Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

Alsarah & The Nubatones are back! After the release of their first album, Silt, the band embarked on an an intense travel schedule that saw the band tour Australia, play a headline slot at WOMAD, sell out their London debut as well as a marquee slot at NYC's world famous Apollo theatre. After an extended sabbatical in Morroco, their sophmore album Manara was given birth, showcasing a new intimacy in the creative process for the group.

Having suffered the loss of former Oud player Haig Manoukian to a long battle with cancer shortly after the release of the debut Alsarah & The Nubatones spent the past 2 years touring, growing closer and shaping their sound with the two new members - Brandon Terzic (Oud) and Nahid (additional vocals). Banded together with stories of movement and migration in the face of the current anti-­immigrant global atmosphere, they delved deeper into defining the sound they have coined as "East African Retro­pop", rooted in the silt of Sudan and Nubia, and further inspired by the eastern coast of Africa and the diversity of its sounds and migration patterns.

The questions, "What is home" and "What does it sound like" lie at the crux of the creation of Manara. As Alsarah explains "Sometimes we leave home willingly, sometimes we are forced out, sometimes we plan to go back, and sometimes we don't know if we will ever see our loved ones again. But one thing we always know is that we don't want to forget, or be forgotten. As the sea takes us, Manara is the lighthouse anchoring our journey, and the keeper of our secrets. Not a destination, but rather a marker along the way."
This album representsleap forward and a deeper maturation of the Nubatones' sound. In the digital age of the single mp3 download, Menara was made to be listened to from beginning to end, as it weaves through various interludes and songs in the vein of classic albums such as Dark Side of the Moon, and Musicology.

10 track Album from Anthony Red Rose released by Dub Store Records

Big Crown Records is proud to present Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band's new 45, Scorpio' b/w 8th Wonder'. Coming after the smashing success of their debut full length 55' they drop 2 B-Boy classics back to back on this tough two sider that comes in a beautifully illustrated picture sleeve. The A side Scorpio' is a killer cover of the Dennis Coffey breakbeat staple. BRSB turn up the tempo a touch on the original doing the tune justice with crushing drums they have become known for. This is sure to be in every breakbeat enthusiasts box. The B side features the non album cut, BRSB's cover of The Sugarhill Gang's 8th Wonder, a tune that lends itself to pans like it was written for them. Another dance floor winner sure to be in DJs sets the world over shortly.

Based On A True Story is the biggest selling New Zealand artist album of all time. The debut studio album from Fat Freddy's Drop, has sold 8-times platinum in New Zealand alone, after debuting at #1 on the NZ Album Charts & holding that position for 11 weeks, and that as an independent release with virtually no promotion. Based On A True Story won a raft of awards, including Best Album at the NZ music award and Album of the Year from Gilles Peterson Worldwide at BBC.

Before the technical and historical chat this is what we have... Super rare local Michigan disco 45 in the vein of 'Long Train Running' but better, that should be enough to click buy I would hope.Flipside were a typical local radio rock band drawn into the disco funk wave and became known locally in Michigan as the "the long Haired Disco Band Guys." The Record is notable as it was produced by David Kalmbach, this Michigan legend owned Great Lakes Recording Studio which played a very important role in the garage rock movement by offering teen bands the chance to record a 45 that could be sold off the bandstand or at local record shops, given to potential employers, and even get airplay on one or more of the many AM rock and roll radio stations that dotted the state. Band member Dave Stewart went on to be in "The Magnificent Men" (A.K.A. Blue eyed soul brothers.) who were the first ever band to open for James Brown at The Apollo Theatre and also played with Eddie Holman, Soul Survivors & The Four Tops.

Jazzman Records released the Holy Grail LP of John Heartsman. I did my own edit of 'Mr. Magic' whilst mastering the LP and spun it since then on Dub but never thought to put it out. It fixes the D.J Kryptonite fade-in so it's straight in on the action and much more dj friendly, not rocket science but it works. Bang it on with 'Talking About My Baby' on the flip and you have a brilliant 45.

