MAIN SOURCE レコード& CD

Review: Lovers of the famous East Coast hip-hop sound out of the States will have long been dial into this cornerstone classic, Dah Shinin', by Brooklyn duo Smif-N-Wessun. With help from the Da Beatminerz production crew, it is a timeless record with plenty of jazz and reggae flourishes thank to the great samples while the hardcore bars and beats have a real underground edge. MCs Tek and Steele are in perfect form over the 16 tunes and guest slots from Black Moon also bang. This is one no hip hop head should ever be without.

Review: Main Source cut a sharp figure when they broke through in the early 90s, made up of Toronto's K-Cut and Sir Scratch and New York's Large Professor. Their debut album Breaking Atoms is one of the greatest from that golden era for hip-hop, and there's no shortage of hot tracks to pick for a 7" pressing, but here Japan's P-Vine picks out the classic 'Live At The Barbeque' and backs it up with Large Professor's own self-titled joint. This is early 90s hip-hop at its best, boiled down on a handy little single for those moments when you just want the hits.

Review: We've been treated to a few revisits of tracks from the mighty Main Source and their seminal debut album Breaking Atoms, and now P-Vine are pressing up two of the best on a crafty little 7". 'Looking Out The Front Door' is a stone cold classic through and through, riding a dense and dusty break as Large Professor laments on love gone wrong. Despite the downcast lyrical theme, the vibe of the track is sun-kissed mellow gold, thanks in no small part to the buttery Rhodes licks. On the flip we get 'Snake Eyes', the opening cut from the album which cemented Main Source's legendary status back in 1991.

Review: Mr Bongo has been shining a light on the work of Main Source (aka Queens native Large Professor and Toronto's Sir Scratch and K-Cut) for a while now. Their latest reissue - after plenty of other 7"s last year- is Just Hangin' Out, which is an ode to the simple pleasures of relaxing with friends. The a-side is made from two huge samples (Vanessa Kendrick's '90% of Me is You' and Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam' ) to make for a stone cold and swooning groove. On the flip, 'Live at the Barbecue' is often said to be one of the finest posse cuts of all time.

Review: Mr Bongo continue to shine a light on classic hip-hop with their excellent curated reissue series. They have two Main Source 45s in their sights and this is the second. When it first came out on Actual Records, it soon sold out and became a much sought after piece with copies going for high prices on the second hand market. And for good reason - the band really hinted at the greatness they would go on to achieve with an impeccable three minute rap single making a massive mark. 'Think' is a superb example of how to take well known samples and flip them into something fresh.

Review: Mr Bongo come through once more with a first UK issue of this slice of hip-hop history. It is the lead single from Main Source's Breaking Atoms album and is one of two such 45s the Brighton label, shop and archivists are putting out. Undisputed rap classic 'Looking At The Front Door' goes first and ride son nice loose drums with oft sampled bass and off course some fine MC work. On the flip is another gem, 'Let Roger Do His Thing', which is darker, more hard hitting and with some DJ scratching for extra streetwise sagger.

Review: Mr Bongo come through once more with a first UK issue of this slice of hip-hop history. It is the lead single from Main Source's Breaking Atoms album and is one of two such 45s the Brighton label, shop and archivists are putting out. Undisputed rap classic 'Looking At The Front Door' goes first and ride son nice loose drums with oft sampled bass and off course some fine MC work. On the flip is another gem, 'Let Roger Do His Thing', which is darker, more hard hitting and with some DJ scratching for extra streetwise sagger.