite its more polished sound, Questlove's signature drumming and The Roots' musicianship are still prominent, especially in the live instrumentation, which is a hallmark of their music.
Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) remains the lyrical centerpiece, delivering complex, socially aware verses that delve into issues like racial identity, inequality, the commercialization of hip-hop, and personal reflections on fame and success.

Key Tracks and Highlights:
"Star/Pointro" – The album opens with a meditative introduction, blending Marvin Gaye's classic "Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime" with Black Thought’s reflective lyrics. The song transitions into a brassy, upbeat rhythm, setting the tone for the album’s experimental approach.
"I Don't Care" – A funky, groovy track where Black Thought tackles the pressures of staying relevant and true to his roots in an industry that often prioritizes commercial success over artistry.
"Don't Say Nuthin'" – One of the album's lead singles, driven by a minimalist beat and a dark, hypnotic atmosphere. Black Thought delivers a smooth, almost detached flow, commenting on the challenges of staying silent in a world full of noise and pressure.
"Guns Are Drawn" – A politically charged track with a heavy bassline and a haunting, reflective hook. Black Thought and guest MCs explore themes of social injustice, gun violence, and the struggles faced by Black communities in America.
"Stay Cool" – Built around a playful and funky beat, this track features smooth production with a retro feel, reflecting on maintaining composure and self-awareness in the face of societal pressures and distractions.
"Web" – A standout track, with Black Thought delivering a rapid-fire, no-hook lyrical performance. It's one of the most lyrically dense songs on the album, showcasing Black Thought’s verbal agility and intricate wordplay.
"Boom!" (featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff) – A tribute to classic hip-hop, with Questlove and Black Thought taking listeners back to the days of boom-bap, reminiscent of earlier hip-hop production styles, but with a modern twist. DJ Jazzy Jeff’s scratches add an old-school flavor.

Commercialization of Hip-Hop: Many tracks, such as “Don’t Say Nuthin'” and “I Don’t Care,” reflect The Roots' critique of the way mainstream hip-hop has evolved, focusing more on materialism and less on the artistry that originally defined the genre.
Socio-Political Commentary: The album delves into various social issues, such as gun violence (“Guns Are Drawn”) and racial inequality, exploring the frustrations of systemic problems that plague society.
Personal Reflection and Artistic Integrity: Black Thought explores his role as an artist in the modern music industry, balancing the need to create commercially viable music while staying true to his roots and values. This tension is a recurring theme throughout the album.

Questlove and Richard Nichols handled the bulk of the production, while Scott Storch and Damon Bryson (aka Tuba Gooding Jr.) contributed to various tracks.
DJ Jazzy Jeff made an appearance on “Boom!”, providing turntablism that adds an old-school hip-hop feel to the track.
The production on The Tipping Point is a blend of organic and digital sounds, with live instruments meshing with sampled beats, reflecting The Roots' ability to navigate both the hip-hop underground and the mainstream.

The Tipping Point received generally positive reviews from critics, though it was sometimes viewed as less groundbreaking compared to previous works like Things Fall Apart or Phrenology.
While some critics praised the album’s production and the lyrical depth of Black Thought, others felt that the more commercial sound detracted from the experimental, genre-pushing elements that had characterized The Roots’ earlier work.
The single “Don’t Say Nuthin'” became one of the group’s more successful radio hits, though it was seen as a departure from the soulfulness and live instrumentation of their previous albums.
Commercial Performance:
The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200, making it one of The Roots' highest-charting albums at the time, driven by the popularity of singles like “Don’t Say Nuthin'” and “Stay Cool.”
The Tipping Point did not reach the same commercial success as some later albums, but it represented a pivotal moment where The Roots began to bridge their underground sound with broader mainstream appeal.
Legacy and Impact:
The Tipping Point marked an important transition in The Roots’ career, showcasing their ability to adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop while still maintaining their identity as a live band.
Though not as critically acclaimed as some of their other albums, it remains an important work in The Roots' discography, as it captures a moment where the group was negotiating their place within an increasingly commercialized industry.
Following The Tipping Point, The Roots would take their music in even more experimental and socially conscious directions with albums like Game Theory (2006) and Rising Down (2008), reinforcing their reputation as hip-hop innovators with a distinct voice.
In summary, The Tipping Point is a pivotal album in The Roots' evolution, blending commercial ambition with their trademark musicality and lyricism, and showcasing their ability to balance mainstream appeal with artistic depth.