Big drums Check. Slinky groove Check. Huge horns Check. A killer vocal from one of the voices of her generation Oh yes! 'Take You Home' is Lack of Afro doing what he does best - combining the funk-filled old & the soul-soaked new to devastating effect. On the vox is Grammy award winner Joss Stone, delivering the kind of vocal that Aretha herself would be proud of! On the flip-side is 'Fires Glow' - one of the most popular tracks from the new album 'Hello Baby', and featuring a rising star of the soul & mod scene: dancer, model, singer (and LOA Records recording artist) Emma Noble. Combining infectious piano by George Cooper, upfront drums courtesy of Lack of Afro himself, some Burt Bacharach-esque horns from Jamie Cullum band-member Rory Simmons & an insanely catchy melody, 'Fires Glow' is simply soulful music at its finest.

'Take You Home' is the second single taken from the critically acclaimed new album 'Hello Baby', a genre-busting colossus of an record that has received huge radio support from the likes of Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Craig Charles (Radio 2 & 6 Music), Lauren Laverne & Cerys Matthews (both 6 Music). The Lack of Afro live band were also invited to Media City by Craig Charles in May to do a live session for his Funk & Soul Show, with Adam also contributing one of the most popular 'Trunk of Funk' mixes that the show has ever had! 'Hello Baby' has also broken into the Top 10 of the iTunes R&B/Soul charts in over 13 countries worldwide.

1 sided 12"

LA based master teacher and musical visionary Shafiq Husayn prepares to initiate 'The Loop' with the first official single from his heavily anticipated sophomore LP. This time enlisting the vocal talents of long time Eglo Records collaborator Fatima and fellow LA native Jimetta Rose. The single follows 2014's 'It Better For You' EP, which helped introduce the world to the talents of Anderson Paak.

This album is another chapter in the ongoing "there's-muchmore-to-Brazil-than-bossa-nova" saga. It's filled with disco-era tracks produced for the Brazilian domestic marketplace, some of which were hits, others which were quite obscure. What binds them all together - besides their common origins, time period and overall musical approach - is the fact that their reputation has been steadily transcending Brazil's borders. This has allowed these tunes to find their place on set lists, want lists and in the crates of the world's most discerning DJs and tastemakers. Artists like Jorge Ben and Marcos Valle have been legendary and influential for decades, and the duo Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti dominated the Rio studio scene in the '80s before creating huge buzz overseas in recent years. Banda Black Rio and Cassiano are also both household names amongst crate diggers and fans of rare groove. While this album is sure to highlight the work of the artists featured on it, its main aim is to shine a spotlight on a sound and a style that continues to hypnotize scores of music lovers. Most importantly, its goal is to get dance floors moving across the world.

Slick, sultry and sublime RnB infused with Soul & Jazz
Originating in Belgium at the tail end of the 1960s and into the 70s, Popcorn was a music and dance scene with an emphasis on often obscure black American records of the then recent past. Drawing immediate parallels with the UK's Northern Soul scene from approximately the same time, young people would flock from all corners of Belgium to cram into a converted farmhouse barn to dance to these exotic sounds. But whilst Northern favoured an often uptempo, stomping 60s soul sound, popcorn focused almost entirely on slower, moodier numbers.In recent years, collectors and DJs into vintage soul and R&B have been tuning into the Popcorn style - yet there still remains some confusion as to what exactly Popcorn means in musical terms. Not following established genre conventions, The Popcorn sound is hard to pin down - there are Soul, Blues, Ska, Pop, Jazz and Latin records which are all Popcorn - and all are represented here.Whilst the sound has caught the attention of many forward thinking DJs, the origins and background of the Belgium Popcorn scene remain little documented. With sleeve notes from original Popcorn insider Gerd De Wilde and his contacts within the original Belgium Popcorn scene, this album looks to change that. Along with never previously published vintage flyers and photographs and combined with the 24 tracks of heady, intoxicating R&B, Blues, Soul and Jazz, 'Follow Me To The Popcorn' is almost certainly the fullest document yet of the important, influential and yet so often misunderstood Belgium Popcorn scene.
2LP gatefold with download card and free sticker
CD set with 8 page colour booklet
Liner notes based on our exclusive interviews with the original pioneering Belgium Popcorn DJs
Previously unpublished photos from Popcorn club nights from the early 70s Flyer gallery of early Popcorn events
Only on Jazzman - all because WE DIG DEEPER!

* Bursting out of Oakland into the ionosphere, a hot pocket of free jazz, house, blues, African & Latin rhythms, a fully shuffled deck of everything that might expand your head, all fed into the MPC, and hot-wired right into your heart.

