Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

At the start of the year, Rocafort Records treated us to it's first roots reggae outing in the form of 'The Circle of Confusion' featuring the legendary Studio #1 vocalist 'Cornel Campbell'. ... Warm, feel-good, socially conscious, intergalactic dub.

We hoped for more, and finally it's here! Although slightly more digital in production, "Yesterday was History" cannot be claim to differ enormously from its predecessor. But hey, why mess with the formular when the results are pure and damn-near perfect ... ?

'The Circle of Confusion' are a Swiss production duo: Seb.K (Shakedown productions) and Phil'eas (Black Diamond Sound).
Recorded at Addis records in Geneva on the day of Mandela's passing, this track is another slice of dubby humanity-driven peace and love that buoyantly skips along aided by the sweetest scatting voice in reggae, (not showing any signs of it's 73 years), and all the appropriate studio space-age sound effects, harmonics and vintage keys. Modern roots reggae at its best, where the dub version is as banging and cosmic as the A Side.

The Voices of East Harlem were an ensemble of vocalists who for Just Sunshine Records recorded two albums under the direction of Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield. “Wanted Dead or Alive” is one of their most classic songs, a highly sought after ‘Rare Groove’ track together with “Can You Feel It”.

Get your dose of grade A contemporary soul and funk here in its most treasured format. The Timmion box set series continues with a full house of six original compositions and six instrumentals, spread over five 7" singles.
New Orleans legend Willie West digs into his funk roots with "Give It Back", Cold Diamond & Mink providing that second line NOLA bounce to the fullest. Lovers of the funk can flip their way to Ernie Hawks' blaxploitation piece "Scorpio Walk" and the mellow single only "Message of Love".

If you're after soul music it's about time for you to cop Emilia Sisco's fantastic dark ballad "I Don't Believe You Like That", continue with Carlton Jumel Smith's deep Timmion debut "I Can't Love You Anymore" featuring Pratt, and get those spirits up with a crossover gem from and Jonny Benavidez.
These five objects look gorgeous together and they sound even better!

Enzo Carella was an Italian singer-songwriter who scored a major hit with the song “Barbara” in 1979. His third album Sfinge is considered by many as his best album. It is an infectious mixture of funk, jazz, and Creole music. With the music of artists like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Genesis in mind he created his own compositions, and the result still sounds incredible.

Sfinge is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on transparent blue vinyl.

Celebrating the 50th release on the Nonplus label, Instra:mental return with their sophomore album Timelines. A long awaited record that finally uncovers the unreleased gems of the legendary Autonomic Podcast series. This eleven track album features five, previously vinyl only cuts, with another six unreleased tracks from the vault. This is an album that will feel nostalgic to some but new to others. Classics like Photograph and Pacific Heights transport the listener back to a time where Instra:mental started to blur the boundaries in a pool of multiple genres, allowing artists to dip their toes with creative freedom. This release is mainly rooted in 170bpm (with the exception of “More Than”) but effortlessly feels like its spanning multiple tempos. With the techno infused Encke Gap to the slow pulsings of Deep Night. Timelines represents the embodiment of the Autonomic “Drum & Bass” movement, a slice of time that sounds modern despite being more than a decade in existence. Timelines is a collectors piece that will sit happily in your physical or digital collection, an essential record that highlights the golden era of Instra:mental’s illustrious career.

Obscure Black Ark roots tune produced by Lee Perry. Brother Noah is a harmonic re-telling of the biblical flood by The Shadows, three singers named Sam, Don & Errol. First time reissue on 7" vinyl.

1978 tune by living reggae legend Lee Perry. Captive revealed the continual enslavement of black people in the West, calling for mental and spiritual liberation. The Upsetters dub it on the B-side.

With their third album ‘Fluid Motion’, Melbourne’s 30/70 are set to soar into higher territory as the face of Australia’s newest wave of soul-influenced brilliance.

From the swirling opening pads of “Brunswick Hustle” all the way through to the sax-laden shimmer of “Flowers” at its close, ‘Fluid Motion’ is an instant classic, effortlessly shifting between neo-soul and languid, Dilla-esque tendencies, astral-facing jazz textures and authentic vignettes of UK club music history.

