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Daily Operation is the third studio album by Gang Starr, released on May 5, 1992. The duo, consisting of rapper Guru (Keith Elam) and DJ/producer DJ Premier (Christopher Martin), was already known for blending jazz and hip-hop in innovative ways, but Daily Operation marked a pivotal moment in their career. The album is widely considered a classic of East Coast hip-hop, combining DJ Premier’s minimalist, sample-heavy production with Guru’s intellectual and streetwise lyrics.

Daily Operation was a defining record in early 90s New York hip-hop, with a gritty, boom-bap sound that became emblematic of the era.
The album blends jazz samples, hard-hitting beats, and Guru’s deep, monotone delivery, creating a unique soundscape that is both cerebral and raw.
Lyrically, Guru addresses a wide range of topics, including social issues, loyalty, the state of hip-hop, and personal reflection, all delivered with his trademark cool, calm demeanor.

The production on Daily Operation is quintessential DJ Premier: he uses chopped-up jazz and soul samples, deep basslines, and hard drums, with frequent scratches and vocal samples from other rappers as hooks.
Premier’s use of jazz horns, piano loops, and understated but funky basslines gives the album a smooth, sophisticated feel, while still maintaining the rugged edge of early 90s East Coast rap.
The album’s minimalist production style was a departure from the heavier, layered sound that dominated other hip-hop albums of the time, helping to cement Gang Starr’s reputation as pioneers of jazz rap.

Key Tracks and Highlights:
"Take It Personal" – The lead single from the album, this track is often seen as a diss song directed at those who have betrayed or doubted Guru. The beat is simple but powerful, with a rolling piano loop and Premier’s sharp scratches. It became one of the group’s signature songs.
"Ex Girl to Next Girl" – One of the more laid-back tracks on the album, it features Guru discussing moving on from a toxic relationship. The track is driven by a jazzy, smooth beat and features Guru’s classic calm, reflective delivery.
"Soliloquy of Chaos" – A storytelling track where Guru describes the chaos of a violent night at a club, offering insight into the dangers and unpredictability of life in the streets. The haunting piano loop and somber tone of the track reflect the gravity of the subject matter.
"I'm the Man" (featuring Lil Dap and Jeru the Damaja) – This posse cut features verses from Lil Dap (of Group Home) and Jeru the Damaja, introducing listeners to these future Gang Starr Foundation members. The track has a hard, aggressive beat, and each rapper delivers strong performances.
"The Place Where We Dwell" – An ode to Brooklyn, where DJ Premier lived, and Boston, where Guru was from. The track pays tribute to the cities that shaped them, over a jazzy, uptempo beat.
"2 Deep" – This track features Guru reflecting on life’s struggles and his pursuit of success, set to one of Premier’s most atmospheric beats. The bass-heavy production and moody saxophone sample give the song a contemplative feel.
"Flip the Script" – A hard-hitting track where Guru flexes his lyrical skills, delivering sharp, precise verses over a gritty, bass-heavy beat. It’s one of the more aggressive tracks on the album, with a punchy delivery and tough production.

Self-Reflection and Growth: Many tracks, such as "Take It Personal" and "Ex Girl to Next Girl," focus on Guru’s personal experiences with betrayal, relationships, and self-growth. His lyrics often take a philosophical approach, offering wisdom and life lessons.
Street Life and Social Commentary: Tracks like "Soliloquy of Chaos" delve into the violence and unpredictability of street life, while others, like "2 Deep," explore the challenges of navigating a world filled with obstacles and injustices.

Throughout the album, Guru expresses his loyalty to authentic hip-hop culture and addresses the importance of staying true to oneself, which is a recurring theme in Gang Starr’s music.
Production and Collaborations:
DJ Premier’s production on Daily Operation is minimalist yet innovative, marking a shift toward the stripped-down, sample-heavy sound that he would later perfect. He heavily utilizes jazz samples, drawing on his deep knowledge of jazz and soul records to create sophisticated, head-nodding beats.
Jeru the Damaja and Lil Dap appear on the album, marking their introduction to the broader hip-hop world through the Gang Starr Foundation, a collective of artists associated with the duo. Both rappers would go on to have influential careers, especially Jeru, who became a critical voice in underground hip-hop.

Daily Operation received widespread acclaim upon its release and has since been regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums of the 1990s. Critics praised its blend of lyrical sophistication and innovative production, as well as the balance between jazz influences and hardcore hip-hop beats.
The album was recognized for its intellectual depth, with Guru’s thoughtful, reflective lyrics offering a counterpoint to the more aggressive or party-focused styles that were dominant at the time.
The album did not achieve massive commercial success but became an underground classic, solidifying Gang Starr’s reputation as one of the most influential acts in hip-hop.

