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Toronto-based rapper Killy has returned with a brand new surprise album titled Light Path 8.
The title is inspired by Killy’s interest in the concept of numerology and the discovery of his life path number, which he cleverly repurposed as a light path for this project.
“Sometimes when you’re so focused on getting to your end goal, you forget to look back and see how far you’ve actually come. That’s why I’m naming this project Light Path 8,” explained KILLY.

The 13-track project includes production from Scott Storch, Richie Souf, Bijan Amir, VOU, KBeaZy, JUDGE, G Koop and more. It arrives on the heels of his latest one-off single “Swag Flu.”

“Everything has happened so fast and sometimes I can take it for granted. It feels like I’m maybe not getting anywhere fast enough,” commented KILLY on his journey so far. “The project is a collection of songs that I’ve created over the past two years, recorded in different places while on tour. I managed to tether all of them together into a cohesive body of work.”

After the release of debut record Gris-Gris, Dr. John found himself in a strange and awkward position. The US was deep into the Vietnam War, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were fresh in the public memory. On top of that, Dr. John was being pursued by various Los Angeles authorities for a handful of criminal offenses. It was, in his own words: "a heavy time for me." Much like Sly & The Family Stone's There's A Riot Goin' On, Dr. John's follow-up album Babylon would be a reflection of the chaotic and tumultuous time that he was living in. He and band dove deeper into the voodoo-inflected psychedelic rock and R&B of Gris-Gris, while touching upon elements of free jazz and Captain Beefheart-style avant garde. As with his debut record, production was handled by the legendary Harold Battiste, and much of the same session personnel who performed on it returned for Babylon, including Plas Johnson on saxophone, Alvin Robinson on guitar, and backing vocals from Jessie Hill, Shirley Goodman, and Tami Lynn. Babylon stands out as one of Dr. John's most overtly political albums, and is a singularly murky and darkly entrancing record in his discography. A psychedelic swamp of apocalyptic lyrical content, drunk, disorienting experimentation, and a fascinating entry into Dr. John's catalogue well-worthy of his expansive legacy. Get On Down is all too eager to reissue this unique record for Record Store Day Black Friday, which has not been repressed on vinyl in over 40 years. In keeping with the album's hallucinogenic sound, it is presented on trippy splattercolored vinyl, and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket.Shuggie Diamonds is my ‘singing’ and ‘more soulful’ alter ego, so the title The Diamond Report is based off that. The nickname was given to me by my brother, the late, great Guru. My music is also a form of me dropping jewels; I have always been a diamond in the rough.” - Big Shug on his new album, The Diamond Report Boston rap stalwart Big Shug blends equal parts raw soul and grimy street rap on The Diamond Report, an album that’s bursting with life and character from an emcee who exudes longevity. With decades in the game, the Gang Starr Foundation co-founder continues to sound hungry and passionate with his art, and it’s led to one of his strongest album showings yet. After delivering smooth vocals on the opening track, Shug hits your ear like a freight train on the bombastic “EMF” that’s produced by longtime collaborator DJ Premier. A lyrical middle-finger to “every motherf*cker” who’s ever doubted or crossed him, the single also received the video treatment from director Myster DL. It puts the focus directly on Shug and his rhymes, and it actually sets the tone for the remainder of The Diamond Report. At 20 tracks deep, the album plays like a highlight reel of all of Shug’s artistic strengths. On “Doing My Sh*t,” he kicks back and oozes confidence as he croons over the Thir(13)teen-produced instrumental. And then on the Lil Fame-produced “Keep It Cool,” he’s back in bruiser mode alongside M-Dot, B.A.M and International Dreez. Shug also embodies the wise hip-hop sage on several cuts, including standouts “Old Man Rapper” and closer “You Ain’t About It.” But it’s on the lyrically charged “Stay The Course” that everything hits hardest. With Elevated Music’s snarling beat as his canvas, Shug takes aim at Trump, big ups Colin Kaepernick, and spits rewind-worthy bars like: “I still hustle, that’s how I was raised/ When I started out they said rap was a phase/ 20 years later, I still get paid/ While some of y’all clowns, still get played.” It’s a powerful reminder of exactly who Shug is, where he comes from, why he’s still here, and why everyone needs to be paying attention. To paraphrase the man himself, it may be 20 years later, but Shug’s pen is as sharp and necessary as ever.

Two West Coast icons team up in Underground Makes the World Go Round, a powerful release with its basslines on the pulse of the Los Angeles hip hop community: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.   South Central and Good Life legend Fat Jack and prolific West Coast producer Blu combine forces with a loaded lineup of guest artists, a veritable “Who’s Who” of the underground rap scene in LA: Busdriver, Medusa, Abstract Rude, Cashus King, Aceyalone, and Myka 9.  Seven tracks ride the flow between lyrical poetry and heavy jams, an impressive feat that’s riddled with energy and rivetingly rapped.  “U.M.T.W.G.R.” jumps in and shouts out with a catchy hook, its pure positive vibes continuing into the freestyle odes to Good Life and Project Blowed. You can feel the walls shaking through the bass splatter in “Low End Theory” as the ceiling crumbles down on your head.   From the vital heft of “U.N.I.T.Y Freestyle” to the cascading poetics of “Me Vs. Aceyalone,” the album brings everyone out – and brings everyone together to celebrate the enduring vitality of the L.A. underground. 

Rashad & Confidence bursted onto the scene back in 2011 with their much sought after and critically acclaimed underground classic, "The Element of Surprise". Since then Rashad has been quiet while Confidence put out two more top selling albums with Edo.G/G.Dot & Born and Purpose (of Tragic Allies) along with various singles (SmooVth, Beneficence, Jaysaun, Neek The Exotic, The Legion, The Regiment, etc.).
Eight years later, the Brooklyn/Philly duo finally reemerage with their long-awaited new single, "Desires".
Rashad hasn't lost a step. This time around the gifted MC goes into detail the desires he has and what it takes to get there along with the obstacles he encounters, backed by Confidence's typical raw but also soulful boom-bap production.
Hip-hop heads all around the globe have been asking for new material by Rashad & Confidence and it is a crazy coincidence that their "Desires" single drops around the same time as the brand new album by their biggest influence, Gang Starr.

Planet Asia is in his King Medallions bag this year. After dropping the criminally slept-on "Initials On My Jewelry" last Spring, the Fresno beast is back with the drip-heavy A.G.E. (All Gold Everything). The album features production from DJ Skizz, DirtyDiggs, Nicholas Craven, and more. Guests include Defari, TriState, Montage One, Stylistik Jones, and more! Planet Asia, originally hails from Fresno, California. He is prominent for being one half of the now reunited hip-hop duo the Cali Agents and is currently a member of the groups Gold Chain Military and Durag Dynasty. He is one of the most consistent artists in hip-hop these days, releasing several releases independently each year to keep his fans satisfied.

R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades, and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form.

Now, R.A. The Rugged Man is back with ""All My Heroes Are Dead"", a brand new album that stands as his best work to date. “So many of the greats are gone, and the legends who made it out alive are cast aside,” R.A. explains. “Society left our heroes and their culture for dead. We have to dig that greatness out of its grave, and bring it back with an angry vengeance.” "All My Heroes Are Dead" features an all-star lineup of hip-hop heavyweights, including Atmosphere, Chuck D, Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, Ice T, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Brand Nubian, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Chris Rivers, Onyx, Inspectah Deck, A-F-R-O, Masta Killa, and more.

Dza pulls together a star studded group of hip-hops best mcs for a true underground classic album.

Repress! R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades, and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form.

Now, R.A. The Rugged Man is back with ""All My Heroes Are Dead"", a brand new album that stands as his best work to date. “So many of the greats are gone, and the legends who made it out alive are cast aside,” R.A. explains. “Society left our heroes and their culture for dead. We have to dig that greatness out of its grave, and bring it back with an angry vengeance.” "All My Heroes Are Dead" features an all-star lineup of hip-hop heavyweights, including Atmosphere, Chuck D, Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, Ice T, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Brand Nubian, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Chris Rivers, Onyx, Inspectah Deck, A-F-R-O, Masta Killa, and more.

