Alchemist+Oh No: Gangrene - Vodka &Ayahuasca CD Alchemist and Oh No return as Gangrene for Vodka &Ayahuasca! Following up their 2010 release Gutter Water with something a little bit more out there but a lot more representative of Oh No's production talents than last time! While Alchemist once again shares production work, the new album is fast, funky and at times a little trippy; but they're calling it a concept piece that takes place in a different universe. Which helped them to be a lot more free and creative on the album. Kinda like Shape of Broad Minds. This is one of the first releases of the year that we'll be sure not to forget at the end of the year when naming our top picks! Featuring Roc Marciano, Kool G Rap, Evidence and Prodigy.
Gonjasufi - MU.ZZ.LE 2x10" MU.ZZ.LE although short in length, is long on message - political, social and spiritual interpretations that define him as an artist. Written on the road, it was an outlet for Gonjasufi to challenge himself. It's the response to all the adrenaline, aggression and anger he felt traveling the world, it's a spectrum of his creativity and a testimony of how one man's passion and determination is often misunderstood as anger. "There's a duality that exists and to deny it, is the biggest mistake".
The album's down tempo strings, heartbreaking soul, reanimated hip-hop and crackling haunting vocal stylings are stitched as a running thread throughout each song like a patchwork quilt. It's a lonely journey that will take you through the innermost thoughts of Gonjasufi's darkest hours. He recorded and mixed it on his own in his home studio surrounded by his family and the stark contrast of the Mojave Desert. The end product is his outlet and realization for who he is, a way for him to feel comfortable in his own
Lone Ninja - Fatal Peril CD Lone Ninja from Twin Perils drops his third solo album to date and it is fire! Normally the deep voiced emcee rhymes brooding and slow but here he turns it up a notch, rapping fast and energetic! June Marx and Lone Ninja are definitely showing that determination and sticking to what you do is working as they bring back that old Wu fan in me.
Rides1 Klepto - Jackin Beats 4 Da Streets CD San Diego rapper Rides1 paid us a visit for the album cover idea! Jackin Beats For the Streets Mixtape Vol. 1 features Rides1 Klepto and other members of his label spittin' gritty streetwise lyrics and stories.
Adrian Younge/Venice Dawn - Something About April LP Following up his score for the cult-classic film Black Dynamite, composer Adrian Younge has created Something About April, a heavy, psychedelic mix of dark soul and cinematic instrumentals with hip-hop aesthetics. Featuring guest artists Dennis Coffey (Motown's Funk Brother fuzz guitarist), Shawn Lee (Ubiquity Records), singer/songwriter Rebecca Jordan, and Italian cinephiles Calibro 35.
Boog Brown - Mello Music 7"Series #1 7"Single The first of many in a 7"series from Mello Music Group. Strictly limited to 300 units, Volume 1 features Detroit native Boog Brown showcasing her trademark confidence and flow over Georgia Anne Muldrow's beats.
Homeboy Sandman - Subject:Matter 12"EP DOPE! Homeboy Sandman lands a release on Stones Throw, his first new material since one of our favorite albums of 2010 on The Good Sun. The 6-track EP, as the artist describes it, is about "songs dealing
with content no one has ever rapped about before in the history of rap music. Unfortunately not a difficult thing to do."It's a more somber sounding Sandman but the subject matter is deep! And for a Stones Throw caliber release the beatmakers really brought their A-game with production from Audible Doctor, 2Hungry Bros and more. Don't sleep!
Mickey Murray - People Are Together LP Throughout the sixties, Mickey Murray made a name for himself as a hard working entertainer viewed by many as a cross between James Brown and Otis Redding. He held a regular gig with Dyke and The Blazers on Broadway in NYC, toured with Wilson Pickett and The Staple Singers, and also performed sporadically with the queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. All of his hard work finally paid off (though not financially) when he recorded his first single, "Shout Bamalama"in late 1967. It sold a million copies!
In 1969 Murray was signed to King Records. The label was preparing for the inevitable loss of James Brown. Since they obviously couldn't afford to sign another act of BrownÂ’s caliber, they decided to develop their own. Mickey was groomed by the label to become their next superstar act. He recorded People Are Together and they prepared to release it in 1970 on their Federal Records imprint. They chose the title track as the lead single. The response from most of the black DJs they relied on for support was that they wouldn't play the song. Most of them feared that the song was far too racially provocative for a developing artist. In fact, many black DJs said they were concerned they'd lose their job if they played the track. It didn't take long at all for King to abandon the release. According to Murray, the record may have never actually been formally released in stores.
