“uhuru” is the debut album by summers sons & c.tappin from london and bristol. the journey of this album started back in 2015 and was inspired by the people and places of tanzania. after three years of channelling the vibe into beats and bars, it is finally here!
summers sons are turt (rap) & slim (beats) who are actually brothers. they are longtime friends with vocalist and pianist c.tappin. their music can be described as rap with a lot of jazz. we like to call it cool bap.
the double vinyl, including instrumental edits of all songs on vinyl 2, comes in a gatefold cover.

as the first asian-american solo rapper to perform at lollapalooza and coachella, and to release a greatest hits record, lyrics born has broken through countless barriers to cement his illustrious career. now, on september 14th, on the cusp of acting appearances in acclaimed films as sorry to bother you, and the upcoming always be my maybe, he will be the first asian-american solo rapper to release a 10th album a record of funk and soul woven into classic, boom-bap hip hop called quite a life via mobile home recordings.

soul dynamite pull no punches with the follow-up to their first release and go straight for the jugular with some vintage mr lif fire a 45 splitting mr lifs seven-and-a-half minute return of the b-boy into parts 1 and 2 one on each side. thats not quite as weird as it sounds for on lifs critically acclaimed debut full-length from 02, i, phantom, the el-p produced return of the b-boy features a fade and then a complete change of beat change for the epic third verse. the first half is dark, space-funky boom-bap while the second half is er even darker, and a bit faster, space-funky boom-bap. either side though, you’ll be able to revel in such a-grade lyrical excoriation of race relations in the states as, theyre defacing masterpieces, just to blast to pieces/ what’s dope and hope that wed accept a wacker thesis. jesus! black vinyl.

2018 marks the reprisal of los angeles’ l. scatter with the new 7” figueroa & sunset, returning after 2011’s beat swap meet presents: the all vinyl mixtape. l. scatter’s new 7” features the heavy weight boom bap tracks “figueroa street”, “sunset blvd./cesar e. chavez ave”, and “chick hearn court”. as bonus beats, “sun” and “fig” exist as short instrumentals of “figueroa” and “sunset”. as a building block in project blowed’s infamous history, l. scatter’s legacy continues on a straight arrow progression, keeping intact the foundations that shaped an entire movement of technical hip-hop.

dusty donuts is hitting from all angles at the moment. on this limited release we see uk producer savant sam krats team up with one of new jersey s finest, one half of the artifacts, el da sensei. el has got flow for days over the quirky, stand up bass driven track by krats. this is boom bap in it s purest form. on the flip side, jim sharp takes the reigns on production and hits the mark with a native tongues-eque string laden beat. jim teams up with uk emcee gee bag to drop a verse on the remix, making this a true transatlantic collaboration. with flavours for the basement and the bbq, this is another dusty donuts sure shot.

funky dl steps into the arena with his highly demanded album “blackcurrent jazz 3”. seamlessly weaving his boom-bap style with jazz breaks throughout every track and topped with his smooth and often intense flow, his lyrical ability is top shelf and the beats are at an unequaled standard of excellence. the album showcases some of the finest jazz hip-hop in the scene as it shifts through varied styles of jazz and jazz moods. with features from the nujabes collaboratives cise starr and substantial, the entire set oozes with golden droplets of musical magic moment after moment. the tone is set immediately as the album starts and continues an incomparable and superb standard of quality music right up until the final track.

for our next excursion, we’re off to the library. in search of library records that is - you know the type, the crazy rare records used for soundtracks and such and such. we have a sick selection of synthed-up beats and pieces chopped together by one earl jeffers, making the most out of his international library digging card* (*not a real thing).
for those that don’t know, cardiff’s earl jeffers is one half of darkhouse family, regular family at our sister label, first word, on which they released their debut album “the offering” late last year. earl is a prolific producer in his own right, also releasing over the years under the aliases chesus and metabeats on labels like mcde, fat city and local talk, collaborating with artists like byron the aquarius, action bronson and kamaal williams / henry wu, turning his hand ably to house, hip hop, jungle, jazz and more. all this in addition to running his own label, mélange records.
a dedicated digger and record collector first and foremost, earl has provided us with a quadruple set of heavyweight stuttery sci-fi boom bap. in earl’s words: “this record was mostly inspired by my penchant for the more electronic / synthesized jams, mostly replayed from the original compositions then thrust in to 2028 and beyond….”

amazing release. mastermind luciano with an amazing ep on drumma. incl. felipe venegas remix. 180g and vinyl only!

