Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

Back in Stock / Breakestra, one of the heaviest funk bands out there, are back with their second album! 14 steaming hot funk tracks, incl. the single "Family Rap" (feat. Soup and Chali2na of Jurassic 5 and Double K of People Under The Stairs).

Released on Stones Throw in 2001, The Live Mix part 2 put the Los Angeles-based live funk band Breakestra on the map. In 2005, their new album Hit the Floor (Ubiquity Records), a new single featuring members of Jurassic 5 and People Under The Stairs, and recent performances with GZA, Guru, Raekwon, Digable Planets and De La Soul (at New York's Summer Stage) will launch the band further into the public eye. While their debut album and legendary live shows predominantly paid homage to old school breaks n' beats gone by, Hit the Floor goes a step further as Breakestra create an album featuring all-original compositions and songs. The funk flavor is as strong as ever and Breakestra's main man Miles Tackett explains the transformation from a cover band into one flaunting their own material as the obvious next step.

Four years is a long time to wait for a second album, but judging by the size and enthusiasm of crowds at Breakestra shows or at their weekly hosted Rootdown party in LA their fan base continues to grow. And the global funk scene, which Breakestra are thoroughly entrenched in, now includes a distinguished list of bands like The Bamboos in Australia, The Dapkings in NYC, the New Master Sounds, Speedometer and Quantic Soul Orchestra in England and seems to be growing stronger by the day.

Five Parts of the Soul is inspired by the ancient egyptian concept of the Soul, which says that a human soul was made up of five parts: Heart, Shadow, Name, Soul and Spark. 5POTS is a five-part journey into the past, passing through desolate canyons and scorching deserts, obscure rain forests and crowded thrift markets. All of the songs have different styles and takes on what Soul music could be.

Detroit blue-eyed Soul group Shades Of Blue are best known for their Edwin Starr penned gem "Oh How Happy".
It sold a million copies in the USA, although financial meltdown by a distributor meant their label, Impact, did not receive the financial rewards due.
In the UK, Island's now iconic Sue label released the disc, and it became a favourite for armies of Mods at Britain's underground Soul clubs.
The record's producer, John Rhys, flew to London to sign the deal and deliver the master tapes to Sue. As an off shoot he developed a relationship with Island boss Chris Blackwell and ended up supplying him with American sports cars, after being asked to drive them Michigan to build up mileage to meet UK import laws!.
What John - an Englishman dreaming his dream by being a songwriter. engineer and producer in Detroit in the middle of the Motor City's halcyon Sixties Soul golden era - did not tell Chris was that he had two unreleased tracks by "the Shades" in the vaults.
They stayed unknown until last year when John visited the UK to attend a Northern Soul Weekender to answer questions about his career including co-writing the classic "Time Will Pass You" recorded (without him knowing!) by Tobi Legend and regarded as THE best song adopted by the Rare Soul movement.

John let slip that he had with him the two Shades Of Blue tracks "Treats Me Right" and "New Spark Of Life" and after hearing them they were instantly snapped up by the Soulvation label.

John then went back into his paperwork and it turned out the musicans on the recording were The Funk Brothers - Mike Terry, Jack Ashford, Dennis Coffey, George McGregor, Bob Bobbitt and Johnny Griffiths - moonlighting away from Motown. The recording was made at Golden World Studio and the session was the last one at the legendary 3246 W Davison building before it was sold to Motown.

And John reveals in his sleeve notes that it was also the last ever recording by the Shades Of Blue because of a massive fall out by two of the group during the session.

The catalogue number, Impact 1033, follows the original USA Impact label numbering system.

"Treats Me Right" was written by John and Dino Fekarris, two thirds of the team who composed "Time Will Pass You By" whilst

"New Spark Of Life" was written by Edwin Starr.

Together they are both what would have been unknown Detroit Soul gems had John not made his visit to the UK last year. .

