Eternia & Rel McCoy "FREE" (Album Stream)

Two decades and two Juno-nominations later: Eternia is back and as compelling as ever with FREE, her debut collaborative album with Juno-Award winning producer Rel McCoy. FREE represents a grand comeback for Eternia, who is widely considered one of Canada’s foremost lyricists. In 2010 she released the Juno Award-nominated and Polaris long-listed At Last with producer MoSS on Fat Beats Records. Transformative events changed her life since that release, including personal triumphs (starting a family) coinciding with personal struggles (mental/physical health) and artistic struggles (the album was rebooted), all while navigating a global pandemic and the isolation that ensues. FREE is born of these experiences as she partners with Rel McCoy, the multi-faceted artist she compliments heavily for providing the moving soundscapes on the record, as well as contributing a few vocal appearances. It’s easy to hear just what she means on standout singles like the warm and nostalgic “Most PPL” and moody and haunting “Home,” the latter of which features fellow Canadian talents Shad and SHEAL. These are lyrically rich, profound tracks that are easy to follow but brimming with layers, effortlessly walking us through complex themes with straight-shooting simplicity as only veterans can do. From Eternia’s attention-demanding vocals to Rel’s nostalgic and melodic blend of boom bap production, FREE is just as engaging as it is organic. The record also features stand out contributions from Mr. Lif, Wordsworth, Phoenix Pagliacci and Eliki. I'm proud to share this album with y'all, as many of you know I've been working behind the scenes on the rollout for the project. It's brand new, so I'll save the nostalgia for another time, I just want to you to sit with it and enjoy! You can pre-order the album on vinyl HERE via Fat Beats. Also HERE via Bandcamp.

Eternia "Journey To FREE: A Retrospective" (DJ Eclipse)

Eternia showcases her incredible, two-decade-long career with a hard-hitting new mixtape, Journey to FREE: A Retrospective, mixed by living legend DJ Eclipse. Whether you’ve been rocking with Eternia since well before the critically acclaimed At Last dropped in 2010, or you got put on after bumping her new single, “Most PPL” with Rel McCoy, this project is required listening for long-time fans and new listeners alike. With DJ Eclipse on the decks, the 25-minute highlight reel perfectly demonstrates why Eternia has been dubbed “Canada’s Dopest Female MC.” Featured on the mix are solo bangers and collaborations with like-minded artists (Torae, Apathy, and Shad), rare early material from before At Last’s release, and three exclusive, unreleased new joints. All three are produced by Rel McCoy, the artist behind all the production on their upcoming album, FREE. The mix is blended in a way that feels seamless and timeless, while displaying Eternia’s growth as an artist. “DJ Eclipse brought tears to my eyes with this one,” Eternia says. “It was the first time I heard my music—that has spanned two decades—in this light. He approaches his craft of DJing like I do as an MC: with thoughtfulness, innovation, fun and precision.” Eclipse shares her enthusiasm for the project, saying that he knew she was dope the first time he heard her music. “Working with her on this mix was a pleasure,” Eclipse adds. “Her commitment to detail in her vision of what she wanted to hear in this mix is equally matched with how I wanted it to sound.” I'm very excited to share this mixtape with you, and I hope you'll check it out and show it some love. Also available HERE + HERE!

Roc Marciano "Marcberg" (May 4, 2010)

