Rhymesayers US レコード& CD

Review: Aesop Rock's most recent studio long player was a superb and interplanetary trip by the name of Spirit World Field Guide. Now it gets released as an instrumental version. Although this artist is heralded for his work as a lyricist, he is also a talented and always evolving producer as this record shows. Here the tunes are a framework for you to explore and use as a roadmap to your own musical adventure. It's a world of emotion and colour that takes you a mile away from the mundanity of everyday life.

Review: Aesop Rock x Blockhead's Garbology album was a huge success and so it makes sense that the label now follows it up with a new issue of the instrumentals. It's a tidy package across four sides of coloured vinyl in a nice spot-varnished sleeve. Musically it is a brilliantly mixed bag that takes in myriad niche sounds and styles. The opener is a deep soul cut with pensive chords while 'Jazz Hands' (Instrumental) suspends you in swirling synths and spring-day optimism and 'Wolf Piss' (Instrumental) has heavier, darker beats and more menacing string sounds.

Review: Two of U.S. hip-hop's most prominent emcees have brought us twin EPs available on a name-your-price basis, as well as a limited vinyl edition. The rappers' mutual admiration of each other's crafts emerged as a fan-led acknowledgement of their similar styles, which led to Sandman joining Rock on tour back in 2015. Now Lice Two: Still Buggin, the second of their collabs, gets a proper reissue via Rhymesayers.

Review: Two of U.S. hip-hop's most prominent emcees have brought us twin EPs available on a name-your-price basis, as well as a limited vinyl edition. The rappers' mutual admiration of each other's crafts emerged as a fan-led acknowledgement of their similar styles, which led to Sandman joining Rock on tour back in 2015. Now Triple Fat Lice, the third of their collabs, gets a proper reissue via Rhymesayers.

Review: Top shelf lyricists Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman come together here to show off all their skills. They are revered for pushing the envelope with a wide range of topics, moods and grooves covered, always in-depth and with real coherence. They came together initially through mutual appreciation for each other's styles and then built a strong musical connection. It shows here across a bunch of super tight joints, killer rhymes and sweet beats.

Review: Legendary producer Ant, who you will most likely know for his work with Atmosphere, showcases his talent once more here with Collection of Sounds: Vol. 4. This release highlights his years of dedication to his craft and is a great mix of fresh ideas with his signature style. While previous volumes explored hip-hop, funk and reggae, Vol. 4 introduces rock-inspired elements such as wailing guitars, though it still maintains a firm foundation in hip-hop. Tracks like 'Hearing In Dark Colors' and 'Created With a Heavy Brush' display his mastery of diverse styles while 'Day After 2010' offers an unexpected vibe that helps confirm Ant's status in the scene.

Review: This renowned hip-hop producer (and also half of Atmosphere) is a founding member of Rhymesayers Entertainment. His decades-spanning career includes work with MF DOOM, Brother Ali, Murs and more after he was raised in a military family with a deep love for records. Ant's eclectic influences shine in Collection of Sounds, a four-volume instrumental series that his instalment three here and has been carefully curated from his vast archive. It mixes up intimate, haunting tracks with expansive, venue-filling beats. Some compositions invite vocalists yet remain deeply personal and overall, rather than reinventing things, Ant reconfigures his past while staying true to his artistic roots.

Review: Since initial release in 2003, this classic from Atmosphere has been in and out of print and received various represses as a result. It is the gift that keeps on giving, frankly, it is an album takes you on a metaphorical journey through politics, emotions and the physical. Personal stories and vulnerable truths come from Slug's rich writing and richer delivery combined with complex rhythms, cosmic synths and funky drums that all help elevate the record yet further. It might not get the props of many of its peers, but this underrated gem should be on the shelves of any discerning hip hop collector.

Review: Re-issue of the classic first record from atmosphere.

Review: Slug and Ant are back with their 11th volume of the infamous 'Sad Clown' series, 'Sad Clown Bad Winter #11'.
Part of a previously tour-only, exclusive series of eps. Described as 'what winter sounds like', this tasty appetizer
should hold fans over until April 21st, 2008 when Atmosphere release their 6th official studio album,
'When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.'

