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The incredibly rare cassette-only 1996 debut of North Philly's Vaughn Smith has finally been restored on this brand-new vinyl edition from Hip-Hop Enterprise. Diamondz and Pearlz is a surprisingly mature, understated and jazzy album that sounds better now than it ever has before. Working with Smith, who produced all 14 tracks himself, the original DAT masters were recovered but severely damaged, so this release was remastered by Jee Van Cleef from an original tape in addition to further vinyl mastering. The artwork was started by LDL but due to his busy schedule Manu the Muk took over and brought everything to an impressive end. The album will also come with an insert that features an all-new, exclusive Vaughn Smith interview by Werner von Wallenrod.⁠

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

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

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

Box Set contains:

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

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

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

The debut collaboration by Harlem, New York City raised, Ugandan born, award winning hip-hop creative Emma Lee M.C. and decorated German producer Roccwell is a potent offering of globally creative proportions. Merging her bold, flowful vocals and piercingly imaginary lyricism with his smooth, classic, world-renowned "boom bap" production over seven tracks, the two who met during a pandemic aimed to stifle their artistry have used the "new normals" as opportunity to create new energy, tell new stories and re-balance tastes in the culture.

On the lead single “Like It’s 93” featuring hip-hop legend Masta Ace, listeners are treated to a unique twist on nostalgia. Emma Lee personifies hip-hop by lyrically describing a dysfunctional but loving relationship using over 40 classic rap album titles all released in the year 1993, with Masta Ace responding metaphorically in a classic rebuttal. The track rolls in with a dreamy soundscape over Roccwell's signature snare drum spine, lifts and waves with Emma Lee's softly layered vocals in the hooks, and ends with a sonic collage of reflective cuts by DJ LP2 reminding us why we fell in love with hip-hop. As mentioned from "Digable Planets to Doggystyle," this track is a witness and poetic questioning of a pivotal time in music.

The follow-up single "Cravings & Withdrawals" with hip-hop legend Bahamadia holds its own as one of the smoothest rap duets put to wax in a long time. As Roccwell riffs the beat like a spacey and jazzy interlude, an elite skill level of emceeing is on display by two generational talents unapologetically pouring onto the track. The dream duo gives us an unbeatable breather during the hooks which are elevated by an adaptation of classic neo-soul R&B, asking whether listeners are "craving something real?" Clever cuts by DJ LP2 once again punctuate the odyssey and are sure to please most music heads.

“Chocolate Bars” by Emma Lee M.C. & Roccwell stays true to its rooted theme and includes a few musical twists, start to finish. From its concept, choice of instruments, variation, undeniable lyricism, sounds and messaging, it creates both curiosity and satisfaction, and leaves hip-hop lovers surely wanting more.

The Silhouettes Project a new platform for up and coming Hip-Hop, Soul and Jazz artists from the UK. It is not a record label or management team, it is a community project. The Silhouettes Project provides an open space - a recording studio and live venue located within the Total Refreshment Centre in Hackney, London - where MCs, singers, musicians and producers can connect and create.The Silhouttes Project was founded by community organisers/artists Asher Korner (aka Kosher) and Jaden Osei-Bonsu (Eerf Evil) in 2019. When they told us about the project and played us some of the music we were instantly hooked and joined the collective as label partner. The art direction is executed by Sergio „SagaUno“ Alferez, an acclaimed designer and illustrator from Medellín, Columbia.Starting in September, we release a new single each Thursday from artists like Kofi Stone, Summers Sons, Enny, KeepVibesNear, Manik MC, Lex Amor, Louis The Hippie, Summer-Pearl, Joe Beard and many more.

Here is the story of the Silhouettes Project as told by its founders Jaden and Asher: „We started The Silhouettes Project in February 2019, to shine a light on the new generation ofunderground Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Soul music in the UK. Community is everything to us, and wewanted to show that with a proper support network, access to professional facilities, and theencouragement of a family of artists, our community could produce something incredible. We felt a joint frustration that the current music scene in the UK only had structures in placeto support talent of a certain genre whilst overlooking a buzzing alternative Hip-Hop culture.We wanted to unify artists who are making ground-breaking music but who are in need of asolid structure to work within - artists who we felt deserved more recognition. This led us tothe name ‘The Silhouettes Project’, as we wanted to shine a light on those artists in theshadows. The journey started by embarking on a collaborative album project which allowed us to bringtogether more than 30 artists on a single tape and to create a network of incredibly talentedartists of the same calibre. The album took more than a year, working almost every day at theRoot 73 studio, a community space in Hackney. We knew from the first few sessions that wewere on to something, and the energy around the project kept it moving. As artists ourselves we understood that the creative process can be challenging and sometimesisolating, especially when there is no clear support network to fall back on. This led us to bringour efforts into the physical realm by organising a series of free live music events for all ofthese artists to come to, showcase their work alongside our house band, and connect witheach other. These events take place at The Total Refreshment Centre in Dalston, anunderground studio complex and warehouse space, which gave the events an intimatecommunity feeling and the people a sense of belonging. There is a desperate need for spaces in which people can come together and develop theircreative potential, especially with the consistent withdrawal of funding from the arts sector inthe UK and with the constant threat of gentrification which has seen the closure of countlesscommunity and grassroots creative organisations. As we grew as a brand and organisation, webegan to fully understand the importance of what we were doing. From the studio sessions tothe events, we saw the impact on people’s outlooks on their own careers, we saw them growin confidence in performing and collaborating and even taking their own initiative to utilise thenetwork provided for them. We heard their feedback, we felt the excitement in theatmospheres at our events and studio sessions, and we saw the community grow every timewe brought it together.“

