Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

DANDANA is a musical collective with musicians from the Netherlands, Senegal and The Gambia with members Bas Ackermann, Ebou Gaye Mada, Filly Dioma, Jackson Loman, Joop de Graaf and Modou Joof. Their sound pays tribute to traditional West African rhythm and grooves, and the love for ambient and synthesizers. On this album, they combine spiritual griot music, traditional instruments from Senegal and The Gambia such as the sabar, xalam and balafon, percussion, electronic drum pads and a range of vintage synthesizers. Inspiration is drawn from West African psychedelic mandingue pioneers Guelewar, Ifang Bondi & Touré Kunda and the synth-driven vibes of bands like Air & Tame Impala.

Most of the album was recorded in The Gambia and Senegal in 2019. In these urgent times of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement it becomes clear that we have to free ourselves from the current system. 'Free The System!' is about the gap between the older and the younger generation. The old system can’t easily deal with young or new ideas. The system needs to be changed, we have to free ourselves from it.

Previously Unreleased Cinematic Jazz-Funk for Film & Television by Arranger/Composer J.J. Johnson

21 tracks featuring music from Across 110th Street, Top Of The Heap, The Fuzz Brothers, The Bold Ones.Funky Moog modulations, car chases, moody library cues and a righteous soul sister preaching universal truths all revealed in these recently discovered recordings.Masterful arranging and lush orchestration by one of the giants of the Jazz & Soul/Funk Genres.Cut direct to vinyl from the reference tapes.

A stunning new production by the Rhythm And Sound ace, drawn from his recording sessions with some of Senegal’s greatest musicians — a griot clan of Sabar drummers from Kaolack in Senegal, led by Bakane Seck, with guest players and vocalists, including many mainstays of the bands of Baaba Maal, Youssou N’Dour and company.
Jeri-Jeri’s style of Mbalax is swingeingly masterful — heady and hard-grooving, with highly complex, fiercely succinct poly-rhythms — an ancient-futuristic music, mesmeric but sharp as nails, super-charged with drama. Featuring the lovelorn vocals of guest Mbene Diatta Seck, Sabar traditions are fused with furious Afro-Cubanismo, hard funk-rock, and shards of high-life.

Ernestus’ nasty, hypnotic, stripped dub — an Mbalax first — edges in the bass, profiles the talmbat and tungun drums, and scoops the semantics out of the singing.

A stunning new production by the Rhythm And Sound ace, drawn from his recording sessions with some of Senegal’s greatest musicians — a griot clan of Sabar drummers from Kaolack in Senegal, led by Bakane Seck, with guest players and vocalists, including many mainstays of the bands of Baaba Maal, Youssou N’Dour and company.
Jeri-Jeri’s style of Mbalax is swingeingly masterful — heady and hard-grooving, with highly complex, fiercely succinct poly-rhythms — an ancient-futuristic music, mesmeric but sharp as nails, super-charged with drama. Featuring the lovelorn vocals of guest Mbene Diatta Seck, Sabar traditions are fused with furious Afro-Cubanismo, hard funk-rock, and shards of high-life.

Ernestus’ nasty, hypnotic, stripped dub — an Mbalax first — edges in the bass, profiles the talmbat and tungun drums, and scoops the semantics out of the singing.

Once again off the back of another very productive year, Micall Parknsun is on vinyl again. Teaming up with the mighty Boot Records to bring you his brand new Extended Player, the "Back In Business" EP. This killer record consists of 5 tracks and instrumentals , 3 produced by the main man himself, 1 produced by everyone's favourite DJ, DJ Jazz T and 1 produced by Jazz T & Dr Zygote. With the only feature being Brooklyn's very own Napoleon Da Legend, this is a sure fire bit of wax you won't want to miss out on.

We present to you our last release of this bizarre year, thirteenth release on 7” format, a new collaboration between Ojah and Nik Torp, keyboard player from The Specials.

