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!

Anti-Lilly & Phoniks "All Good Things" (Album Stream)

There’s a certain kind of album that doesn’t demand attention — it meets you where you are. All Good Things by Anti-Lilly & Phoniks is exactly that type of record. Quietly powerful. Thoughtful. Built for late nights, long walks, and moments when you need something honest playing in the background — not background music, but companion music. Phoniks handles the boards with a soft but confident touch. The production is soulful without being heavy-handed — warm samples, gentle drum patterns, and a dusty jazz feel that nods to boom-bap tradition while staying comfortably modern. Nothing here is rushed or overcrowded. The beats breathe. They give space for reflection. You can feel the care in the sequencing — like the album was meant to be played straight through, not cherry-picked. And Anti-Lilly fits this sound perfectly. His delivery is conversational, almost diaristic. Anti-Lilly leans into clarity, vulnerability, and self-awareness. He talks about growth, anxiety, creative doubt, love, gratitude — the kind of internal conversations most people have but don’t always articulate well. What makes All Good Things stand out is its emotional sincerity. There’s optimism here, but it’s earned — not forced positivity. Anti-Lilly acknowledges the lows alongside the highs, understanding that both are part of the same journey. The album feels like a checkpoint rather than a victory lap — a moment to pause, reflect, and keep moving forward. Tracks flow naturally, each one building on the last without dramatic swings. It’s cohesive, calming, and deeply human. The title says it all — not as an ending, but as a reminder that moments, phases, and feelings all pass… and that’s okay. Anti-Lilly & Phoniks deliver another record that feels genuine, comforting, and should absolutely stay in rotation. Dig into their new album All Good Things below...

Donnie Propa "Straight From The Crate Cave: Wu-Tang Clan" (Mix)

UK's Donnie Propa is back again with his latest installment in the Straight From The Crate Cave series -- this time he pays tribute to the Shaolin swordsmen, Wu-Tang Clan. His mix includes gems from Wu-members like Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, GZA, RZA, Method Man, Wu-Syndicate, Killah Priest, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Killarmy and more. Essentially all 9 core members and various Wu-Tang affiliates. In traditional style, Donnie Propa completes the mix utilizing 100% vinyl, giving it that classic feel. The mix is available digitally and on cassette HERE. 

De La Soul "Cabin in the Sky" (Album Stream)

De La Soul returns with their 10th studio album, Cabin in the Sky, a deeply personal and emotionally charged album. More than just a collection of songs, this project serves as a journey through reflection, love, and healing, a space where pain transforms into art, and remembrance turns into rhythm. Cabin in the Sky features production by Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Supa Dave West, among others. The album honors the legacy of Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur and extends that tribute to all loved ones lost along the way. Through reflective lyricism, soulful samples, and the unmistakable De La groove, Cabin in the Sky captures the beauty and the heartbreak of carrying on. One of the most beautiful collection of songs to be released this year - it's in constant rotation. Favorite track: "Yours," feat. Common and Slick Rick. Cabin in the Sky also features Killer Mike, Yummy Bingham, Q-Tip, Nas, Bilal and more. De La Soul is one of the most important groups of all-time.  Props to Mass Appeal and Nas for releasing this phenomenal project. Dig into the LP below...

Rest In Peace, Trugoy the Dove. Show respect: cop this album HERE!

Awich "Okinawan Wuman" (Album Stream | Prod. by RZA)

Awich is a prominent Okinawan rapper, known as the "Queen of Japanese Hip-Hop," who blends traditional Okinawan culture with global hip-hop influences. Her new album, Okinawan Wuman, is fully produced by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, and showcases her journey, resilience, and unique perspective on life, love, and heritage. Okinawan Wuman features collaborations with A$AP Ferg, Lupe Fiasco, Westside Gunn, MIKE, and Joey Bada$$. The album explores themes of grief, strength, and identity, drawing from her experiences moving between Okinawa and Atlanta, her husband's murder, and raising her daughter as a widow. It's a solid release! Listen to Awich's album Okinawan Wuman below...

