Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

After a five-year hiatus, Canadian electronic music producers MSTRKRFT (Jesse F. Keeler & Al-P) are back.
Driven by distorted drum beats, hauntingly hypnotic synths and booming cinematic soul, OPERATOR immediately captivates.

It's probably the most accurate reflection of how we work on stage,' says Jesse. We had to be very creative with very few elements. It took time to figure that out.'

2011 was the last time we heard from MSTRKRFT with the release of the single Back in the USSA', following their Juno award-winning debut album The Looks in 2006. MSTRKRFT have released official remixes for everybody from Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue to Wolfmother, Justice and Bloc Party. 2009's Fist Of God boasted collaborations with the likes of John Legend, Ghostface Killah, E-40, N.O.R.E, Lil' Mo and more as it predicated an eventual crossover between hip-hop and electronic music on the horizon.

Old school Rap check how the « es pee » sound !

Mashuping the Hip Hop and the rock and the reggae and the Variete Internationales... A big Hip Hop Meltdown !

Death Grips ist eine amerikanische Hip-Hop Gruppe , die im Jahr 2010 gegründet wurde. Zur Band gehören der Rapper MC Ride, derSchlagerzeuger Zach Hill und der Produzent Andy Morin. Die Musik von Death Grips wird von Kritikern oft dem experimentellen Hip-Hop zugerechnet.

Soundsci return with another vinyl treat, the second single from the 'Walk The Earth' album.

The A side hears emcee's Oxygen, UGeorge and Audessey rejoicing in expression "The struggle builds character when you weather the storm, so write on" The music, funky as ever pushes along with an anthemic horn line enhancing the emotion of the moving message.

The B side 'Changing of the Gods' debuted on Soundsci's newest member Supastition's LP The Gold Standard from 2015. Supastition's infectious energy hits you immediately with Ugeorge and Oxygen adding pure fire on this golden nugget. Dj Ollie Teeba adds the finishing touch with some precision cuts, letting you know that the crew are ready to show & prove at the drop of a dime.

Den 1984 im marokkanischen Rabat geborenen und Mitte der Neunziger in die Staaten emigrierten Rapper Karim Abdul Kharbouch kennen Freunde des Sprechgesangs vor allem als Young French sowie French Montana. Kharbouch brachte in den Nullerjahren gemeinsam mit Cokeboy Los eine ganze Reihe an Mixtapes heraus, die sie "Cocaine City" nannten. Diese liefen wie geschnitten Brot und legten den Grundstein für Kharbouchs rasch wachsende Popularität. Im Lauf seiner Karriere arbeitete French Montana mit zahlreichen Größen der US-amerikanischen Hip-Hop-Szene wie P. Diddy zusammen. Auf dessen Label Bad Boy Records erschien 2013 Kharbouchs Debütalbum "Excuse My French". Dessen Sound ist durch Einflüsse von Rick Ross, der an den Aufnahmen auch beteiligt war, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, 50 Cent und des Wu-Tang Clans geprägt. Der von DJ Smoke gewohnt gefühlvoll und kenntnisreich in Fluss gebrachte Mix "French Connection Mixtape" präsentiert rund 30 Highlights von French Montana, darunter etliche Kollaborationen mit namhaften Rappern wie Lil Wayne, Lil Jon, Juicy J, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Chinx, Raekwon, Rick Ross und Akon.

2 panel digisleeve CD + DVD including one song in live. English subtitles

Les Sans Pattes is the rock band of Robert Combas (world renowned contemporary painter and creator of the free figuration' movement) and Lucas Mancione. Both are all-rounder, multi-instrumentalists, rigorous and nutty at the same time. They handle plastic arts, are musicians, video makers, actors, performers...in short, complete artists. They've got a rich and eclectic repertoire of more than 100 songs, and no limit: you'll hear them moving from rock to techno, from a love song to punk, with the same dexterity in each and every register. If you have the chance to be in Paris around June 24th, they'll deliver a live performance during Michel Houellebecq's exhibition, at the Palais de Tokyo, to inaugurate the release of their album.

