TURNTABLE LAB

Glass Candy
Geto Boys / Animal Imagination 12"

infectious song samples "Mind Playin Tricks", pick

Could something be so hipster that it becomes gangsta? If so, I think I've found it. For this latest Glass Candy treat, they've sampled the beat from Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks On Me," and added their best Blondie-styled vocals for something so theoretically mismatched, it's beautiful. More importantly, they recognize the power of the original instrumental utilizing the chorus section and even getting freaky with the outtro. If that wasn't enough, they've included a cool mix tool drum version(2), and the instrumental(3) with snippets of the original vocal. And to remind us that these guys aren't just a one sample wonder, they enforce the b-side with two great original tracks: "Animal Imagination(4)" and "Soft Boundaries(5)." Great sleeve too, highly recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
downtempo + electronic - recommended / rock + new wave + 80/90s / new rock / downtempo + electronic - vinyl / and more

go to detail page | close window

Drop Out Orchestra
Songs About Stuff (The Style Council, Robyn, Duran Duran) 12"

tasteful, funky, chill redos of classics, pop, early house

Drop Out Orchestra delivers four sexy edits for discerning DJs and dancefloors. The Swedish outfit tackles a Duran Duran tune on "Girls On Dub(1)," adding warm chords, a funky baseline, and a nice groove to it. Next up is Joe Smooth's uplifting early house classic "Promised Land(2)," which DOO transforms into a laid-back disco heater. Showing off their range, "Sweden's Kings of the redo" reinterpret Robyn's pop hit on "Hand With Dub(3)," and a chill-dub take on Sade's "The Sweetest Taboo" rounds out the tasteful - and super useful - EP. Recommended.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
rock + new wave + 80/90s / new wave + no wave + electro / new disco / cosmic / edits - reviewer recommended / and more

go to detail page | close window

Amerigo Gazaway
Fela Soul: Fela Kuti vs De La Soul EP

classic rap meets afrobeat

Just as the clever title suggests, Fela Soul pairs De La Soul acapellas with Fela's afrobeat rhythms. Gummy Soul artist Amerigo Gazaway hand picks samples from the legendary Nigerian musician - expect lots of funky horn and guitar riffs - and layers them under verses from De La gems like "Stakes Is High(1)," "Trouble In The Water(2)," "Ooh(3)," "Rock Co.Kane Flow(4)," "Itsoweezee(5)," and "Breakadawn(6)," and the album offers a completely new way to enjoy classic sounds.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
latin + brazilian + afrobeat / funk + soul + latin + disco / new vinyl - hip-hop / vinyl new arrivals / and more

go to detail page | close window

Kendra Morris
Concrete Waves Serato Control Vinyl (DJ Premier Remix) 12"

female lead soul, Primo on the remix

Kendra Morris is the latest signee to the Wax Poetics label to get her music pressed up in conjunction with Serato Pressings. "Concrete Waves(1)" is taken from her forth coming debut full length and features a heavy funk groove lead by Kendra's powerful vocals. The flip is blessed with a killer remix from legendary hip hop producer DJ Premier(2) that's sure to get the heads nodding. Get down to this on marbled blue vinyl and rock your Serato with the tone on the flip.


reviewed by Von Bee

file under:
wax poetics / new vinyl - hip-hop / books & design - new arrivals / hip-hop vinyl / and more

go to detail page | close window

Madlib
Medicine Show 12 & 13 LP

mixtape/beat tape with collaborators from Madlib

The latest in Madlib's Medicine Show series, Filty Ass Remixes, contains Raw Medicine: Madlib Remixes (#12) and Black Tape (#13), which Stones Throw will be releasing as a full-length CD edition. It's created for the Medicine Show Tour, and along with dusty remixes from the mad professor for the likes of Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, AZ, and a slew of other big and small - but on point - emcees, you get ten tracks from the upcoming addition to what was initially supposed to be a 12-part music series (we're not complaining). The covers are one-of-a-kind featuring artwork by Jeff Jank and Gustavo Eandi (silk screened by Hit+Run), and the vinyl is limited to 1000 copies only. Total running time is 37 minutes, highly recommended.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
stones throw shop / indy hip-hop / downtempo + electronic + bmore + ghettotech + uk + baile / new vinyl - hip-hop / and more