Presented FOR THE First Time Ever ON Vinyl AS A Double LP IN A Gold Vinyl Pressing With A Fold-out Insert In 1996 Too $hort almost retired with album number ten, but of course, he couldn't stay away from the game. In 1999 he returned with Can't Stay Away and would pick back up his streak and release a new album every year until 2003. He had been living in Atlanta for several years and the ATL influence was growing on him as each album would feature more southern Hip-Hop artists and producers. Too $hort was starting to get crunk and made appearances on Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz albums as their sound was growing in popularity in the early aughts. Lil Jon jumped on Too $hort's 14th album What's My Favorite Word in 2002 and would produce five songs on the 2003 follow up Married To The Game. $hort was not about to retire but took a three-year hiatus after the release of his 15th album. He returned in 2006 and dropped the hyped-up Lil Jon single "Blow The Whistle" and followed with his 16th studio album of the same name with Lil Jon and Jazze Pha behind the boards. The album is a mix of crunk, club, classic pimp tales, and some East Oakland hyphy courtesy of Droop-E and Rick Rock. Almost 20 years later "Blow The Whistle" can get any club or stadium bouncing and Too $hort don't stop rappin'.... Get On Down is proud to present Blow The Whistle for the first time on vinyl.

Premium KiT Version. 1x Album Package 1x KiT Album 1x Booklet 5x Track Sheet 6x Sticker 1x Coaster 1x Iron on Patch 1x Carabiner Click It, Doggystyle. Join us in celebrating 30 years of Death Row Records. We are honored to present to you the release of the Doggystyle Album in a brand new Music Format. This is not Doggystyle on vinyl, cassette tape, or compact disc, but a KiT Album. All the same album glory as those older versions, but with even more options. Including the first ever Dogg House, as well as exclusive, never been sold merch goodies; like a coaster for your Gin N Juice. Including Exclusive, Never Been Sold Merchandise.

The debut collaboration by Harlem, New York City raised, Ugandan born, award winning hip-hop creative Emma Lee M.C. and decorated German producer Roccwell is a potent offering of globally creative proportions. Merging her bold, flowful vocals and piercingly imaginary lyricism with his smooth, classic, world-renowned "boom bap" production over seven tracks, the two who met during a pandemic aimed to stifle their artistry have used the "new normals" as opportunity to create new energy, tell new stories and re-balance tastes in the culture.

On the lead single “Like It’s 93” featuring hip-hop legend Masta Ace, listeners are treated to a unique twist on nostalgia. Emma Lee personifies hip-hop by lyrically describing a dysfunctional but loving relationship using over 40 classic rap album titles all released in the year 1993, with Masta Ace responding metaphorically in a classic rebuttal. The track rolls in with a dreamy soundscape over Roccwell's signature snare drum spine, lifts and waves with Emma Lee's softly layered vocals in the hooks, and ends with a sonic collage of reflective cuts by DJ LP2 reminding us why we fell in love with hip-hop. As mentioned from "Digable Planets to Doggystyle," this track is a witness and poetic questioning of a pivotal time in music.

The follow-up single "Cravings & Withdrawals" with hip-hop legend Bahamadia holds its own as one of the smoothest rap duets put to wax in a long time. As Roccwell riffs the beat like a spacey and jazzy interlude, an elite skill level of emceeing is on display by two generational talents unapologetically pouring onto the track. The dream duo gives us an unbeatable breather during the hooks which are elevated by an adaptation of classic neo-soul R&B, asking whether listeners are "craving something real?" Clever cuts by DJ LP2 once again punctuate the odyssey and are sure to please most music heads.

“Chocolate Bars” by Emma Lee M.C. & Roccwell stays true to its rooted theme and includes a few musical twists, start to finish. From its concept, choice of instruments, variation, undeniable lyricism, sounds and messaging, it creates both curiosity and satisfaction, and leaves hip-hop lovers surely wanting more.

Straight outta New Jerusalem, Mytee G. Poetic is back... Comn Wit More Ruffness! Dust & Dope Recordings proudly presents Hard Rock Hip Hop, a collective of mid to late 90's unreleased recordings by Mytee G. Poetic/ Straight G'n Records. As a bonus we have also included three of his earlier demos, including his very first ever, titled "Wise Poet" recorded in 1991. None of this material has ever been leaked/ heard before, and they're all sourced from the Poetic's personal stash of original master tapes and remastered by Adam Boose for this very limited edition CD release.

