Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

Featuring LEW KIRTON, YVONNE GAGE, GROUP STARPOINT, DAVID PIC CONLEY, JOE COLEMAN

ATTENTION QUANTITY LIMITED AT 300 COPIES ONLY

Two officially licensed monster afro classics from funky South Africa. Both tracks never been out on a single previously and Nik's edit of Chapita is exclusive this release.

LIZ VERDI was only 17 when she recorded this sublime Northern Soul favourite back in 1964, the year that she graduated from high school. She signed to Columbia Records and recorded 'Think It Over' for A&R producer Lor Crane. The song, written by her sister Bea Verdi, was set to launch a promising career but the girls would have to wait some 20 years for it to finally catch on, here in the U.K.
LINDA LLOYD recorded three 45s for Columbia culminating in her Northern Soul rarity 'Breakaway' in 1966. The original b-side, 'Little Things Like That', was also recorded by Northern Soul songstress Barbara Mills.

Soul Jazz Records' Record Store Day Exclusive Limited-Edition New Orleans Funk 7' Box Set comprising five classic New Orleans' seven-inch singles reproduced here in exact replica bespoke label artwork and all digitally re-mastered.
Seriously rare, killer and classic party tunes from the Big Easy, brought together here in this unique one-off Record Store Day box-set edition.

Aloha Got Soul' encompasses a vibrant era of contemporary music made in Hawai'i during the 1970s to the mid-1980s as jazz, rock, funk, disco and R&B co-existed alongside Hawaiian folk music. Check!
Hawai'i's identity had undergone huge change: statehood into America in '59 and the Vietnam War were the backdrop as Hawai'i's youth found inspiration in a new wave of international music led initially by The Beatles and Stones and, later, by US R&B bands like Earth Wind & Fire and Tower Of Power. Garage bands flourished during the '60s and, by the '70s, live music was at its peak. W aikiki was filled with clubs: The Point After, Infinity's, Hawaiian Hut, Spats and more.

For the '70s generation of artists, some came through the talent contest 'Home Grown' and its accompanying compilation LP. Singer Nohelani Cypriano won it with her instant radio hit, 'Lihue'. Other winning songs, like Marvin Franklin's soul surfer jam 'Kona Winds', burned more slowly but have endured with DJs today. Many records also packed a powerful message. In 1978, Hawaiian was made the official state language and a huge movement arose to revive hula and traditional music. Steve & Teresa's 'Kaho'olawe Song' longs for an island long gone: the US military had used Kaho'olawe as a bombing range since Pearl Harbor. Nohelani Cypriano sang about the once sleepy town of Kailua, now a popular tourist destination: Kailua needs no high-rise with her blue skies, not for our eyes. Can you realize' Leading Hawaiian artists like Aura, Mike Lundy and keyboardist Kirk Thompson's Lemuria took time in high quality facilities like Broad Recording Studio to make albums. Others grabbed studio time when they could: Tender Leaf's Murray Compoc worked for the city bus by day and recorded an album during night sessions. Other albums were spontaneous. In 1983, Steve Maii & Teresa Bright recorded an acoustic set in just 3 hours after being invited to a studio following a gig. For the artists of the '70s, the climate for music changed rapidly during the mid-'80s as DJ culture grew and live venues shut down. Hawai'i's R&B era shone brightly and relatively briefly but, despite brilliant musicians, regular gigs and LP releases, most of the music barely made it to the mainland. Thanks largely to Aloha Got Soul's Roger Bong, a new interest in this fertile era of Hawaiian music has grown, culminating in this new compilation of overlooked gems. 'Aloha Got Soul' is compiled and annotated by Bong and features rare photos and original artwork.

Unique Soul Jazz Records' Record Store Day seveninch box set comprising five separate singles featuring ten killer tracks from the first and greatest ska and reggae band of all time.
Seminal, rare and classic tunes collected together here for the first time ever.