“Marcberg,” the eerie and captivating debut full-length album from the Long Island rapper Roc Marciano, has 15 tracks but only one idea: the preservation of a style long abandoned. Calling Roc Marciano a classicist doesn’t quite do him justice, though. This is an artisanal album, no rhyme or drum out of place. In addition to rapping with morgue-cold delivery — “Turn the tube to Channel 2/And there was you/Your parents just can’t handle the news” — he also produced the album in its entirety, favoring abraded samples and mild, persistent static that gives “Marcberg” a decidedly claustrophobic air. Even in 1995, the year his sound most closely evokes, this album would have been anomalous, almost flamboyantly, tauntingly spare. But the density comes in the rhymes, which are sinister and clever. Roc Marciano even takes an effective stab at a trite conceit on “Jungle Fever,” anthropomorphizing drugs as a woman: “Had to hide you from my mother ’cause you didn’t have color.” That’s what passes for humor on this otherwise entrancingly dark record. More typical is the chilling “Thugs Prayer,” which reads as one long sigh: "Perhaps let a couple off / Skin bubble off / Hustling soft up in the loft / Ain’t no love lost / Just thug lords and drug wars." - Jon Caramanica (New York Times). I was servicing Eternia's At Last album at Fat Beats at the time and Jon asked me for a copy of Marcberg... above was his initial review. Revisit Roc Marci's true school classic below...

Below are additional scans from the 2LP copy of the album...

DJ Eclipse on "Showoff Your Gems" (Video)

While I certainly recommend digging into D-Stroy's timeline to watch ALL of the episodes of his IG live show, Showoff Your Gems, the appearance of DJ Eclipse is significant to me because I do consider E to be one of my OGs. I've admired him for many years - how he broke into the industry; his successful run at both college radio and Sirius; his impactful roles at Fat Beats since its inception; Rock Steady Anniversaries; Wild Pitch; Non Phixion, and the list just goes on and on. Having worked with Eclipse at Fat Beats, I saw firsthand why he's called "The Senator" in inner circles, lol. If there's anyone with a stash of gems to showoff, it's DJ Eclipse and he comes insanely correct! The note to radio for "It Ain't Hard To Tell" off Illmatic made me wanna pick up the phone and ask for a scan, ASAP! Add to it content from O.C., the Arsonists, and all the stickers from legendary acts, and so much more... it's all here! The beauty of having a show like this is that it's so niche that really only the "heads" catch on, so props once again to D-Stroy for creating and hosting a show that speaks to us nerds of nostalgia, and truly represents a special segment of the culture. After watching, hit up the archives below for lots of additional content. Oh, and if anyone has the address to Eclipse's new storage, you can slide that in my DMs now!! You can follow more from D-Stroy right over HERE!

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Fat Beats "Baker's Dozen: XIII" (Instrumental Album)

Baker's Dozen is a vinyl series that shines a spotlight on instrumental music and the personalities behind the craft. To commemorate the 13th and final release in series history, Fat Beats Records aims to focus on thirteen of its most respected producers with the aptly titled compilation "Baker's Dozen: XIII". It features a legendary collection of producers (in tracklist order): Damu The Fudgemunk, Block Head, Pete Rock, Statik Selektah, Madlib, Kutmah, Alchemist, Onra, Black Milk, Tokimonsta, Flo Filz, MNDSGN, & Mitsu The Beats! Much respect to Fat Beats, pushing the culture forward since the 90s as a record store, label, distribution: an institution to be celebrated! Dig in...

Fat Beats NY's Final In-Stores (2010) + 26th Anniversary

From July 1994 to September 2010, Fat Beats NY held it down as the mecca of independent hip-hop in NYC. On its final week at the 506 6th Avenue location, numerous artists and DJs came through to show love to an institution in NY that helped birth countless careers. Artists like the Arsonists, Juggaknots, Masta Ace, Pace Won, J-Live, Sadat X, A.G., The Artifacts, Ras Kass, Eternia, Skyzoo, BBAS, Immortal Technique and more, all represented. On the DJ side, Statik Selektah, Neil Armstrong, Da Beatminerz, DJ Soul, Rob Swift, Sucio Smash, DJ Eclipse, Tony Touch, and a final day that included sets by A-Trak, DJ Premier, Cipha Sounds, DJ Skratch, Pete Rock, Just Blaze and among others, Fat Beats' president, DJ Jab. My memories of Fat Beats are some of the best and I'm eternally grateful for the relationships I built and to be a part of the final shows through my work with Eternia, who performed on Tuesday alongside Ras Kass and others. The audio below represents some of the DJ sets from Fat Beats' grand closing. It's still bittersweet for me, but listen below! Today marks Fat Beats 26th Anniversary, you can still visit them online for all your music needs and at the physical location they opened in 2018 at 916 S. San Pedro St. in Los Angeles, CA. For more backstory: Fat Beats began as a small basement shop located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It quickly became an integral hub for artists, both aspiring and established, to convene and collaborate. Their retail stores spread from NY to LA, Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Tokyo and alongside retail expansion they developed into a wholesale distribution company and record label. They remain steadfast in their commitment to the timeless vinyl format and the loyal community who keeps it spinning. Dig in the archives for more, including the original invitation to the store's opening in 1994!

