Search "re:st" 417 Items

When Crimeapple and Big Ghost Ltd fi rst linked up on their "Aguardiente" collaboration in 2016, the two came to shake the game up. The iconic Antioqueño bottle left a mark in underground hip-hop that still stands strong to this day, and to follow up they cooked up the deadliest material to do that once again with "Bazuko". Named after the deadliest and most addictive street drug in Colombia, basuco, the album embodies the raw, uncut and un fi ltered essence of their artistic process, much like the gritty remnants of cocaine paste. Crimeapple's razor-sharp lyricism cuts through Big Ghost Ltd's masterful, hard-hitting beats, creating a visceral, addictive and immersive soundscape. With "Bazuko," the two aren't just following up on "Aguardiente"; they're raising the stakes, delivering a project that is as potent and unforgettable as its namesake.

Includes 60 x 60 cm poster of the album artwork! The poster is only available at HHV!

When Leon Michels and El Michels Affair released their rst record, Sounding Out The City, in 2005, it was hard to guess what was next for Michels and his then-introduced, now-patented "cinematic soul" sound. Now, four EMA studio albums and scores of tribute and remix projects later - all while producing for some of the biggest names in the industry - Michels has trademarked his sound, with each project taking audiences somewhere new and pushing the boundaries of what he is known for. The man is a river, not a lake and this time he takes his golden touch into the realm of hip-hop laying down a musical bed for one of the greatest to ever rhyme into a microphone: Black Thought of The Roots crew. Releasing on Big Crown Records, the LP is called Glorious Game and it is a remarkable debut partnership in more ways than one. Michels provides his bottom-heavy, soul-tinged production for Black Thought who gives us some of the more personal and transparent verses we've ever heard from him. Michels and Black Thought have been in each other's orbit for a while now. The two first met in the 2000s when Thought was first getting familiar with the contemporary soul scene. "Out of that whole world, Menahan Street Band was probably my favorite," recalling the funk and soul group Michels was a founding member of back in 2007. Fast forward a few years and musicians from that collective - Dave Guy on trumpet and Ian Hendrickson-Smith on sax - are now full time players with The Roots. This connection eventually led Leon and Thought to doing a few fundraising events around NYC and Philly together. "Before long, Black Thought was coming around the studio and would jam with us from time to time," Michels explains. "Then, fast forward to 2020 and Covid lockdowns, he just hit me up out of the blue, wanting me to send him stuff to write to. We both were looking to stay busy." Being that Black Thought is the co-founder and emcee for, hands down, the best live-band group in hip-hop. Michels took a decidedly different approach to this project and instead of sending recorded tracks of live compositions, he pulled out the sampler and sampled himself and some records from his collection. "I'm a big fan of soul music," as if Michels has to remind us. "And part of hip-hop's appeal to me has always been the sample-based production" For Glorious Game, Michels would make wholly composed and recorded soul songs in his studio, sample himself, then chop and/or loop up his sounds and create instrumentals for Black Thought. On some tracks he took a more traditional hip-hop approach, starting from samples of other people's music but then adding live instrumentation on top. But for the most part, it's him reinterpreting his own compositions into something new. The result is an organic feel of loop-based tracks that breathe and uctuate enough for Black Thought to ex on. "What I write about is determined by the equation of the producer's energy and my energy," Black Thought says. "It's about where we meet." So armed with Michels sampled and re-sampled soul cinematics, Black Thought rhymes through personal memories.

Tha God Fahim and Camoflauge Monk have done quite some work together in the previous here, their projects such as “Iron Monkey” and “Blvk Pearl” 1 and 2 have reached cult status within the new underground rap renaissance. After a few years, they’re back on the grind together on this new EP “Dark Shogunn Assassin”. Featuring guest appearance by Estee Nack and killer artwork direction by Squatdeadface and Lord NMF, the 3 bangers are available on a limited edition of 350 copies.