With many new roads traveled over the last few years, The Gaslamp Killer is back with the full-length LP Instrumentalepathy. Releasing on vinyl, CD and digital formats, GLK will initiate his new imprint Cuss Records with Instrumentalepathy. French surrealism artist Albane Simon designed the cover, supplying an array of psychedelic imagery that contains a brilliant sense of connection to GLK's music & the chaos he's survived. Instrumentalepathy features an impressive cast of artists tied closely to GLK over his music career with Brainfeeder, Low End Theory and beyond. Guests include Gonjasufi, Miguel Atwood Ferguson, Niki Randa, Kid Moxie, Mophono, Amir Yaghmai and The Heliocentrics. It's been over a decade since GLK and Gonjasufi have collaborated on new music, bringing the two natives of San Diego back together for something truly special. As many know, GLK used the triumphs of battling a near death experience three years ago when shaping his debut Cuss Records album. A handful of the tracks were even captured from his bed, unable to walk, with morphine running through his veins and staples in his body. A musical illumination that one could argue helped save his life and steared him towards the achievements he has accumulated with his live band The Gaslamp Killer Experience. Instrumentalepathy marks the catalyst point of an important road for GLK and the electronic community at large. Instrumentelephy, like his latest releases, continues down the rabbit hole of his debut full length Breakthrough (Brainfeeder) and the recent live record with his band The Gaslamp Killer Experience. Molding psychedelic ethos and heavy drum breaks with the traditional music language of his ancestors and the futuristic landscapes of modern electronica, GLK continues to push the boundaries of contemporary music.

LUGNUT BRAND RECORDS is very excited to bring to you this very special, vinyl-only release by THE M-TET PLUS TWO. Bringing in Erik Mekkelson on Tenor Saxophone and Dave Berger on Congas, The M-Tet expands their sound out to six pieces. Inspired heavily by Jimmy McGriff's Organ and Blues Band' and his dance-floor classic, The Worm', The M-Tet gets down to brass tacks and lays out some stuttering organ and funky drums. Larry Grogan of Funky16Corners says about this track, ...sounds like what Young-Holt might have done had they set themselves up around an Organ instead of a piano.'

The 3rd Generation band was formed in the late 70's led by 'Rockson', who was a soldier at the time. The band recorded only six tracks, all for Essiebons, including the two featured here - 'Because of Money' and 'Obi Ye Saa Wui'.Our man Gary Johnson bought a 7' from a dealer in New York on digging trip some years ago. He knew 'Because of Money', and was delighted to find that the B side was just as strong. 'Because of Money' was originally released on Essiebons - EB 398 7' and was featured on Soundway's excellent 'Ghana Soundz' compilation. The record is extremely rare - yet to make an appearance on either Discogs or even Popsike.This reissue is a replica 7', including the picture paper sleeve, carefully restored by Andrew Edwards.

This Double CD collects repertoire from the labels Grover Washington Jr recorded for Kudu, Motown, Elektra, Blue Note & Columbia. Package includes the Grammy winning 'Just The Two Of Us' which featured vocals by Bill Withers, which won Best R&B Song, and 'Winelight' which won the Grammy for Best Jazz Fusion performance.
Also included are the full length versions of the classics 'Mister Magic', 'Knucklehead', 'It Feels So Good' and the much sought after 'Summer Song' from the Live At The Bijou' album. Grover played with some of the best Jazz (Funk) musicians and this package features many of them including Bob James, Eric Gale, Marcus Miller, Richard Tee, Idris Muhammad, Harvey Mason, Randy Brecker, Louis Johnson & Ralph MacDonald to name but a few.
But Grover Washington Jr was not all about instrumentals: as well as featuring Bill Withers on 'Just The Two Of Us' check out Patti LaBelle's stunning vocals on 'The Best Is Yet To Come'. Also this package features tracks by Eric Gale, Bob James and Idris Muhammad where Grover is a featured artist, playing memorable sax solos. This album has the lot. Topped off with liner notes from Charles Waring, contributor to MOJO & Record Collector magazines.

Re-release for this JAMES VINCENT McMORROW 2014 Album !!!!!!