Eternia & MoSS "At Last" (10th Anniversary)

"From Marco Polo to MoSS, Kardinal Offishall to k-os to Eternia to everyone in between — Toronto continues to cultivate artists, producers and aficionados who put a premium on the sound of quintessential, golden era Hip-Hop. Emcee/Producer duo Eternia & MoSS’s Fat Beats Records release, At Last, fits right in with the city’s rich tradition. Eternia flexes her extensive mic skills straight out the gate, opening with four rugged cypher cuts in a row. Her vocals spill confidence, ripping through “Any Man” and “32 Bars” as if she’s on a mission to extinguish any stereotype ever placed upon white and/or female rappers.... Lead single “BBQ” feels refreshingly nostalgic, as golden era lyrical titans Rah Digga and The Lady of Rage join Eternia in decimating the high-powered, eighty-miles-an-hour backdrop.... In spite of her aggressive, in-your-grill delivery on potent cypher cuts, Eternia’s tortured past and ability to connect through honest, visceral rhymes is At Last’s truest legacy. She harnesses her femininity without ever pimping her sexuality. Her lyrical bravado (“I came up out a woman stronger than your whole crew / Do the math / My left half can outdo you”) is balanced by her gut-wrenching vulnerability (“Memories my mind conveniently erases / Strange homes, alone / Got touched in strange places”).... Eternia & MoSS assembled an emotionally rich boom-bap tapestry, trading gaudy depictions of glamour and glitz for honesty and truth to wax expressions of reality." - Justin Hunte, HipHopDX. At Last was nominated for a Juno Award (Canada's Grammys), long-listed for a Polaris Music Prize and #17 on DJ Premier's Top 25 albums of 2010...

Today marks the album's 10th anniversary, which puts me in an emotional space. Eternia and I began working together in 2009 with the infamous Road To Release video-blog campaign, which led to a label deal with Fat Beats Records for At Last, world tours, and meeting so many amazing people along the journey. This album literally changed my life and I'm humbled to call Eternia my sister and easily one of my favorite people in the whole world. I've posted a considerable amount of content over the years, so I recommend digging in the archives and you can pull up videos, album reviews, promo items, and lots more. On this day in 2010, we also held an album in-store at Fat Beats, sold a bunch of copies and rocked out with friends, fans and family. Thankful for everyone I've met along the way, and if you don't own a copy, there's still a few left HERE! Tonight on Eternia's IG we will be holding a live listening session and sharing some stories about the album and more. Tune in! 6pm EST.

The original setlist for E's live performance at the Fat Beats in-store...

Roc Marciano "Marcberg" (10th Anniversary, 5/4/10)