The A side contains the track “Notting Hill”, a tribute to the famous carnival (greatly missed this year) featuring sounds of the vintage and rare Yamaha SK-20 organ played by Nik over a riddim formed by 80’s & 90’s synths and drum machines. Underlying the whole riddim is the recording of a baby’s heartbeat in the womb.

On the B side we find a dub version as is customary, sparse and full of fx, reminiscent of those open air dub sessions at Notting Hill Carnival, mixed live by Ojah on his analog console.

Limited edition of 350 copies, hand-stamped and hand-numbered, served in a thick custom reversed kraftliner sleeve.
Produced by Ojah, recorded at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London.
Organ by Nik Torp, recorded at Eastcote Studio 4, London.
Mixed & mastered by Oscar Pablos “Ojah" at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London, 2020.
Graphic design by Victor Castro.

all rights reserved

"For their first release, fledgling label Euphonic Rhythms launches with a 2LP fundraising compilation featuring the cream of the underground electronic music community. Artists featured include; Import, Christoph De Babalon, FARWARMTH, Gillie Mc Pherson, Ondness, Kepla, Jiinx + Sunun, Ausschuss, Withdrawn + Birthmark, Bobby Jewell, Best Available Technology, Proc Fiskal and Mya Gomez.

At least 50% of the profits will go to the Trussell Trust, Migrants Organise and Resourcing Racial Justice...the rest for artists."
180g, recycled vinyl 2LP. Comes in a recycled kraft gatefold sleeve. Mastered and cut by Helmut Erler at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin.

Includes download code

So much legendary hip-hop begins with a misunderstanding. You might not realise it on first or even hundredth listen, but ‘Insane in the Brain’ is a diss track. What has become one of the hip-hop’s most iconic party anthems, and one of Cypress Hill’s biggest hits, started out with them taking offence at Chubb Rock.
He’d flipped some of their lyrics on his own ‘Yabba Dabba Doo’ song in 1992 and the group didn’t like it. While B-Real’s lyrical attack on Chubb is subtle and almost subliminal, Sen Dog spends most of his verse making fat jokes at Chubb’s expense.
It’s a little known beef, hidden beneath the vast success of this single in 1993, with it reaching number one in the US rap charts and proving a pop hit worldwide too. At this stage, the group’s producer DJ Muggs had perfected an idiosyncratic sound all of his own, lending it to tracks for the likes of House of Pain and Funkdoobiest.

Here he melds samples from Sly and the Family Stone and The Youngbloods with a beat lifted from George Semper’s instrumental cover of ‘Get out my life, woman’. Those subtle songs are alchemised into a boot-stomping head-nodder that transcended hip-hop to become a festival favourite, a rise that ended in Ned Flanders delivering the line, “this may sound just a teensy bit insane in the old membrane, Homer,” in The Simpsons.

The only official 7” of this was released in the Philippines, and fetches prices in the hundreds of pounds – this reissue puts a hip-hop classic in crate-friendly form.

Gaudi follows up his critically acclaimed album “100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter)” with a cover of Lee Perry's classic 'Bird in Hand' production.

Storage Find! Limited & last batch of Helsinki band Jesse's third album from 2012 that was never properly distributed internationally. Always steady, but irregularly tipping over to the obscure while always applying stains of disco, house, outernational elements, funk, humour and even pub rock. Also incl. the excellent "Karaoke King" featuring Jimi Tenor on sax and vox.

Am 15.01.2021 erscheint das posthume Debütalbum „Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon“ des New Yorker Rappers Pop Smoke erstmals auf Vinyl. Das Album debütierte auf #1 der US Albumcharts und schaffte es auch in Deutschland auf #9 der Charts. Über 20 Wochen nach Release befindet sich das Album immernoch in den Top 5 der US-Albumcharts. Unter anderem sind 50 Cent, DaBaby, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Future, Quavo und Swae Lee auf dem Album vertreten

It is a privilege to present to you, our esteemed Daptone Family, a selection of fan-favorites by thee legendary Sharon Jones and her Dap-Kings available for thevery first time on 45!
Over the years Daptone H.Q. has been flooded with suggestions and requests for certain album tracks to be available on 45, so we've gone ahead and pressed up a few that are consistently at the top of the heap.