Back Irishman James Vincent McMorrow with the new album " We Move " after the acclaimed and compelling album " Post Tropical" of 2014 that gave him enormous satisfaction worldwide .
The last album had in fact obtained :
- A nomination for Choice Music Prize ;
- Sold out dates around the world ;
- Exceeding the 100 million streams ;
- Collaboration with Kygo dj on the song " I'm in Love " ;
- The cover " Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak used for the trailer of Games Of Throne ;
- Sampling by Drake in the song " Views" .
Outdoing himself , James with " We Move " was able to develop a lively and colorful record, while maintaining the signature style of their bellissimii crepuscular passages , the difference can be felt from the choice of producers involved in this new work : Nineteen85 ( Drake ) , Two Inch Punch ( Years & Years ) , Frank Dukes ( Kayne West ) and Jimmy Douglass ( Timbaland ) .

Back Irishman James Vincent McMorrow with the new album " We Move " after the acclaimed and compelling album " Post Tropical" of 2014 that gave him enormous satisfaction worldwide .
The last album had in fact obtained :
- A nomination for Choice Music Prize ,
- Sold out dates around the world ,
- Exceeding the 100 million streams ,
- Collaboration with Kygo dj on the song " I'm in Love " ,
- The cover " Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak used for the trailer of Games Of Throne ,
- Sampling by Drake in the song " Views" .
Outdoing himself , James with " We Move " was able to develop a lively and colorful record, while maintaining the signature style of their bellissimii crepuscular passages , the difference can be felt from the choice of producers involved in this new work : Nineteen85 ( Drake ) , Two Inch Punch ( Years & Years ) , Frank Dukes ( Kayne West ) and Jimmy Douglass ( Timbaland ) .

Over 50 years since his discovery by ethnomusicologists Dr. Harry Oster and Richard Allen in the prison farm of Angola, Louisiana, what is it that makes the blues as sung and picked by Robert Pete Williams such a singular listening experience, unequaled elsewhere in that musical form As Peter Guralnick, in his Feel Like Going Home book writes: It's difficult to approve the banalities of most blues singers after listening to Robert Pete Williams. More than anyone else he shatters the conventions of the form and refuses to rely upon any of the clichés, either of music or of lyric, which bluesman after bluesman will invoke. Instead he sings blues which reflect a unique and personal vision, he makes each song unmistakably his own.' Unfamiliar keys, cliché-free lyricism, spontaneity, an individualistic style in invoking his particular blues, all make Robert Pete Williams an idiosyncratic entry into the canon. It's impossible to listen to blues artists before him and hear strains of his particular style. None have matched it since. Louisiana Blues contains 10 songs recorded in the month of July 1966 out in Berkeley, California for John Fahey's Takoma imprint. Comes with a 8 page booklet. Limited edition of 600 on bottleneck brown vinyl.

Rare disco and boogie

Big Crown Records is proud to present the reissue of this uber rare underground cult classic Running The Mardi Gras' by Boco. From the title to the sound to the cryptic lyrics Running The Mardi Gras' seems to confirm all the mystique that surrounds the southern Louisiana Bayous and Cajun culture. This record is a family affair. It started one morning when one Mr. Latour, the father of the group, was shaving in the mirror and a song struck him. It was to be about Mardi Gras, not the beaded revelry of New Orleans familiar to most, but the traditions of rural Louisiana, where one would run the Mardi Gras,' going house to house getting home cooking from the neighbors. He would sing the song every day in the car and the children of the family soaked up the spirit of the song.

This Is Her is LAKIM's first full-length album. Multi-genre producer born and radummyised in Lynchburg, Virginia whose personal motto reads: keep it simple', is a part of the storied Soulection crew. Well known for his EP Esoteric, which dropped in summer 2012, the twentysomething year old has collaborations with other stellar artists like Sango and Mr. Carmack as well as various remixes of premium artists such as Erykah Badu, Kanye West, and Frank Ocean range from electronic chillwaved dance to spacey yet refined hip-hop. With a unique sound that seamlessly and effortlessly combines the perfect amount of bass, bounce and vocals, This Is Her becomes palatable to many. The album has an overwhelming feminine vibe to it - light and airy, soft and beautiful. As LAKIM draws the soundscape for this project from some inspiring ladies in his life, the sounds come through as traits: calm & collected, sexy & sassy, grounded & driven, loving & unconditional. During the course of the year I probably spent making this, I met three woman that embodied some of these traits but not all of them. So, this is essentially me taking the best bits from each of them and creating in my mind a Bride of Franksteinesque ladyfriend and putting it into song form, lol...' - LAKIM.

