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A Nnew deluxe 16 track DLP edition of Amerigo GAZAWAY's cult classic reimagining of his fav D'angelo cuts includes all the original tracks alongside their corresponding instrumentals, plus a few unreleased gems. A perfect mixture of hip-hop, gospel, house, neo-soul and R&B. Awesome full pic sleeve.

Why you'll love it...
Fat Tony and his friend & producer Taydex are release their new album I Will Make A Baby in this Damn Economy. On this new album, Fat Tony embodies the kind of quixotic figure he would rap about; a singular entity who’s motivated, confident, and hungry; a perpetual-motion-machine locked in a staring contest with his country. The album's featured artists include Paul Wall, B L A C K I E, Cadence Weapon, Harriet Brown, and B.K. Habermehl.

Limited to 200 copies, the VMP exclusive version of Fat Tony & Taydex's I Will Make a Baby in this Damn Economy is pressed on "Dodger Blue" vinyl at Precision Record Pressing. The 1LP will arrive in a single, direct-to-board, foil-stamped and numbered jacket with a download code.

Brain Candy was developed thanks to help from a sub-audible humming made by brutalist architecture in high winds. You may not hear it, but behind every lyric… beneath every beat… the tone is there and it holds the album together. - Luke H Simmons

After a three year hiatus, the rap trident known as Death At The Derby is back with another full LP, this time entirely produced by Toronto based producer Finn. An 11 track project, “Capitano” is themed behind some of the games most respected & legendary captains to rock the honorary armband. Inspired by their previous 2020 release “Ballon D’Or”, this latest LP is both the fi rst of fi cial drop, yet second installment to their newest series entitled Club & Country. With the third & fi nal season of their celebrates derby series around the way, this record is the next phase in their wave of worldwide work. Cuts provided by their resident DJ, DJ Dubplates, the project is both a rare & raw blend of potent underground production, cultured sound bites, top fl ight lyricism & love for the beautiful game. Whether El Salvador, Romania, North Ireland or Argentina, the roster is monster. Centered around a tracklist aligned by the player’s actual jersey numbers, this collection of stars shine bright as any constellation. Limited edition of 350 hand-numbered copies.

The 5th 7 inch in the series. Limited to only 200 copies.

"DJ Yoda teams up with the mighty Nubya Garcia and Boston Hip-Hop legend Ed O.G. for ‘Roxbury’. Originally released on Yoda’s ‘Home Cooking’ it’s been lovingly remixed but the originators of cut and paste Double Dee & Steinski. The b-side is Yoda’s collaboration with Joel Culpepper ‘London Fields’. This too has been remixed and this time it’s by Lewis Recordings labelmates The Still Brothers."

A lot can change in a decade.

The Acwlp sessions were certainly that of a tumultuous time.

Rife with seedy taverns, eviction, travel and romantic misadventures manifold my victories and lessons were nothing if not hard-won. I felt the pressure to make something definitive while constantly seeking to become the artist I was meant to be. Listening back today there’s many things I can see as prelude or perhaps I was earning my initial moniker of Premonition because many things did indeed come to pass.

The album’s only feature was Curly Castro years before ShrapKnel was ever a discussion. We really parlayed that track into something special huh? I recall fondly taking the J to Cav’s crib to listen to beats with Quelle. Quasi routinely linking with Dove and finally emailing the then enigmatic Small Pro. I met Fresh Kils at Sxsw that year and picked the weirdest beat in his pack. Not sure he ever liked that song but the miles we went on to log together was something to behold at the very least. Dug out one of the oldest beats A.M. Breakups ever sent me and pretty sure he laughed when I asked for the stems. Green and I further established our sonic link as he helped me piece together a mosaic that was without a doubt unapologetically… me.

I released this record myself and since only have truly done vinyl business with folks I’ve known over a decade. Woods & Backwoodz, Ceschi & Fake Four, Dove & Fused Arrow and now with my good friend Zilla Rocca and Three Dollar Pistol. It’s always more fun to win together. This wasn’t a perfect record then and it isn’t now but that’s never the point of making one. It serves as an accurate snapshot of an artist coming into his own and scripting a prologue to bigger things to come. You hear what’s next all over this record and the things I’d leave behind. Happy to share it in a find physical manifestation all these years later. A lot can change in a decade.