Daily Operation is often considered one of the defining albums of the boom-bap era of East Coast hip-hop, influencing countless artists with its combination of jazz sampling and gritty production.
DJ Premier’s production on this album helped shape the sound of 90s hip-hop, setting the template for his later work with Nas, Jay-Z, and others.
Guru’s smooth, intellectual lyricism was seen as a refreshing contrast to the more aggressive styles of the time, earning him respect as one of the genre’s most thoughtful MCs.
The album also played a key role in establishing the Gang Starr Foundation, paving the way for artists like Jeru the Damaja and Group Home to make their mark on hip-hop.

Daily Operation is a classic East Coast hip-hop album, showcasing Gang Starr at the height of their powers. DJ Premier’s innovative, jazz-infused production combined with Guru’s thoughtful and commanding lyricism created a timeless project that resonates with hip-hop fans decades after its release.
The album’s influence can be heard in the work of numerous hip-hop artists, particularly in the boom-bap and jazz rap subgenres. It remains a landmark in both Gang Starr’s career and the broader landscape of 90s hip-hop, revered for its subtle sophistication and gritty realism.

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary on 25th March 2022, the diamond-certified Grammy®-nominated double-disc opus will be released as a 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set on June 10, 2022. The Life After Death 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Boxed Set consists of 8-LPs and a commemorative booklet featuring rare photos from the album cover shoot, liner notes by Sheldon Pearce, and exclusive reflections from members of the team who worked on the original album release. In addition to the original album, it includes the Hypnotize 12”, Mo Money Mo Problems 12”, Sky’s The Limit 12”, and Nasty Boy 12”.


Life After Death features 112, Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Too $hort, along with tracks like “Kick In The Door,” “What’s Beef,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” and “Sky’s The Limit,”. The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the US Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It went diamond in the U.S. alone, double platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. The album received a Grammy® nomination in the category of “Best Rap Album.” “Hypnotize” earned a Grammy® nomination for “Best Rap Solo Performance,” and “Mo Money Mo Problems” was nominated for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.” Among dozens of lists and retrospectives, Rolling Stone touted Life After Death among its coveted “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” The Riaa has awarded the album a Diamond Certification for more than 5 million copies sold of the double-LP.

Project: Mooncircle, as the name reveals, has been on a journey to the moon since day one, exploring the frontiers of music and art, always looking for new discoveries and giving a different perspective to look at the earth. In it’s 10 year history the label has published roughly 100 releases by equally as many artists from all corners of this globe and, therefore, the selection of sounds on this compilation represents the development of the label from the past, present and going into the future.

Some of the artists featured on this compilation have been a part of the label from its very beginning, like CYNE, Manuvers and Jahbitat, whose song will be the last one he produced and published under this moniker, while others, like Robot Koch, fLako and Long Arm, are outstanding examples of its growing popularity and success. Furthermore, the box also features an exceptional selection of close musical friends and inspirational artists like Jehst, Dday One, Kwala and Ichiro_, just to name a few.

The logo and artwork represent someone who was very close to the label, especially in the early years but unfortunately passed on and whom this box is dedicated to. Featured on the compilation are artists such as Mike Slott x Diane Badié, CYNE, Sweatson Klank aka Take, Jahbitat, Robot Koch, fLako, Jehst, Beat Butcha, Long Arm, Kelpe, Pavel Dovgal, Blossom, Daisuke Tanabe, Dday One, Inner Science, Substantial, Arts The Beatdoctor, Rain Dog, Kidkanevil + Microkorg by Dorian Concept, John Robinson, Sorrow, Rumpistol, The Red Baron, Christoph El’ Truento, 40 Winks, Sina., 1000Names, DZA, Ichiro_, EAN, Tom Dicicco, Headshotboyz, Graciela Maria, Gards From KC, Sekuoia of Kilimanjaro, Sense of The Q4, Sneaky, I.V.A., Empt, John LaMonica, Mike Gao, Bambooman, Manuvers, Krts, Kwala, Soosh, Memotone, Sun Glitters, Called Understandable Souls & Szenario.
The limited box includes 2 white & 2 black vinyl LP’s with 32 tracks, 13 additional digital bonus tracks, a T-shirt (only at HHV) and a poster (with digital download code) all in a specially designed box that features a special light-reflecting varnish, which makes this truly a collectors and music lovers item.