It’s a formula that those already caught in 30/70’s celestial web are fully aware of; first defined on the local heat of their 2015 debut ‘Cold Radish Coma’ and majestically expanded upon with their critically acclaimed 2017 release ‘Elevate’ on Bradley Zero’s Rhythm Section INTL (mixed by Hiatus Kaiyote’s Paul Bender). ‘Elevate’ did exactly that - elevating both the scope of the band’s sound as well as their standing in the local and international community.

Since the last record was released, the music has brought the band on world tours and to the attention of the wider public and key tastemakers alike. Strongly supported by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, Jamie Cullum, Matthew Halsall and Bradley Zero, the UK has become something of a second home for 30/70.

London in particular has openly embraced the soulful sounds of Melbourne, as evidenced by Gilles’ latest Brownswood compilation ‘Sunny Side Up’ which features three tracks from 30/70 members: Ziggy Zeitgeist, Horatio Luna and Allysha Joy. The record is a follow up to his era-defining survey of the UK Jazz scene ‘We Out Here’, the compilation that kickstarted a whole generation of London’s under-the-radar Jazz kids to global headlining heights. It would appear we’re about to witness this same effect take place for the Melbourne contingent, of which 30/70 lead the charge. The city’s invasion is well and truly upon us.

While London is undoubtedly in love with what’s happening in Melbourne right now, this is no one way love affair. The 30/70 collective have had their ears to the ground and plugged into the sound of the UK underground. This new album takes inspiration from the syncopation of Broken-Beat, the immediacy of Grime’s and Dub’s sonic aesthetic to create something that is a truly global amalgamation of local sounds, finessed by Allysha Joy’s instantly recognisable vocals; the rawest and realest of voices.

* One of the UK underground's best-regarded producers - Commodo - returns with an album on distinguished Bristol imprint Black Acre.

* How What Time' follows his impressive collaborative LP with Kahn and Gantz, a bass-swelling blend of Bristolian and Middle Eastern sub-low, released on the bastion of low frequency excellence, Deep Medi Musik. An artist with deep roots in bass music's history and present, Commodo experiments with a variety of underground elements, with components of hip-hop, grime, dubstep, and more in the mix. On his debut album he pushes his sound further while managing to uphold the basic formula of space and bass.

* Continuing to add a thoughtful touch to the deeper ends of UK bass music, his new album sees Commodo create deeply meditative jams that harness a raw energy and sub-bass power. Made in several different places in the UK, Turkey and Germany, 'How What Time' sees Commodo fuse the UK's raw and vibrant grime and hip-hop scene, as heard in the fierce and murky soundscapes of Itchin' with an unmistakeable vocal from Trim. The album's standout track Set It Straight' features Croydon's fast-rising rapper-beatmaker Rocks FOE, and like Commodo's Jme-featuring hit Shift', is an instant underground anthem. Commodo blends Madlib-style hip-hop beats with the fierce spirit of grime. The addition of Rocks' straight-talking charisma and energetic flow transitions Set It Straight' into an uptempo head-banger.

* Commodo's inherently unique and accomplished production style has earned him recognition right from the outset of his ascendancy, garnering attention from a host of key figures within the electronic community. When making his new album he sought to strike a balance between a sample-heavy, rap style sound palette and the energy of the 140bpm based music he's always been a part of.' From the tough bass weight of his dancefloor-leaning productions to the tonally rich and immersive qualities of the album's more intricate tracks, How What Time' maintains a resounding freshness throughout.

Killer piece of 1977 Black Ark magic from Earl Daley, Lee Perry, Steely, Albert Malawi and Dalton Browne. Original roots reggae by the man Earl Sixteen recorded & produced in classic
Lee Perry style!

Comp of funky, tropical tunes from all over the place.

Straight From The Decks compiles seventeen tunes that constitute the true essence of Gut's DJ sets.
To listen at home, or to remind you of the atmosphere you may have experienced at one of them.

Mr. Collage’s debut solo album “Layers” takes a traditional Hip-Hop approach, utilizing samples as well as recorded instruments. “Layers” is a sonic painting consisting of dusty vinyl memories and future plane tickets. Funky beats and basslines, afro percussions and a second-hand synth are layered to complete the musical background of the album.