-Prem

"Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace." is a philosophical exploration into the essence of community, spirituality, and transformation. This 15-track collaboration between producer Real Bad Man and Memphis rapper Lukah meditates on themes of unity, leadership, sacrifice, and renewal. With contributions from billy woods (Armand Hammer), Adrian Utley (Portishead), and Shabaka Hutchings, this album ascends through personal and spiritual achievements, delves into the duality of knowledge, the unseen forces, and the cyclical nature of life and death. The album reflects on growth, resilience, duty, ancestral wisdom, and the healing power of words, culminating in a celebration of inner peace and communal harmony. With a backbone of musically ambitious beats and soul-baring verses, this album carves its mark as the year's most enthralling listen.

After her debut album “ouch” on 10K in late 2022, the Brooklyn native returns with her most polished work to date and presents her latest project titled “Wooden Floors”. Inspired among other things by a scene in the 80's movie "Risky Business"; she treats each song as a journal entry where she depicts her life in New York and touches on various subjects like love, family, personal achievements, morals and future goals. Delivering an array of multiple fl ows and emotions on groovy beats; she stands out from other mcs with her sweet voice tone, raw style and poignant lyrics.

Prepare to embark on a sonic odyssey as Crimeapple and Preservation unveil the inaugural chapter of their groundbreaking trilogy with "EL León”. The album's title, a nod to the undisputed king of the jungle, serves as a metaphorical beacon for the unyielding hunger that the lyrical predator has always shown. On this audio hunting expedition, Crimeapple, the lyrical monarch, roars with an intensity that mirrors the lion's ferocity over a wild musical tapestry provided by Preservation, with each track being a testament to the insatiable appetite and predatory instincts needed to navigate the wilderness of today’s music industry, a game that both artists have never bowed down to but always dominated from the outside in. Crimeapple has always proven to be a leader of the pride, with the non-stop grind he’s been putting into his Manteca imprint and with legendary collaborations with producers such as DJ Muggs and DJ Skizz carving his name as one of the prominent stars in the game today. On the production side, Preservation’s musical journey, whether with long-time collaborator Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def), or as one half of Dr. Yen Lo with Brooklyn emcee Ka, or through legendary collaborations with the likes of billy woods, MF Doom, Roc Marci, RZA, Sean Price, Raekwon and countless others, have made him an iconic name in musical alchemy. As the trilogy begins, "EL León" stands as the beginning of a new hunting season for the two, where Crimeapple and Preservation are sure to transcend boundaries and reign supreme.

The one thing we know about DA Buze Bruvaz is they never stop workin...no rest and no days off..Always cookin up something new for your ears..They have now returned with their next project “trigga Twinz” completely produced by the supreme duo themselves..The multi-talented tag team champions once again prove why they are levels above the rest..Clever One (homasidal Hitz) and HIM LO (airmaxwell Trax) return to cause mass murda on sinister beats..Pour yourself a shot of cognac, twist up and get nice while you experience fly talk from the top shelf, drunken street crime blowing ya mind rhyme sayers..CHEERS. This will be available on limited edition vinyl and cd.

The one thing we know about DA Buze Bruvaz is they never stop workin...no rest and no days off..Always cookin up something new for your ears..They have now returned with their next project “trigga Twinz” completely produced by the supreme duo themselves..The multi-talented tag team champions once again prove why they are levels above the rest..Clever One (homasidal Hitz) and HIM LO (airmaxwell Trax) return to cause mass murda on sinister beats..Pour yourself a shot of cognac, twist up and get nice while you experience fly talk from the top shelf, drunken street crime blowing ya mind rhyme sayers..CHEERS. This will be available on limited edition vinyl and cd.

Beautiful Raw is the 4th release from Chicago duo Qwel & Maker, whose releases and worldwide touring raised them as the bar against which all raw complex underground hip hop is to be measured.

This album is a testimony to the hard work and thoughtful care that the two put into all of their music. Each carefully crafted track could stand alone as a highlight, claiming rightful shine as the lead single, yet the album as a whole complete work is a single seamless journey. The tale of the humble plant, once sewn deep beneath the concrete of the inner city slums, that against all odds has grown up through the concrete toward the light. Proof of hope is the recurrent theme and grimy raw is the soundscape.