Apollo Brown & Ty Farris "Run Toward The Monster" (Album Stream)

Run Toward The Monster is one of those albums that doesn’t flinch. It sounds like two artists meeting at the exact right moment — not to chase relevance, but to tell the truth clearly. Apollo Brown lays the foundation with production that’s heavy and soaked in soul. These aren’t beats built for spectacle. They feel lived in. Weathered. Like they’ve already survived somethin. And then Ty Farris doesn’t waste a second. His approach here is direct and disciplined. No overreaching. No fantasy rap. Just grown-man perspective, delivered with precision and weight. He raps like someone who understands the cost of avoidance — that running from fear only gives it more room to grow. The “monster” in this album isn’t a metaphor you have to decode. It’s anxiety, trauma, responsibility, doubt, pride — the things most people circle around instead of confronting. Apollo’s beats amplify that tension perfectly. The soul samples are gritty, sometimes ominous, sometimes reflective, always grounded. Drums knock without overstatement. The music leaves space — and Ty fills it with clarity. This is the kind of pairing where neither artist overshadows the other. They move in sync, locked into the same emotional frequency. There’s nothing flashy here. No attempt to modernize the sound for playlists. No empty hooks chasing momentum. Just intentional rap music, built on survival, self-awareness, and standing firm in who you are — even when it’s uncomfortable. This is cold-weather listening. Headphones on. World muted. An album that doesn’t offer escape, but instead encourages confrontation. And in that honesty, it finds its power. Dig into Apollo Brown & Ty Farris's LP below...

Big L "Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King" (Album Stream)

Big L's Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is a posthumous release that celebrates Big L’s lyrical brilliance and features unreleased gems, rare freestyles, remastered classics and more. Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King features contributions from Nas, Method Man, Mac Miller, Jay-Z, Showbiz, Herb McGruff and others. The album is intended to both preserve and elevate Big L’s legacy as one of hip-hop’s most gifted lyricists and is the result of Mass Appeal, Nas and the rapper’s family and estate all working together to ensure its completion. The artist’s family wrote: “Big L has a long history with Nas as they both signed to Columbia in 1992. This is a full circle moment and we are excited for y’all to hear what we’ve been working on. As some of you may have noticed, many Big L songs have been removed from streaming services over the past few years. Those songs were unmixed/unmastered, samples were not cleared and many of the producers weren’t paid or credited properly. Thanks to the team at Mass Appeal we will be re-releasing the best versions of these songs, rare freestyles and a few surprises...” Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is the fifth installment in Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It… series of records by hip-hop trailblazers, following Slick Rick’s Victory, Raekwon’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele 2 and Mobb Deep’s The Infinite. Rest In Peace, Big L. Listen to the album below...

You can cop the physical versions HERE.

Mobb Deep "Infinite" (Album Stream)

Mobb Deep returns with Infinite, the duo’s final studio album via Mass Appeal. The project unites unreleased vocals from Prodigy with new production from Havoc and longtime collaborator The Alchemist, extending the sound that defined Queensbridge and reshaped New York rap. Across the record, guests add texture without diluting the core: appearances include Nas, Clipse, Jorja Smith, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Big Noyd, and more. Lead-up singles “Against the World,” “Taj Mahal,” “Down for You,” and “Look at Me” set the tone — grim, cinematic, and precise — before the full album’s release. Infinite closes one of hip-hop’s most influential stories with intention — both tribute and continuation — affirming why Mobb Deep’s voice still cuts through. Rest in Peace to the legend, Prodigy - Havoc paid an excellent tribute to P with this release. Listen to the LP below...

