|
Search Result for Genre HIPHOP
viewing 1 To 25 of 787 items
Next >>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LP
|
|
NA 5249LP
|
"Available in a unique colored vinyl pressing with a 12-page booklet. The next release in Now Again's Memphis rap series is Gotta Get My Pimp On. Lo-fi pimp player raps recorded on a four-track cassette in Shawty Pimp's bedroom in 1994. This is part of Now Again Records multiple LP series on the History of Memphis Rap, which attempts to capture Memphis and its underground rap scene as it began to produce some of the most distinctive music of the '90s. This was a unique hip-hop strain -- visceral and often vicious. It was a local, low-fi, cassette-tape based movement - yet it went on to change the course of rap music. These albums have never been pressed on vinyl -- until now. From Skinny Pimp and Carmike to Gangsta Blac and Shawty Pimp, these albums have been relegated to the proverbial bins of history and bootlegged, with unofficial copies still fetching top dollar on the secondary market. These albums were all licensed directly from their original creators, and come on limited edition colored vinyl with artist-approved imagery for their first LP iterations. You can read the story of the Memphis Rap scene in a 12-page, oversized booklet with notes by Torii MacAdams. It captures the story of Memphis rap starting with the city's founding and ending with an auto supply shop that sold these albums over the counter, with all points in between."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
NSD 245LP
|
$36.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 10/25/2024
Double LP version. "When Your Old Droog first entered the hip-hop scene a decade ago, he was cloaked in anonymity. The Ukraine-born, Brooklyn bred rap phenomenon was known solely for his sharp, punchy lyrics wrapped in a gruff delivery. He finally came into the light with his eponymous debut release, the catalyst for what has become a prolific career. Since then, Droog has crystallized his place in hip-hop as the erudite rapper who can tackle any beat with precision; a product of the underground, yet designed for the mainstream. With his new project Movie, YOD is in a new era, where his days of being the dark horse in rap are over. He has countless co-signs from some of the greatest to ever touch a mic, and now he's finally geared to join them. 'Movie is everything that's dope about me,' Droog explains. 'Every song, every mood. This is my story.' A layered masterpiece, the album features appearances by Method Man and Denzel Curry, plus production by industry stalwarts like Just Blaze, Harry Fraud, Conductor Williams, and the legendary Madlib."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
NSD 245CD
|
"When Your Old Droog first entered the hip-hop scene a decade ago, he was cloaked in anonymity. The Ukraine-born, Brooklyn bred rap phenomenon was known solely for his sharp, punchy lyrics wrapped in a gruff delivery. He finally came into the light with his eponymous debut release, the catalyst for what has become a prolific career. Since then, Droog has crystallized his place in hip-hop as the erudite rapper who can tackle any beat with precision; a product of the underground, yet designed for the mainstream. With his new project Movie, YOD is in a new era, where his days of being the dark horse in rap are over. He has countless co-signs from some of the greatest to ever touch a mic, and now he's finally geared to join them. 'Movie is everything that's dope about me,' Droog explains. 'Every song, every mood. This is my story.' A layered masterpiece, the album features appearances by Method Man and Denzel Curry, plus production by industry stalwarts like Just Blaze, Harry Fraud, Conductor Williams, and the legendary Madlib."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
AR 165LP
|
$31.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 10/18/2024
LP version. Brazilian hip-hop, with a golden-era glint and a 20-strong cast is given fresh impetus on Ela Partiu, 24-year-old rapper Laiz's breakout recording on Agogo Records. Glowing with pan-African collaborations, and rooted in Laiz's love and appreciation of magical realism, tropicália and Brazilian music old and new -- think Tom Zé and Marcelo D2 -- Ela Partiu features Sudanese trap-rapper Zeyo Mann, Ghanian percussionist and singer Eric Owusu (Jembaa Groove, Pat Thomas) and produced by young.vishnu and Pachakuti, from the up and coming crew, and Laiz's label mates, The New Love Experience. Lyrically ruminating on emigration, the songs are drawn from Laiz's experiences, some complex, since leaving her Sao Paulo home at just 14 years old, going