7 inch single such as the record itself (alcazar), the second single chaos takes its influence from the golden age boom-bap era of hip-hop, that is smooth as velvet and helps transmit its message of social critique, love and hope. woxows message has been perfectly delivered by 2 great rappers, akil the mc from jurassic 5 (who doesnt need introduction) and blurum13 (well known for his works with dj vadim), while on the other side the chorus sang by the legendary ken boothe from jamaica it sounds like the icing on the cake, topping the tune with his soulful voice and a work songs feeling.

deep house legends craig smith and andrew mcgroarty finally let their long running instrumental hip-hop project out into the world. inspired by their love of soul, atcq jay dilla, and vintage drum machines. the sense of funky detail woven by craig smith/signal sounds imagines the world of patchwork hip hop as made famous by no-id & dilla. incredibly soulful very warm with a bounce in the beat femi fem (young disciples) craig smith is a og. coming back to his roots of chopping samples and adding drums with an ear that has been trained and sensiblilized for the soulful boom bap 30 years in the making. classic golden era break ya neck shit. marcel vogel (lumberjacks in hell) dj support femi fem (young disciples), phil asher, lay-far, afronaut, thatmanmonks, marcel vogel (lumberjacks in hell)

comprised of vancouver producers and multi-instrumentalists nick wisdom and astrological, canadian duo potatohead people boast a number of noteworthy accolades thanks to a their signature sound drawing influences from 90 s boom-bap, future soul, classic jazz, deep house and boogie/funk. beginning with a series of ep s, including their landmark -kosmichemusik- ep, potatohead people s productions quickly made their way to artists like illa j who tapped the duo to produce his now critically acclaimed self-titled album, as well as producers like kaytranada (who co-produced illa j s -strippers- with the pair). supporters such as soulection, nightmares on wax, pomo, dj spinna, big boi, and phife dawg have also played formidable roles in championing the sound of potatohead people worldwide.

b from e (frej garcia levin) represents a new generation of talented young artists making waves in copenhagen. of mexican-danish descent, and born and raised in the notorious tower blocks of the south-western suburbs of copenhagen, the 27-year old is on the up-and-up. in high demand as the founder of boom bap rap group natkat, producer of pop outfit ny sensei (new sensei) and head of tape-only label buddahood, the multi-talent seems to have a hand in everything at the moment. his 2017 debut porno tr-xxx (c.u.p) saw some of the hottest names in the game spinning b from e at last year s dekmantel festival, resulting in offers from several well-known record labels.

his new record on tartelet records comes as four cuts exploring different paths of the garage house sound. the opener dark energy is fueled by filthy breaks and a nostalgic theme that would not be out of place in an early atari computer game. the people (dream mix) is a trippy tour through subtle layered melodies, carried by a stripped-back groove.

on the b-side you will find positive sister (2605 tool) : a chunky cut with a serious bassline. saving the best for last, you will see , rounds off the record in style. a feel-good tune that is sure to get plenty of spins this summer. hot tip!

next up on apollo is a stunning double header lp between crate-digger, dj and producer glenn astro and cologne dj and producer hodini aka hulk hodn. boasting out electronic explorations and jazz patterns, turquoise tortoise‘ is a masterful, unique concotion that infuses future soul experiments into detroit influenced house, broken beat and even technoid up tempo percussions rounded up with classic boom bap sounds.

originally released back in 2011, lord giveth, lord taketh away, saw freddie gibbs team up with legendary east coast beat maker statik selektah. the project was recorded in a single day, with the sessions being broadcast out on u-stream. across the seven track ep, gibbs showcases his hyper technical gansta rap flow, stepping out of his comfort zone rapping over some classic nyc boom bap production. the ep features guest spots from trae the truth, smoke dza, termanology and more. omerta inc. will be bringing this collaborative project to vinyl for the first time. as well as featuring the seven tracks from the original project, the vinyl release will include two bonus tracks, crushin’ feelings and carry on featuring joey bada$$.

after kicking off the year with releases by wheelman and general ludd, were very pleased to announce that naum gabo completes our recent trilogy of releases from glasgow based artists. alongside ivan smagghe, its no secret that optimo have been a huge influence around these parts and having released ivans smagghe & cross project on belters last year, its a huge honour to work with naum gabo - the production partnership of jonnie wilkes (jg wikes of optimo) and james savage (mastering engineer for optimo music). fittingly enough, naum gabo played live at the first ever optimo related parties we attended at the sub club back in 2005 and jonnies influential and supportive presence has been felt over the years as we started to become more involved in the glasgow scene and as the label developed. so it didnt require much thought to do this release before we had even heard these new naum gabo tracks they are absolute slammers of the highest order! really big release, bringing to our minds the likes of errorsmith. belters is a new club-focussed label brought to you by huntleys + palmers.