Dope Folks are proud to announce their 99th release!!! The Last Emperor is a Philly born MC who started to make waves in the Lyrical Underground movement of the late 90's early 2000's. Moving to New York in the early 2000's, he began performing at open mic nights and became a protege of Dr. Dre. After being featured on KRS-One's "C.I.A" with Zach De La Rocha, The Last Emperor was signed to Rawkus Records. In the span of 6 months, a handful of singles were released and the label stopped putting out new music. Being without a label, the Last Emperor formed Red Planet Music to release his debut "Music, Magic, and Myth." We are excited to release these tracks from the Last Emperor's vaults! 8 tracks in all from the The Last Emperor's underground career. Limited to 350 copies, (100 colored copies, 250 standard black) Get your copy now!

Planet Asia is in his King Medallions bag this year. After dropping the criminally slept-on Initials On My Jewelry last Spring, the Fresno beast is back with the drip-heavy A.G.E. (All Gold Everything). The album features production from DJ Skizz, DirtyDiggs, Nicholas Craven, and more. Guests include Defari, TriState, Montage One, Stylistik Jones, and more! Planet Asia, originally hails from Fresno, California. He is prominent for being one half of the now reunited hip-hop duo the Cali Agents and is currently a member of the groups Gold Chain Military and Durag Dynasty. He is one of the most consistent artists in hip-hop these days, releasing several releases independently each year to keep his fans satisfied. Album art by Manuel "Cep" Concepcion

Jay Worthy, the Lndn Drgs front man, originally hails from Compton and -- along with frequent collaborators like Kamaiyah and G Perico -- he's part of a new crop of rappers that keep the sound and feel of the '90s G-funk era alive However, after moving to NYC for a period of time he linked up with NYC producer Harry Fraud (Smoke DZA, Curren$y, Meyhem Lauren, French Montana, etc). Fraud is a real New York kinda guy, but it turns out he's also really good at crafting the kind of West Coast-style bounce that Jay Worthy is perfect for. Initially, Worthy and Fraud got together to record the songs “Uncle Brad” ft. ElCamino and “Backpage Freestyle” ft. Grafh & Daytona, both of which are included on “Two4One”, Worthy’s first solo project, released as a series of two single collaborations in 2020, and via Get On Down on both colored and black vinyl. However, these bi-coastal collaborators didn’t stop there and they soon found themselves recording enough songs for an entire project of their own, with Worthy penning his lyrics in Harry’s Brooklyn based studio at the same time Harry was producing the music for what became “Eat When You’re Hungry, Sleep When You’re Tired”, their seven song project (ep) featuring Larry June, Guapdad 4000, ElCamino (Griselda), G-Perico, Band Gang Lonnie Bands and Big Body Bes. Worthy & Fraud are now dropping “Eat When You’re Hungry, Sleep When You’re Tired” and the instrumentals for all seven tracks on a limited edition purply-swirl colored vinyl, with amazing artwork.

On his twelfth studio LP in nearly 20 years, Reks sounds just as hungry and passionate on T.H.I.N.G.S. (The Hunger Inside Never Gets Satisfied) as he did when Along Came The Chosen dropped back in 2001. Perhaps even more so. There seems to be a fire that gets lit under the Lawrence, MA native whenever he begins crafting a new album. “While my conceptualizing process has grown over the years, the actual approach to getting started has remained consistent,” Reks says. “There’s a youthful eagerness that comes over me every time I’m about to start a new record.” That feeling is palpable throughout T.H.I.N.G.S., an album bursting with everything you’d want from a Reks record, but also so much more. There are certainly instances of his trademark wordplay mixed with bravado on here, like the Apollo Brown-produced banger “King of the Town” featuring Lucky Dice & Chi Knox. But the real core of this record is Reks’ reckoning with bigger societal issues that have simply run rampant for far too long. And given his talents with the pen, he’s able to blend strong songwriting with deep, conceptual lyrics. Just listen to how he tackles white privilege on the otherwise catchy “Rachel Green” or the way he chronicles being Black in America on “White House.” That’s not even mentioning “The Complex,” a lyrically gripping look at Ptsd and Big Pharma featuring Pharoahe Monch, and his personal favorite track, “Nana & Grampy’s Song,” a heartfelt dedication to Black love. For Reks, it’s all about delivering the best possible music to his fans while staying true to himself. And he does exactly that not just through his own gifts, but also through collaborations with the likes of Pharoahe Monch, Lil Fame, Nottz, Apollo Brown, Statik Selektah, Evidence, and Marco Polo, among others.

NBN Archives’ second reissue is the debut - and sole - LP of Bay Area group – i.f.A aka International Family Affair. A lethal fusion of G-Funk and R&B, this self-titled album was first released on Rollin Record Enterprises in 1997. After having dropped their first single on Capitol in 1996 and being shelved right after, band-leader Derrick Shaw had the plan to start over his i.f.A project independantly. With roots in and around Oakland, East Palo Alto and Stockton, it was only a matter of time before these musical minds would meet to form their own “Family Affair.” Derrick Shaw aka D-shoot was a vocalist and musician with a well-known band called Kashmir before he met the self-dubbed Godfather. After an introduction on the basket-ball court, the two became friends and immediately went to work flushing out many of D.’s musical concepts. In stepped Bias, a rapper born into the game. His versatile rap styles blended perfectly with i.f.A.’s old school Funk and R&B vibe. SOS, a rapper from the streets of Oakland with a unique cadence, added his “gangsta rap” and “rough edge” background which compliments the style of i.f.A. Produced by D-Shoot and Ivan Johnson this LP is loaded with rapping and singing backed with smoothed-out instrumentals that gives off that "laid-back/bumping" vibe with that "something for the ladies". “It’s so different you can’t help but like it. We will appeal to a wider fan base because we’re not trying to sound like every other act coming out.” - D-Shoot.

Throughout Hip-Hop’s history there has been a number of photographers that have taken it upon themselves to document a specific region or epoch…or both. From Jamel Shabazz to Ricky Powell to Estevan Oriol, the subculture has been perfectly captured by some outstanding talents. Enter 1000Words. This strictly Polaroid photog has been chronicling the resurgence of Golden Era Hip-Hop one rapper at a time. The Bronx shutterbug is at every event in NYC that matters and his M.O. is getting candid shots of artists and having them sign the photos. These pics have become a sought-after stamp of approval for vets and up-n-comers alike. In fact, they have even been used for album covers by major players like Big Ghost Ltd. and Conway.

Having built up his reputation, his connects, and a massive collection of Polaroids, this tenacious creative has turned his attention to putting out an album spotlighting some of his favorite new emcees. The line-up includes Eto, Crimeapple, Axel Leon, Daniel Son, Flee Lord, G4 JAG, Pounds, Vic Spencer, Rasheed Chappell, The Musalini, Nems FYL, Asun Eastwood, Rome Streetz, and Nature. And while Words handles executive producer duties on this compilation, he’s partnered with the King of Upstate, 38 Spesh, to fully produce the project.

In short, 1000Words has pulled together a must-have collection of songs, that like his pictures, capture an important moment in time.

Hardcore Reps were a three man crew from Far Rockaway, Queens made up of two brothers Damian and Majestic along with beat maker and producer Angelo “A.N.G.” Foukas. They never released a project on their own and just featured on Angelo’s 1996 instrumental album on the only two tracks with vocals. Angelo was introduced to the brothers way back in the early 90’s through a mutual friend.. He played them a few of his instrumentals and the boys were suitably impressed and they made a few demo tapes in 1994 that they passed around local heads. They never pursued a deal and just used the tapes to get some recognition among their peers. The demo tapes have been in a much demand and only a few have survived. We have five joints from those tapes, remastered from the original studio DATs and three tracks that have never surfaced before. The two joints from that 1996 inst album are on here but slightly different versions. Big up to my man Dougpark for the hook up – Dougpark provided the connect for the excellent Speakeasy demos we dropped a couple years back. And before anyone says it’s Full Proof not Fool Proof, no it isn’t. Enjoy!!

