Black Country, New Road will release the second album, 'Ants From Up There' on February 4th via Ninja Tune. Following on almost exactly a year to the day from the release of their acclaimed debut 'For the first time', the band have harnessed the momentum from that record and run full pelt into their second, with 'Ants From Up There' managing to strike a skilful balance between feeling like a bold stylistic overhaul of what came before, as well as a natural progression. Their debut 'For the first time' is a certain 2021 Album of the Year, having received ecstatic reviews from publications including as NPR, Stereogum, Pitchfork, The FADER, CRACK, Uncut, The Quietus, Loud & Quiet, The Face, Paste, The Needle Drop, DIY, NME, CLASH and fans alike, as well as recently being shortlisted for the UK's prestigious Mercury Music Prize. The album made a significant dent on the UK Albums Chart where it landed at #4 in its first week, as well as breaking into multiple Billboard Charts including Top Album Sales (#50), Current Album Sales (#26), Tastemaker Albums (#4), Heatseeker Albums (#15) and Emerging Artists (#22). 'For the first time' melded klezmer, post-rock, indie and an often intense spoken word delivery. On 'Ants From Up There' they have expanded on this unique concoction to create a singular sonic middle ground that traverses classical minimalism, indie-folk, pop, alt rock and a distinct tone that is already unique to the band.

Kanye West delivers a Deluxe Edition of the record-shattering Donda, featuring 4 bonus tracks plus fan-favorite verses from Andre 3k, Kid Cudi and more. This release, from one of “the most influential pop stars of the 21st century,” was his 10th #1 album on the Billboard 200, racking up over 1 billion streams in the first 10 days. Originally previewed at 3 historic livestream events, the global phenomenon topped charts in 11 countries and set an Apple Music record of #1s in 152 countries. 2 CD.

Wiz Khalifa's classic mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice, became a viral sensation and garnered critical acclaim when it was originally released in 2010. Now available on standard black vinyl in a gatefold jacket.

Soundtrack to the Netflix film featuring the title track from Koffee, "Guns Go Bang" from Kid Cudi/JAY-Z, "Better Than Gold" from Barrington Levy, "Blackskin Mile" from CeeLo Green, and more!

Liimted smoke yellow vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. Smoke DZA's eighth studio album, Homegrown, features an all-star lineup including Wiz Khalifa, Cam'ron, Jack Harlow, Curren$y, Jadakiss, Flipp Dinero, Jim Jones, Big K.R.I.T., Dom Kennedy and more. This album is the true definition of New York hip hop. As a staple in NYC and the weed community, the release celebrates both and speaks to the correlation that exists between DZA and your neighborhood grocer.

'NOW That's What I Call Music: 2000's Hip-Hop' presents an iconic 18-track lineup of memorable hits, including Nelly "Hot In Herre", Outkast "Ms. Jackson," Snoop Dogg "Drop It Like It's Hot" and many more!

Originally released in 1995, the Aglio e Olio EP by the Beastie Boys showcases a return to their hardcore punk roots. This new reissue includes 2 bonus tracks, "Soba Violence" and a cover of the Doors classic "Light My Fire" featuring Miho Hatori from Cibo Matto. Pressed on 180-gram heavy vinyl.

Originally released in 1996, Come Find Yourself is the debut album by New York's finest, Fun Lovin' Criminals. Spending nearly 4 years in the UK album chart, it's packed with instant classics such as "The Fun Lovin' Criminal", "King Of New York", an inspired cover of the Hal David/ John Barry Bond movie theme "We Have All the Time In the World", not forgetting the Tarantino infused smash "Scooby Snacks". This 25th anniversary edition is presented as heavyweight coloured double vinyl for the first time and features 4 bonus tracks.

Limited double black and yellow colored vinyl LP pressing. With Meek Mill and the DreamChasers team backing him, Vory released his self-titled album in winter 2020. Boasting features from Meek, Landstrip Chip, BEAM and others, the 15-track body of work showcases his relatable lyrics and his genre-bending versatility.

Harlem native Smoke DZA pairs up with one of NOLA’s finest, Curren$y, to release a joint project called Prestige Worldwide. The album features production from MonstaBeatz, Girl Talk, 183rd, Buda Da Future and Grandz Muzik. Available for the first time at retail. Limited Edition Cerulean Marble LP. 150-gram vinyl.

2021 release. No Love Lost is an expansive and emotive collection of music, inspired by past relationships and Blxst's hometown of Los Angeles.

After 10 years, one of the greatest trilogies in hip-hop gets its final chapter. Kid Cudi unveils his anxiously awaited 7th full-length studio album and the 3rd installment of his legendary Man On The Moon series, Man On The Moon III: The Chosen out on Republic Records. Cudi has returned with 18 new songs, such as “Show Out” feat. Pop Smoke and Skepta, “Lovin’ Me” feat. Phoebe Bridgers, and “Rockstar Knights” feat. Trippie Redd. 2 LP.