Following their 2021 collaboration on “To Kill A Sunrise”, Brooklyn native Kota The Friend runites with iconic Boston producer Statik Selektah, now also a full time BK resident, on the follow-up “To See A Sunset”. The two have crafted yet another classic album, picking up where they left off with some fresh and soulful boom bap anthems, continuing with the always inspiring theme of turning your dream into a reality and the realisation that you’re living your best life!

Limited edition of 100 copies on cassette. Only 1 per customer!

In the midst of North Carolina's Tobacco Road and ACC basketball flowed an eloquent and bizarre Hip Hop juggernaut known as Yaggfu Front. The genuinely warped minds of D'ranged & Damaged, Jingle Bel and Spin 4th fused to form this acronym, a simple edict declaring "You're Gonna Get Fucked Up If You Front".

The 1993 debut album "Action Packed Adventure!" runs deep in lyrics and thick in production. Some of the lyrics are well within the ballpark of MC comprehension, while some transcend left field for the parking lot and on out to the f*#@ing highway. Beat fiends will incredulously shake their heads as the production crackles like that of crate PHD's Diamond and Pete Rock.

Available in a limited run on 2LP+7", CD in jewel case, cassette and digitally on all major platforms.

Limited to 100 copies. Underground hip-hop legends Spectac & Amiri are back with their latest offering, "Beautiful Soul", set for release through Ill Adrenaline Records. Known for their signature jazzy, soulful soundscapes and introspective lyricism, this album builds on the success of their critically acclaimed project Soul Beautiful. Once again, Amiri's soulful production lays the foundation for Spectac's sharp, reflective rhymes, proving the duo's chemistry is as potent as ever.

Amiri has long been praised for his ability to blend golden-era vibes with modern production techniques, crafting beats that seamlessly combine jazz, soul, and boom bap. Over the years, his work has earned a respected place in the underground scene, producing for a wide array of artists while staying true to his unique sound.

On the mic, Spectac is a seasoned emcee from South Carolina with roots in North Carolina, known for his witty wordplay and freestyle prowess. With a career spanning over a decade, his lyricism often explores personal experiences and societal issues, making his verses both relatable and thought-provoking. Together, the duo has earned the respect of underground hip-hop heads globally, delivering consistently high-quality music that blends nostalgia with fresh creativity.

Having worked with the likes of 9th Wonder, Big Daddy Kane, and A Tribe Called Quest, Spectac & Amiri are most definitely veterans in the game. Their releases have always been rooted in the spirit of true-school hip-hop, which has enabled them to maintain their underground presence for decades.

The lead single from Beautiful Soul, titled "Yeah Y’all", features their long-time friend and collaborator DJ Shakim, who adds his signature blend of scratches and cuts over Amiri’s dreamy instrumental. Spectac's effortless flow shines with lines like, "…me and Amiri not the greatest but close enough, a stone throws away from a J-Dilla donut…"

With tracks like "When We Do It", "Sermons for Bentleys", "Got a Feeling", and "Wake Up!", the duo dives into themes ranging from reflections on their personal journeys to commentary on the political and social challenges they've witnessed throughout their careers. As always, the album serves a balanced mix of lyrical depth and soulful vibes, offering something for both new listeners and longtime fans.

For those familiar with Spectac & Amiri, Beautiful Soul is a return to form, delivering the kind of lush, thoughtful hip-hop that's become their trademark. And for newcomers? Consider this your backstage pass to one of the best-kept secrets in the underground. Get ready, because once you hit play, you're not just listening — you’re vibing with legends.

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

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

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

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

Underground hip-hop legends Spectac & Amiri are back with their latest offering, "Beautiful Soul", set for release through Ill Adrenaline Records. Known for their signature jazzy, soulful soundscapes and introspective lyricism, this album builds on the success of their critically acclaimed project Soul Beautiful. Once again, Amiri's soulful production lays the foundation for Spectac's sharp, reflective rhymes, proving the duo's chemistry is as potent as ever.

Amiri has long been praised for his ability to blend golden-era vibes with modern production techniques, crafting beats that seamlessly combine jazz, soul, and boom bap. Over the years, his work has earned a respected place in the underground scene, producing for a wide array of artists while staying true to his unique sound.

