US Hip Hop 277 Items

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This is a very limited edition of only a few test pressings made of Kutmasta Kurt & Kool Keith's collaborative 1997 EP, “Your Mom Is My Wife”.

KutMasta Kurt Digs deep into his archives to put together this compelling 6 track EP of previously unreleased recordings he and Keith recorded in 1996-1997. This Post “Sex Style” and Pre “Dr. Dooom” material helps further illustrate why they are one of Hip-Hop's favorite collaborators from the 90’s and beyond.

This is a very limited edition of only a few test pressings made to Kool Keith’s aka. Dr. Dooom’s “First Come, First Served”.

The problem with being recognized as a creative genius is that you've got to live up to it 24/7. Kool Keith was given such a mantle upon the release of the “Dr. Octagonecologist” album, and it's not something he seems happy about: on the first track of “First Come, First Served”, he--as Dr. Dooom--kills Octagon. It's the perfect move for Keith, and it sets the tone for the album, which is a mix of humorous tracks (""Neighbors Next Door,"" which asks you to imagine having Keith and Jacky Jasper living in the next apartment, and ""You Live at Home with Your Mom"") and songs on which Keith lays down the law (""No Chorus"" and ""Leave Me Alone""). Few MCs could hope to match Keith, but here--rapping over knocked-off Octagon grooves (produced with Kutmaster Kurt, they're still more innovative than most) and settling lots of personal scores--he sounds like he's just trying to get a bunch of ideas out of his head as quickly as possible. Still, there's an amazing EP's worth of material here, but it's spread over a full album. Minus the filler, Dooom might just be Octagon's better. --Randy Silver

Only 21 numbered copies made with custom Threshold test labels!

For the first time on vinyl.

Limited edition of 330 copies only on Glow In The Dark vinyl. This is pressed with a new method so there is no sound difference between black vinyl and glow in the dark anymore.

The problem with being recognized as a creative genius is that you've got to live up to it 24/7. Kool Keith was given such a mantle upon the release of the “Dr. Octagonecologist” album, and it's not something he seems happy about: on the first track of “First Come, First Served”, he--as Dr. Dooom--kills Octagon. It's the perfect move for Keith, and it sets the tone for the album, which is a mix of humorous tracks ("Neighbors Next Door," which asks you to imagine having Keith and Jacky Jasper living in the next apartment, and "You Live at Home with Your Mom") and songs on which Keith lays down the law ("No Chorus" and "Leave Me Alone"). Few MCs could hope to match Keith, but here--rapping over knocked-off Octagon grooves (produced with Kutmaster Kurt, they're still more innovative than most) and settling lots of personal scores--he sounds like he's just trying to get a bunch of ideas out of his head as quickly as possible. Still, there's an amazing EP's worth of material here, but it's spread over a full album. Minus the filler, Dooom might just be Octagon's better. --Randy Silver

From the makers of Wu Tang vs The Beatles, 'An Adventure To Pepperland Through Rhyme & Space' continues the obsessive use of Beatles samples (and cover versions) but this time laced with all the classic MCs of the 90s such as Biggie, Nas, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Rakim, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, Busta Rhymes, Large Pro, Lord Finesse and The Wu-Tang Clan. This record is as if the Beatles themselves were transported to 1990s New York (as implied by the intro) and set up a studio to make tracks with the legendary MCs. Nowhere else will you find the attention to detail in pairing up raw raps with Beatle based sample madness. The album was painstakingly made over a 4 year period and uses rare recordings and cover versions that were meticulously researched and filtered through to find loops that complimented each MC.

NJ in the house once again, this time with completely unreleased production by the prolific, as of late, DJ Izniz. The group is Ill Behavior, which equals Izniz on the boards and two early Wu influenced emcees, and together they paint from a dark palette over a gritty early 90s soundscape.

Finally available on vinyl: "Damn.", Kendrick's fourth studio album!

As hip-hop's online footprint began rapidly expanding in the early 2010s, acclaimed Los Angeles emcee Blu was a rising star who commanded attention. Just a few years removed from the breakthrough success of Below The Heavens and an appearance on the XXL Freshmen list, the talented wordsmith was navigating the major label system, dropping self-produced mixtapes, and working with artists like The Roots, Miguel, Flying Lotus, 9th Wonder, and more. In 2011, the mysterious album Jesus turned up on Bandcamp, uploaded by an artist calling himself "b". Soon discovered to be the latest project from Blu, the unpolished but deeply soulful collection quickly made waves on blogs and social media. Just weeks later, Jesus improbably became one of Blu's first official solo releases, and it remains a lo-fi masterpiece, with mesmerizing production by Alchemist, Madlib, Knxwledge, Hezekiah, and Blu himself. Now, this classic is receiving a long-overdue vinyl reissue, complete with the Jesus-era bonus track "Arrow & The Sparrow" featuring Jimetta Rose.