Limited seven inch vinyl pressing. Direct from Nashville, TN comes a new group on the soul & funk scene, The Gripsweats! The group started off as a studio project at the G.E.D. Soul Records studio, but eventually migrated to bandleader Andrew Muller's basement studio where things got very rough and raw! Ziggy's Walk' is a nasty midtempo burner with dirty drums, heavy bass, and nasty horns!

Don't let the floppy hat and rolling English countryside on the cover fool you. Harry Mosco's Country Boy is a certified floor-filler, bursting with Studio 54 era disco-funk as well as a token reggae monster, complete with its own dub version. Harry Mosco always had swagger. A founding member of The Funkees, he'd stride out on stage in tight pants and dark sunglasses, commanding the attention of a population distracted by war. When The Funkees split in London, it was clear that his star would rise the fastest. Released in 1978 by fledgling Taretone label, Country Boy went on to become one of the best-selling Nigerian records of all time. The first few bars of 'It's Too Late' are guaranteed to get on the dance floor. Sam El'Salahi's slinky bassline on 'I Feel Funky' will keep you there. And 'Harry's Party' is a celebration you never want to end. The title track, and its dub doppleganger, are a reggae-tinged chance to catch your breath, before 'The Wanderer' drags you back on the dancefloor until the house lights come on. Grab this PMG re-issue and enjoy the sweat and the swagger of Harry Mosco in his pomp all over again.

Based in the Havana Nightclub, in the central plateau town of Jos, the Sahara All Stars of Jos weren't part of the Lagos scene or the one in the east. Their leader, Dan Satch Ayo, had played with Dr Sir Warrior in the Orientals. He'd jammed with Mohammed Ahidjo and Sonny Akpan from The Funkees. Together with the All Stars he took the best of both scenes and created his own tight, hypnotic groove. First released in 1978, Sahara All Stars of Jos is a musical journey through all of those influences. 'Freedom For Africa' is a potent rallying cry sugarcoated with a sweet reggae vibe. 'World People' is an Afrobeat gem that condenses a night out at The Shrine into 10 min 43 secs. You can almost feel the steam coming out of New York manholes on 'Take Your Soul.' And the Highlife-tinged 'Alikali Adajo' brings it back, full-circle, to the Jos Hotel, just off the roundabout, where it all began. Engineered by Fela Kuti's regular knob twiddler, Emmanuel A. Odunesu, Sahara All Stars of Jos is a tight, funky sonic gem and a timely reminder that, in 70's, the groove was strong all over Nigeria.

CD Version

Recorded in 1956 in Chicago, Super-sonic Jazz is one of the earliest and most sought after titles from the Arkestra. Featuring Arkestra mainstays like Pat Patrick, John Gilmore, and Julian Priester, the album is, like Ra always was, years ahead of its time. Reissued on 180 gram LP with deluxe jacket, and a download card.

Released on the heels of the immortal hit title track which went to #1 on the charts in 1962, He's A Rebel is the second album from one of the greatest girl groups of all-time, The Crystals. Lead by legendary vocalist Darlene Love, and produced by Phil Spector, this record IS the sound of baby boomer teenagers. Nobody alive in the early 60s could avoid the infectious dance pop of The Crystals and the sound has held up and been emulated by retro-girl-groups for decades since. But nothing can top Phil Spector and The Crystals. Essential early 60s pop reissued on 180 gram LP with deluxe jacket, two bonus tracks, and a download card.

Championed by turntablist whizz, Mr Thing, this killer soulful floater by guitarist Melvin Sparks never fails to summon up curiosity from the dance floor. And so it was for the bossmen at Rocafort Records who first heard it at Lausanne's Holy Groove festival in 2015 and couldn't resist the need to know "what's this track". Upon finding the original LP on Westbound Records, they knew it was time to give it the 45 Rocafort treatment.

