Rashad & Confidence "The Element of Surprise" (2011)

Rashad & Confidence, two longtime students of the game, finally drop their long-awaited debut album "The Element of Surprise". This up-and-coming MC/producer duo, hailing from Brooklyn and Philly, merged to create a record with a timeless sound reminiscent of hip-hop's golden era but with a fresh, updated feel. With no guest appearances or other producers involved, Rashad & Confidence embody the sound real hip-hop heads yearn to hear, going back to the times of Gang Starr and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. The soulful hitting and sample-based boom bap beats courtesy of Confidence capture the pure essence of classic hip-hop production while Rashad's deep and conscious lyrics slice through each track with topics ranging from various life issues to relationships or just raw lyrical display. Push the play button and get taken back to a time when hip-hop only produced classic albums. - Ill Adrenaline Records. A true-school classic, don't sleep on this one...

Juggaknots "Use Your Confusion" (CMJ, 2006)

"Widely considered underground hip hop's holy grail, Juggaknots' 1996 debut EP, Clear Blue Skies (Fondle 'Em), centered around Breezly Brewin's marble-mouthed musings - instantly relatable expressions of a young man's doubt about himself and the world. Its dusty jazz loops and clomping snares marked the apex of indie rap's signature moodiness. After ten years away (save a loose EP), Brooklyn's Juggs - Breeze, his brother Buddy Slim, and, now, their sister Queen Herawin - prattle on like no time has passed. Over the winding funk guitars of "New $$$," Breeze bitterly raps, echoing O.C.'s anthem "Time's Up": "I'd rather be broke and have a whole lot of respect..."

"...Mostly Juggs-produced, Confusion bubbles with an up-beat, if more atmospheric, update of their sound, buoyed by swelling strings and scratched soul samples. But mostly, the Juggs - shouting out the crew on "Namesake" like it's still '96 - are running in place. The album's real lesson: there's no recapturing independent hip-hop's bounding, childlike enthusiasm. We're all grown up now." - CMJ 

You can stream/purchase the full LP below...

uMaNg & D-Rev "Autumn Breathes" (Album Stream)

"Autumn Breathes is an album conjured, written, and recorded all within the same season. Every beat and rhyme was put together in a way to reflect the energy of the season of falling leafs, where the cold air starts to seep into the days and nights until the frigid winters finally purge upon the atmosphere. The feeling of fighting the cold days that can make it's way upon your life. uMaNG and D¬Rev had both written and recorded their hooks and verses in a little more and no less than than two weeks time. If one is a fan of the craft of Hip Hop Emceeing, the math that goes into making rhymed words equal to a rhythm, the ecstasy of understanding a metaphor on beat, and the delicacy of making a vivid mental picture on an instrumental, then this is the album for you." Autumn Breathes is produced by B.B.Z Darney (Boom Bappin Zombie Darney), listen to it below...

Ghostface Killah "The Iron Age" 20th Anniversary Mix

Presented by UpNorthTrips (Props to EvBoogie), The Iron Age is a mix celebrating the 20th anniversary of Ironman. "Since Ironman was the last of six Wu-Tang albums produced entirely by Rza, we widened the scope of the mix in order to pay homage to his legendary run in that classic Wu-Tang era." The Iron Age is mixed by Its OverTure, with artwork by Rhek. Dig into the mix below...

Q-Tip Announces New A Tribe Called Quest Album

Even hard rocks might have shed a tear at this latest news from Q-Tip of the legendary A Tribe Called Quest. With the tragic and untimely passing of Phife Dawg earlier this year, we thought any hopes for a new album were ended in his passing. However, Q-Tip took to social media to share a handwritten letter to fans announcing that the group has one final album in the chamber! I'll let Q-Tip tell it, "To all the good people worldwide: We hope this letter finds you & yours safe and without a scratch! Last year this time myself, Jarobi, Ali and Phife had the extreme pleasure of performing on the Tonight Show. It was our 1st TV performance in 18 years. The energy for us that night was one that we hadn't experienced on stage together in some time! It was also the night of the Paris Bombing ... November 13th ... Friday ... an unseasonably warm night in NYC. As we left 30 Rock I felt the need, we all did, to get back to the studio and start that cookup! So we got to it!! It was coming together quite nicely and as you may know we lost our BROTHER may GOD REST HIS SOUL on March 22nd. But he left us with the Blueprint Newprint of what we had to do. So we collected ourselves and along tribesmen, Busta and Cons ... we completed what will be, obviously the final A TRIBE CALLED QUEST ALBUM! No, this isn't filled with old Phife bars ... this is that pure, unstepped on pure!! And on November 11th, 2016 we will complete our Paths of Rhythm ... Join us! Peace!!."

D.R.U.G.S Beats "Naloxone" (Instrumental Album)

D.R.U.G.S Beats follows up his Street Corner Music debut, The Gift Vol. 10, with Naloxone: The Save Shot. Containing over 75 minutes of slaps, this dosage continues the Grammy nominated producer’s catalog of filth. It can be easy to overdose on the music of today, but a shot of Naloxone to the heart will bring you back to life. Every time. Easily one of my favorite producers making noise right now, do yourself a favor and dig into this instrumental album below, then peep the back catalog!

Black Sheep "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" 25th Anniversary Mix

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Black Sheep's classic debut 'A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing', Chris Read blesses us with yet another exclusive mix of album tracks, alternate versions, and original sample material. Artwork by Leon Nockolds. I haven't dug into this one yet, but I'm hoping the Homogenized Remix of Similak Child is on it, that's always been my joint! Hit the tags for more mixes.

Onyx "All We Got Iz Us" (The Source, 11/95)

"After an almost three year hiatus, Onyx has finally returned with their sophomore release, All We Got Iz Us. With such a long pause between LPs, many heads in the U.S.G. may be skeptical about their return. But any questions as to whether they could survive in an increasingly competitive market were quickly put to rest by "Live," the album's first single. Onyx still has clout. Their latest effort contains what most expected: anger, gun talk and violence. But in between the frustration and screaming, Onyx manages to discuss why they're mad. It begins with "Last Days," a song dealing with the confusion and corruption of everyday life in the U.S.G. Each member shines over a Beatminerish track that is concrete hard, yet butter smooth. Several other tracks will make the head nod, but "Most Def" will have the entire body moving. The song's ill track - a lethal melody backed with extra hard drums - goes perfectly with the crew's razor sharp lyrics." Cont'd below...

"Although the LP is packed with sure shots, there are a few sure misses...they definitely stand out as weaker representations of the group's efforts. All We Got Iz Us still shines due to the production direction. There are more sinister-smooth cuts as opposed to tracks that make you wanna slam. Lyrically, they're business as usual. Sticky Fingaz plays the lead role with able backing from Fredro and Suave. The trio have diminished the yelling, but maintained the trademark grimy voices. That factor - along with songs that actually have something to say - demonstrates Onyx's maturity and continued ability to separate themselves from the crowd." - The Source, 11/95.