Double vinyl LP pressing of this 2015 mixtape from the hip-hop artist and producer.

Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Conway's legendary tape with DJ Green Lantern "Reject On Steroids" with a vinyl reissue in collaboration with Drumwork Music. Tape features guest appearances by Royce Da 5'9" and Benny, and productions by DJ Green Lantern. For the occasion we have two different artworks by Shk, limited to 1500 units each.

From the makers of Wu Tang vs The Beatles, 'An Adventure To Pepperland Through Rhyme & Space' continues the obsessive use of Beatles samples (and cover versions) but this time laced with all the classic MCs of the 90s such as Biggie, Nas, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Rakim, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, Busta Rhymes, Large Pro, Lord Finesse and The Wu-Tang Clan. This record is as if the Beatles themselves were transported to 1990s New York (as implied by the intro) and set up a studio to make tracks with the legendary MCs. Nowhere else will you find the attention to detail in pairing up raw raps with Beatle based sample madness. The album was painstakingly made over a 4 year period and uses rare recordings and cover versions that were meticulously researched and filtered through to find loops that complimented each MC.

Here's another volume of treats from the Othorized archives. Unreleased tracks include the studio version of “Mugshots” (demo version #2), “Kwue's Body Shop”, and “Krakow”. “Bring It On” gets its first vinyl treatment after initially appearing on the group's 1st “Amendment” CDr in 2001. “Flamboyant Rap” you likely know from their 1995 12" and “Money Getters” from their 1994 debut single.
All tracks written and produced by Othorized Fam. Cover art by Spek The Architek, logo design by Othorized, labels by Debonair P.

Awesome album by Compton's Kendrick Lamar called "To Pimp A Butterfly" with guest spots by Flying Lotus, George Clinton, Knxwledge, Snoop Dogg, Taz of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Rapsody and more!

Repress 2023
After the release of his 2011 debut ‘Blue Slide Park’, Mac Miller started using promethazine to cope with the album’s negative reviews and subsequent stress of his Macadelic tour.
Maybe that’s why his second LP proper, ‘Watching Movies With The Sound Off’, is hazy and somewhat introspective. “You was Easy Mac with the cheesy raps / Who the f*ck is Mac Miller?” a male voice asks midway through the 70-minute recording.
He doesn’t get too personal; instead, Miller spits disoriented rhymes atop an equally disjointed soundtrack. He glorifies his drug habit one moment while atoning for it the next. “Halleluah, thank God I have a future,” Miller raps on ‘The Star Room’; “Praying I don’t waste it getting faded.”
With ‘Movies’, Miller channels his past addiction into an impressive set of stoner rap, far beyond the carefree ‘Blue Slide Park.’ These sounds are heavier and Miller flows naturally in this element. He still likes a good time, but he’s giving us more of himself in the process. Looks like he’s growing up after all. - clashmusic.com

Includes download code! Janelle Monae, Vic Mensa, James Fauntleroy, Kaytranada and Tyler, the Creator are aboard!

Wolfgang or Odd Future or OFWGKTA or whateveryoumightcallem come up with their first proper release: Tyler, The Creator's Goblin on XL Recordings … includes the 4 million-youtube-surprise 'Yonkers'!

After a brief pause in the Medicine Show series, Madlib returns with a 28-track, full-length hip-hop album of collaborations with AG, Guilty Simpson, MED, Oh No, Strong Arm Steady and others. Karriem Riggins pops in for a short Supreme Team session, Madlib & Oh No debut their group The Professionals, and we hear for the first time a Jaylib-era track from Madlib & Dilla's never-realized second album. Limited edition 3LP contains 14 additional Madlib beat instrumentals.

Wolfgang or Odd Future or OFWGKTA or whateveryoumightcallem come up with their first proper release: Tyler, The Creator's Goblin on XL Recordings … includes the 4 million-youtube-surprise 'Yonkers'!

Prince Paul hit Chopped Herring up to release this dope early 90's project!!

The first incarnation of the group was formed around 1989 in Amityville, Long Island, New York, although the family grew up in Long Island. The family of four brothers (Anthony, Richard, Joel, and Edward) and one sister (Dawne), of which Anthony (Poetic) was the eldest, were born to Trinidadian parents who moved from Trinidad and Tobago in 1971, making their first residence in Queens, New York for a short time, then moving to Long Island. John Berkeley (a pastor and a local businessman) and Ela Berkeley (a homemaker, cook-nutritionist, and teacher) were both singers and artistic in general, and they encouraged artistic expression in their five children. The family was well-rounded musically, singing gospel and R&B up to their early teens all around New York, other states, and Canada as "The Berkeley Singers". Anthony (Poetic), Dawne, and Joel (Brainstorm) sang, accompanied by Richard on the drums and Eddie (E-Sharp) on the piano or keyboard.

