Apollo Brown "Sincerely Detroit" (Album Stream)

Detroit has an indelible legacy in hip-hop. From artists like J Dilla to Black Milk, from Denaun Porter to Apollo Brown, Detroit's music has a sound unlike any other. When Apollo Brown set out to create the tribute to his home, he knew he needed to do the city justice. Featuring over fifty Detroit artists, Apollo Brown’s new double disc album, “Sincerely, Detroit,” is a love letter to the culture. From different eras and different walks of life, veterans and newcomers alike lend their styles and deliveries to the twenty-one track album. Featuring artists like Royce Da 5’9”, Black Milk, Trick Trick, Elzhi, Slum Village and many, many more, “Sincerely, Detroit” is a nearly comprehensive look at the styles and flavors of Detroit. While the world watches Detroit for influence, Apollo is back to remind people that Detroit sets a standard for others to follow and is a creative haven for Hip-hop.

RJ Payne "Leatherface 2" (Album Stream)

RJ Payne drops off his latest project Leatherface 2 just in time for a spooky Halloween celebration. The potent lyricist is signed to Benny The Butcher's BSF imprint, and delivers a hard-hitting record with sinister artwork to match. The project features Benny the Butcher, Ras Kass, Freeway, Daniel Son, Che Noir, and more! RJ Payne's elite lyricism and charisma shine through once again, matched by heavy production on Leatherface 2. Dig into it below... and Happy Halloween! Vinyl coming soon.

DJ Lazy K "Butta Mixin Rican Part 2" (Mixtape, 1996)

Here's a dope mixtape from '96 by DJ Lazy K, Butta Mixin Rican Pt.2. Born in Mexico, and raised in Madrid, Spain, and Switzerland, DJ Lazy K has been holdin' it down since the 90s. This particular mix includes tracks from Nas, Shyheim, Redman, Lost Boyz, Jay-Z, 2Pac, Common, Kool G Rap, Smoothe The Hustler, Mobb Deep, Tragedy Khadafi, as well as multiple freestyles from members of the Wu-Tang Clan; Mic Geronimo, and more. Wu-Tang and Jay-Z embraced her early, listen to the mix below...

Madwreck "The Raw Exotic" (Instrumental Album)

Madwreck returns to his roots with his newest instrumental album, "The Raw Exotic". Produced on the coveted Roland SP-404sx, this eagerly awaited full-length is an auditory exploration of golden era inspired beats, dripping with analog saturation. Madwreck's "The Raw Exotic" is a destination vacation deep in the heart of a concrete jungle, and you do not wanna miss it. Listen to it below...

T. Eric Monroe "Rare & Unseen Moments Of 90's Hip-Hop" (Books)

T. Eric Monroe is opening his historic vault of 90’s photography to preserve and promote the legacies of iconic personas who shaped Hip-Hop culture. With 3 volumes of Rare & Unseen Moments of 90's Hip-Hop, the books feature thousands of intimate moments in music history. Monroe’s body of work represents a fresh and unseen perspective of cultural icons from the 90’s Hip-Hop Community, at a time before the internet, social media, and digital photography. A large majority of his images were never published and kept out of all commercial outlets, archived away for decades. This archive was safeguarded from public consumption… until now! Additional images below of Nas, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah, and the Funk Doc himself, Redman. Consider placing your order HERE and I also recommend checking out a nice feature in Juxtapoz Magazine for more info.

The Elite Camp "Raising The Bar" (Mixtape, 2007)

In 2007, four members of The Elite Camp embarked on a project that was the benchmark for the future of the entire crews’ catalog. Raising The Bar exemplifies the skill, knowledge, and experience that they all have as a DJ collective. Stemming from their favorite genre in hip-hop, the golden era, the compilation of carefully chosen tracks along with signature Elite Camp tricks is a true representation of their abilities. The Elite Camp’s D Jay Jung, M-Pos, DJ Naz, and Unkle Chip make up the brains behind Raising The Bar. They also had the honor of having fellow New Jerseyan and member of the famous group Artifacts, El Da Sensei, bless the introduction alongside the production of P-Original. Mastered by Phillee Blunt from the Illvibe Collective and album artwork by Romeo Rex of The Collabros. The mix features tracks from Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Organized Konfusion, Showbiz & AG, Zhigge, Main Source, Diamond D, Cypress Hill, K-Solo, Chi-Ali, Naughty By Nature, Eric B. & Rakim, Jungle Brothers, The Beatnuts, Lord Finesse, Gang Starr, Group Home, Raekwon, Nas, Outkast, N.W.A., Black Moon, Nine, Onyx, Souls of Mischief and a whole lot more! Peace to Let The Brainz Blog for the description and tracklist; J.Nicklez for the audio link. Dig in...

38 Spesh Presents "1994" (Album Stream)

To celebrate the 25th year anniversary of one of the best years in Hip-Hop, 38 Spesh has put together a special compilation titled “1994.” The album features some of the heaviest spitters in underground Hip-Hop right now, and they are all rhyming over classic beats from the year 1994. However, this isn’t a mixtape, 38 Spesh actually went and remade each beat and added his own unique flavor. Listen to RJ Payne, Elcamino, Daniel Son, Eto, Rasheed Chappell, Grafh, Planet ASia, Hus Kingpin and Griselda's Conway the Machine & Benny The Butcher + more, streaming below...

Madlib "Next" Feature in Vibe Magazine (January, 2002)

In late 1999, when they were in the studio working on Voodoo, Jay Dee had D'Angelo and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson check out Lootpack's 1999 album Soundpieces: Da Antidote!, featuring producer/MC Madlib. The three veterans obsessed about its virtues for days. "Madlib is my hero," says ?uestlove. "He's what's right about hip hop. He can make whole compositions with 12 seconds of sampling time... On his luminous solo debut, Angles Without Edges, Madlib, 28, takes his musical philosophy into his own hands. "A lot of people call jazz dead," he says of his project. "But if you bring it in a hip hop form, maybe some young cats who never listen to that stuff will peep it." ... The eccentricities of the artist born Otis Jackson Jr. in Oxnard, Calif., go beyond his multiple musical personalities... The workaholic finds his own buried treasure in jazz and soul records procured from family elders. He then cranks out unpolished but brilliant production for the Lootpack and other underground luminaries... One of those not-intended-to-be-released projects, Quasimoto's The Unseen, dropped in 2000. The underground sensation is piloted by an unidentified furry monster with a voice that sounds like Q-Tip on helium. "A lot of people ain't gonna feel my music for at least 10 years, 'cause they're used to what the radio plays...." - Next, Vibe Magazine (January, 2002)