One of the stand out tracks from First Divisions debut album, Overworked & Underpaid, was the DJ Premier produced, This Iz Tha Time'. As we're dealing with authentic hip hop we figured we'd put out a proper 12' release, including Instrumental, A Cappella and Bonus Track! ENJOY

J-Zone, self-proclaimed jack of all trades, master of zero,' may be familiar to you for any one of his six lives: Indie hip-hop's class clown, an offkilter producer with his own identifiable style, a frustrated music business casualty who penned a nervy memoir about the life of the working class musician (Root For The Villain), a tongue-in-cheek, encyclopedic music journalist, a late-blooming drummer with a knack for channeling the spirit of classic break beats or a DJ with a deep love for funk 45s. On his seventh solo album (and twelfth overall), Fish-n-Grits, J-Zone visits all the stops of an artistic and musical journey that spans well over two decades. Comprised of both limited edition 7' vinyl-only releases (dating back to 2014) and all new material, Fish-n-Grits is equal parts vocal and instrumental. The New York native uses his rap time to pick fights with the delusional state of the music industry, gentrification, the good and bad of nostalgia, police brutality, political correctness and hiphop's generational conflicts, but never without his signature brands of humor and sarcasm intact. As a student of samplers, drummer, multi-instrumentalist and collector of archaic studio gear, Zone was able to chef Fish-n-Grits into his most sonically versatile album to date. A stew of dirty, funky live drumming, bizarre samples, pulsating percussion and menacing bass that stretches in vibe from a circa 1969 funk instrumental to a twisted, analog interpretation of trap music, Fish-n-Grits has moments inspired by just about everyone. It's obvious that The Meters, Prince Paul, The Incredible Bongo Band, Project Pat, Kool and the Gang, Public Enemy, George Clinton, Kool Keith, Bernard Purdie and Tim Dog have all carved out space in Zone's music library, but the sound remains his own. J-Zone's zany alter egos (Chief Chinchilla and Swagmaster Bacon) also get booth time, as do long time collaborators Al-Shid, Prince Paul and Has-Lo. Serving as a bridge between Zone's 2013 comeback offering (Peter Pan Syndrome) and a forthcoming group project with Prince Paul and Sacha Jenkins (SuperBlack), Fish-n-Grits captures his development as an artist and musician, with occasional nods to the past.

Hyperspeed jazz drum cut-ups and jolting guitar stabs, meditative sub bass pools and fertile spoken word poetry: these are stained glass panes in the church that is multi-instrumentalist Jon Bap. What Now, Bap's debut album, combs regions of free jazz, funk, hip-hop, gospel, psych rock, drum 'n' bass, and ambient to form outsider soul music as warm as it is unheard of. The naturally delirious sound of What Now began with the drum work of prodigy Mike Mitchell (drummer of Stanley Clarke's trio). Bap tracked Mitchell's slinky, spastic drums last year when he passed through Buffalo, Bap's hometown. Bap sat with the recordings for months listening for nuances within Mitchell's improvisations before editing the rhythm tracks that became the basis of the oblique pop songs of What Now. Lyrically, the album speaks to what it's like to be an artist in 2016. Bap finds strength in opposition to his process ( It takes a background to have a foreground.') Yin and yang appear and reappear thematically (called out by name in penultimate track 'Yin'). 'Ghost In The Wintertime' declares that now means now ( I don't want to waste time / Let's go'). We all just want to do what we all want to do. Jon Bap just wants to make music. Beneath choral arrangements, poems of friends in faraway places, field sound collages, and sunfaded surf guitar chords, the heart of What Now is a bold spiritual interrogation of the present. But the gorgeous instrumental ephemera are ornamental. The question (What Now) is real.