“They said it couldn't be done, this one’s for provin’ ’em wrong, seems only suitable it’s beautiful raw. Planted the seed beneath the street but it was rooted too strong, grew to the sun and called it beautiful raw.”

In an unexpected and rare turn for the team, Qwel and Maker commissioned a little help on this album, pulling collaborative magic from fellow veterans such as The Grouch (Living Legends), Qwel’s fellow Typical Cat Qwazaar, Swamburger (Soliloquists Of Sound), Wes Restless, Scud One, D-Styles & more. The guest lyricists all help air out the record from Qwel’s dense spitfire lyrics.

Love, life, regret, money, drugs, joy, sorrow, lies, truth… but most of all hope, is what this album is about.

Prepare to embark on a sonic odyssey as Crimeapple and Preservation unveil the inaugural chapter of their groundbreaking trilogy with "EL León”. The album's title, a nod to the undisputed king of the jungle, serves as a metaphorical beacon for the unyielding hunger that the lyrical predator has always shown. On this audio hunting expedition, Crimeapple, the lyrical monarch, roars with an intensity that mirrors the lion's ferocity over a wild musical tapestry provided by Preservation, with each track being a testament to the insatiable appetite and predatory instincts needed to navigate the wilderness of today’s music industry, a game that both artists have never bowed down to but always dominated from the outside in. Crimeapple has always proven to be a leader of the pride, with the non-stop grind he’s been putting into his Manteca imprint and with legendary collaborations with producers such as DJ Muggs and DJ Skizz carving his name as one of the prominent stars in the game today. On the production side, Preservation’s musical journey, whether with long-time collaborator Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def), or as one half of Dr. Yen Lo with Brooklyn emcee Ka, or through legendary collaborations with the likes of billy woods, MF Doom, Roc Marci, RZA, Sean Price, Raekwon and countless others, have made him an iconic name in musical alchemy. As the trilogy begins, "EL León" stands as the beginning of a new hunting season for the two, where Crimeapple and Preservation are sure to transcend boundaries and reign supreme.

Prepare to embark on a sonic odyssey as Crimeapple and Preservation unveil the inaugural chapter of their groundbreaking trilogy with "EL León”. The album's title, a nod to the undisputed king of the jungle, serves as a metaphorical beacon for the unyielding hunger that the lyrical predator has always shown. On this audio hunting expedition, Crimeapple, the lyrical monarch, roars with an intensity that mirrors the lion's ferocity over a wild musical tapestry provided by Preservation, with each track being a testament to the insatiable appetite and predatory instincts needed to navigate the wilderness of today’s music industry, a game that both artists have never bowed down to but always dominated from the outside in. Crimeapple has always proven to be a leader of the pride, with the non-stop grind he’s been putting into his Manteca imprint and with legendary collaborations with producers such as DJ Muggs and DJ Skizz carving his name as one of the prominent stars in the game today. On the production side, Preservation’s musical journey, whether with long-time collaborator Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def), or as one half of Dr. Yen Lo with Brooklyn emcee Ka, or through legendary collaborations with the likes of billy woods, MF Doom, Roc Marci, RZA, Sean Price, Raekwon and countless others, have made him an iconic name in musical alchemy. As the trilogy begins, "EL León" stands as the beginning of a new hunting season for the two, where Crimeapple and Preservation are sure to transcend boundaries and reign supreme.