to the States, and relocating to Germany in 2018 as well as those experiences of the international guest musicians, many who are global south artists, emigrants, who call Germany their home. The recording was brought to life in Laiz's relaxed city of Hildesheim in 2023. In Portuguese, "Ela Partiu" is the name of a classic Tim Maia track, the '70s tortured soul-boy from Brazil, one of Laiz's heroes. It also translates to "she has gone" referring to Laiz's early-life decision to leave her family home. There's little doubt Ela Partiu offers new bridges between tropicalia, Brazilian MPB and hip hop, lighting up Brazilian musical traditions in similar ways that Marcelo D2 or Criolo attempted. Its joyful, yet poses serious questions, and with a highly talented group of emigrant musicians from every corner of the globe, it's so much more than a Brazilian record, brought to life by a talent and traveler who thrives on the off-beat path, and is clearly still finding her way.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NSD 150LP
|
"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."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
7"
|
|
SSCR 2024001EP
|
"'Never Get Enough' is a classic and overdue vinyl release written and performed by the legendary Funkateer Bobby Byrd. It was the year 1993 when the Godfather's Godfather, at least Soulbrother # 1, as Fred Wesley calls him, probably the most warm-hearted and soulful gentleman on Planet Funk, was sitting in the living room/office of his back then, brand new label Soulciety Records in Hamburg, Germany, listening to some of his old 7" singles. When Soulciety released the studio album On the Move (I Can't Get Enough) in 1994, the album became a somewhat hoped for, but still unexpected success. Rare Groove-enthusiasts the world over, who knew about Bobby's songs as well as the ones he wrote with James Brown, plus all the hip hop-fans who dug him from the countless times his songs had been sampled (Eric B. & Rakim used almost all of Bobby's version for their hit 'I Know You Got Soul'), loved these fresh but original sounding recordings. For the first time ever, this classic is now available on a Sedsoulciety Recordings 7" vinyl, including the never released instrumental version on the flip side."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
7"
|
|
SSCR 2024007EP
|
"'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' is more than a classic. It is the summer anthem, one of the most covered and sampled soul tunes by Roy Ayers and the Ubiquity family. This vinyl re-release has been eagerly awaited by music lovers worldwide. This version was originally recorded as a cover version, produced by Soulciety Records for their label band project named The Soulsociety. The performance was recorded with the original songwriter and producer of the song, Mr. legendary vibes controller and soul superstar Roy Ayers. This recording follows the original '70s feel and instrumentation of the 1976 version, but this time also features Roy Ayers prominently on lead vocals. Another big difference compared to all other versions by Roy and Ramp is the fact that this version is arranged and produced as a midtempo track. It will fit perfectly into any DJs set with a focus on soul, funk or hip-hop. For the first time ever, this classic is now available on a Sedsoulciety Recordings 7" vinyl, including the previously unreleased instrumental version on the flip side with added extra vibes by the master himself."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 52746LP
|
"In 2014, Wiz Khalifa released his fifth studio album and his third major label release, Blacc Hollywood. The album featuring the lead single 'We Dem Boyz' debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. The album was produced by frequent collaborator I.D. Labs with additional production by DJ Mustard, Ghost Loft, Choppa Boi, Jim Jonsin, Fanatik N Zac, among others. Out of print on vinyl since it was released, Get On Down presents a limited-edition pressing of Blacc Hollywood pressed on Blacc Tattoo Ink-In Clear colored vinyl, packaged in a high gloss gatefold jacket with a 10-year anniversary commemorative OBI limited to 1000 numbered copies."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
6x7" BOX
|
|
GET 56055-7
|