Raekwon "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Album Stream)

Raekwon’s The Emperor’s New Clothes is a sharp return to form, showcasing the Wu-Tang veteran’s lyrical precision and timeless street wisdom. The new album (his 8th solo album) was produced by Swizz Beatz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Nottz, and Frank G. & RoadsArt with features by Nas, Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck as well as Griselda's Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, and Westside Gunn. Marsha Ambrosius and Stacy Barthe provide smooth, soulful hooks, adding emotional layers to the hard-edged verses. The LP is a reminder of Raekwon’s enduring power as a lyricist and curator. A veteran artist showing that mastery doesn’t need excess. The Emperor’s New Clothes is regal, streetwise, and sharply tailored for those who value craft. The album is also part of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series (props to Nas) and captures the raw spirit of New York at its finest. Listen to Rae's The Emperor's New Clothes streaming below...

You can cop The Emperor's New Clothes on CD and Vinyl HERE.

Clipse "Let God Sort Em Out" (Album Stream)

For the first time in over a decade, Clipse returns with a full-length album, and Let God Sort Em Out arrives with the weight that kind of absence naturally carries. From the opening moments, Let God Sort Em Out makes its intentions clear. This is not a nostalgia play, and it isn’t an attempt to modernize Clipse’s sound for relevance. Instead, the album leans into what made the duo distinctive in the first place: cold precision, uncompromising subject matter, and a sense of consequence running through every verse. There’s no attempt to soften the edges or reframe the past. The record doesn’t apologize for where Clipse came from, nor does it romanticize it. Much of the album’s gravity comes from the renewed dynamic between Pusha T and No Malice. Their contrast has always been the engine of Clipse, but here it feels more pronounced. Pusha’s verses remain sharp, observational, and unflinching, while Malice brings a reflective, measured presence shaped by time, faith, and distance from the lifestyle they once documented. Rather than clash, the two perspectives coexist, giving the album its tension and balance. Production across Let God Sort Em Out stays intentionally stark. The beats favor minimalism and atmosphere over excess, allowing the lyrics to sit front and center. There’s a sense of restraint throughout the project — nothing feels rushed, padded, or engineered for singles. The sound design reinforces the album’s specific themes: 



patience, judgment, and the long arc of accountability. It’s music that assumes the listener is paying attention. Lyrically, the album revisits familiar territory — street economics, loyalty, betrayal, survival — but the framing has changed. These aren’t victory laps or shock records. The writing feels older, heavier, and more resolved. The title itself functions less as a slogan and more as a philosophy: a recognition that outcomes, consequences, and moral reckonings don’t always arrive on our schedule. That idea runs quietly through the album without needing to be overstated. What stands out most is how comfortable Clipse sound operating at their own pace. There’s no urgency to prove relevance or compete with current trends. Let God Sort Em Out trusts the listener to meet it where it is. Let God Sort Em Out feels like a continuation rather than a comeback — a record made by artists who understand exactly who they are and see no reason to explain it. "The Birds Don't Sing" is easily the song of the year... to me. Listen to the Clipse's brand new album below.

DL Presents: DJ Crossphader "The Basement Experience" (Mixtape, 2000)

Here's another gem from 2000: DL Presents: DJ Crossphader "The Basement Experience." This 2-cassette-only mixtape was released on Phono Synthetic Productions, which was co-founded by DL and HB, both hosts of The Basement; a college radio show on WUSB 90.1FM at Stony Brook University. Like previous mixes, they captured the essence of the indie "backpack" scene at the time and their tapes were highly sought after. Just some of the many lyricists included are: Common, Ran Reed, Reflection Eternal, De La Soul, Large Professor, Mass Influence, Dilated Peoples, Slum Village, L-Fudge, Freddie Foxxx, Jigmastas, J-Live, Cella Dwellas, Pharoahe Monch, Masta Ace, Screwball, Mad Skillz, Rascalz, and lots more. Other projects released on the label include "The Time Has Come," "Another L.I. Groove," "What's Next On The Menu?", "A Long Rhyme Coming" and more - some of which have already been posted/discussed. Another perfect time capsule, dig into this mix below...

If you're interested, below is the full tracklist for both cassettes. Enjoy!