framework recordings continues to establish itself as a key new label, with a fourth great ep, this time with swiss artist o’hana delivering the beats.
this house music lover - real name adrien o’hana - hails from lausanne in switzerland and is a well-established dj in his home country playing regularly at clubs like folklor next to djs such as san proper. he’s also released on grand cru paris and has an accessible, heartfelt house sound perfectly exemplified here.
he opens his account here with the lovely ‘i tried’, a tieless bit of classically informed house music. it has rolling kicks and choppy percussion all run through with warm, streaming chords and a joyful feeling. ‘just 4 her (vox)’ is another lovely jam, with boom bap kick clap combos, dusty hi hats and feel good pianos fleshing out the beats with real soul.
on the flip, ‘dream on’ is another mid-tempo gem with roughhewn drums laying down a heavy groove as soulful male vocal samples and big strings burst through and bring the whole thing to life. it’s house music for cosy, happy dance floors and the final track is a dub version of ‘just 4 her’ with no vocals and more emphasis on the breezy grooves and summery flutes. this is authentic house music that brims with charm.

viers clocks back in on figure duty, showing up with up for another strong statement of his unmistakenly singular style. here he is working it from all angles: straight up and searingly stoic techno opener let my mind breath is grinding away grittily, while things turn surprisingly bouncy, as genesis dishes out electrifying boom-bap-breakbeats, transporting imagery of neo-futuristic tokyo streets. as night sets in, so does the kinetic groove of oyasumi, which twirls layers of energetic movement into a thick current, zooming through the citys deep gorges of concrete and fiber glass. closing track data entry 4590 finally provides some soothing ambient tones of melancholic longing, inviting to slowly drift away into white-washed nothingness and process the bright color storm that viers lets unfold on this intense record.

frank is the latest release from dolfin records, a texas indie label with a prominent underground roster that includes rapper lord byron, producer ben hixon, r&b singer jon bap, and former stanley clarke drummer mike mitchell. liv.e is one of the newer artists on the label, having previously collaborated with hixon through a series of dj parties in dallas (“new math mondays”). hixon and bap have significant marks on this project, providing production, mixing, and background vocals. the beats they lend are often heavy on the drums, with short, hazy riffs that resemble dilla-style syncopated loops. frank opens with a short hiss, launching into a jittery pattern of cymbals and drums, stinging bass slaps, and bouncy guitar riffs. you can almost see the tape reels rolling in front of you as the instrumental loops play themselves out with occasional flutters and skips. a chorus of voices enter with harmonies out of the george clinton songbook, blending in behind the slow, finger-snapping beat. it sounds more like a lost, dusty funk recording from the ’70s than an r&b song made in 2017. -nitish pahwa (passion of the weiss)

‘that jazz’ is coops first official offering since signing to high focus records back in october. by no means a debut, having already released two critically acclaimed albums ‘lost soul’ & ‘god complex’ under his own steam in 2014 and 2016, the london mc is putting his best foot forward - a no nonsense masterclass in smooth rhyming and soulful boom bap, produced by long time collaborator talos. the beginning in a long line of releases planned for coops this year, ‘that jazz’ serves as the perfect introduction. limited edition of 300 numbered copies on 7 inch vinyl.

cold busted has navigated the smooth seas to unearth sailing, the new album from moroccan guitarist and beat-flinger saib. the casablanca- based producer has steered his sound into warmer waters. mixing tempered hip-hop beats with jazzy vibes and a lounge sensibility, saib. touches on a style thats both chill and opulent. the albums opener, archipelago, sets the scene with gentle piano, swirling strings, and beachside sounds that would make martin denny proud. tropics pushes the agenda further, featuring delightful vibraphone lines, stand-up bass, and boom bap beats, providing the perfect soundtrack for poolside cocktails. the sleepy crooning of blue memories, the future-retro sing-a-long of mermaid dreams, and the guitar/vibes interplay of pastel provide other highlights. sailings twelve songs show saib. as an artist capable of bringing a sunny climate to any listening environment