London-based label, Def Presse are very pleased to announce their partnership with legendary Library Music label KPM. Def Presse Editions/KPM Crate Diggers are works built around samples from KPM releases. As part of the series - Blockhead presents his new album, Luminous Rubble, where the artist dives deep into KPM’s iconic music and sound design library. Blockhead has released 15 albums over the past 15 years and is regarded as one of the modern masters of instrumental hip-hop. It’s a producer’s dream: Being given access to a vast library of material to construct something completely new and exciting out of all of it and when Blockhead’s at the controls, the results are a listener’s paradise, too. The New York City-based hip-hop production legend’s Luminous Rubble is the latest missive in a particularly busy period for the underground hip-hop veteran, who’s spent the last decades lending his considerable talents to work from artists like Armand Hammer, billy woods, Murs, and Open Mike Eagle; in 2021, he released the critically acclaimed collab LP Garbology with rap legend and longtime collaborator Aesop Rock, just last year he unleashed his twelfth solo album, The Aux. “For me, as a producer who uses samples, there’s nothing better than free rein. That was so exciting for me. Their vault is the one I’m most familiar with,” he says with a laugh. “Back when I used to go record shopping a lot, I would pretty much buy any KPM record on sight. They were always a huge find at record stores. So to be able to tap into these records with no limitations was really nice. Having no boundaries can be overwhelming when it comes to the creative process. Working with these samples forced me to find middle ground in cases where I’d typically just walk away and look elsewhere.” After hearing Luminous Rubble, you’ll be happy he stuck around.

Limited to 200 copies.

It’s a producer’s dream: Being given access to a vast library of material to construct something completely new and exciting out of all of it—and when Blockhead’s at the controls, the results are a listener’s paradise, too. The New York City-based hip-hop production legend’s latest album, Luminous Rubble, is also the fifth release in the London-based label Def Pressé’s KPM Crate Diggers series, which hands the keys to the KPM Library’s storied collection—home to over 70 years of music and sound designs made for television, film, and radio—to some of the best behind the boards. The results are like witnessing a kid unleashed in a candy shop, as Blockhead unleashes his boundless creative mind on the KPM Library’s limitless potential—pure inspiration and joy, for your listening pleasure.

Luminous Rubble is the latest missive in a particularly busy period for underground hip-hop veteran Tony Simon, who’s spent the last decades lending his considerable talents to work from artists like Armand Hammer, billy woods, Murs, and Open Mike Eagle; in 2021, he released the critically acclaimed collab LP Garbology with rap legend and longtime collaborator Aesop Rock, just last year he unleashed his twelfth solo album, The Aux. Luminous Rubble had its origins in a chance meeting after a Hamburg show between Simon and a KPM rep, who explained the Crate Diggers conceit to him.

“For me, as a producer who uses samples, there’s nothing better than free rein,” Simon recalls. “I was like, ‘Are there any rules?’ And he said, ‘Just make whatever you want.’ That was so exciting for me. I don’t get that on my own releases, but in this case every sample is cleared and it’s all good.”

As is the case with many sample excavators, Simon already had a deep history with what the KPM library had to offer him as well—to the point where, while digging through the crates in the making of Luminous Rubble, he even came across records he’d sampled from in the past. “Their vault is the one I’m most familiar with,” he says with a laugh. “Back when I used to go record shopping a lot, I would pretty much buy any KPM record on sight. They were always a huge find at record stores. So to be able to tap into these records with no limitations was really nice.”

“The challenge for me was trying to boil down what I wanted to do,” Simon continues while discussing the genesis of Luminous Rubble, which came together over the course of 2022. “I thought about making an album of super-long songs, but it would’ve been a whole different undertaking. So I just went with what I knew, because it’s a foolproof approach to me.” Of course, Simon’s track record as Blockhead meant that the familiar path was tried and true—but as Luminous Rubble’s ten tracks prove, it’s foolish to assume that would mean any laurel-resting on his part.

“My music is always very quirky and melody-driven,” Simon states while talking about how he stretched his creative wings in the studio. “I took chances more than usual when it came to samples and how I used them for foundation.” Indeed, Luminous Rubble finds Simon using the KPM library’s vastness to craft new and engagingly twisted beat-driven shapes; “Dork Crystal” radiates a sinister ominousness, with streaks of strings rubbing against stabbing guitar chords, while a delightfully scuzzy horn line dances around a hi-hat shuffle in “Scumlord.” “There’s something dirty about the horn sample,” Simon explains while discussing the track’s title. “It reminds you of oil-slicked streets in an alley. I wanted to embrace that feeling.”

Glittering bells and a woozy gait to “Serious About My Fitness” makes the tune sound as if you’re sweating it out on the Stairmaster (in a good way), while there’s a distinct thousand-karat shine to “Oh You Fancy,” which nearly resembles a glitzed-out haunted house in its gilded spookiness. “It just sounds like royalty,” Simon exclaims, before going into greater detail about how the creative parameters of the Crate Diggers series proved its own inspiration.