The jazz conoscenti will be familiar with the bluesy Grant Green-inspired guitar sound of Melvin Sparks. He lent his hand to legendary soul artists such as Jackie Wilson & Marvin Gaye, and also to the funky jazzers like Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith and Charles Earland to name but a few. After a releasing some handsome albums on Prestige, he dabbled in the more commercial soul style of the time which led to the Melvin Sparks '75 LP - then considered rather bland and unremarkable by the critics.

Thankfully tastes have changed - the handclapping, two-stepping 70s modern soul groove is back with a vengeance and collectable as ever. Pushed along by some punchy horns, nifty guitar work and catchy vocals by Jimmy Scott, 'If you want my love' exudes pure dance floor joy. The whistle-popping 'B' side, 'Get down with the get down' winks in the direction of the racey Blaxploitation soundtrack and also has feet tapping.

All in all, it's a win-win groovy situation that deserves a place in everyone's 45 box.e

Mukatsuku sets up the ongoing winter months with a couple of hot dance floor burners of gems from the legendary vibes master, Mr Roy Ayers. First up an monster club instrumental in the shape of 'Funk In The Hole' with driving driving electronic keys accompanied by a funky breakbeat ,brass stabs and strings. On the slipside is the sultry personification of sexy soulfulness that is ''Liquid Love'' ...,..Both tracks issued here for the first time on a single in their own right.

Steve Spacek links with Eglo Records, delivering an essential slab of futuristic, broken, dancehall wickedness!

Bass weight of the heaviest kind, topped with Spacek's butter soft vocals. Pure fiya, turn up the amplifier!

After launching with a killer reissue of a private press gem from Morrison Kincannon, Spacetalk presents its' first compilation: a superb selection of soul, disco and boogie obscurities curated by noted Parisian crate-digger and DJ Jeremy Underground.

Beauty has its' origins in a chance encounter between Jeremy and Spacetalk co-founder and Psychemagik's Danny McLewin at Bestival on the Isle of Wight. Having completed his regular festival set - keeping the dancefloor moving with his more familiar house and U.S garage sound - Jeremy was treating the crowd at Maceo's, the renowned backstage bar usually found at Glastonbury, to a tasty selection of soul, disco and boogie obscurities. Danny was getting crazy on the tunes and at some point went over to Jeremy to tell him how much he was loving it, they started talking which went on for hours and that's where the idea of Spacetalk's first compilation came from.

Jeremy Underground is well regarded within the record collecting community, and counts a number of high-profile "diggers" amongst his friends. He famously played alongside Red Greg at Floating Points' first You're A Melody party at Plastic People back in 2013, the four-hour recording of which is still available on the Eglo website.

The Parisian is also no stranger to putting together high quality compilations, having previously mined his house collection for two volumes of My Love Is Underground on Favorite Recordings. Beauty, though, is the first collection to showcase the depth and variety of his record collection. Stuffed full of rare, hard-to-find and little-known gems, it confirms the Frenchman's status as one of Europe's most open-minded record collectors.

Amongst its' 15 tracks you'll find the Creative Arts Ensemble's spiritual soul-jazz gem "Unity", the samba sunshine of Leila Pinheiro, the folksy, Latin-tinged breeziness of Ron Rinadli's "Mexican Summer", and the dewy-eyed, late night soul of Nu-Cleus's ridiculously hard-to-find "Needing A Woman".

The beating heart of the compilation, though, is a selection of heady, heart-warming cuts that blur the boundaries between Philly soul, disco, jazz-funk and boogie. These include the sparkling, synth-laden 1981 boogie of "Do Your Dance" by Shades Of Love (whose members included future '80s soul/disco star Meli'sa Morgan), the jazz-funk inspired library grooves of Christer Norden's "Lay Back", and the smooth, post-boogie soul of Richardi Mac's superb "Told You So". Oh, and "Let Love Flow" by Jamaican singer Sonya Spence, a deliciously sweet and loved-up disco-soul shuffler infused with the distinctive swing of the Caribbean.