the brilliantly beguiling r-zone series hits release number 20 with another genre defying four track ep by no one knows who. as always, the music looks backwards to go forwards and frantically blends breakbeat, rave, acid, house, electro and techno into wild new forms. the geometry of shadows kicks off with a flurry of pinging kick drums, rushing synths and smeared chords that manage to be physical yet serene at the same time. chrysalis is deep detroit style house with gurgling basslines and warm future soul synths extending off into the cosmos. ship of tears then races through the galaxies as asteroids, shooting sci-fi synths and glassy melodies all fly by in enchanting fashion, acid is buried deep within and the drum programming is busy and direct. the parliament of dreams closes things down with more haunting celestial pads and cold acid lines that are all backed by boom-bap breakbeats. its dance floor euphoria of the highest order once more.

7th storey projects is pleased to welcome back the myor massiv head honcho for his 3rd release on our label. earlier this year, coco bryce travelled to tokyo and osaka for a small series of gigs. thoroughly impressed by his experiences there, upon returning home, he immediately took to crafting a slew of jungle and hip hop tracks, heavily influenced by everything he d seen, heard, felt and tasted in the land of the rising sun. the ep kicks off with its title track, ayakashi. dark, fierce and mysterious like the mythical creatures it was named after, it builds up slowly, utilizing a combination of chopped up japanese percussion, haunting flutes and hot pants breaks, before switching to full on amen assault mode halfway through the tune. shinjuku is one of tokyos most well known wards, and also the place where coco found the records from which the samples were sourced to construct this number: a turntablism beat/scratch album, and a compilation of traditional work songs, this particular one originating from the gold mines of the island of hokkaido. on the b1 track, kaguya, he takes a more gentle approach: sweet, yet melancholic, like the miyazaki movie of the same name. the ep is rounded off with hotaru, which borrows from an entirely different source of inspiration, namely dj krush s abstract take on boom bap hip hop. shards of mid-90s mo wax are blended with anime samples, making for a solid two and a half minutes of golden era-esque head nodding.

a milano constantine album on vinyl at last! earlier this year, the way we were, dropped digitally and we couldnt sit by and let that stand. slice of spice is proud to team up with different worlds music group to bring this d.i.t.c. crew member’s first official album on wax. this release also include 3 previously unreleased tracks, along with production by dj skizz and marco polo, ensuring this is some official boom bap hip hop, with guests from conway, big twins and fame (m.o.p.). limited to 300 copies on standard black vinyl, so dont sleep!

sunstrumental is a double single of two neck breakin, raw, dirty, mpc cuts. it s a nod to the boom-bap school but at the same time also breaks that dogma with fresh current details. instrumentals that many mcs would love to jump on but it s even better they didnt. sunstrumental is the first solo vinyl release by sunnysun, but expect this to be just the beginning of what is to yet to come. sunny is an all-round player: established as an mc (croatian freestyle vice-champion), he lately shifted his focus more on studio work and djing. he created the first mixtape of exclusively slovenian rap music selotejp, his beats underline the lyrics of numerous mcs and appear on compilations like stiropor, ctrl n and btf x rx:tx. all in all, an unorthodox whiz never afraid of gazing into different directions, never limiting himself to just one side of hip hop. truly one of the key players, linking the various clans, posses, crews and cliks. these are his beats.

hay luv the new album by twit one contains cool bap. for those who want to put a name tag on the versatile sound of the cologne based dj and producer, are free to use it. hay luv is the follow-up to the sit-in from 2015. in the meantime twit one has released a keats record on hhv, put out timing & effekte together with retrogott as echomann & 4track boy and uploaded 154 episodes radio love love. and he also played a gig in your town, if you happen to live in hildesheim, london or tokyo. hay luv contains 15 tracks and will be available on lp, mc and digital. special guests are c.a. ramirez on the beat and retrogott on the cut. vocal features come from spoken word artist pblouison and mcs/singers turt & charlie tappin (aka summer sons) from bristol.