* Now for the first time on vinyl, cut by the steady hand of Dietrich Schoenemann, pressed by the fine folks at Optimal in Germany, and housed in a custom gatefold jacket by Aybee, Deepblak's Chief Alchemist.

* As Resident Advisor's Christine Kakaire wrote in 2011 It's perhaps no mystery, though, why Means and Ways—the transcendent debut of Eric Porter Douglass' alias Afrikan Sciences—seemingly slipped everyone's attention (or rather, slipped my attention), on its release in April. Flying Lotus' freewheeling is of course, ultimately scribbled in the shorthand of a universal language—hip-hop. Douglass' preoccupation with rhythm, however, fixates on the oddities—the mutations, the dualities and instances of bare collision. His hoarded beats are gleaned from a whirlwind of origins—West London broken beat, the East Coast's '90s house, '40s jazz, indigenous African and Latin rhythms—but they're deployed concurrently and unexpectedly, with cross-beats and displacement used as accents in his own pidgin dialect.

Blondet bounds back on the vinyl scene w/2 tracks from his last album. The A was versioned on a Subatomic Sound 7" hits off w/a brisk steppin' tempo; flip for a Zeb dub of "Tu Va Partir" which is also sprightly, but more relaxed. Faders up!.

UK Dub pioneers Alpha & Omega (Greensleeves / A&O Records) present their first new studio album in 5 years. Alpha & Omega Meets Ras Tinny 'No Beginning No End' is a nod to the classic A&O sound yet illustrates A&O's forward thinking and distinctive outlook on reggae music. Featuring the unique vocal stylings and astoundingly intelligent lyrics of Surinamese singer Ras Tinny. Another A&O classic, and well worth the wait.

Die Entstehung von "And The Anonymous Nobody" hat einige Jahre gedauert. Es war der Wunsch der Band ein Sample-basiertes Album aufzunehmen im Stile von "3 Feet High And Rising". Um zum Ziel zu gelangen, nahmen De La Soul über 300 Stunden Musik in den verschiedensten Stilen auf - von Bossa Nova über Soul, Hiphop, Funk, Disco bis zu Reggae - und erschufen so ihr eigenes Arsenal an Instrumental-Alben, aus denen sie samplen konnten.

Ein weiteres wichtiges Merkmal von "And The Anonymous Nobody" sind die zahlreichen Gast-Feature, die dem Album noch mal eine enorme Vielschichtigkeit geben. Die Liste der Gastmusiker auf "And The Anonymous Nobody" ist entsprechend illuster wie spannend: Damon Albarn, David Byrne, Snoop Dogg, Usher, 2Chainz, Pete Rock, Justin Hawkins, Jill Scott, Estelle und Roc Marciano - sie alle leisten ihren Beitrag zum neuen Album von De La Soul.

The Croatian dub duo Dubble are stepping up with their 4th release on Dub Tunnel Records. For this outing they are travelling the dubwise road with veteran JA vocalist Earl 16. Earl 16 is known worldwide for his work with the entire A to Z of Reggae and beyond, from Augustus Pablo to Zion Train. Dubble are Vanya and Dubolik based in Zagreb, Croatia and will be launching this record at the 2016 Outlook Festival.

Dubble are the latest heavyweight sound to come stepping out of the
thriving Balkan Dub scene. The dangerous Dubble dub duo of Vanya O &
Dubolik were part of Zagreb's legendary Radikal Dub Kolektiv, and now
they take the same DIY dubwise spirit to their new project. Dubble
make tuff UK style dub, but bring in subtle influences of Dubstep and
Trance to create a unique blend of future sound, all played and mixed
live as they combine classic retro dub mixing with analogue synths,
live vocals & melodica.

FloFilz is one of the most promising newcomers on the German beatmaker scene. His sound is deeply rooted in the Low End Theory (Tribe not LA) school of beats and his tracks regularly hit the six-digit plays mark on Soundcloud. FloFilz grew up in Belgium and lives currently in Aachen where his studies violin. When it comes to his own beats, jazz reigns supreme over nearly any other music. - Metronom' is his first official album and we are delighted to release it on Melting Pot Music. Our art director and photographer Robert Winter was so inspired by the 18 tracks that he took a trip to Paris together with FloFilz, where he shot the cover photos. We release the record with a gatefold sleeve including a eight-page photo spread and a download card. This special edition is limted to 1.000 copies.