Secret Stash is proud to present the first ever reissue of this lost gem. Each track has been carefully remastered from the original master tapes. They've also added a gatefold jacket packed full of liner notes and never before seen photos. As always, each unit is hand numbered, comes in a resalable dust bag, and includes a free download of the entire LP.
Various Artists - African Music Today 7"Single Four of the most dance floor friendly tracks from the best selling Truth &Soul compilation, African Music Today are finally available on a handsome picture sleeve 45 EP. The full length was curated by world famous world record collector and Soul Fire Records founder Phillip Lehman.
The first song on side A features the Zafari track, King Masaru. An Ethiopian Big Band that was first introduced to the world through their Soul Fire 45 which featured their dance floor killer Addis Ababa. The second selection on Side A, Percussive Movement No. 1 is by the group Friends Of The Family. It features a heavy drumn break with gang vocals.
Side B sets off with a Mulatu inspired song by the group The Original Brothers. The second selection on Side B is another track by Friends Of the Family, Percussive Movement No. 2, which features a vurtuosic Kalimba solo over a heavy drum break.
Atomic Forest - Obsession 2xLP Now-Again delves into India's psychedelic rock scene with Atomic Forest. This anthology is the first thorough investigation into India's 70s psychedelic rock scene. Contains rare and previously unreleased 70s recordings from India's heaviest psychedelic rock and funk ensemble, including the best tracks from the sought after Obsession '77 album, restored and remastered. Packaged in a deluxe slip case cover and includes a full color 24 page booklet full of photos and ephemera with Egon's extensive liner notes and features with Atomic Forest band members.
Machine Drum - Want To 1 2? CD Thanks to increasing interest, Machine Drum's "Want To 1 2?"is finally available on CD! Travis Stewart aka Machinedrum has produced and composed several albums under various aliases since his first independent release in 1999. His debut Now You Know, was released in 2001 on the influential Miami-based Merck Records under the name Syndrone and gained worldwide attention and praise from musicians, fans and critics. Having a strong background in both acoustic and electronic instrumentation, he dances between both elements on all his releases. This can be heard in the field recording and vintage synth laden Urban Biology to his seminal production and mixing of the This Charming Mixtape with MC Theophilus London. In 2010, Machinedrum released his Many Faces EP on Scottish label LuckyMe. Under the name Sepalcure, he's also released the Love Pressure EP and Fleur EP on Hotflush with friend and collaborator Preveen Sharma- a sound they describe as "an exploration of chopped up 90s diva house acapellas and wooden sounding snares reminiscent of UK funky and dubstep". Heavy on electronica and glitch-hop, this dude is a pioneer in the sub genre! Limited edition comes in a gorgeous UV glossed digipak with embossed logo!
MF Doom - Dime Box(pic.disk+puzzle) 7"Single The Dime Box contains "Rhymes Like Dimes"7-inch picture disc on super-heavy vinyl with the look and feel of an oversize dim. Also a 150-piece puzzle of the box cover. Painting by Jason Jagel, art direction by Jeff Jank.
Please note: due to the weight and size of this box set there will be an additional shipping charge for some orders, depending on your shipping address and the size of your order. We will contact you for approval of any extra charges before shipping.
New World Generation - New World Generation 2xLP Rare and unreleased late 70s and early 80s disco, soul and boogie recorded by cult New England ensemble, New World Generation. Includes their only official release, a five song EP from 1982, plus tracks that New World Generation's bandleader, Lekan Parsons, recorded with the Universal Rhythms and Orison ensembles over a decade. 2xLP contains an exclusive interview with New World Generation bandleader Lekan Parsons, extensive liner notes and a 16-page booklet.
People Under The Stairs - Highlighter 2xLP People Under The Stairs' 8th album captures the unparalleled group at the height of their 14 year career. More than just an indie hip hop album, Highlighter's outside collaborators comprise a group of influential LA indy-rock producers, engineers and live players featuring everything from full string sections to vintage vibraphones &keyboards. Recorded across a handpicked selection of Los Angeles studios, the duo dig deep into tape, consoles, obscure records and live players and emerge with a project that is both unique and yet familiar. Amidst the swirling musical landscapes, the P realize their most psychedelic album yet and continue to pioneer an alternate, innovative musical direction in hip hop.
Vinyl 2xLP designed by Petit Pois Studio of Rio De Janeiro. Heavyweight gatefold tip-on sleeve with embossed certificate of authenticity. Limited run of 2000.
