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First ever vinyl reissue in a limited edition of 300 copies on translucent orange vinyl. Comes as a deluxe 3LP gatefold vinyl set incl. 6 bonus tracks from the accompanying 12" singles of the original release plus digital download card.

Hailing from Long Island, NY, "Ism & Blues" from 1994 marked the debut and sole release of Hard 2 Obtain. Produced by the Stimulated Dummies, the album features guest appearances by the Artifacts and Raquel. True heads know the deal, this is one of the grails of the Golden Era.

It’s been 6 years after the last collab from Statik Selektah & Termanology as 1982. Since the last album, 2012, both have dropped critically acclaimed albums such as What Goes Around & More Politics. They return with their signature sound on songs such as “Can’t Let It Go” & “Different Now”. They also continue the tradition of introducing new talent, as they previously have with the late Mac Miller, Action Bronson, & Freddie Gibbs. Meet UFO Fev, Fat Joe’s newest signee. CJ Fly of Pro Era & battle-champ NEMS also appear. STILL 1982 fills the gap in an era of auto tune & repetitive sounds that
will last the test of time. We have teamed up with the legendary duo to release "Still 1982" on vinyl as a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies, 300 pressed on black vinyl.

It was the early 2000's in Jacksonville, FL. Pre-social media, the Myspace Era. The acclaimed indie rap quartet, Asamov had recently put Duval County's underground Hiphop scene on the map, and their triple-threat frontman, Therapy aka Paten Locke was searching for some new inspiration. Paten would find the spark he was looking for in the newly minted couple making 'Heavenly Noise' in Jacksonville nightclubs - Batsauce and his wife, Lady Daisey. With Batsauce on the beats and Lady Daisey providing vocal harmonies (and graphics for the group), Paten found himself surrounded by a new creative energy that allowed him to relinquish the reigns on the production side and focus on his pen-game. Thus, The Smile Rays were born and they immediately started shinin'. Their soundscapes were rooted in funk, jazz and soul - sticking to a similar formula of eras past but adding twists and turns to make it their own. Their lyrics & song concepts were uplifting and hopeful. Their chemistry on stage was undeniable. With their electric live show and eclectic makeup, the trio took Jacksonville by storm and the world took notice. Paten's experience with Asamov opened doors for the group and soon they had their first deal on the table - a 12" single with Germany's Jakarta Records for their beloved anthem for the babies, 'A Toast'. On the heels of their initial 12", they were enlisted for the 'Rawkus 50' and released their first EP. Soon to follow, Japanese label 'Subcontact' offered to release another 12" plus their debut full-length album. That release became Party...Place. and it was released in 2007 in Japan only, on CD. Now for the 1st time ever, the debut album from The Smile Rays is available on all DSPs + limited vinyl pressing. The album features George Clinton, Dillon and Willie Evans Jr. and is sure to be treasured by fans of eras past and those still yet to come.

The supreme and impervious combination of HIM LO DA INAPPROPRIATE and GIALLO POINT well known az COGNAC KINGZ return with another ground breakin full length LP titled:
86 DRUG DEALA WARDROBE
The song titlea and artwork reminiscent of the true golden era of fly B-BOY and HIP HOP vintage street wear that HIM LO still rocks and represent til this day..1986, his favorite era of fashion and style heavily inspired this bulletproof,granite solid album. Laced in a street hustla uniform the high level penmanship of HIM LO and the impeccable craftsmanship of GIALLO POINT always shine through whenever they create projects. A brooding atmosphere encapsulates from beginning to end. This album is limited to only one feature (CLEVER ONE) of DA BUZE BRUVAZ.
Once again its' time to light a cigar and pour a glass of cognac while you treat your ears to the top tier flyness of the COGNAC KINGZ...CHEERS

Get ‘Em started as a collaboration between producers, Computer Jay and Dream Dave. It turned out to be Computer Jay’s first attempt on the mic, evolving into Taylor The Terror, accompanied by long-time Cohort Imani the Ghetto Oracle (from The Pharcyde). The project unknowingly snowballed into an LA Riot of features ranging from established wordsmiths to producers and DJs picking up the mic to bring an unknown underbelly of vocals to the canvas. Get ‘Em is undoubtedly cut from the golden era of Hip Hop, but with exponential growth of Technique in the production, cuts, and lyric schemes. This 16-song album has the cinematic action of Fight Club mixed with Blaxploitation films. The Get ‘Em Got it, and it and the Gettin weigh a ton of pounds. The Get ‘Em Gettin, and is of the Weird Science Sound.