“I’ve always appreciated working within limitations,” he says. “Having no boundaries can be overwhelming when it comes to the creative process. Working with these samples forced me to find middle ground in cases where I’d typically just walk away and look elsewhere.” After hearing Luminous Rubble, you’ll be happy he stuck around.

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.

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.

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.

Primarily an instrumental album, Jeff Markey’s Sports & Leisure project also features artists billy woods, PremRock, Fatboi Sharif, Defcee, Skech185, Googie and Shape. Now available on vinyl for the first time, Markey has added some very special bells and whistles: Instrumentals for every rap song on the album (Physically) unreleased Armand Hammer collaborations: Armand Hammer “Native Sun” (Half Measures) “Black Ark” instrumental (Race Music) “Halloween Fell on a Weekend” instrumental (wht Lbl) “Western Education is Forbidden” instrumental (Terror Management) Markey is a longtime Backwoodz collaborator, but while his contributions have always been memorable, they have also been few and far between. The credits tell the tale: There he is producing the very first track - “Native Sun” - on Half Measures, the very first Armand Hammer mixtape (2013). That same year he did “Black Ark” on the duos debut LP, Race Music and then doesn’t pop again on anything Backwoodz related until 2019 when he co-produced billy woods first single for Terror Management, “Western Education is Forbidden” featuring Fielded. In 2022, Markey and Fielded made it 2-for-2 with the slinkily fun “Halloween Fell On A Weekend,” a track on Armand Hammer’s vinyl-exclusive WHT LBL.

While he has put out a few other projects over the years and has an equally long history with Reservoir Sound, the arts collective founded by producer A.M. Breakups, Markey spent most of the past decade on the periphery of the NYC indie scene, as likely to drop heat as he was to disappear for years at a time. Sports & Leisure represents the beginnings of a new era for the Akron, Ohio-born producer who moved to New York City in 2004. The pandemic gave him the time and mental space to re-dedicate himself to music and this project figures to be the tip of the iceberg.

“I wanted to make beats that were rugged yet had really warm textures. Previously, I had been making such complicated and left-field sounding shit that I wanted to make something closer to normal rap beats,” Markey says. “I wanted to make shit that was special because good choices were made within an already existing framework rather than completely changing the framework”

This is the first-ever official physical release of any of Wiz Khalifa's iconic Cabin Fever mixtapes! The box set features red foil text treatment on the outside packaging, and all three mixtapes pressed on red vinyl. With 34 tracks, the complete trilogy includes fan favorites like "Taylor Gang" ft. Chevy Woods, "M.I.A." ft. Juicy J, "Gangbang" ft. Big Sean, "No Worries" ft. Chevy Woods, and many more.

Limited to 300 Hand-Numbered Copies Pressed on White, Black and Red Splatter Vinyl OT The Real & araabMuzikís new collaborative album Zombie is now available as a limited edition vinyl release. The 12-track project, released through Black Soprano Family records, was executive produced by Benny The Butcher and features appearances by several Black Soprano Family members. The BSF boss has been a fan of the Philadelphia based rapper since they met while recording “Coke & Guns” (off the album Broken Glass) and when he had the chance to put together a full project with OT and the MVP of the MPC, Benny seized the opportunity, bringing both OT and araabMIUZIK out to the BSF studio in Buffalo to record what would ultimately become “The Crown,” the first single off of Zombie featuring Benny The Butcher & ElCamino. The guest appearances on Zombie were carefully curated, purposefully tapping artists that hadn’t yet collaborated with OT (outside of Benny) and araab- Muzik in order to deliver something new to fans, including 38 Spesh, Conway The Machine, ElCamino, Rome Streetz, Lihtz and Amir Ali.