On the mic, Spectac is a seasoned emcee from South Carolina with roots in North Carolina, known for his witty wordplay and freestyle prowess. With a career spanning over a decade, his lyricism often explores personal experiences and societal issues, making his verses both relatable and thought-provoking. Together, the duo has earned the respect of underground hip-hop heads globally, delivering consistently high-quality music that blends nostalgia with fresh creativity.

Having worked with the likes of 9th Wonder, Big Daddy Kane, and A Tribe Called Quest, Spectac & Amiri are most definitely veterans in the game. Their releases have always been rooted in the spirit of true-school hip-hop, which has enabled them to maintain their underground presence for decades.

The lead single from Beautiful Soul, titled "Yeah Y’all", features their long-time friend and collaborator DJ Shakim, who adds his signature blend of scratches and cuts over Amiri’s dreamy instrumental. Spectac's effortless flow shines with lines like, "…me and Amiri not the greatest but close enough, a stone throws away from a J-Dilla donut…"

With tracks like "When We Do It", "Sermons for Bentleys", "Got a Feeling", and "Wake Up!", the duo dives into themes ranging from reflections on their personal journeys to commentary on the political and social challenges they've witnessed throughout their careers. As always, the album serves a balanced mix of lyrical depth and soulful vibes, offering something for both new listeners and longtime fans.

For those familiar with Spectac & Amiri, Beautiful Soul is a return to form, delivering the kind of lush, thoughtful hip-hop that's become their trademark. And for newcomers? Consider this your backstage pass to one of the best-kept secrets in the underground. Get ready, because once you hit play, you're not just listening — you’re vibing with legends.

Sean Price (R.I.P!) teamed up with Small Professor for their 10-track project, ‘86 Witness.’ The album features Rock of Heltah Skeltah, scratches by DJ Revolution, Guilty Simpson, Your Old Droog, Reef the Lost Cauze & more. The CD also features a bonus Sean Price EP; a re-issue of his
project, Land of the Crooks, entirely produced by M-Phazes

Rashad & Confidence, two longtime students of the game, released their critically acclaimed debut album "The Element of Surprise" back in 2011. Eight years later, this classic and much sought after underground gem finally gets officially re-issued for the very first time and in very limited quantities.
The MC/producer duo, hailing from Brooklyn and Philly, merged to create a record with a timeless sound reminiscent of hip-hop's golden era but with a fresh, updated feel. With no guest appearances or other producers involved, Rashad & Confidence embody the sound real hip-hop heads yearn to hear, going back to the times of Gang Starr and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.
The soulful hitting and sample-based boom bap beats courtesy of Confidence capture the pure essence of classic hip-hop production while Rashad's deep and conscious lyrics slice through each track with topics ranging from various life issues to relationships or just raw lyrical display.
Push the play button and get taken back to a time when hip-hop only produced classic albums.

Digitally remastered for the 1st time, overseen by the band! CD version includes bonus disc with b-sides & rarities!

"And here we are – the end of another year of Herring fillets. To celebrate we have an EP of 6 unreleased joints from IBM Nation member Mac G outta Philadelphia. Hardcore collectors will know IBM Nation from their 1990 grail the Brainiac EP which dropped on small indie label Inner City Recs back in the deezy. Unfortunately Mac G had a couple of his crazy nice solo demo tapes stolen from his studio by a shady acquaintance. Those tapes appeared on Ebay shortly afterwards and sold for crazy loot [2k+]. We’re hoping that one day the new owner of those 1992 – 1994 demo tapes will hit us up to share them with the fans, on a limited vinyl Herring release. But what we do have here are his extra dope unreleased mid 90’s demos. Peep the snippets and we’ll be back 1st week of January with the final vinyl release of the Dec/Jan Cycle as well as 4 new CD releases. Props for supporting the Herring in 2019 – we have some sureshots already lined up for 2020, the 20th year of the Herring!!!" - Chopped Herring

"Be not afraid! Whether you’re simply sightseeing, enjoying temporary flights of fancy or considering a more permanent relocation, the all-new Spirit World Field Guide offers twenty-one insightful chapters of firsthand know-how into the terrain, wildlife, and social customs of our parallel universe. The narrator’s vast expertise of multiple global entry points and various modes of inter-dimensional transport informs a rich tapestry of tips, tricks and tools to unfailingly aid in your ultimate survival. If you are among the countless individuals who find themselves feeling both dead and alive at the same time, the information contained within may serve as an invaluable asset to your journey. Godspeed and good luck."