Limited edition of 300 copies on black vinyl 1LP with printed innersleeve - only 1 per customer.

Originally released in 1995 on cassette-only via Misfit Records, "Bomb Threat" showcases the variety of talent during the mid-90's in Portland, OR. Representing the Lifesavas and Frontline crews, the "Bomb Threat" collabo was a blueprint for Golden Age hip hop in the North West pairing that special boom bap sound with an hardcore feel to it.

Available in a limited run on 1LP, CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

'Illmatic' is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas, released in April 1994. Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, 'Illmatic' is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Hip-hop fans accustomed to 73-minute opuses sometimes complain about 'Illmatic''s brevity, but even if it leaves you wanting more, it's also one of the few '90s rap albums with absolutely no wasted space. 'Illmatic' reveals a great lyricist in top form meeting great production, and it remains a perennial favorite among serious hip-hop fans.

Twenty-eight years ago, pissed-off twelve-year-olds around the universe discovered a new planet, a Black Planet. Public Enemy’s aggressive, Benihana beats and incendiary lyrics instilled fear among parents and teachers everywhere, even in the border town of Laredo, Texas, home of the future founders of the Latin-Funk-Soul-Breaks super group, Brownout. The band’s sixth full-length album (out May 25th) Fear of a Brown Planet is a musical manifesto inspired by Public Enemy’s music and revolutionary spirit.

Chuck D., the Bomb Squad, Flava Flav and the rest of the P.E. posse couldn’t possibly have expected that their golden-era hip hop albums would sow the seeds for countless Public Enemy sleeper cells, one that would emerge nearly three decades later in Austin, Texas. Greg Gonzalez (bass) remembers a kid back in junior high hipped him to the fact that Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise” is built on James Brown samples, while a teenaged Beto Martinez (guitar) alternated between metal and hip-hop in his walk-man, and Adrian Quesada (guitar/keys) remembers falling in love with Public Enemy’s sound at an early age. “When I got into Hip hop, I was looking for this aggressive outlet . . . and I didn’t even understand what they were pissed off about, because I was twelve and lived in Laredo . . . but I loved it and I felt angry along with them.”

Joseph Abajian (Fat Beats’ owner) must have sensed the deep hip-hop well lying beneath the versatile band’s Latin-Funk veneer. “I thought their sound would work covering Public Enemy songs,” Abajian says, and, “it was good to know they were P.E. fans . . . We came up with a track listing and they went to work.” Despite the band’s eagerness to work on new original material (an album of original songs is slated for next year), they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pay homage to this iconic and influential posse.

Translating sample-based music to a live band turned out to be more of a challenge than they anticipated. Adrian tried to get inside the Bomb Squad’s [Public Enemy’s producers/beat-making team] head in order to find the inspiration to reinterpret P.E.’s songs: “imagine the Bomb Squad going back in time and getting the J.B.s [James Brown’s funky backing band] in the studio and setting up a couple analog synths and then playing those songs.” While some songs closely follow the original musical blueprint, others use the source breakbeats as jumping-off points later sweetened by Trombonist Mark “Speedy” Gonzales’ horn arrangements, synth wizardry courtesy of friend-of-the-band Peter Stopschinski, and DJ Trackstar’s turntable scratches. But don’t listen expecting to hear paint-by-numbers recreations of classic Public Enemy jams. “Our approach is never in the tribute sense,” Adrian explains. “We’ve always taken it and made it our own, whether it’s the Brown Sabbath thing or this Public Enemy thing.”