Poetic began rhyming in his early teens in Wyandanch, and was known by many names and building a name for himself as a lyrical battle MC. He changed his name to Poetic around 1985, and in 1986 he formed the crew known as Too Poetic, who in 1988-89 released a modestly popular single called: “God Made Me Funky/Poetical Terror”, under the DNA/Tommy Boy Music imprint. The group’s relationship with Tommy Boy Records eventually panned out for various reasons, scrapping the album and making Poetic very displeased, an early casualty of the politics of the music business.

While Poetic was just beginning his formal hip hop career in 1987–89, Brainstorm was attending college at the State University of New York at Farmingdale, Long Island, where he was the roommate of Brooklyn’s own Super DJ Richie Rich (who had been in Third Base, Clark Kent’s Supermen, and the movie Juice). The university was host to many hip hop artists as visitors for parties and to do shows like Rakim, EPMD, Producer-Super DJ Clark Kent, and Biz Markie.

After Brainstorm finished his college run in 1989, he took time to learn many aspects of the music business, but in 1989 he and Poetic mutually decided to pair up with a hardcore lyrical edge, original word play, and acute metaphors, after many collaborations between them since 1985. Thus, Da Bruthas G.R.Y.M. was born shortly after Too Poetic’s deal with DNA/Tommy Boy had soured. The energy and high chemistry between these true by-blood brothers at the time was, simply put, natural.

In the first Bruthas G.R.Y.M. era (c. 1989–1992), the brothers Poetic (Brother One) and Brainstorm (Brother Two) garnered much respect on the underground hip hop scene of New York Their first official demo featured the underground bangers like “Bruthas G.R.Y.M.”, “Circle-Circle-Dot-Dot”, the politically charged “Popcorn” and “Livin’ In Hell (Had To Survive)”. The demo featured production mastering by Nate "NATO" Tinsley, their in-house producer Semi-Automatic (Pedro Sims, Mr. Semi, Gravediggaz), and the brothers themselves. After blazing underground radio and live shows around New York City, they were listed in The Source magazine as the best unsigned rap group of 1989. The crew was then managed by longtime friend Jack Pope (Jack Sprat, Starving Artists Entertainment), who later became the road manager of the Gravediggaz.

These cassette tape “dubs” floated around the New York streets in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and their demo eventually made their way to the seasoned musical ear of fellow Amityvillain Prince Paul (Stetsasonic, De La Soul, Gravediggaz) from his association with the local Long Island artists who had met the brothers and saw their raw talent. In 1990 Prince Paul decided to fund and executive produce further demos, finding various other known and up-and-coming producers for the unnamed project, as well as being the tentative DJ for the group.

Then the unfortunate happened – being disenfranchised by the politics and games of the music business and life in general, Brainstorm just quit altogether for “personal enlightenment”, before any formal deal could solidify. Poetic understood about Brainstorm’s personal path at that stage in his life, but was silently devastated because they were so close to sealing a major record deal that would have propelled them further into Hip Hop history.

Their original demo, even today, is still one of Prince Paul’s favorites. It was not until 1992 that Poetic, after Brainstorm quit in 1991, that it is said that Poetic “fell on hard times”, including a short period of homelessness.

Brainstorm would continue to write for leisure and therapeutic reasoning, but never to seriously pursue a music career, moving to Brooklyn New York and later down south to various states; in fact, Brainstorm was so “finished with Hip Hop” that he gave Poetic all of his original rhyme books to use at his own discretion – some lyrics ending up on Gravediggaz projects.

Back in 2006 DJ Cappel & Smitty mashed up Frank Sinatra with Notorious B.I.G. in a weird and wonderful mix CD called "Blue Eyes Meets Bed-Stuy". There was a vinyl sampler released but only now can you get all 12 mashups from the CD on vinyl. Pressed on double vinyl with color labels and picture sleeve.

With transcendent lyrical skills, an impossibly perfect rap voice, and a uniquely cool, calm, and collected flow, Brooklyn rapper Your Old Droog is one of the brightest young stars in hip-hop today. Looseys is a collection of Droog tracks that lit up blogs but never made it onto any of his acclaimed projects. Now, this rare project is receiving a much-deserved official release. Looseys features collaborations with Joey Bada$$, Styles P, and Rast RFC, plus stellar production from famed producers like Alchemist, Oh No, Black Milk, Statik Selektah, and Jonwayne.