First up we have "Keep On Looking", a track that debuted on SJDK's breakout album 100 Days, 100 Nights,which subsequently became a staple in the groups live set. The incessant backbeat and tight horn arrangement, coupled with Miss Jones' powerful plea to a lost lover provides unadulterated dance-floor fuego!

On the flip is a new discovery of sorts. While digging through the tape archive we stumbled across a box labeled "Natural Born Lover- Instrumental with Strings". Much to our delight what we found is precisely that: an unreleased instrumental version of the SJDK classic, featuring a string arrangement that was cut from its initial release. And as if the nasty drum break at the top wasn't enough to make this a shoe-in addition to Dj boxes and playlists alike, the gorgeous quirky string arrangement places this one soundly into "must have" territory.

A.g. Returns With All-start Cast, Featuring The Likes Of Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Alchemist And More. For This Album, He's On His A-game, From Beginning To End. Touching On Topics From The Hip Hop Biz, Street Tales And Political Hypocrisy. The Taste Of Ambrosia Is A Full Meal Serving For Mature Rap Devotees Who've Grown Tired Of Contemporary Rhymesayer Laziness. Joined By Guests Including Diamond D, A-bless And Thirstin Howl Iii, A.g. Backs Up His Claim That He Is Ill Enough To Paint His Own Portrait, And Illustrates And Vision Of Rap Immortality That Hardcore Heads And Fellow Legacy Mcs Alike Can Worship Eternally.

If you like Soul, Funk & Jazz - Faroul with Dreams and Future
comes next

Leroy Smart the self-proclaimed ‘Don’, carries much respect in the Jamaican musical community. His attacking vocal style gives his lyrics and tunes that extra meaningfulness.

Born in Jamaica and orphaned as a young child, Leroy was sent to Maxfield Park children's home and educated at the famed Alpha Boys School. The school was run by nuns who encouraged musical talent and would provide the world with the cream of Jamaica’s artistic talent. Such legends as Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Johnny’ Dizzy’ Moore, to name but a few, all learnt their musical trade in this strict environment.

Leroy worked with many Jamaican producers, but seemed to find his feet working with Bunny ’Striker’ Lee. With whom he cut many of his greatest tunes. It is from this period that we have compiled this album. Featuring lost to now dubs to many of his classic tunes, like ' Wreck up my Life’, featured here as ’Dub Wrecker’. ’God Helps the Man’ Help yourself to Dub, Pride and Ambition If I should Dub. Fittest of the Fittest Dub for the Fittest and the title track of this selection his self-affirming Mr Smart Mr Smart in Dub.

These work alongside less known cuts that he also puts his musical stamp on .’No Love’ No Love In Dub. which sees him working over the ‘Zion Gate’ rhythm, made famous by Mr Horace Andy. The ‘My Conversation’ rhythm originally cut by Slim Smith but made into Leroy’s own ‘Jah Jah Forgive them’ For They Know What They Dub. All portrayed in his enviable style.

Such was Mr Leroy Smart’s stature in his homeland Jamaica, that when the ‘One Love’ peace concert line-up was put together for the 22nd of April 1978. The best of Jamaica’s Reggae stars was picked to play alongside Bob Marley & the Wailers. Such greats as Dennis Brown, The Mighty Diamonds, Peter Tosh and Inner Circle were chosen alongside the Don himself, Mr Smart. Whose stage shows were always colourful and to say the least eventful..

Mr Smart has continued to release music during the 80’s & 90’s, most notably with ‘She Just a Draw Card’ & ‘I’m the Don’. But as a set we feel this stands up with the best of them. Hope you enjoy the ride...

Respect Jah Floyd.

Worldwide Award winners First Word Records are pleased to welcome back Souleance; a duo that have been releasing music with us for a decade now, and triumphantly returning to the fold with some brand new music for 2020.

This vinyl / digital EP, 'Les Mouches', is their first release for First Word since the acclaimed beat-tape 'French Cassette' from early last year.

