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Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band are back with a heavy two sider of West Coast Hip Hop covers that put a new spin on tried and true classics.Side A is their cover of Game and 50 Cent's "How We Do", one of the standouts from Game's 2005 debut album. It was their cover of 50's PIMP that really put Bacao on the map and now they are back to lend their sound to another club hit. Steel pans and horn lines trade off over their signature heavy drums and breathe new life into this classic.The B Side is another show stopper. Bacao takes on Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg's "Nuthin But A G Thang" and give it a proper treatment. Staying close to the original and replaying the iconic synth and bass lines on the pans proves to be incredible. This will be working its way through DJ sets around the globe as soon as it hits the streets.

Things Fall Apart is the fourth studio album by The Roots, released on February 23, 1999. Widely regarded as one of the group’s masterpieces, the album helped solidify The Roots' position as one of the most important and innovative acts in hip-hop. Its title is a reference to the classic 1958 novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, which explores themes of societal disruption and cultural conflict.

The album was released at a pivotal moment in hip-hop, during the late '90s “conscious rap” movement, and addresses a wide range of social, political, and personal issues, including racism, violence, love, and the commercialization of hip-hop.
The overall tone of the album is dark and introspective, with a sense of urgency as it reflects on the state of both hip-hop culture and society at large.
The title and themes suggest a world on the verge of collapse, with lyrics that critique the impact of consumerism, poverty, and systemic oppression, but also explore more intimate personal struggles.

Things Fall Apart is a sonic blend of hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul, and funk, featuring live instrumentation, complex rhythms, and eclectic samples, which set it apart from the more sample-heavy production styles of its time.
Questlove's drumming provides the backbone of the album’s live instrumentation, with a laid-back, jazzy feel, while Black Thought's rap style delivers hard-hitting, reflective, and often politically charged lyrics.
The album also features collaborations with notable artists from the Soulquarians collective, including Erykah Badu, Common, D’Angelo, Mos Def (Yasiin Bey), and Jill Scott (though Scott was replaced by Erykah Badu on the album's hit single "You Got Me").

Key Tracks and Highlights:
"Act Too (The Love of My Life)" (featuring Common) – A soulful, reflective track about hip-hop itself, discussing the culture’s origins and the artists' deep connection to it.
"The Next Movement" – One of the album’s lead singles, it features a funky, upbeat sound and showcases Black Thought’s lyrical agility, with commentary on the evolving music industry and staying true to one’s artistic vision.
"You Got Me" (featuring Erykah Badu and Eve) – This is one of The Roots’ most popular songs, blending hip-hop, neo-soul, and R&B. The song tells the story of a long-distance relationship and features soulful vocals by Badu, with Eve providing a brief rap verse.
This track earned The Roots their first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2000.
"Dynamite!" – A raw, high-energy track with Black Thought delivering rapid-fire verses over an aggressive beat.
"Adrenaline!" (featuring Beanie Sigel) – A harder, more street-oriented track, with intense lyrical deliveries from Black Thought, Malik B, and a guest verse by Beanie Sigel.
"100% Dundee" – Known for its relentless, battle-ready verses and intricate wordplay from Black Thought and Malik B.
"Double Trouble" (featuring Mos Def) – This track has Black Thought and Mos Def trading verses, showcasing lyrical dexterity in a playful, competitive way.

The album is produced mainly by Questlove and The Roots, with additional contributions from D’Angelo, James Poyser, and other members of the Soulquarians, a collective of artists who blended hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The album’s sound is distinguished by its organic production, combining live instrumentation with layered samples and intricate drum patterns, creating a more textured and atmospheric backdrop for the group’s lyrical content.

The central themes of Things Fall Apart include the disillusionment with mainstream hip-hop, reflecting on the genre's shift toward materialism and commercialism, and broader issues like social injustice, racial tension, and urban decay.
Black Thought and Malik B delve into personal struggles with identity, success, and the pressures of staying true to one’s roots in an increasingly superficial world.
The record also meditates on the role of artists in times of social upheaval, with many tracks expressing a sense of frustration and uncertainty, yet also resolve and hope for change.