Review: Atmosphere is a partnership between veteran rapper Slug and seasoned producer Ant and their new album So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously finds them open up in a more gentle approach than they have in the past. There is confidence and reassurance in the opening cut that sets the tone for an album of consciousness. There's a sense of panic to the likes of 'In My Head' that resolves in 'Still Life' with plenty of inventive rhythms and rhymes throughout. Playful percussion brings a different vibe to the mid-section and drums on 'Holding My Breath' and 'Bigger Pictures' are great foundations to allow the bars of Slug to really shine through.

Review: Big Brother Ali is back with the lead single from his new album.

Review: Like deja vu, here we are three years later and Ali is ready to take the world by storm with his latest creation, 'The Undisputed Truth', released on Rhymesayers Entertainment. After struggling through a series of personal roadblocks, from parting ways with his wife of 10 years, becoming homeless and trying to secure custody of his only son... Brother Ali along with Atomosphere producer and Shadows & Champion collaborator Ant, present the long awaited sophomore full-length album The Undisputed Truth. Personal, political and more powerful than ever, simply put, the truth is here.

Review: Brother Ali cause a real buzz with his debut 12" and not follows it up in quick fashion with this assured album on Rhymesayers. The MC and producer can do it all and shows that here. He is clearly a student of classic era hip hop and so warm boom bap defines most tracks, but with plenty of his own characterful additions. His ability to write proper songs shines through with passion and personality. Produced entirely by ANT, the beats are drenched in soul sample sand jazz motifs, while a guest appearance by Slug is a real highlight.

Review: Rhymesayers are re-releasing "Mm...Food" by MF Doom. This release includes a bonus DVD with over an hour of live footage, a limited edition sticker, and a poster by Burlesque Design. In 1998 Zev Love X of the seminal rap group KMD re-emerged as a masked villain known as MF Doom. The following year he released the groundbreaking independent classic "Operation Doomsday". Doom only added to the mystery by creating multiple aliases (King Geedorah, Vicotor Vaughn, etc.) and taking a no hold bars approach to his musical career. With collaborative side projects with Madlib (Madvillain) and most recently Dangerdoom with Danger Mouse, "Mm...Food" marks the super villain's long awaited follow up to "Operation Doomsday".

Review: First released in 1999, Operation: Doomsday is widely considered one of the most influential albums in hip hop history. The debut studio album from the enigmatic, metal-mask-wearing British-American East Coast rapper, Operation: Doomsday is significant in that it marks the artist's first move into solo work, following previous releases as part of the group KMD. Featuring Doom's signature intricate wordplay, cartoon samples, lo-fi production values, 80s soul vocals, smooth jazz loops, and vintage drum breaks, this album draws on the weight of the artist's personal tragedies with frank lyrics and piercing rhymes. This is the release that makes it undeniably clear why MF Doom has regularly been lauded as the crucial player of underground and alternative hip hop in the 2000s.

Review: POS is back with his second single from the critically acclaimed album.

Review: This has been called a cross between Lauryn Hill and Devin The Dude, female MC Psalm One with her second album!

Review: Chicago female MC drops buzz album for powerhouse indie label. Features Brother Ali, Ang 13 & Thaione Davis. Production handled by Overflo, Ant (Atmosphere), Maker & Madd Crates.

Notes: Scribble Jam is America's Largest annual Hip Hop Event.
This DVD contains complete coverage of SJ 2007,
including the B-Boy, DJ and MC battles in their entirety.
This DVD proves once again that Legends are born at Scribble Jam. With over 5 hours of footage, you'll feel like you were there.

HIGHLIGHTS
EMCEE BATTLE - THESAURUS Takes home $5 Gees and A Record Deal With Fat Beats!
DJ BATTLE - DJ ID Shows why he has won
BEATBOX BATTLE - SJ Battle Quickly Becoming Infamous.
B-BOY BATTLE - The Most Heated Finals Ever!
GRAFFITI EXPO - 50 Graff Writers From Around The World!
PERFORMANCES
BIG DADDY KANE
CASUAL
MURS
BRAND NUBIAN
BROTHER ALI
MR. DIBBS & SELF CORE
LOUIS LOGIC
HANGAR 18
AKROBATIK
JUGGAKNOTS
PIGEON JOHN
JEL
GLUE

BONUS
EMCEE - Entire Pre-Lim Battles
DJ - Entire Routines
B-BOY - All The Best Full Battles
BEATBOX - Making Music From Nothing
GRAFFITI - Graff from All Over the World