Originally released digitally in celebration of the 5th anniversary of his first Bobby Tarantino mixtape, GRAMMY-nominated, multiplatinum artist Logic brings a new chapter on BOBBY TARANTINO III, releasing on CD on December 17, 2021. Consisting of a 5-week campaign of Friday advance track releases including "Vaccine," "Get Up," "My Way," and "Call Me." The original Bobby Tarantino mixtape, released in July 2016, rose to #2 on both the Billboard Top Rap Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

The sequel to last year’s King’s Disease features Ms. Lauryn Hill, Eminem, EPMD, Hit-Boy, Charlie Wilson, YG and more. 

Deluxe edition. 2021 release. Planet Her is the third studio album by rapper and singer Doja Cat. The album was produced by Doja Cat's frequent collaborators such as Dr. Luke, Y2K, and Yeti Beats, and the rapper herself. Titled after the fictional planet conceived by Doja Cat, Planet Her is an amalgamation of pop, R&B, and hip hop styles. It features guest appearances from Young Thug, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, JID, SZA, Eve and Gunna.

Common - "A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2" - A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2?is the continuation?of Common's movement music. Common said "something kept telling me to focus on the good and the things I wanted to see in the world. Music is one of the things that gives me hope and happiness." Pt. 1's message lead with love and positivity through difficult times: a pandemic, racial and social justice protests, and a polarizing election. Pt. 2 recognizes there is much work to be done while acknowledging progress and starting to live our dreams. Indie Exclusive Signed CD. Limited Edition

Esteemed hip-hop artist Vince Staples has released his self-titled album, produced by Kenny Beats. His first full-length release since 2018's critically acclaimed FM!, the 10-track CD delves not only into Staples' upbringing in Long Beach but his psyche as he learns to cope with his yesterdays and strides toward new tomorrows, picking others up along the way. Includes a 12-page booklet.

2021 release, the 16th studio album by horrorcore duo Insane Clown Posse. The album is the fifth Joker Card in the second Deck of the Dark Carnival Saga. Features the single "Wretched".

Vinyl LP pressing. Deluxe 10th Anniversary edition. Rolling Papers is the third studio album by rapper Wiz Khalifa. The album features guest appearances from Too $hort, Curren$y and Chevy Woods. Rolling Papers was supported by five singles: "Black and Yellow", "Roll Up", "On My Level", "No Sleep" and "The Race".

Limited colored vinyl LP pressing. Labor Days is the third studio album by Aesop Rock, originally released by EL-P's Definitive Jux label in 2001. The 14-track double album is regarded as Aesop's definitive collection, featuring production work from Blockhead and Omega One and guest appearances from the likes of Illogic and C-Rayz-Walz. Dark dense beats and intricate rhyme flows weave in and out on this conceptual album about work. 20th anniversary colored vinyl 2LP reissue.

A-1 Yola is the second album by rap group 11/5. It was originally released on July 23, 1996, for Dogday Records, and produced by Premiere Music (Reggie Smith, T.C. and Race). A-1 Yola did better on the charts than the group's previous album, Fiendin' 4 tha Funk, peaking at #33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #22 on the Top Heatseekers.

2022 release. Simplicity is genius. Great artists can make the ostensibly impossible seem effortless. It's in this rarefied air where you'll find Detroit's Apollo Brown, constantly conjuring fresh innovations out of a tried-and-true formula. For the last decade, the Mello Music Group artist has singularly re-defined and expanded the foundation of what boom bap production can sound like in the 21st Century. This is the tradition that Apollo Brown triumphantly upholds: the head-nodding, screwface-inducing, soul-replenishing lineage of Primo and Pete Rock, J Dilla and Large Professor, Mobb Deep and DJ Muggs. He makes music for old and young heads-bone bruising beats that summon visceral images of back-alley brawls in '81, pool hall melees, and metropolitan griminess. An East Coast sound with a midwestern mentality, channeling the marrow-freezing chill of the wind fleeing Lake Michigan.

The San Francisco Legend, Larry June, returns with the aptly titled Orange Print, which maps out his own vision for success. With themes of health, wealth, numbers, and diversifying your income streams, Larry June flexes the philosophies that have helped him go from street hustler to made man. Features include Money Man, Trae The Truth, & Dej Loaf.

Lifting hip-hop up to a psychedelic realm, Rejjie Snow raps in technicolor, painting in broad strokes with hypnotic hooks, artfully crafted bars, and otherworldly production. Igniting his career, he supported Madonna on tour and broke all the rules with his 2017 project, The Moon & You. A year later, his full-length debut, Dear Annie, yielded genre-disruptive fan favorites such as "Egyptian Luvr," "23," "The Rain," and more. Along the way, he also collaborated with everyone from Clairo to Kaytranada. After receiving acclaim from tastemaking publications worldwide, the Ireland-born artist opens up this world on his second full-length offering, Baw Baw Black Sheep, boasting the singles "Cookie Chips" [feat. MF DOOM & Cam O'bi] and "Mirrors" [feat. Snoh Aalegra & Cam'Obi].