the visionary talents of multi-instrumentalist zach witness have sprouted full life in this world, lending his sonic touch to the bulk of erykah badus latest album, but you caint use my phone (motown records). this project was brought to life with erykah badu at the badudio and world witness studios in zach witness hometown, dallas, texas. this project put him on a unique trajectory, harnessing his intricately designed fusion productions into the periphery of an entirely new audience around the world. his forthcoming debut ep, electric revival: rise of an outkast nation, is the first project to find the light of day after this expansion phase, initially created as a birthday gift to zach witness friend and collaborator, andre 3000. the catalyst behind the creation of electric revival has a very specific initiation point. during the recordings for but you caint use my phone, erykah badu called on andré 3000 for collaborative assistance. this would result in the albums last track, hello, created at the home studio zach witness has lived in his whole life. this moment in time compelled zach witness to create an offering for andré 3000, and this was in the form of an entire body of music. electric revival takes on the stories of the lives entangled around societys most crippling and hopeless of situations. the social and political intentions of the ep paints a very defined purpose in this context. experience the transformative sounds of zach witness and his debut manifesto.

hand numbered vinyl only! frits wentink s next release on his own bobby donny label finds him editing some tracks he has been playing on his radio show for a while. they are originally by vertiqua, a german lo-fi hip hop producer that remains unknown. the vinyl only record is limited to 500 copies. all four of these tracks have been edited to make them more suited to the dance floor. the a side comes as an edit that is all about woozy chords and loose, bumpy drums with a rapped vocal stitched deep into the arrangement. it s warm and intake for cosy dance floors. the b1 has organic boom bap drums and kicks, more tape delayed chords and a nice analogue feel all finished with a wordless but beautifully soul-infused vocal. last of all, the louche drums of on b2 are coated in vinyl crackle and laced up with more intoxicating and imperfect chords. this is a perfectly aged combination of hip hop and house that will get any floor bouncing.

chicago’s carington pierre, also known as lanzo, has bestowed evidence of his cosmic hip hop beatology to the cold busted label in the form of a new album, omnipotent. previously recording for blvnt records and the natural selection label, lanzo specializes in a style of experimental hip hop that draws from boom-bap, soulful downtempo, and atmospheres that lean toward the celestial. lanzo and his trusty mpc 1000 have been actively producing since 2008 and omnipotent confrms his upward trajectory, presenting ffteen tasty sonic morsels that groove in a confdent but abstract fashion. highlights include “comfort zone” which envelopes a swinging rhythm in dreamy strings, distant voices, and rolling bass, and the odd but appealing “gutter balls”, featuring some deliciously drunken synths. there’s also the melancholy quiet storm of “colours”, “against the wall” and its heavily processed beat magic, and the loping sci-f jazz of “between friends”. omnipotent is a heady listen, displaying textures and swirls that accentuate the sturdiness of its drum beats. lanzo has provided a distinctive soundtrack that’s ready-made for day blazing or night groovin’.

parallels is the fourth full album released under jason chung’s distinctive moniker, nosaj thing. masterfully dimensional, parallels represents the acclaimed los angeles-based electronic producer/composer/performer’s most diverse, vital work yet. as such, chung sees parallels represents a kind of redemptive rebirth. the album’s compellingly elusive, uncategorizable sonics developed out of what he terms a personal & musical “identity crisis.” according to chung, working with a group of collaborators on parallels that combined both longtime friends and new creative partners added “new energy which pushed me not to limit myself. everything felt fresh and alive.” chung is known specifically for his innovative, unexpected musical pairings: kid cudi hit up on nosaj thing via his myspace page in 2006, resulting in chung producing cudi’s autobiographical classic “the man on the moon.” kendrick lamar flowed over nosaj’s ethereal boom bap to create the youtube gem “cloud 10”, chance the rapper, meanwhile, freaked a nosaj beat for his 2013 breakout masterpiece “paranoia” and appeared on nosaj thing’s previous lp, 2015’s fated. chung and blonde redhead vocalist kazu makino are also longtime creative partners on each other’s work, her voice appears on parallels as an otherworldly spirit animating the icily ‘80s-synthetic “how we do.”

always with a dope groove & big basslines, herb lf tunes have always been influential and musically a few steps ahead. herb lf solo or him being part of the projects westpark unit, gush collective, discoshit & more, there are way too much releases to mention in the last two decades. his knowledge & production skills also made him to one of the most sought after mastering engineers. freude am tanzen, frank music, musik krause, quartet series, troubled kids and lots more labels & artists like the xtra-dope final touch in their music, carefully mastered by herb lf in his düsseldorf based nordstadt fm studio. please welcome the -decades ep via farside records. where are the young men? is a huge soulful & epic tune, but also a reminiscence to the early 80s punk/wave era. check the groove & bassline, even with a dosis of boom bap vibe inside for ecstatic moves on your dancefloor. henry l & ingo sänger try a different perspective on the punk/wave attitude of where are the young men? and add a little dosis of funk, disco & detroit techno to the tune. with a demanding groove & organic sounds, this is extra funky & takes you back to the vibes of the freestyle summer of love in 1989. rave on. herb lfs real pong, madrid has a demanding groove with beautiful spacey chords. this is as soulful as it gets and might be your secret weapon on a small basement floor, but should amazingly work on bigger sound systems as well. the tune air is breathing deep, phat & slow. start or finish your night with this ambient monster tune or play it at home. lots of fresh air guaranteed.