Reissue without hype sticker! Janelle Monae, Vic Mensa, James Fauntleroy, Kaytranada and Tyler, the Creator are aboard!

Check out the first official repress of akua naru's classic 2011 debut album, "the journey aflame" only available via HHV!

akua naru’s 2011 groundbreaking album, “...the journey aflame”, is now available on vinyl. The album, a melange of dope beats, politics, poetics and power, long sought after is finally here!
This first official repress contains high quality audio, a double vinyl LP with a gatefold-cover. In addition to classics like "the backflip", "the world is listening”, and “the block", this repress features the underground smash "poetry: how does it feel???", a hit lately revealed to be supermodel Cara Delevingne’s favorite Valentine's Day song. "poetry: how does it feel?" is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded and it’s available now on vinyl for the first time.

Pete Rock is the man who J Dilla told, “I wanted to be like you.” Kanye once called himself the “new Pete Rock.” But the original Pete Rock remains permanently vital. The evidence bangs in his latest opus, Petestrumentals 2, the sequel to the 2001 classic that helped define the hip-hop instrumental record. It marks the legend’s first album on Mello Music Group, a fitting union between the author of the boom-bap blueprint and the label that’s expanded upon his legacy. Petestrumentals 2 conjures memories of BBQ cookouts and 70s Blaxploitation scores, rattling summer jeep cruises and blunted Jamaican vacations. There’s a gorgeous requiem to Dilla (“Dilla Bounce (R.I.P),” where the originator pays tribute to the prodigy. You see the full range of Rock’s gifts on display: the meticulously chopped horns, unquantized drums, and air raid sirens. It contains the emotion of a thousand eulogies. An even 20 slaps and rhythmic levitations. It’s Pete Rock at his best, accelerating and kicking cosmic slop, extending wishes, hope, love, gritty drums and eternal wonder. This special 24 for '24 Artist Series Edition is a one time pressing on metallic gold vinyl w/ original KipDaFog oil painted cover art.

If there’s a secret to time travel, Kool Keith owns the patent. Even a flying DeLorean seems too conventional for the Bronx legend. He’d more logically orbit throughout the galaxy in a gleaming chrome spaceship, teaching the stars and aliens new forms of originality. He is too weird to live, too rare to die, too uniquely ultra-magnetic to be accurately mimicked.

Released on Mello Music Group, Time? Astonishing! is the latest dimensional warp from hip-hop’s premiere astral traveler. His union with MMG producer L’ Orange finds him exploring uncharted terrain: choppy volcanic rock planets, ice glacier moons, new surgical procedures, and fresh rappers to toss into the ether. The scalpel remains eternally sharp.

The beats glow with radioactive grit. Hard enough to knock from your car speakers, cinematic and plutonium-propelled enough to transport you to strange terra firma. Buck Rodgers movie serials meet boom-bap. And along for the odyssey are a cast of the best underground MC’s of the last decade: Blu, Open Mike Eagle, Mr. Lif, J-Live, and more.

These are space symphonies and occult odysseys, fuel for wanderers, wonderers, and all the a-likes.

Welcome to the new world, even more sinister and suspenseful than the last one. We live in astonishing times: abstract, absurd, and indelibly Kool.

Finally back on vinyl, this 2011 release was the first proper full-length showcase for the Grammy Award-winning superproducer. The signature soulful style of 9th’s beats was a sensation in hip hop and R&B--for underground fans and in the mainstream--and he played a leading role in bringing North Carolina to the forefront of American music culture in the 21st century. Featuring guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Warren G, Marsha Ambrosius, Terrace Martin, Talib Kweli, Blu, Raekwon, Murs, Skyzoo, and more.

Why you'll love it...
“Blu’s 'Her Favorite Colo(u)r' hits harder than it did on its initial 2009 leaked-to-streaming run or its official, somewhat-remastered first physical release two years later. We’re more used to noise in hip-hop, more accustomed to pendulum-swinging inner conflicts between invincibility and unease, even more forgiving of those times when artists put out a potentially alienating experiment or two for every crowd-pleaser. It’s an untraditional album that blurs the lines between pop culture references as familiar touchstones and the specificity of a film or a record that speaks to an artist’s own impossible-to-duplicate experience, a run-on sensory-overload experience that could feel mysteriously impressionistic and painfully specific all at once.”