Life is a cruel joke...were you waiting for a punch line MindsOne connects with Belgium's DJ Iron on their newest endeavor, Phaseology,' and aim to examine the bigger picture. Why are we here Where do we go in the end Is that an SP1200 Damn right. Is life too complex to condense into 40 minutes Challenge accepted. First, don't look at life as the sum of its events. Think about it as a series of phases. Next, combine MindsOne's handcrafted lyrical artistry with DJ Iron's jazz infused boom-bap. Combine, two parts cynicism, one part mysticism, and add water. Then, sprinkle in a guest appearance by the sage John Robinson, throw in a heavy dose of turntablism from DJ Iron and MindsOne's DJ Noumenon and Slim Deluxe, and the theory is complete. Phaseology' is the follow-up to MindsOne's 2014 critically acclaimed release, Pillars,' produced by Kev Brown. Journey along as Tronic and KON Sci explore the phases of life and create scenes, both real and imagined, to give listeners a bird's-eye view. Relive childish fantasies and revisit irrational fears. Go to work and act like an adult. Ponder your existence and reflect on your life. Spoiler: It's all gonna end. But not today. We're born alone, we die alone, etc. Talk to God if it's too complex.

Redefinition Records reserved it's 100th release (RDF100) for one of indie hip hop's most obscure yet sought after groups, Y Society. Need proof Just try to find a copy of their '07 debut LP Travel At Your Own Pace' for less than a hundred bucks. Good news... they're back. With almost a decade of radio silence since their debut, the group's latest is a 45 featuring 2 heavy hitting tracks and tons of replay value. MC Insight the Truncator and DJ/Producer Damu The Fudgemunk exhibit their talents in true school fashion, complete with carefully curated samples, energetic scratching and potent rapping. Y doesn't slack conceptually either, Know the Meaning' is an essay raising the debate on how musicians and their art are valued in the modern world. Insight challenges the listener to disprove his thesis while speaking of experiences, eyewitness accounts and using some the biggest rap icons as examples to make his case. The B-side is a fan favorite, Rather Unique 2, released digitally in 2008 and available now on vinyl for the first time in a new & improved mix. Rather Unique, pays homage to AZ's 1994 Pete Rock produced original of the same name, in Damu's reworked track and poetic commentary Insight is known for. Packaged in a full color sleeve designed by Joe Buck (De La Soul), Y Society's first 45 is one for the collection.

Second Edition als LP + CD Beilage

The debut album, Overworked & Underpaid, by First Division was one of the most critically acclaimed hip hop albums of 2015. Finally available on wax in a deluxe full color gatefold 2XLP release and cassette with bonus tracks! Executive Produced by Marco Polo, and featuring heavyweight production from the likes of DJ Premier, Jake One, and Kev Brown, this album is a must for any true head. Hip Hop at it's finest.

Boleros Valses y Mas is the Stones Throw debut from Frankie Reyes, the alias of Gabriel Reyes-Whittaker who also records as GB (Gifted & Blessed). Comprised mostly of popular latin standards from the mid-twentieth century, the source material was reworked by Reyes under an approach he's dubbed technoindigenous studies' which explores his Puerto Rican heritage through modern electronics. The inspiration for Boleros Valses y Mas formed when Los Angeles radio collective Dublab invited Gabriel to participate in an event themed specifically around Latin American modernism. I thought about how I might capture the essence of this theme using my instrument of choice, the synthesizer. What came to mind was to cover some of the classic Latin American compositions that I grew up hearing around me and have grown to love as I've gotten older, most of them in the bolero style but a few in the waltz, son, and even mariachi style.' By using audio-to-MIDI and sheet music-to-MIDI processing Gabriel has recontextualized these popular tracks easily overheard while visiting any of Los Angeles' predominantly Latino neighborhoods with a single Oberheim synthesizer. By removing the lyrics, the emphasis remains on the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic aspects of these classics, many still sung by Latin American artists today.

After time travelling with l'Orange on the TimeAstonishing EP (MMG) and delivering a new episode of his Total Orgasm' mixtape series, Kool Keith aka Tashan Dorrsett is back at work with producer Junkaz Lou (aka the Great Priest Of Dark Funk) in order to preach and teach the Galaxy about his religion and lead all you lost sheep and freaks into the light of God. The Preacher' is yet another classic scripture by Kool Keith coming straight from the Junkadelic Temple.