Stupid dope debut album from Last Jazz Club’s Mike B along with San Jose MC Tha Anthom. If you dug Mike’s last release on Herring [LJC’s – ‘Jazz Is..”] you will flip out for this one. Every joint is a killer and every joint is on a jazz tip. Double bass lines galore!! Amazing full colour artwork from Rockin Roger aka AzhqOne [who did the Interviews Vol 3 art]. An absolute sureshot!





Tracks:

A1 Intro A2 Neva Sellin Out A3 Diggin This Right Here A4 Mic In My Hand A5 Likwits ft Mikey PG A6 Like Dat Interlude

B1 If The Beats Fat B2 Check It B3 Murderous Status ft Iron Slaughter B4 Get Drunk B5 Timeless

All tracks produced by Mike (Last Jazz Club) B

Described by music journalists as German wonder boy and multinational phenomenon, Berlin-based music producer and beat maker Meeco has been an internationally respected big name among music lovers and music experts for quite some time. Deeply rooted in jazz and soul music, he has released four albums featuring an eclectic mix of star guests from different genres including Talib Kweli, Gregory Porter, John Scofield and Casey Benjamin (Robert Glasper Experiment), always moving effortlessly between jazz, soul and hip-hop. Not a conservative musician by any stretch, Meeco is used to doing things big, out of the norm and striking new approaches. On this new venture, WE OUT Here, Meeco delivers a pure hip-hop album. Again, he did not skimp on star power as the featured artists include big names such as Smif n’ Wessun, Masta Ace, Little Fame (of M.O.P.), Big Shug, and A.G. (of D.I.T.C.). All of the tracks were exclusively produced on the legendary EMU Sp1200, a 12-bit sampler, providing a particular grit and signature boom bap sound.

In 2007, King Magnetic and Tone Spliff met on the Vast Aire/Copywrite Weatherproof Tour. Over the years they collaborated on a dozen songs via features and other artists while releasing various solo projects. In 2019, they shot a video for the Ruste Juxx/Tone Spliff LP and decided to do some work for King Magnetic's Weekly Vibes 2020. This began the creation of the Nobody's Safe LP. Both have worked with Apathy, Sean Price, R.A. the Rugged Man, Edo G, Sadat X, Rockness Monsta, Conway the Machine, Percee P, Blaq Poet, Planet Asia, Saigon, Big Noyd and Tragedy. In addition, Tone has worked with AG, Inspectah Deck, Afro, Royce 5’9 and Magnetic with Masta Ace, Smif N Wessun, Marco Polo, Benny The Butcher, Cassidy, DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Cappadonna, Atmosphere, Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique, Jadakiss, Rapsody and More.

With so many ways to release NEw music in recent years (besides the traditional method of the “standard” album) Natural Elements decided to begin releasing 3 Song EPs starting in 2018. These 3 volumes were released solely via digital streaming service platforms and became known as their “Death Comes in 3s” series.

Now for the first time, the “Death Comes in 3s” Deluxe Edition is NOW Available on Vinyl & CD through ‘NE4LIFEnt’ in collaboration with Belgium based label ‘Hip-Hop Enterprise’! The “Death Comes in 3s” vinyl edition includes the original 9 tracks from the compilation of the three Volumes of ‘Death Comes In 3s’ as well an exclusive bonus track. The ‘Vroom NEmix’ is the remix to the original ‘Vroom’ solo track released by group member Swigga f.k.a. L-Swift.

The vinyl edition will be limited to 500 total copies, and will come in 2 colored versions of 150 copies each (one will be exclusive to HHV.de) and 200 standard black copies.

The “Death Comes in 3s” CD includes the same 10 tracks as the vinyl BUT will have an extra 11th track on top! ‘DroNEs’ is dedicated to the legendary Hip-Hop group 'The Roots' who they have toured with and have done various legendary live freestyles with throughout the years. The CD edition will be limited to only 350 copies and once they are gone that’s it!

This 11 track project contains production by Charlemagne (Natural Elements original long time producer) as well as J. Armz, Haydn Davies and GxBxT. Natural Elements’ vibe and cohesion is still as amazing as 25 years ago, and more importantly they are staying true to their style which made them fan favorites from the get go. Order Yours Today!

On his twelfth studio LP in nearly 20 years, Reks sounds just as hungry and passionate on T.H.I.N.G.S. (The Hunger Inside Never Gets Satisfied) as he did when Along Came The Chosen dropped back in 2001. Perhaps even more so. There seems to be a fire that gets lit under the Lawrence, MA native whenever he begins crafting a new album. “While my conceptualizing process has grown over the years, the actual approach to getting started has remained consistent,” Reks says. “There’s a youthful eagerness that comes over me every time I’m about to start a new record.” That feeling is palpable throughout T.H.I.N.G.S., an album bursting with everything you’d want from a Reks record, but also so much more. There are certainly instances of his trademark wordplay mixed with bravado on here, like the Apollo Brown-produced banger “King of the Town” featuring Lucky Dice & Chi Knox. But the real core of this record is Reks’ reckoning with bigger societal issues that have simply run rampant for far too long. And given his talents with the pen, he’s able to blend strong songwriting with deep, conceptual lyrics. Just listen to how he tackles white privilege on the otherwise catchy “Rachel Green” or the way he chronicles being Black in America on “White House.” That’s not even mentioning “The Complex,” a lyrically gripping look at Ptsd and Big Pharma featuring Pharoahe Monch, and his personal favorite track, “Nana & Grampy’s Song,” a heartfelt dedication to Black love. For Reks, it’s all about delivering the best possible music to his fans while staying true to himself. And he does exactly that not just through his own gifts, but also through collaborations with the likes of Pharoahe Monch, Lil Fame, Nottz, Apollo Brown, Statik Selektah, Evidence, and Marco Polo, among others.

Strictly limited edition of 500 copies on colored vinyl!

Here is another gem for your 90's classics collection, this time O.G.C.'s debut "Da Storm" finally gets the well-deserved reissue treatment.

Max. 2 copies per customer.

Pressed ON "dried Blood" RED Colored Vinyl W/obi Limited TO 1000 Copies In the late 90s in Hip Hop, all eyes were on the South - and the Down South sound reigned supreme. Few groups were as hot as Memphis’ Three 6 Mafia. CrazyNDaLazDayz was a regional scorcher when it dropped in 1999, released under the group name Tear Da Club Up Thugs, but essentially a Three 6 Mafia full-length as core Three 6 members DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous all contribute to the project. The record went on to be certified Gold and Three 6 Mafia went on to win an Academy Award for their contribution to the film Hustle & Flow. CrazyNDaLazDayz continues to have an impact. A cut Juicy J first pulled together while still in high school, “Slob On My Knob”, was utilized in A$ap Ferg’s hit “Plain Jane.” In addition, the cut is interpolated into G-Eazy’s most successful cut to date, “No Limit.” Get On Down brings you this often overlooked and definitely in need of being revisited portion of Three 6 Mafia’s legacy.

Planet Asia has been a mainstay in underground Hip-Hop for decades, but somehow he just keeps getting better with age. After a highly praised album with 38 Spesh behind the boards at the top of the year, he is giving fans a joint EP with fellow Fresno native A-Plus Tha Kid to end 2020. This pairing of OG and young buck is the perfect balance of energies. Six of the seven tracks here are produced by Asia’s frequent collaborators DirtyDiggs, while Spesh provides the beat for the album closer. Guests include Trust queen Che Noir and Asia’s close compadre Washeyi Choir.

