Nas & DJ Premier "Light-Years" (Album Stream)

GRAMMY-Award winning rap icon Nas and DJ Premier —two of the most influential and revered figures in hip-hop history—have released their highly anticipated collaborative album Light-Years. After decades of anticipation, Light-Years is a 30-year working legacy reborn. Nas and DJ Premier’s partnership is embedded in the DNA of Hip-Hop. Their origin story began in 1994 with Illmatic, which resulted in hits such as “N.Y. State Of Mind,” “Memory Lane” and “Represent.” Illmatic helped establish Nas as a generational talent and furthered Premier’s then burgeoning legacy. Their chemistry deepened over the next decade through classics like “I Gave You Power,” 2nd Childhood,” “Nas Is Like” and “N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II.” Spearheaded by Mass Appeal’s groundbreaking Legend Has It..., a series celebrating and spotlighting some of the most important and influential Hip Hop artists of all time, the series has gifted a year long run of historic releases from culture defining artists including; Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big L & De La Soul. With Light-Years, Nas and DJ Premier deliver the grand finale to close out the legendary series where their undeniable synergy remains elusive. In 2006, Nas and DJ Premier appeared on the cover of Scratch Magazine, teasing a joint project that again refueled fan frenzy and two decades worth of anticipation. Last year, Nas and Preem linked up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Illmatic with the release of a new track, “Define My Name,” where they first announced their landmark collaborative album. Light-Years is a true testament to both artists' influence, legacy and the timelessness of the music they create together. Listen to Nas & Preemo's album Light-Years below...

You can cop the vinyl, cassette and CD from Fat Beats, HERE.

Erick Sermon "Dynamic Duo's Vol.1" (Album Stream)

Erick Sermon, one-half of the legendary duo EPMD, isn’t reinventing himself here — he’s reminding people what chemistry sounds like when it’s real. Dynamic Duo’s Vol. 1 is built around partnerships, not just features, and that distinction matters. This isn’t a random guest list. It’s a deliberate look at how collaboration has powered hip-hop across eras, from groups that helped define the culture to newer alliances that still move with purpose. The album rolls out alongside the video for “Sidewalk Executives” featuring M.O.P., and the pairing makes perfect sense. It’s gritty, direct, and rooted in that hard-earned New York energy both sides are known for. That tone carries throughout the project, which pulls together a wide range of voices — Redman, Method Man, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Tha Dogg Pound, Salt-N-Pepa, Heltah Skeltah, 38 Spesh, Conway the Machine — without it ever feeling cluttered or nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake. The centerpiece is “Test Me,” the first new EPMD record in over a decade. No announcement energy, no victory lap — just two veterans picking the conversation back up where they left it. That alone tells you what kind of album this is. Sermon has said the project challenged him creatively, forcing him to think like a producer and a curator, and that comes through. Dynamic Duo’s Vol. 1 isn’t about reminding people how long he’s been here. It’s about showing that the right partnerships still matter — and always have. More volumes are planned, but Vol. 1 stands on intent alone, marking another chapter in a career that’s never relied on shortcuts. Listen to the Green Eyed Bandit's Dynamic Duos below...

Brother Ali "Brother Minutester: The Uskudar Sessions" (Album Stream)

It started a decade ago as a creative exercise to hype up new projects on social media. These self-produced one-minute freestyles, constructed a few bars at a time without pen or paper, were only meant to be an artistic escape. But the deeply personal stream of consciousness series, "Brother Minutester", developed into a prolific chapter in Brother Ali‘s creative catalog. Brother Ali reminds us that sometimes the most powerful move an artist can make is to slow the world down and speak softly — trusting that the right listeners will lean in. Volume 2; called the Uskudar Sessions features 16 tracks - each one to two-minutes long, and can be streamed below. I'm still a huge fan!