Vinyl LP pressing. Filthy America... It's Beautiful is the third studio album by American hip hop group The LOX. The album was originally released in 2016.

Never released on Vinyl, 2 disc seminal underground hip-hop group DJ Too Tuff & Tuff Crew, known for their hits "My Part of Town"and "Danger zone"

RZA, Founding member and producer of The Wu Tang Clan does new single on vinyl withFlatbush Zombies (stylized as Flatbush ZOMBiES) is an American hip hop group from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 2010.[1][2] The group is composed of rappers Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick Arc Elliott.

Long Term Effects Of Suffering - $uicideboy$ - The cousins?Ruby da Cherry and $lick $loth?grew up together, white kids in black neighborhoods on the east and west banks of the New Orleans. Once they joined forces, the result was a dark blend of horrorcore glitch-trap with booming bass, ominous atmospherics, and occultish, drugged-out rhymes. Ten volumes were issued that year, closing with XX: The Infinity Saga. In 2018, they dropped Carrollton and Meet Mr. NICEGUY, a pair of singles that landed on their fall release, I Want to Die in New Orleans. Issued in September 2019, the album landed at number nine on the Billboard 200. Prior to headlining the inaugural Grey Day Tour, the duo released a 6-track EP in May of 2019 with the legendary Travis Barker titled Live Fast, Die Whenever. $uicideboy$ released their newest 12-track project in 2020 titled Stop Staring at the Shadows, garnering over 150 million streams in it's first week. Their newest album is set to be released this July and will feature the duos first music videos in two years which will coincide with the return of Grey Day Tour, which they will be headlining both in North America and Europe. - G59 Records

Building on his already impressive resume, DJ Kay Slay returns to set the streets ablaze with his latest offering, Accolades. Featuring the next installment in the highly-acclaimed posse cut series, Rolling Deep, DJ Kay Slay blesses listeners with the ultimate version, Rolling 110 Deep, containing over 40 minutes of pure bars from some of hip-hop royalty, including Sheek Louch, Styles P, Dave East, Crooked I, Black Thought, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and many more. Other standouts include 72 Bar Assasin (feat. The Game), Extravagant Lifestyle (feat. Raekwon, Sheek Louch, Ghostface Killag & Tragedy Khadafi), & Harlem Block Money (feat. Dave East, Vado, Jim Jones, Shoota 93 & Talkit Trigga)

25, G Herbo's fourth studio album, is best described as the rapper's coming of age, focusing on his growth from youth to adulthood. Maintaining the same vulnerability fans witnessed on PTSD, Herbo further explores themes of fatherhood, love, death, friendship, success, and manhood like never before.

Special limited edition splatter vinyl pressing of this career retrospective from one of the most dominating rappers in the game - DMX!Features exhilarating newly recorded versions of the hit singles "Where The Hood At," "Party Up (Up In Here)," "What's My Name?," "X Gon' Give It To Ya," "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" and more!

After ten years, one of the greatest trilogies in hip-hop gets its final chapter.Kid Cudi unveils his anxiously awaited 7th full-length studio album and the third installment of his legendary Man On The Moon series, Man On The Moon III: The Chosen [Republic Records]. Cudi has returned with 18 new songs, such as "Show Out" [feat. Pop Smoke and Skepta], "Lovin' Me" [feat. Phoebe Bridgers], and "Rockstar Knights" [feat. Trippie Redd]. CD Softpak.

Life Is…Too $hort was Too $hort’s fifth studio album and is his highest selling album to date. It is considered the cornerstone on which all of Bay Area hip-hop was built.

Daniyel's ability to make art that's truthful to his experiences is one of the many reasons why local Portland publication, PDX Monthly, has deemed him the next big thing. With the goal to hit full throttle in 2021, Daniyel is set to release his upcoming project, 82, dedicated to 82nd Avenue, the street he grew up on. In keeping true to his roots, 82 digs into the feel-good nostalgia and uniqueness of what makes Portland the place it is and the person it has helped him become, illustrated by the emotional "LOST ONES," directed by Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade, and the energetic "IT'S OK."

A true legend of modern hip hop, Method Man, presents this debut album from his new prodigy, the thugged out emcee Street Life - now available for the first time ever on vinyl!Features the hard hitting singles featuring Method Man "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" and "Street Education" plus "A Star Is Born" featuring fellow Wu Tang alum Inspectah Deck!Raw, real and ready for his close up, Street Life comes well equipped with astounding lyrical skills and has appeared on tracks by the venerated Wu Tang Clan, Method Man and others!Available in RED vinyl!

As a gift to fans, Playboi Carti releases his Whole Lotta Red album after a two-year hiatus. Whole Lotta Red features 24 tracks with appearances by rap superstars Future, Kid Cudi and Kanye West. This is Playboi Carti's second studio album, following Die Lit which was released in 2018 and debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It has clocked a staggering 1.6 Billion streams for its tracks to date.