Expanding on the original Normand-Parisian super-duo of Fulgeance and Soulist, the Souleance crew now includes Vincent Choquet on synths and Guillaume Rossel on drums as part of their live outfit. Whilst sonically their style remains unchanged, the formation into a full band sees the Souleance sound become bigger, more realised and more formidable than ever.

The title track 'Les Mouches' sets off the EP in a playful disco manner - a chugging bassline, assorted synthesisers, disco claps and a four-to-the-floor drum track, inspired by the likes of Larry Levan and Candido. Meaning "flies", Les Mouches was a legendary Manhattan club that existed around the era of Studio 54, and was infamously a hangout spot for Imelda Marcos. The club itself was named after a play by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Next up is the single 'Aquarelle' (meaning watercolours), which contains more layers than a Bob Ross painting. With its various elements splayed across its aural canvas, sprinkled with some subtle scratches, it's four minutes of funk presented in Souleance's inimitable way.

'The Bounce' follows and enters a more soulful side of the dance, dropping the tempo a touch and inviting in a huge bassline, squelchy keys and intermittent vocal hooks.

'Mont Maudit' takes more of a latin jazz direction with big drums and cymbals rocking throughout, whilst an infectious piano hook cruises throughout, and an ethereal gospel choir switches up the proceedings mid-way.

Things get deeper still with the epic broken beat-esque 'Maneuevers'. Crunchy rhodes dominate this slightly tweaked-out rhythm, a delectable piece of heads-down nujazz fused with Souleance's unmistakable funk once again.

'L'Opuleance' closes out this EP with some more traditional Souleance fare - the tempo a little more head-nod, this one is comprised of some deliciously wobbly bass, chopped samples and hefty breaks.

This EP is essentially a set of grooves marinated in nostalgia whilst managing to sound entirely current. Analogue synths, live bass, sleek cuts and intoxicating drums. This is another round of sure-shot dancefloor fire from our favourite French family.

Previous support has come from OkayPlayer, Bill Brewster, BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft & Huey Morgan, and various DJs on Worldwide FM, NTS & Le Mellotron,

''Ruyzdael presents Writers on Wax Volume 1: The Sound of Graffiti, a compilation album with 8 exclusive, primarily electronic tracks by producers from four different countries who are more (in)famous as graffiti writers than as musicians.''Letters on a wall, letters on a train. When you take it back to that essence, it?s really not so strange that graffiti writers call themselves and each other writers. With just a few letters ? a word, a name ? they write their mythology for a general audience. No huge vocabulary needed, just imagination and a need for expression. It can come as no surprise that those qualities extend to other disciplines as well. Graffiti has long been associated with musical styles (hip-hop, punk) that contain an abundance of imagination and expression. Less well known is the fact that graffiti writers have embraced the DIY approach of electronic music. Writers on Wax Volume 1 is a group exposition of beats and basslines, imagination and expression. Sometimes using a lot of words, usually none or very few. The dance floor has its own myths.

Two Shaolin classics remixed and edited from the original stems. On Shimmy, Big Mac adds more thump to the drums and a actual second verse (not just the first verse repeated). On Brooklyn Zoo, Big Mac adds cut up skull snaps drums into the mix for a more drum heavy mix.

Two Roc classics reconstructed from the original samples with fresh drums for a different feel.

On’t miss this FUTURISTICA 12” single featuring remixes by DJ SPINNA, KAIDI TATHAM & NICOLAY of tracks from DEBORAH JORDAN’s critically acclaimed new album “SEE IN THE DARK". DJ SPINNA & KAIDI both individually remix “HORIZON” while NICOLAY handles “SENSES". Also included is the bonus gem “POWERLIGHT” produced by BUSCRATES!

On the A Side the Notorious Brooklyn Bad Boy is back, moaning about the fact that he’s got noth-ing to do on a Saturday after a crazy lit Friday night. This funked up boogie edit is one for the dance floor once lockdown has passed and will surely rock for years to come. On the flip, big Q warms things with the heat. This well known sample is so understated and smooth, yet instantly recognisa-ble not just by die hard fans. It’ll rock any venue from Bar to BBQ back to the dancefloor. Special Edition in gold vinyl.