"In 1994, Nasir 'Nas' Jones dropped Illmatic which is regarded by many as the greatest hip-hop album of all time. Before 1994, Nas (under the name 'Nasty Nas') was rapping and making demo tapes with Large Professor, and in 1991 performed an unforgettable verse on Main Source's Live at the Barbeque. The next year Nas released Halftime for the Zebrahead soundtrack, another Large Pro cut, and signed a deal to record an album for Columbia Records. Nas was being compared to one of the lyrical greats, Rakim, and the pressure was on to drop a debut album to top all rappers. A dream team of hip-hop producers including DJ Premier, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, and L.E.S. was assembled to work on what would become the five-mic classic Illmatic. Not only did it establish Nas as the best rapper alive in 1994, but it also raised the stakes for hip-hop production, lyrical technique, content, and overall artistic ambition. Illmatic is the crown jewel of the mid-'90s classics that still define the genre. No filler, one intro, and nine tracks of hip-hop perfection. Every song on this album matters. From Premier's masterful 'N.Y State Of Mind' to the AZ assisted 'Life's A Bitch' and Pete Rock's piano-laced 'The World Is Yours,' Illmatic starts with a powerful trio of songs that easily could solidify this album as classic if it stopped right there. Other tracks such as 'Memory Lane' and 'One Love' show Nas focusing on his neighborhood and local legends that molded him into the person he was which made them all just as important to us. Large Professor delivers the album's first single 'It Ain't Hard To Tell' while Premier delivers the album's certified street anthem 'Represent.' Serious to a fault, and lyrically dense to an extent that has possibly never been matched, the 20-year-old Nas stood on the shoulders of his predecessors and made them proud with this one. Thirty years later the album stands the test of time, where time is truly illmatic. 7" box set. The 7"s are housed in a custom hardbound casebook that includes a 64-page book of extended liner notes by Sacha Jenkins with full lyrics, photos, and 12-inch singles discography. The casebook is housed in a premium outer slipcase, featuring the iconic album art printed in gold."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NA 5246LP
|
"Smoky hustler music by North Memphis's Skinny Pimp, a former member of Three 6 Mafia recorded in 1993 and originally released on cassette. This is part of Now Again Records multiple LP series on the history of Memphis rap, which attempts to capture Memphis and its underground rap scene as it began to produce some of the most distinctive music of the '90s. This was a unique hip-hop strain -- visceral and often vicious. It was a local, low-fi, cassette-tape based movement -- yet it went on to change the course of rap music. These albums have never been pressed on vinyl - until now. From Skinny Pimp and Carmike to Gangsta Blac and Shawty Pimp, these albums have been relegated to the proverbial bins of history and bootlegged, with unofficial copies still fetching top dollar on the secondary market. These albums were all licensed directly from their original creators, and come on limited edition colored vinyl with artist-approved imagery for their first LP iterations. You can read the story of the Memphis rap scene in a 12-page, oversized booklet with notes by Torii MacAdams. It captures the story of Memphis rap starting with the city's founding and ending with an auto supply shop that sold these albums over the counter, with all points in between. Pressed on galaxy ice-colored vinyl with a 12-page booklet."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
AR 165CD
|
Brazilian hip-hop, with a golden-era glint and a 20-strong cast is given fresh impetus on Ela Partiu, 24-year-old rapper Laiz's breakout recording on Agogo Records. Glowing with pan-African collaborations, and rooted in Laiz's love and appreciation of magical realism, tropicália and Brazilian music old and new -- think Tom Zé and Marcelo D2 -- Ela Partiu features Sudanese trap-rapper Zeyo Mann, Ghanian percussionist and singer Eric Owusu (Jembaa Groove, Pat Thomas) and produced by young.vishnu and Pachakuti, from the up and coming crew, and Laiz's label mates, The New Love Experience. Lyrically ruminating on emigration, the songs are drawn from Laiz's experiences, some complex, since leaving her Sao Paulo home at just 14 years old, going to the States, and relocating to Germany in 2018 as well as those experiences of the international guest musicians, many who are global south artists, emigrants, who call Germany their home. The recording was brought to life in Laiz's relaxed city of Hildesheim in 2023. In Portuguese, "Ela Partiu" is the name of a classic Tim Maia track, the '70s tortured soul-boy from Brazil, one of Laiz's heroes. It also translates to "she has gone" referring to Laiz's early-life decision to leave her family home. There's little doubt Ela Partiu offers new bridges between tropicalia, Brazilian MPB and hip hop, lighting up Brazilian musical traditions in similar ways that Marcelo D2 or Criolo attempted. Its joyful, yet poses serious questions, and with a highly talented group of emigrant musicians from every corner of the globe, it's so much more than a Brazilian record, brought to life by a talent and traveler who thrives on the off-beat path, and is clearly still finding her way.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