The Last Poets are widely credited as the godfathers of Hip-Hop. Transcending Toxic Times is the album that fully defines their careers and legacy. Artfully recorded and produced by Jamaaladeen Tacuma (Ornette Coleman), the album intertwines the groove of Black culture with The Last Poets powerful words and cadence. Special Guests Malik B, Ursula Rucker, Tim Motzer, and Wadud Ahmad. This record will finally define the correct blend of poetry, jazz, Hip-Hop, and Soul, with the full expectation that it will be emulated for years to come.
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Beat Art Department releases an EP with remixes from the upcoming album of the Vienna DJ and producer Urbs by Retrogott, Brenk Sinatra and Cookin' Soul.
Retrogott aka Kurt Hustle from Cologne, who completely reshaped the track "10.000 Years Behind Me", is one of the most important representatives of
German Independent Hip Hop ever since the mid-2000s. Collectors spend a small fortune for his 2007 debut album “Jetzt Schämst Du Dich!”, which
has become the blueprint of German rap. He has remained popular, even when he changed his name.

It has been eleven long years since Urbs dropped his last album which was called “Toujours Le Meme Film”. Back then, the musician, DJ and producer created the soundtrack to a fictitious Film Noir, which was released on Kruder & Dorfmeister‘s G-Stone Label, but after touring Europe he almost completely retreated from public life. He does not consider his creativity as
being his career, but rather as a part of his life which rarely is subject to concrete planning, and that is why Urbs quite consciously took his time to create his latest –untitled- album.

Urbs: “A lot of people totally appreciated my last album “Toujours Le Meme Film”, and over the years I’ve learned that it really means a lot to some of them. Which was a burden, because, obviously, you do not want to disappoint these people. By now, I think enough water went down Danube river to perhaps surprise some of them with something completely new.
Those who know me know that I’ve always simply produced dope hip hop
tracks.”

This time, as a consequence, this is no all instrumental album but a collection of 12 soulful hip hop tunes that feature some handpicked vocalist
of the international rap, dancehall and soul scenes. On the album right next to EMC’s Wordsworth or R.A. the Rugged Man from New York, you will hear Ward 21 from Kingston, Jamaica, Voice Monet from New Orleans, One Self’s Blu Rum 13 from Washington DC, as well as long time companions like Skero from Vienna or Blabbwona from the group Abstract Art, who now lives in Munich by choice.

There also is a simple answer to the question of why the album has no title:
“This album, so to say, is my competitive exhibition in this field and owing to the endlessly long ripening process it is wonderfully and intensively boiled
down and on point. Therefore, no intros, no interludes, no title, no gimmicks, simply 12 good songs – period."

Project: Mooncircle & Finest Ego have teamed up to establish a fresh new 12” producer series, entitled “Faces”. On every edition, you will find two different producers. Respectively, each producer will have their own record-side and unique cover artwork by the aspiring Bioniq, known for his surrealistic portraits, blending humans and technology.

Faces number three will invite the two young producers Sekouia and Rain Dog to share sides on this disc and expose their musical crafts. Coming from Denmark and the UK, respectively, they are with certainty looking forward to long-lasting succesful careers. What they share is a an intrinsic feel for tiny musical details which give their music an intimate feel to keep the listener mesmerized for ages. On this record they experiment with different sounds and tempos to create a dynamic collection of unique compositions that congregate an EP of colourful, low slung and ambient tunes or simply ‘chocolatefudgebrownieplasticmusic‘.

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany and grown up in Detroit, Sekuoia is a project by the 19-year old danish producer Patrick Alexander Bech Madsen. His music, based on guitar melodies, deep bass, organic beats, and chopped and screwed vocal samples, is a take on various genres and he is best described as an experimental electronica producer. His debut EP “Trips“ was released in December last year.

Having originally studied as an artist, newcomer Rain Dog has spent the last couple of years experimenting with production software, building speakers, composing music for indie shorts and making beats out of various small bedrooms scattered across the north of England. Recently he has settled in London and with a release on Echodub‘s imprint, Cut and a track featured on Project: Mooncirlce‘s 10th anniversary box LP, he continues to develop his lowslung melodic compositions.