Available again. Note price increase. The contributions of the late Detroit producer James DeWitt Yancey –better known to the world as J Dilla to the world of hip-hop can't be overstated, and nowhere is his legacy more apparent than his work as a member of Slum Village. A founding member of the trio, (Alongside rappers T3 and Baatin) Dilla provided the group's distinctly esoteric, free-wheeling sound, built around winding basslines, quirky drumbeats, subtle low-end frequencies, and classic jazz & soul samples. Against the backdrop of Dilla's rich production, T3 and Baatin's free-flowing style of rhyming would also earn wide critical praise, leading to comparisons as the successors to A Tribe Called Quest. (A label they themselves have rejected.) It's on Slum Village's 1997 studio debut, Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1, that all these elements come together in the most proficient manner. An instant hit among Detroit's underground hip-hop scene, the album seemed to combine all the best elements of the reigning alternative and gangsta styles of hip-hop into one cohesive style that was a hit among critics. Fan-Tas-Tic's influence extended far beyond Detroit, as its sound heavily influenced the sounds of D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and The Roots just to name a few. (Roots drummer ?uestlove has even declared that: "Hands down this album birthed the neo-soul movement.") Ne'Astra Media Group now presents the album reissued on vinyl, for the first time in several years. Every wobbling bass note of J Dilla's production has been preserved and every freestyle line of T3 and Baatin has been re-created, to maintain the legacy of a late-90s rap classic, and the legend of one of hip-hop's greatest beatsmiths.

The contributions of the late Detroit producer James DeWitt Yancey -better known to the world as J Dilla- to the world of hip-hop can't be overstated, and nowhere is his legacy more apparent than his work as a member of Slum Village. A founding member of the trio, (Alongside rappers T3 and Baatin) Dilla provided the group's distinctly esoteric, free-wheeling sound, built around winding basslines, quirky drumbeats, subtle low-end frequencies, and classic jazz & soul samples. Against the backdrop of Dilla's rich production, T3 and Baatin's free-flowing style of rhyming would also earn wide critical praise, leading to comparisons as the successors to A Tribe Called Quest. (A label they themselves have rejected.) After the success of Slum's 1997 studio debut, Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1, the group went to work on their follow up. Though the project was completed in '98, label turmoil kept the project on ice until 2000. By the time Fantastic Volume II hit Dilla was well on his way to his status as a hip hop legend having produced cuts for Common, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest and many more. Later works from Slum Village may have had more of an impact sales-wise (in the immediate) but Fantastic Vol. 2 had fans and many critics saying that Slum Village, and Dilla in particular, may single-handedly save rap music.' Perhaps that statement is hyperbole but many consider Fantastic Volume II to be Slum Village's finest work ever to this day. Ne'Astra Media Group now presents the album reissued on vinyl, for the first time in several years. Every wobbling bass note of J Dilla's production has been preserved to maintain the legacy of this hip hop rap classic and maintain the legend of one of hip-hop's greatest beatsmiths.

Our second Suspect Packages 7" release, featuring two tracks lifted off the digital only Par Excellence released Rap Biscuits EP, from producer KidKanevil.
Side A features Ocean Wisdom with the original vocal cut of the massive genre defying rocket launcher Ewok, whilst side B finds Foreign Beggars' front man Orifice Vulgatron & Sean Play riding the VIP mix of Level Up, another cross pollination of Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, Reggae & Dubstep. Full bass levels needed, both tracks kick up a rumpus! Not for the faint hearted.

The 7" comes on transparent orange vinyl in a clear pvc sleeve with flap. A limited pressing of 220.