NSD 162LP
|
"L.A. rapper Blu burst onto the scene in the late '00s with the widely acclaimed Exile collaboration Below The Heavens, igniting a West Coast hip-hop renaissance in the process. With his cool Cali demeanor and undeniable lyrical talent, Blu drew praise from fans and tastemakers alike, launching a remarkable career that continues thriving to this day. His first ever double album, the 2014 masterpiece Good To Be Home is an essential part of this story. An unapologetic celebration of Los Angeles music and culture, the album takes listeners on a vivid journey through Blu's storied stomping grounds. With sweeping strings and hypnotic bass lines supplied by producer Bombay, Good To Be Home features a host of West Coast hip-hop luminaries, including Evidence, Fashawn, Alchemist, Casey Veggies, MED, Planet Asia, Oh No, Pac Div, Strong Arm Steady, Thurz, Visionaries, and more. A cohesive collection with 20 tracks and no filler, this classic release is now available again on vinyl after years out of print."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
7"
|
|
LEWIS 11665EP
|
"DJ Yoda teams up with the mighty Nubya Garcia and Boston Hip-Hop legend Ed O.G. for 'Roxbury'. Originally released on Yoda's Home Cooking it's been lovingly remixed but the originators of cut and paste Double Dee & Steinski. The B-side is Yoda's collaboration with Joel Culpepper 'London Fields.' This too has been remixed and this time it's by Lewis Recordings labelmates The Still Brothers."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
LEWIS 1167CD
|
"Aiming to rescue the airwaves from run-of-the-mill rap and humdrum Hip-Hop, the Hometown Heroes crew swoops into view, bringing together audiovisual evangelist DJ Yoda, soundsystem shocker Brad Baloo of The Nextmen, and legendary rhyme supplier Edo G out of Boston for a funky fix of unashamed dad-hop. The holy trinity have dozens of classics under their belts covering rap's golden era to the present and Hometown Heroes is another gem providing the sort of rewindable Hip-Hop that's hella breezy, but still packing plenty of bluster beneath the surface."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
LEWIS 1167LP
|
LP version. "Aiming to rescue the airwaves from run-of-the-mill rap and humdrum Hip-Hop, the Hometown Heroes crew swoops into view, bringing together audiovisual evangelist DJ Yoda, soundsystem shocker Brad Baloo of The Nextmen, and legendary rhyme supplier Edo G out of Boston for a funky fix of unashamed dad-hop. The holy trinity have dozens of classics under their belts covering rap's golden era to the present and Hometown Heroes is another gem providing the sort of rewindable Hip-Hop that's hella breezy, but still packing plenty of bluster beneath the surface."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
NMG 578116LP
|
"The latest full-length album from Detroit mainstays Slum Village, F.U.N., has now made its way to vinyl. The 12-track project is their first album in nearly ten years and includes fresh collaborations with Larry June, Cordae, Eric Roberson, Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins, Abstract Orchestra, Sango, Phat Kat, Daru Jones, Earlly Mac, The Dramatics and more. 2015's critically acclaimed Yes! further cemented T3 and Young RJ's ability to effectively carry on the legacy of the seminal rap group, retaining its essence while evolving its sound with fresh new energy. However, with a sold-out tour in Europe, and the release of the Larry June and The Dramatics-assisted 'Just Like You,' it was revealed that the duo was back in the lab together working on a new Slum Village album. F.U.N. finds Slum Village expanding on their signature certain sound, but still staying close to their hometown roots: Young RJ explains 'We wanted to just try something new, so we focused on making Disco-inspired music,' and T3 notes that the recording process all 'began with collecting old Disco records.' For fans who wonder why the sonic shift, and why the long hiatus between proper albums, T3 says 'Slum is still here. We're still relevant and we're still trying to push the envelope. Sometimes people put too many rules on music, and without sounding cliche, we wanted to just have fun with [this album].'"