Coming off numerous tours as Brown Sabbath and even a stint backing the late legend Prince, Brownout is arguably the tightest and funkiest band on the road today and they’re psyched to bring this revolutionary music to the people. For a band without an overt political agenda, they collectively couldn’t resist the opportunity to play this music live, especially now. “If there’s any way that we can use the already political and protest nature [of P.E.’s music], we would like to try,” Beto says. “The album’s title, Fear of Brown Planet is definitely a relevant idea today and we’re not afraid to put it out there, because we want to speak out.” By reinterpreting these hip hop classics in their unique style and channeling the spirit of Public Enemy that first echoed around the world and captured their imaginations all those years ago, Brownout is doing exactly that.

Wow - here we have a Stunning 10 tracker from Tacoma-based producer DJ Shaggy C & his extended crew of different acts collectively known as Thunder Jam Alliance. There is loads of info in the biography/interview Here but what you really need to hear are the snippets.



A small number of the TJA demos are floating around on the net courtesy of a variety of demo tape collectors but nothing has been formally released, so here is an introduction to this mid-90s Tacoma crew's output. And hot damn, is this stuff special...



Big shout out to my man Hakan Dougpark for the connect and Unikone for his posts on the excellent Hip Hop The Golden Era Blog - 1L

When an emcee finds a producer who fuels his verbals, he keeps him close. Atoms Fam, Hangar 18, and Def Jux alumnus, Alaska found just such a fire in steel tipped dove on last year’s The Structural Dynamics of Flow. A journeyman in the pits, dove’s credits run way below the surface of things, and his pedigree shows in his ability to keep the rig moving no matter. Once again on the black circles is the inimitable Marcus Pinn, steady adding nitrous to the mix. Over numerous releases in the last few years including two from 2023 alone, Alaska has settled into a style as mature as it is versatile. He knows the course comfortably now, so he can take the turns, open it up, and just drive.

Along for the ride this time are PremRock and Curly Castro (a.k.a. ShrapKnel), who with Zilla Rocca, make up three-fourths of the Wrecking Crew. All appear on different tracks here, not that keeping them separated blunts their impact in the least. Prem and The Prophet, Fatboi Sharif, are Alaska’s accomplices on “Murder by Numbers,” and fellow Atoms Family member Cryptic One joins Zilla and Alaska on “Disappearing Acts.” There’s also Bateria, a.k.a Jedi Son of Spock, on “Imposter” and Sleeping Dogs on “Vulture Stones,” among others. Those guys are all undeniably dope, but they’re only passengers here.

Alaska never lets you forget who’s behind the wheel as he drops lyrical references to everything from classic slashers and Wu-Tang to Violent Femmes and Hunter S. Thompson. It’s fun, but it’s serious. You can feel the aging aches of “Mild for the Night” in your lower back. You can also feel the frustration on “Hundred Dollar Bills” when Alaska raps, “Yeah, I’m a nihilist, but only ‘cause I’m tired of shit.” Word to the dead man’s ego.

Roy Christopher

And we're back in Tacoma, WA for more unreleased and unheard 1994-1995 bangers from the Thunder Jam Alliance crew. All tracks produced by Shaggy C. Such a shame a lot of this material didnt drop at the time of recording, but Herring, like Mighty Mouse, has come to save the day!!



Make sure you peep those snippets - some killer material right here for the heads!!!







Big shout out to my man Hakan Dougpark for the original connect and Unikone for his posts on the excellent Hip Hop The Golden Era Blog - 1L

Shane Christakis, aka Shane Sounds (name bestowed upon him by the bay area legend DJ Fresh), is primed to explode. The up and coming producer/DJ from the California Bay Area, has been a devout disciple of the golden era of hip hop through and through. Honoring the craft and the ones that came before him through undeniably infectious beats that brace the weight of his choice samples and original layers. Getting his chops up through his younger days, Shane spent his time developing instrumental obstacle courses for local emcees to dance around including Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious),Spills (ny) Kinetic Source (Ozomatli) and Cashus King (LA.) By the age of 21 Shane threw himself into the ring of the Stones Throw beat making contest. To only the surprise of himself, Shane walked away twice as a weekly winner of the battles. After a small hiatus due to the birth of his daughter Clementine, Shane jumped back on the pads and began crafting the instrumentals for what would become Apostolos.