young adults return to the fold with another gem from the polish underground. having bubbled up in the polo house scene for the last couple years, 2017 finds richu m stepping into the forefront for his debut outing donor goes to hawaii . rhythm-centric, but varied in approach, the 6-tracker traverses swirling techno, heady thumpers, muddy beatscapes and throwback boom bap. simultaneously airy and off-kilter, the release shows a breadth of approach that is not easily pigeonholed, but feels vaguely familiar. opener round soundtracks a laser tag pursuit scene with swayed synths, chattering percussion, and pitch-shift vocal echoes. the title track donor goes to hawaii takes a dilla bounce kit to the beach and gets the vibraphone and organ all sandy. jazzy piano loops and squelchy synths stack wobbly layers high like jenga blocks on aquarian mummies . pistaccio gets subterranean with infectious skittered patterning and a proper bump to boot. picking up the pace, melting dolphins is a funky floor filler. finale landskates blisses out with floating pads and a meditative drumroll.

since his untimely death at the all too young age of 32 the world has grown to appreciate the work of j dilla even more than when he was alive. there’s an ethereal quality to jay dee’s works, part boom bap but more mellow. mellow, but never soft. and dilla never stopped making beats, his mpc was by his side until the very end. it now resides in the smithsonian. due the prolific nature of his beat making, the world is blessed to have stacks of dilla material – some coming to light even this many years after his passing. in the world of hip hop, no one’s mother is more famous that ma dukes. go ahead, name check chuck d’s mom or chance the rapper’s mom or ti’s mother – without hitting google. and one of the reasons we all know ma dukes is her tireless effort to maintain dilla’s legacy. this release is yet another step in that direction. presented here, from the official ma dukes collection, are 15 works by jay dee from deep in the vaults, being released on vinyl for the first time.

nachpressung des akua naru albums aus dem jahr 2015 als 140g pressung im klappcover ohne download-coupon!
inspiriert durch gespräche mit der renommierten autorin und professorin für african studies, dr. tricia rose, orientiert sich die botschaft des zweiten studio-albums der in köln lebenden exil-amerikanerin akua naru an den erfahrungen dunkelhäutiger menschen in den usa und europa. der titel ist eine metapher und steht für die schicksalhafte ambivalenz jener kanarienvögel, die früher als eine art warnsystem für unvorhersehbare ereignisse im bergbau eingesetzt wurden. das album enthält beiträge großartiger künstler, die akua bei ihren touren und zahlreichen studioaufenthalten rund um den globus kennen- und schätzen lernte, darunter schlagzeuger-legende bernard purdie (roy ayers, last poets), den trompeter christian scott (prince) sowie cody chesnutt (-the seed 2.0 feat. the roots-), die neo-soul-durchstarterin georgia anne muldrow, den drummer daru jones (jack white) und den bei motown-france gesignten soulsänger ben l oncle soul. maßgeblich beeinflusst von jazz, neo soul, blues und r&b, punktet -the miner s canary- mit einer deutlich ausgeprägteren hip hop-Ästhetik als akua narus 2012 erschienenes debüt -the journey aflame-.

lyon-based beatsmith ethyène has patented a certain style of mid-tempo house music applying a french touch aesthetic to disco, r&b and hip-hop sample references. through releases on longtime underground favorite kolour ltd and upstart labels like kyoku, as well as contributions to his own moonrise hill material, the frenchman has quickly built a sought after discography. his collaboration with better listen comes at an interesting time, as he seems to really be refining his sound, maturing sonically and honing the synthesis of the aforementioned influences to something nicely unique. the playin with fire ep is a deliciously bittersweet four track affair. the a1 slot sees e joining forces with his homie, the much acclaimed folamour, for the superlative why my love. meanwhile, loneliness of the shadow dancer- continues the r&b cream vibes, combining a classic head-nodding hip-hop flip with a soul chorus. the b-side gets a bit moodier, with the title track climatically building on hypnotically deep riffs and vocals and i sold yayo to buy kicks serving as the bob james-esque closer. the package is a cohesive reflection of a pensive and slightly anguished mindstate, with boom bap cultural influences and his familiar philadelphia streets functioning as the canvas. dont be surprised if this record serves as a point of stylistic elevation for the young producer, with plenty more of this new ammunition in the chamber. and you know the saying: if you play with fire, you might turn into a scorching hot phoenix.