Berlin-based label Project: Mooncircle and it’s two sublabels Project Squared and Finest Ego is an official label from HHV. It was founded in 2002 and is specializing in the conjunction between electronic and organic music. The label, at first envisaged as a compilation project only, soon released the first instrumental and vocal solo releases by such artists as The Q4, CYNE, Mr Cooper, Robot Koch, fLako, 40 Winks, John Robinson & MF Doom, DZA, Krts, Sina., Graciela Maria, Manuvers, Lambent, Lewis Parker, Non of Shadowhuntaz, Strand, Ta-Ku, Mika Gao, Onra, Obba Supa, Asusu, Furesshu, AnD. Kowton or Glen Porter. The work of illustrators and graphic designers such as Bioniq, Dan May, Iain McArthur, Ima One, LNY, Gordon, 44 Flavours, La Mano Fria, and The Binh create images that accompany the acoustic spaces.
Project: Mooncircle with its various producers & vocalist shall be an interesting experience for anyone looking for the extraordinary.

A&R: Laurent Fintoni, Jinna Morocha, Karolina Kaczor, Gordon Gieseking and Malte Tarnow. Mastering by Sven Friederichs. Artwork and original paintings by Gordon, LNY & Bioniq. Webdesign 2006 – 2012 by Thimo Hörster & Hendrik Stein. Animation trailer by Sebastian Muñoz.

Release date: March, 23rd.

10th Anniversary Showcase with Mike Slott, Robot Koch, fLako, Long Arm, Jehst, Arts The Beatdoctor, Sekuoia of Kilimanjaro, & Graciela Maria @ Club Gretchen in Berlin, Kreuzberg – March, 17th!

Project: Mooncircle, as the name reveals, has been on a journey to the moon since day one, exploring the frontiers of music and art, always looking for new discoveries and giving a different perspective to look at the earth. In it’s 10 year history the label has published roughly 100 releases by equally as many artists from all corners of this globe and, therefore, the selection of sounds on this compilation represents the development of the label from the past, present and going into the future.

Some of the artists featured on this compilation have been a part of the label from its very beginning, like CYNE, Manuvers and Jahbitat, whose song will be the last one he produced and published under this moniker, while others, like Robot Koch, fLako and Long Arm, are outstanding examples of its growing popularity and success. Furthermore, the box also features an exceptional selection of close musical friends and inspirational artists like Jehst, Dday One, Kwala and Ichiro_, just to name a few.

The logo and artwork represent someone who was very close to the label, especially in the early years but unfortunately passed on and whom this box is dedicated to. Featured on the compilation are artists such as Mike Slott x Diane Badié, CYNE, Sweatson Klank aka Take, Jahbitat, Robot Koch, fLako, Jehst, Beat Butcha, Long Arm, Kelpe, Pavel Dovgal, Blossom, Daisuke Tanabe, Dday One, Inner Science, Substantial, Arts The Beatdoctor, Rain Dog, Kidkanevil + Microkorg by Dorian Concept, John Robinson, Sorrow, Rumpistol, The Red Baron, Christoph El’ Truento, 40 Winks, Sina., 1000Names, DZA, Ichiro_, EAN, Tom Dicicco, Headshotboyz, Graciela Maria, Gards From KC, Sekuoia of Kilimanjaro, Sense of The Q4, Sneaky, I.V.A., Empt, John LaMonica, Mike Gao, Bambooman, Manuvers, Krts, Kwala, Soosh, Memotone, Sun Glitters, Called Understandable Souls & Szenario.
The limited box includes 4 white vinyls LP’s with 32 tracks, 13 additional digital bonus tracks, and a poster (with digital download code) all in a specially designed box that features a special light-reflecting varnish, which makes this truly a collectors and music lovers item.

Berlin-based label Project: Mooncircle and it’s two sublabels Project Squared and Finest Ego is an official label from HHV. It was founded in 2002 and is specializing in the conjunction between electronic and organic music. The label, at first envisaged as a compilation project only, soon released the first instrumental and vocal solo releases by such artists as The Q4, CYNE, Mr Cooper, Robot Koch, fLako, 40 Winks, John Robinson & MF Doom, DZA, Krts, Sina., Graciela Maria, Manuvers, Lambent, Lewis Parker, Non of Shadowhuntaz, Strand, Ta-Ku, Mika Gao, Onra, Obba Supa, Asusu, Furesshu, AnD. Kowton or Glen Porter. The work of illustrators and graphic designers such as Bioniq, Dan May, Iain McArthur, Ima One, LNY, Gordon, 44 Flavours, La Mano Fria, and The Binh create images that accompany the acoustic spaces.
Project: Mooncircle with its various producers & vocalist shall be an interesting experience for anyone looking for the extraordinary.