Oonops is back with his second selection for the Resense-Series and he selected two tracks from DJ and producer FLIPOUT out of Vancouver. He already opened shows for Afrika Bambaataa, Grand Master Flash, Mos Def, Ice Cube, Questlove and is known for his fiery gigs around the world.

"Let The Soul Pride In" is a b-boy driven soul / psyche rock classic with heavy breaks and much energy for the dancefloor with a very DJ friendly intro and outro at 120 BPM. On the flipside we've got the Hip Hop monster "Clipse Comin' Thru" in a JBz style. It's a re-make of the Jungle Brothers "J Beez Comin' Through" blended with Clipse "When The Last Time" plus bonus beats for all the djs who love to play around. Both tracks are mixed by Nick Bike and the handwritten (as usual in this series) is by the artist himself.

PT005 sees NYC based Gee Dee deliver the fifth physical disc on Planet Trip, following his recent EP on Superior Elevation Greg D presents the "Key of Sea EP”. A freaky four tracker of cosmic influenced melters, effortlessly moving through hazy and dub influenced housey cuts, balearic tinged earworms and oddball downtempo trips. Suitable for sunsets with friends or late nights with strangers, a record with a tune for all hours of the dance.

Limited to strictly 300 copies, no repress.

JKriv - Aguaxire

Closing the sweltering season & sonically chronicling the transition from Summer to Fall in Detroit w/different takes on a melancholy tune f/ Egyptian Lover (electro), Pontchartrain (house), Table Daddy (techno), the original, & a slomo extract.

A new release on our Jukebox Jam imprint features two originally unissued sides from the Poet Of The Blues, Percy Mayfield. 'Gone Astray' is an irresistibly jazzy, mid-tempo Rhythm & Blues track which just epitomises class. The flip is a closing time blues lament with Mayfield drawling his way through his guidelines for dealing with heartache and strife.

Matasuna Records is delighted to reissue another jewel on vinyl: Ralph Week's song 'Let Me Do My Thing' is probably the most sought after Panamanian soul tune and the rare original 7inch is sold at incredible prices. The song was recorded together with the band 'Los Dinámicos Exciters' in 1971 in Panama.

During our research we were lucky to find Mr. Weeks, who could give us some background information to this song and his music career in general. Ralph Weeks was born 1943 in Panama, which he left at the age of 17 to move to the United States. There he founded the band 'Ralph & Telecasters' at the beginning of the 1960s. After his time in the US Army he started the band again, recorded their first single in 1965 and went touring in the United States during the following years. Among other gigs they also played twice in the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem (NYC) where one of the greatest musicians like Louis Armstron, James Brown, Marvin Gaye etc. performed there.
The charismatic singer and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass & keyboard) was invited to a show in Panama in 1970, where he performed with members of the band 'Los Dinámicos Exciters ', which he knew from his youth. In 1971 he came back again and recorded four songs with the band, which were released on the album "Lo Mejor De Los Dinámicos Exciters". Two of the recordings were also released under Ralph's name as a 7inch vinyl single on the Panamanian label "Sally Ruth Records" - among them "Let Me Do My Thing".
Then he returned to the States and founded a new band in 1975 with Carlos Brown, a member of the Exciters, which existed for about 25 years. Weeks' life has always been dedicated to music: even today, at the age of 76, he is still a member of an accapella gospel group that sings weekly at the church in his hometown in the state of Connecticut.

On the A-side of the vinyl you can listen to the amazing original version recorded in 1971 - which was remastered for the release. The funky Latintune has all the ingredients that helped him to his status as one of the best Panamanian soul songs: a killer rhythm, a deep grooving bass line, the virtuoso interplay of the trumpet players and the super sweet soul voice of Ralph Weeks. There's nothing more to add, but our favourite producer "Voodoocuts" was able to get something out of the original. On the B-side you'll find his version of the classic: a modified arrangement with a new in and outro, an extended break part and additional beats that will set every dance floor on fire. Don't miss this gem!