Is that all? Def not! The album features some very talented artists from the USA, Australia, Spain, Greece and Belgium. The rappers Nico The Beast, S Squair Blaq, Mic Bles and 1989TRE get funky on Collage’s beats and lady MC Amira Lacrima with her mellow raps gets into a story telling.

Soul comes strong in the album too with Lady EMZ cherishing life over a Northern Soul-inspired beat and Mantique spicing up the funkiness with her deep voice. Not to mention vocalist Lisa Spykers adding an extra R&B/Soul vibe by joining forces with 1989TRE.
On the wheels of steel, the IDA World Finalists - Fly Immigrants (DJ Mysterons and DJ Hypercutz) and the heavy artillery of scratching of Mind The Wax, DJ Moya take care of the scratches in the album.

Layers will be released on vinyl by label Mind The Wax in December 2019, and includes 11 tracks.

Back to Titanic is the second soundtrack album released for the award winning movie Titanic. Composer James Horner created a new suite of light and dark music to represent the ”soul” of his music. The inspiration they used to compose the original score formed the basis of the new pieces Horner developed for this soundtrack. It contains a piano solo performed by James Horner in “The Portrait” and also newly recorded suites by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Choristers of King’s College. The first highlight is the 19 minute clocking opening suite, which captures the essence of the film. The other big suite is the final track, called “Epilogue - The Deep and Timeless Sea”. James Horner returns to the main Titanic theme in a subtle way, honouring the losses of the disaster.

The Back to Titanic package includes a 4 page booklet, replicas of the original Titanic launch card and boarding pass, and got a gatefold sleeve with metallic embossing. This is an extremely limited edition of 500 copies on turquoise vinyl.

Rain & Shine by 'BOOGIE MONSTER' presents 'THE SECRET SIGN'.
It's a collection of 22 rare & classic connoisseur cuts mixed to perfection courtesy of Sydney's deepest crates.

Belizean artist Bredda David Obi set out to put Belizean music on the map in 1984 with the release of his debut LP No Fear. With this album he introduced the world to a new Belizean groove he called kungo (or cungo). A mélange of traditional Belizean brukdown music and sprinklings of the rock, funk, calypso and reggae. He would further develop this modern tropical sound on subsequent albums, integrating more nd more elements from Belizean niche genres like sambai and paranda.
Years later DJs and record collectors found his records in basements of record stores in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. These DJs incorporated his music into their DJ sets to the
excitement of dance floors all over the world. The DJs and remixers on this 12" took it a step further and edited and remixed David's music. DC based DJs - Sol Power
All-Stars morph "Dancin'" from an electro brukdown breakbeat into a four on the floor acid house track with an afro-caribbean feel. Los Angeles based DJ and record
collector DJ Duckcomb tastefully melds both the dub and original versions of "Experience" into one epic reggae discomix. My Rules Records owner and DJ/producer Justin
Van Der Volgen uses his heighten production skills to turn Bro David's "Sunshine" into a heady trippy cosmic version of the track. Last but not least LA-based Heatwave DJs
turn "Cungo Music" into a dancefloor tested and approved extended anthem.

C.O.W. sind zuruck. Tatsachlich waren Sie nie wirklich weg. Nach dem Release von zwei eindrucksvollen Features mit niemand geringerem als Alxndr London (UK) und Hatsune Miku (JP) und dem Erfolg Ihrer letzten EP $Hanghai Mone, kundigt das Deutsch-Chinesische Produzenten-Kollektiv fur 2019 Ihr lang-ersehntes Album an.
Als Kind der digitalen Welt, hatten Sie sich dafur keinen besseren Namen auswahlen konnen als ihr eigenes Genre: INTERNET.

Aber es wäre nicht C.O.W.?, gäbe es nicht einen Coup, einen konzeptuellen Boden. Etwas bedeutungsvolles. Das Internet besteht aus unzahligen Inhalten, Phanomenen und Eindrucken. Die Weltsicht des Kollektivs ist, dass diese sich analog zur physischen Welt aus vier Elementen zusammensetzen: EPIC, FURY, LOVE und DRUGS.