Things Fall Apart was a critical and commercial success, marking The Roots' breakthrough into mainstream consciousness while retaining their underground credibility.
It received widespread critical acclaim for its lyrical depth, innovative production, and willingness to tackle tough, socially conscious topics at a time when much of mainstream hip-hop was focused on more materialistic themes.
The album is frequently cited as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and it helped to cement The Roots' status as pioneers of the alternative rap movement, alongside artists like Common, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli.
It was nominated for multiple awards and is now considered a landmark in hip-hop and neo-soul, influencing both genres in the years to come.

Things Fall Apart became The Roots' first platinum-selling album, and the success of singles like "You Got Me" introduced the band to a broader audience.
It paved the way for their future albums, including Phrenology (2002) and The Tipping Point (2004), where they continued to experiment with their sound and push boundaries in both musicality and lyricism.
This album is considered a cultural milestone not just for The Roots, but for hip-hop as a whole, reflecting both the possibilities of the genre and the depth of artistry that The Roots have consistently brought to their work.

Paris based Roforofo Jazz is a 7-piece liveband fronted by Chicago born MC Days (aka RacecaR), with a certain taste for adventurous blends, mixing hip hop, afrobeat and jazz into their very own style. After more than 15 years slashing the afrobeat of Les Freres Smith with his guitar cuts, Martin Smith digged into the musical sediments and silts in a swamp of hip hop, funk groove, afro power, jazz freedom radicality, with a certain taste for adventurous blends. This wax solid 5 tracks Vinyl was recorded live in Montreuil (France) at Studios La Peche, in November 2019, just a few weeks after the band toured in Nigeria and played at the mythical New Afrika Shrine on the occasion of Felabration 2019, where they got invited to perform by the Fela Kuti family for a series of concerts in Lagos. The 5 titles include the single “Fire Eater”, a raw afro hip hop tune mixing rhythms in the tradition of polyrhythm afrofunk tunes, while also alternating in between jazzy mood and burning hip hop anthem. “Dump It” is a dark, mid tempo beat, borrowing the groove signature of ethiopian soul, and coated with hip hop sharp drops, while horns bring the jazzyness through their themes. “Helelyos” is a cover/extrapolation of Iranian singer Zia’s hit, to which Days vocals bring an heavy old school hip hop vibe. “2Kick1” is a relentless afrobeat oriented tune, though with a languorous spacy chorus that breaks with the traditional afrobeat routine. And “What We Think We Saw” ends the EP with an opening to more psychedelic visions, in which a Gil Scott-Heron spoken word style meets jazzy space echoes, flutes under massive reverbs in a global vibe that could remind old analog recordings of Mandrill, Cymande or LKJ.

Limited initial pressing, alottments necessary, repress date tba / "Everybody Everybody" is based off the dance floor classic by Blackbox. This is a steel drum cover version produced by DJ Nu-Mark and the legendary Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band. The B-Side is a cover of "Break Ya Neck" originally by Busta Rhymes in collaboration with Dr. Dre / Scott Storch. The cover version is produced by DJ Nu-Mark & Danny Drive Thru. "Break Ya Neck" is covered in all 8bit instrumentation and text to speech vocals for the video game enthusiasts. Both of these songs are part of DJ Nu-Mark's "Run For Cover" EP that takes known classics and covers them in a unique genre! DJ Nu-Mark is known for his iconic work as the producer / DJ for Jurassic 5, production with Method Man, Charles Bradley, Aloe Blacc, Large Professor, DJ Shadow and Nas.

Jalaluddin Mansure Nuriddin was an American musician and poet. He was one of the founding members of The Last Poets, a group of poets and musicians that evolved in the 1960’s. Earlier in his career he used the names Lightnin’ Rod and Alafia Pudim. He is sometimes called, “The Grandfather of Rap’, and wa a devout Muslim, poet, acupuncturist, and marital art expert. Nurridin’s talent and genius with words and rhythm are renowned. He produced some epic poems. The band featured on this release just happens to be the one and only Kool & The Gang.