Rumored to be an alias project of 1 of the most famous DJ/producers in Japan. 4 tracks include a tribal Latin jazz funk edit, a long edit of a breakbeat funk classic, a tropical boogie edit, & a folky, mellow downtempo edit. Very useful stuff.

The last couple of years have been huge for Pomo, going from a relatively obscure Canadian producer to releasing his debut EP on HW&W, remixing for the likes of Janet Jackson and Mark Ronson, and touring the globe with Disclosure as their hand-picked opening act.

Bastard Jazz has commissioned Pomo to be next in line for the fourth volume of their "Tempo Dreams" compilation albums, following on the heels of the hotly contested Soul Clap compiled Vol. 3. As with other Tempo Dreams records, we tease it out with a limited 7" release with tracks from the compiler made specifically for the Tempo Dreams album.

"Blue Soda" (Part 1) - Pomo's first original release since his EP in November of 2014 is a typical, rollicking Pomo new disco joint with stabbing synths, chopped vocal samples and an irresistible bassline. Part 2 on the flip-side delivers more of the same, with a little more of an introspective twist. Part 2 is exclusive to the 7" only and won't be on the album.

Sauce81 follows releases for Eglo, Wonderful Noise, etc w/remixes of Sleepin Giant & Vandetta. "Hey Girl" is a beatdown soul on hip hop beats; "Walls" updates vintage 60s R&B to the modern.

"The Sit-In" is the new album by Twit-One from Cologne. It is quite different to his previous works but Twit's music has never been easy to predict. Featured artists on "The Sit-In" are singer May, poets PB Louison and Imam Ally Salam and keyboard player Ruoy Yaw. Artwork has been done by Van Lagerstein and Robert Winter.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Rocksteady music genre, 17 North Parade presents "First Class Rocksteady". The collection captures early work from some of the genre's defining artists, and here are further 24 hot tracks additionally to the tracks of the limited edition 7x7Inch box set of the same name. Available as double vinyl with deluxe printed inner sleeves featuring sleeve notes and images.

Tracklisting: Side One A1. Hold Them - Roy Shirley with Lynn Taitt & His Band A2. I Am Lonely - The Heptones with The Supersonics A3. Dance All Night - The Tartans A4. Rock Steady - Alton Ellis and The Flames A5. Ba Ba Boom - The Jamaicans with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics A6. Pata Pata Rock Steady - Patsy & The Count Ossie Band Side Two B1. You Don't Care - The Techniques with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics B2. Little Boy Blue - Pat Kelly and The Uniques with Bobby Aitken & The Carib Beats B3. I'm A Loving Pauper - Dobby Dobson with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics B4. Return Home - Alva Lewis with Lynn Taitt & His Band B5. Just Like A River - Stranger Cole & Gladdy B6. El Casino Royale - Lynn Taitt & The Jets feat. Count Sticky Side Three C1. The Beatitude - The Uniques C2. Revelation - Alva Lewis C3. A Change Is Gonna Come - Ken Parker with Bobby Aitken & The Carib Beats C4. The Big Takeover - The Overtakers C5. I Am The Upsetter - Lee Perry C6. Musically - Keith Blake with Lynn Taitt Band Side Four D1. Lonely Heartaches - The Clarendonians with The Aubrey Adams All Stars D2. Napoleon Solo - Lynn Taitt & The Jets D3. Intensified - Desmond Dekker and The Aces D4. Hold Me Tight - Johnny Nash D5. Seeing Is Knowing - Stranger Cole & Gladdy with Lynn Taitt & The Jets D6. Darling Jeboza Macoo - Stranger Cole

Afterschool Special: The 123s of Kid Soul The formula was simple: marry bubblegum and soul to the absolute sincerity of an enthusiastic child, cross your fingers and pray for airplay. But while the youthful sums of that formula may have grown up and walked away from their illusions of stardom, their permanent records remain.