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
LEWIS 11683CD
|
"Blessing/curse. Division/unity. Love/hate. It's in the context of a polarizing 24-hour, digitized, globally connected world that NightjaR finds its wings. NightjaR being the nom-de-plume and smudged rainbow constellation of collaborative copy-and-paste sound-wrangling and hip-hop from Doves' Jimi Goodwin. But it's here and it's Mala Leche. 'Mala Leche' (Spanish: 'Bad Milk') is 16 tracks of beats and bars, vocals provided by some of the hip-hop artists at the very top of Jimi's own, personal home listening lists and interludes that throw back and forth through eras and genres in sometimes playful, occasionally awakeningly abrasive styles. For fans of Pan Amsterdam, Edan, Homeboy Sandman, Sleaford Mods."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
LEWIS 11683LP
|
LP version. "Blessing/curse. Division/unity. Love/hate. It's in the context of a polarizing 24-hour, digitized, globally connected world that NightjaR finds its wings. NightjaR being the nom-de-plume and smudged rainbow constellation of collaborative copy-and-paste sound-wrangling and hip-hop from Doves' Jimi Goodwin. But it's here and it's Mala Leche. 'Mala Leche' (Spanish: 'Bad Milk') is 16 tracks of beats and bars, vocals provided by some of the hip-hop artists at the very top of Jimi's own, personal home listening lists and interludes that throw back and forth through eras and genres in sometimes playful, occasionally awakeningly abrasive styles. For fans of Pan Amsterdam, Edan, Homeboy Sandman, Sleaford Mods."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 51515LP
|
"In the early 1990s, gangsta rap was becoming more popular. KRS-One took to the mic and continued to write socially conscious raps resulting in the hard-hitting 1992 album Sex And Violence which would be the fifth and final studio album under the Boogie Down Productions name. Produced by KRS-One, Pal Joey, Kenny Parker, D-Square, and Prince Paul, the album explores the darkest sides of the American urban landscape and psyche, with KRS as narrator, detailing all sides of the matrix. While singles like the alarming drum-driven 'Duck Down' and the funky-as-hell 'We In There' got most of the attention in '92, the deeper sequence reveals plenty of additional gems: the history lesson of the dark and dusty 'Drug Dealer'; 'Ruff Ruff,' with scowling MC favorite Freddie Foxxx (aka Bumpy Knuckles); the grooving 'Questions and Answers,' and the frantic record industry track 'How Not To Get Jerked.' The album kicks off with an intro skit featuring KRS-One as a DJ in panic needing vinyl which at the time was a dying format while cassettes and CDs became the dominant format. Thirty-two years later vinyl DJs and hip-hop vinyl collectors no longer need to panic. Get On Down in partnership with Sony Music's CERTIFIED is proud to bring back to vinyl this underrated gem in the BDP catalog. Featuring one of the dopest album covers by American artist Robert Williams, Sex and Violence is pressed on colored vinyl and packaged in a gatefold jacket with full lyrics."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 51531LP
|
"In 1996, after 14 years in the game that started with Too $hort and Freddy B selling tapes out of the trunk of their car in East Oakland, Too $hort announced he would be retiring. On May 21, 1996, Too $hort released his tenth studio album Gettin' It with the lead single of the same name featuring Parliament Funkadelic. Retirement was more of a hiatus as Too $hort got back in the game in 1999 with the appropriately named album Can't Stay Away. If Gettin' It was going to be Too $hort's last album, he was going off on a high note by earning his sixth Platinum record. In addition to having Parliament Funkadelic contribute to two songs, Ant Banks and Shorty B are back with their laid-back Bay Area funk along with some G-Funk contributions by Colin Wolfe, L.A. Dre, and Spearhead X. Too $hort delivers another Bay Area classic full of nasty pimpin' rhymes with dope features by MC Breed, Erick Sermon, and Rappin' 4-Tay. Previously only available on promo vinyl, Get On Down in partnership with Sony's CERTIFED is proud to present a proper vinyl release of Gettin' It in an orange swirl-colored vinyl run packaged in a gatefold jacket with a foldout lyric sheet."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 52743LP