The long lost debut by DJ Quicksilver Cooley & Black A.G. "Things Will Be". Originally recorded in the early 1990's and scheduled for release in 1992 on Darn Good Records, the album tragically never saw the light of day... until now. Sourced from the original master tapes and remastered by Jee Van Cleef, we have included all tracks intended for the original release, plus two bonus tracks "No Typa Drugdeala (1992 Remix)" and "She's The One" (sourced from the 1990 cassette single).

Rochester New York’s very own Super group Da Cloth member Illanoise delivers once again!!!

This time he is teamed up with some of Hip Hop’s Underground elites to bring you The Fisherman. This Cinematic style project is filled with lethal lyrical doses over pure Dark & Dirty Production reminiscent of the 90’s provided by New Jersey's Halo.

A sure thriller and authentic Hip Hop Head must listen!!!

Limited Cassette Edition Handnumbered to #75

Ill Adrenaline Records co-founder and Brick City native Beneficence drops his seventh album entitled "Stellar Mind", entirely produced by longtime collaborator and Boston producer Confidence (of Rashad & Confidence). "Stellar Mind" is the follow up to Benef's underground smash hit album "Basement Chemistry" (2016) that included an array of bangers with high caliber guest appearances by Inspectah Deck (of Wu-Tang Clan), Masta Ace, MC Eiht, and many more. More than four years in the making, "Stellar Mind" takes a deep journey and boom bap ride with flawless production courtesy of Confidence, the man with the golden sound. Benef’s & Conf’s latest installment is a mastery of beats, rhymes, jazz loops, and soul at its apex. With slick vocals and blue-collar aesthetics, it gives the listener head-nodding street anthems and stays true to its roots. 16 tracks strong, the album takes a more personal approach and drops around the same time as Benef's book "Concrete Soul: Memoir & Making of Ill Adrenaline Records". In the intro (Hypnosis) the close Artifacts affiliate rhymes with conviction, "many failed to see the vision, homey who are we kidding, breads with Goldman Sachs, forget the hands of a vixen". Another banger is the infectious horn laced "Travelling Man" where Benef runs down a list of moments in time. "DB Coppers hi jack, John Coltrane's tenor sax, the lost notebook that Eminem hoping to get back, the final destination that we all will end up at". The album's first single "My Way" features Masta Ace and Phantasm (of Cella Dwellas), revealing their perspectives of choice options in life and music. Beneficence & Confidence is a dream team that boom-bap connoisseurs have been patiently eager to hear. Along with slick intelligent rhymes, thought-provoking concepts, and sharp & precise cuts handled by 12 Finger Dan, DJ Grazzhoppa, and DJ Kaos (rip), the LP comes equipped with an impressive guest list of rhyme slingers to deliver a long-awaited gem for underground hip-hop fans around the globe. Features include Masta Ace, Keith Murray, Ras Kass, AG (of D.I.T.C.), Chubb Rock, Lord Tariq, Craig G, El Da Sensei (of The Artifacts), Phantasm (of Cella Dwellas), Ali Vegas, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Wordsworth, Queen Herawin (of Jugganots), Truth Enola, and soul singer Melinda Camille. The thoroughbred soul survivors are back for the people.

Los Angeles emcee Pawz One returns with Featured Unreleased Collab Kollection Issue Two (F.U.C.K I.T!), the second installment in the series that features guest appearances, unreleased songs and remixes. The 16 track album includes artists like Talib Kweli, Ras Kass, A.G of D.I.T.C and others are featured on the album along with artwork done by Gift Revolver who recently did artwork for Conway, Wu-Tang and Big Pun. Producers include Snowgoons and many others from Japan, Netherlands, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Produced Entirely by Harry Fraud. Features by 2 Chainz, Fat Joe, French Montana, Jim Jones, Chinx and Rick Hyde. Mere months after releasing an undisputed Aoty contender for 2020 with Burden Of Proof and only three months after being shot, Benny is back on his feet (way ahead of schedule) and re-immersed in his element “back to that little pot, that little flame”. While he has separated himself from his peers, Benny from Montana Ave knows the game is to be sold and never told and he has put all of these accolades in his rearview mirror to focus on his next lick; The Plugs I Met 2. The Plugs I Met 2 is the coronation of a true G going from worker to the PLUG---and never looking back. “I came in as an underdog, to filling out my position as one of the elite rhymers in the industry. Plugs 2 expands upon that mindset; the same confidence, same attitude, cocky, but I still have something to prove” Benny asserts. Produced entirely by Harry Fraud, the Brooklyn bred producer describes The Plugs I Met 2 as “the story of a hustler who’s realized success but understands how fragile it is. Lyrically the album shows Benny reflecting on what he’s sacrificed to get here and what he’ll need to do to continue his rise to the top. With this project we set out to transport the listener into a world that was lush but still gritty, triumphant but still emotional and sonically diverse across the board.”

Edo. G & Insight Innovates deliver that raw, jazzy, and true-to-life hip-hop on their self-titled debut album. It’s the culmination of decades of friendship and collaboration, birthed from childhood memories and the early days of the Boston rap scene. And with this 10-track project, both artists sound as hungry and passionate as ever while they deliver one of the year’s best releases to date. For Edo and Insight, that meant more than just “boom-bap” sounds or tight lyricism—it meant bringing everything to the table, including next-level lyricism. As Insight explains, “This project is focused on punchy drums, bass, attractive melodies, and a realistic life message and story from black men in a slowly changing world.” You can hear that mission statement on instant highlights “Choose Your Path” and “It Takes Progress,” with the latter serving as the album’s first leak. With good reason, of course, because Insight and Edo admit that it’s one of their favorites from the record. In addition to featuring some of their best rhymes, it provided a way for them to not just sound off on societal issues but also offer some solutions. But Edo G. & Insight Innovates also succeeds because of the way that simultaneously pays homage to and modernizes hip-hop’s past. There are cultural Easter eggs and outright tributes all over the album, like the absolutely banging “Set It Off (Long Live Kane),” which rightly gives flowers to hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane. The two also show love to Edo’s own history by reimagining his classic Da Bulldogs joint, “I Got To Have It,” on the standout track “Unite & Let’s All Get Down.” As Insight says, it was part of their shared goal to “make a dope hip-hop album that reflects who we are and what we’re about.” He and Edo met that goal and then some with this release.

So Joe City aka Third Eye Ent hits me up and says B, hook up with my man Strez, he might have some ish you are looking for. So outta Norfolk, Virginia, this is the Foundation Entertainment EP. Most of these tracks appeared on an extremely rare couple of cds from 97 & 99 as well as one off a demo tape and one unreleased from the House of Reps unreleased stash!!! Peep this short interview with DJ Strez for some background info:



Where did you grow up? “I grew up in the Park Place/Villa Heights section of Norfolk Virginia born & raised.”

What are your earliest memories of the culture? “My earliest moments of the culture are begging my mom to go to the record store to buy The Fatboys first album, LL Cool J “Radio”, Run-D.M.C. “Raising Hell” & Beastie Boys “Licensed To Ill” albums. When I got home that day I played these albums non stop. That’s when I knew I was in love with Hip Hop.”

Who were your fav beatmakers coming up? “My Favorite Beat Makers/Producers coming up was Marley Marl, Pete Rock, The Bomb Squad, DJ Premier, Large Professor, Diamond D & Joe City (VA Native)”

What was the VA scene like? “The VA Scene Between 1991-2001 was a great time to be involved with music.A lot of local artists that were coming out started making tapes and selling them at shows or in the clubs.We had so many outlets back then and the major artists were also coming down checking the scene out as well. We definitely had hidden gems as far as talent.”