Ein philosophisches Konzept, das in diesem Album Ausdruck findet. Vier Elemente, die unsere digitale Umgebung gestalten, die Welt unserer Meinungsfuhrer und Influencer und unseren Filterblasen. Wir wissen um Sie und erleben Sie alle, wenn wir durch diese fantastische Welt des Internets reisen.

So wie man mit nur wenigen Klicks von wahnsinniger Bewunderung zum Abgrund des Hasses, von Aufregung zu Traurigkeit gefuhrt wird, so nimmt uns auch dieses Album mit auf eine Reise durch diese vier Elemente und Gefuhle in Form dieser unerreichten Produktionen. C.O.W. sind zuruck. Doch wie Dinge Internet, waren sie nie verschwunden, man musste nur suchen und genau schauen.

Four modern, textural, slow-burning instrumental hip hop soundscapes set a distinct mood on this new EP by the venerable Chris DeLuca. Heavy-hitting basslines and slightly ominous hat patterns dominate, leaving these cuts verging on the territory of dark, minimal electro destruction... with a subtle dose of that funky boom bap. Perfectly applicable to both basement dancefloor experiments and gangster dealings alike.

One half of Berlin's Funkstörung, alongside partner Michael Fakesch, De Luca is more than well-versed in the genre, having done a few remixes for high-profile hip hop and experimental acts such as Wu Tang Clan and Bjork. They've released an uncountable amount of records on labels !K7, Compost Records, Music aus Strom and Acid Planet, to name but a few. This is his first release for Detroit Underground.

Includes two fire remixes, one by fellow DU resident producer Valance Drakes, and the second by none other than Chris DeLuca's son, Lenny DeLuca.

Stamped Label.

Un released Multi Trax mixes
Classic Disco cuts..

Another massive and rare hip hop banger from 5BB with the huge "All Out" by Mass Influence backed by the rare original sample source. 400 copies only – will sell out this week!

Local Talk is back again with a fantastic album from Soulphiction who gets deep, down and dirty with this bumping selection of timeless house tracks across 3 pieces of beautifully packaged vinyl...

Dusty grooves and soulful emotion form the foundation of this release, which also takes influence from Jazz, Hip Hop and Afrobeat.

Soulphiction aka Michel Baumann is one of Germany's most respected artists who is also known under the equally successful and iconic alias Jackmate.
This is the third time Soulphiction has featured on Local Talk including his recent single "Beehive". Other labels to have featured Soulphiction tracks and remixes include Lumberjacks in Hell, Rebirth, Pampa and Philpot Records.

A master of both mood and texture, this release showcases the studio wizardry of a true sound-smith.
Chunky percussion with shuffling rhythms form the backbone of the grooves, which are fleshed out with intricate melodies and funky basslines that move mind, body and soul.

With ebbs and flows, the release builds and drops with tracks like "Jus Listen" moving away from the dance floor vibe to focus on a more soothing sound.
Like the tracklist of a J Dilla mixtape, this album flows with a purposeful care combined with a storytelling blend of emotions rarely heard in a house music long player.

Executed to perfect precision, this album is an instant classic and a must-have for home listening along with a club setting.