- Limited edition run of 350 professionally pressed CDs in jewel case packaging

- 20-page booklet containing full album lyrics transcribed by Mytee G. Poetic himself + extensive interview by Werner Von Wallen

Fresh 2023 repress of this gem. Jurassic 5 flexed serious old-to-the-new muscles in the ‘90s, beginning with their independently released single “Unified Rebelution” in 1994, and book-ending with their stellar debut full-length: 2000’s Quality Control. They walked a tightrope between underground and mainstream hip-hop, and toured alongside rap peers as well as punk rockers on the Vans Warped Tour. With double the pleasure of your average hip-hop group – two DJs and producers (Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark); and four MCs (Chali 2na, Akil, Marc 7 and Zaakir aka Soup) – they brought the late 1970s “unison MC” style of pioneering groups like the Fantastic 5 and the Force MCs to a new generation. Even more surprisingly, they did so out of Los Angeles, whose hip-hop flavors generally leaned towards Gangsta, G-Funk or Electro lines. Musically inventive and lyrically forward-thinking, each song on Quality Control is a new adventure, exploring engaging territory, delivered via one of the best live hip-hop shows fans had seen in years. From singles like the strutting groove of the title track to the throwback doo-wop samples on “The Influence” and the catchy, keyboard groove-driven “World of Entertainment (WOE Is Me),” to deeper album tracks like the lyrical gymnastics of “Jurass Finish First” and the thought-provoking “Lausd,” Jurassic 5 consistently stepped to the plate and their fans responded in kind, nearly pushing the album to Gold status. Add the innovative DJ-and-sample workout which closes out the album, “Swing Set,” and you have one of the 2000s’ most unique and solid full-length platters.

The Low End Theory is the second studio album by A Tribe Called Quest, released on September 24, 1991. Widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, it marked a significant moment in the genre, blending elements of jazz with boom-bap beats, and pioneering what would become the cornerstone of alternative hip-hop.

The album is known for its innovative fusion of jazz samples with minimalist hip-hop beats, creating a sound that was both sophisticated and accessible. Unlike the dense, layered production of many contemporary hip-hop records, The Low End Theory focuses on space and simplicity, with deep basslines and crisp drum patterns.
Q-Tip (Kamaal Ibn John Fareed) and Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor) trade verses over the jazzy instrumentals, creating a unique vocal dynamic, where Q-Tip’s smooth, philosophical tone contrasts with Phife Dawg’s more playful, energetic style.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad handled the DJing and production, contributing to the overall smooth, laid-back vibe of the album.

Lyrically, The Low End Theory covers a wide range of topics, including Afrocentricity, Black identity, the music industry, and the state of hip-hop culture at the time.
The album is both introspective and socially conscious, with songs like “Excursions” reflecting on the evolution of hip-hop and its roots in jazz, while “Check the Rhime” is a more playful celebration of the group’s rise in the rap scene.
“Jazz (We’ve Got)” explicitly pays homage to the connection between hip-hop and jazz, reinforcing the album’s central theme of blending the two genres.

"Excursions" – The opening track, which features Q-Tip reflecting on the history of music and the parallels between jazz and hip-hop. It sets the tone for the album’s jazz-influenced sound.
"Check the Rhime" – One of the album’s lead singles, this track is an upbeat, braggadocious song that showcases the chemistry between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, with its catchy hook and memorable horn sample.
"Scenario" – A high-energy posse cut featuring Leaders of the New School, including a young Busta Rhymes, who delivers one of his most iconic verses. The song is a standout due to its explosive energy and rapid-fire lyricism.
"Jazz (We’ve Got)" – This track serves as a tribute to the connection between jazz and hip-hop, with a smooth, mellow beat that perfectly complements Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s lyrical flows.
"Butter" – A Phife Dawg showcase, this track finds him reflecting on relationships with wit and humor, over a funky, bass-heavy beat.

The Low End Theory was not just a commercial success, reaching #45 on the Billboard 200, but it also had a profound influence on the direction of 90s hip-hop. Its emphasis on live instrumentation and jazz influences inspired countless artists, including The Roots, Common, and Kendrick Lamar.
The album is widely considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time, often appearing in "greatest albums" lists. It was instrumental in defining the alternative rap movement and proved that hip-hop could be both musically sophisticated and commercially viable.
The fusion of jazz and hip-hop on The Low End Theory created a template for the genre’s future evolution, especially with its influence on the development of neo-soul and jazz rap in the following years.

The Low End Theory is a landmark album that changed the landscape of hip-hop. Its minimalist production, jazz influences, and thoughtful lyricism continue to resonate today, and its impact on the genre remains undeniable. A Tribe Called Quest created a timeless record that pushed the boundaries of hip-hop, showing that the genre could be introspective, artistic, and intellectually engaging while still maintaining mass appeal.

Limited to 300 copies for the european market!

"This album is inspired by the book, “Let Love Have The Last Word” which gave me a path to write about things I had never written about before. It forced me to go deeper and because I opened up about so many things in the book, I was charged to go to raw, personal and spiritual places in the music. Production-wise, I knew that the music had to have depth, soul and dimension to it. I wanted the musicianship and the spirit of what live music brings but it also had to have something raw and basement about it. When my team said, "You should do some music revolving around the book.", I just took that energy and went running into my artistry without focusing on anything else. No movies, no commercials, no parties (well, I don’t do that too much anyway) and I just worked on music. So this album is the culmination of this journey, this passion and this Divine Love that I have for one of GOD's greatest gifts - MUSIC.” - Common