Live jazzy orchestral interpretations of the Jay Dee aka J Dilla produced Slum Village classic Fantastic Vol 2!
The contributions of the late Detroit producer James DeWitt Yancey -better known to the world as J Dilla- to the world of hip-hop can't be overstated, and nowhere is his legacy more apparent than his work as a member of Slum Village. A founding member of the trio, (alongside rappers T3 and Baatin) Dilla provided the group's distinctly esoteric, free-wheeling sound, built around winding basslines, quirky drumbeats, subtle low-end frequencies, and classic jazz & soul samples. Against the backdrop of Dilla's rich production, T3 and Baatin's free-flowing style of rhyming would also earn wide critical praise, leading to comparisons as the successors to A Tribe Called Quest. All these elements would come together in a truly prodigious fashion in the early 00s, when Dilla and Slum Village would release their second studio album Fan-Tas-Tic Volume 2. The group had already made critically acclaimed waves with Volume 1, but few could have predicted at the time of its release that Dilla's production, which combined portions of alternative, gangsta, and soul hip-hop, meshed with T3 and Baatin's deft lyrical flows, would become such a far-reaching influence. Artists like D'Angelo and Erykah Badu have name-checked Fan-Tas-Tic Volume 2 as a key influences, while The Roots' drummer ?uestlove declared that they hands down "...birthed the neo-soul movement."
Enter the Abstract Orchestra. Helmed by composer and saxophonist Rob Mitchell, this 18-piece ensemble has become renowned for their distinct sound, which reinterprets some of the most famous hip-hop productions of all time (right on down to the sample material) into a unique blend of big band jazz and live hip-hop. The group has toured alongside the likes of John Legend, Amy Winehouse, and Adele among others, and have provided live backup for Mos Def, and many more. They previously have released orchestral versions of revered hip-hop record Madvillian and a tribute to Dilla to critical acclaim as well.
On this, the 20th anniversary of Fan-Tas-Tic Volume 2's release, the Abstract Orchestra are proud to pay tribute to this highly innovative hip-hop classic. Across two volumes of vinyl and a 2-CD set of studio recordings, the big band applies their own jazzy spin to Dilla's classic productions, with occasional assistance from the surviving members of Slum Village themselves. The end result is Fantastic 2020, a hybrid blend of smooth, funky brass rhythms with boom-bap sensibilities that is just the kind of tribute that an often unsung, but highly influential group like Slum Village deserves, and is a more than welcome addition to any Dilla
completist's library.

Limited to 150 copies. Jalaluddin Mansure Nuriddin was an American musician and poet. He was one of the founding members of The Last Poets, a group of poets and musicians that evolved in the 1960’s. Earlier in his career he used the names Lightnin’ Rod and Alafia Pudim. He is sometimes called, “The Grandfather of Rap’, and wa a devout Muslim, poet, acupuncturist, and marital art expert. Nurridin’s talent and genius with words and rhythm are renowned. He produced some epic poems. The band featured on this release just happens to be the one and only Kool & The Gang.

2024 pressing of this classic 90s Roots gem!

Illadelph Halflife is the third studio album by the legendary hip-hop group The Roots, released on September 24, 1996. This album solidified The Roots' reputation as innovative musicians who blend live instrumentation with traditional hip-hop elements, standing out in an era where most rap groups used sample-based production.

The album features The Roots' signature blend of live instrumentation, jazz-infused beats, and socially conscious lyrics, along with skilled wordplay. The band’s drummer, Questlove, and rapper/lyricist Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) take the lead in crafting a sound that moves between laid-back grooves and more intense, intricate musical arrangements. Live instrumentation is a core element, with a focus on creating complex rhythms and organic soundscapes.

Illadelph Halflife addresses various topics, including social issues, racial identity, urban life, and the challenges of fame.
The lyrics are often introspective, with Black Thought offering sharp commentary on the struggles of African Americans, the complexities of relationships, and the pressures of navigating the music industry.
The album also explores the concept of self-doubt and searching for authenticity in both personal and societal contexts.

While not a massive commercial hit upon its release, the album was critically acclaimed for its innovative production, complex lyricism, and the tight cohesion of The Roots as a band. It has since become regarded as one of the most important hip-hop albums of the 1990s. It is celebrated for balancing underground aesthetics with more accessible sounds, paving the way for alternative hip-hop to gain a broader audience.
Some tracks that stand out:
"What They Do" – A critique of materialism and superficiality in the music industry, accompanied by a memorable video that parodied flashy rap videos.
"Concerto of the Desperado" – A harder, more aggressive track, showcasing Black Thought’s lyrical prowess and The Roots' dynamic, live sound.
"Clones" – One of the more aggressive tracks, addressing the concept of originality versus imitation in hip-hop.
"Episodes" – A dark and introspective track that delves into street life and violence.