Ol’ Burger Beats’s new opus, 74: Out of Time, is a multifaceted and stunning exploration of sounds and eras. In addition to every track being produced at 74 beats per minute, the album harks back to the year 1974; particularly the music, the records, the activism, the artwork, and the aesthetics. But it’s also incredibly current, as the Out of Time portion of the title very much refers to the present. It promotes a sense of urgency in the face of current affairs such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, as well as contentious politics sweeping across the US and Europe. Beyond those deeply resonating elements to the record, 74: Out of Time is a truly gorgeous representation of hip-hop through the lens of the Norwegian composer, which is undoubtedly his most ambitious undertaking to date. Using 74bpm as his basis, he constructs sublime, jazzy instrumentals that feature some of hiphop’s finest emcees and vocalists. And to say they all gel perfectly together is an understatement—and it would be underselling OBB’s meticulous approach here. Each song blends seamlessly from one to the next spread across the album’s 17 tracks, with the help from a standout supporting cast that includes Fly Anakin, Awon, Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, Yungmorpheus, Lojii, billy woods, Tha God Fahim, Vic Spencer and Vuyo, among several others.

Ol’ Burger Beats’s new opus, 74: Out of Time, is a multifaceted and stunning exploration of sounds and eras. In addition to every track being produced at 74 beats per minute, the album harks back to the year 1974; particularly the music, the records, the activism, the artwork, and the aesthetics. But it’s also incredibly current, as the Out of Time portion of the title very much refers to the present. It promotes a sense of urgency in the face of current affairs such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, as well as contentious politics sweeping across the US and Europe. Beyond those deeply resonating elements to the record, 74: Out of Time is a truly gorgeous representation of hip-hop through the lens of the Norwegian composer, which is undoubtedly his most ambitious undertaking to date. Using 74bpm as his basis, he constructs sublime, jazzy instrumentals that feature some of hiphop’s finest emcees and vocalists. And to say they all gel perfectly together is an understatement—and it would be underselling OBB’s meticulous approach here. Each song blends seamlessly from one to the next spread across the album’s 17 tracks, with the help from a standout supporting cast that includes Fly Anakin, Awon, Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, Yungmorpheus, Lojii, billy woods, Tha God Fahim, Vic Spencer and Vuyo, among several others.

Mista Sinista officially started DJing in 1986 and joined the X-Men in 1992. They later became the X-ecutioners and released two albums. Mista Sinista toured the world several times with the X-ecutioners and was a tour DJ for Common, Beatnuts, Joe Fatal and Lauryn Hill just to name a few. Some of his album credits include The Beatnuts Street Level LP and Common’s Resurrection LP. His work was also highlighted on Fat Joe’s sophomore release, Jealous One’s Envy. He continues to perform worldwide and is featured on The Rewind with DJ Safire which airs weekly on Beatminerz Radio. Mista Sinista’s debut LP is a mix of well-produced tracks along with live turntablism. The project features emcees Mr. VooDoo, Ill Bill, Vinnie Paz, The One Chadio, U.G. & The former MC Jean Grae to name a few. This album also features Rugged One, Q-Bert, The Cut Lieutenant, Ace & Rob Swift. Production credits on the project include Mista Sinista, Steve Dee, Nick Wiz, Statick, Eitan Noyze, Cee da Cuban & DJ Safire.

Ol’ Burger Beats’s new opus, 74: Out of Time, is a multifaceted and stunning exploration of sounds and eras. In addition to every track being produced at 74 beats per minute, the album harks back to the year 1974; particularly the music, the records, the activism, the artwork, and the aesthetics. But it’s also incredibly current, as the Out of Time portion of the title very much refers to the present. It promotes a sense of urgency in the face of current affairs such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, as well as contentious politics sweeping across the US and Europe. Beyond those deeply resonating elements to the record, 74: Out of Time is a truly gorgeous representation of hip-hop through the lens of the Norwegian composer, which is undoubtedly his most ambitious undertaking to date. Using 74bpm as his basis, he constructs sublime, jazzy instrumentals that feature some of hiphop’s finest emcees and vocalists. And to say they all gel perfectly together is an understatement—and it would be underselling OBB’s meticulous approach here. Each song blends seamlessly from one to the next spread across the album’s 17 tracks, with the help from a standout supporting cast that includes Fly Anakin, Awon, Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, Yungmorpheus, Lojii, billy woods, Tha God Fahim, Vic Spencer and Vuyo, among several others.