After a fruitful couple of years collaborating with Kevin Martin, Israeli MC Miss Red finally unveils her new Red Label with a killer double A side featuring production from Mark Pritchard and The Bug.
Her Murder mixtape last year garnered lots of attention and featured riddims provided not only by Kevin Martin but also the likes of Andy Stott, and she featured on Martin's Angels & Devils album as well as collabs with Bim One Production and, just recently, Ishan Sound for the deadly Hotline label..
On Murder she meets Mark Pritchard who heats up a killer twyst of bony '90s bashment drums and slippery acid lines zig-zagged by Miss Red's playful but stinging delivery; the kind of tune that can take a room from simmering wine to air horns and daggering stares in a flash.
No Guns is produced by The Bug and is much more spooked out and psychotic, with Miss Red filtered thru a salivating 16th note industrial bass arpeggio and feral, rasping drums for hand-to-hand, body-to-body combat in the dance, weighing up one of The Bug's baddest recent productions.

Here's 1st cuts from DJ Mitsu the Beats's forthcoming 2nd album - A Word To Wise!!

And here's collaboration with Brownswood famous singer José James!!

We think no need more info about this special release.

Just listen!!Enjoy!!

this is quite limited pressing as 7inch series.

The Four Owls' classic album 'Nature's Greatest Mystery' has gone down in history. As a thank you to the fans who have supported since day one High Focus Records has decided to drop 'Nature's Greatest Instrumentals' - all the classic gems laid bare so that the DJ's can cut and the MC's can rap and the fans can listen to Leaf Dog's immaculate production!

Comes with a full colour sleeve, shrink wrapped with a digital dropcard containing the album on digital format!

Dinked Records returns with another Random Rap banger, this time a debut vinyl release for these 4 dope tracks taken from last year's digital release, Yesterday's Now Sound, produced by one of Australia's finest, FDEL and featuring Lyrics Born, Lightheaded & Natalie Pa'apa'a (Blue King Brown) - don't sleep - hand numbered limited edition of 500.

Shabazz Palaces is Ishmael Butler (Digible Planets) and Tendai Maraire, and their Lese Majesty was easily the most spun record on the Third Man office turntable in 2014. Our admiration reached new heights when we had the honor of hosting the Seattle-based duo for a live performance and direct-to-acetate recording in our Nashville Blue Room last year. In Third Man consigliere Ben Swank's own words, "Shabazz Palaces' obstinately original oeuvre emanates from a fully formed higher conscious, they plant their flag in the outermost realms of the hip hop global soundscape where vibrations throb into beat-heavy explorations, chrome covered constellations of higher reveries each offering its own sonic boom."

Ishmael and Tendai announced recently that they will be supporting Radiohead on their upcoming LA dates, and the group released a new video featuring footage from the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and the Hubble and Cassini space missions for their track "Dawn In Luxor" just last week, We agree... you'd better go ahead and watch here.

Lullabies For The Broken Brain' is an odd instrumental project from Detroit producer Quelle Chris (Danny Brown, Sean P, Pharoahe Monch, Jean Grae). While most have come to know Quelle's production for its oinky doink, ear gagging, smooth jazz, 'Lullabies...' reveals another aspect of his wizardry.

Released on black & white marbled vinyl.

This high flying, jello instrumental album is ideal on an Armageddon evening, or as a snack of the day. Each track is dormant and juicy. 'Lullabies...' is an infinite instrumental rude, a backdrop for deception.

For some, lullabies come to mind when folding the planets while being lost in space. Formed in different dreams, daydreams and hallucinations, set low in the earth or hanging high at the Alamo, lullabies seem to stir up a sort of distress that we need at times. This project is an amalgamation of beats put together to do something. Whether to reflect on a certain animal within, or to accompany heavy drugs, Lullabies puts forth farts to provoke blah blah.

'Quelle skillfully blends genres, showing his great range as a composer and creative visionary' - 7.4 review from Pitchfork

'It mirrors the line between dreams and reality, evoking the split second you fall asleep during a crazy movie and your mind retains the flickering images from the screen' - Interview on Mass Appeal

Album stream premiere and single premiere via Noisey 'penchant for offbeat bars and ear-grabbing production' with coverage in SPIN 'one of the most distinct voices in independent rap', Impose, 2 Dope Boyz, Okay Player, Hip Hop DX, Ego Trip Land and Indie Shuffle

Two years after the release of their critically acclaimed album Death Drive, Sole & DJ Pain 1 announce the follow-up album, "Nihilismo". This album embodies the overlap of their music with the world of activism and journalism. "Nihilismo" is a revolutionary hip-hop album that challenges the nihilism of modern life, of late stage capitalism and of a world that seems to have no future.