With the instrumentals in flux Shane reached out via Instagram to an upcoming emcee out of the Duck Down Camp, a prodigy of the late, great Sean Price, Rim. After chatting back and forth for a small time, making sure Rim knew Shane was in this project for the right reasons, Rim jumped on board and even helped land other up and coming NY emcees like Eddie Kaine & Spills. From there everything snowballed. One feature led to another and soon enough the album was taking shape with features from not only Rim and Eddie Kaine, but hip hop heroes such as Masta Ace, Planet Asia, A.G. of D.I.T.C. and Geechi Suede. With a few more instrumentals and spaces to fill Shane reached out to long-time bay area engineer/producer Deegan Mack Adams to help with the mixing and mastering and overall release of the project.

Apostolos gets its namesake and back cover imagery from Shane Sounds' great great Grandfather, Apostolos Christakis who immigrated to the United States from Greece at the turn of the 20th century. The documents you see on the back cover are Apostolos’s army registration documents only a week after coming to the United States. We pay our respects to the ones who came before us and allowed us to be here to create this project. Salute!

Your Old Droog is back with the new album, Time. It features appearances by MF Doom, Aesop Rock, Mick Jenkins, Elzhi, Blu, and Wiki.

As the title indicates, the project is the culmination of years of work. "This is basically my debut album," Droog explains. "Some of this material was recorded back in 2017, but I suppose the universe felt it would make more sense if it was released at another point in the future. Hence the name, Time."

Featuring production by Quelle Chris, 88 Keys, Edan, Mono En Stereo, and more, Time= was a surprise release on digital outlets, and is now available on vinyl for the first time.

Based in Tokyo, Southpaw Chop has been active as a producer and DJ for years, independently releasing vinyl featuring MCs from Hip Hop’s golden era, such as Tragedy Khadafi, Kool G Rap, Craig G, Diamond D, AG, and Large Professor. This EP brings together five of these releases, previously available only in limited seven inch vinyl pressings, plus a bonus remix of “Laced With Tragedy feat. Tragedy Khadafi [Funky Soul Brother Remix]" by the unit Funky Soul Brother, comprised of Southpaw Chop and DJ Koco aka Shimokita. This Special Limited Edition Vinyl is exclusively Manufactured and Distributed by Red Line Music Distribution, Inc.

Strictly limited edition of 500 copies on colored vinyl in a gatefold set incl. inlay card and sticker.

Here it is, one of THE lost albums from the golden era of Hip Hop: Science Of Sound's "Kaleidoscope Phonetics" from the Tribe Called Quest-sphere. With productions and cameos by A Tribe Called Quest and Phife Dawg, Godfather Don, Grandmaster Melle Mel and more. This is true-school rap at its finest and should not be missed by any fan of the classic 90's vibe.

Here's what Ali Shaheed Muhammad is saying about it:

"Science Of Sound, a group established during the 90's "golden era" of Hip Hop. These guys are my family. We were very excited when they signed their record deal and greatly disappointed their label mishandled them. This is the lost album that was recorded in the time I was working on "Beats, Rhymes & Life". There was a lot of back in forth between Tribe's sessions and S.O.S.'s sessions. You can hear the levels they were on and it's as fresh as 20+ years later as it was when it was recorded. Any proponent of golden era Hip Hop will appreciate this find of a lost album." - Ali Shaheed Muhammad, September 3rd, 2020

Available on limited 2LP vinyl, CD and cassette as well as digitally!

2 copies max. per customer.

Still shrink wrapped but opened.
Cover as new with slightly dented corners.

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

What would music say if it musicked about itself?