David Begun "A Tribe Called Soul" (Album Stream)

Every once in a while, a mashup project comes along that feels less like a gimmick and more like a proper tribute — thoughtful, rooted in respect, and crafted with real ears. David Begun’s A Tribe Called Soul is one of those projects. Released with zero fanfare and all substance, the project fuses the unmistakable vocals of A Tribe Called Quest with the deep, velvety textures of De La Soul classics. David Begun, who’s quietly built a rep with similar projects handles the mashup format with a producer’s ear — not just cutting and pasting, but restructuring. Rearranging bars. Matching tones. Honoring both sources. The results don’t sound forced — they sound meant to be. Q-Tip’s smooth baritone floats over Rhodes chords like they were written in the same session. Phife’s bounce feels right at home against Dilla-inspired swing. It’s less of a remix and more of an alternate timeline. And what really sells it is the feel. There’s warmth all over this project. For heads who dig concept blends with depth, this one’s a keeper. David Begun continues to build one of the more interesting catalogs in the remix/mashup world — always rooted in love for the music, and it shows.

Donnie Propa "Straight From The Crate Cave: Gang Starr" (Mix)

Straight From The Crate Cave: Gang Starr Edition — a no-frills, deeply curated tribute to one of hip-hop’s most iconic duos! As always with Donnie’s work, the focus is on the music. This isn’t a mix built to impress with tricks or hyper-speed blends. It’s a thoughtfully selected, tightly woven tribute to Guru and DJ Premier, pulling from all corners of the Gang Starr discography — from the early Wild Pitch days right through to the later albums. Deep cuts, classic joints, remixes, collabs, B-sides — it’s all here. But more importantly, it’s sequenced with feel. What Donnie Propa understands — and what many younger DJs miss — is the importance of pace, tone, and space. He lets the records breathe. The cuts are clean, the transitions smooth, and the selections speak for themselves. Guru’s voice still cuts through like a jazz horn in the fog. Premier’s drums still punch holes in your speakers. Together, they crafted a sound that defined eras, and Donnie Propa’s mix treats that legacy with the proper respect. Rest in Peace, Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. Eternal props to the G.O.A.T., DJ Premier. And respect to Donnie Propa for keeping the format alive.

Mathematics x Wu-Tang Clan "Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman"

After enjoying its heyday in the 90s and 2000s as arguably the greatest hip-hop group ever, the Wu-Tang Clan spent the late 2010s to mid-2020s solidifying its legacy in various ways--a television series, a docuseries, a Las Vegas residency, a cross-generational pop-culture touchstone. But fans who've wanted a Wu-Tang Clan album have often had to accept consolation prizes; 2015's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was a single copy auctioned for millions of dollars. Mathematics is as legitimate as anyone to continue the Wu-Tang Clan's legacy. He isn't one of the original nine members, but he's produced songs on some of the group's most beloved solo and group albums (The W, Supreme Clientele, and Bulletproof Wallets, for example), has served as their longtime DJ, and is even the creator of its iconic W logo. Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman is his second collaborative album with the group, and earns its Wu-Tang Clan co-billing: All the members of the group make appearances here, and he capably continues the group's distinctively dark, cinematic aesthetic. There aren't any songs that feature more than 3-4 Wu-Tang Clan members at once, but everyone shows up and delivers authentically sharp verses, and with Mathematics' expert understanding of the Wu sound, fans of the group will be satisfied with this addition to the catalog. - Apple Music.

Noreaga & Beanie Sigel "Badman" (2005)

My stomach was growling so I just made a midnight food run. On the way back, a song from Noreaga and Beanie Sigel randomly popped in my head. "Badman" was part of the "Tracklist Magazine Mixtape: Def Jam Edition (The Inc, Roc-a-Fella, South)," a compilation that highlighted various artists under the Def Jam umbrella in 2005. The song "Friendz" by Noreaga with Mariah Carey and Big Pun was also on that project (go find that, too!). Originally written by The Who in 1971, "Behind Blue Eyes" was redone by Limp Bizkit in 2003 and the sampled hook went: "No one knows what it's like / To be the bad man / To be the sad man / Behind blue eyes / No one knows what it's like / To be hated / To be fated / To telling only lies." "Badman" was produced by the underrated Scram Jones. At one point I believe the project was available to stream through Spotify and other DSPs but it's since been removed. I'd have to search through my vinyl, but I believe the NORE tracks were on a Killah Kuts 12" or something similar as well. Nevertheless, that catchy hook has been replaying in my head and I thought I'd revisit and share it with y'all tonight. Listen below...