Earthology is the latest album from The Whitefield Brothers, a loose line up of musicians centred on the siblings Jan 'JJ' and Max 'Muggy' Whitefield, formerly known as the founders of Munich's legendary Poets Of Rhythm. Last heard from with their cult 2001 debut In The Raw (reissued this year on Now-Again Records), Earthology finds the brothers blending In The Raw's rough funk - 'raw soul', in their terminology - with a broader eye on music from around the globe, sending them in a rich new direction with infinite possibilities
That 'patchwork' involves a multitude of different guests from from far and wide, including vocalists Edan, Mr. Lif, Bajka, Percee P and MED, and musicians from the Antibalas, El Michels Affair, Quantic, Express Brass Band and the Dap-Kings. They joined the duo's group in experimental sessions taking place in New York, Munich and Berlin.

To achieve the album's unique sound, the brothers employed an incredible array of instruments and put in a huge amount of research. The whole album is rooted in soul music but they combined common instruments with unusual ones such as gongs and flutes from Asia (Alin), xylophones and string instruments from Africa (Safari Strut, Sem Yelesh) as well as central American percussion instruments (Ntu) to add new colours to their music. The use of African polyrhythms (Ntu) and Arabic rhythmical structures (Chich), African pentatonic scales (Sad Nile) and oriental modes (Pamukkale) set those instruments in the right context.

In The Raw pre-dated today's soul revival by nearly a decade, although it never saw great sales: the record quickly went out of print and the Soul-Fire label folded. Until the recent reissue The Whitefield Brothers's debut album, regarded as a masterpiece by those lucky enough to have heard it, was a highly desired collectors item which provided an inspiring spark for today's funk scene. The incredible and ambitious Earthology looks certain to set that record straight.

"77 Rusty Trombones" is the final studio album by legendary and influential Miami singer, songwriter and producer Clarence Reid aka Blowfly, the original nasty rapper. R.i.p. January 17, 2016
"77 Rusty Trombones" is the final studio album by legendary and influential Miami singer, songwriter and producer Clarence Reid aka Blowfly, the original nasty rapper. R.i.p. January 17, 2016

They sometimes say that perseverance will win the day in the end and this is what happened with the Afro Funk monster of 'Piani' from French African artist Jo Tongo that took several years of negotiation to bring to the fruition of a potential Mukatsuku Records release. From the haunting intro this is one tune that you will never forget after first listen as it tippytoes through an afrocentric funk /disco groove that will keep your dance floor alight. On the flipside the Joe Bisso produced funk gem 'Rhythm On Rhythm' from Sookie gets an edit from label boss Nik Weston who trims,tucks and replays the funkier elements of the track with repeated breaks and lashings of brass stabs and wobbly bass lines.

Another Mukatsuku 45 from Mukatsuku Records Afro Funk Gems series of explosive & officially licenced 45's to hit the juggular of your dancefloor. We head first to Columbia for Wganda Kenya for the catchy & vocal masterpiece ''Bayesa'' underpinned by a distrinctive bass, great percussion,punchy brass and bubbling organ.On the flipside we find a lesser known French African afro disco album only track jewel from M'Bamina which drops with a club friendly edited version from Mukatsuku head Nik .''Atide O Sika'' cranks up the tempo with a groovy disco bass,harmonising vocals,another tight brass section and those afro funktified drums. Extinguishers are the ready people...This is pure Fire !!

William Onyeabor was born outside Enugu, a small, rural town in Eastern Nigeria, he created his own genre of African electronic funk in the late 70s and early 80s, making music completely unique for his time. Today, he is reaching cult status among a growing list of admirers, including everyone from Damon Albarn and Hot Chip to Carl Craig and Madlib, with some likening him to the Kraftwerk of West Africa, or a precursor to LCD Soundsystem.

Among the crate-digging few that knew of him, he is considered a complete myth. While he has never performed live and almost never given interviews, his fantastical biography is scattered and has to this day not been verified. And, though he is still alive, he refuses to speak about anything regarding the past.

According to various rumors, he left home following the Biafran War and went to study cinematography in the Soviet Union, returning in the mid-70s to start his own film company and record label, Wilfilms. He then self-released eight remarkable records from 1978-1985. He wrote and produced everything on his own, and possibly played every instrument himself. Then, at some point of his life, he became born again and denounced his earlier music, deciding it is something he would never speak about.

Japanese DJ / producer legend returns with some MPC-driven sleazy disco business, sampling vintage sounds, built hip hop style.