Having quickly risen to the top of the New York hip-hop scene, the mercurial Brooklyn-based drill rapper, Dusty Locane, drops his debut album, UNTAMED. At twenty tracks, the album showcases Dusty's lyrical chops as an emcee and star power & versatility that makes him a unique artist. Working with fellow New York artists Rah Swish, KG MORE BREESH, 8ANDITT & 3Kizzy, as well as rising labelmates OBN Jay & Yung Bleu, Dusty speaks on how he became king of the streets and looks to prove why he deserves to stay on top for years to come. The world is closely watching Dusty, and he's ready to deliver.

Grammy-nominated rap superstar, Lil Baby, brings us the deluxe version of his latest studio project, “My Turn” via Quality Control Music. With a massively dedicated fan base and constant flow of  hits, “My Turn” quickly became the first album of 2020 to go double platinum. Black Ice Deluxe 3 LP available for the first time ever. Gatefold Jacket.

Mt. Marci is the 8th studio album from legendary emcee / producer Roc Marciano. This new album is in conjunction with Josue Thomas of The Gallery Dept, and without question is a must have for the true music / Roc Marciano fan.

Initially written and recorded when Atmosphere and fledgling label Rhymesayers Entertainment were still making a name for themselves in the Minneapolis hip-hop scene, "God's Bathroom Floor" was an early standout for the group. Turning heads and drawing new fans in with Slug's introspective raps over producer Stress' hypnotic jazzy beat, the song was performed live frequently, becoming an audience favorite before ever appearing on an actual release. Even then, it was only a live performance they made available, and only on a limited mixtape they released in 1996. It would be another year before the 4-track studio recording would surface on Atmosphere's Overcast! EP, a collection of focus tracks promoting their debut full-length album, but "God's Bathroom Floor" never made it onto the album itself and slowly slipped into obscurity from there. Now, in celebration of it's 25th anniversary, the original recording has been unearthed, remastered, and pressed on this limited edition 7-inch vinyl. Plus, in a nod to the song's original release as a live version, we've included a new live performance of the song, recorded recently in Montreal, mixed and mastered exclusively for this special release. Whether you're a lifelong fan whose first introduction to the group was through this song, a new fan looking to explore the group's historical roots further, or somewhere in between, this release will be a welcome addition to your Atmosphere collection.

Double vinyl LP pressing. Detroit 2 is the long-awaited successor to Detroit (2012), Big Sean's penultimate fourth career mixtape. News of Sean's fifth studio album has been widely proclaimed in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Pitchfork, Complex, VIBE, Highsnobiety, XXL and more. Featured A-listers include Nipsey Hussle, Jhene Aiko, Travis Scott, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne and a solid list of Detroit rappers.

Limited 180gm transparent red colored vinyl LP pressing. The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!(1989) is the third studio album by infamous rapper Ice-T. The album has an uncharacteristically gritty sound, featuring some of the darkest musical tracks that Ice-T ever released.

Pop Smoke's legacy continues with the release of his posthumous debut album, Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon. The album finds Pop's voice in concert with collaborators both old and new such as Quavo, Roddy Ricch, Lil Baby, and more. Staying true to his intention to use his debut album to show the breadth of his artistry, fans will discover a Pop Smoke that they had yet to see - one that is singing, stepping outside of the Brooklyn drill sound that he helped bring to a global level and more.

The deluxe version of DaBaby’s album, BLAME IT ON BABY, now available on vinyl. The revamped, deluxe edition consists of ten new tracks, including new single “PEEPHOLE” and the Black Lives Matter remix of “ROCKSTAR,” which was released on June 12th amidst worldwide protests. Double LP Set.

2021 release. Savage Mode II is a collaborative studio album by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. The album serves as a sequel to the duo's extended play Savage Mode (2016). It features guest appearances by Drake, Young Thug, and Savage's cousin Young Nudy. Features the singles: "Runnin" and "Mr. Right Now".

Because The Internet is the sophomore album from Childish Gambino, the stage name of Grammy, Golden Globe, and Emmy Award-winning recording artist, actor, and producer Donald Glover. Released in 2013, the album lends perspective to the complications born from an Internet-obsessed society. In creating Because The Internet, Glover set out to not just release an album but to build a world, also releasing a companion screenplay and short film, "Clapping For The Wrong Reasons."

Because The Internet is presented on 2LP 12" 180g vinyl, comprises 19 songs including "3005" and "Sweatpants", and features appearances from Chance The Rapper, Jhene Aiko, and Azaelia Banks.

A Written Testimony, the long-awaited debut studio album from Jay Electronica, was recorded over 40 days and 40 nights, starting December 26th, 2019. Includes appearances from Travis Scott and The-Dream, as well as production from NO I.D., Swizz Beatz, Hit-Boy, The Alchemist and Khruangbin. LP available on May 15th.