A&R: Laurent Fintoni, Jinna Morocha, Karolina Kaczor, Gordon Gieseking and Malte Tarnow. Mastering by Sven Friederichs. Artwork and original paintings by Gordon, LNY & Bioniq. Webdesign 2006 – 2012 by Thimo Hörster & Hendrik Stein. Animation trailer by Sebastian Muñoz.

Release date: March, 23rd.

10th Anniversary Showcase with Mike Slott, Robot Koch, fLako, Long Arm, Jehst, Arts The Beatdoctor, Sekuoia of Kilimanjaro, & Graciela Maria @ Club Gretchen in Berlin, Kreuzberg – March, 17th!

The official soundtrack to Christoph Waltz', ehm, Tarantino's "Django Unchained" with tracks by Ennio Morricone, James Brown, John Legend and more. Tip!

The PUTS' 9th studio album is another selfmade stunner via Piecelock 70!

LA based People Under The Stairs, Double K (Michael Turner) and Thes One (Christopher Portugal) are the most successful fully independent hip-hop
duo in the history of Hip-Hop. Since their initial release in 1998, People Under The Stairs, or “The P” as they are referred to by their fans, have performed over a thousand sold out shows, festivals and world tours spanning 6 continents and 40 countries. With a pioneering DIY ethic, they have self produced 8 full-length LPs in addition to countless singles and side projects. The musical sensibility punctuating their unique brand of hip-hop has earned them the title “The Steely Dan of Rap Music” as well as consistent critical acclaim and numerous appearances on the Billboard Charts. Their unique career includes an appearance on The Simpson’s 20th Anniversary Special, a John Peele Session at Abbey Road, and groundbreaking performances at festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella and Bonaroo, the last of which was noted by SPIN magazine as “Simply the best performance of Friday... Period”. After finishing their ambitious 8th Studio album Highlighter, The P completed sold out tours with Mac Miller and Girl Talk before returning to the studio to work on their 9th album, 12 Step Program!

Imagine if you could put together a dream line-up of MCs and producers from all four corners of the rap world?

That’s what artist and illustrator Gangster Doodles set out to do when he put together a stellar collection of tracks by the rappers and talent that inspire his work.

The all-star line-up features everyone from hotly-tipped emerging producers like Eets, Caleb Stone, Maze Mountain and LoVibe next to underground perennials like Onra, Mndsgn and Jon Wayne all the way up to top flight producer Kaytranada and established rap vets like Madlib, Oh No, Blu and Defari.

This second collaboration between All City Records and Gangster Doodles is a jam-packed sonic adventure featuring 27 killer tracks from some of the finest creators out there.

Doodles had the idea for a comp two years ago. Hyped after partnering with All City for Knxwledge’s "Wraptaypes" project back in 2015, they initially set out to put together an EP but as the tracks kept coming in it exploded into the sprawling double LP of low-slung grooves and bangers from the best in the business.

With everyone on the record being a friend or friend of a friend, the comp just kept growing as GD went to work with the hustle he has learned from penning his post-it sketches day in day out for the last decade.

Word spread fast and soon he was being sent beats from all over, even reaching behind the prison walls of Bergen County Jail, New Jersey and securing a track from former Dipset affiliate Max B.

The last few years have been busy for Marlon "Gangster Doodles" Sassy. He released his acclaimed Gangster Doodles (The Book) alongside an ever-expanding array of prints, original works, apparel and exhibitions across the globe. Topping that off with animation projects, a graphic novel in the works and now, with this LP titled " Gang$ter Music Vol 1", he is about to debut his first ever music compilation.

He says himself: “Every time a new track came in it was like running down the stairs on Christmas morning to open a present. What started as a slow trickle of work coming in soon turned into a tsunami with some of my heroes like Onra, House Shoes, Blu, Jeremiah Jae joining up with young guns Kojaque, Kean Kavanagh, Dream Panther and others to beef up the record”

On what would've been Christopher Wallace's 49th Birthday, DJ Mister Cee celebrates the life and legacy of his dear friend, the greatest rapper of all time - The Notorious B.I.G. To Celebrate his immeasurable impact on Hip Hop, Mister Cee, Serato, and Fatbeats decided to put together this limited edition 10 inch vinyl containing the infamous "Where Brooklyn At" free style, and Serato DJ Control. Enjoy.