Jukebox got warped but records are fine.Voice box grew coarse, textured with brine.

“Loose seal!”

I looked as good as the waitress. The jukebox unplugged itself. I fed a curved coin to a smiling slot.

“Lucille!” Both Dylan’s and Lennon’s toes went up in their boots when they heard that one. Formed bands. Bands get stolen, lured to the bigger gigs. New bands form.

Auditions skip conversation. If it works, it’s a go. Leave good and bad in the last century. What if I told you a band is a solo act? What if I told you we’re all one? You knew that already, duh. Is there anything I could say that would change us? Change anything?

When the barman asks, “What’s your poison?” he’s not exaggerating. “What’s your cure?” I asked. “You’re well-preserved,” he observed. “You tell me.” “Can I use this space during the day for a chess camp?” I asked him. Little Richard finished playing. “Great idea,” the barman said.

Wait, am I the jukebox? Lou Reed said he was receiving songs like a radio at all times. “Black Light, Black Heat” greeted our first chess meet. “Turn it down so the kids can concentrate,” demanded my kids’ teammates’ square parents. The jukebox reduced its rock to a whisper, revealing my snores.

If this was the last verse I ever wrote, I would want it to be of use like a leather coat or measured rope.

Is Brooklyn in the house band?

— MC Paul Barman

Subway Hip Hop Records Vol 7 -- Broadway Junction Station EP

Broadway Junction is one of main transfer stations on the MTA Subway and Elevated train lines in East New York and the borough of Brooklyn. It’s where different train lines connect Brooklyn to the world. Like Broadway Junction, Subway Hip Hop Records brings together four of the best Brooklyn MCs for this limited vinyl EP:

Finsta - of "Finsta Bundy" fame- is one of the originators of the independent grimy New York boom bap 90's sound. On this EP he collaborates with DJ Direk (from Chicago) and brings the Timberland-wearing, hoodie-down ruggedness you've come to expect.

Shabaam Sahdeeq - of "Polyrhythm Addicts" fame- is another pioneer of that Brooklyn Golden Era sound. His expansive catalog of solo releases, group collaborations, and features cements his reputation as lyrical virtuouso. His contribution on this project, along with DJ Direk (from Chicago), reminds us of what makes him a legendary MC.

Napoleon Da Legend - Unquestionably, Brooklyn’s hardest working MC, with more releases, especially on vinyl, than anyone else in the last five plus years. Don't get it twisted, his output is 100% unadulterated skills, no filler. With DJ Tren (from France) on the beats, Napoleon's solo contribution is an unrelenting torrent of golden bars; he's truly in a class of his own here. On "Knife Play" he collaborates with Nejma Nefertiti over production from TherapyBeats (from Chicago) and demonstrates what happens when talented MCs go bar for bar -- Steel Sharpens Steel.

Nejma Nefertiti - The Queen from Brooklyn. Her hunger and fierce word play embarrasses Rolling Stone's Top 100 Rappers. Nejma Nefertiti's solo contribution over TherapyBeats’s (from Chicago) production brings verses inspired by "prophets and mystics.” When you hear this you're going to understand why it’s a certified classic and why we had to give it a bonus remix (featuring production by DJ 3RD Rail and Padawan).

Detroit producer Apollo Brown has made a name for himself as one of Hip-Hop’s most legendary new producers, while maintaining a golden era sound. His production credits are a who’s who of Hip-hop greats, from Danny Brown to Ghostface Killah, Ras Kass to Westside Gunn. Even Chance the Rapper used a pair of Apollo beats on his debut mixtapes. Known for bringing the best out of musicians, Apollo has a knack for making timeless classics. Brooklyn’s Joell Ortiz started on none other than Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label and built a huge buzz in the industry. He’s worked with legends like Just Blaze, among others. He then signed to Shady Records as ¼ of the supergroup Slaughterhouse. He’s worked with Hip-Hop titans Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Akon, and Big Daddy Kane. Now the pair of Hip-hop luminaries are celebrating the 5-year anniversary of their first collaborative album on Mello Music Group with a deluxe edition including 2 new songs. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece: Mona Lisa.