Funkadelic's second LP, originally released in 1970, is another straight up masterpiece from the stoniest, strangest funk and R&B group of all-time. Opening with the 10 minute title track complete with a shredding keyboard solo from Bernie Worrell and, of course, the six-stringed insanity of Eddie Hazel. One of George Clinton's finest sets of songs and another essential part of the Parliament-Funkadelic catalog reissued in a limited of 1,000 on clear vinyl in a deluxe gatefold jacket.

Another classic LP from the P-Funk camp, originally released in 1973. The title track is an absolute stone classic funk jam and "Nappy Dugout" is another heavily sampled nugget (most notably on A Tribe Called Quest's "Ham And Eggs"). George Clinton gets heavy too, in the harrowing Vietnam War spoken word song "March To The Witch's Castle." Get down with another killer Funkadelic title in a limited edition of 500 on blue & yellow vinyl with a deluxe gatefold jacket.

Giancarlo Barigozzi (b. 1930 - d. 2008) was an Italian music maestro from the field of jazz and related music. The album at hand to review here is a 1974 effort of his band named BARRIGOZZI GROUP that takes a more pop oriented direction with elements of funk added. Especially those funk tunes have a hotter than hell expression and bring to mind muscle car rides through the hills of San Francisco while grooving along to the haunting lead harmonies created by flutes, lead guitar and brass section. You could easily think of any cool US gangster movie from those times and either see moving pictures of Clint Eastwood or Michael Douglas chasing criminals before your inner eye. The overall mood ranges from relaxed to rather simmering and peppy, just properly fitting as a soundtrack for old action movies. A rather colorful effort that will drive freaks of 1970s Jazzrock and funk music wild. The interaction between all musicians is incredibly tight and vibrant. The sound is warm and rich. Just as I would demand it from such a record. The strongest point are the lead melodies as I mentioned before. They come as cool and often sleazy as the old funk stuff from the glory days was but have been laid upon the utterly groovy substruction in a very memorable way. What this band has created with - Woman's colors' is a collection of outstanding hit tunes and there is a curve of tension that goes up and down like a roller coaster, sometimes even within one and the same song. A joyful action movie for your mind with some really cool hero figures. Originals of this killer record go for 350 Euros in good condition so this reissue makes sense for all who dig this stuff. This record is entirely instrumental but I tell you, there is no lack of singing here for the lead instruments take over that duty quite tastefully. Some freaky fuzzed out lead guitars put the icing on the funky cake for me. You can't go much better in the field of funk. If you don't get moved and inspired to burn like a volcano, you must be deaf or dead. Awesome!

More Filth is the 3rd album bought to you from The Filthy Six. The album features their Michael Jackson potential cover Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', already filling floors around the country and to be heard on radio around the world it will be released on 7' vinyl through Acid Jazz Records on January 22nd.


The Filthy Six are fundamentally a jazz group containing some of the finest session musicians that music has to offer. Nick Etwell (Mumford and Sons) describes the process of making the album More Filth' as follows... with this record I wanted to lean heavily on the 'Soul' aspect of the Soul-Jazz moniker, with the dance floor very much in-mind whilst doing so. The influences here are as much the Atlantic/Stax artists as our Blue Note/Prestige forefathers, with our Ray Charles inspired 'Watch What You're Doin' To Me' and a Stax-esque reworking of Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (one of my all-time favourite tracks) providing extra flavour in our Filthy Soul stew. Throw in some Crescent City spice in the shape of Mr Morris (in tribute to the late, great Idris Muhammad ne Leo Morris) and Yes, Oui, Si, and we have a tasty sounding Gumbo on the menu tonight!'


The last two years have seen the band touring the Europe and the US, with recent dates in Spain.
The band will be touring February / March of 2016. ***Dates TBC***

This CD kicks off a brand new BGP series which looks at the obscure and wonderful from different areas of American black music. The first collection digs into the West Coast studio scenes that produced so much great street funk and ghetto soul in the late 60s and early 70s. We'd argue the CD presents a compelling case to demonstrate California was the most creative US state as a source of soul music

Focusing mainly on Los Angeles and San Francisco, the music ranges from the sweet harmonies of the Ballads' 'Butterfly' to the relentless groove of ZZ Hill's 'Think People'.