By 1973, Michael, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie were as hip as kids could get—household names, with lunchboxes, colouring books, a Saturday morning cartoon, and an Alpha-Bits cereal commercial pushing the J5 brand onto any kid with television reception. Their impressive run of four consecutive #1 singles playing on both pop and R&B stations cemented their appeal to both whites and blacks, prompting MGM to launch the Osmonds as the safer (read: white) alternative. And parents Well Michael had that wrapped up with his impossible-not-to-love mini-James Brown thing. Even their song selection straddled both sides, with Zip A Dee Do Dah' and ABC' for kids, and contemporary standards Standing In The Shadows Of Love' and My Cherie Amour' for the older crowd.

This extreme marketing and merchandising juggernaut created the kid soul explosion. A decade removed from our acclaimed Home Schooled compilation comes a fresh batch of talent show titans. With enterprising parents, neighbours, and teachers turning play dates into recording dates, groups like Magical Connection, Little Man and the Inquires, and Five Ounces of Soul emulated the Jacksons, who'd made grade-school stardom appear easy as ABC. Afterschool Special: The 123s Of Kid Soul contains 19 tiny tunes ranging from bilingual D.A.R.E. anthem, to James Brown bio, to young love and life beyond the playground.

Afterschool Special: The 123s of Kid Soul The formula was simple: marry bubblegum and soul to the absolute sincerity of an enthusiastic child, cross your fingers and pray for airplay. But while the youthful sums of that formula may have grown up and walked away from their illusions of stardom, their permanent records remain.

By 1973, Michael, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie were as hip as kids could get—household names, with lunchboxes, colouring books, a Saturday morning cartoon, and an Alpha-Bits cereal commercial pushing the J5 brand onto any kid with television reception. Their impressive run of four consecutive #1 singles playing on both pop and R&B stations cemented their appeal to both whites and blacks, prompting MGM to launch the Osmonds as the safer (read: white) alternative. And parents Well Michael had that wrapped up with his impossible-not-to-love mini-James Brown thing. Even their song selection straddled both sides, with Zip A Dee Do Dah' and ABC' for kids, and contemporary standards Standing In The Shadows Of Love' and My Cherie Amour' for the older crowd.

This extreme marketing and merchandising juggernaut created the kid soul explosion. A decade removed from our acclaimed Home Schooled compilation comes a fresh batch of talent show titans. With enterprising parents, neighbours, and teachers turning play dates into recording dates, groups like Magical Connection, Little Man and the Inquires, and Five Ounces of Soul emulated the Jacksons, who'd made grade-school stardom appear easy as ABC. Afterschool Special: The 123s Of Kid Soul contains 19 tiny tunes ranging from bilingual D.A.R.E. anthem, to James Brown bio, to young love and life beyond the playground.

LIMITED 300 COPIES Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered Remastered reissue of one rare folk-disco project coming from Lebanon. The producer Ziad Rahbani (a great Lebanese composer) released only one disco project for the Zida label and was pressed in avery limited run in 1978 of about 500 copies only (due to some difficulties coming from the political situation that occurred in Lebanon), so today it's not easy to find original copies in nice conditions and you have to consider that the original pressing quality wasn't at the highest levels. We have now the opportunity to buy again this masterpiece remastered and repressed in Europe at high quality levels. Ziad Rahbani (born January 1st, 1956) is a Lebanese composer, pianist, performer, playwright, and political commentator. He is the eldest son of Fairuz and Assi Rahbani. His compositions are well known throughout the Arab world, especially because he is responsible for Fairuz's musical works from 1980s onwards. Many of his musicals satirize Lebanese politics both during and after the civil war, and are often strongly critical of the traditional political establishment.

Current UK steppers production; in beuatiful silk-screened Zam Zam sleeve

Limited editon for this 12 that compiles different hidden gems from Aybee in his different projects like Orion 70 or working with the vocalist Omega or Dozie. Technosoul in the best way.

South African born, New York living Brendon Moeller, man of a thousand guises - including Beat Pharmacy, Echologist and Mono Blanco - is a prolific producer known especially for his hard yet dubwise brand of techno. Founder of the prolific Steadfast label, Moeller has releases on a number of excellent imprints including Echocord andSoul People. For ZamZam, Beat Pharmacy indulged his deep love of heady dubwise, crafting two totally unique and uncompromisingly experimental tracks that provide a window into a singular creative soul.
Moeller says, 'Beach Dub and Bowling Dub were both recorded in early 2014 in my own studio... At the time I was coming down from 5 years of nonstop techno production and touring, and was feeling a huge urge to record some spaced out dub - so I did. Both tracks were recorded using hardware and software combined.'Beach Dub is firmly rooted in the history of dub techno in which Moeller has been such a key figure for many years. Unlike most dub techno, however, it leads with the bass and atmosphere, lush texture and melody washing in at steady intervals, waves and tides that carry the riddim rather than the other way around. Bowling Dub creates a cavernous sound world rich in reverb and sparkling detail that reaches into hip hop/electro-dub territory with huge bass, skittering drums and pinballing percussion pointing the way to an as-yet-unnamed genre of dubwise whose time is ripe.