Limited gatefold 2LP edition of 500 copies on black vinyl of "Starving Art" by Baltimore's Starvin Art Clique.

The Starvin Art Clique consisted of Christopher "30 Fingaz" Gittens, Robert "Hawaii" Russell and DJ Joe "Guess Who?" Davidge and "Starving Art" was their only album. The full production was handled by Guess Who? and Shane "The Doctor" Faber, features included artists such as Shawn Smith, Jaie, Mekolicious and others.

Originally released on CD on Joe Davidge's Overkast Records in 1998, the release was accompanied by a then and now hard-to-find 12" EP with 5 tracks of the album plus an instrumental version.

Available in a limited run on 2LP, CD and cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.

Limited edition of 100 copies on cassette of "Starving Art" by Baltimore's Starvin Art Clique.

The Starvin Art Clique consisted of Christopher "30 Fingaz" Gittens, Robert "Hawaii" Russell and DJ Joe "Guess Who?" Davidge and "Starving Art" was their only album. The full production was handled by Guess Who? and Shane "The Doctor" Faber, features included artists such as Shawn Smith, Jaie, Mekolicious and others.

Originally released on CD on Joe Davidge's Overkast Records in 1998, the release was accompanied by a then and now hard-to-find 12" EP with 5 tracks of the album plus an instrumental version.

Available in a limited run on 2LP, CD and cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.

Limited edition of 300 copies on CD of "Starving Art" by Baltimore's Starvin Art Clique.

The Starvin Art Clique consisted of Christopher "30 Fingaz" Gittens, Robert "Hawaii" Russell and DJ Joe "Guess Who?" Davidge and "Starving Art" was their only album. The full production was handled by Guess Who? and Shane "The Doctor" Faber, features included artists such as Shawn Smith, Jaie, Mekolicious and others.

Originally released on CD on Joe Davidge's Overkast Records in 1998, the release was accompanied by a then and now hard-to-find 12" EP with 5 tracks of the album plus an instrumental version.

Available in a limited run on 2LP, CD and cassette plus digitally on all major platforms.

Ready Ta Roll was a 90’s hip hop group from Jersey City, NJ. Mark “M.C. Supreme” Curry (Rapper/Producer) , Eric “Tysheen” Freeman (dj), Christopher “Rizzo” Warren (Hype-Man) & Joseph “Music Maestro J-Rule” Jenkins (Producer) released several singles including underground classics “The Real Hip Hop” & “Drug Game” between 1993 & 1994. The group’s single “Drug Game” was recognized by The Source magazine with a powerful write up praising them for the songs socially conscious lyrics. The music video was shot by then up and coming video director Hype Williams and debuted on Ralph McDaniel’ Video Music Box as well as Bet’s Rap City. The group parted ways in the late 90’s and Supreme who later changed his name to Chop Diesel went on to form a production collective called “The Dream Team”. Their production credits include Ali Vegas, AZ, Nas, 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Diddy, Run-DMC, DJ Kay Slay, Teddy Riley, Dave Hollister & more.



This classic collection is now available on CD and will be limited to only 300 copies! The vinyl will be out in late Summer, along with some other insane 90's bangers.

On his second full-length release with Illect Recordings, The Canadian born rhyme writer lifts up his head, drops his guard and pours out his heart across ten self-produced tracks. The project comes together like a part journal and part motivational monologue. Eyes Across The Room is an earnest celebration of love and longevity as Die-rek salutes his significant other for her ride or die brand of loyalty. He speaks his love language fluently over tinkling piano keys that sound like they were rescued from RZA's flooded basement. Ditty Dum Ditty Doo is a bespoke bop where Die-rek speaks life atop a stuttering bass line with a stop and go flow. He encourages the listener to embrace their one of one identity and live life with authenticity. The spaced-out melody is deceptively addictive, but the empowering message reaches home. In the spirit of community, He Paid It All finds Die-rek clicking up with his friends Rel McCoy and Griffin. Neither one of them mince words about how their faith had been funded, and all three verses are declarations of humble gratitude. Die-rek saves the best for last with the final song. Runnin', which is the album's true man in the mirror moment. Die-rek pledges allegiance to God and the grind, promising to make use of grace and not waste his days on Earth. This particular slice of sound thrusts consciousness above the clouds with a dream-like sensation that shifts seamlessly between realms and reality. After years of losses and lessons, redemption is closer than ever. Written by Christopher Mitchel (Breaking Atoms)