Those are the words of the album’s narrator -- an attempt to prepare listeners, both old and new, for a safe entry into the Spirit World.

It’s been a long road for Aesop Rock to get here, releasing a steady stream of impressive albums, singles, and collaborative projects that have continued to invigorate, solidify and grow his diverse fan base, but he shows no signs of slowing down or deviating from his path, constantly pushing his creative limits. Last year saw the release of Malibu Ken, a joint effort featuring the psychedelic and trippy sounds of producer Tobacco, providing a different type of intrigue for Aesop's descriptive, compelling, and often humorous, writing. Then, he kicked 2020 off with a hard-driving single, "Rogue Wave", followed not long after by Freedom Finger, which found Aesop immersing himself in the video game world that the music was written and produced for. And this year still has a few exciting releases on the horizon yet, a 20-year anniversary vinyl release of his debut album, Float, and now his brand new album, Spirit World Field Guide.

Since his debut in the late nineties, Aesop Rock’s writing has been of the highest caliber, but one thing that has continually evolved is his near-flawless and diverse flow, now perfectly infused with his personality and a gift for visual imagery. On Spirit World Field Guide, characters, inanimate objects, and their surrounding environments vividly come to life as Aesop describes each passing moment throughout the album’s twenty-one chapters. Welcome to the Spirit World. Explore with intention.

Includes 60 x 60 cm poster of the album artwork! The poster is only available at HHV!

When Leon Michels and El Michels Affair released their rst record, Sounding Out The City, in 2005, it was hard to guess what was next for Michels and his then-introduced, now-patented "cinematic soul" sound. Now, four EMA studio albums and scores of tribute and remix projects later - all while producing for some of the biggest names in the industry - Michels has trademarked his sound, with each project taking audiences somewhere new and pushing the boundaries of what he is known for. The man is a river, not a lake and this time he takes his golden touch into the realm of hip-hop laying down a musical bed for one of the greatest to ever rhyme into a microphone: Black Thought of The Roots crew. Releasing on Big Crown Records, the LP is called Glorious Game and it is a remarkable debut partnership in more ways than one. Michels provides his bottom-heavy, soul-tinged production for Black Thought who gives us some of the more personal and transparent verses we've ever heard from him. Michels and Black Thought have been in each other's orbit for a while now. The two first met in the 2000s when Thought was first getting familiar with the contemporary soul scene. "Out of that whole world, Menahan Street Band was probably my favorite," recalling the funk and soul group Michels was a founding member of back in 2007. Fast forward a few years and musicians from that collective - Dave Guy on trumpet and Ian Hendrickson-Smith on sax - are now full time players with The Roots. This connection eventually led Leon and Thought to doing a few fundraising events around NYC and Philly together. "Before long, Black Thought was coming around the studio and would jam with us from time to time," Michels explains. "Then, fast forward to 2020 and Covid lockdowns, he just hit me up out of the blue, wanting me to send him stuff to write to. We both were looking to stay busy." Being that Black Thought is the co-founder and emcee for, hands down, the best live-band group in hip-hop. Michels took a decidedly different approach to this project and instead of sending recorded tracks of live compositions, he pulled out the sampler and sampled himself and some records from his collection. "I'm a big fan of soul music," as if Michels has to remind us. "And part of hip-hop's appeal to me has always been the sample-based production" For Glorious Game, Michels would make wholly composed and recorded soul songs in his studio, sample himself, then chop and/or loop up his sounds and create instrumentals for Black Thought. On some tracks he took a more traditional hip-hop approach, starting from samples of other people's music but then adding live instrumentation on top. But for the most part, it's him reinterpreting his own compositions into something new. The result is an organic feel of loop-based tracks that breathe and uctuate enough for Black Thought to ex on. "What I write about is determined by the equation of the producer's energy and my energy," Black Thought says. "It's about where we meet." So armed with Michels sampled and re-sampled soul cinematics, Black Thought rhymes through personal memories.