A 12 track LP featuring legendary crew members Awol One & Abstract Rude, 2Mex OMD, Ceschi of Fake Four Inc., Dannu of the Visionaries, Scvtterbrvin RLK, Megabusive Exalt The Anti, Ecid of Fill In The Breaks, Otherwize, Quaesar & Monstroe Project Blowed! This album covers a broad spectrum from golden era boom bap vibes, to bona fide inner battles, trials with words to live by, and straight up battle raps!

DJ JahBluez lays a heavy foundation with diverse production and scratches that couple perfectly with Gel's relentless cadence and rhyme schemes to make for a Hip Hop classic!”

20th Anniversary reissue of El-Ps debut he released to critical acclaim after Company Flow split up. Now famous for his work with Killer Mike for Run The Jewels. This HHV exclusive edition is limited to 500 copies.

Debuted #198 on Billboard Top 200 in its original release
8.9 review on Pitchfork
Ranked #11 top album of 2002
#21 hip-hop album of all time by Fact Magazine

Fantastic Damage marked the beginning of El-P’s career as a solo artist, following a groundbreaking career as frontman and producer of legendary NYC underground hip hop crew, Company Flow. Fan Dam was a foundational release for his fledgling record label. Definitive Jux, which would soon establish itself as an iconic juggernaut of independent rap in the wake of trailblazing solo records by El-P and label mates Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, RJD2, Murs, and more. The template El-P established on Fantastic Damage - a singular aesthetic pairing futuristic, post B-Boy production style with insightful, provocative & often prescient subject matter - was met with accolades across the media landscape, including Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, NME, VIBE, and SPIN among many others. The impact and influence of Fantastic Damage established it as one of the most important independent releases of its era, and charted a course to be followed by generations of artists in its wake. The album has been widely unavailable since El-P put Def Jux on hiatus in 2010, making it ripe for rediscovery in the new music ecosystem due to El-P’s monumental success with Run The Jewels.

Your Old Droog season is upon us. The prolific Brooklyn artist has cemented his place as one of the most important figures in the modern hip-hop landscape, delivering a steady stream of acclaimed projects. Now, YOD is at it again, unveiling a physical release of his recent collection Yodney Dangerfield. With beats by Nicholas Craven, SadhuGold, Lee Scott, and Jonwayne, the album is another extraordinary body of work from the talented Ukrainian wordsmith. And yet, the music industry still gives him no respect. This edition includes the physical-only bonus track “Metal Face Medley”, a Your Old Droog live performance montage honoring dearly departed rap god MF Doom.

Since signing with Rhymesayers in 2015, Sa-Roc has continued to both invigorate and grow her fanbase with a string of singles, accompanied with powerful and visually enthralling music videos, including "Forever", which has over 4 million views on YouTube. In that time, she has continued to cultivate and sharpen her skill sets, and now she is set to release her first album for the label.

Speaking on the meaning of the album’s title and inspiration, Sa-Roc shares, "The Sharecropper’s Daughter speaks to my father’s actual beginnings on a Virginia tobacco farm where his family sharecropped. The title is meant to signify that both my father’s and my upbringing, though so different, are linked by a shared history that informs the way I move through the world. Although his formative years were spent in the Jim Crow era of the south, where he suffered through poverty and racial oppression, and mine were shaped in the heart of DC, amidst the war on drugs and the effects of its fallout, the album finds points of connection in two very different yet tragically familiar stories of Blackness in America. It’s a sonic reflection of the things we inherit. About the emotional weight that we unknowingly bestow upon the next generation; the genetic transfer of both trauma and triumph that we, both donors and beneficiaries, are tasked with reshaping into a future of our own."