As well as previously unreleased masters by Eleanor Rigby, Chucky Thurmon and Choice Of Colors, 'California Soul' includes the super-rare 'Strike' by Union and Little Johnny Hamilton's 'The Git Down' from the rare Watts USA label. There are floor-fillers by Warm Excursion, Brenda George and Little Denise.

Housed in a glorious sleeve featuring a Bill Ray shot of sharply dressed youths at the Watts Tower, it includes a detailed note housed in a fully illustrated booklet.


1. IF SHE WANTS TO GO - Choice Of Colors
2. JUST AIN'T MY DAY - Entertainers IV
3. WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET - Brenda George
4. STRIKE - Union
5. THINK PEOPLE - ZZ Hill
6. THE GIT DOWN (PART 1) - Little Johnny Hamilton & The Soul Pack
7. THE GIT DOWN (PART 2) - Little Johnny Hamilton & The Soul Pack
8. THE FEELING - California Soul Explosion
9. THE MAN (Y'ALL KEEP ON WATCHING YOU) - Jesse & Anita
10. SATURDAY - Saint Charles
11. WHEN I HAD YOU BABY - Soul Sensations
12. BUTTERFLY - The Ballads
13. FUNKY WITH MY STUFF - The Natural Resources Unlimited
14. I'M GONNA SPEAK OUT - Eddie Horan
15. CHECK ME OUT - Little Denice
16. HANG UP (PT1) - Warm Excursion
17. PICKIN' COTTON - Johnny Talbot & De-Thangs
18. TUNED IN TURNED ON - Al Robinson
19. IS IT WORTH IT ALL - Eleanor Rigby
20. THE SNEAK (VOCAL) - Douzer
21. YOU DON'T KNOW - The Medallions
22. EARTHQUAKE - Rulie Garcia

Ilija Rudman has a passion for disco, pure analogue disco at that with buckets of soul to boot.
For over 10 years he's been producing bonafide dance music which has seen him team up with the likes of Mark E, Chaz Jankel, Steve Kotey, The Revenge and Greg Wilson amongst others with releases coming via Rong Music, Under the Shade, Bear Funk and Tirk labels.
Here we see Ilija bring a 3 tracker to the table for the KAT imprint which brings somewhat of a change in direction for them as these are not re-edits or reworks but original tracks.
'Just Remember' is a sultry Summer time Disco house melter which oozes all that's good about dance music... Fender rhodes, laid back guitar licks, strings and a groove that glides along effortlessly throughout but it's the ever so subtle dreamy soulful feel to this track that makes it really shine through.
On the flip both tracks take on a slightly more uptempo House feel but the analogue sound continues...
'Never Forget' really is all about the hooks...staccato guitar licks and a rhythm section that's more solid than your average breeze block. And 'Once and 4 all' ending things on a high with a breathy pad lead track that delivers on all fronts.
Iliya's studio has taken 3 years to build and consists of 15 years of collecting studio gear all based around the MCI 542 D Series console from 1981. Fully restored, this is the hub to the whole operation which also has EMT compressors and limiters, 25+ synths including Moog, Prophet and Oberheim and a huge rack of drum machines and samplers.
Ilija Rudman returns!

Still awaiting a release date but looking at end of April, will keep you posted once I know pressing turnaround times. TP's coming this week.

Following on from Last year's Funk Bomb; To The Yard Parts 1&2, Here are the promo clips for the new 45 out on Bandoni Music in the Spring 2016. That old Funkshone breaks sound on the A side (The Strut) complete with roaring Hammond solo meets a heavy but ethereal, newer kind of funk vibe on the flip (Spiritual Interlude II) that sees a typically heavy Funkshone drum groove complete with ghostly Bass lines contrasted by swirlng Hammond and synth textures. Possibly one of the most contrasting releases in the Funkshone catalogue to date, Featuring co producer and Keys player Nino Auricchio on Keys, these tracks see Mike playing everything else you hear. A full band version of 'The Strut' was released on the first LP 'Shining' back in 2009 but after repeated requests from DJs and a few that had heard this version, this was pulled from the vaults and dusted off for your listening pleasure! The B Side 'Spiritual Interlude II (The Heist) has also come from the archives and been remixed and mastered. This track has not been previously released. Both will be available on a limited edition (300) vinyl single on Bandoni Music in Spring 2016. Follow Funkshone on Facebook and Twitter for announcements on release dates and further release info from Funkshone and more.