Today is the 10th anniversary of Roc Marciano's debut solo album Marcberg via Fat Beats Records. When you look at music representing the streets today, you can trace much of the blueprint back to this now-classic release. HipHopDX championed the project stating, "Marcberg is a hard-hitting, unremorseful classic based on the same code of ethics that made the golden era so immaculate." Today, Complex released an article where Roc Marci reflects on the album in its 10th year and shared some great insight, like: "At the time, I felt like the music I loved was lost. I wanted to make an album that spoke to me. I also wanted to put my best foot forward and show what I could do. It’s funny because me and Alchemist were talking about it recently, and he was like, “Yo, back when Mobb Deep was popping and New York rap was at its height, I felt like I was nice then, too. I felt like I could’ve participated in that era, too, but I missed [it].” So when I got a chance to actually do Marcberg, I felt like this was me coming in and adding my piece to the game. That’s what the creation of Marcberg was for me: it was like a chance to actually add my two cents in." When asked about the highs and lows represented in the album, Roc adds, "I mean, you can’t hide what you are. At the time, I was broke, so I’m speaking to the times, telling my story. You’ve got to tell the victories, and you talk about the losses, too. And it was a weird time in the game. Hustling and crack was phasing out—the streets wasn’t a feeding frenzy like it used to be. A lot of cats that came up from my era was trying to figure out what they was going to do next. A lot of cats caught bids and died in the streets and stuff like that. So [I was] trying not to fall into that category. I think the album reflects that." You can read the interview HERE. Revisit this classic on its 10th anniversary...

Original Fat Beats CD from the Brooklyn warehouse...

Fat Beats "25th Anniversary Compilation" (Album Stream)

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Fat Beats, they've carefully curated this compilation of their best and favorite 25 tracks on Fat Beats Records. It also includes 2 brand new cuts from Clear Soul Forces and Ill Bill, as well as great tracks by Crimeapple, Masta Ace, Black Milk, Will Sessions, Blu & Exile, Kool G Rap, La Coka Nostra, Roc Marciano, El Michaels Affair, El Da Sensei, Trinity and more. Part of me is sad that they didn't contact me to use one of the vinyl-only exclusives we recorded on Fat Beats Records for the Eternia & MoSS "At Last" EP, but I'm still so extremely proud of all their accomplishments and cannot explain how much my years at Fat Beats (as a customer and working there) impacted my life. Thank you, Fat Beats! Please stream the compilation below...

DJ Eclipse "The Halftime Show" (Fat Beats Special, 8/26/10)

Following the news of Fat Beats closing (its retail doors) in 2010, DJ Eclipse - who was instrumental in the success of the company - took the time to do a Fat Beats special on his WNYU radio show, The Halftime Show. With his special invited guest, the President of Fat Beats' DJ Jab, they spoke about the history of the store, the outlook for the future of the company's online store, distribution and the record label, as well as other things. Of course, DJ Eclipse went into a vinyl mix that represents the independent fabric that helped birth the whole independent scene, especially in New York City, which - once again - DJ Eclipse and Fat Beats impacted in a major way. These records take me back - put your headphones on for this one... Much respect to DJ Eclipse, DJ Jab, DJ Skizz, Petey Cologne & Marz One. Thankfully, the Fat Beats store has reopened in Los Angeles; their online store and distro are flourishing, and while DJ Eclipse's Halftime Show is no longer on air, he's still puttin' it down weekly via his Sirius show, Rap Is Outta Control, where he once again teamed back up with DJ Riz. As music is shifting back to independence and vinyl has seen a major resurgence, this is very full circle. Before I forget, additional guests on the show included El Da Sensei of the Artifacts, Ill Bill, DJ Spinna, Amir, D-Stroy & Q-Unique of the Arsonists, DJ Rhettmatic, and more! R.I.P. DJ AM. Props to everyone who has supported Fat Beats over the years. Dig in...

Knitting Factory: The Final Show (December 19, 2008)

