Recently...
Various - Word 2 LP (Jive) 1988
^Catching up a few missing oddball Hip Hop comps for my collection. Unlike the Word Up comp on Jive this one is completely unnecessary. Sometimes my completionism is not justifiable and this is one of those times.
Various - The Best of Techno Hop LP (Techno Hop) 1987
^This one is definitely worth it on the other hand. This is a great way to get a few of the Unknown DJs best tracks on Techno Hop if you don't have the singles and a few other staple and oddball tracks from the label. I never know whether to file this label under Hip Hop or Electro and this comp doesn't make it any easier. Especially given early Ice-T is on this as well.
Nine - Cloud 9 LP (Profile Records) 1996
^One of those slipped thru the cracks MCs IMO. Love this guys production and gritty rhyme style. Over all I think this is better than his previous LP.
K-Def Looking for the Perfect Break V.1 LP (Redefinition Records) 2013
^...and...
K-Def Looking for the Perfect Break V.2 LP (Redefinition Records) 2013
^VERY NICE. I love these kind of mixes, and K-Def is absolutely on point with these. He randomly flips through juggled doubles of some serious obscure breaks from who knows where. A few breaks I heard passively on other Hip Hop songs, probably shit that he produced himself but I was unable to identify any of the obscure selections on both of these volumes. After listening to this raw but tight mix I gotta wonder how amazing his collection must be.
Suff Daddy - The Gin Diaries LP (Melting Pot Music) 2010
^Major disappointment on this Suff Daddy Hip Hop production album. I've heard his beats on various German Melting Pot comps but never on his own album. The stuff on the comps are dope as hell, this is one big
"ehhh". Kind of reminds me of wannabe Digable Planets style production only where DP rocks this is forced sounding and mediocre at best. I had to return this record at my own loss since I hated it so much after 2 listens. I got credit upon the opened trade for a record I knew I'd love instead of taking another chance. I haven't given up on this guy, we all deserve a pass, but lesson learned about assumptions. I'll be more careful about taking a shot at any album without at least checking it out on Youtube first.
Emskee & E the 5th - The Marc Smith LP (Diggers With Gratitude) 2013
^Speaking of disappointing, this is a major disappointment. This is the only DWG record in my collection that just plain sucks. Usually you can buy anything on the label and get something dope as hell but this is the exception. Emskee's other releases on DWG are dope so I thought for sure this would be. But no, it's one big WTF fizzle. Production is weak, rhymes are weak, so yeah, it's like a 4/10 or something. The first song is ok, but then after that it goes downhill real quick. I'm so glad I didn't buy this from DWG in England cuz the shipping alone would have made this an even more expensive waste of money. I found it at Fat Beats and was thrilled to be able to avoid the overseas shipping charges. Oh well, a label can't have all nines and tens all the time, it was bound to happen eventually.
Various - Random Rap LP (Madison Square Garage Recordings) 2009
^All Paul C production including some real grail status Hip Hop songs. I bought it because frankly I never thought I'd see the OG of any of those and I'm sure I'm right about that. But this is only so-so sounding. Not horrible, but it doesn't sound like whoever is responsible for this had the tape masters, it sounds like the music was taken off a CD. Not the best way to spend 20 bucks unless you absolutely must have 360 - Pelon, (which I am guilty of)
Ed OG & Da Bulldogs - Roxbury 02119 LP (Chemistry) 1993
^Can't tell you how long I've been looking for this on wax. As an Edo G fan I gotta say damn, what a great album. It's not quite as great as their first album but it's uber dope songs make up for the few not so dope songs, so it evens out nicely. Some of these beats and rhymes on this are just friggen killer.
Doppelgangaz - Peace Kehd LP (Groggy Pack Entertainment) 2014
^Best new LP I've bought all year. Super dope in fact. Great production, great rhymes and solid all the way through. This sounds like the good ol 1993 styled boom bap production that I love. I gotta put my "highly recommended" stamp on this one.
“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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