DJ Koco "Hydra: Underground's Finest" (Mixtape)

Hydra: Underground's Finest is an aural history of Queens, NY-based underground hip hop label Hydra Entertainment's 12" output from 1995 through 2005, selected and presented by DJ Koco; one of Tokyo's premier hip hop DJs. Hydra was a powerhouse in its day, holding its own with other mid-1990s independent labels Rawkus, Fondle 'Em, Eastern Conference, Game, Landspeed, Fat Beats, and D.I.T.C. An integral part of the East Coast underground hip hop movement from 1995 through 2005, Hydra is world renowned for sought-after singles by major label-affiliated artists Mobb Deep, Screwball, Cormega, and The Beatnuts, as well as the top tier of a burgeoning independent movement. This is the first CD release for most of these tracks, which were taken from vinyl and skillfully sequenced and mixed by Japan's DJ Koco (Donuts Record). Includes tracks by Mobb Deep, Screwball, The High & Mighty, Slade Savage, Godfather Don, The Beatnuts, Nick Wiz, Powerule, Ghetto Professionals; appearances from Cormega, MC Shan, Prince A.D., and production by Marley Marl, Pete Rock, The Alchemist, Godfather Don, Mike Heron, Ayatollah, The Beatnuts, Nick Wiz, V.I.C., and lots more. Props to Hydra co-founders Mike Herron & Jerry Famolari. Listen to the mix below...

Nick Ciz 'Cellar Sounds' Vol. 5 (No Sleep Recordings)

Attention 90's underground Hip-Hop collectors! Nick Wiz & No Sleep Recordings are back with Volume 5 of the groundbreaking and collectible archive series, 'Cellar Sounds.' This 44 track 2xCD release of Nick Wiz productions is available only on Fifth Element, and is a limited pressing as always. Volume 5 includes selections from the highly acclaimed “Underground Airplay” tapes, unreleased remixes, and obscure demos from lyricists throughout NYC and New Jersey. I've been a fan of Nick Wiz for 20yrs, each volume will take you down a path of (re)discovery for some of the best underground records / independent artists to come out of the tri-state area. iTunes version.

Ran Reed "The Introduction" (12", 1999)

With production from one of the underground kings, Nick Wiz on both tracks from this 12", the A-Side single, "The Introduction" also features the Cella Dwellas & Moonie D. It was released in 1999 on New York's Bronx Science Recordings, which was also home to Breez Evahflowin, Bedroom Wizard, K-Otix, Apathy, L-Fudge, Apani & lots of others cut from that same cloth. In 2012, Nick Wiz presented a CD & LP release of "Respect the Architect: 1992-1998" by the New Jersey MC Ran Reed on No Sleep Recordings. With a buzz surrounding Nick Wiz's consecutive releases of instrumentals and feature-compilations, I trust this brought extra attention to the project and Nick Wiz did produce over 90% of the LP. I highly recommend picking up a copy of that, and all volumes of Nick Wiz's Cellar Selections & Cellar Instrumentals. Ran Reed has new music coming soon, too!