It is a DIY testament to how both artists have plotted a way out of that despair through DIY ethics and a life of making working class, yet revolutionary music. To be released on collaboration with Fake Four Inc. & Alpha Pup. The winning collaboration between indy rap iconoclast and platinum producer DJ Pain 1 has resulted in truly original music that has been heralded by industry standard bearers like 2DopeBoyz and Spin, as well as popular radical media platforms such as Russia Today and Truthout.



Featuring contributions from punk rock icon Chris Hanna of Propagandhi, anarchist author Scott Crow, Decomposure, Fake Four label head Ceschi, Jah Boogie, Church Fire and The Delta Mirror, "Nihilismo" pushes the boundaries of the genre. The album also includes the title track for the upcoming documentary on Drone whistleblowers, "National Bird," which recently premiered at the Berlin Film Festival to rave reviews.

As Michigan's anti-Surgeon general, Red Pill Quips: "We may not be the heroes this world needs, we're definitely not the heroes this world wants, but at least we're here." His partners in Ugly Heroes are Chicago MC Verbal Kent, and Detroit producer Apollo Brown. Their second Mello Music Group release, 'Everything In Between', offers diamonds of wisdom amidst the existential dumpster fire.

It's been said that if you go down deep enough, past the personal, you eventually reach the universal. Ugly Heroes embody that axiom, unravelling their own stories, self-doubts, and doubts with depression to arrive at something as profound as it is vulnerable. Apollo Brown warps soul music and bayonet-hard drums, creating a singular forum of soul-couching dirty-sky symphonies. Levitating boom-bap for the 21st Century.

Mecca And The Soul Brother from 1992 is considered by fans and critics as one of the finest hip hop albums of the early 90s. Songs like 'Lots of Lovin', 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)', 'Anger In The Nation' and 'It It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right' have everything; funky basslines, solid production, convincing lyrics and lots of soul. Producer Pete Rock built his beats from obscure R&B, funk and jazz records and CL Smooth added his sometimes philosophical raps.

Guest rappers on the album include Grand Puba (of Brand Nubian), Heavy D, Rob-O, Grap & Dida, and it reached #7 in the US R&B/Hip-hop charts and #43 in the US album charts.

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth stopped working together in 1995 after finishing their follow-up album The Main Ingredient (MOVLP1634). Rumor has it that the duo will be reuniting for a brand new album.

Limited Repress!!


As the title suggests Welcome 2 Detroit is a showcase of the talent from J Dilla's hometown, introducing a pre-Slum Village Elzhi on the song "Come Get It", and making room for his longtime 1st Down partner Phat Kat on the appropriately titled "Featuring Phat Kat".

Although it is a solo album, on several cuts, such as the first single "Pause", Dilla takes a backseat and lets others command the mic. He also covers Donald Byrd's "Think Twice", singing the lead vocals (which many may assume to be Dwele, who actually sings background vocals and plays trumpet and keyboards on the track).

The influential sound for which he's received praises from Questlove (of The Roots) to Pharrell alike, is on full display here. J Dilla provides various moods for his listeners, ranging from grimy hardcore hip hop ("Pause") to electronic psychedelia ("B.B.E."). The track "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is inspired by Brazilian music group Azymuth. As Dilla mentions in the extensive liner notes:

'
I fell in love with Brazilian music the day I listened to a Sérgio Mendes album. We used to have jam sessions in the studio after work was done, (and) one day my mans Karriem Riggins came through. I asked him for "Bossa nova". He gave me exactly what I needed.
'


On "African Rhythms", J Dilla covers the Afro beat group Oneness Of Juju's song of the same name, replaying all the instruments as well as mimicking the spoken introduction.