ZamZam is proud to present a massive and mighty steppers tune from Ariel Tagar, better known to the worlds of reggae and electronic music as Kalbata.

Instantly addictive, "Brimstone & Lightning" is a collaboration between Kalbata and a veteran yet little-known Jamaican producer called Leon Electronics. Kalbata'slegendary reggae obsession led him to seek Leon out with the intention of rereleasing an obscure tune of his from the 80's. After months of searching, Kalbata managed to track Leon down in Kingston Jamaica and met with him while recording his celebrated 'Congo Beat The Drum' LP. Going through the tapes at Boris Gardiner's studio, the pair stumbled on this unfinished tune. Leon dismissed it, but Kalbata became obsessed with the rough gem, so Leon gave him his blessings to finish, cut and release it. Started in Jamaica in 1990 and finished in Tel Aviv last year, the 100% analog mix is like a message from the future to the past brought forth in the miracle of the present - a pounding steppers whose kick, bass & space dynamics have to be heard to be believed.
Voiced on the original tape from 1990, the identity of the vocalist remains a mystery, forgotten even by Leon Electronics. But he lives again in this scorcher of a tune, at 160 bpm one of the most relentless yet buoyant steppers you will ever hear.

Betty Harris' The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul collects together the steady stream of amazing soul and funk singles issued by Betty Harris from 1964 to 1969, under the musical guidance of legendary composer, musician and producer extraordinaire Allen Toussaint, a collection which truly captures the heart and soul of the city of New Orleans during this era.
Betty Harris's powerful, fiery soulful vocals found a perfect accompaniment with the New Orleans' players that Toussaint put together to back her, which by the time of her funk classic 'There's A Break In The Road' were the legendary super-tight, super-funk New Orleans group The Meters.
With the extraordinary song-writing skills of Allen Toussaint alongside the powerful, soaring, confident and emotive singer and the groove of The Meters, you have an unbeatable combination. That Harris never in fact lived in New Orleans (she flew in from Florida for all her sessions with Toussaint's local in-house players) seems almost an irrelevance, a geographical aside to the defining New Orleans sound captured on the recordings featured here.
All of these singles featured here were released on Allen Toussaint and his business partner Marshal Sehorn's local New Orleans label Sansu, widely distributed in the southern city but in only limited quantities elsewhere. As a consequence, Betty Harris' music failed to achieve the commercial success of other New Orleans artists such as Lee Dorsey (who she recorded with) and The Meters (who backed her). And so at the end of the decade she stopped recording, retired from the music business to raise her family in Florida.
This is no reflection of the stunning musical quality of all these songs which encompass everything from southern soul, heavy funk, deep soul ballads and northern soul. Betty Harris has been a cornerstone of Soul Jazz Records' New Orleans Funk and New Orleans Soul compilations. Always soulful and always funky, Betty Harris' music contains the essence of New Orleans music. She is the Lost Soul Queen of New Orleans.
This collection is released on CD, heavyweight gatefold double LP vinyl (+ download code) and digital and comes complete with full biography, original label artwork.

From their youthful mixtapes Sealed For Freshness, Church League Champions to their breakout mixtape Mania! and two studio albums The Div and G.M.B., the trend-setting California trio Pac Div (brothers LIKE & Mibbs and BeYoung) have always been a little ahead of the curve. In the meantime Like
has officially stepped into the forefront and has been quickly establishing himself as a multi-faceted solo artist, producer and DJ.