These are just some of the highlights, repeat listens will uncover new favourites, hidden gems, and impossible-to-find cuts from the crates of one of Europe's most celebrated DJs.

Mind blowing Minneapolis boogie, there is so much to this story but lets start with their original 1982 press release

Hot Group, NOBODY, Definitely Going Somewhere!

During the 1960s the American popular music scene was overtaken and dominated throughout most of the decade by a creative surge emanating fromDetroit. "The Sound Of Young America," as it was called, was Motown. As Motown declined another inspired voice took up the slack. Under the direction of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Philadelphia International, i.e., "The Sound Of Philadelphia" (T.S.O.P.), became the new voice under the early and mid-'70s.

As is becoming quite apparent, the 1980s belong to the Twin Cities. Most people thought it would stop with Prince. It hasn't. A new band called Nobody is making sure that it doesn't. And although the group has been wrapped in mystery ever since they started just four months ago, their recently released demo tape (which will shortly be pressed on vinyl) is a monster that has music insiders buzzing with enthusiasm, "Right now nobody knows who we are. Once we become established, however, we will be casting a highly creative shadow that will be profound, and that other people will have to live up to," says the group.

The band has seven members: two vocalists-one male and two keyboard players, one guitar, bass and drums. All but one of the members are from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, providing how fertile our sometimes mild little town can be. They've all had a diverse amount of experience-from jazz to funk-but their music doesn't fit any particular category. Some of Nobody's members even started out in the church, which gave their music a genuinely soulful feeling that can't be denied.

Nobody was primarily put together by the female lead vocalist, a lady who's sung with manyTwinCityjazz and gospel greats. But beyond anything else the band is a team. A team with a mission. A mission to bring quality music to the community. Many of you will soon get to judge the sounds of their debut songs for yourself. KMOJFM is getting ready to add the single "I Saw You" to its playlist, and WLOL's music director said he "loved it." Along with the airplay will be an appearance on Scott Thompson's "Showcase" on KWTN

Meanwhile the group's manager, Jordanna Gold is keeping busy on both coasts attempting to hook up a deal with one of the major labels for this dynamic, multi-talented group that many people say will be busting out by grammy time.

Two tracks one from each Rim & Kasa recent albums out in latter part of 2015 on BBE get the official edit treatment from Mukatsuku that have never been out before as official singles before

The Filthy Six are back with a cover of Michael Jackson's 1983 mega hit 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'. Available from January 22nd on 7' vinyl (& digital download).

Already something a floor filler for a handful of DJs lucky enough to have a copy. It is expected to become the funk floor-filler over Christmas and the New Year, as well as a regular feature on Craig Charles Funk 'n' Soul Show.
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' is the bands' first single from their third album for Acid Jazz, More Filth' which will be released in February next year.

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' comes accompanied with jazz-soul instrumental, 'Iguana Strut', which also features on the album.

Limited to 500 units, pressed on black vinyl and delivered in an Acid Jazz house bag.


(feat Brendan Reilly - radio edit)

Superb late-seventies soul from Hawaii.
Sleekly bumptious, with brilliant musicianship and classy arrangements, dosed with jazz and funk (by way of Kool And The Gang), easily traversing ballads and booty-shakers... just the kind of thing Wayne Henderson was doing across the Pacific at the time with At Home productions, for Side Effect, The McCrarys and co.
Great stuff.

Class is in session and all the youngins out there shaking a tail feather and playing dress up are about to be schooled by the ageless, timeless, and always present, Mr. Lee Fields. Special Night is the latest offering from a man whose career has spanned 50 years and as Oliver Wang of NPR once said, In a curious case of musical evolution, the older Fields becomes, the closer he gets to perfecting the sound of soul that he grew up with as a young man'. Special Night is no exception. An epic 6 minute jam split into parts one and two on the 7", Special Night is a story of love and loneliness told from the perspective of a man with extreme life experience and deep wisdom. The tune is the perfect storm of production duties handled by Leon Michels & Thomas Brenneck alongside the inimitable musicianship of The Expressions, and recorded at the legendary Diamond Mine, Special Night is in the humble opinion of the Big Crown team, one of the greatest pieces of soul music Lee has put to record thus far.