Dec. 19, 2008: lowkey, this is a day in NY hip-hop history, people don’t talk about it much though. Remembering it on it's 10th Anniversary: It was snowing outside, my view was from the 2nd floor at 406 6th Avenue, better known as Fat Beats. It was our annual Christmas Party. Always a fun time with drinks and food, DJ sets and of course, more artists came through to show love if they got an invite. This night was extra special bc I was keeping an eye on the clock, knowing that it was the very last hip-hop show at Knitting Factory about 2 miles away. Peep the bill: Rakim, Black Thought, Souls of Mischief & you know every NY MC would touch that stage one final time. I was at every show - week day or weekend, I was in the building - so I wanted to roll through but it was getting late, snowing and I had some drinks in me, lol. I started to get texts about the show, who was killin it, who was backstage, etc etc. At some point, the texts went left bc of an incident I can’t really talk about, but suffice to say ...the final show was not without it’s drama outside the venue, unrelated to the music. I was tight about it too. Of course, I waited to see if Photo Rob would post photos of the show I never made - a big regret of mine - but I was amongst good friends and with Fat Beats closing years later, I’d probably regret it had I not been there too. Fortunately the good brother, Homeboy Sandman, was in the building to perform and shared some of the footage for us...

Masta Ace & Marco Polo "A Breukelen Story" (Album Stream)

In 2018 we find hip-hop’s storied journeyman, Masta Ace, at the helm of another sharp, tightly wrought project. He’s traversed hip-hop’s ever-changing landscape for nearly three decades, navigating different eras while expanding his already extensive catalogue. Despite amassing 7 solo albums, 5 collaborative projects and countless additional one-offs, Ace is still trying to show and prove, still moving the needle forward for himself, his fans, and his career. Says Ace: “My goal on A Breukelen Story was to do more lyrical stuff. I’ve done a lot of concept songs, and a lot of topical records, but I made a point to put a couple straight rhyming joints on here to remind dudes I can still do this.” Marco Polo is not new to forming quality collabs with others in the art form, with notable stints on the Port Authority as well as it’s follow up, PA2, and others like 2016’s work with young MC, A-F-R-O, fittingly titled A-F-R-O Polo. Yet out of Polo’s previous collaborative efforts, this one stands out and is a bit more special, according to Polo: “Ace does not like to write random songs, its usually conceptual and topical,” he says. “But we do have some straight spitting joints on A Breukelen Story which is what makes this album possibly the most diverse of all of my collaborative albums.” MP & Ace's "A Breukelen Story" is now available via Fat Beats Records! 

Black Milk "Tronic" (10th Anniversary)

"Tronic is an artistic breakthrough for Detroit producer/rapper Black Milk, a Slum Village associate who has toiled in the industry for years (which he explains on the triumphant chipmunk-soul anthem "Long Story Short"). The title tips off the rough electronic tint of his third album, but this ain't no retro-electro party: Milk bangs out hard synth tracks with malevolent fire, "murdering the booth" on cuts such as "The Matrix" and "Overdose." Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, Royce Da 5'9", and other MCs show up to anoint the new price of hardcore hip-hop." - Mosi Reeves (Spin, 2009). Referenced in the album review is the opening track "Long Story Short," which I have as one of the best track 1s on any album of recent memory. I think Black Milk pushed the envelope and was ahead of his time switching to more live instrumentation when Tronic was released, so I'm curious how people feel it has aged and sits with the current climate of music production (sans trap music)? Revisit it...

Fat Beats Is Back! 916 S. San Pedro Street

This is the best news I've heard in a long while, Fat Beats will return in a new location in downtown Los Angeles. On September 22nd, Fat Beats will reopen at 916 S. San Pedro Street in LA, with a special grand opening, featuring guest DJ sets from Rhettmatic, Dibia$e, Houseshoes, Ras G, Exile, DJ Babu, the founder of Fat Beats, DJ Jab, and lots more. As a Fat Beats alumni, I can say firsthand that Fat Beats has played an integral role in underground hip-hop since the early 90s, and your favorite rapper's favorite rapper has no doubt performed at one of their locations. Having a spot like Fat Beats in a community creates a hub for creativity; opens its door for like-minded people to meet, connect, and share an affinity for the culture - all while supporting artists and holding physical product in their hands! I hope that people will continue to support Fat Beats, and we'll see an increase in in-stores again, with live performances, more DJ sets, and exclusive content. While the NY location has not operated since 2010, Fat Beats continued to maintain its presence via it's online store, events, and occasional pop-up shops, as well as strong distribution in support of many independent labels and artists releasing product to our niche audience. I already texted Joe, but I wish him much success in this renewed venture, and the whole team at Fat Beats in LA. If you visit the store on San Pedro St, send me a message and any pics you have, I wanna see! Much respect to DJ Eclipse, of course. If you're a fan of Hip-Hop, this is a proud day! BUY SOMETHING! Peace...