go to detail page | close window

Yellawolf
Radioactive: Amazing And Mystifying Chemical Tricks 2LP

hyped Alabama MC's debut album

The buzz surrounding Yelawolf had much to do with the Alabama rapper being hailed as the Southern version of Eminem. Then Slim Shady signed Yela to his own imprint and further heightened the hype, and after a successful mixtape, Trunk Muzik, here is Yelawolf aka Michael Wayne Atha's debut album. Amazing And Mystifying Chemical Tricks doesn't veer far from what we expected from one of XXL's Top 11 Freshmen of 2011 - double-time, Alabama-rooted rhymes over big-bottom beats produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Diplo, Jim Jonsin, and more. The MC's storytelling and songwriting abilities are sharp and entertaining, and the country-boy-swag-washed lyrics sit well with the trunk-rattling instrumentals that consist of massive bass, big kicks and catchy piano, guitar, and synth lines. Two big tracks from the album are "Throw It Up(1)" featuring Gangsta Boo & Eminem as well as "Hard White(2)" alongside Lil Jon, but also check out "Animal(3)," "Slummerican Shitizen(4)," and "Made In The U.S.A. (5)."
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / vinyl new arrivals / hip-hop vinyl / current hip-hop

go to detail page | close window

DJ Dus
Pssy Marijuana Cumbow (Brazilian Girls) 7"

rmx of Brazilian Girls hit

Cumbia specialist DJ Dus drops an ingenious DJ-friendly remix of the Brazilian Girls' hit "P*ssy." Is there a better chorus in the history of ganja-music? B-side goes deeper into the Cumbia crates for a drum-enhanced version of Andres Landero's "Cuando Lo Negro Sea Bellow(2)." Recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
funk soul disco - reviewer recommended / new disco / cosmic / edits - reviewer recommended / latin + brazilian + afrobeat / dance + house + new disco + electro + nujazz / and more

go to detail page | close window

Kanye West & Jay-Z
Watch The Throne (Double Picture Disc, Gold Embossed Edition w/ Poster) 2LP

highly anticipated collaboration from Kanye and Jay-Z, pic disc

Luxury rap from hip-hop/pop-culture royalty featuring luxury packaging in the form of gold embossed, cross shaped vinyl jacket (designed by Ricardo Tisci of Givenchy. This highly anticipated collaboration from Kanye and Jay-z is two of music's richest artists talking about the finer things of life over instrumentals by the RZA, Pete Rock, Q-tip, Swizz Beats, No I.D., Lex Luger, the Neptunes, Mike Dean, Ye' himself, and more. Recorded in London, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Paris, and New York, Watch The Throne is flat out GOOD. On the music side, the album takes after My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as orchestral and progressive rock influences create many dramatic, unconventional moments. As far as lyrics are concerned, Jay and Kanye trade, for the most part, sharp braggadocio verses that focus on "opulence, fame, materialism, power, and the burdens of success." Some have complained that the album focuses too heavily on the aforementioned themes, but the truth is, these dudes really are super rich and successful... so why shouldn't they talk about their good lives? "HAM(1)" and "Niggas in Paris(2)" are the standout club/radio bangers… For other picks, check out "No Church In The Wild(3)," "Lift Off(4)," "Made In America(5)," "The Joy(6)," "Otis(7)," "Welcome To The Jungle(8)," and "New Day(9)" aka the "me and the RZA connect" song. Guest artists include Frank Ocean, Beyonce, Curtis MAyfield, and Mr. Hudson, and as mentioned above, the 2LP (pic disc with Jay-Z and Kanye West images) album comes packaged in gold-embossed jacket. A 24" x 24" poster is included, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / vinyl new arrivals / hip-hop vinyl / current hip-hop / and more

go to detail page | close window

MF Doom
Dime Box (Picture Disc + Puzzle)

classic Doom track on pic disc 45 w/ exclusive puzzle

Special edition box set from Metalface Records featuring the classic Doom cut "Rhymes Like Dimes(1)" and instrumental on a fitting dime-like pic disco 45! Also included is a 150 piece puzzle of the cover art by Mmm Food and Operation Doomsday artist Jason Jagel (finished puzzle measures out to 16"x16"). Recommended.


reviewed by Von Bee

file under:
stones throw shop / downtempo + electronic + bmore + ghettotech + uk + baile / new vinyl - hip-hop / mf doom + related / and more

go to detail page | close window

De La Soul
Buhloone Mindstate 2LP

hip-hop classic on double vinyl

Deluxe, double vinyl import reissue of the classic third De La Soul album. It's one of those rare records you don't even have to think about skipping tracks on (these don't seem to exist anymore). Everybody even knows the Japanese group's verse on "Long Island Wildin(1)." The guests on here work perfectly, especially Maceo Parker laying down something beautiful on the instrumental "I Be Blowin(2)." The flipside's sleeper hit "I Am I Be(3)" echoes Maceo and balances the whole album, providing counter weight to the amped "Ego Trippin(4)" and "Eye Patch(5)." 16 tracks.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / vinyl new arrivals / hip-hop vinyl / middle school hip-hop