The Wish Me Well series has been a staple in YFN Lucci's catalog for over 5 years, from the beginning of his career with Wish Me Well to now, with the highly anticipated Wish Me Well 3. Throughout his career YFN Lucci his been very open about the influence Tupac has had in his life and music so it should come as no surprise that he titled this album "Wish Me Well 3: Me Against the World." The theme of "Me Against the World" is very relatable especially in our current climate. While creating this album Lucci reflected on feeling like he has only a few allies in the industry and truly feeling like he's on his own. This can be heard in songs like "Part 2" and "Hate's Real" featuring Boosie. The album also has moments for the ladies as well with his chart topping "Wet Remix" featuring Mulatto and "Both of Us" featuring Rick Ross and Layton Greene. Overall, this album will give you in depth look on YFN Lucci's personal life and show you how he has grown as an artist, father and business man.

There is no disputing that Benny the Butcher has arrived. With anticipation now at a fever pitch, Benny the Butcher puts a bow on his and Griselda's genre-shifting year with his new album Burden Of Proof; an album that aligns the best rapper alive, with the hottest producer (Hit-Boy) of 2020.Mastered by Guru, Burden of Proof is The Butcher's official level up. With Burden Of Proof, Benny took his time and holed up in LA with Hit-Boy to craft a masterpiece; and the one producer methodology, though a somewhat new concept for Benny, aids the albums musical variance, depth and diversity. It's still gritty and vintage, but coupled with the melodic and anthemic production of Hit-Boy; Benny's Pyrex vision raps have never sounded more festival ready."I always wanted to name my first album, The Most Anticipated, because that's always been my position and it's my position now. I've always been a dope artist from the hood, from the city, but I never really put out "the album" Benny commented. "I've recorded a lot of great music. Dope projects, mixtapes, features and people see me on that level to where when I deliver the album it has to be "that album" because expectations are high and I thrive under pressure. Burden Of Proof is that album. We worked hard on this project. I got a lot of input from the team. This is what I wanted to give the people; Burden Of Proof."

Double vinyl LP pressing. Logic returns with No Pressure, reuniting with legendary super-producer No I.D. Logic, 6ix and No I.D. come full circle for a sequel to his debut album, Under Pressure, with the first new music since Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind.

Double vinyl LP pressing. TOP - which marks the highly anticipated third album from the still rising YoungBoy, follows the release of a superstar collaboration with Snoop Dogg on "Callin," the record which hit #1 on YouTube and amassed over 7 million views in one week. In addition, the album features recent singles as "All In," "Sticks With Me," and "Kacey Talk." The booming, energetic album solidified YoungBoy as one to watch as a rising superstar in the rap game.

Vinyl LP pressing. 38 Baby 2- which marks the long awaited sequel to YoungBoy's 2016 breakthrough mixtape, 38 BABY-proved an even greater triumph, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 as well on the "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" and "Top Rap Albums" tallies. Indeed, the release's phenomenal success made history, affirming YoungBoy as only the third artist to ever have three Top 5 albums on the Billboard 200 in a 12-month period.

2022 release. AI Youngboy 2 - which marks the long awaited follow-up to 2017's RIAA gold certified AI Youngboy - includes the hit singles, "Self Control" and "Slime Mentality," both of which earned critical acclaim upon their releases, with Hypebeast praising the former for "(showcasing) the rapper's more introspective and reflective side. Throughout 'Self Control,' the Baton Rouge superstar uses his melodic flows to reveal how he dealt with loved ones losing their lives, the temptations of substance abuse and more." Meanwhile, HotNewHipHop hailed "Slime Mentality" as "a gritty cut that falls directly in line with the sort of vibes NBA YoungBoy has been dropping for the last twelve months. There is something about this kid that just screams consistency and it's what has his fans going crazy whenever he decides to grace us with new music."

On January 31st of 2020, the accomplished songwriter turned songstress released her debut EP 'Sis.', a 7-track EP produced by Homer Steinweiss and The Menahan Street Band of Amy Winehouse's famous album 'Back To Black'. With this project the rising, Memphis-bred artist introduced her own take on modern soul, using live instrumentation and melodic prowess to blend contemporary and nostalgia. The project was met with widespread acclaim, earning her a spot on NPR's Tiny Desk [6/11], three separate usages in this season of HBO's series 'Insecure', and over 20 million streams across streaming platforms.

After making waves and receiving coverage from a wide range of outlets such as Complex and Coindesk for being the first artist in history to accept a $1M advance in Bitcoin, Money Man drops off the aptly titled crypto-inspired album, Blockchain. The album coincides with the release of his first NFT which saw fans clamoring to snatch up the limited amount of tokens available to mint within a matter of days. Money Man flexes his knowledge of cryptocurrency and financial gains across 13 tracks, enlisting help from Moneybagg Yo, Jackboy, & Yung Bleu as we see his star power headed to the moon.