Illadelph Halflife helped The Roots gain a devoted fan base and led to further critical recognition. It is often cited as one of the most influential hip-hop albums of the era, known for its jazz influence, conscious lyricism, and its rejection of the dominant sound in mid-90s hip-hop.
This album marked a turning point for The Roots as they began to shift towards even more experimental and politically engaged projects, which would later culminate in their landmark album Things Fall Apart in 1999.
Illadelph Halflife represents The Roots at a critical stage in their evolution, showcasing their ability to blend musicianship and message, setting them apart as one of the most innovative groups in hip-hop history.

Paris based Roforofo Jazz is a 7-piece liveband fronted by Chicago born MC Days (aka RacecaR), with a certain taste for adventurous blends, mixing hip hop, afrobeat and jazz into their very own style. After more than 15 years slashing the afrobeat of Les Freres Smith with his guitar cuts, Martin Smith digged into the musical sediments and silts in a swamp of hip hop, funk groove, afro power, jazz freedom radicality, with a certain taste for adventurous blends. This wax solid 5 tracks Vinyl was recorded live in Montreuil (France) at Studios La Peche, in November 2019, just a few weeks after the band toured in Nigeria and played at the mythical New Afrika Shrine on the occasion of Felabration 2019, where they got invited to perform by the Fela Kuti family for a series of concerts in Lagos. The 5 titles include the single “Fire Eater”, a raw afro hip hop tune mixing rhythms in the tradition of polyrhythm afrofunk tunes, while also alternating in between jazzy mood and burning hip hop anthem. “Dump It” is a dark, mid tempo beat, borrowing the groove signature of ethiopian soul, and coated with hip hop sharp drops, while horns bring the jazzyness through their themes. “Helelyos” is a cover/extrapolation of Iranian singer Zia’s hit, to which Days vocals bring an heavy old school hip hop vibe. “2Kick1” is a relentless afrobeat oriented tune, though with a languorous spacy chorus that breaks with the traditional afrobeat routine. And “What We Think We Saw” ends the EP with an opening to more psychedelic visions, in which a Gil Scott-Heron spoken word style meets jazzy space echoes, flutes under massive reverbs in a global vibe that could remind old analog recordings of Mandrill, Cymande or LKJ.

Deluxe Edition celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the second The Roots album. Comes with a 24-page booklet. Must have!

Do You Want More?!!!??! is the second studio album by The Roots, released on January 17, 1995. This album is a landmark in hip-hop because it showcases The Roots' use of live instrumentation rather than relying on samples and drum machines, which was the dominant production method in rap at the time. It helped establish The Roots as a unique force within hip-hop, blending genres like jazz, funk, and soul into their music and standing out as pioneers of the "alternative rap" movement.

The album is notable for its organic sound, primarily driven by live instruments, with contributions from musicians such as drummer Questlove, keyboardist Scott Storch, and bassist Leonard Hubbard.
It represents The Roots’ early jazz-influenced, laid-back sound, which sharply contrasted with the harder, sample-driven beats of mainstream hip-hop in the mid-1990s.
Do You Want More?!!!??! was the group’s first major-label release (on DGC/Geffen Records) and introduced them to a broader audience beyond their underground roots.

The album is known for its strong jazz-rap influence, with heavy use of improvisation, live drumming, and horn sections, giving it a feel akin to a live jam session.
The Roots draw from the traditions of jazz and soul music, fusing those styles with the vocal rhythms and lyrical complexity of hip-hop.
Beatboxing and vocal percussion are also used throughout the album, particularly with contributions from Rahzel, known as "The Godfather of Noyze," who uses his beatboxing skills as an instrument in several tracks.

Lyrically, Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) and Malik B (Malik Abdul Basit) address topics ranging from urban life and relationships to the state of hip-hop and artistic integrity.
Much of the album is celebratory, exploring themes like the joy of performing, living in the moment, and reflecting on personal experiences.
The lyrics are often introspective and conversational, matching the album’s laid-back, jazzy feel. Unlike the aggressive or gangsta rap style popular at the time, the focus here is more on storytelling and social commentary.