|
"The Jungle Brothers' 1988 debut, Straight Out The Jungle, is important for many reasons. It is lo-fi and goofy, but had moments of real focus and social consciousness. It is a true kitchen sink record, that caught a rap fanbase enraptured by Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, and Boogie Down Productions a bit off-guard. Also of note, beyond the excellence of the album itself, the Jungle Brothers were the fulcrum for what would become the Native Tongues movement -- they came first, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest followed, under their guidance. By 1989, the group had even more confidence, plus a Warner Bros. contract and advance in their back pocket. They used it to great advantage on the self-produced and criminally underrated Done By The Forces Of Nature, expanding their sonic palette and continuing their Afrocentric approach to music and life. Singles like 'What U Waitin 4' and 'Doin Our Own Dang'(with De La Soul and Q-Tip, alongside Monie Love) show the group's fun side. But things weren't all fun and games, as deeper, more pensive album tracks like 'Black Woman,' 'Beeds On A String,' and 'Acknowledge Your Own History' show. It was another accomplished mix of fun, frolic, and knowledge-of-self, proving that you could be serious in the rap game but still let off steam and fill the dancefloor. Done By The Forces Of Nature stands as one of the most cherished hip-hop documents of the late '80s among true-school heads. Get On Down is proud to present a new limited-edition pressing on Tri-Colored vinyl in a gatefold jacket with full lyrics and numbered OBI limited to 1000 copies."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 51479LP
|
"Illmatic, the 1994 studio debut of Nasir 'Nas' Jones, was more than just a critical success for the Queensbridge-based rapper. At a time when East Coast hip-hop was increasingly being taken less seriously than their West Coast counterparts, Illmatic's raw jazz and soul-based production, dire atmosphere, and lyrics, coupled with Nas' uncompromising flow was integral in restoring interest in the East Coast as a hotbed of hip-hop artistry. Along with key releases from Wu-Tang Clan and Notorious B.I.G., it shifted attention away from the funky, dayglo synth-based G-funk coming out of California and back to the grimy streets of New York. After such an unprecedented debut record, expectations were understandably high for Nas' follow-up. The 1996 sophomore follow-up is titled It Was Written, and in contrast to the urban bleakness of his debut, has Nas dipping his toes into the world of mafioso rap. Amidst production from heavy hitters like Trackmasters, Dr. Dre, L.E.S., Havoc of Mobb Deep, and Illmatic-collaborator DJ Premier, among others, Nas weaves evocative narratives of gang warfare, downtrodden neighborhoods, drug deals gone awry, and gangsta triumph, against a backdrop of samples from Sam Cooke, Etta James, the Isley Brothers, and even Chuck Mangione. It Was Written is not hard up for top-tier guests either, featuring major guest turns from Lauryn Hill and Joel 'JoJo' Hailey of K-Ci & JoJo. It also introduced the world to The Firm, the brief Nas-led supergroup featuring rappers AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. It even managed to cause some minor controversy in the hip-hop community for its collaboration with West Coast producer Dr. Dre, at a time when the East Coast/West Coast rap feud was reaching a fever pitch, briefly attracting the ire of one Tupac Shakur. Not only was It Was Written received warmly by critics, but it also became a major commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 charts, reaching platinum sales status four times, and alongside albums like Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, helped usher in the era of mafioso rap in the mainstream. It rendered chart hits out of singles like the Eurhythmics-mimicking 'Street Dreams,' and the Grammy-nominated 'If I Ruled The World (Imagine That),' and proved to be a major influence on artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco, and many more."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