go to detail page | close window

D'Angelo
The Best So Far 2LP

classics, rare cuts, live version and duets from D'Angelo

Originally released in 2008, The Best So Far... includes D'Angelo's top hits, rare cuts, live versions and duets with artists like Erykah Badu and Raphael Saadiq. Songs from Brown Sugar and Voodoo take up the most room on the album: "Lady(1)," "Brown Sugar(2)," "Smooth(3)," "Feel Like Makin' Love(4)," and of course, "Untitled (How Does It feel)(5)" in addition to 12 more tracks are spread over 2 LPs, and despite the singer-songwriter's current struggles with whatever, the album is top notch neo soul without a doubt. A must for fans, recommended.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
funk soul disco - reviewer recommended / funk soul disco - albums / funk + soul + latin + disco / new vinyl - hip-hop / and more

go to detail page | close window

Liquid Crystal Project
A Tribute To De La / Stakes Still High (J Rawls) 7"

jazz-funk-hop rendition of De La classic

Here is the first single from Liquid Crystal Project's forthcoming album (the group's third). J Rawls and the gang pay tribute to De La Soul by reworking "Stakes Is High(1)" into a jazz-funk-hop burner, and the is graced by a guest appearance from Phrez Whitted, one of the most highly regarded jazz trumpet players of our time. On the flip is "Stakes Is Still High" featuring some rapping.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
funk soul disco - 7" / 45s / funk + soul + latin + disco / new vinyl - hip-hop / vinyl new arrivals / and more

go to detail page | close window

Biz Markie
Goin' Off 3LP

Biz's debut reissued with bonus remixes, demo versions, instrumentals

Deluxe, remastered triple vinyl reissue of Biz Markie's Goin' Off, complete with bonus remixes, original 12" versions, demo versions, and instrumentals. Biz released the album in an era of Boogie Down Beef and "hard" MCs. With hit tracks like "Pickin' Boogers(1)," "Making Music With Your Mouth Biz(2)," "Vapors(3)," and "Biz Is Goin' Off(4)," he quickly out-shined many fellow rappers - his playful, down to earth steez triumphed over tough talk. Not to mention he killed the beat box genre with "Making Music..." (wish I could do that). This special edition is for the real-deal collectors and hip hop fanatics. A lot of the added material is ultra-rare (where else are you going to get the "Nobody Beats" demo version?) and unique. A perfect twist to your next mixtape or show...
reviewed by C'mish

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / vinyl new arrivals / hip-hop vinyl / old school hip-hop + random rap / and more

go to detail page | close window

Dangerdoom
The Mouse & The Mask LP

It's kind of amazing how good these "underground blockbuster" collabs have been for MF Doom- seems no matter who he's working with it comes off better than 99% of what's out. This heavily anticipated combination of Dangermouse and MF Doom continues the streak with both guys cleanly executing their end of the concept album- it could be Dangermouse's most consistent production yet, and Doom is as entertaining and illustrious as ever. The songs revolve loosely around the cartoons from Adult Swim (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Space Ghost, etc), and some of the characters also make appearances but that doesn't ever get in the way of Doom's lyrics. In fact, if the concept wasn't so explicitly spelled out with the marketing & packaging, you might not even notice it. Just another layer to dig into. Plus the Hunger Force makes real good skits. Guest spots are kept strong & minimal with quality appearances from Talib Kweli, Cee-Lo and Ghostface.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
stones throw shop / indy hip-hop / downtempo + electronic + bmore + ghettotech + uk + baile / new vinyl - hip-hop / and more

go to detail page | close window

Jungle Brothers
I'll House You 12"

hip house

In the late 90s, this record was everywhere you didn't want it to be. Damn, another "I'll House You?" I wanted "Straight Out the Jungle" with that Q-Tip track, son! But how quickly times have changed. Miraculously all those dollar bin copies have been snatched up (even Warlock's never-ending supply dried up), and for the last couple years, we've had to field countless requests with no luck. Well it's back, and just in time. With the whole hip-house thing so relevant right now, you gotta get the visionary og. Jungle Bros were on some futuro, Detlef Schremp shit back in the 80s. I always questioned this move back when I thought I knew everything bout hip-hop, but now the yolks on me (catch me shirtless at WMC in March). Includes the famous Club Mix(1), the very useful acapella, the UK remix(2), and the Gee Street Reconstruction Mix(3).
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / hip-hop vinyl / old school hip-hop + random rap