Never one to be relegated to just one creative medium, the mic isn't the only vehicle of expression for this renaissance man. Eager to put his sonic stamp on the game, Like secretly honed his skills behind the boards for years before making his presence as a producer known to the world. With an eclectic sound inspired by everything from J Dilla and DJ Premier to Chicago juke and Radiohead, he would soon begin cooking up sound creations
for up and coming emcees. One of those tracks, Dying of Thirst' would land on Kendrick Lamar's breakout 2012 LP good kid, m.A.A.d city. The track earned him a much coveted Grammy nomination as well as solidified Like as a new force on the production side. Continuing to build on his synergy with the TDE camp, he also produced Anderson .Paak's Room In
Here' featuring The Game & Sonya Elise from Paak's runaway smash album Malibu .

LIKE: - It takes me a long time to create. Especially when I thrive on inspiration. I need the experiences of life to help push me artistically. The reason I titled this album 'Songs Made While High' wasn't because I'm a pseudo-druggy (I only smoke weed and occasionally take shrooms). As cliche as it may sound, music gets me high. I'm addicted to sounds and melodies, Chords and samples- colors and soundscapes my brother and I heard growing
up in church, or cleaning our parents home Saturday mornings (mom always played Sade and Anita baker). My dad always played and sang beautiful songs on his upright piano.'

Northern soul boy, crate digger and tastemaker, Keb Darge is a name which needs no introduction to lovers of rare music the world over. His 'Legendary Deep Funk' night at Soho's seminal strip club turned music venue Madame Jojo's introduced obscure dance-floor soul music to an eager London club crowd, sparking a global appetite for raw, visceral funk.

Keb's search for rare '45s took him across the globe, obsessively searching dollar bins, private collections and in some cases, artists homes to discover hidden gems recorded by local bands on regional record labels and pressed in tiny quantities. The rarity of the music combined with Keb's exquisite ear and DJ ability meant that these records quickly became highly collectible (not to mention expensive) and even made 'deep funk' a recognized genre all its own. Keb's passion paved the way for the modern funk revival, spearheaded by bands like The New Mastersounds & Quantic, even hitting the pop charts with the likes of Mark Ronson.

In 1997 BBE released the first of three compilation albums of 'Legendary Deep Funk ', among the first LPs issued by the label. Equally loved by fans and loathed by vinyl price-gougers, the music contained on these albums took the world by storm, offering a refreshing change from the same old well-loved funk tunes endlessly re-issued on cut-price comps. The music felt fresh, exciting, full of energy and more authentic than anything all but the most dedicated collectors had heard before.

Fittingly enough, to celebrate BBE's 20th year, we've asked Keb to select his greatest hits from the 'Deep Funk' series, presented on heavyweight vinyl, CD and digital formats. The compilation contains edits by Keb's deep funk contemporaries Ian Wright & Kenny Dope, as well as standout tracks from over 20 years of 'Legendary Deep Funk'.

- Full press , radio & social media campaign
- Tracks taken from the long out of print Legendary Deep Funk series featuring exclusive edits from Kenny Dope & Ian Wright
- Part of an ongoing series of vinyl celebrating 20 years of BBE

Betty Boo real name Betty Winston who along with her younger sister Jackie and fellow sisters Pat and Diane Lewis recorded three 45 singles as The Adorables for Ed Wingate's legendary Golden World label during an eighteen month period. With the tour de force of the three 45 release's being their in demand 'Ooh Boy/Devil In His Heart (GW -25).

Following Berry Gordy's buy out of Golden World label Betty continued to record several, at the time unissued songs for Popcorn Wylie. Following a licensing deal between Soul Bowl proprietor John Anderson and Popcorn Wylie these unissued sides would eventually see the light of day through their subsequent release on the Grapevine label of the 1970's.

The most popular of Betty's sides at that time was the perennial favourite 'Say It Isn't So' due to the extensive promotional airplay it was given by influential northern soul Dj's Richard Searling, Ian Clark and Poke. 'Say It isn't So' Went on to gain 45 single release as well as featuring on the second Grapevine album 'The Sound Of The Grapevine' A second song 'Spellbound' which too back in the day became a hugely popular spin was to only ever gain a release as an album track on the first Grapevine album 'Talk Of The Grapevine' along with Betty's unissued version of '(Somebody) Stop That Boy'. A song that did gain a release by Jimmy (Soul) Clark as the flipside to his northern soul classic '(Come On And Be My) Sweet Darlin' (Soul Hawk 001). So now nearly 40 years later we at Soul Junction records have rectified this previous over sight and have now finally given Betty's 'Spellbound ' the 45 release it richly deserves complete with the previously unissued (on any format) instrumental version featured on the flipside.