When did you start making beats? “I started making beats when I was around 16 years old. I was always fascinated with making music and always wanted to learn. The music that was made between “87-99″ was always mind blowing to me. Once i realized that they were taking loops from old records,sampling and making beats out of them i knew that that is what i wanted to do”

What were your first bits of gear? “My first bits of gear was a Casio Sk-1, a Gemini Sampler Ds-1224, a Korg M1, a Boss Dr-5 & a Pair of technics belt drive turntables.”

When did you set up Foundation Ent? “Foundation Ent was formed around 93-95 through my partner Carlton Barnard and he was also my manager. We met at a mall out here in VA called Military Circle in 1996 and we chopped it up and immediately clicked. It all started and developed when he said he had equipment that wasn’t really being used and i asked him if i could use it and eventually it led to us getting a building for a studio and signing artists.”

How did you hook up with all the mcs? “Before Foundation Ent, I was in a group with a friend of mine named Stratagee Real which later became an artist on Foundation Ent so we were already connected. Carlton did beats and had the group Coalition & a female artist named Bad News already so we started teaming up and recording music together in the studio. The other artists that were on the roster were mostly people that we came across that rap and sing.”

Tone Spliff and Melly-Mel met in 2020, the year of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tone had just put out a #FreshStyleChallenge to eMCees on his social media platforms and was impressed with Mel's submission. He decided to collaborate with him on a project, offering Mel the option to cut a joint EP or a full album. Ecstatically, Melly-Mel chose the album route & the pair produced New People; an LP born out of a new friendship, formed in a tumultuous time. Throughout both careers, they’ve worked with heavyweight artists such as: Ruste Juxx, A-f-r-o, Sadat X, Wordsworth, El Da Sensei, Termanology, Skyzoo, Sean Price, Ras Kass, Akrobatik, Thirstin' Howl 3rd, Royce 5'9, Immortal Technique, R.A. The Rugged Man, Inspectah Deck, King Magnetic, Conway The Machine, Planet Asia, Edo G, Saigon, Apathy, Stu Bangas and countless others.

His first solo album since 2014’s Rap Fantastic Boston based emcee, Dagha returns with D-A To The G. The eleven track effort is entirely produced by long-time ally, DJ Real (Insight, Martiangang). Closing in at over two decades into his hip-hop career, the album is unapologetically late 80’s and 90’s authentic. Not in a retro rose-glasses approximation of the style but direct from two vets who were actually in the culture and making music back then. Speaking on the release, the emcee said “I feel like it’s a statement album from me. At this point, I have a deeply supportive underground fan base and they know my music. This new album applies the same formula of voice, positivity, fun, and banging beats but this time on vinyl. Yes, there are messages but never from a preachy place.” Among these messages is “Knowledge Over Faith” which the emcee says is about “instead of following blindly to traditions and behaviors passed down from our families and peers use facts and the tools accessible to us to make our own informed decisions.” There’s also “Black Trucks” where Dagha and Ruste Juxx (Boot Camp Clik) warning garbage emcees that time’s up as Dagha says “the ones who are contributing to the current culture of misogyny, addiction and fronting.” Also guesting on four tracks is Dagha’s original rhyme-partner Cloke, the chemistry is definitely evident, with Cloke’s baritone grit and Dagha’s nimble flow. Dagha says “I don’t think my passion for hip-hop has diminished over time, if anything, I’m even more passionate about the music I release.”

Xardinal Coffee is a debut album that is a strikingly contemporary record of slick hip hop, rich textures, idiosyncratic grooves and electronic-tinged wonky R&B. It’s an album that feels intricate and busy but also manages to retain a sense of space and looseness, allowing hypnotic rhythms to unfurl with grace. Exum, aka Antone Chavez Exum Jr. credits the 'genius' of his two producers, Erik Samkopf and Dex Barstad, who he works closely with. Samkopf being the producer responsible for Xardinal Coffee respectively. 'Sam and I don’t really like doing anything that doesn’t have an ückean effect. We’re not from here you know, we’re just getting adjusted’, says Exum of the album’s eclectic sonic palate. 'We love to push the envelope on what is considered quirky, but try not to think about it too much. If me and another are walking down a street, whose going to be first to try something spectacular? Them. My walk will speak.’

However, any sense of weirdness is also married with an infectious and accessible quality. Tracks such as Arrest the Dancer - 'a David Bowie/Lady Gaga-type beat we got from YouTube by a producer named Raixsa' - comes alive with an irresistible funk strut, almost recalling Prince in the swaggering bounce of it. On top of this, Exum’s vocals offer versatility and flexibility, moving from caramel smooth croons to tight rap flows and to enthusiastic bursts of singing.

A sense of texture is palpable throughout too. Portabella Mushroom was recorded on a rare magic mushrooms trip and retains a lysergic and psychedelic quality, sucking the listener up into its swirling atmospheres. Whereas the sparse, minimal and slightly eerie beats of Wolves Eat Wolves was recorded in pitch black and the song takes on that kind of crepuscular vibe, which interspersed with the song’s dark lyrical content - touching upon sex trafficking - further cements this. ‘I take no form’, the artist says, and his formless nature speaks to his willingness to constantly recreate himself as an artist.

A love of words is also clear in Exum’s delivery, with them being carefully placed and sequenced amidst the ambitious soundscapes of the record. 'Writing is precious to me', he says. 'The vulnerability to bleed on paper. While playing with words, styling the same outfit for the 7th day in a row.'

Initially Exum looked up producer Erik Samkopf to work with when he’d had a temporary falling out with his previous producer Barstad. In love with Samkopf’s work with Pen Gutt, Exum took a punt and flew from his hometown of Richmond, Virginia to Oslo, Norway to work with him. As Exum and Barstad patched things up, Exum and Samkopf were building chemistry, creating something truly unique. 'Dex and Sam never cease to amaze me', he says. 'They’re versed and creative beyond measure, they both have an immense amount of musicality, and most of all, their love for music is sweaty.’

However adding to the legend, Exum took a little detour on his musical journey, spending years as a professional footballer in the NFL, for teams such as the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings. Now leaving that chapter of his life behind, Exum has returned to the true love held dear to him ever since he can remember: music.

Exum is not simply trying his hand at music though; he is crafting every part of his artistic journey, from carefully selected contributors (such as string composer Christian Balvig) and overseas producers, to shaping his own brilliant music videos with directors such as Allison Bunce and Rosabel Ferber. Both of whom occupy creative space in his art world, which goes by the name of ücke. He has effectively created his own musical ecosystem. 'You’ve got to create your own world and live highly in that first', he says. 'Making it inevitable for other worlds to not be touched by what’s vibrating through you. In my world I’m already a massively iconic artist.'

Planet Asia has been a mainstay in underground Hip-Hop for decades, but somehow he just keeps getting better with age. After a highly praised album with 38 Spesh behind the boards at the top of the year, he is giving fans a joint EP with fellow Fresno native A-Plus Tha Kid to end 2020. This pairing of OG and young buck is the perfect balance of energies. Six of the seven tracks here are produced by Asia’s frequent collaborators DirtyDiggs, while Spesh provides the beat for the album closer. Guests include Trust queen Che Noir and Asia’s close compadre Washeyi Choir.

Kooley High's Lazy Sunday EP is the groups first offering since their 9th Wonder executive-produced album 'Never Come Down". Released to critical acclaim, 'Never Come Down' featured an appearance from Grammy-nominated Emcee Rapsody. A lot has happened in the world since then...

Amidst the trials and tribulations of life in 2021, this EP's luscious soundscapes will transport you to your own personal Lazy Sunday. Take a moment to relax and reflect, then get back to the good fight. Features production by Grammy-nominated producer Eric G, Sinopsis, and a Remix from Statik Selektah. Instrumentals included.