2Pac "Me Against The World" (30th Anniversary • 3/14/95)

Tupac Shakur is one gutsy brother. Or maybe two. The front-page Shakur is a punk, a convicted sexual felon and a fool, a hard case on a collision course with authority, a hot-head who checks himself out of the hospital hours after being shot five times and gives a stretcher-borne finger to the media. The record-making 2Pac who inhabits the recording studio, however, is a sensitive, wise and loving commentator, a straight-up observer of life and death whose measured, melodic flow gives his pained lyrics searing eloquence. In one of the many ironies that attends Shakur's existence, while the man is on his way to prison, his album is headed to the charts. Shot through the heart with grim reality and fatalism, set atop smooth, seductive atmospheres of gently rolling funk and soul, "Me Against the World" is the hip-hop album to beat in 1995. There's nothing unusual about reformed tough guys offering don't-follow-my-mistakes advice, but 2Pac cedes none of his gangsta hardness in telling young listeners not to join him in the thug life. "You could be an accountant, not a dope dealer... you could be a lawyer," he suggests, and he sounds serious. Such contradictions have always accompanied the tumult of 2Pac's combined life and art, but never before has the dichotomy been drawn in such sharp relief. The rapper-actor's fourth album begins with news dispatches about his November brushes with justice and violence, but 2Pac's obsession is evidently death, not spinning his public image. "If I Die 2 Nite," "Me Against the World" and "Death Around the Corner" ambivalently present death as everything from a fact of life to a desirable end. "I'm having visions of leaving in a hearse," he raps in "So Many Tears." "I'm suicidal / So don't stand near me / My every move is a calculated step / To bring me closer to an early death." Listen to the album, cont'd below...

Rather than an album of attempts at vindication, "Temptation" is the only song here that actually addresses the issues surrounding his sexual abuse conviction. Explaining the context of his love life, 2Pac comes off as patient and beleaguered, careful not to impose himself on a woman in the way the jury believed he did. Furthering the surprisingly positive message amid the prevailing gloom, "Dear Mama" is a tragic, tender expression of gratitude and forgiveness -- for Tupac, and for his troubled mother, Afeni Shakur. "Even as a crack fiend, mama, you always was the black queen / Mama, I finally understand for a woman it ain't easy trying to raise a man / You always was committed / A poor single mother on welfare / Tell me how you did it / There's no way I can pay you back / But the plan is to show you that I understand / You are appreciated." Likewise, 2Pac's ebullient tribute to "Old School" rap comes to terms with the past in a way that makes the future seem like an afterthought. If there's any way to separate the musician's reality from its creative translation, "Me Against the World" is one of the saddest and most affecting expositions on young black America ever offered for public display. Tupac Shakur makes the line between art and life impossible to discern, but both have the potential to leave an indelible impression. - Newsday (3/95)

Gang Starr "Hard To Earn" (Rap Pages, 12/94)