Jah Is My Light / Version

Raw Roots Reggae Featuring Reality Lyrics From One Of Jamaica's Finest, Sizzla Kalonji. Uk Based Foundation Sound Present This Vocal And Dubwise Set, Released On The King 45 Record Label.

Nikki Burt (recorded At Tads Studio, Jamaica) Sings Backing Vocals And Gav Fullness Plays Drums. The Horns Section Features Leroy Horns On Sax, Laura Impallomeni On Trombone And Mikey Ball On Trumpet. Producer King Sammy Plays Guitar, Bass And Keys. Mixed By Ed Foundation & King Sammy At Foundation Sound, Mastered By Nick Manasseh. Vocal Licence Courtesy Of King Dubbist.

TASSO (THE GREAT) KAIN- CASTRO'S BEAT/ TEDDY REYNOLDS - LOUISE

A Pittsburgh instrumental anthem flipped with LP only issued R'n'B swingin' masterclass

From one of the highest demanded LP "A Taste (1976)", which is famous as the final destination of rare groove vinyl collectors, mellow vocals and rich Latin funk tune "And We'll Make Love" are cut to 7 inch for the first time!!

Danny Dee aka Lil Albert was an original member of Hawaii's Society of Seven, P-Vine present a vinyl reisue of his sought-after 1976 album Movin' in.

Two dope Island Boogie tracks by Experience, an Afro Reggae group hailing from Germany. - Very nice steeldrumming in these tunes..

Experience’s “Share It With You” and “Happiness” can both be found on the private LP release “Oh! What A Feeling” from 1982. The group consisted of Anthony Flaverney from Trinidad, Curvin Murchant from Jamaica, Daniel Kofi Jefferson from Ghana and John Innies from Trinidad and was founded in Hamburg.

Anythony Flaverney, the lead singer on both songs, was active as songwriter and musician in Germany since the mid-1970s, most notably appearing on the Peter Herbolzheimer arranged “Caribbean Rock“ album by Malcolm's Locks (be sure to check their funk version of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up”!). Curvin Merchant, a highly respected drummer from Jamaica, settled in Germany around the same time. Before forming Experience, he was a member in several groups, including highly successful pop acts like Boney M. Later he became known as "Germany’s Grandfather of Roots Rock Reggae", among other things buildung up the "Reggae Center" in Hamburg. Flaverney and Merchant are joined by Daniel Jefferson on bass and John Innies on steel pan. The band existed for about 2 years, touring in Germany and Europe, unfortunately recording only one album which features a unique mix of Reggae and Funk.

The first track “Share It With You”, should give any serious music lover goose bumps. It was written by Flaverney and features a deep groove, steel drum solos and fantastic soulful vocals. It’s that type of tune you will play in a DJ set and people will come up to you and ask what it is. The single version is slightly edited.
Side B continues with Happiness, an equally great track with positive vibe and attitude, written by Flaverney and Jefferson. Again, the steel pan sounds give it that special compelling “Island” vibe from Trinidad.

The single is limited to 300 copies and comes in a beautiful picture sleeve showing part of the original artwork from the “Oh! What A Feeling” album.

This is the first single cut including "Here I Go", which is famous as the finest modern soul from the masterpeace album in 1976! B-side includes a self-cover of Harris and O's "Spread Love", a funky groove featured by Kenny Dope and Madlib from "Love Will Rise" which was released by Michael O in '81. This is also the first 7-inch release!!

This is a new release of the Groove Diggers series, the only work released in 1977 by 8-members funka soul band "Moonpie" based in Nashville, USA. Aused to be known as just collectors items but you can listen to high quality sound with skillful performance and various arrangements from this record. The cover take of "Stevie Wonder / Sunshine Of My Life" is really awesome.

Ned Doheny is one of the representative artists of AOR, gained high popularity from Japanese fans. the self-cover of the song "What cha Gonna Do For Me?" Which is well known to Chaka Khan and Average White Band, is the first single cut in the original version!