Bosq (Whiskey Barons, Ubiquity) teams up w/ cream of Old San Juan: Roberto Roena, Tempo Alomar, Tito Cruz, Ray Lugo, Luis De La Rosa Solá, more to explore the intersection of Puerto Rican music w/ African styles, reggae, funk, house, etc.

THE CLASH's JOE STRUMMER backed by ex-SUBLIME band LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARS doing the JIMMY CLIFF's classic! Flipside inc live ver + "A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY", both with THE MESCALEROS. Artwork is a mock-up of the original! Full color sleeve, random colored wax.

The live music scene of Bristol, UK has been a melting pot of musical talent for years. MOHAWKESTRA are a quintet who've emerged from the centre of that melting pot in 2016 with their debut single on Reed Records, available on 7' vinyl and download.

The Lo Fi studio is where the gritty Funk is forged, always with a nod to the live stage and the B-Boy friendly DJ set in equal measure. Presented on this first of several scheduled releases are 2 blinding British invasion covers that showcase the musicianship of MOHAWKESTRA with The Rolling Stones classic Paint It Black and Green Manalishi of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac fame.

MOHAWKESTRA opt to record direct to reel to reel tape so as to preserve the warmth and feel found in classic recordings from the 60's before the days of having the ability to edit out mistakes quite as easily as can be done today.

New Jersey born Clyde Kingrap (aka The Real Fake MC) is probably the freakiest MC on earth. His Flow is definitely influenced by old-school Hip-Hop masters, but The Real Fake MC declares that his major influence remain in P-Funk, Gogo and early Punk Rock.
For more than 15 years he's been grabbing mics and spreading funky vibes on stage & in collabs all around the world. His two 12 out on Favorite Recordings, Live & Survive & Hunt Ya Sunshine, and his 1st LP Rock It Up were produced by French producer Patchworks aka Mr President.
These two musicians have been dropping some tracks together for more than a decade, with always the same target: educate their love for Hip-Hop with jokin lyrics and Funk inspired beats played live with instruments.
They're back with a brand new LP, Future Funk Survivors out on Boogie Butt Records.

Praise Poems Vol.1: Gilles Peterson (Worldwide / Brownswood Rec.): One of my fave comps of 2015.

Praise Poems Vol.2: Oliver Korthals (Mojo / Out of Spectrum on Byte FM): Extremely well put together track listing of artists which I have never heard before. Left me with my mouth open... - highly recommend!

Praise Poems Vol.3: Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s): This is incredible.

Praise Poems Vol.4: ...

The Fruit Band's fleeting existence was only recently revealed by the discovery of a few unsold copies of their sole 1978 single,Say It, which quickly became a cult showpiece for savvy DJs and collectors. Athens of the North has since reached out to Cypress Studios of Jacksonville, Florida and discovered a complete album of the group's stylish, dancefloor-smashing funk and deep disco on tape, unreleased for over 30 years. Vinyl is presented in a Handmade cardboard Tip-On Sleeve as would have been used at the time as only the best will do.

Vinyl Only

On the A side SCM provides the perfect blend of analog synths, heavy kick drums and a badass bass line ranging from fuzzy voices to contagious la
tin samples. On the flip the Berlin based label delivers a very rare recordings of his guest Chicago's Jordan Fields. These experiments were recorded directly to tape and lost till now!

Perhaps it's something in the water or just plain vodka, we really have no idea but one thing is for sure - there's something special about those Moscow disco heads. They sure know how to find a perfect beat and re-edit it to perfection. After Lay-Far it's now time for Arsenii to step into the Basic Fingers arena.

Both sides on this 12 are filled with Jazz-Funk and library infused disco at its best. 'Allegria' sounds like Bob James is jamming with The Headhunters and on the flip 'Turbo' with its generous use of synthesizers almost has an outer space theme.

Essential indulgence for disco heads & connoisseurs everywhere.