"We know who we are/But do you know who you are?" This is the final line off the new Gang Starr album's opening, "ALONGWAYTOGO," a track where Guru turns the tables on those naysayers and shit-kickers who felt and feared that his Jazzmatazz journey would lead to the demise of the duo known as Gang Starr. Well, there's no need to fear (you can trust me), Donald Byrd's tumpet-blowing and N'Dea Davenport's harmonizing have been put on creative hold, with DJ Premier's precise, innovative jazz samples back in effect. The only difference between Hard To Earn and the previous ones is that here Guru not only flips his pinpoint monotone style, but also steps up as a producer, creating three tracks: "Code of the Streets," "F.A.L.A." and "Suckas Need Bodyguards." "Code" is the best of the three, "Just To Get A Rep"-flavored with its crazy fat bass line. Vocally, Guru takes the time to drop a little science: "They might say that we're a menace to society/But at the same time I say, why is it me?/Am I the target for destruction?/What about the system and total corruption?" Later, on "Tonz o' Gunz," Guru continues his inner-city-life sermonizing by discussing the biggest problem facing youth today--the influx of automatic weapons into our communities. He laments on how some brothers need to feel steel in order to be a man. Of course, what would a Gang Starr album be without representation from their foundation of dope MCs. "Speak Ya Clout" is the mandatory posse cut, featuring Lil' Dap and everyone's favorite new rhymer, Jeru The Damaja. These ill kids run the mic in the reverse order of Daily Operation's "I'm the Man," with Preemo cutting up pieces of that same song for their individual introductions. Also, don't sleep on newcomer Nutcracker, a 16-year-old from the Bronx who rips a minute-and-a-half freestyle that's sure to get you open. Guru and Premier know that Gang Starr's vital role in the Hip-Hop world has been hard to earn, and they continue to stay true to their own sound. - Rap Pages (June, 1994). Listen below...

This is still a fan-favorite, but it's not their BEST album! Debate me. Art by QFetti.

New Jack City (March 8, 1991) + Original Soundtrack

New Jack City: a cinematic and musical powerhouse that defined an era! Few films capture the raw energy and social turbulence of the early ‘90s quite like New Jack City. Released in 1991 and directed by Mario Van Peebles, this crime drama remains one of the most influential films in Black cinema, thanks to its gripping storytelling, powerful performances, and an unforgettable soundtrack that epitomized the New Jack Swing era. A gritty tale of power and betrayal at its core, New Jack City is a modern gangster epic, chronicling the rise and fall of Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes), a ruthless drug kingpin who turns a Harlem apartment complex into a crack empire. Opposing him are Scotty Appleton (Ice-T), a street-smart cop with a personal vendetta, and Nick Peretti (Judd Nelson), his brash partner. The film also features standout performances from Chris Rock as a tragic crack addict, Pookie, and Allen Payne as Gee Money, Nino’s closest confidant whose loyalty is tested. With its commentary on the devastating impact of crack cocaine on Black communities, New Jack City was more than just entertainment—it was a cultural statement. The success of the movie helped solidify Wesley Snipes as a leading man and Ice-T as more than just a rapper-turned-actor. 

If the film was a cultural juggernaut, its soundtrack was the pulse that kept it alive. The New Jack City soundtrack, released via Giant Records, was a perfect encapsulation of the era’s dominant musical genre—New Jack Swing. Produced by titans like Teddy Riley and featuring artists at the peak of their powers, the album became a crucial companion to the film’s impact. Standout tracks: "New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme)" – Ice-T delivers a blistering anthem that encapsulates the ambition and ruthlessness of Nino Brown, blending aggressive lyrics with a slick beat. "I Wanna Sex You Up" – Color Me Badd’s breakout hit, a silky-smooth blend of R&B and pop, became a chart-topping success that transcended the film. "For The Love of Money/Living for the City" – Troop, LeVert, and Queen Latifah merge The O’Jays’ classic with Stevie Wonder’s soulful storytelling, creating an anthem about ambition and struggle. Upon release, New Jack City was both a box-office hit and a cultural phenomenon. Grossing over $47 million on a modest budget, it became one of the most profitable films of 1991. Critics praised Snipes’ electrifying performance and the film’s unflinching take on the crack epidemic. However, some also critiqued its glorification of gang culture and violence. More than just a movie and album, New Jack City is a defining piece of ‘90s Black entertainment—stylish, provocative, and unforgettable. Watch the movie again when you have time!