Pressed On Red, White and Black Double Colored Vinyl With Commemorative Numbered OBI Limited To 2000 Copies Thirty years ago on May 4, 1993, Run-DMC made one of the greatest comebacks in Hip-Hop history with the release of their 6th studio album Down With The King. To understand the significance of this feat we have to go back a few years. Coming off an amazing four-album run ending with the platinum album Tougher Than Leather, Run-DMC released their 5th studio album, Back From Hell, to lackluster sales. Did Run-DMC fall off? Did the emergence of gangsta rap push them off to the side? It was sad to see your Hip-Hop heroes take a fall. Then in 1991, a 12-inch remix came out for the single "Back From Hell" featuring Chuck D and Ice Cube and fans took notice. It would be two more years before anyone would hear from Run-DMC again. In March of 1993, a new single and video “Down With The King” debuted on Yo! MTV Raps featuring the new Hip-Hop Gods Pete Rock and CL Smooth paying homage to The Kings calling back verses from Sucker MCs over a dope signature Pete Rock beat. The video would be in constant rotation on Ralph McDaniels Video Music Box, YO!, BET’s Rap City and more. Fans watched it over and over to catch all the cameos, everyone from Eazy-E to the Native Tongues Family of De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. The anticipation was building, but would the album live up to the lead single that knocked it out of the park? On May 4, 1993, the album dropped on CD, Cassette, and Vinyl. Run-DMC enlisted The Bomb Squad from Public Enemy, Q-Tip, Epmd, Jermaine Dupri, Kay Gee of Naughty By Nature, and Pete Rock to produce the album with a special appearance by Tom Morello rocking out his guitar emulating DJ scratches he made famous with Rage Against The Machine. Their rhyming was as enthusiastic and powerful as they were on their debut album 10 years prior. Run-DMC, the self-proclaimed Kings of Rock and original Kings of Hip Hop were indeed back. The album debuted at #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts and #7 on the Billboard 200 and would go Gold within two months. Get On Down is proud to present for the first time on vinyl since its original release, a 30 Year Anniversary pressing on double-colored vinyl with numbered OBI in a gatefold jacket.

After teaming up with Boldy James to release Real Bad Boldy (2021) and Killing Nothing (2022) and linking up with rising star Pink Siifu for Real Bad Flights (2022), Real Bad Man returns to announce his fi rst collaborative album of the year with Serpent . Serpent brings Real Bad Man together with the inimitable Kool Keith and is produced in its entirety by Real Bad Man. Serpent features appearances from Slug of Atmosphere, Ice-T, Edan, Cool Calm Pete and Zeelooperz. “My rhymes go where the tracks take me and Serpent took me on a journey through time and space. I channeled Ultra, Ocatgon, Rhythm X, and Black Elvis to make something new and mind-blowing” Kool Keith declares. When the Serpent bites, don’t try to understand it; just enjoy the injection. The sound dynamic crystals mix so proper, my vocals and guest appearances are set in the right spots. “My goal for this album is to capture my favorite parts from Keith’s catalog. I wanted to make beats that got into his (Keith’s) subconscious” Real Bad Man maintains. “I think it worked.”

Grilchy Party presents another epic from Da Buze Bruvaz own Clever 1 and mysterious production wizard Lord Beatjitzu. This new adventure follows where the last one, Perverted and Drunken, left off. They have cooked up another album following the footsteps of their classic Perverted and Drunken LP. This new adventure follows where the last one left off. Introducing Master Sip, Legendary Teacher Of Bruce Lo Da First Drunken. It is illuminating one of the many chambers of their Drunken Fly Chi style, the martial arts mind states of Clever 1 and Lord Beatjitzu combining as the "Fly Chi School Of Da Drunken Artz".The duo pops the listener in the face With vicious, bloody Nunchuck Lyrics over high velocity, swift kick in the chest production. With these seasoned masters of their perspective arts they form a powerful, unstoppable combo and truly take no prisoners in this Action-Packed sophomore foray.It's a pure Saturday morning Kung Fu sound theater where Wing Chun enters the world of Drunken Fist on Wax. Beware as you enter the Dojo and watch your step!

Originally released in 2012 following unprecedented changes in the music industry, Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color found Brother Ali reborn and rejuvenated. Teaming up with famed platinum-selling producer Jake One (Drake, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, MF Doom), Brother Ali was prepared to tell the American story from a very different viewpoint. Inspired by his first trip to Mecca, the 2011 uprisings in the Middle East, and the Occupy movements that were building steam worldwide, Ali linked with Jake One during a two-month sabbatical in Seattle to create this brave new phase in his remarkable discography. The album presented a scathingly honest critique of America and its many flaws while simultaneously presenting a hopeful outlook for the future and its possibilities. At a time when many felt powerless against an overreaching government with all its militarist and corporate interests, Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color provided the voice of a critical American consciousness, as well as a beacon of hope for those that hold fast to its ideals and potential. In honor of its 10th anniversary, we've pressed this limited edition 2xLP vinyl offering with redesigned packaging and layout that features a custom-built slash case with an illustrated flag, a full-color jacket housing tri-color red/white/blue galaxy effect vinyl, printed record sleeves and a 4-panel lyric booklet.

Limited colored vinyl edition in custom tri-fold jacket including 12-page photo booklet!