After a three year hiatus, the rap trident known as Death At The Derby is back with another full LP, this time entirely produced by Toronto based producer Finn. An 11 track project, “Capitano” is themed behind some of the games most respected & legendary captains to rock the honorary armband.

Inspired by their previous 2020 release “Ballon D’Or”, this latest LP is both the first official drop, yet second installment to their newest series entitled Club & Country. With the third & final season of their celebrates derby series around the way, this record is the next phase in their wave of worldwide work.

Cuts provided by their resident DJ, DJ Dubplates, the project is both a rare & raw blend of potent underground production, cultured sound bites, top flight lyricism & love for the beautiful game. Whether El Salvador, Romania, North Ireland or Argentina, the roster is monster. Centered around a tracklist aligned by the player’s actual jersey numbers, this collection of stars shine bright as any constellation.

Richmond Hill, the highly anticipated follow up to Masta Ace and Marco Polo's Breukelen Story, is inspired by Marco's childhood in the titular neighborhood, a small town in Ontario, just outside of Toronto. Between interstitials about Marco's passion for hip-hop and cartoons, his struggle with addiction, and the support of his parents, Marco Polo and Masta Ace tackle the issues of the day head-on with clarity, the rapper using his decades-worth of rapping experience to slice through the producer's warm soul samples and crisp percussion. A cinematic journey that explores how the past echoes through the present, the album welcomes guest appearances from notable names from all eras of rap history, including Inspectah Deck, Coast Contra, Blu, Che Noir, Speech of Arrested Development, Masta Ace's longtime collaborators Stricklin and Wordsworth, and many more.

Richmond Hill, the highly anticipated follow up to Masta Ace and Marco Polo's Breukelen Story, is inspired by Marco's childhood in the titular neighborhood, a small town in Ontario, just outside of Toronto. Between interstitials about Marco's passion for hip-hop and cartoons, his struggle with addiction, and the support of his parents, Marco Polo and Masta Ace tackle the issues of the day head-on with clarity, the rapper using his decades-worth of rapping experience to slice through the producer's warm soul samples and crisp percussion. A cinematic journey that explores how the past echoes through the present, the album welcomes guest appearances from notable names from all eras of rap history, including Inspectah Deck, Coast Contra, Blu, Che Noir, Speech of Arrested Development, Masta Ace's longtime collaborators Stricklin and Wordsworth, and many more.

Los Angeles wordsmith Pawz One teams up with German producer DJ Dister on the collaborative album "Watch & Learn" via Below System Records.
"Watch & Learn" captures scenarios of street life, hustling and paranoia all painted over well-crafted production. Pawz One has come off a string of recent releases that have sharpened his song writing ability while Dister has produced various projects expanding his diverse sound.
For Pawz One "Watch & Learn" has given him a chance to speak on topics that were close to heart having lost friends and family to the streets and prison as well as serving time himself. DJ Dister showcases a wide range of production that combines a classic sound with progressive elements.
The first single "World Champion" moves listeners with the energetic track fused with a dash of reggae and Pawz's combination of punchlines and wordplay. On the follow up single "Out Here", Pawz One and Guilty Simpson lay out the often ignored rules of the streets over a sinister soundtrack. "No Contest" is the last single pitting Akrobatik and Pawz One against all challengers. Next to Guilty Simpson and Akrobatik, other guest appearances by Napoleon Da Legend and Space Honey.
"Watch & Learn" provides a blend of vivid storytelling and melodic beats giving audiences of Hip-Hop something to add to of their collections.

The long awaited second installment, “Integrity 2”, from Oxnard native Body Bag Ben and Rochester's finest Eto, has arrived!! After first connecting in 2018 for the “Integrity” EP, the two joined forces again in 2023 for “Integrity 2”. The duo showcases that vintage hardcore Hip-Hop sound with relentless rhymes over masterful production. “Integrity 2” is a boom bap masterclass for listeners who want to hear a lyrical killing spree over neck breaking beats! “We kept the format the same, It’s still Ben & Eto but we elevated it”, Ben explains, as he pays homage to the late great Guru (Gangstarr). For those who have been following the two over the years “Integrity 2” is exactly what you would expect out of the deadly combination as they make this a statement piece to the culture.