NSD 159LP
|
"Few artists are ever as controversial as they are influential. New York legend R.A. The Rugged Man has lived up to this billing by combining the authenticity of his undeniably rugged life with undisputed mic skills. Among the most gifted lyricists hip-hop has ever seen, R.A. burst onto the scene with an ill-fated stint on Jive Records in the early 1990s, before eventually becoming a pioneer of the independent rap hustle. Now, three decades after his arrival, R.A. has improbably outlasted nearly all of his peers. Having been banned, forgotten, blackballed, and left for dead, the Rugged Man has somehow emerged as one of the most important figures in underground hip-hop, with a thriving career, a nonstop touring schedule, and a die-hard fan base. His 2013 album Legends Never Die is remembered as the classic that solidified this reputation, balancing technically brilliant lyricism with raw honesty and head-nodding production. Featuring A-list guests like Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Talib Kweli, Brother Ali, Krizz Kaliko, Vinnie Paz, Masta Ace, Sadat X, and more, Legends Never Die is not only a celebration of R.A.'s illustrious history, but an exciting look at what's still to come."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 52742LP
|
"Leaders Of The New School began recording their debut album late in 1989 under the watchful eye of Chuck D and the Bomb Squad. The result was their masterful 1991 release A Future Without A Past. The group's members, Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Cut Monitor Milo, Busta Rhymes complement one another, mixing classic Cold Crush Brothers style routines with a New School edge. Leaders Of The New School made an impact that had them living up to their name. Often slept on, A Future Without A Past stands as a trail-blazing release due to its mix of jazz samples with fun and creative storytelling on top of pounding Hip Hop drums. The first thing that grabs you while listening to A Future Without A Past is the unique delivery of the three rappers (Dinco D, Charlie Brown, and Busta Rhymes) in lyrical content and flow. Stand-out tracks such as 'Transformers,' 'Sound of the Zeekers,' 'International Zone Coaster,' 'Sobb Story,' and the lead single 'Case of the P.T.A.' all display the multi-talents of each MC and how they bounced off each other's style. 'Feminine Fatt' and 'My Ding A Ling' showed the group's more playful edge, while 'Show Me A Hero' and 'Teachers Don't Teach Us Nonsense' had the group trading rhymes in their rapid-fire deliveries. With a sound so fresh and new, the production on the album by the Bomb Squad's Eric 'Vietnam' Sadler, the SD50s, and members of L.O.N.S. rivaled what Public Enemy started and the Native Tongues finished. Often underappreciated, A Future Without A Past is '90s rap at its best."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 51521LP
|
"Memphis rap legend Project Pat released his third studio album Layin' Da Smack Down in 2002 on CD and cassette via Loud/Columbia/Hypnotize Minds. Following up Mista Don't Play, Project Pat spits rapid-fire street tales of the dirty south over DJ Paul and Juicy J's signature Three 6 Mafia bangin' 808 beats. From rowdy club tracks to smoother pimp tales and true-to-life stories of being incarcerated, Project Pat delivers another Hypnotize Minds North Memphis classic. The album also contains the single 'Choose U' which would be reworked in 2007 for UGK's 'International Players Anthem.' Get On Down in partnership with Sony Music's Certified presents Layin' Da Smack Down for the first time on vinyl. Pressed on colored vinyl packaged in a gatefold jacket with a printed insert and numbered OBI limited to 1000 copies."
|
viewing 1 To 25 of 787 items
Next >>
|
|