Video : Apollo Brown & Skyzoo - No Discounts - 2026

 

Apollo Brown and Skyzoo drop the music video for "No Discounts", the second single off their latest album "Luxury Tax". 

Video : Kool Taj The Gr8 & RJ Beatz - 83’ Til Infinity - 2026

 

Kool Taj The Gr8 and producer RJ Beatz who both form The Custodians of Real Hip Hop, deliver the visuals for "83’ Til Infinity", taken from their collaborative album "EHTOS". 

HOW CAN I BE DOWN? '95

 

1995 - Black Power Entertainment 

HOW CAN I BE DOWN? '95 is a various compilation album released on CD and cassette by the Florida-based label Black Power Entertainment. It came out for the 3rd "How Can I Be Down?" music convention, which took place in South Beach, Miami, in October 5-9 1995. This famous music convention was created around 1992 by Peter Thomas, with the help of Henry Butler and James "Henchmen" Rosemond.

The compilation showcases MCs and groups signed to the label : Infamous, Odyssey, Ruff-n-Rugged, the female emcee Attitude and Clayvoisié, an artist who was more or less affiliated with Luke of the 2 Live Crew.

The productions were handled by Drunk Drew (Science Room), Steve Gaskins and Charles Trahan (of Young & Restless) from Miami, FL, and Mike Fresh who was originally from Atlanta but was based in Miami at the time. I've contacted some of those producers to get some info about those unknown MCs, but no answer unfortunately.

Black Power Entertainment was founded by Vernon "Black" Howard from Broward County. He made the compilation for the How Can I Be Down Convention to promote his artists, but nothing really came of the label and it eventually discontinued. I wish I could ask him a few questions but "Black" is now serving a life sentence in Prison... 

Video : M-Dot & Co Defendants Ft. Big Twins - Out Of Paris - 2026

Boston-based emcee M-Dot and Rap Duo Co-Defendants (Benefit & IAmProfit) are back with visuals for their single "Out Of Paris", featuring Big Twins of Infamous Mobb. The production is handled by M-Dot. 

Probable Cause - Remedy - 2026

LP - 2026 - Gramofix Records 

 

 Originally released only on CD on U.N.I.T.Y. Records by the NY-based duo Probable Cause (A.D. & Pracize 1), the album "Remedy" is finally getting the treatment it deserves, available for the very first time on vinyl with the help of Gramofix Records, alongside a new CD edition.

Available on Vinyl & CD 

Order : Gramofix Records / HHV (coming soon)

Not A Children's Story Anymore

From The Source - July 1991 

Video : Prolific Wone x Manage - Bandaids Feat. Apex Zero x Mas Law

 

"Bandaids" is the first official single from "DANGEROUS", the new collaborative album by Prolific Wone and London-based producer Manage.

The Hip Hop Spot w. WildMan Steve & DJ Riz - December 7th 1992 - WBAU

 

Here is the episode of the Hip Hop Spot with WildMan Steve & DJ Riz, aired on December 7, 1992 on 90.3 FM at WBAU, Adelphi University's radio station. The guests are Gamilah Shabazz (fourth daughter of Malcom X), Total Pack, Doug E Fresh & Rumpletilskinz. 

Onyx - Throw Ya Gunz

Das EFX - Straight from the Sewer

X-Clan - Grand Verbalizer, What Time Is It instrumental

Talk Break with WildMan Steve & Sister 411

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Grand Puba feat Mary J Blige - Check It Out 

Showbiz & AG - Still Diggin’

Redman - How To Roll A Blunt

Mobb Deep - Peer Pressure Instrumental

Gamilah Shabazz Interview 

Gamilah Shabazz feat Ice Cube, MMG, Maxwell Dixon, Me Phi Me, Mr. Biggs - Living In A War Zone

Gamilah Shabazz Interview

Total Pack, Doug E Fresh & Rumpletilskinz Freestyle

Talk Break

Another Smooth Alliance - On the Laid Back Tip

X Chromozome - A Kindly Killer - 1995

 

Back in 1995, a dope cassette tape surfaced in the streets of Chicago, Illinois. Pressed in extremely limited quantities, "A Kindly Killer" by female emcee X Chromozome has since become one of those obscure underground releases that deserves to be dug up and talked about.