The people’s voice of Venice Beach, Evidence, has returned to deliver his third solo album, “Weather or Not”. Since the Grammy Award-winning artist’s last solo release, “Cats & Dogs”, he’s delivered some remarkable group projects, including Step Brothers’ “Lord Steppington” with close ally Alchemist, and Directors of Photography with seminal supergroup Dilated Peoples. He’s also immersed himself into his studio, producing beats for a wide range of artists that includes Vince Staples, Fashawn, Roc Marciano, Madchild, Defari and more. By now, it should be clear the seasoned veteran has no plans of slowing, and no hopes of satiating his hunger.
“Weather or Not” represents the fourth and final chapter in Ev’s Weatherman series before beginning the next saga, but this chapter will be remembered as the finest. The album features an all-star lineup of guests and friends, including Slug (Atmosphere), Rakaa (Dilated Peoples), Alchemist, Styles P, Rapsody, Jonwayne, Defari, Krondon, Khrysis, Mach Hommy and Catero.
While Evidence holds his own on the boards, he’s also tapped a stellar cast of producers to share duties with, including Alchemist, DJ Premier, Nottz, DJ Babu, Twiz The Beat Pro, Sam I Yam and Budgie. As Evidence modestly suggests, quoting a MC Lyte classic, this new album is even “better than before, as if that was possible.”
LP Packaging includes a custom-built tri-fold jacket including blue colored 2LP vinyl, 12-page photo booklet containing work from famed photographer Stephen Vanasco, metallic printed pockets and free digital download card.

On his album Negro Deluxe Siifu trades in soulful rap for punk, fueled by the Black experience in America followed by spiritual jazz and poetry. A beautiful chaotic collage of sounds that reflect the black man’s thoughts on the day-to-day. It doesn’t take long to reach the heart of Negro, Pink Siifu’s new album. It’s an aggressive collection of hardcore punk and free jazz, with bold lyrics that encourage shooting back at trigger-happy law enforcement. This album profoundly communicated the anger of an African-American community beset by police violence a month before the murder of George Floyd lit the streets on fire. In April 2021, he revisited the project with Negro Deluxe, which doubled the length of the original.

Pink Siifu tells Bomb Magazine “after we were done mastering and mixing, Zeroh was like, “Yo, Negro is like fire, and Negro Deluxe is like smoke….So I would characterize Negro Deluxe as, like, after you’re angry, after you’ve punched a wall, after you beat somebody up, whatever, how do I channel that into something else? How do I just let it go? I feel like Negro Deluxe is that, for real, in a nutshell. It’s like the chaos calmed down after all the fire’s gone and the smoke is in the air.”

It isn’t anything like ensley, Siifu’s breakthrough 2018 LP. Where that record used mid-tempo soul and hip-hop to score his upbringing, Negro is a riotous mix calling for Black revolution. It’s also the most fearless project in his growing discography. Negro harkens back to 1992, to Ice-T’s thrash metal band Body Count, song “Cop Killer”.

This album is meant to remind us of Rodney King, Racist Cops, The Black Panther Party, and Christopher Dorner, the ex-L.A. police officer who, in 2013, went on a violent shooting spree against his former colleagues and their family members due to seeing his own policeman violate the people there supposed to be protecting. “It’s about America, It’s about the trauma that comes from the flag. It’s about understanding that it’s okay to be angry.”

In the album, originally titled ‘To Be Angry’, Siifu started crafting Negro after listening to old Afrocentric jazz and watching clips of novelist and poet Amiri Baraka and civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael, reading Sun Ra’s sci-fi poetry book, The Planet Is Doomed, and started studying Bad Brains, June Tyson, Death, Ras G, and many others.

Cypress Hill’s self-titled debut album was hard as nails, with very few pop concessions. There was humor, but it was laced by cackling, homicidal sneering. Not well known outside of the hardcore hip-hop scene at first, faces of the three group members weren’t usually shown clearly in press photos; they preferred the shadows. As their first singles began hitting the airwaves and record racks, the press and music fans started to take notice. From the opening notes of the group’s first single, “The Phuncky Feel One,” to deeper album cuts like “Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk” and “Tres Equis,” it was clear that Cypress Hill was something different. And very, very dope.
The world Cypress Hill espoused was gang-ridden and far from cheery, but they managed to laugh through the pain. Lead rapper B-Real took each fuzzed-out, rock-hard DJ Muggs beat as a challenge, jumping around it like a spark off a joint as it makes its way to the concrete. MC Sen Dog always had B-Real’s back, to bringintensity and a no-bullshit gruffness that made the group both menacing and unpredictable. When they introduced percussionist Eric Bobo to the mix in the early 90s, it brought new dimension to the band, making their live performances one of the most unique and accomplished shows in hip-hop. Journalist and author Chris Faraone highlights the group’s relationship in the reissue’s liner notes (which is included only in limited edition Skull) saying, “[By the late ‘80s] the undisputed
Cypress unit finally formed. B and Sen realized that their diametric styles - the latter’s deep wrangle, the former’s inimitable high notes -
complemented one another righteously. By then Muggs had bangers in the bag, as well as industry experience from a jaunt with the New York duo 7A3. B and Sen waited while Muggs messed with 7A3, and in that time began to build the blueprint for their raucous and weeded no-holds-barred style. Besides getting schooled on industry pitfalls, Muggs had also grown into hip-hop’s most formidable young producer, while straddling the bi-coastal gap.” Cypress Hill’s debut went gold by the end of 1991 and has since pushed past double platinum status, making it the first album for a Latino-American hip hop group to do so. The album received raves from the likes of Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Times, saw a #1 Hot Rap Single with the release of “The Phuncky One” and helped the band win Artist Of The Year at the 1992 Source Awards. After 25 years, it should come as no surprise that Cypress Hill is a cornerstone of the group’s live set to this day.