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.



Extra Large shoutout to TJA crew member DJ Strike for the incredible mastering/engineering job -

Oh shiiiiii - we're back again with the most recent album by our man in Baltimore, Ill Conscious. Probably his dopest record to date, Acres of Diamonds dropped in 2022 and is entirely produced by Camden, NJ's Mute Won. Beats are ridiculous...



Sorry it took so long for you cats to get a vinyl release - crazy post-Covid lead times made it extremely hard to coincide with the digital release but the good news is that turnaround times have shrunk in the last few months and we are finally getting past the craziness of the last 2 years.



If you haven't heard this project yet, peep the snippets - the ish is Stunning!!!



450 copies in full colour jacket



Clear Vinyl Only

After creating a stir online with 2021’s outstanding collaborative project "Tha Wolf On Wall St", independent hip-hop titans Your Old Droog and Tha God Fahim are back with an official follow-up.

Blending Droog’s relentless punchlines with Fahim’s streetwise folk tales, "Tha Wolf On Wall St 2: The American Dream" highlights the duo’s undeniable chemistry, as this Brooklyn to Atlanta connection remains as potent as ever. While their styles differ, Your Old Droog and Tha God Fahim instill the collection with a shared vision, centered on overcoming adversity and attaining success against all odds. Featuring beats by Nicholas Craven, Messiah Music, Fortes, and Conductor Williams, “Tha Wolf On Wall St 2: The American Dream” is another stellar effort from two of hip-hop's most consistent artists.

After creating a stir online with 2021’s outstanding collaborative project Tha Wolf On Wall St, independent hip-hop titans Your Old Droog and Tha God Fahim are back with an official follow-up. Blending Droog’s relentless punchlines with Fahim’s streetwise folk tales, "Tha Wolf On Wall St 2: The American Dream" highlights the duo’s undeniable chemistry, as this Brooklyn to Atlanta connection remains as potent as ever. While their styles differ, Your Old Droog and Tha God Fahim instill the collection with a shared vision, centered on overcoming adversity and attaining success against all odds. This special-edition CD includes the original "Tha Wolf On Wall St" along with the sequel.

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

Back in 2003, during an incredible period of growth and reinvention for legendary artist MF DOOM, he introduced us to one of his numerous alter egos, Viktor Vaughn. As the story goes, Viktor Vaughn was an interdimensional time-traveling MC from an alternate realm whereHip-Hop was banned. He'd been exploring time and space lookingfor new dimensions to sharpen his MC skills, which eventually led him to 90s era NYC, where he found himself stranded due to a mechanical mishap with his time machine. He began hitting open mics and small venues, battling other MCs and picking up a few side-hustles in order to raise enough funds to repair his time machine and get back to his travels.Vaudeville Villain is a concept album like no other, where MF DOOM re-envisions himself as a younger, hungrier, more brazen persona, in order to explore subjects new and old from a different point of view.Of course, developing a second self from a more technologicallyadvanced universe, he wanted to take a new approach to the production too. Viktor Vaughn fittingly raps over next-school beats that move freely in spaces between Electronica and Hip Hop, all courtesy of Sound-Ink producers King Honey, Heat Sensor and Max Bill, with the exception of one track produced by RJD2. Featuring all original lyrics by DOOM, with a few notable guest appearances from M.Sayyid (Anti-Pop Consortium), Lord Sear, Apani B Fly MC, LouisLogic, and more, Vaudeville Villain is one of the more uniquelycreative entries in the MF DOOM universe.