Innercity Griots, the second album from Freestyle Fellowship, is perhaps *the* essential West Coast left-field rap album of the early '90s. Released in 1993 on 4th & Broadway, it's a towering, progressive hip-hop masterpiece that expanded rap's boundaries through lyrical elevation and production innovation. Their talent was ahead of everybody else by light years. This is pure b-boy jazz.The original single vinyl LP is now hideously scarce, and of course the sound suffers from not being officially released as a double. This Be With re-issue fixes both problems, and for completeness also includes "Pure Thought" from the CD version of the album. This incredible display of imaginative hip-hop sounds better than ever.Freestyle Fellowship were some of the earliest technically dazzling rappers to come out of California. Mikah 9, P.E.A.C.E., Aceyalone and Self Jupiter - along with DJ Kiilu - forged their famed lyrical dexterity in the ultra-competitive crucible of the Good Life Cafe. Founded in Leimert Park, South Central LA in December 1989, this earthy health-food store and cafe was where the city's finest microphone fiends would gather to showcase their freestyle skills at the Thursday night open-mic.Forcing MCs to raise the bar and stay fresh every week (a challenge made even tougher by the strict "no cussing" policy) the Good Life became an incubator for groups like the Pharcyde and Jurassic 5 and their events attracted big-names like Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, Pharrell, and John Singleton. To Self Jupiter, the Good Life was "college - you had to come with something peculiar, left-field each week". It served as a predecessor to the Project Blowed scene, and inspired influential club nights like Low End Theory. The Fellowship's "chopping" double-time raps were an evolutionary step for lyricism. A style that sounds freestyled: abstract hip hop before it existed. "We do double-time passages and runs and riffs" Mykah 9 told the LA Times in a 1993 article, "we improvise and play off of each other's words and sounds-like jazz musicians do. What we are is liberators, liberating rap from it's R&B/funk structures - that 4/4 [time] prison". All 4 members were very different but they all had a unique jazz-scat style that was fresh. Their flamboyant chopping technique seemed like they were trying to rap at the speed of thought and it influenced everyone from Snoop to Ras Kass to Xzibit to Kendrick Lamar.Innercity Griots has been described as the Rosetta Stone for rap styles. The group's dense, vibrant wordplay and enviable interplay quickly earned the attention and respect of the city's hip-hop underground. Frenetically trading acrobatic rhymes with agility and grace, the Fellowship used their voices as instruments like true virtuosos, spraying improvised raps like a Coltrane sax solo.With the bulk of the album's production handled by The Earthquake Brothers, and Bambawar, Daddy-O, and Edman taking over for some of the tracks, Innercity Griots dances between organic and programmed music, largely forgoing sampling and instead built around live jazz jams. The likes of Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" and Miles Davis's "Black Comedy" were used more as templates for house band The Underground Railroad Band to spiral out from. As Pitchfork noted in their recent 9.0 review of this classic album, "Freestyle Fellowship embodied the style and spirit of jazz on a molecular level. They shared the effortless cool and tough countenance of the great bebop players from the '50s without verging into jazz-rap parody. Their innate jazziness felt tangible and hard-earned".Indeed, just days after it's release, they chose to celebrate Innercity Griots at Hollywood's Ivar Theatre not by sharing the stage with contemporary rappers, but instead by performing live with jazz legends Horace Tapscott and Don Cherry, as well as proto-rap spoken-word ensemble The Watts Prophets.The unusual approach to the music was matched by the Fellowship's lyrics. Eschewing the tired rap tropes of the time, this multifaceted album instead explores their ruminations on greed and homelessness, weed, sex, survival, insecurity and tribalism. The album's abrasive opening salvo of "Blood" and "Bullies of the Block" will knock you sideways. P.E.A.C.E. spits a quick a cappella piece before "Bullies of the Block" swaggers in with a stabbing, rolling could-be-Bootsy bassline to die for with wild horn snatches and knocking drums. The effortless, enviable flows quickly establish that you're hearing something utterly unique and completely captivating. Aceyalone boldly claiming that he's "making the kind of music that will outlast you" - that's nearly 30 years ago now and he's not been proved wrong yet."Everything's Everything" brings a breezy lightness to the archetypal hype posse cut, and shows off the Fellowship's thrilling chemistry. With assurances that everything's "all right y'all", there's a sense that tempers are cooled, microphones prevail and a certain Kendrick Lamar may have taken notes.The bouncy "Shammy's" is a loping dedication to the pursuit of the opposite sex, produced by Stetsasonic's Daddy-O, whilst the quick-fire "Heat Mizer" has the spirit and feel of a totally improvised cipher. The moody P.E.A.C.E. solo track "Six Tray" is an off-kilter slo-mo rider anthem, bringing that smooth, syrupy-sticky LA sound whilst looping up strangled horns. The brilliantly chaotic, siren-heavy "Danger" comes on like a West Coast Bomb Squad production, the group detonating lyrical and stylistic bombs at will. All four members rip through their verses and rhymes at break-neck pace, ricocheting through the tracks with seemingly limitless energy. It'll leave you spinning.An undeniable highlight (on an album packed with them) the peerless "Inner City Boundaries" invites Daddy-O to stop on by again, this time to drop off a smooth instrumental and lace a verse. Featuring an irresistibly catchy, sing-a-long hook, it sounds like it was recorded in a smokey jazz lounge late one Saturday night. The Fellowship rap - and occasionally scat - over a live backdrop, searching for the freedom to express themselves in a world that's hostile to their very existence: "I gotta be righteous, I gotta be me/I gotta be conscious, I gotta be free"."Cornbread" is Aceyalone's remarkably faithful 808-drenched tribute to old school hip-hop and '80s electro. Synth drums, handclap snares, elastic bassline - it's all there. "Way Cool" is probably the funkiest hip-hop track about cannibalism ever recorded and on hot club track "Hot Potato", the crew again trade lines and harmonise old school routines over funky organ. The blissed-out "Mary" is a mellow ode to weed, riding a duo of samples from O'Donel Levy's version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" and Henry Mancini's "Lujon". Everyone sounds as horizontal as you'd expect. Mykah 9's beautiful and moving "Park Bench People" is one of Innercity Griots' most beloved and unique tracks, something that wouldn't feel out of place on a traditional vocal soul-jazz record. Arguably as skilled a singer as he is a rapper, Mykah 9 weaves a downbeat tale of the homeless in Leimert Park and across LA, channeled into stream-of-consciousness scats and whispers, bellows and moans. Just sensational.The strung-out "Heavyweights" reveals the Fellowship at their most adversarial. They bring plenty of back-up to this rowdy posse cut, perfectly distilling the uproarious intensity of a cutthroat MC battle. The album closes with the patchwork rap kaleidoscope of "Respect Due" and of course, for the sake of completeness, there's also "Pure Thought" from the CD release, a stunning track full of elegant fireworks and a brilliant sample of Billy Cobham's "Stratus". Amazing.The Fellowship weren't all that concerned with following industry trends and 4th & Broadway struggled to market the group and get air play. Overshadowed by the hype around fellow '93 rap classics (Wu-Tan