Project: Mooncircle & Finest Ego have teamed up to establish a fresh new 12” producer series, entitled “Faces”. On every edition, you will find two different producers. Respectively, each producer will have their own record-side and unique cover artwork by the aspring LNY, known for his surrealistic portraits, blending humans and animals.

Going to be released upcoming February, the second edition of our “Faces“ series will exhibit works by the two extraordinary producers Daisuke Tanabe and Mike Gao. Again, coming from very distinct biographical backgrounds – despite their obvious Asian descent – the two are connected through their artistic excellence and uncompromising musical creations and visions. In symbiosis with these nocturnal flying mammals they use their ultra-precise sonic waves to navigate imperturbably through dark nights, leaving their prey with no chance of escape.

Limited 12” vinyl for serious collectors, DJ’s and record addicts only!

Mike Gao is a music technology researcher, holds a Masters degree in Music Technology at Stanford and is pursuing his PhD in Electrical Engineering at UCSD. After a career as underground Hip Hop and Scratch DJ in Chicago (working with such names as Qwel, Mestizo and Luckyiam) he began partaking and winning in numerous beat battles, Low End Theory being the most prominent one, which makes him one of the best kept secrets in the Los Angeles beat scene. He released music on labels such as All City with Tokimonsta, Galapagos4, Project: Mooncircle and many more…

Tokyo resident Daisuke Tanabe, a former art student who also lived in London for a while, developed from his techno/breakbeat background into a very unique sound between Hip Hop, Electronica, Folk and Jazz. He released music on labels such as Ninja Tune, BBE, Project: Mooncircle and Brownswood Recordings, performed with Zero DB and remixed artists like Elan Mehler and Aaron Jerome.

LNY is an artist living and working between New Jersey and New York. He makes art that is drawing based, social and open to the public in general; hence his drawings can be found pasted on buildings all over the world as well as in galleries and on 16-year-old kids’ tumblrs all over the internet. He is one half of Doodledrag, a New Jersey based doodling collective and always welcomes collaboration.

Limited edition of 300!

Sly, Sly Johnson, Sly The Mic Buddah : since the Saïan Supa Crew up until his solo career, the human beat machine keeps on increasing his numerous identities.

From Hip Hop to Soul, then from Soul to Beatmaking: from flow to singing, then from singing to production, Sly Johnson never really changed universe. He has just changed the direction of his musical compass in order to navigate with more flow.

Today, it’s immersed in the mechanics with processors and printed circuits that we find him, under the alias of TAGi, producer-beatmaker who, for the occasion, has joined the services of Steven Beatberg. It’s together, in artistic autarchy with the only presence of softwares, samplers and sequencers, that they have built their pieces in the light of their computer screens, rhythmizing the days by inserting snares or grindings of plugs taken from their sound database.

If records are, most of the time, Hip Hop’s nourishing materials, TAGi et Steven have however not used any samples. Their favourite recordings were not materials to exploit, but an aesthetic from which to inspire, compose, and search atmospheres and melodies, search his arrangements. After three EP dominated by instrumentals, the duo finally chose to realise their dream: to craft a multi-voice album where customized production for each guest would guide the creative process. To put themselves at the exclusive service of artists they particularly love, all different but connected by an uncompromising resistance to the commercial wind blowing on Hip Hop. For each one of them, they have built a title, keeping in mind the precise idea to put to light he or her that will vocally dress the bars.

Rapper Big Pooh, the former member of the Little Brother group (With Phonte & 9th Wonder), the contemporary soul of Lisa Spada, but also the rapist #madeinfrance Pumpkin (worthy descendant of MC Solaar, Fabe …), multi-faceted Georgia Anne Muldrow, the MC Finale, the new rising wave of artists of the Hip-Hop scene in Detroit. Tiemoko from Paris, Saga an MC who follows the pure tradition of the New York Hip-Hop, the very smooth-jazzy Elodie Rama and Dilouya, the producer of the previous record of Sly (The Mic Buddah), are of this casting where men and women share the roles and where TAGi, as soon as the mic presents itself to him, becomes again Sly Johnson for some refrains, choruses or solo rereading of the sublime “Retrograde” of James Blake.

Guided by Hip Hop since the 90’s until today, worked in great detail, YOUARESURROUNDED highlights vintage keyboards on granular rhythms, injecting a lascivious Soul, P-funk, electro futuristic or melancholic in black and white touches on 13 tracks that are as atmospheric as they are emotional.

The substance, the essence, the soul of the Hip-Hop.