On the albums outro "One", J Dilla takes a moment to thank all who have helped him in the Hip-Hop industry, including Slum Village, Q-Tip and De La Soul. The Pop band 'N Sync is also mentioned, hinting to a time around the album's release where Dilla was slated to do a few beats for the act. (This collaboration never materialized.) Both the intro and outro were recorded on a hand-held microphone the night before the turn-in date. An instrumental version of the album was released on August 23, 2005.

Ed Scissor's latest album 'Tell Them It's Winter' ruminates over life and love. The LP settles on the
notion that all human beings are on the hunt for the very same thing.
A key player in the UK rap renaissance, renowned live performer, acclaimed wordsmith and expert storyteller, Ed Scissor's development tessellates strongly with his ever-blossoming relationship with Glasgow-based producer Lamplighter. The pair have developed into one of the key partnerships in the alt-rap soundscape ever since their debut 'Better.Luck.Next.Life' was released to critical acclaim back in 2012 (even though they rarely find themselves in the same room as one another).
Fast forward four years and the duo's nu-classical compositions are wiser and more profound than ever before. The camaraderie grows more expansive and ear-opening with every song, striking nods to love songs from the 60's, 80's power ballads, the seedy end of the 90's R'n'B spectrum, to psych-indie anthems, rave anthems, electronica and drone, but moreover, countless nods to moving image, spoken word, soundtracks and scores - the music is rich, expansive and rewarding at every turn.
Scissortongue writes lyrics that extend beyond the realms of reality into a strange left field. It feels like an alternate reality in his head, fuelled by a heady mix of fantasy and reality, umbrella'd under a now customary gothic shroud. 'Tell Them It's Winter' is the next (and quite possibly final) instalment and both Ed Scissor and Lamplighter are super excited for you to hear it.

Ed Scissor's latest album 'Tell Them It's Winter' ruminates over life and love. The LP settles on the
notion that all human beings are on the hunt for the very same thing.
A key player in the UK rap renaissance, renowned live performer, acclaimed wordsmith and expert storyteller, Ed Scissor's development tessellates strongly with his ever-blossoming relationship with Glasgow-based producer Lamplighter. The pair have developed into one of the key partnerships in the alt-rap soundscape ever since their debut 'Better.Luck.Next.Life' was released to critical acclaim back in 2012 (even though they rarely find themselves in the same room as one another).
Fast forward four years and the duo's nu-classical compositions are wiser and more profound than ever before. The camaraderie grows more expansive and ear-opening with every song, striking nods to love songs from the 60's, 80's power ballads, the seedy end of the 90's R'n'B spectrum, to psych-indie anthems, rave anthems, electronica and drone, but moreover, countless nods to moving image, spoken word, soundtracks and scores - the music is rich, expansive and rewarding at every turn.
Scissortongue writes lyrics that extend beyond the realms of reality into a strange left field. It feels like an alternate reality in his head, fuelled by a heady mix of fantasy and reality, umbrella'd under a now customary gothic shroud. 'Tell Them It's Winter' is the next (and quite possibly final) instalment and both Ed Scissor and Lamplighter are super excited for you to hear it.

First Word are proud to introduce the new EP from our latest signings Darkhouse Family. The production duo consisting of Don Leisure and Metabeats have previously released music through Fat City and Earnest Endeavours, building up a dedicated fanbase that includes Gilles Peterson, Gaslamp Killer and Lefto. The Solid Gold EP is the start of a new chapter for the pair, exploring fresh textures and BPMs within the beats scene.

Metabeats and Don Leisure originally met back in 2008 - DL had produced DnB records under the 'Jamal' moniker (releasing with TOV / Metalheadz and more) and on returning to Cardiff from a spell in London was naturally drawn to 'this Metabeats guy that I kept hearing about'. The Darkhouse Family sound developed over the next few years, merging the territories between hip hop, jungle and DnB, with 2014's Brockwild EP representing the pinnacle of that era. The last few years have seen Metabeats release several acclaimed EPs through Associated Minds(including 2013's 'Caviar Crackle' featuring Action Bronson) as well as building a growing reputation for his house output under the 'Earl Jeffers' name. The duo have also toured the world as DJs, as well as providing sets / mixes for Boiler Room, Gilles Peterson's Worldwide, Solid Steel, Fabric, NTS and Rinse FM.