Mere months after releasing an undisputed Aoty contender for 2020 with Burden Of Proof and only three months after being shot, Benny got back on his feet (way ahead of schedule) and re-immersed in his element “back to that little pot, that little flame”. While he has separated himself from his peers, Benny from Montana Ave knows the game is to be sold and never told and he has put all of these accolades in his rearview mirror to focus on his next lick; The Plugs I Met 2. The Plugs I Met 2 is the coronation of a true G going from worker to the PLUG---and never looking back. “I came in as an underdog, to filling out my position as one of the elite rhymers in the industry. Plugs 2 expands upon that mindset; the same confidence, same attitude, cocky, but I still have something to prove” Benny asserts. Produced entirely by Harry Fraud, the Brooklyn bred producer describes The Plugs I Met 2 as “the story of a hustler who’s realized success but understands how fragile it is. Lyrically the album shows Benny reflecting on what he’s sacrificed to get here and what he’ll need to do to continue his rise to the top. With this project we set out to transport the listener into a world that was lush but still gritty, triumphant but still emotional and sonically diverse across the board.”

Solemn Brigham is 1/2 of the group Marlowe. His music has been featured on Gatorade's G is for Greatness ad campaign, 7-Eleven's Harmony Korine (Kids, Gummo, Spring Breakers) directed low rider bike campaign, and NBA2K22. South Sinner Street is his debut solo album coming Sept 24th.

About the Album:
It is no secret that things are getting worse. By virtually any metric––economic or medical, or ones more abstract and spiritual––American society is in decay. The feeling permeates daily life in innumerable ways, giving the present a gnawing, ambient dread.

Solemn Brigham is not content to leave this at a low hum. On his dazzling new album, South Sinner Street, Solemn examines this decay through the prism of his hometown: Albemarle, North Carolina, where the blocks he grew up on are crumbling like everything else. “What was once a vibrant area now survives as a reminder that the only thing eternal is change,” Solemn says when describing the project’s genesis. “Trash and debris flood the streets, relics of the many lives lived––each piece with a story to tell.” South Sinner Street not only traces the degradation of the world around us, but documents the way communities can come together to stave off that slow death, lifting its members up in the process.

Solemn is uniquely equipped to animate the relics of a once-thriving neighborhood with the specificity they deserve. The rapper, whose work with his fellow North Carolinian, L’Orange, as the duo Marlowe has been critically acclaimed, is one of the most vocally acrobatic working today, able to contort himself into a dizzying array of different flows and inflections, accomplishing alone the sort of musical variety that sprawling collectives try and fail to achieve. Take “Couple Towns,” where Solemn moves from a seesaw pocket into a flow that cascades over the ends of bars; contrast this with the bonus track “Relax,” where each bar sounds as if it’s the final thought spilling out of his mind at the end of an impassioned phrase. The end of “Vice North” even recalls the technically stunning runs of One Be Lo, the Michigan rapper who in the 2000s became one of the genre’s chief chroniclers of a similar country-wide disintegration.

But this is not merely a showcase for verbal acrobatics. South Sinner Street is deeply personal, juxtaposing personal growth with the decay that surrounds it. “This is no rags to riches story,” Solemn warns. Of course––it’s more complicated than that. When, on “Vantablack,” of a toddler cradled in his mother’s arms while that mother nurses a cigarette, he is not asking the listener to imagine a tragic end or a harrowing origin story. The point is that we are all, perpetually, the child and the mother: doing our best to cope, even against our better judgment; persevering despite the circumstances that surround us.

And yet South Sinner Street is buoyed by a sense of playfulness that lights up even the pitch-black corners of Albemarle. “Nothing Left” succeeds in turning end-of-your-rope sorry into something like an in joke. When, on “Vice North,” Solemn raps about putting his hands together in prayer only to find “the line still busy,” his voice bakes something amusing in the complaint––maybe the sense that a young man in a small city is irked at God the way he might be at a flaky friend from the gym. And then, speaking of gyms, comes the laugh-out-loud moment on “Dirty Whip,” when Solemn concedes that he didn’t make the basketball team “‘cause I’m me-first.’”

Across its 14 songs, South Sinner Street argues for Solemn Brigham as one of the most exciting artists in underground hip-hop, a technical virtuoso who also happens to be one of the genre’s most surprising, most deeply personal songwriters. The album evokes the feeling of climbing onto a house’s roof to survey the nearly-burning city around you, with all the peril that entails––but also all the possibility.

Europe minus France only
60 million streams after their 2nd opus Running To The Moon, the duo's 3rd album, War Is Over, is a dive into 70's funk and soul with the same will to get the essential: the beauty of the melodies and the implacable groove. The Hip-Hop instrumentals on which singers and MCs seem to have more fun than ever, serve as a link to the whole.
Recorded mainly in Bordeaux, this new opus marks a turning point in the group's production method. The brass section present on the Running To The Moon tour was involved in the composition and thus brings a more organic touch to the sound of the album.
As usual, the duo has surrounded themselves with a horde of cult singers and MCs: R.A The Rugged Man, Pav4n & Illaman, Yoshi Di Original, Blake Worrell, MysDiggi or the young hopeful Yudimah (Fair 2020 winner) and the Englishman C.W Jones.
War is Over sounds like a declaration of love to black American music, from Early Jazz to Hip Hop, via Soul and Funk.

Limited to 2000 worldwide. Deluxe Lunchbox features embossed images on the front and back. Includes: Red Velour Rally Towel printed with 'The Plugs I Met II' Logo plus 18-track Deluxe CD version of 'The Plugs I Met 2' including the song "Thanksgiving"* plus all Instrumentals* & a 20-page booklet featuring never-seen-before photos and lyrics! (*previously unavailable on CD) The Plugs I Met 2 is the coronation of a true G going from worker to the PLUG---and never looking back. “I came in as an underdog, to filling out my position as one of the elite rhymers in the industry. Plugs 2 expands upon that mindset; the same confidence, same attitude, cocky, but I still have something to prove” Benny asserts. Produced entirely by Harry Fraud, the Brooklyn bred producer describes The Plugs I Met 2 as “the story of a hustler who’s realized success but understands how fragile it is. Lyrically the album shows Benny reflecting on what he’s sacrificed to get here and what he’ll need to do to continue his rise to the top. With this project we set out to transport the listener into a world that was lush but still gritty, triumphant but still emotional and sonically diverse

Party Til Your Body Stops by Cam, Gram and G.A.M. is the product of three weeks in Saskatoon at Factor’s house. The album quickly evolved from a couple of songs into a full blown project produced entirely by Factor Chandelier. Originally released in 2010.

Southern hip hop duo T.H.U.G. M.A.F.I.A. (The hardworking underestimated geniuses making all finances in appropriate ways), is based in East Point, Georgia consisting of Rockford, Illinois native Benjamin “Death-Trap” Gulley and Atlanta, Georgia native Kevia “K-Steel” Stills. The group formed in Atlanta in late 2001, performing at local clubs and major music venues in and around South West Atlanta. The groups music style consists of West Coast G-Funk and Dirty South Slang.



This is their brand new double album, the first one since 2011 and it won't disappoint!

Smoke On Records representing that Fucking NEW Orleans! Straight G-Shit kicking down the door for the 1st time on Vinyl "Premeditated Gangstarism". Young Gangstas are... K-syco Left Hand Killer and Ghetto RED OL' Style Dope Dealer.

Very Limited Black and Blood Splatter LP numbered with Gatefold Cover Including plastic jacket with selfmade parental sticker

Tracklist:

A1 Intro A2 Livin Hell A3 Driven BY Revenge

B1 Same SAD Song B2 Should Have Killed ME 1ST B3 Another DAY Gone Left

C1 DAY IN THE Life OF A Criminal C2 Come WIT Nuts C3 King PIN

D1 Killer Under Pressure D2 Definition OF A "G" D3 Outro

Mere months after releasing an undisputed Aoty contender for 2020 with Burden Of Proof and only three months after being shot, Benny got back on his feet (way ahead of schedule) and re-immersed in his element “back to that little pot, that little flame”. While he has separated himself from his peers, Benny from Montana Ave knows the game is to be sold and never told and he has put all of these accolades in his rearview mirror to focus on his next lick; The Plugs I Met 2. The Plugs I Met 2 is the coronation of a true G going from worker to the PLUG---and never looking back. “I came in as an underdog, to filling out my position as one of the elite rhymers in the industry. Plugs 2 expands upon that mindset; the same confidence, same attitude, cocky, but I still have something to prove” Benny asserts. Produced entirely by Harry Fraud, the Brooklyn bred producer describes The Plugs I Met 2 as “the story of a hustler who’s realized success but understands how fragile it is. Lyrically the album shows Benny reflecting on what he’s sacrificed to get here and what he’ll need to do to continue his rise to the top. With this project we set out to transport the listener into a world that was lush but still gritty, triumphant but still emotional and sonically diverse across the board.”