Plus One is the brand-new album from Brooklyn-based artist Lindsay Powell aka Fielded. While Fielded has put out several solo projects steeped in their trademark psychedelic R&B, they also has quietly built a reputation as a genre-bending vocalist and sought-after musical collaborator. Plus One turns that dynamic on its head, bringing together an indie music elite on Fielded’s guest list including Armand Hammer, Felicia Douglass, Kenny Segal, They Hate Change, DJ Haram, Wolf Weston, The Lasso, Child Actor and Steel Tipped Dove.

“I’ve offered myself in blips and breaths and moments, sighing under a powerful lyric, or punctuating another vocalist’s breakthrough performance,” Fielded says. “We wanted to see what could happen when I brought those same artists in to add flourishes to my visions and depth to my stories.”

Plus One is executive produced by billy woods, building on a creative partnership that goes back to the rapper’s 2019 album, Terror Management. Since then Fielded has engineered, produced and performed on a slew of Backwoodz Studioz releases, in addition to putting out two projects on the label- 2020’s Demisexual Lovelace and 2021’s Young Medusa- in addition to their extensive outside commitments. That history is reflected in the breadth of Plus One’s collaborations; Fielded stole the show on Small Bills “Safehouse,” the first song on ELUCID and The Lasso’s 2019 album Don’t Play It Straight. Here they reunite, cooking up a slinky R&B banger with “Waves.” Wolf Weston and Fielded traded harmonies on Saint Mela’s 2020 EP all for this strange baptism, and Weston returns the favor to fantastic effect on “Goddess Woes.” In 2019, Fielded joined forces with Fat Tony and Steel Tipped Dove for the Houston rapper’s Don’t Move EP. On Plus One, both artists step into her world and find their footing effortlessly—Tony on the woozy numbness of “Where I Came From,” and Dove with a stumbling cascade of drum and piano on “World’s Away.” Yet, it’s some of the newest pairings that yield the ripest fruit. Kenny Segal and Fielded combine for two album highlights, and A. Billi Free pops up for the record’s biggest curveball (unless you give that to Florida rappers They Hate Change setting fire to an ELUCID beat). Through it all, Fielded holds court, always taking or leaving exactly what the song requires.

“It is an album telling full stories, walking through valleys and cities, landscapes rich and sometimes heartbreaking,” Fielded explains. ”No one is filler. Everyone has been welcomed and valued. Everyone made the work weird, wonderful and honest, and for that I am grateful.”

Dan-e-o’s hard-hitting 6th solo album “Vigilante” is equal parts lyricism clinic and seething social commentary. From the graphic novel album cover to the unapologetic lyrical content, “Vigilante” harshly critiques social media misuse, gun violence, anti-black racism, self-hatred, jealousy and self-doubt. Inspired by both the “Dexter” and “Death Note” series, Dan-e-o’s new album title represents his commitment to “kill” all of the negativity mentioned above. Well-known for his classic debut 1996 single, “Dear Hip Hop”, Dan-e-o is every bit as punchline-heavy as you would expect on “Vigilante”. The album is also the veteran Toronto lyricist’s most provocative project to date. Taking zero bars lightly and sparing no feelings, Dan calls out such personalities as Kanye West, Donald Trump and Candace Owens while condemning Fox News, murderous police officers and the Ku Klux Klan. He even finds time to address a past toxic relationship while not missing a beat tearing into talentless rappers. The soundscape of “Vigilante” can best be described as “heavy neck-snapping boom bap”. The head-nodders are supplied by Toronto’s Big Sproxx (Freedom Writers) and frequent collaborator Charisma a.k.a. Skizzz (Monolith) as well as Japan’s S-ky THE Cookinjax. With an impressive list of featured guests including such legendary artists as Masta Ace, Saukrates and even comedy superstar, Russell Peters, Dan-e-o has created a recipe for hip-hop perfection. “These are the best 12 songs in the history of my catalogue,” insists Dan-e-o, “Period.”

Following the success of the initial release, Skyzoo and The Other Guys present their sequel of sorts with the deluxe edition of "The Mind of a Saint", their critically acclaimed concept album which debuted at number 1 on the hip hop charts in the country upon release week. The album, which sees the fictional character Franklin Saint of the heralded FX series "Snowfall" step into a vocal booth and tell his story as an early 80's drug kingpin, suffering from the grief and stresses that come with the title. The original release saw members of the television series speak openly about the project, including the show's lead character, actor Damson Idris, who spoke glowingly of the album in Rolling Stone. After the series wrapped, Skyzoo and The Other Guys went back into the studio to let Franklin wrap up his story to align with the show's finale. A darker turn than its predecessor, this deluxe edition adds 7 extra songs, clocking in at 40+ minutes of new music, with Skyzoo once again channeling his inner Franklin Saint and letting the heartache pour one final time before the book is closed.

It might blow up, but it won't go pop!

De La Soul’s third studio release, Buhloone Mindstate, released on September 21, 1993, saw the group evolve into a new sound as they continued to grow stylistically and musically. There were several moments on the album which proved the band had matured. "I Be Blowin'" was a departure as the track was an instrumental featuring saxophone playing by Maceo Parker. The introspective "I Am I Be" showed De La Soul at their most self-referential to date. "Long Island Wildin'" was a collaboration with Japanese hip hop artists Kan Takagi (Major Force) and trio Scha Dara Parr (sdp). The album's first single, "Breakadawn", used a sample of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" and Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm". De La Soul collaborated for the first time with Gang Starr's Guru on "Patti Dooke", and female MC Shortie No Mas who was prominent on many tracks on the album and showcased particularly on "In The Woods". The album ended with an old school Biz Markie collaboration called "Stone Age".