The artist name of Betty Boo arose on the day of Betty's birth when her mother looked into her cot and exclaimed 'That's the biggest bootie I ever seen on a newborn child' a family nickname that stuck to this day. Although 'Spellbound' is credited to just Betty Boo, her former Adorables partners Pat and Diane Lewis, and sister Jackie are featured on the recording as un-credited backing singers.



Betty Boo 'Spellbound' SJ1006



Almost four decades on from when this previously unissued 'Popcorn' Wylie produced Detroit Dancer rocked the dance floors of the 70's northern soul scene Betty's 'Spellbound' has been one of the few northern soul classic's to achieved cult status while only ever being available as a LP track on the now long deleted first Grapevine album 'Talk Of The Grapevine'. A situation now being rectified with it's inaugural release as a 45 single backed with the previously unreleased instrumental version on the flipside.

Lavashark's debut offering comes with their reinvisioning of two Rock classics, Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper" and "Susie Q" made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Anchored by their use of vintage analogue synths, and drum machines the pulsating electronic soundscape they create is tempered by Theo De Gunzburg's moody haunting vocals. Brighton UK producer Antenna Happy lends his hand to a more driving and dance-floor friendly remix and dub version of "State Trooper".

Channeling a live analogue sound that borrows from the Illinois blues of Muddy Waters, as much as it does to the maverick electronica of Aphex Twin. At the heart of the group lies their live performance, a place where raw synth lines and brooding vocals form a safe haven away from the digital age. An LA based trio comprised of Theo De Gunzburg, Matthew O'Malley and John Barnes, the group were drawn together by a shared affection for David Attenborough. Working out of a converted garage in Venice, Lavashark craft a nomadic sound that when played live, forcefully raises you to your feet and questions whether this is old or very new.

The Los-Angeles-based band's reputation amongst the funk and soul fraternity is backed-up by an impressive and quickly growing resume that is expanding their reach. This includes landing a spot in an Adidas campaign, touring with major-label crew Little Brother, and going out as backing band for The Pharcyde, Plantlife (including a BBC performance for Jools Holland), Tone Loc, and New Orleans funk legend Eddie Bo at the Hurricane Katrina benefit. Members of Orgone also feature in the make-up of Ubiquity acts Connie Price and Breakestra and perform regularly at the Root Down in LA.

The Los-Angeles-based band's reputation amongst the funk and soul fraternity is backed-up by an impressive and quickly growing resume that is expanding their reach. This includes landing a spot in an Adidas campaign, touring with major-label crew Little Brother, and going out as backing band for The Pharcyde, Plantlife (including a BBC performance for Jools Holland), Tone Loc, and New Orleans funk legend Eddie Bo at the Hurricane Katrina benefit. Members of Orgone also feature in the make-up of Ubiquity acts Connie Price and Breakestra and perform regularly at the Root Down in LA.

'1000 Wats' is the third album from the tropical reggae- and dub-infused Quantc Presenta Flowering Inferno project. This outng sees musical explorer Will 'Quantc' Holland making a more concerted foray into pure reggae-roots territory, although fashes of Holland's Colombian infuences stll shine through. A sun-drenched record, the LP is charged with atmosphere and a ftng tribute to dub music evoluton. Drawing together a set of classic style rhythms for the dancefoor, '1000 Wats' was recorded direct to tape, with all the band members in the same room; for this outng, Holland enlisted his most prestg-
ious roll-call of guests yet. Alongside Jamaican dub legend U-Roy and long-tme collaborator Alice Rus- sell, the featured artsts include popular reggae singers Hollie Cook and Christopher Ellis; the late, grea keyboard maestro Ikey Owens (whose tragic 2014 passing followed a career working with everyone from Run The Jewels to The Mars Volta to Jack White); and legendary Jamaican drummer Santa Davis, known for his work with the likes of Bob Marley and The Aggravators. Now based in New York, afer almost a decade living in Colombia, Britsh producer, musician and band-leader Quantc has enchanted fans and tastemakers with more than 15 albums in as many years. Seeking out and working with some of the world's most infuental players, he has been instrumental in opening up audiences in the UK and elsewhere to countless rhythms and. '1000 Wats' contnues a
thread of releases as adventurous as they are classic.