Key Tracks and Highlights:
"Proceed" – One of the album’s standout singles, with a mellow, jazzy beat and Black Thought's smooth, confident flow. This track became one of The Roots' signature songs, with several remix versions following its release.
"Distortion to Static" – A jazz-heavy, upbeat track that features both Black Thought and Malik B trading verses, with intricate lyricism and a distinct live sound. This song helped establish their reputation as lyrical craftsmen.
"Mellow My Man" – A smooth, funk-infused track that showcases The Roots' musicianship, particularly Questlove’s drumming, and explores more laid-back, reflective themes.
"Essaywhuman?!!!??!" – An almost entirely improvised, live track, with live scatting and beatboxing, blending hip-hop with jazz in real-time, giving the listener a glimpse of The Roots' live performance energy.
"Silent Treatment" – One of the few songs on the album that delves into personal relationships, specifically the emotional dynamics of a romantic relationship gone awry. The song’s smooth delivery and production make it one of the more accessible tracks on the album.
"Datskat" – A playful track with an emphasis on jazz improvisation, including a prominent saxophone section and Rahzel’s beatboxing, highlighting the album’s unique sonic experimentation.
Collaborations and Guest Appearances:
Rahzel (beatboxing) and Scott Storch (keyboards) both play significant roles on this album, contributing to its eclectic, live-instrument sound.
Saxophonist Steve Coleman and trumpeter Graham Haynes lend their jazz expertise, enhancing the album’s jazz-fusion vibe.

Do You Want More?!!!??! received critical acclaim for its innovative use of live instrumentation and jazz influences in hip-hop. Critics praised the album for its originality and the band’s musical proficiency.
The album was celebrated for breaking away from the sample-driven norm of hip-hop production in the 1990s, helping to expand the genre’s sonic possibilities.
Despite its critical success, Do You Want More?!!!??! did not achieve major commercial success at the time, but it has since gained a cult following and is regarded as a classic in both hip-hop and alternative music circles.
Themes:
A key theme in the album is the exploration of musicianship in hip-hop. By blending jazz improvisation and live performances with rap, The Roots were not just making music—they were actively challenging the boundaries of what hip-hop could be.
Cultural identity and artistic integrity also play central roles in the lyrics, with Black Thought and Malik B often ruminating on their roles as artists in a changing and often commodified hip-hop landscape.

While not a massive commercial hit upon release, Do You Want More?!!!??! has become regarded as one of the seminal albums of the jazz-rap genre and a landmark in alternative hip-hop.
The album set the stage for The Roots’ later success and is seen as an important precursor to their subsequent, more polished and socially-conscious works, like Things Fall Apart (1999).
Do You Want More?!!!??! also helped to redefine live hip-hop performance, as The Roots proved that a live band could create complex, compelling music that resonated both within and beyond the hip-hop community.
Its influence extends to many artists in hip-hop and neo-soul, especially those involved with the Soulquarians, a collective of artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and Common with whom The Roots would collaborate extensively.
The album's blend of jazz, live instrumentation, and socially-conscious lyrics helped The Roots carve out a distinct niche in the hip-hop world, making Do You Want More?!!!??! a defining moment in their career and a critical touchstone in the evolution of alternative hip-hop.

Boot Camp Clik’s Smif-N-Wessun performs their classic hits with the Czech Republic based band, Champion Sound, live in Prague. Tek N’ Steel first stormed the masses with hardcore rhymes and a flawless ability to trade the mic without hesitation. Produced by Evil Dee and Mr. Walt, Dah Shinin was layered with heavy bass lines, razor sharp scratching and a dungeon sound that basted through any roof. While tracks like, “Timbz N’ Hood Check,” told of the underbelly of street life, “Won Time,” discussed the results of snitching; “Cession At Da Doghillee,” previewed the soon to be Boot Camp Clik; and the jazz influenced Brooklyn anthem, ”Buck Town,” became a Duck Down trademark. In 2003, Tek and Steele moved into the driver’s seat founding, Bucktown USA Entertainment where they released several solo projects including; Tek’s, Amerikka’s Nightmare (2004), I Got This (2006); Steele’s First Famlee (2004); Smif N’ Wessun, X-Files (2006); as well as serving as an additional branch for Duck Down Enterprize affiliated projects. The duo of Tek and Steele, have shown themselves to be more than emcees. Hitting hip-hop music with a raw and un-duplicable style, business sense and survival skills, the name, Smif-N-Wessun, shines above the rest.

The ultimate nice price ATCQ bundle, consisting of the band's first 4 albums: 1990's "People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm", 1991's "The Low End Theory", 1993's "Midnight Marauders" and 1996's "Beats, Rhymes And Life".