Thrilling dancefloor subcurrents from Egypt’s Mahraganat / Electro-Chaabi scene on this incredible compilation showcasing the main players and their percussive dialogue with the likes of Nervous Horizon’s DJ Plead and DJ Haram of Hyperdub and the DiscWoman collective. It’s a vital survey of some of the most thrilling and forward dance music you’ll hear this year - if you grabbed that insane 1127 LP on Nashazphone, DJ Haram’s Hyperdub debut, or any of Eek & Islam
Chipsy’s mad LP’s - this one’s pure fire.
Cairo Concepts is the first series dedicated to documenting the trajectory of the current, road-level Egyptian subculture known as Mahraganat. Like Nyege Nyege Tapes at the other end of the
Nile, down in Uganda, Cairo Concepts reveals thrilling club heat some from way off the usual roadmap, and the way in which it is directly influencing club music’s international hotspots. In a double refraction of influence, the local and international artists on ‘Cairo Concepts’ offer a global exchange of rugged bass pressure, ornate percussion and autotuned rap vocals.
Nervous Horizon’s DJ Plead provides two big highlights with the tucked 2-step and killer hand-drum fills of ‘Battiekh 3’ recalling Mutamassik’s classic ‘War Booty’ 12”, while her vinyl-exclusive
‘Ana Ho’ features Cairene MC Alaa 50 on a prime, Timba-style flip of Dr. Dre. And fresh from her wicked Hyperdub debut, DJ Haram follows suit with a strong vocal cut ‘Blessed’ starring a barking
Nustaliga over sizzling hi-hats, quaking bass and snake-hipped flute melodies, also included as a stripped down and useful instrumental.
Nustaliga also serves solo highlights with the swaggering nstrumental ‘Mezmar’ and the hard hunch of ‘Mahragan El Share3’, whose combo of buzzing horns and trilling drums should recall the street rave sound of Eek and Islam Chipsy, while 3Phaz tends to the set’s wildest moment with a blown-out banger ‘Phazbaz’ reminding of that amazing 1127 LP on Nashazphone, and Tor5y absolutely slays it with the stuttering drum and vocal edits of ‘Wala3.’

(180 Vinyl LP) With their authentic formula - jazz musicians in a Jamaican-wise context - Jamaican Jazz Orchestra come with a second album that feels like a fresh dive in the lake on a humid tropical day. High quality musicianship and clever compositions recorded analog on tape, guided by producer Tom Callens (Lady Linn, Lester's Blues, South of the Border, Tiny Legs Tim)...

Following on from the incredibly well received reissue of Rick Clarke's sensuous Street Soul number 'Love With A Stranger', Local Records dust off the tapes once again to reissue a Brit Funk gem from Janet Kay.

Originally released back in '84, 'Eternally Grateful' encompasses the Brit Funk sound with a melting pot of styles that inspired the movement. Marrying Kay's R&B infused vocals with a British flavoured boogie funk, jazzed up horns and a dubby bass, there's a pop tinge that keeps things catchy and soulful in equal measure. Hold tight for those spiritual synth lines. Stratospheric stuff that will leave you feeling like you've been dancing in outer space.

Like all the Local Records back catalogue, 'Eternally Grateful' was produced by the label's mastermind John Collins. He nestles a dub version on the flip side, full of space echo sweetness and cascading drums - giving the funk bass centre stage, primed and ready to fuel dancefloors and capture spirits all over again.

Strap up the skates, it's go time baby!

In March 2018 Blackwood Soundsystem hosted a dubplate session with King Alpha and Fikir Amlak in Lahr (Germany). Fikir Amlak voiced a dubplate called “Ancient Man” for Tree Of Life Soundsystem on the “Harder Than The Rest Dub”, a heavyweight version of Culture’s “Holy Mount Zion” from 1978.

This dubplate marks the birth of the “Tree Of Life Sessions”. The raw dubplate material was sent to T-Jah to get the final mix. He was inspired by the lyrics and the art of singing so that besides mixing fyah hot dubplates he produced an own version of “Ancient Man”, which is featured here with two additional dubs.

The song’s trademark sounds are the playful erhu theme, a bansuri flute and a kalimba that create the unique atmosphere of the tune.

Der Klassiker auf DoLP, Foldout Cover, mit 3 Remixen, 180 gr

Funky soul-jazz organist Caesar Frazier crafted superior Hammond funk. 75, his second LP, is a rare gem. It’s comfortably his greatest artistic statement.

The follow-up to Hail Ceasar!, it’s a taut, grooving set that expands his sound and, put simply, it’s got better songs. The key elements of his debut album are all there – production from maestro Bob Porter, accompaniment from hip players (Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Cornell Dupree, John Tropea) and arrangement from Horace Ott - but the overall sound is elevated. The tightly jamming, expressive jazz-funk makes for a richer, fuller, more satisfying experience.