Blockhead's highly sought after Uncle Tony's Coloring Book" is back on vinyl! This latest run is pressed on limited edition green and cream records. Packaged in a wide-spine LP jacket, with full-print inner sleeves.

Independent hip hop artist Pouya releases his fourth studio album, Blood Was Never Thick As Water. Lyrical Lemonade says, "He's one of the most creative minds in music right now. His songs are always versatile and complex, considering he fills them with a plethora of true stories and experiences, and his music videos never disappoint."

EPMD's initial success in 1987 seemed to take a lot of people by surprise. Without build-up or fanfare, they launched this stunning debut 12" and, so ill-prepared were people for it, that the label was still misspelling their name.Those early 12" copies of 'It's My Thing' - and the hard to find UK 7" that followed shortly after - have them billed as EPEE MD. Before they were signed, they were going by EEPMD, but they decided to drop an E due to the success of the west coast's Eazy E. The one person not surprised by their success, however, was hip-hop pioneer and producer Kurtis Mantronik, who actually signed them to Fresh Records.It's fitting that he's the man that saw their promise, as he himself was one to go against the grain. His electro-influenced productions for Mantronix and Just Ice were ahead of their time, and perhaps in EPMD he saw kindred spirits. Because, at the time this dropped, hip-hop was going up tempo, taking it's cue from James Brown samples and picking up the pace.On both 'It's My Thing' - underpinned by the languorous 'Seven Minutes of Funk' by The Whole Darn Family - and 'You're a Customer', with it's combination of ZZ Top and Steve Miller Band - Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith slow things right down. It gives their vocals time to breathe and allows us to enjoy the interplay of their metaphor and simile-heavy lyrics. As calling cards go, they don't come any better than this.

EPMD's initial success in 1987 seemed to take a lot of people by surprise. Without build-up or fanfare, they launched this stunning debut 12" and, so ill-prepared were people for it, that the label was still misspelling their name.Those early 12" copies of 'It's My Thing' - and the hard to find UK 7" that followed shortly after - have them billed as EPEE MD. Before they were signed, they were going by EEPMD, but they decided to drop an E due to the success of the west coast's Eazy E. The one person not surprised by their success, however, was hip-hop pioneer and producer Kurtis Mantronik, who actually signed them to Fresh Records.It's fitting that he's the man that saw their promise, as he himself was one to go against the grain. His electro-influenced productions for Mantronix and Just Ice were ahead of their time, and perhaps in EPMD he saw kindred spirits. Because, at the time this dropped, hip-hop was going up tempo, taking it's cue from James Brown samples and picking up the pace.On both 'It's My Thing' - underpinned by the languorous 'Seven Minutes of Funk' by The Whole Darn Family - and 'You're a Customer', with it's combination of ZZ Top and Steve Miller Band - Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith slow things right down. It gives their vocals time to breathe and allows us to enjoy the interplay of their metaphor and simile-heavy lyrics. As calling cards go, they don't come any better than this.