The tape features just 3 tracks : "My Debut","In My Own World" & "Undertaka" on the A-side, with all the instrumentals on the B-side. X Chromozome comes through with hardcore lyrics, touching on themes such as Black identity, fake MCs, street life, spirituality and Religion. Her writing carries the rawness and directness you would expect from mid-90s underground rap, while still revealing a strong sense of identity and purpose behind the mic.

On the production side, the cassette is equally interesting. The production is credited to the legendary Chicago production crew, the Molemen, but it was actually handled solely by Rick. This was still an early period for the Molemen, Panik was just getting started and wasn't programming beats yet, while Mixx Massacre was already doing some production, but very little. He was more focused on the mixtape side of things. At that time, Rick handled all of the production of Mack-A-Damien-Thorne's, Vakil's, Rebel X D's. Here, Rick's production provides the perfect backdrop for X Chromozome's rugged delivery.

That's all I know about that tape. It was X Chromozome's first and only release. She later became a Muslim at the age of 18 and disappeared from the Chicago hip-hop scene.

Jerré & Hands - Workin' Hands - 2026

 

LP - 2026

DJ Wicked's latest mix on Wefunk reminded me that I’d completely forgotten to write about this good album, "Workin’ Hands", released back in June by the NY-based emcee Jerré, and Hands, a producer based in Stockholm, Sweden. It's sold out on Bandcamp but a few copies are still available via HHV. 

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Video : Jeff Johnson II & El Da Sensei - Neo-Nineties - 2026

 

Here is the visual for "Neo-Nineties", the single released earlier this year by Jeff Johnson and El Da Sensei. Produced by Mr Nobody with cuts by Yamin Semali.

Fresh Daily & Mon$rock - As You Were - 2026

 

Oakland-based MC Fresh Daily and Mon$rock deliver their collabo album "As You Were", available now digitally. 

Awon x Confidence x J Ferra - The Process - 2026

 

LP - 2026 - Vinyl Digital 

Awon, Confidence and J Ferra present "The Process". 

"The Process is a deeply reflective collaboration between Awon, Confidence, and J. Ferra — an album rooted in soulful production, thoughtful lyricism, and timeless Hip Hop sensibilities.Built over the course of several years, the project captures the spirit of patience and lived experience. Confidence’s warm, groove-driven production lays the foundation while J. Ferra’s musical arrangements add depth and texture. Over it all, Awon delivers reflective verses that explore growth, struggle, and clarity gained through life’s journey.The album speaks directly to listeners who appreciate the craft of Hip Hop — from crate-digging sample culture to introspective storytelling. The Process isn’t just about where you end up.It’s about the roads taken to get there."

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Jointjay & DJ Shon - The Other Side Of Sequence - 2026

 

LP - 2026 - Elastic Stage 

Ukrainian's beatmakers Jointjay & DJ Shon drop "The Other Side Of Sequence", a 17-Track instrumental album that is available now on vinyl via Kickit Records. 

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APOLLO BROWN & SKYZOO - LUXURY TAX - 2026

 

LP - 2026 - Escapism Recordings 

Apollo Brown and Skyzoo return with another collaborative album entitled "Luxury Tax". It's a 14-track project that, from the very first listen, already feels like a true classic. This is one you absolutely need to grab on vinyl. These are going to sell out fast... believe me… don't sleep!