go to detail page | close window

Jay Dee
Welcome 2 Detroit Instrumental 2LP

instrumental hip-hop

It's worth remembering that even though Jay Dee had already produced A Tribe Called Quest, De La and the Pharcyde when this came out, he was not yet the bonafide beat messiah he's known as today. His 2001 BBE project was generally knocked for sloppy vocals, not quite a fair assessment, but one that probably caused more than a few folks to overlook it. With Jay's growing stature and the success of disciples like Dwele (who contributed heavily to this project), maybe it's time to take another look, and this instrumental version provides a good way to do it. Though you'll have to go back to the full album for one of the best grooves ("Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is not included here), and although some tracks, like the Donald Byrd remake "Think Twice," don't quite work sans vocals, most others, like "Give It Up(1)" and "Featuring Phat Cat(2)" just plain bump like nobody's business. Tracks like "It's Like That(3)" and the Karriem Riggins collabo "The Clapper(4)" demonstrate Jay's knack for making a compelling beat with the most minimal of elements, while Jay's influences show up on other tracks, like the Kraftwerk homage "BBE(5)," the nod to EWF ("Brazilian Groove(6)") and the Oneness of Juju cut-up "African Rhythms." Also check "Y'all Ain't Ready(7)" and "It's Like That(8)." Here's to second chances.

NOTE: The sleeves for these indicate that it is the vocal version of the album, but the music on the LPs are the instrumentals.
reviewed by monk

file under:
downtempo + electronic - vinyl / stones throw shop / downtempo + electronic + bmore + ghettotech + uk + baile / new vinyl - hip-hop / and more

go to detail page | close window

J. Dilla
The Shining 2LP

Dilla's second official solo album

In one of the biggest stealth moves ever, Jay Dee spent the last decade rising from underground prodigy to deified musical martyr, quietly redefining the sound of hip-hop along the way. The Shining was scheduled as the follow-up to the overlooked at the time/classic in retrospect Welcome 2 Detroit, but as the truncated timing (36 minutes) suggests, BBE and executive producer Karriem Riggins had to piece the project together when Yahweh decided He needed some beats and called Dilla up to the big MPC in the sky. In spite of the circumstances, Riggins has done a good job of making the finished product sound like a coherent album. The Common/D'Angelo collab "So Far To Go(1)" is about as beautiful a Jay Dee beat as I've heard, definitely some keep-the-instro-on-repeat-and-stare-at-the-clouds shit. The ladies will also love "Dime Piece(2)," which reuses an old Dwele vocal (from "Angel," I think), but don't get worried, in classic Dilla style, there's some nasty gully grooves to balance the pretty stuff out. Check "Jungle Love(3)" where he swings chains--yes, chains--for the hi-hat, or the brutal instrumental "Body Movin'(4)." Longtime homey Black Thought provides lyrical heat on another crackling beat ("Love Movin'(5)") and Pharoahe Monch finally gets a chance to rip over a Dilla treat on "Love Jones(6)." More beats from the vaults will inevitably be released in years to come, but The Shining is a fitting final chapter to the quiet legend's life.
reviewed by monk

file under:
downtempo + electronic - vinyl / stones throw shop / downtempo + electronic + bmore + ghettotech + uk + baile / new vinyl - hip-hop / and more

go to detail page | close window

Dr. Dre
Let Me Ride 12"

west coast classic

Hard one to find in the original. Originally an import only release. Besides the original mix, this features the extended 11 minute mix with extra lyrics from Snoop. Prime shine goes to Dre in the middle of the track, gettin dusted in the studio on the echo machine. LP version is for the clubs, 11 minutes of madness for the homeboys. LP Mix, Radio mix, Extended mix.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / hip-hop vinyl / middle school hip-hop

go to detail page | close window

Bladerunners
Work It, Shake It (Eddy Grant, Madonna) 12"

club-friendly edits

According to the one sheet, these guys (7L and RaZor) made all these edits in the "cut & paste / tape edit" method of 80s pioneers like the Latin Rascals and Steinski, and while I doubt that they were actually cutting up any tape, the inspiration and style are definitely in there. 7L has made an impressive transition from indie hip hop sideman to one of Boston's biggest club djs, and while I've never heard of RaZor, he does some cool shit with the edits here. Check out his versions of Madonna's "Physical Attraction(1)" and Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue" ("Out In The Streets(2)"). That shit is POPPING in the headphones, I can only imagine what it would sound like in the club when he starts flipping channels, stuttering and overdubbing those beats. The a-side features an original 7L & RaZor party break, in three smart versions. The basic "Work It, Shake It(3)" is best for your own blending purposes, then the "Back It Up(4)" mix takes things up a couple notches with Gwen samples and could work in a number of situations (uh, mostly just play it), then "Work It, Shake It Remix(5)" pulls em all together.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
new vinyl - hip-hop / re-edits - disco + italo + cosmic + rockish / re-edits / new disco / cosmic / edits / and more

go to detail page | close window