HHV exclusive vinyl edition on red in clear vinyl, limited to 500 copies

You Only Live 2wice is the third studio album from Freddie Gibbs. Following a tumultuous time in Gibbs’ personal life, the album focuses on Freddie overcoming his obstacles and rising from the ashes anew, as reflected in the album art depicting the resurrection of Jesus. At 8 tracks, the album has no features, instead using the space to let Gibbs bear his soul. The album includes the chilling violin-laced single, “Crushed Glass,” as well as standout hits, “20 Karat Jesus,” &”Amnesia.” Executive produced by Ben “Lambo” Lambert & Gibbs himself, the album sees production from BADBADNOTGOOD, Kaytranada, Speakerbomb, Dupri, Jay Nari, Teddy Walton, Blair Norf & more. Back in print for the first time since its initial release.

Repackaged And Repressed On 2xlp Vinyl, Just In Time For Its10th Anniversary, The Album Features Two Bonus Tracks, "Millenium Dodo 2" And "Cut You Down", Not Available On The Original Version, Plus An Exclusive 7-Inch Vinyl Inside, Featuring Two Additional Tracks From The Same Recording Sessions, "By Your Side" And "Bar Food".Atmosphere Have Distinguished Themselves From Their Peers By Creating Albums Encompassing The Entire Spectrum Of Human Emotion While Tethering Each Piece To A Central Aural Aesthetic. The Family Sign Took This Philosophy To New Realms Of Solidarity With Slug Metaphorically Touching On Themes Of Fatherhood, Loss, Love, Disappointment And Jubilation, And Tailoring Them To An Instrumental Framework That Draws Emotion Out Of The Listener, Skillfully Composed By Producer Ant. The Family Sign Was Evidence That Hip-Hop Wields The Ultimatepotential To Address And Convey Life's Vir Tues And Short Comings. Following Their Acclaimed 2008 Release, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, The Subsequent Decision To Add Live Guitar And Keys Into Their Recording Process Gave The Family Sign A Warmer, Bluesier Feel. The Resulting Humanity They Brought Out Of These Songs Created Some Of The Most Powerful Moments Atmosphere Had Ever Put To Record. The Weeping Guitars And Twinkling Piano Keys On "The Last Tosay" Amplify Slug's Pleas For The Song's Protagonist _ A Victim Of Domestic Abuse _ To Leave Their Abusive Relationship, While On "Something So", The Light Guitars And Delicate But Precise Drums Paint The Vivid Image Of A New Dawn Breaking As Slug Recounts The Final Moments Of Expectant Fatherhood Before His Child Was Born, And Passionately Contextualizes The Journey Of Life. The Family Sign Ventured Further Inward, Becomingatmosphere's Most Personal And Intimate Album To That Point, Engaging Their Fans Like Never Before. It Isn't All Tear-Jerkers Though, As More Upbeat Songs Like "She's Enough", "Ain't Nobody", And "My Notes" Beckon You To Bop Along And Deliver Enough Optimism T...

After the phenomenal success of Jaydiohead, Mos Dub, Dub Kweli, Double Check Your Head and Jaydiohead 2 but to name a few, Max Tannone is back with his new masterpiece – Ghostfunk! Released in 2011, Ghostfunk pairs one of his favorite hip-hop artists, Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah, with vintage African funk, high-life, and psychedelic rock.

Everybody's darling Blu finally drops the long awaited full length album. Lp includes an extra 7" for all donut lovers. Dooooooooope!

Channel 85 Presents Nittyville is perhaps the most traditional release from Madlib’s ambitious Medicine Show series, and we make no bones about it: one MC, one producer, and a rap record all about stunts, blunts and hip-hop. Frank is Detroit's Frank Nitt, protegee of the late J Dilla, formerly of Frank-n-Dank. Madlib is the Beat Konducta, Quasimoto, half-Madvillain & Jaylib, one of hip-hop's most acclaimed producer's favorite producers. As for Channel 85, it's clearly off most dials. This albumís concept TV station runs one show only, the comic-drama, reality-musical called Nittyville, featuring Frank, MED, Oh No, Madlib, and a supporting cast of extras.

Jeremiah Jae and L’Orange’s noir-inspired opus, "The Night Took Us In Like Family"

Consider it the alchemy of Madvillain and "The Maltese Falcon": a five-part fable of tangled crimes, narrow escapes, and raining lead. Beats bend sinister with imagery aiming for the temples. Jae invokes dark clouds, crowns of thorns and LSD eyes. Bars written in dirt. Samples are disembodied and ethereal. It’s like a grand jury indictment doubling as a Greek chorus.

Big Body Bes, Meyhem Lauren, Chauncy Sherod, Chance the Rapper & Party Supplies assist Bronsolino on the mic, production comes from the likes of The Alchemist, Mark Ronson & Statik Selektah!