Apollo Brown "Elevator Music" (Instrumental Album)

Apollo Brown returns with Elevator Music, a full-length instrumental suite that’s anything but passive. This is mood music in the purest sense: rich, warm, and tailor-made for thinkers, builders, writers, and late-night drivers. Brown has always been a master of soul-chop alchemy, and this project proves he doesn’t need a single voice to make you feel something. The concept? Simple but sharp: reclaim the phrase “elevator music” and turn it into something head-nodding and meditative. Each track floats, but never drifts. There’s intention behind every loop. The textures are dusty but lush — think vintage Detroit warmth, filtered and fat, with drums that thump just enough to stay grounded. You can hear echoes of Clouds and Thirty Eight, but this is its own thing entirely. It may seem minimal on first listen, but the layers are all there. Apollo Brown knows the power of a perfect loop — and he leans into that with full trust in the craft. Pure instrumental soul, filtered through a Detroit lens. A quiet storm for the real heads. Artwork by Chris B. Murray. Listen below...

Pete Rock & CL Smooth "The Main Ingredient" (30th Ann. Mix)

My excitement for this album was on par with A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders and Hard to Earn by Gang Starr; Keepers of the Funk by Lords of the Underground and even Wu-Tang Forever in '97. You just don't get that same feeling anymore, but enter Toronto's DJ Filthy Rich, who brings that classic nostalgia with his anniversary mixes that celebrate classic albums like this, The Main Ingredient by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Filthy Rich's 30th Anniversary mix includes original samples, LP cuts, original blends and unreleased gems. He adds, "Pete's production went from a harder/dusty sound on MATSB, to a warm/melodic vibe on TMI. The samples Pete chose hit your soul in that sweet spot: from Cannonball Adderley on 'In The House', to George Benson on 'I Get Physical' + 'In The Flesh', to Roy Ayers on 'Searching'....masterful. Pair that with CL's smooth voice and flow, and your soul starts to vibrate...." Dig in and celebrate over 30 years of this classic below...

Little Brother "The Listening" (Deluxe Edition, 2003)

You don't know your future if you don't know your past. North Carolina trio Little Brother puts its own twist on this oft heard truth. The group's first album brims with reverence for hip hop pioneers, especially on "So Fabulous," into which they weave smile-inducing tributes to artists as divergent as Kool G Rap and Digable Planets. But these cats aren't just back-in-the-day revivalists--they add their own distinctive spin. Structured like a daily radio broadcast, The Listening unfolds into one of the most addictive debut platters in recent memory. Down-to-earth MCs Phonte and Big Pooh have great chemistry and thematic breadth: They craft emotional verses to an infant son and an incarcerated brother on "Away From Me," but also offer comic relief, as when Phonte recalls quoting Trick Daddy at a pretentious poetry reading ("The Yo-Yo"). Balancing their wordplay, producer 9th Wonder meticulously builds soul-drenched grooves like the bouncy swing of "Shorty on the Lookout." Having learned their lessons well from hip hop innovators, Little Brother stakes claim to a promising future. They've definitely been listening. - Vibe Magazine (April, 2003). I noticed they released a Deluxe Edition which includes all the bonus tracks in one place and the original album's instrumentals. Listen to that deluxe edition of The Listening now on it's original release date.

Props to Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh and 9th Wonder.

Prince Paul "Prince Among Thieves" (Press Kit, 1999)