Taken from 'Off Track Vol. 3', 'Tin Top' provides yet another reminder of why Kon is revered almost as much for his music knowledge and record collection as he is for his production skills. A party disco belter, Kon's subtle edit of 'Tin Top' simply can't miss on the dance-floor thanks its infectious groove and fun lyrics. In Pt.2, the story takes a darker turn, while the track just keeps on grooving.
12' vinyl for the first time, exclusively for RSD 2016, strictly very limited!

Die Vitalisierung überhörter, unterschätzter und verkannter Soul-, Funk-, Disco- und Boogie-Perlen.

Für Volcov muss erst noch eine Berufsbezeichnung gefunden werden. Bis dahin einigen wir uns auf: Musikalischer Tausendsassa. Als solcher hat er sich zum Beispiel als Remixer für Frankie Valentine, Azymuth und Taylor McFerrin einen Namen gemacht. Weiterhin gehen die Labels Archive und Neroli auf sein Konto. Unter dem Alias Rima produzierte er mit Domu ein unglaubliches Fusion-Album ("This World"). Und als ISoul8 schießt er immer mal wieder Deep-House-Tunes in die Umlaufbahn. Doch vor allem ist Volcov ein geschmackssicherer B-Seiten-Checker, Archivgräber und Flohmarkt-Stöberer, dem es immer wieder gelingt, überhörte, unterschätzte und verkannte Soul-, Funk-, Disco- und Boogie-Perlen freizulegen und diese gegebenenfalls durch eigene Edits aufzuhübschen, um schließlich und final die polierten Schätze innerhalb von exklusiven Zusammenstellungen einem neuen Leben zuzuführen. Mit diesen Fähigkeiten machte er bereits Koryphäen wie Theo Parrish, Dego, Sadar Bahar, DJ Deep, Tama Sumo und Hunee zu Fans. Sehr viele neue kommen sicher durch die liebevolle Kompilation "From The Archive" dazu. Sie erscheint als CD und Doppel-LP im Klappcover mit 13 bzw. elf Tracks.

Sound Of Speed Japan is proud to present the latest release from London artist K15. Whether it's making hypnotic head-nod heaters, or pulsating dance floor grooves, K15's music always radiates soul and promise.

CRuNCH 22 is a psychedelic funk trio from Tel Aviv, which consists of a unique instrumentation of Fender Rhodes, drums and turntables. After a critically acclaimed debut album, a feature in Paris DJs' "Tropical Grooves" compilation and a European tour, the band is now releasing its second studio album on boutique label Audio Montage, home for The Apples, Boom Pam, Markey Funk, RPS Surfers and more.

The album "CRuNCH 22 mess with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a funked up journey through Lewis Carroll's masterpiece of psychedelic literature, celebrating its 150th anniversary. It is a true gem for fans of cut & paste, turntablism, raw funk and early electronics. The album is printed on a top quality 180g black vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve, illustrated by one of Tel Aviv's most prominent street artists "Jack TML". Each record includes a free download card.

Breakbeat Paradise Recordings is back to mark the 10th year of being in the ghetto rockin, funky breaks business. To celebrate that we've decided to hit you hard with a 7-track vinyl release to represent the very best of what the label has to offer. 7 of the very best producers in the funky breaks scene have joined forces on this ruthless funky bomb of an EP!

With the Badass Funk EP the BBP All-Star team is taking it back to the timeless sound of the oldskool that the label has kept on rockin' since they first started in 2006. Since then the label has navigated through related genres like Nu Funk and Ghetto Funk without loosing track of base core. Every since the first release Sound of Invasion by BadboE the label has kept a strong grip on the funk, the breaks and the street vibes of the oldskool.