75 is a mixture of hard-driving originals, deeply beautiful slower numbers to vary the tempo and a couple of classy covers. The crazy bombastic “Mighty Mouse” - a riot of horns, organ and in the pocket drums - became an acid jazz classic at Dingwalls and it’s easy to see (hear?) how. A blissed out, lushly instrumental take on Seals and Crofts’s “Summer Breeze” follows, perfect for those sunshine sets.

Side A closes with the heavenly “Sweet Children”. A loping, funky jazz masterpiece famously sampled by Kanye West for Common’s “Real People” from Be. It opens beautifully, with soaring sax and a funky horn section combining with weightless keyboard tones atop snapping drums. Unsurprisingly, the excellence endures right through to the end.

The B side opens with perhaps the album’s most famous track. "Funk It Down” contains the familiar “I can feel the funk” vocal refrain throughout. But it’s the gorgeous, insouciant bridge that you should all know and love, having been used as the hook for Gang Starr’s “Ex-Girl To Next Girl”. A great cover of Stevie Wonder's “Living for the City” comes next, with an unforgettable bass-line which anchors the entire heavy rhythm section workout. Dizzying organ, triumphant horns and sun-dappled guitar grooves combine to create “Walking On The Side”, rounding out a pretty smoking set.

This is one of those rare 70s funk-soul-jazz LPs on which a bad track cannot be found. It’s all essential. So of course finding original copies on vinyl at affordable prices has been tough for years.

Mastered brilliantly by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and with painstakingly reproduced artwork by the Be With team, this fresh Be With reissue ensures this legendary LP now sounds, looks and feels as sensational as it should.

The Nightriders “Lookin’ For My Baby” which has taken epic status in the R&B clubs up and down the land, If you can find an original copy be prepared to spend up to $3,000. The Fabulous Playboys featured the legendary Carlis “Sonny” Monroe on lead vocals, before they went on to become The Falcons they recorded their 1961 masterpiece “Honkey Tonk Woman:”

SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PICTURE DISC FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TWO TONE!
Back in 1978, THE COVENTRY AUTOMATICS headed into the studio to record some demos in an effort to secure a record deal. It didn’t happen, but within months the band had renamed themselves THE SPECIALS and set up their own label called 2 TONE and a movement was born and the rest is history!

Horace Andy's classic Studio One cut 'Fever' on a super-loud 12" single for the first time ever! A killer track originally released on the legendary Studio One label in 1973, with the Cedric Im Brooks instrumental version on the B side. Horace Andy is one of Reggae's best known vocalists who has had mainstream success with Massive Attack after appearing on all five of their albums.

Sophie Lloyd’s debut on Classic Music Company ‘Calling Out’ came last year as an antidote to the pervading doom and gloom of the news and a dreary winter, and inspired remixes from David Penn, Danny Krivit, Riva Starr and Floorplan. On her second single ‘Raise Me Up’ sees her re-unite with soul trio Dames Brown to deliver a dose of gospel-infused, joyous, uplifting house music. Sophie’s impeccable knowledge of disco and soul shines through on the record, with organ chords and rhythmic percussion bringing the authentic gospel sound of countless classics. This 12” release also features two mixes from fellow Londoner Alan Dixon, who brings his signature disco-laced sound to the release, his remix upping the tempo and with a harder bassline that makes the track more club-focussed. Alan’s stripped-back dub rounds off the release with an essential club tool.

Soul Jazz Records are releasing their new ‘Space Funk – Afro Futurist Electro Funk in Space 1976-84’, an intergalactic journey into black space, fuelled by funk, powered by computers.
‘Space Funk’ is a lovingly compiled collection of superb, rare and off-the-wall space funk and electro releases mostly released on small independent labels in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Reactors are reacting, boosters are boosting, pack your funk and shake your booty! Computer funk … makes you jump! This is the space funk program!
The album comes in deluxe artwork and three formats – digipack + slipcase CD, a very limited deluxe 2xLP + bonus 7” single + download vinyl version, and a standard 2xLP + download standard vinyl version.
Features music by Jamie Jupitor, Solaris, Robotron 4, Juju & the Space Rangers and many more intergalactic space warriors!
The shuttle program has been altered – there is no Star Wars only electro funk jam joyriders in Space – hold tight!