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viewing 1 To 7 of 7 items
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OT 2251CD
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Hydra: Underground's Finest is an aural history of Queens, NY-based underground hip hop label Hydra Entertainment's 12" output from 1995 through 2005, selected and presented by DJ Koco, one of Tokyo's premier hip hop DJs. Hydra was a powerhouse in its day, holding its own with other mid-1990s independent labels Rawkus, Fondle 'Em, Eastern Conference, Game, Landspeed, Fat Beats, and D.I.T.C. An integral part of the East Coast underground hip hop movement from 1995 through 2005, Hydra is world renowned for sought-after singles by major label-affiliated artists Mobb Deep (Loud/Sony), Screwball (Tommy Boy), Cormega (Def Jam), and The Beatnuts (Relativity), as well as the top tier of a burgeoning independent movement -- The High & Mighty, Godfather Don, Nick Wiz, and Ghetto Professionals -- and was the launching point for a string of A-list producers; A Kid Called Roots, Alchemist, E-Boogie, Mike Heron, EZ Elpee, Ayatollah, and DJ Fusion are just some of the producers who had their debut or nearly-debut credit on a Hydra single. This is the first CD release for most of these tracks, which were taken from vinyl and skillfully sequenced and mixed by Japan's DJ Koco (Donuts Record), who's as well known for his deep underground hip hop knowledge as he is for his battle, beat-juggling, and scratching skills. DJ Koco has a handful of critically-praised mixes circulating, and is in demand as an opener for Japanese dates for US hip hop acts. Includes tracks by Mobb Deep, Kamakazee, Screwball, The Unsociables, A Kid Called Roots, The High & Mighty, Slade Savage, E-Boogie, Godfather Don, Dennis Kellman, Mike Heron, Hostyle, K. Fanat, The Beatnuts, Nick Wiz, Big Meal, DJ Fusion, Powerule, Ghetto Professionals; appearances from Cormega, Kamakazee, MC Shan, Prince A.D., Offdamental, and Quik; and productions by Marley Marl, Pete Rock, The Unsociables, A Kid Called Roots, Alchemist, Bezo, E-Boogie, Godfather Don, Mike Heron, EZ Elpee, Ayatollah, The Beatnuts, Nick Wiz, V.I.C., and DJ Fusion.
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OT 2798CD
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Jemini the Gifted One's Scars and Pain, one of the most promising debuts of 1995, is now reissued in a Japanese edition with five additional remixes previously only available on vinyl and promo-only CD singles. The original album was shelved indefinitely -- deemed "commercially unviable" (as the story goes) -- and followed up by a critically-praised string of solid singles, including a single on Tommy Boy in 1998 and a Danger Mouse collaboration in 2002. This expanded edition shines with production and remixes from Godfather Don, Buckwild, Organized Konfusion, Minnesota, Goldfinger, The Fat Man, Kenyatta Bell, Rah Boogy, and Soul G, with Jemini showing lyrical skills and a soulful potential that put him solidly alongside other gritty hip hop releases of 1995, such as Mobb Deep's The Infamous, Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., although the best comparison would probably be D.I.T.C., with Jemini's laid-back delivery and gritty street vibe perfectly suiting the sample-based beat backdrop.
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OT 2290CD
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Kankick proves here that he deserves to be name-checked alongside the more famous fellow 'Nard-bred beatmaker brothers Madlib and Oh No. Indeed, he is closely associated with the members of Lootpack, and, as part of the Likwit Crew family (Tha Alkaholiks, Madlib, Lootpack, Defari, King Tee...), has several major-label production credits to his name. This mostly instrumental collection, heavily sample-based with a strong weed vibe, closely echoes Madlib's successful Medicine Show series (2009-2012), and was culled by Jazzy Sport crew member DJ Choku from Kankick's 20-plus years of musical output on a variety of labels including Stones Throw, Groove Attack, Ramp, Poo-Bah, and Up Above. This collection has as much in common with the contemporary LA beat scene (The Gaslamp Killer, Exile, Low End Theory, Tokimonsta, Nosaj Thing) as it does with the fondly-recalled "backpack" hip hop movement of the late 1990s/early 2000s (J Dilla, D.I.T.C., Da Beatminerz, Lyricist Lounge). MCs crop up on only a handful of the 20-plus cuts here, providing a "weededed" accent to a laid-back, blunted, jazzy ride. Features Declaime, Kazi, Mad Men, Medaphoar, and Oh No.