With a name as bold as Junglepussy and an artistry to match, Shayna McHayle is New York's premier rap rule-breaker. Honest, funny, and freaky, her rhymes span from the explicitly audacious to the tenderly relatable. Her unfailingly confident flow accentuates her roots in Brooklyn (her parents are from Trinidad and Jamaica), and her bars land with cool impact. In the universe that is Junglepussy, relationships are complicated, vegetables are magic, and an excellently delivered flex on an ex is one punchline away. Jp4 is Junglepussy's stellar next phase. With contributions from vocalist Ian Isiah, rapper Gangsta Boo, and producers Dave Sitek and Nick Hook, Jp4 is Junglepussy ascended. After almost a decade of experimenting, Junglepussy feels she's finally living up to her name. The numerology of four, in its foundational symbolism, is an apt frame for Jp4. Over an eight year career, Junglepussy's music has led her to lecture at Yale and Columbia, create her own Junglepussy Juice, star in 2018 feature film Support The Girls, and embark on sold-out domestic and international tours. For Junglepussy, Jp4 is a culminating moment_one that holds the essence of closure while hinting at an exciting and expansive future.

The principles of pleasure radiate a knowing, carnal heat throughout the genre-fluid sound of LSDXOXO. His decade of dedication to the sensibility of underground club culture has brought forth club classics interwoven with pop music hooks and subversive, tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

After four years of what LSDXOXO, real name RJ Glasgow, calls a period of "healing and self-discovery," he is consolidating his multiplicitous sound with one compelling masterstroke: the debut album DOGMA, to be released on his own imprint F.A.G. DOGMA marks a complete paradigmatic shift: it is a poetic and fantastical performance, a route for deep escapism through an expanded musical palette including piano and guitar, and a deeply personal confessional through a fresh approach to songcrafting.

Within DOGMA, RJ meditates on the interlinked qualities of fame, infamy, lust and submission, as he rediscovers a pure, unadulterated approach to music-making, all the while adopting a futurist approach to pop music appreciation. RJ's unmistakable signatures-the smutty dancefloor caller, the maker of irresistible bangers, the latter-day electroclash and DnB nostalgist-take on even more shades and intricacies. Despite his widespread acclaim as a collaborator with and songwriter for other artists, RJ strips DOGMA down almost exclusively to himself, carving out intentional space as a chameleonic vocalist and performer. He breathes life into the album with private thoughts, external fears and a red thread through personal themes that crystallise the album's narrative from front to back.

The album's promo single "Bloodlust" offers angsty, intimate indie-tronica, and musings on the intoxicating nature of love and infatuation. The lead single "Ghost" reaches beyond RJ's Philadelphia origins to find itself in the deep south, in a sultry fever dream of coquettish R&B featuring backing vocals from close collaborator Kelela. Elsewhere on the album futuristic love, pensive pop earworms, evocative vintage dance styles and sleazy club tracks intermingle. While the DOGMA era will eventually explore remixes and reworks, the album is RJ's purest embrace of himself and his artistry.

RJ first garnered attention as LSDXOXO in New York City with his on-the-pulse Soundcloud edits and then as part of the cult GHE20GOTH1K collective. His DJ sets and productions quickly earned him acclaim across globally-linked underground scenes. His decision to shift from sampled vocals to picking up the pen and microphone pushed his reach out to the stratosphere; his association with XL Recordings via the Dedicated 2 Disrespect EP in 2021 was a turning point for the burgeoning superstar.

This multiplicity of the LSDXOXO sound has led to enviable co-signs. These include being selected as the opening DJ for Beyoncé's German Renaissance tour dates, remixing Lady Gaga, Pink Pantheress and Shygirl and producing five tracks for Kelela's highly acclaimed 2023 album for Warp Records, Raven. His fully-realised live show has also taken to the stage, serving fierce charisma to huge audiences at festivals including Primavera, Nuits Sonores and Rewire.

This might be the first time we have dropped a release on Herring with brand new rhymes over unreleased and unheard early-mid 90’s beats. Here we have the extremely dope Long Island representers Horror City. We first hooked up in 2010 to release the crazy nice ‘Prince Paul presents Horror City 1995 Demos EP’ which included a bunch of joints that were later reworked for Prince Paul’s ‘Prince Among Thieves’ album.

Superstar the man behind Horror City has been recording since the 80’s and the fact dude has come up with something so fresh and so relevant almost 40 years later is a testament to his talent and commitment to the art form. This is definitely a contender for one of the albums of 2019, that was originally conceived in 1993. Includes production from the Original DJ Kaos [Artifacts].

Dope artwork by Mark 563

Large Colour Sticker

HHE is proud to present you East New York duo Kaotic Style's "Infinity" on CD for the first time ever! Big Grand & Scram's "Infinity" is a collection of 12 tracks that span Kaotic Style's 1991-1996 run! We took 5 tracks from the sought after 12" inch singles on "Beat Scott Records" from 1991-1992, and added 7 previously unheard tracks from 1994-1996! This material features Smoothe Da Hustler, Trigger Tha Gambler, Cella Dwellas, M.O.P, Heltah Skeltah, Big Jaz, Big Scoob, Krooks and Headless Horsemen! All tracks mastered by Justin Perkins!

Arghhh yeah and we're back in with a new Season of the Herring.