July 8, 1994: Invitation to Fat Beats on E 9th Street

July 8, 1994: "In the late seventies Hip-Hop music was being sold out of the trunks of automobiles. On July 14 you and your associates are invited to Fat Beats, New York's unique Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae and affiliates music store. Fat Beats grand opening will have art work by Andrew Marzan, Carlos Paul, Chris Nesbitt, George Guzman, Nuri Bell, Sean Mitaynes, and Zak. The fat beats will be provided by William Bagley. Drinks and refreshments will be served and the party will start at 7pm. Fat Beats is located at 323 East 9th Street Between 1st and 2nd Avenue. Hope to see you. Sincerely, Joseph Abajian (Pres/Founder of Fat Beats)." Joe Abajian aka DJ Jab is easily one of my favorite people I've met in this music thing; he's always been a stand-up guy and to this day, the direct line to him is always open. I'd love to visit Fat Beats headquarters in LA; it's on my to-do list.

Elaquent "Baker's Dozen" (Instrumental Album)

Fat Beats Records is proud to present Baker’s Dozen, an exclusive series that shines a light on the best minds of instrumental hip-hop, ambient, and electronic music. Each installment gives one artist carte blanche to capture their signature sound. Every volume’s limited vinyl pressing features one artist and twelve tracks, and comes equipped with a 5x7” postcard insert that features a photo of the artist’s workspace along with the equipment used in their music-making process. Visually cohesive and packaged with the utmost attention to detail, Baker’s Dozen is a series that speaks up for artists whose craft renders voices superfluous, whose instrumentals alone suffice to make a statement. Volume nine highlights the Guelph, Ontario producer Elaquent, who breaks down his creative process below: “Since the beginning, my philosophy has always been that perfection is boring, so despite all the changes that have occurred with my equipment and system, that main philosophy remains the same. In the beginning it was all about flipping samples with FL Studio and just my computer keyboard, and over the years, I added the MPD and Masterkey in order to be able to jam out drums live and play keys, which speeds up the workflow. I like the effects on the 404, and there’s a lot of dope ways to integrate my iPad into it, but at the end of the day, it starts with a melody or sample, and I kinda just let the vibe take over.” - Elaquent. Catch the vibe below...

Eternia & MoSS "To The Future" (Video)

It took me a year to listen to “To The Future.” It was the one song I was going to listen to just as the fans would experience it on the day of the “At Last” LP release. Those plans changed when the test presses arrived and I was tasked with clearing them for final pressing. I sat - alone - in a back office at Fat Beats warehouse with tears in my eyes; sad ... angry ... but mostly humbled by E’s strength to put her life on the page so openly/vulnerably for the world to see. I have no words to express how that impacted/impacts me. When we decided almost a year after the release of At Last to make To The Future the 3rd and final video, we knew we needed to attach it to an organization that would help us raise awareness and offer an outlet for those with similar experiences to get help. Kids Help Phone in Canada stepped up and agreed to partner with us. MTV News gave it a nice push, then we took to the red carpet at the Juno Awards and continued to raise awareness with many established outlets who felt the messages of sexual assault, domestic violence, gun violence, and more in the song/video. Eternia 1st performed the track at Southpaw in Brooklyn with her live band to an applause that felt... more gratifying than almost any other show.