"Ambition can change your life, but it always sends a bill. For Detroit producer Apollo Brown and Brooklyn emcee Skyzoo, “Luxury Tax” examines the cost of chasing success, the price of ambition, the sacrifices behind achievement, and the consequences that come with everything you once wanted. Apollo’s soulful, cinematic production provides the backdrop, while Skyzoo brings Brooklyn perspective and razor-sharp storytelling, turning each track into a ledger of wins, losses, ambition, and consequence. Luxury isn’t always what you can afford. Sometimes, luxury is what you had to sacrifice to get there. Luxury Tax is the price of wanting more." - courtesy of Escapism Recordings

Available on vinyl (Concrete Rose w/ OBI Strip, Dirty Gold, Audemars Green, & Classic Black).

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Remix Session : The Cenobites - Slaves (flxrbs remix)

 

Here is a very good remix of the Cenobites 's single "Slaves", produced by the Slovenian Beatmaker flxrbs, taken from his "Split Personalities" album.

Video : Daniel Son x Asun Eastwood x Futurewave - Dejounte Murray - 2026

 

Here is the visual for the single "Dejounte Murray" dropped by Daniel Son, Asun Eastwood and Futurewave, taken from the "Dejounte Murray" EP, available now on Wavgod Music.

Mutazz - NYC Shine / Seven - 1997

 

12" - 1997 - Fuzion Records 

Released in 1997 on the independent Fuzion Entertainment label, "NYC Shine / Seven" is the sole official release from Queens rapper Mutazz. Like many underground 12-inches, this is one of those records where the real gem can be found on the B-side. In this case, that track is "Seven", a cut that immediately stands out and, for me, is the main reason to seek out this record. The lead single "NYC Shine" on the A-side is less my style.

No information about Mutazz is available online, which makes the story behind the record particularly interesting. Mutazz consisted of producer The Quixotic Child, also known as Quixotic (pronounced “Keyahtic”), from Jamaica, Queens, and rapper Mutazz from St. Albans, Queens.

Mutazz - Photo courtesy of Quixotic

The two met in high school through mutual friends and eventually came together to record what would become their only official release. Fuzion Entertainment was a collaborative label founded by four friends and artists, with Quixotic among its partners. After the Mutazz project, the partners went their separate ways and pursued different musical directions. Quixotic subsequently continued working as a producer, collaborating with artists and groups such as Ques a.k.a. Quesfire, Vision Quest, and The Worderer, although his later releases were not issued through Fuzion Entertainment. Mutazz and Quixotic also continued to release music independently after the label's period of activity. 

For me, "Seven" is the standout here and the track that makes this otherwise obscure 12" worth hunting down. If you feel like adding this record to your collection, it is still relatively easy to find and generally available at reasonable prices. Peace

Video : Milano Constantine - Wild Kingdom - 2026

 

D.I.T.C. affiliated emcee Milano Constantine delivers the music video for his latest single "Wild Kingdom", taken from his album "Restricted Area". 

Saukrates - Father Time - 2026

 

2026 - 90's Tapes / HHV 

Holy shit… the excellent German hip-hop label 90's Tapes hits hard once again with an album that everyone has been waiting for for years... the legendary "Father Time" by Toronto-based emcee Saukrates.

 "With “Father Time”, a previously unreleased chapter from Saukrates’ early career finally becomes available as an album. The material dates back to the ’90s, when the Toronto rapper and producer was making his name in Canada’s hip-hop underground with singles like “Still Caught Up” and “Father Time”. Some of these tracks later surfaced on singles and other releases, while others remained unreleased until now. Alongside the original versions, “Father Time” includes numerous remixes, demos and bonus tracks, with appearances from Common, Masta Ace, O.C., Kardinal Offishall and Choclair. Rather than a retrospective compilation, the record offers a look at an album that never got the chance to appear as a complete body of work – and at Saukrates during a time when Toronto was still carving out its own place on the hip-hop map. " - courtesy of 90's Tapes

Available in a limited run on 2LP (350 copies), CD in jewel case (300 copies), cassette (100 copies) and digitally on all major platforms.

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