So my man Hakan Dougpark, a well known demo tape hunter and youtube poster hit me up with the Lord Dakim and the Mellow One demo tape from 93 and said: "Yo Bob, any chance of making this happen?". It took a while but finally the producer Jerry (Ain't it Funky) Phillips found the OG tapes and this stunning EP was born.



Peep the interview below to get more info on the crew. There were only 50 demo tapes ever, most of which ended up at radio stations and labels. No significant interest emerged, that is until 30 years later when Herring came along to make it happen. What can I say fisherman, it was definitely worth the wait!!!





There are 300 copies only in Full Colour Large Sticker cover.

Black wax only.

Yo! Boombox is the new instalment of Soul Jazz Records’ Boombox series on the early days of hiphop on vinyl and features some of the many innovative underground first-wave of early rap and disco rap records made in the USA in the period 1979-83. The album includes the first releases of seminal groups such as Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and The Funky Four Plus One More through to a host of rarities and little-known obscurities such as the Carver Area High School band’s ‘Get Live 83’, an awesome record made at a Chicago high school. The album is released as a deluxe triple LP complete with 3x full inner sleeves of extensive sleeve notes, exclusive photography and original label artwork. There is also a very-limited one-pressing only special deluxe version that comes with an extra bonus super-rare 7” single of ‘Magic’s Rap’ by Magic’s Trick, aka ex-marine Magic Fraga, a record that was only ever available on US military bases! The album also comes as a deluxe double CD pack with 30-page booklet and slipcase. Yo! Boombox also features the stunning photography of Sophie Bramly, one of a very select group of photographers (alongside Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, and Joe Conzo) who were allowed full access to document the exciting early days of hip-hop in New York. These first exuberant wave of innocent, upbeat, party-on-the-block rap records were the first to try and create the sounds heard in community centres, block parties and street jams that first took place in the Bronx in the mid-1970s. Where the first DJs – Flash, Kool Herc and Bambaataa – were back-spinning, mixing and scratching together now classic breakbeat records like The Incredible Bongo Band’s Apache or Babe Ruth’s The Mexican, these first pre-sampling rap records were all made using live bands, often replaying then current disco tunes. As Chic’s ‘Good Times’ was to ‘Rappers’ Delight’, the songs here feature then-current dancefloor hits such as the Tom Tom Club’s ‘Genius of Love’, Cheryl Lynn’s ‘To Be Real’, MFSB’s ‘Love Is the Message’ while MCs rapped over the top, creating a unique new sound. In fact, the links between disco and rap date back earlier to the ‘party style’ MCing of figures such as the legendary DJ Hollywood or radio DJs like Frankie Crocker. This new Soul Jazz Records collection celebrates these first old-school rap records, bringing together rare, classic and obscure tracks released in the early days of rap.

Last summer we took a record trip to California and when in LA, we had the chance to meet Dan Ubick, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, DJ and one of the nicests guys you'll ever meet. We met on a friday night in North Hollywood around tacos and Micheladas and discussed music, his tour experiences with De La Soul, and talked about records and more records. We had been following Dan's work since the early 2000s as he was an original member of the legendary Breakestra, brain child of Connie Price & The Keystones and founding member of reggae bands The Lions and Night Owls.
After a while into our conversation it was clear that we spoke the same language musically so a collaboration between us seemed logical. He suggested recording a couple of instrumentals which morphed into the funky, Brazilian-inspired hip-hop 7" you hold in your hands. To enhance the flavor Dan brought in his good friend and ace percussion player Bobby Easton, singer Diana Purim (daughter of Brazilian luminaries Airto Moreira and Flora Purim) to help sing the hook and the one-and-only Sadat X from NYC's legendary Brand Nubian, whom he's been lucky enough to work with a few times over the years.
The result is a funky, moody, psychedelic mid-tempo vehicle for Sadat X's poignant verses about the similarities between living in to the projects of New York City and the favelas of Rio de Janeiro - the good, the bad and everything in between which graces Side A. Side B features the Instrumental for listeners to hone in on Connie Price's funky drums, Julius Augustus' slinky bassline, Richard Donovan's haunting organ and synth parts, and Bobby Easton's saturnine and expressive berimbau, cuica, caxixi and reco-reco.

Becauseweliveit are dropping their debut release. And they're doin' it the right way. A classic black 180 gr 33,3 rpm 12" maxi-single including 3 versions plus the respective instrumentals of the smasher track “To The Fullest”.

On 12 Finger Dan's original version they got REKS, Masta Ace, and Rakaa Iriscience [of Dilated Peoples] droppin' powerful verses – that's Hamburg, Boston, New York, and Los Angeles united for the cause of that boom-bappin' true Hip Hop.

For the cuts Stevie Drumz from Munich joined 12 Finger Dan of Soulbrotha, and they went crazy. The spherical Dilla-esc Rekless remix does not only feature an extra Roger Rekless verse and him plus his companion Boshi San singin' the hook. But also some extra keys by Ningu Strom of Tribes of Jizu, and scratches by Al Rock who is one of Roger's 4zu1 crew members.

Version #3 is on a beat by Munich Boom Bap producer Roccwell. Besides REKS, Ace, and Rakaa another LA legend stepped up to the mic. Mykill Miers the Hitchcock of Hip Hop! DJ Aspect, former IDA/ITF champion, also from Munich, did what a dj gotta do.