A shout out to MoSS, who crafted the perfect gut wrenching beat and knowing that perhaps only Eternia could touch it, then stood proudly by her knowing the content would be hard for some to hear. It’s his favorite song and it was MoSS who said we needed a video. Salute that man, he wasn’t always easy to work with but he had a vision and he saw it through. Erica Shallow who directed the video and brought visuals to life. Amazing! Julia who did E’s make up; she brought E’s natural beauty out and the clothes were by Married to the Mob. I have to accept that maybe in my role I failed a bit because I’m sure many of you never heard this song - as much as we did and as much as we tried to get it out there, there was a glass ceiling & I never quite got thru it. It’s not too late tho! The message is as strong today as it was when E wrote, recorded, and made the video. Every 90 seconds...! The official video was released on this day in 2011 via Fat Beats Records, watch it below...

Exile "Baker's Dozen" (Instrumental Album)

Fat Beats Records presents volume eight in their Baker’s Dozen series, an exclusive series that shines a light on the best minds of instrumental hip-hop, ambient, and electronic music. Each installment gives one artist carte blanche to capture their signature sound. Volume eight highlights LA producer Exile, who breaks down his creative process saying, "Making music from nothing, pre-internet you had to teach yourself or make homies with the local legend to drop gems on their process of making beats. Now you can take classes on how to make beats. It doesn’t matter if you use a Roland MS1 or MPC 2000XL, sampling records or sampling yourself playing the keys… get lost in the music, stay thankful, and remember the feeling of why you do this. That is my process." Every volume’s limited vinyl pressing features one artist and twelve tracks, and comes equipped with a 5x7” postcard insert that features a photo of the artist’s workspace along with the equipment used in their music-making process. Visually cohesive and packaged with the utmost attention to detail, Baker’s Dozen is a series that speaks up for artists whose craft renders voices superfluous, whose instrumentals alone suffice to make a statement. Peep Exile's Baker's Dozen...

Blu & Exile "Below The Heavens" (10th Anniversary)

Happy 10th Anniversary to arguably the best Hip-Hop album to be released in the last decade. I have no trouble saying it's my personal favorite, without hesitation. I drank the kool aid the first time I heard the Advance copy, which was slightly different (not better or worse) than the retail version. With less than 3000 copies in its original CD pressing, the scarcity of the album, coupled with the quality of the music, gave birth to an unofficial word of mouth campaign that gave the album its biggest push. It took a while, but it all added to the self-esteem value fans felt having been in the know, and they gladly spread the good word. I remember employees at Fat Beats pushed to have the album listed on year-end lists when labels and journalists would call the store asking what people were buying, even knowing there weren't many copies in circulation. By the time an official vinyl pressing came around, I was eagerly waiting at the Fat Beats warehouse for the hand-numbered LPs to arrive, lol. "Below The Heavens" should be the benchmark for collaborative efforts and for artists like Blu who wish to be transparent and tell their story through their lyrics. They successfully crafted one of the most relatable records, and I believe it'll find new listeners for generations to follow. Shouts to J.Kim, who was instrumental in its success, and Exile, whom I'd already been following through Emanon and Dirty Science, as well as his early Eksile mix tapes. 

Marco Polo "Baker's Dozen" (Instrumental Album)

This is the sixth installment of Baker’s Dozen, an exclusive vinyl series that shines a light on the best minds of instrumental hip-hop, ambient, and electronic music. Each installment gives one artist carte blanche to capture their signature sound. It is presented by Fat Beats Records and the latest installment is compliments of Toronto's super-producer, Marco Polo, who brings his signature boombap flavor to the series. New York City is the birthplace of Fat Beats (and as many would say, hip-hop in general) and with Marco living in NYC the last decade, Marco Polo is true to form in representing our roots. You'll recognize some of the beats from Boot Camp Clik, Prhyme, Large Professor & more. As always, every volume of BDZ features one artist and twelve tracks (with limited random copies including the Baker’s Dozen bonus track on a flexidisc) and comes equipped with a 5x7” postcard insert that features a photo of the artist’s workspace along with the equipment used in their music making process. You can stream Marco Polo's Baker's Dozen below...