While still just a Long Island high school student, Prince Paul Huston began his recording career in 1986 when he joined rap music's original hip hop band, Stetsasonic, as its resident "surgeon on the mix." In addition to DJing for the six-man group, Paul seized his internship with Stet to flex his fledgling production skills on cuts like the driving title song to 1988's much-heralded In Full Gear LP. However, it wasn't until a trio of eccentric and hugely talented hip hop-bred teens from Paul's Amityville, L.I. neighborhood enlisted his production guidance that Paul would emerge as the eclectic visionary that he remains known as today. De La Soul's platinum-certified 1989 masterpiece, 3 Feet High And Rising, established Prince Paul's signature sound; a collage of funky soul loops, old school club tracks and breakbeats, samples from childrens' records and virtually anything else in reach all woven together by ingeniously choreographed audio skits. Having risen to hip hop's upper echelon of console controllers, Paul's wizardry left its mark on 3rd Bass' "The Gas Face" and "Brooklyn-Queens" (both from the gold-certified The Cactus Album), Cypress Hill's "Latin Lingo"-remix and the title cut from Big Daddy Kane's gold-certified 1989 LP, It's A Big Daddy Thing among many others. Paul and De La Soul would also refine 3 Feet's creative peaks with 1991's equally outstanding, gold-certified De La Soul Is Dead and 1993's superb, but commercially neglected Buhloone Mindstate.

Around this time, De La's commercial struggles, coupled with the dissolution of Stetasonic and Paul's aborted deal for his own label, Dew Dew Man Records, sent the musical brainiac into a period of introspection that would greatly shape his future recordings. Teaming with Wu-Tang Clan's sound architect, RZA, former Stet bandmate, Fruitkwan, and former Tommy Boy soloist, Too Poetic, in 1994, Paul blazed another trail  for hip hop when he formed one of the music's first supergroups -- the faux "horror-core" quartet, Gravediggaz. If the group's image played up the campy side of ghostly games, its debut LP, 6 Feet Deep, reflected a smart-aleck intelligence that reveled in the mockery of the music industry and all its trappings. In his most recent work, Paul's disillusionment with the record industry has driven him to sagely seek collaborations and projects that are compatible with his own creative visions. 1996's Psychoanalysis LP rejuvenated Paul by providing him an unbound forum with which to express his mental musings. His remix to the Kool Keith-helmed Dr. Octagon project's "Blue Flowers" of the same year drew kudos from hip hop's critical cognoscenti. And his contributions to Chris Rock's Roll With The New spawned the hilarious Puff Daddy hit single spoof, "Champagne," and received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album of 1997. His latest project, "A Prince Among Thieves," synergizes the varied talents at Prince Paul's hands for a cinematic and musical opus of unprecedented scope for hip hop music. - Press Kit (Tommy Boy Records, 1999). 

The Alchemist "The Chemistry Files" (The Uncut Version, 2006)

Originally released in 2006, this is the official ALC documentary: The Chemistry Files (The Uncut Version, DVD). Produced, edited, and slapped together by the man himself. Put together from old footage and edited entirely on an Apple G4 laptop with iMovie, this never-before-seen documentary captures the life of the ALC in a rugged yet personal, rough-around-the-edges fashion. "I have absolutely NO knowledge of film making, editing, or anything associated with movies, but one day I was messing around on the laptop and I realized that editing footage was a lot like beat making! So, on the spot, I said fuckit, I'm gonna make a DVD, right here, in my living room, on my laptop, out of all this footage I got laying around. And I sat up for one week straight, got into creative mode, and went berserk! Shit was fun." Of course we'd all rather that Al spends those hours doing what he does best, making those classic productions. But we're quite glad he took a week out and put together this truly motivating DVD. Originally edited, shortened to 25 minutes and used for the re-release of Alchemist's debut album 1st Infantry, this is the full 1 hour unedited and uncut version, exactly as he intended it. "I felt like the edited version didn't tell the story well. So I wanted fans to see it the right way." Go inside the smoke-filled laboratories and studios and watch as Alchemist and The Mobb create their signature sound. Sit in on mix sessions. Watch as, for the first time ever, ALC puts together a beat live on camera. Witness magic as Alchemist and Mobb Deep zone out and the making of the classic, "Hold You Down," miraculously captured on camera, is revealed for the first time. Then watch as the song metamorphasizes from a spontaneous vibe in a little home studio to a live concert in front of 30,000 fans. The Chemistry Files: The Uncut Version...

Inspired by ALC's announcement that 1st Infantry coming (back) 2025!