Acclaimed L.A. rapper Blu has crafted a remarkable discography, partnering with a series of exceptional producers to deliver cohesive collections showcasing his vivid lyricism and effortless flows. Now, Blu is turning to talented SoCal beatsmith Sirplus, a protégé of famed producer Exile who has worked with the likes of Planet Asia, Edo G, MED, Cali Agents, and more. "Sirplus is my guy," says Blu. "He is the newest member of the Dirty Science crew, and I could tell he had talent and skill. I knew I had to work with him." Now available worldwide, "For Sale" is a new EP from Blu entirely produced by Sirplus, featuring appearances by Nolan The Ninja, Johaz of Dag Savage, Scienze, Noveliss, and more.

D.R.U.G.S Beats, now grammy nominated, drops his 3rd release on Fat Beats "A.B.O.V.E." which is an acronym for All Beats Obliterates Various Eardrums. A.B.O.V.E. is a collection of hardcore but also soulful and smooth instrumentals that will rock you to your core. If u ever heard the tag Drugs Came IN AND HAD Everyone Goin’ Crazy? You know u are in for a treat. Grab a neck brace.

Solemn Brigham is 1/2 of the group Marlowe. His music has been featured on Gatorade's G is for Greatness ad campaign, 7-Eleven's Harmony Korine (Kids, Gummo, Spring Breakers) directed low rider bike campaign, and NBA2K22. South Sinner Street is his debut solo album coming Sept 24th.

About the Album:
It is no secret that things are getting worse. By virtually any metric––economic or medical, or ones more abstract and spiritual––American society is in decay. The feeling permeates daily life in innumerable ways, giving the present a gnawing, ambient dread.

Solemn Brigham is not content to leave this at a low hum. On his dazzling new album, South Sinner Street, Solemn examines this decay through the prism of his hometown: Albemarle, North Carolina, where the blocks he grew up on are crumbling like everything else. “What was once a vibrant area now survives as a reminder that the only thing eternal is change,” Solemn says when describing the project’s genesis. “Trash and debris flood the streets, relics of the many lives lived––each piece with a story to tell.” South Sinner Street not only traces the degradation of the world around us, but documents the way communities can come together to stave off that slow death, lifting its members up in the process.

Solemn is uniquely equipped to animate the relics of a once-thriving neighborhood with the specificity they deserve. The rapper, whose work with his fellow North Carolinian, L’Orange, as the duo Marlowe has been critically acclaimed, is one of the most vocally acrobatic working today, able to contort himself into a dizzying array of different flows and inflections, accomplishing alone the sort of musical variety that sprawling collectives try and fail to achieve. Take “Couple Towns,” where Solemn moves from a seesaw pocket into a flow that cascades over the ends of bars; contrast this with the bonus track “Relax,” where each bar sounds as if it’s the final thought spilling out of his mind at the end of an impassioned phrase. The end of “Vice North” even recalls the technically stunning runs of One Be Lo, the Michigan rapper who in the 2000s became one of the genre’s chief chroniclers of a similar country-wide disintegration.

But this is not merely a showcase for verbal acrobatics. South Sinner Street is deeply personal, juxtaposing personal growth with the decay that surrounds it. “This is no rags to riches story,” Solemn warns. Of course––it’s more complicated than that. When, on “Vantablack,” of a toddler cradled in his mother’s arms while that mother nurses a cigarette, he is not asking the listener to imagine a tragic end or a harrowing origin story. The point is that we are all, perpetually, the child and the mother: doing our best to cope, even against our better judgment; persevering despite the circumstances that surround us.

And yet South Sinner Street is buoyed by a sense of playfulness that lights up even the pitch-black corners of Albemarle. “Nothing Left” succeeds in turning end-of-your-rope sorry into something like an in joke. When, on “Vice North,” Solemn raps about putting his hands together in prayer only to find “the line still busy,” his voice bakes something amusing in the complaint––maybe the sense that a young man in a small city is irked at God the way he might be at a flaky friend from the gym. And then, speaking of gyms, comes the laugh-out-loud moment on “Dirty Whip,” when Solemn concedes that he didn’t make the basketball team “‘cause I’m me-first.’”

Across its 14 songs, South Sinner Street argues for Solemn Brigham as one of the most exciting artists in underground hip-hop, a technical virtuoso who also happens to be one of the genre’s most surprising, most deeply personal songwriters. The album evokes the feeling of climbing onto a house’s roof to survey the nearly-burning city around you, with all the peril that entails––but also all the possibility.

Solemn Brigham is 1/2 of the group Marlowe. His music has been featured on Gatorade's G is for Greatness ad campaign, 7-Eleven's Harmony Korine (Kids, Gummo, Spring Breakers) directed low rider bike campaign, and NBA2K22. South Sinner Street is his debut solo album coming Sept 24th.

About the Album:
It is no secret that things are getting worse. By virtually any metric––economic or medical, or ones more abstract and spiritual––American society is in decay. The feeling permeates daily life in innumerable ways, giving the present a gnawing, ambient dread.

Solemn Brigham is not content to leave this at a low hum. On his dazzling new album, South Sinner Street, Solemn examines this decay through the prism of his hometown: Albemarle, North Carolina, where the blocks he grew up on are crumbling like everything else. “What was once a vibrant area now survives as a reminder that the only thing eternal is change,” Solemn says when describing the project’s genesis. “Trash and debris flood the streets, relics of the many lives lived––each piece with a story to tell.” South Sinner Street not only traces the degradation of the world around us, but documents the way communities can come together to stave off that slow death, lifting its members up in the process.

Solemn is uniquely equipped to animate the relics of a once-thriving neighborhood with the specificity they deserve. The rapper, whose work with his fellow North Carolinian, L’Orange, as the duo Marlowe has been critically acclaimed, is one of the most vocally acrobatic working today, able to contort himself into a dizzying array of different flows and inflections, accomplishing alone the sort of musical variety that sprawling collectives try and fail to achieve. Take “Couple Towns,” where Solemn moves from a seesaw pocket into a flow that cascades over the ends of bars; contrast this with the bonus track “Relax,” where each bar sounds as if it’s the final thought spilling out of his mind at the end of an impassioned phrase. The end of “Vice North” even recalls the technically stunning runs of One Be Lo, the Michigan rapper who in the 2000s became one of the genre’s chief chroniclers of a similar country-wide disintegration.

But this is not merely a showcase for verbal acrobatics. South Sinner Street is deeply personal, juxtaposing personal growth with the decay that surrounds it. “This is no rags to riches story,” Solemn warns. Of course––it’s more complicated than that. When, on “Vantablack,” of a toddler cradled in his mother’s arms while that mother nurses a cigarette, he is not asking the listener to imagine a tragic end or a harrowing origin story. The point is that we are all, perpetually, the child and the mother: doing our best to cope, even against our better judgment; persevering despite the circumstances that surround us.