"Ever-evolving rapper Token releases the introspective 'IOD' ft. Lil Skies today, where he touches on his struggles with addiction. Watch the music video HERE! The single follows Token's October release "High Heels," featuring fiery rapper Rico Nasty. Both tracks can be found on Token's upcoming album, Pink is Better, which will be released January 14th, 2022 on Token's label Never Too Different, in partnership with Atlantic Records. 'IOD' ft Lil Skies is deeply personal to Token, opening up about his own addiction struggles in the song. "This is the first time I've acknowledged it. Seeing my sister battling addiction scared me because I knew that could've been me. The album addresses my unhealthy habits & the things that led me there. With Lil Skies, you can always hear the pain behind the admittance. He was the perfect fit for 'IOD. ' "Token was recently co-signed by NBA superstar Damian Lillard, who was impressed with Token's freestyle paying tribute to J. Cole. 'Hi J. Cole... ' is one of Token's highest viewed on YouTube, reaching 310k views in it's first 24 hours and 1. 2M views within the first 7 days of release. Additionally, Token's 2021 single "Chit Chat," produced by Ronny J (Juice WRLD, Eminem, Kanye West, Denzel Curry), has over 4M streams since it's May release. Spanning his fast-growing music career, Token has garnered 233M global streams, 193M video views, and 2. 4M followers across all social platforms. TRACKLISTING: 1. A Little Different 2. Caught On Camera 3. High Heels (Ft. Rico Nasty) 4. HOT! 5. Not Love 6. Sip 7. Be Happy 8. WHITE TURNS RED 9. Struck Gold 10. Amsterdam (Ft. Benny The Butcher) 11. Chit Chat 12. Boom (Ft. JID) 13. ROUND OF APPLAUSE 14. Best Highs 15. I Can't Help (Ft. Digital Nas & SAINT LYOR of Van Buren Records) 16. IOD (Ft. Lil Skies & YKD Jah) 17. Pink 18. Thank God.

Exodus, the unyielding masterpiece from hip-hip icon DMX, executive produced by the legendary Swizz Beatz, solidifies DMX as part of today’s conversation and a forward motion in hip-hop. Featuring a starry cast that includes Jay-Z, The LOX, Nas, Alicia Keys, Usher, Bono, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Griselda Boys, Moneybagg Yo, and a guest appearance from his son, Exodus. Through the heartfelt lyrics and production, Exodus is a tribute to every fan that supported DMX and will continue his legacy!

Endlessly sampled, covered, quoted and requoted, this may well be one of the most influential hip-hop singles ever released. But, in many ways, it's importance goes beyond it's sheer classic status as a single in it's own right.In retrospect, it shows the duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith as pioneers in production, creating a funk-based sound that helped to provide a blueprint for artists on the other side of the country. In 1987/88, most West Coast rap still adhered to an East Coast audio blueprint. By 1989, they were leaning as heavily on Zapp and Roger Troutman samples as EPMD were on this single.The foundations of the track are interesting, with a snatch of Juice's much-plundered 'Catch a Groove' (which has popped up everywhere from The Beastie Boys to Kings of Pressure) overlaid with big chunks of Kool & The Gang's 'Jungle Boogie' and Zapp's irrepressible 'More Bounce to the Ounce'. Vocodered funk was a rarity in New York hip-hop until this song, but it's the West Coast G-Funk artists who really ran with it.It's popularity spanned the country (and the globe, to be fair), with EPMD performing numerous shows in California on the basis of the sound, moving away from their James Brown-obsessed peers to display their own musical tastes. That said, the flipside - here presented on 7" and, indeed, on any single, for the first time - takes it back to that JB-era. '(It's Not the Express), It's the JB's Monaurail by The JB's is woven with Otis Redding and Beastie Boys to create a mid-tempo headnodder par excellence. It was always too good not to be a single.

Smoke DZA’s 2020 album boasts features from WestSide Gunn, Wale, T-Pain, Flipp Dinero and more. Available for the first time at retail. Limited Edition Gold LP.

One of the most respected artists and producers in the hip hop industry, DJ Krush released in 2020 his last album 'Trickster'.

"Grammy-nominated musician, entrepreneur and criminal justice reform advocate Meek Mill announced plans to release his long-awaited, fifth studio album, Expensive Pain. The album will include Mill's newly-released songs, including "Sharing Locations (feat. Lil Durk & Lil Baby)" and "Blue Notes 2 (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)." The latter single is a sequel to Mill's famed song "Blue Notes" that appeared on his DC4 mixtape in Oct. 2016. Expensive Pain will also serve as Mill's first full-length album release since Nov. 30, 2018, when he released CHAMPIONSHIPS that included collaborations with JAY-Z, Drake, Cardi B, Future, Anuel AA and Ella Mai, among many others. CHAMPIONSHIPS debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's "Top 200 Albums, " marking his second chart-topper following his 2015 album, Dreams Worth More Than Money, and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2020 Grammys. The release of Expensive Pain comes shortly after Mill was honored with the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award by PTTOW! (Plan to Take on the World) - which is an invite-only community and summit for today's most creative and inspiring CEOs, CMOs and Icons, spanning 70 major industries - for his criminal justice reform work.