Pete Rock &CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient DLX 2xCD After the success of 2010's deluxe reissue of Pete Rock &CL Smooth Mecca and the Soul Brother, Traffic Entertainment is proud to announce the release of Pete Rock and CL Smooth's 1994 classic, The Main Ingredient in the same deluxe packaging and expanded content concept. The album never gained the traction as the pair's full length debut, which followed the 1991 EP, "All Souled Out"and yielded the biggest hit of their conjoined career, "They Reminisce Over You."But The Main Ingredient is nonetheless Pete and CL's most critically applauded work, a definitive symbol of the tempered consciousness and roughneck rhythm that defined the era. Pete Rock laid these backdrops in Rockland County, where he moved and built a studio after leaving Mount Vernon in 1993 (the cover shot for the album was taken in his Rockland lab). Though the scenery changed, his tools of choice didn't, and this is yet another testament to the Chocolate Boy Wonder's magical knack with the SP-1200 drum machine and sampler. Pete and CL recorded their final sixteen as a team over the course of a year between 1993 and 1994. "This definitely marks a very high place in my career,"says Pete. "We were in a zone, and when you're in a zone, it's fun. It was a great time, and we put the album together with just that in mind. It was like a family thing, and music was a hobby, not a job. We kept it like we were in the basement, creating music just for the fun ofit. Of course the business side reared its ugly head, and we eventually had to deal with that, but '94 was a great time. Music was more real back then. It was more original."This expanded deluxe edition of this seminal work. The second disc features the original
12"mixes, acapellas and instrumental. A 20 page book with extended artwork and liner notes by Pete Rock himself, along with new remastering and all housed in a sweet box set size!
Murs - Love &Rockets Vol. 1 2xLP Brand new from one of the hardest-working rappers out there. These days people will come into Access and be stoked to see posters or cd's by Murs, and when you strike up conversation with them it's not uncommon for these new fans of his to not know about Living Legends. Even as Murs' popularity continues to grow beyond the underground and way past his Living Legends days, he still carries with him that burden of hunger and work ethic that all underground rappers have experienced when they've been in it for as long as he has. I believe this is something that continues to drive him. If he's not running circles around America as part of Paid Dues, the annual Hip Hop festival that Murs created and organized, he's doing backflips across a stage in Budapest, or shaking hands with fans in Japan before catching a bullet train to a packed in-storeperformance. When he's not on the road, he's in the studio, feverishly adding album after album to a cavernous discography like Varsity Blues 2 and Melrose with Terrace Martin. From the rhymes in his notepad to the hair on his head, Murs has made it a point to distance himself from being your ordinary, everyday "average rapper."Hell, he's not your average guy. Never has been. Listening to Murs is something like listening to a regular guy who just happens to know how to rap. His lyrics are straightforward, down-to-earth, and honest. Love &Rockets is produced by Ski aka Ski Beatz, responsible for most of the best beats on Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night and Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt, amongst others. Featuring OC, Tabi Bonney and Locksmith.
Koncept - Awaken CD Koncept is an emcee born in Queens, NY, raised in both Queens, and Warwick, NY, and now resides in Brooklyn. In early 2008, Koncept began working at Fat Beats NY, and with 6 other artists employed by the store, decided to form an undeniable rap group called the Brown Bag AllStars. Koncept's energy is unlike anything else you will see today. He brings the most captivating, entertaining performance to any stage, just like he has already shown at packed venues throughout New York City and beyond. In 2010, Koncept released an EP titled, "Playing Life", and in 2011 Koncept linked up with Cali based producer, Tranzformer for a free EP titled "More Than Meets The Eye". His brand new debut full length Awaken features production from J57, The Audible Doctor, marink, DJ Goo, &Marco Polo. Soul Khan, Sene, and Shady Records/ Slaughterhouse's own, Royce da 5'9"appear as guests.
The Jacka - The Verdict CD Brand new album from Bay Area mainstay The Jacka! Second in the series (The Indictment was last year, the Sentence drops next month).
Viktor Vaughn (MF Doom) - Vaudeville Villain (Gold) 2xCD Legendary MC MF Doom has opened up a lyrical wormhole which results in this 2-Disc Gold Edition! Contains instrumentals and acapellas, including the very rare "Saliva"instrumental produced by RJD2. This concept album evokes plenty of high comedy, street technology, and hi jinks. Next-school beats by King Honey, Heat Sensor, and Max Bill move freely in the spaces between electronica and hiphop. Take a trip back to the origin of the Super Villain. An unanticipated time travel-machine breakdown left him stuck in the early 90's where he has no choice but to battle sucka MCs and carry out side-hustles so he can repair the time machine and go back to the future.