baker’s dozen heads back to the east coast where veteran producer marco polo brings a welcomed boom bap flavor to the series. new york city is the birthplace of fat beats (and as many would say, hip-hop in general) and current nyc resident marco polo is true to form in representing our roots. as always, every volume of bdz features one artist and twelve tracks (with limited random copies including the baker’s dozen bonus track on a flexidisc) and comes equipped with a 5x7” postcard insert that features a photo of the artist’s workspace along with the equipment used in their music making process. a personal narrative of how they got into beat making in the first place is featured on the back of the jacket. visually cohesive and packaged with the utmost attention to detail, baker’s dozen is a series that speaks up for artists whose craft renders voices superfluous, and whose instrumentals alone suffice to make a statement.

words, blue notes, boom bap and bad news: here comes “the shift”, the third album of stand high patrol.

the japanese punk rock movement known as tokyo rockers began in the summer of 1978. it incubated an independent music culture as well as a host of fascinating, individualistic musicians. includes insert with liner notes, includes download code

limited edition 45 for record store day, 2017. cover by jean andre.
mayer hawthorne and jake one are tuxedo. “thank you” is a bonus track to their second album, tuxedo ii, which fnds them at the forefront of a new wave of gangster boogie - one that owes as much to g-funk as p-funk. this is the territory of pre- and post hydraulic low riders: a mélange of cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant disco that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking the funk.

kölns bester rapper veedel kaztro hat es wieder getan: am 31.03.17 erscheint der dritte teil seiner büdchen-trilogie. -büdchen tape iii- zeigt einen hörbar gereiften -veezy-, was delivery und flow, aber auch themen und inhalte angeht: -coach veezy- ist ein -hund ohne leine-, der -respek- einfordert. der besorgten -almans- und ihrer -angst- den spiegel vorhält und allen rassisten, sexisten und afd-wählern ein -lms 2017- entgegen schmettert. dank abgeschlossenem -flermanistik--studium gibt es zwar jeden tag nur -falalel-, doch das tut seiner -veezyness- keinen abbruch. musikalisch baut veedel kaztro brücken. knarzige samples werden mit der 808 tiefergelegt. veezy nimmt seine boom bap-wurzeln mit in die trap, denn scheuklappen kennt er auch hier nicht. produziert haben yourz, spexo, dufsen, shawn the savage kid, kevoe west und true lyes. aufgenommen und gemischt wurde von und bei dienst&schulter, die ebenfalls mit zwei beats auf dem album vertreten sind. in sachen features hält veedel k es lokal und teilt sich das mic mit sparky, tami und simon grohé.

the only time you wear a tuxedo is when its time to party. so says legendary west coast player snoop dogg on the opening track of tuxedo ii. the blessing of the doggfather is of special importance to mayer hawthorne and jake one, whose second album as a duo finds them at the forefront of a new wave of gangster boogie one that owes as much to g-funk as p-funk. this is the territory of pre- and post-hydraulic low riders: a mélange of cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant disco that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking the funk

the last couple of years have been huge for pomo, going from a relatively obscure canadian producer to releasing his debut ep on hw&w, remixing for the likes of janet jackson and mark ronson, producing am i wrong? on anderson paak s debt album and touring the globe with disclosure as their opening act. bastard jazz has commissioned pomo to be next in line for the fourth volume of their tempo dreams compilation series, following on the heels of the hotly contested soul clap compiled vol. 3. as with other tempo dreams records, pomo has curated a slick and well polished album full of exclusive tracks from friends and collaborators such as lindsay lowend, aloka, exmag, syre, daniel crawford, fvlcrvm and more. touching on the shimmering nudisco sound, plodding deep electronic vibes, funky instrumental hip-hop, and even a hint of drum n bass, tempo dreams vol. 4 takes it s rightful place in the series as one of the most forward thinking compilations showcasing emerging young talent.

modern boogie bangers! computa games drops its second vinyl release on new orleans own superjock records. “computer rock (og mix)” is that feel good funk with heavy bass, smooth synths and vocoder vocals to top it off. the flipside, “computer rock (west coast mix)” gets a g-funk treatment giving it that boom bap that you can rock to! definitely a staple for the crates.