To kick things off we brought back 2 of the very best producers in the game The Breakbeat Junkie & DJP, who's been responsible of some of the classic BBP tunes like Freak Hop Part 3 and Represent The Style. Here they are back in better shape than ever to do their thing on the Go Off jam.

To follow things up we call for a true ghetto funk phenomenon: DJ B-Side, who just started to drop party bombs for us last year. But B-Side has been a household name in the ghetto funk scene for years and has released several legendary EPs for the Ghetto Funk label.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any funkier we brought in DJ Maars from down under to tease us with the skanky funk jam: Work That Funk.

It wouldn't be much of a BBP anniversary release without a tune from label owner and funk breaks veteran: BadboE. All striped down to the core BadboE's cooked up a funked up jam that oozes oldskool funk from start to finish.

Moving on with more skillful mashup business from one of the scene's favorite DJ and producer: Roast Beatz. This is the first release from Roast Beatz on BBP since his epic album release: Luxury Boom Bap that dropped last year.

The Boom Bap continues on the track from BBP residents Mako & Mr Bristow, who team up for some more of their addictive throwback funk business.

Last but certainly not least a true expect of the oldskool: Morongroover is ending things big with his Good 'ol Days joint.

Time goes by but it has become evident that the funk stays - and BBP is right here to make sure it will. Stay tuned for another 10 years of funk, beats and breaks...

Miles Davis' 1974 album Get Up With It is a collection of tracks recorded between 1970 and 1974. Released as a double LP, it was Davis' last studio album before five years of retirement from music.

'He Loved Him Madly' was recorded by Davis as his tribute to then- recently deceased Duke Ellington, who used to tell his audiences 'I love you madly'. English musician Brian Eno cited it as a lasting influence on his own work.

This album is an essential. An overlooked classic of Psychedelic
Soul, representing the best of Miles Davis' experiments in the fusion of Rock, Funk, Electronica and Jazz.

Duckcomb aka Patrick Billiard is one half of Brooklyn's Sharegroove. A longtime Brooklyn DJ and digger, Duckcomb drops two edits from the far corners of the disco stratosphere. 'Bonnevie' is a hands-in-the-air dancefloorgroover with sexy female vocals, funky bongos, synth melodies, and a heartbreaking keyboard solo. 'Every Night' hits us right where it hurts with soft rock for hard times written all over it. Male lead and female backup vocals, night drive guitar solos, and a drummer with a heart of gold, 'Every Night' is just begging to be sampled, like Kurt Hauenstein or Jim Capaldi hid a secret mega tune in some private press tax scam record, knowing Patrick would eventually come along and take care of the rest.

DIPLOMATS OF SOUL return with a new singe revisiting two classic jazz funk tracks back to back. 'Sweet Power Your Embrace' was originally written and recorded by James Mason, the signature track from his iconic album 'Rhythm of Life' released in 1977. Diplomats of Soul take the track back into the studio with the musicians of INCOGNITO, the production skills of BLUEY and guest vocals of VANESSA HAYNES and give it a makeover of epic proportions.
On the flipside comes 'Mi Sabrina Tequana' recorded in Asia where Diplomats Of Soul have worked as DJs since 2006. The original was recorded and released by Ingram, also in 1977. The 2015 version released here is an impressive alternative further showing the Diplomats Of Soul commitment to breathing new life into classic tracks alongside original creations ahead of a debut album.

Absolute classic modern soul from Breakwater, both tracks previously released sepaartely as 7' singles in 1980 but hard to find today. Original copies have exchanged hands for small fortunes

Certainly no holy grail, but definitely a solid funky-soul two sider by this srictly white band from Iowa. Funky Frog has a similar sound as Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, just a little more uptempo but easily as good as the James Brown track. On the b-side you find one of the better cover versions of Smokey Robinson's alltime classic, Get Ready. Die-hard collectors may not buy this one, but we don't care as our one and only goal is to help prevent good music from getting lost.

Neither track previously on 7' single, 'How Long' written by Grey & Hanks, produced by Bert DeCoteaux and the classic modern soul dancer from Thelma's self-titled album for Columbia Records in 1978. 7' is coupled with the amazing Sam Dees song 'I Want What You Want'.