Atomic Forest - Obsession CD Now-Again delves into India's psychedelic rock scene with Atomic Forest. This anthology is the first thorough investigation into India's 70s psychedelic rock scene. Contains rare and previously unreleased 70s recordings from India's heaviest psychedelic rock and funk ensemble, including the best tracks from the sought after Obsession '77 album, restored and remastered. Packaged in paste on CD Sleeve with O-Card and includes a full color 48 page booklet full of photos and ephemera with Egon's extensive liner notes and features with Atomic Forest band members.
Bleubird - Cannonball!!! CD Ex-Ex-Expat Florida rapper bleubird returned to the States after a few years of foreign grind and took to the road. He began crafting an album with fellow road warrior Andy Bothwell aka Astronautalis with the goal of venturing both of them into some new territory. If Andy is the Tom Waits of hip hop, bird is the Iggy Pop. In the dead of winter, they locked themselves in Bothwell's Seattle basement studio and fought through their differences to create something neither of them could say was uniquely their own. In the end, the two called upon the help of Jacksonville pop prodigy, Radical Face, to pull everything together musically and apply his signature gritty shine. By taking a leap of faith with his friends, CANNONBALL!!! is Bleubird's most clear and cohesive album to date.
Blu &Exile - Below the Heavens/black 2xLP Blu's first full length LP, "Below the Heavens"pairs Blu with producer Exile on the Sound in Color imprint. His first single, "Narrow Path"has rocked stages across the world, as fans begin to feel the impact of Blu's music. His delivery flows flawlessly, while the content reflects the joy and pain of working class youth everywhere. Since the release of "Narrow Path,"Blu has performed alongside Slum Village, X-Clan, Platinum Pied Pipers, Lyrics Born, DJ Houseshoes, and many others, while participating in 3 high-profile nationwide tours alongside musical family members: Ta'Raach, Aloe Blacc, and Exile.
Now officially released for the first time by Sound In Color on vinyl. Each of three editions is limited to 1000 pressed, in hand-numbered gatefold jackets.
The third 1000 is on black vinyl.
Gonjasufi - MU.ZZ.LE CD MU.ZZ.LE although short in length, is long on message - political, social and spiritual interpretations that define him as an artist. Written on the road, it was an outlet for Gonjasufi to challenge himself. It's the response to all the adrenaline, aggression and anger he felt traveling the world, it's a spectrum of his creativity and a testimony of how one man's passion and determination is often misunderstood as anger. "There's a duality that exists and to deny it, is the biggest mistake".
The album's down tempo strings, heartbreaking soul, reanimated hip-hop and crackling haunting vocal stylings are stitched as a running thread throughout each song like a patchwork quilt. It's a lonely journey that will take you through the innermost thoughts of Gonjasufi's darkest hours. He recorded and mixed it on his own in his home studio surrounded by his family and the stark contrast of the Mojave Desert. The end product is his outlet and realization for who he is, a way for him to feel comfortable in his own skin again. Akin to discovering a gramophone recording fraught with emotive compositions,it's like finding that hidden gem, the one you can truly relate with. It's the way of dealing with the issues of modern man; oppressed by power, freedom of speech, living your life by a book, dealing with the MU.ZZ.LE that's firmly attached around your mouth.
Shawn Lee's Tabla Band - Tabla Rock (clear vinyl) LP The original Incredible Bongo Band's "Bongo Rock"is firmly cemented into musical history having provided the oft sampled (and completely irresistible) 'Apache' drum break for a million and one producers to cut up. Also known as Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band, the project was born in 1972. They made two albums of funky, instrumental music filled with covers of popular songs of the day and heavily relying on bongo drums, conga drums, rock drums and brass.
Over 3 decades after its inception UK producer, and avid record collector, Shawn Lee was marveling at the fact that there had never been an Indian style, sitar and tabla-heavy, version of the Incredible Bongo Band masterpiece 'Apache.' "Such an obvious track, I still find it hard to believe that one doesn't already exist. (It is hella obscure if it does.) 'Apache' is one of the greatest and most famous drum-breaks of all time,"says Lee. Not content with covering just 'Apache,' Lee decided he'd take on the entire Bongo Band debut album; and also two of his favorite tracks from their second album for good measure. "Why cover a song when you can cover a whole album? This is the road to madness my friend, and it is my preferred route!"he adds.