marq spekt and blockhead have teamed up once again for a new album titled keep playin. the duo’s latest project is a follow-up to their 2014 lp justplaywitit, one of that year’s best yet most slept-on projects. the broady champs mc and acclaimed producer link up to craft yet another gem that any underground hip-hop fan is sure to enjoy. the duo’s new album features 13 tracks filled with marq spekt’s unique brand of grilchy rhymes paired up with blockhead’s modern twist on boom bap production. sadat x of brand nubian, conway the machine and karniege are among the notable guests on this exclusive vinyl release.

different worlds music group/fat beats are thrilled to announce the lp and cassette release of the latest album from skizz (dj skizz), “cruise control,” which is skizz’s 2nd official producer-album. over the last couple years, skizz has been working extensively with your old droog, both producing and mixing his music, helping to propel the career of the young mc from coney island. he has also been touring with droog, making beats for other noteworthy artists, and helping start a new label, different worlds music group. this will be the 2nd official release from dwmg, with the first being timeless truth’s critically acclaimed “cold wave” album released this past february. “cruise control is a progression for me sonically,” says skizz. “this album takes you from where b.q.e. left off- it’s still that raw boom-bap, but this album is a bit more laid-back and melodious. it just feels good, like you’re cruising with your lady and the cool breeze is blowing through your hair!” skizz recruited a mix of veteran og mcs (o.c., planet asia, roc marciano, evidence, etc) as well as up-and-comers (your old droog, conway, hus kingpin, da villins etc.) to provide a sonically cohesive album that is set to be the official hip-hop soundtrack for the summer of ’16.

harlem veteran vast aire of cannibal ox fame teams up with brooklyn producer raticus on -the heir vast,” which is packed with six boom bap golden era hip hop songs, for the diehard boom bap hip hop fans. raticus has composed the theme music for this lyrical demonstration, along with abstract interludes and scratching to add to the ambience. taking from his years of experience working with many independent labels (da shaüp productions, yosumi records) and several underground artists (kil ripkin of the coalescence, ruste juxxe, ft street smartz, haziq ali, sean p, lace da booms) raticus provides you another hip hop album staying true to his brooklyn roots

talman records is back for the third release. four new tracks from the man at helm of the label, samuel thalman aka okain.

every few years in the genre of hip hop there comes an album that gracefully, yet unapologetically steers clear of the redundantly trodden path that so many artist become accustomed to walking. such bravery is often rewarded by the art gods, this time is no exception as uk born , new jersey emcee cymarshall law & hungarian producer mr. joeker team up for the 3rd time and bring you the masterful, hip hop in the soul 3, the first in the series featuring krs-1 , this time a colorful bunch of guests are invited. cymarshall law weaves in and out of different song topics that have rarely been touched if at all effortlessly as his lyrical prowess has yet again moved forward in innovative and original way. the mcs refusal to “ walk in a straight line” is refreshing in a way that lets you know some artists still value originality and crafting a skill of their own. mr. joeker steps forward to prove he is a true gem in the form of a super producer. the production here raises the bar boom bap reigns supreme, though mr. joeker shows great range by taking us into new musical dimensions of his own creation, the result is hip hop in it’s purest , rawest form with a new school twist, an album that by all means will wake many people up to take notice, as this duo is finally putting the soul back into hip hop.
pressing on translucent green vinyl.

kingunderground is proud to announce rebel base, the highly anticipated collaboration between nottingham based rhyme and beat duo cappo and nappa. with their first single dropping in 2013 in the form of boom bap gem red hot, this slick and sonically stylish project touches on sounds from the past, present and future of hip-hop.

michigan native dj soko is part of a long line of great technical djs, musical innovators, curators and those who broke key artists and introduced acts that forever changed the landscape of the music scene. sokos ear and ability to put emcees in position for them to shine over the perfect production is never more evident than it is on his debut project released on his imprint left of center. dj soko uses his years coming up in the detroit scene, his experiences djing in his current home (the planet of brooklyn, ny) then blends both of those worlds together seamlessly. the end result is a gritty, boom bap rap album that is equally as soulful and introspective as it is rooted in a blue collar lyrical hip-hop aesthetic. *domino effect* is ultimately brought together by sokos deft cuts and scratches which elevate each composition and make them resonate with listeners even further.
pressing on transparent red vinyl.