And yet South Sinner Street is buoyed by a sense of playfulness that lights up even the pitch-black corners of Albemarle. “Nothing Left” succeeds in turning end-of-your-rope sorry into something like an in joke. When, on “Vice North,” Solemn raps about putting his hands together in prayer only to find “the line still busy,” his voice bakes something amusing in the complaint––maybe the sense that a young man in a small city is irked at God the way he might be at a flaky friend from the gym. And then, speaking of gyms, comes the laugh-out-loud moment on “Dirty Whip,” when Solemn concedes that he didn’t make the basketball team “‘cause I’m me-first.’”

Across its 14 songs, South Sinner Street argues for Solemn Brigham as one of the most exciting artists in underground hip-hop, a technical virtuoso who also happens to be one of the genre’s most surprising, most deeply personal songwriters. The album evokes the feeling of climbing onto a house’s roof to survey the nearly-burning city around you, with all the peril that entails––but also all the possibility.

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.

The scene is sunny, smoggy Southern California, early 1980s. Traffic is barely moving. In the passenger seat of one of those cars there is young Jason Jackson, spinning the dial on the FM radio. R&B, early hip-hop, electro, new wave, independent jams, and music from the superstars – it was all a few notches away when the airwaves were wild and free. And when the radio dial was not enough, Jason Jackson got his first pair of turntables. The DJ known as J.Rocc was born, like a character in a Marvel comic book learning how to use a super power.

J.Rocc and his crew the Beat Junkies have been a seminal force in the rise of instrumental hip-hop, and were among a handful of DJs who transformed the craft into an art form. All along the way J.Rocc has been making his own beats, and A Wonderful Letter – his letter to Los Angeles, and his dedication to a lifetime of L.A. music scenes – is only his second full-length album.

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...

Griselda's Rick Hyde release's Plates 2 w/ features by Benny The Butcher, Conway the Machine, Westside Gunn and othersWith Griselda rhymer Benny The Butcher having what seems like an endless run of Ws, his BSF Records imprint appears to be getting more attention by the day. Rick Hyde is one of the top benefactors. His new project Plates II, a sequel to his independent mixtape Plates, positions Hyde as one to watch in the Griselda-wave 2.0. Sporting production from the likes of Daringer, Sha Money XL, Harry Fraud and the late DJ Shay (who the album commemorates by its release date falling on the anniversary of his death), as well as verses from Benny, Heem, Skyzoo and Westside Gunn, Hyde flexes his connections and curates a solid body of work.The project's shiniest gems include some of the singles that have already hit the net. "Hustler's Prayer" features Hyde and Heem interlocked in a battle to see who can drop the most street flexes, complemented by The SoulMonsters' grainy production. Another noteworthy cut is the DJ L-produced "Alone" featuring Benny and G Herbo -- which, aside from the DJ Shay-produced outro "Black Sinatra," is possibly the project's most replayable track.One thing that comes across crystal clear is Hyde's lyricism. He holds his own alongside a formidable tracklist of guests and shows a lot of diversity with his delivery. Look no further than the "Sarah Freestyle," where the subdued DJ Chopz and Skrilla loop provides an atmospheric backdrop to a relentless, two-minute onslaught.

“This is me at my most imaginative, freakiest, and yet still most grounded and introspective,” says Japanese American rapper/actor Lyrics Born not only about his new album Vision Board, but also his “self” and his existence. “I feel like a new man! I’m healthier physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.” The lead single and video “Diamond Door” is a pop/rap banger that lands you with an infectious barb and keeps you hooked for days, and is a thinly-veiled tribute to a particular style of female appreciation, but it can also be taken as a welcome mat to the new era of Lyrics Born. The accompanying video which shows Lyrics Born in his current physical form - svelte, stylish and with a confident swagger - reinforces this next chapter in his life. 60 pounds lighter, he lost the weight during the pandemic when he knew he needed to make a change. “Touring was becoming harder, and I was having all these weird health problems, but nothing that anybody could put their finger on,” he explains “My anxiety was high. I was not sleeping well. I was on the verge of really bad health.” And this improvement brought more confidence which shows in his new album. Vision Board is a focused affair that found him stretching his creativity farther and challenging himself to write in a way he’s never written before. Recorded primarily in New Orleans and produced by Rob Mercurio of Galactic (who also produced 2015’s Real People and 2018’s Quite a Life), it posited him in a new environment that helped his creative juices flow even more fluidly. “There’s nothing like recording in the Crescent City. It just gets in your blood, and the results are always funky and wild.” “This is about as psychedelic as I’ve ever been,” LB says. “I’m so proud of this album. I’m in a different space. The world is in a different space, and I wanted to celebrate that, loosen up and really create some imagery and share some emotion that I never have. I was listening to a lot of Shuggie Otis; a lot of obscure psychedelic soul and later Temptations,” he explained. “This is like if Alice in Wonderland was Japanese.” Vision Board was also inspired by another Bay Area rap luminary, although one who’s no longer with us - Gift of Gab. The dexterous Blackalicious MC and fellow Quannum Projects alum had a profound effect on Lyrics Born’s life, both creatively and philosophically. “I asked myself on some of these songs: ‘How would Gab approach them?’” he said. “I’d play with certain cadences, certain styles; I tried to stretch stylistically, lyrically and vocally on every single song. None of the patterns are the same.” Lyrics Born’s vulnerability shines through on the nine-track effort, something he’s not ashamed to admit (nor should he be). At one point during the pandemic, he was losing one friend, peer or family member every other week - from Zumbi of Zion I to Gift of Gab to Digital Underground’s Shock G. While many of the songs are deeply introspective, he had to “write some fun shit,” too. Celebratory horns, uptempo rhythms and fiery bars pepper the project from start to finish, and truly encapsulate Lyrics Born’s evolution of not just a groundbreaking Asian-American MC but also a human being. As the only Asian-American MC to release 10 studio albums, the first Asian-American to play major music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza and the first Asian-American to release a greatest hits compilation, Lyrics Born has been breaking barriers his entire life - and he’s not going to stop anytime soon. From the bombastic and tribal “I’m the Best Rapper in the World” with its self-winking boastfulness to the playful scat of “Bang Bang Bang” that slinks like an outtake from West Side Story, to the smooth and seductive “Who's The Best? (Dear Young LB)," to the psychedelic and swoony ”Alligator Boots” with it dreamy “Walk on the Wildside”-esque reverby sway, Vision Board sees Lyrics Born tackling different tones, textures and genres without fear and making them completely his own. It's an eclectic body of work that boasts more synths, more psychedelia and is generally more abstract.

Imagine Sun Ra time-traveling to the techno-dystopia in Blade Runner, Marty McFly piloting the DeLorean through the cyberpunk cityscape in Akira. Now you’re in the headspace to digest Metropolis, the latest album of time-traveling dispatches from Nashville multi-instrumentalist, producer, and rapper Namir Blade. Inspired by and named after the 2001 anime Metropolis and its 1927 predecessor, these 16 tracks are chapters of a speculative memoir unstuck in time, a quest for joy as late-stage capitalism crumbles looking wearily to a near-future dominated by tech oligarchs. In his most vulnerable writing yet, Namir shirks wallowing in loneliness and algorithm-induced self-doubt by going to therapy, making art on his terms, and learning to cherish his hooptie. Namir’s first entirely self-produced album and third on Mello Music Group, Metropolis was recorded in his living room and mixed at home. His digital and live instrumentation hybrids are as unbound as his subject matter. The ominous yet beautiful synths Vangelis used to score Harrison Ford chasing homicidal Tyrell Co. replicants (“Hypercar”), the cavernous drums and auto-tuned croons of 808s & Heartbreak-era Kanye (“BoA”), anime samples, rays of warm gospel and soul (“Memphisto”), and ethereal trap (“Monday Michuru”) coexist and ram into one another. Namir often switches the beat mid-track, the purposeful disorientation becoming more rewarding with each listen. With features from several Nashville artists who inspire him, he brings the future to us. The ride isn’t linear or always pleasant, but as Namir challenges himself and the listener, both get closer to finding their place in the unsettling now and uncertain tomorrow.