The Solid Gold EP has seen them add to their musical palate allowing them to draw on influences including Alice Coltrane, Tangerine Dream and Sun-Ra. As Don Leisure explains: 'After the last EP we felt like we needed to change our style to reflect what we were listening to more honestly. We still love Brockwild and those tunes but wanted to do more jazz influenced stuff as that was what were looking for in the record crates and what we were bumping in the studio.' Access to a larger recording space allowed the duo to expand their capabilities, collaborating with other musicians, adding Fender Rhodes, percussion and even harp into the mix. The resulting EP shows a maturity and depth that can only come with time.

'Letters To Home' is the brand new album from Jon Phonics. Since last appearing on First Word with his 'White Neckle' EP in 2014, the London-born/Glasgow-based producer has spent the intervening period becoming one of the UK's most versatile contemporary rap producers, as well as enhancing his reputation as a club DJ to be reckoned with (check his riotous Boiler Room set from 2015 for evidence). Alongside this, he's busied himself running the critically acclaimed Astral Black imprint / clubnight, home to some of the country's most exciting talent in Hip-Hop & Grime, releasing music from JD. Reid, Drae Da Skimask, Dressin Red and Jaisu.

On 'Letters To Home', his first full-length since 2010, Phonics further explores what has become his signature brand of deep textured field recordings, sample chops and rolling bass lines. Across 16 tracks - the album, much like his DJ sets, ducks and weaves through moods & BPMs whilst maintaining an obsessive focus that is uniquely his own. With 'Exotic Wall Furnishings' & 'P_O_V' Phonics nods to the sleazy 80s synth-pop influence of his early production sound, whilst the slo-mo trap of 'Nagasaki' & 'Gut Splash' (a collab with Astral Black label mates DJ Milktray & Dressin Red, commissioned by Fact TV) and the club destroying 140bpm Bollywood flip 'Seeta' hint at where this producer's head has been at recently. Elsewhere, the dynamic instrumental Hip Hop of 'Sunshine Emoji' & 'Black Russian' are fine examples of his effortless MPC work.

Though largely instrumental Phonics tastefully peppers the offering with a handful of vocal contributions - High Focus' Dirty Dike rides high on the typically futuristic 'Live From The Hypocrite Fest', whilst Blah Records head honcho & Cult Mountain leader Lee Scott channels Nate Dogg to surprising effect on the lo-slung 'PPLPERSON' (a video for which will be dropping soon courtesty of NTS Radio). Phonics teams up with his UK stalwart M9 for the firs time since his acclaimed 2011 single Strange Fruit on the deceptively melodic 'Cheatin'. Most surprisingly though, Astral Black producer Dressin' Red makes the move from behind the boards to in front of the mic for the first time on record with the twisted synth-pop of 'P_O_V'.

Split 7" from Different Fountains and Horse MacGyver.

Duisburg.. Nicht gerade bekannt für schöne Strände, aber es scheint sie zu geben. Toetensen und Mettphonic zumindest wissen wo sie sind und so klingt auch ihr gemeinsames Album "Beach Hazers"! Die beiden Loop und Beat Fetischisten veröffentlichen über Fruit Company ihren ersten gemeinsamen Longplayer auf Platte der genau dies beinhaltet: Schöne Loops mit passenden Beats zu jedem Anlass aber wohl besonders für den Tag am Strand mit allem was dazu gehört. Wer die beiden bis jetzt nicht auf dem Schirm hatte sollte selbigen aufspannen ... oder wie Mett und Toet selber sagen würden: "keep it simple, keep it straight... life`s a beach ... just some beats for the summer ... elevatorboombapjazz"

His dedication to Southern Cali area & everything it represents, personal account of his own episodes & adventures there. Produced by Open i, fts guest Japanese MCs Candle (Mary Joy) & MC Gebo. Full color outer & inner sleeves.