The Sharecropper’s Daughter album is entirely produced by a veteran renaissance man from the Atlanta Hip Hop scene, Sol Messiah, with the exception of "Deliverance" produced by Evidence and co-produced by Al B Smoov. And, while Sa-Roc’s crafty wordplay, razor-sharp delivery and exceptional writing are the prominent highlight, this undeniable quality is only further enhanced by stellar guest performances from a small, but formidable, all-star cast of guests, including Saul Williams, Styles P, Ledisi, Chronixx, and Black Thought.

This Fall, Sa-Roc seeks to demand her rightful place at the table amongst rhyme royalty with The Sharecropper’s Daughter, at a time when the world is clamoring for powerful voices of substance, along with a patient and attentive fanbase who have already been tuned in, waiting for this moment. The time is finally here.

Lord Sko’s Sophomore Album ‘united Palace’ is a record chock-ful of homage, past & present pop culture references & youthful exuberance expressed with a vintage New York attitude. With contributions from Meyhem Lauren, Da$H, Wiseboy Jeremy, Lifeofthom & Kuriousul references to the entire cityscape, this is an album that thoroughly represents both Classic & Modern NY culture through the eyes of a Young Uptown MC. With contributions from Meyhem Lauren, Da$H, Wiseboy Jeremy, Lifeofthom & Kurious Jorge, United Palace could sonically & aesthetically fi t anywhere from the Golden Age to the Blog Era & Far Beyond into the 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.

Your Old Droog is back with another exhilarating hip-hop opus. Fresh off a series of outstanding projects, the prolific rhyme author is now debuting the new album Yod Stewart. Featuring captivating beats by Tha God Fahim, Nicholas Craven, Conductor Williams, Lee Scott, and more, the collection illuminates YOD's world-class songwriting and highly relatable storytelling prowess. Yod Stewart is a conceptual endeavor set within an intriguing narrative context: a recording artist comes across a Rod Stewart wig, takes it home, falls asleep, and becomes the pop star of his dreams. Follow the superstar on his turbulent but ultimately rewarding journey filled with musical meditations on lucid dreaming, keys to success, lost friendships, toxic relationships, teenage heartbreaks, and more. Your Old Droog does it all, again.

‘Of Process and Progression’ is a perfectly balanced combination of hip-hop, jazz, and soul from longtime collaborators Tall Black Guy & Ozay Moore, who continue to push themselves creatively after a collective more than 30 years in the game. On each and every track on this LP, the duo beautifully blend Golden Era boom-bap with modern sounds to deliver something altogether timeless and inspiring.

There’s just so much to love about ‘OPAP,’ an easy candidate for one of the year’s best releases, regardless of genre. Both TBG and Ozay have been on a tear these past few years with their respective careers, but it’s safe to say they’re reaching a new peak together with this release.

Following Their Last Release, The Day Before Halloween_an Imaginative, Distorted-Synth-Driven Concept Album_atmosphere Returns With A Refreshing New Project, Simply Titled Word? Steering Back Toward Their Signature Sound, The Album Further Highlights Producer Ant's Undeniable Talents As The Project Leans Into The Classic Boom-Bap Aesthetic, Bringing A Uniqueenergy Out Of Slug's Wisdom, Wit And Delivery. From Onset, Word? Proves To Be Every Bit An Exercise In Refining And Advancing Their Craft As It Is A Harkening To Earlier Work. That Is, While Their Releases Have Grown More Broodingly Cinematic, And Increasingly Concerned With The Human Conditionand Mortality, Word? Manages To Reintroduce Moments Of Levity And Lightheartedness Throughout, An Approach Seldom Heard On Their Albums Of Late. From Album Opener "Fleetwood," With Its Razor-Sharp Snares And Warm Fleshy Bassline, To The Resonant Melody Of "Clocked", There Are Strong Hints Of Atmosphere's Nascent Years Within The Sound. Meanwhile, Songs Like "Woes", "Strung" And "Vanish" Cheerfully Make Light Of Daily Hardships, But They're More Likely To Be Remembered For Making Listeners Want To Bob Their Heads And Sing Along. With Slug And Ant Directing The Course, The Album Plays Like A Joyride Through A Range Of Experiences And Emotions, With An Extensive Cast Of Special Guests Hopping In And Out Along The Way, Includingevidence, Muja Messiah, Musab, Nino Bless, Nikki Jean, Anwar Highsign, Blackliq, Sa-Roc, Haphduzn, Lateef The Truthspeaker, Aesop Rock, And The Late Mf Doom (Rip). The Result Is A Project That Feels Like It Came From The Era Or, Perhaps More Fittingly, The Mindset That Created Albums Like God Lovesugly, Seven's Travels, Or The Popular Sad Clown Series, While Sounding As Polished And Perfected As More Recent Albums Like Mi Vida Local Or Whenever. Ultimately, Word? Pairs The Breadth Of Atmosphere's Talents With The Beauty Of Their Growth, All While Showing They Still Have A Lot Of Fun In The Process And Don't Mind Letting The Listener In On T...