East Haiti Baby is the second studio album from Paper Route Empire artist, Big Moochie Grape, and first full-length solo offering since 2020’s Eat Or Get Ate. Heavily steeped in the Memphis underground tradition, Big Moochie Grape has drawn comparisons to Memphis’ own Project Pat, as well as southern rap legend, Gucci Mane. Making it a true family affair and keeping features in-house, the 15-track album sees appearances from Kenny Muney, Key Glock, and the late PRE head honcho, Young Dolph. Production is largely handled by PRE sound architect, Bandplay, as well as Sosa 808, Ayoza and more.

The days have become shorter, and the nights are cold and long. Winter season aside, we're living in uncertain times. From politics to healthcare, the rising cost of living and more - apathy and cynicism are the themes of the modern day. Even just getting by has become a demanding daily operation. However, in light of this social despondency, hope can be found between the cracks of the concrete. Hopefully, is a sharp and seductive six-track jolt of upliftment for the weak and weary among us. Sareem's penmanship across the EP is intentional and minces no words about the everyday struggle of surviving and thriving. However, the beauty of the music and message blossoms within the juxtaposition. On the title track, Sareem plays neighborhood hope dealer and wishes health, wealth and strength to one and all. As expected, the song is littered with thoughtful lines ("I hope you never have to code switch so you can blend"), which land firmly in the message received section of the brain. The sermon-like bars continue on Ain't No Time, where Sareem displays calm confidence in the rat race against the hourglass. He deftly reminds the listener that the past is always in the future and time is not to be feared - but embraced. Further introspection can be found on Piece Of The Pie. Sareem enters the center with thanksgiving in his heart, reflecting on the grind's culmination and celebrating the spoils of family and friendship. The mosaic-like production by Madi, who used to go by DJ Allstar, is smooth and spacious - bespoke in its bounce and bop. The former Uprok Records DJ serves up splurges of atmospheric buoyancy that pulsate through the mind, body and soul. The lost art of the head nod returns in a big way, and Madi delivers in an emphatic fashion. All hope aside, the chemistry between Sareem Poems and Madi is a wistful reminder of the sacred nature of the Hip Hop duo. The one emcee and one producer tandem are held dear in Hip Hop culture. These two hope dealers carry on tradition while pushing forward. Written by Christopher Mitchel (Breaking Atoms)

The pendulum of life swings from simple to complicated and swoops across everything in between. If the devil is in the details, the true meaning is in the grey areas. Whilst the quest for nuance is noble, sometimes, it pays to be intentional with your target and get to the point. For their first collaborative project, Str8 Shot, Gary "Sivion" Watson and Maurice "malex" Alexander aim, fire and spit with a barrage of hard-hitting Hip Hop that will inspire new and old heads alike. Across the beats and rhymes, the duo showcases kin-like chemistry, which extracts depth from simplicity. The opening salvo on Str8 Shot is like a special ops assignment meets manifesto. Heavy Gunner introduces MALEX's spaced-out Blade Runner-esque bounce, where Sivion shoots for the stars while swinging "a hot sword of the spirit". The experimental production and Sivion's staccato style sound like a chauffeur-driven ride in the Delorean from Back To The Future. Sivion then links up with long-time collaborator Braille and the Dallas freestyle king, Infored, on the latest single, Come Through Me. All three pilots plot a flight course to a higher level of mental liberation. MALEX's mischievous bleeps and blips encapsulate push-and-pull energy. The cheeky bop, in turn, opens up Sivion, Braille and Infored to go all the way in with a call and response flows while calling out pretentious folks prone to take the bait of what this world supposedly has to offer. The firing squad take a breather to reload their bullets on Straight Cool featuring Mokah Soulfly. Sivion, Malex and their fellow gunners shoot the breeze straight to the milky way and write bars on Mars. With live bass from the masterful Nigel Rivers (Erykah Badu, Royce Da 5'9" and Eric Roberson), sonically, the track converges with genuine reflections of their come-ups, tinges of otherworldliness and dashes of a five-star resort turn-down service. With eight tracks, Str8 Shot is a short, sharp, stirring experience that puts peps in steps and batteries in backs. Written by Christopher Mitchell for Ten Pounds of Gold.

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.

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,Negrois like fire, andNegro Deluxeis like smoke….So I would characterizeNegro Deluxeas, 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 likeNegro Deluxeis 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.”

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