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OTCD 2292CD
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Another exceptional collection of "blunted" beats, originally released in 2009 (as an i-Tunes-only instrumental album), by a producer whose style is associated with Doom, Dilla, Madlib, Melting Pot Music, Ras-G, and Computer Jay. This is the aural bridge from nascent Oxnard hip-hop 1992 to L.A. beat scene 2012. Kankick has done albums for Ramp Recordings, Up Above (Acid Massive Musical), Illmindmuzik, Mean Street, and others, but seems to be drawn to self-released, no promotion CD-R editions that have inevitably become sought-after collector's items. This CD is an anomaly, made possible by the motivated folks at Octave in Japan. Will appeal to fans of Madlib and Oh No, as Kankick is considered by some to be the fourth member of The Lootpack (Stones Throw) alongside Madlib, Ohno, and DJ Romes. He contributed heavily to their debut, as well as The Alkoholiks' 21 & Over. Includes two bonus tracks.
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OTCD 2291CD
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Official reissue of original Lootpack crew member/U.S. hip-hop producer Kankick's 2004 album, originally released on Smoggy Day Recordings. Includes two bonus tracks. This primarily instrumental album features four vocal tracks from MED (Stones Throw), Blame One (Soulspazm), Kancritic (aka Kankick), others. Recorded between 1996-2001, Oxnard's Kankick offers up a prime collection of "blunted" beats that age well, in step with other like-minded producers of the era: Doom, Dilla, Madlib. Kankick has done beats for Wildchild (Industry) DJ Babu (Beat Junkies), Declaime (Groove Attack), and Visionaries (Up Above), and has released albums on Ramp, Illmindmuzik, Mean Street, etc., but seems to be drawn to self-released, no-promotion CD-R editions that have inevitably become sought-after collector's items. This will appeal to fans of Madlib and Oh No, as Kankick is considered by some to be the fourth member of The Lootpack alongside Madlib, Ohno, and DJ Romes. He contributed heavily to their debut, as well as The Alkoholiks' 21 & Over.
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OTCD 2207CD
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One of Japan's greatest DJ/producer/record diggers, Muro, is featured here, compiling, editing and mixing Japanese '70s cult movie soundtracks. A major fan of and acknowledged authority on "Blaxploitation" film soundtracks, Muro took advantage of a rare opportunity to cull from a rich library of film scores and background music used in Japanese cult films released 1969-1978 for this mix. The original films were influenced by Shaft, Sweetback, Superfly, Blackbelt Jones, and the like, and the scores and incidental music mirror the slightly campy swagger that the genre became known for. It has been awhile since Muro's last commercial (officially-licensed) release available outside Japan, the Kings of Diggin' (2006) split with Kon & Amir on BBE. Since his days as a member of DJ Krush's crew in the early 1990s, Muro has become a celebrity in Japan, complimenting his DJ fame with a successful clothing line (KING, INC.) and a lifestyle shop in Tokyo (Savage!). He has also released a steady stream of promotional "mixtapes" that showcase his wide-ranging DJ skills and musical knowledge, with separate volumes dedicated to funk, samba, disco, Michael Jackson, Roy Ayers, Hawaiian breaks, Japanese breaks, synth, boogie, dub, and more.
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OTCD 2293CD
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CD release of a previously iTunes digital-only album by UK producer Eric Lau, known for his work with Dudley Perkins/Declaime, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Lupe Fiasco, Musinah, Tanya Morgan, Kaidi Tatham/Bugz In The Attic, and others.
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