King of Hearts is the fourth and final album by the late rapper, singer and producer, Camu Tao. Originally posthumously released in 2010 by Definitive Jux in collaboration with Fat Possum, King of Hearts was Tao's last record before his untimely death at just 30 years old from lung cancer in 2008. Recorded with Definitive Jux label head, EL-P (also one half of Run the Jewels), had it been released in 2008 when it was originally slated to, it probably would have felt ahead of its time. Pop-focused, hook-driven, and more sung than rapped, it pre-dates the similar ideas since explored by Kid Cudi, Janelle Monae, and even 808 and Heartbreaks-era Kanye. So singular and affecting was Tao's music, it led to EL-P dedicating an entire solo record to his legacy, on the now-classic Cancer 4 Cure. Now on Oct 18th 2019, Fat Possum will finally issue the album on vinyl for the first time, and re-introduce Camu Tao's music to the wider audience it deserves.

It’s a different place than it was two years ago, when Atmosphere released their last record, Fishing Blues. Their seventh album, Mi Vida Local, reflects the ways in which the world–and their place in it–has changed. The idyllic domesticity of the past few records has morphed into anxiety over keeping loved ones safe during turbulent times. The easygoing collaboration between Ant and Slug has started to feel more like the life-or-death intimacy of two men trapped together on a lifeboat. At times, Mi Vida Local is a heavy album, (“I might be the last generation of grandparents,” goes a key line from “Virgo”), but it’s far from grim.

As the name implies, Mi Vida Local is intensely focused on the place it was created–the southside of Minneapolis–where Slug and Ant work tirelessly in their “beautiful basements”, refining their sound without interruption, save for a handful of Minneapolis friends that showed up to contribute. The album pairs complex subject matter with equally deep beats–ones that show a clear lineage back to the psychedelic funk landmarks from an earlier era where America was going through a post-utopian hangover, and prove that there won’t ever be a time where boom-bap beats don’t sound perfectly of the moment.

Mi Vida Local might be the best album Atmosphere’s ever made. It’s definitely the one they needed to make right now, and one listeners need to hear just as urgently. If it’s sometimes an album about how the fight to find happiness never really ends–even after you get the house and the kids and the artistic freedom to make dad-rap records–it’s also about discovering that there’s happiness to be found just in fighting.

Released in November 2023, "Piranha" is the electrifying collaboration album between Brooklyn's own CJ Fly, the lyrical virtuoso of Pro Era fame, and masterful producer Stoic. Dive deep into the sonic depths of this mesmerizing project as CJ Fly's razor-sharp lyricism cuts through the beats crafted by Stoic with surgical precision for a sonic feast that devours everything in its path. With guest appearances including the likes of Mick Jenkins, Nyck Caution, Lord Apex, Blvck Svm and Amarah, as well as young legend Lord Sko on one of the bonus tracks featured on this deluxe edition, each track on "Piranha" is a testament to the raw talent and creativity of its collaborators. With Stoic's immersive production providing the perfect backdrop for CJ Fly's impassioned delivery, "Piranha" is an album that demands your attention from start to fi nish, a tidal wave sure to leave a lasting impression on hip-hop heads everywhere.