If you didn't grab this excellent album in 2011, here is another chance for you to get a copy. Below System Records present the vinyl reissue of Rashad & Confidence's debut album "The Element Of Surprise". This vinyl version comes with 3 bonus tracks, 2 of them "Non Stop" and "Feel It" are unreleased!
Release Date : May 1st, 2026
01. Mobb Deep - Drop A Gem On 'Em (Mz Boom Bap Remix)
02. Trybal Men - Down Like That (Karbine Remix)
03. Onyx - Raze It Up (Seqvince Remix)
04. M.O.P. ft Kool G Rap - Stick To Ya Gunz (Nemel Remix)
05. MC Shinobi - Make A Smile For Me (Etokai Remix)
06. Capone-N-Noreaga - T.O.N.Y. (Roland Jones & Ned Nice Remix )
07. Smif-N-Wessun - Bucktown (Etokai Remix)
08. M.O.P. - My Kinda N***a (Azaia Remix)
09. Herb Mc Gruff - Harlem Kids Get Biz (Corner Conny Remix)
10. Pete Rock - Tru Master (Franz B Remix)
11. Killarmy - The Shoot Out (Profound Beats Remix)
12. Roc Marciano & Trife B - Give It To Y'All (Frankensteeno Remix)
13. Da Youngstas - I'll Make U Famous (Mike Flips Remix)
14. Scott Lark Da Sensei - Insight (Soul Selektor Remix)
15. Third Degree - Better Days Remix
16. Funkdoobiest - Rock On (Mobsta Mane Remix)
17. Mic Geronimo - Unstoppable (Sensi Remix)
18 T-Max - Relax Your Mind (Philanthrope Remix)
19. Positive K & LG - A Good Combination Remix
DJ M-1 dropped his remix version of ILL Conscious 's "The Narrative" featuring Jay Royale.
Raw Material was a three man group comprised of A-SWIFT, ROB-FLOW and P.O. POP from Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Their first and only 12" was released in 1993 on Gnu Breed Records. The single also came out on cassette tape. For those who don't remember, this is the same independent label that released the excellent Yasheen & The Murder-1 Squad EP in 1994. It was run by Bob Bish.
Raw Material's debut 12" consists of 2 tracks : "Teen Scream" (Original, Instrumental & Radio Edit) produced in 1993 by Mark 'Boogie' Brown on the A-side and "Face Before The Pookie" (Original, Instrumental & Radio Edit) produced in 1992 by Frank Nitty for Trackmasterz on the B-side.
I tried to find more information about this group but couldn't come up with anything. I spoke with Mark 'Boogie' Brown, but unfortunately he doesn't remember much. All I know is that Bob Bish introduced them to Mark 'Boogie' Brown. At the time, he was selling studio time and producing as well as selling beats, but Boogie haven't seen the group members since. I was also in contact with Robin Hannibal, who was their stylist for the photo used on the cassette cover, but she doesn't recall anything about the group...
"Duetrium" is the new 7-Track EP coming straight from Queens, New York, released by Book$ and Chillon Daviz. Some good stuff in it, give it a listen!
The Hamburg,Germany-based duo Rugged Mind (DJ Rug & SampleMind) are back with the 8th episode of their Rugged Mind Headquarter Session series. The tracklisting includes tracks from The East Flatbush Project, Silhouette, D.Prosper, Trybal Men, INI, Erick Sermon, Booba, Ran Reed, Cipher, Befyne, Jigmastas, Smoov U... just to name a few. Enjoy the Mix !
Buffalo-based female MC Che' Noir delivers a remix of her single "Praises", taken from her 2022 album "Food For Tought".
Logan S. Washington (a.k.a. Skell) was born in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City. His earliest hip-hop influence was A Tribe Called Quest, which helped shape his love for storytelling, rhythm, and perspective. By age 10, Logan had already begun writing, rhyming and describing the world around him before the inner city fully took hold. At 12, when his mother and father relocated the family to Charlotte, North Carolina, he leaned deeper into his craft, sharpening his skills and making a name for himself by killing cyphers in school and throughout the city.
At 15 years old, he met his mentor and producer Brian Dunovant, a turning point that helped define his musical direction. Soon after, Logan released his East Side cult classic „Icebergs" (1998), featuring Ekips, Tuff M.C., Peaches, K.I.M. and Supreme Killa. The project gained traction quickly, leading to interviews on Power 98 and performances at the legendary Sugar Shack. From that moment on, Logan was on his way, grounded in authenticity, lyricism and purpose.
Available in a limited run on Double LP (350 copies in gatefold sleeve), CD in jewel case (300 copies), MC (100 copies)
"This 120-minute journey is a soulful homage to all train writers: that feeling of walking home in the morning light, maybe lucky enough to catch a glimpse of your train rolling by. No one else needs to understand it — you live your own life, and you choose what to do with your creativity. Many of these souls face constant pressure, and only the moment afterward offers pure freedom and a quiet stillness within. Take care of yourselves, savor every moment, and don’t lose sight of the step back into reality." - CORS ONE (TNC/N3M)
"Give Em Hell" is the second single from Recognize Ali & D-Styles full length album "All Shall Perish", available on vinyl (180 copies) on the Gresham, Oregon-based label Perpetual Stew Records.
During the 1990s, D.Prosper also known as Mastermind, carved out a distinctive place in the underground hip-hop scene at a time when lyricism, authenticity and cultural awareness were paramount. Emerging from Providence, Rhode Island, D.Prosper entered hip-hop through spoken word poetry, a foundation that deeply shaped his approach to music and storytelling.
Before releasing any records, D.Prosper was already gaining recognition as a poet. As a member of the Providence Poetry Slam Team, he competed on the National Poetry Slam circuit, where his sharp intellect and commanding presence stood out. This poetic background would later become a defining feature of his music, blending dense lyricism with introspective and socially conscious themes.
In 1995, D.Prosper relocated to NYC, immersing himself in the city's vibrant underground culture. He became a regular performer at iconic venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Café, where poetry and hip-hop intersected. Around this time, he sharpened his skills in freestyle sessions alongside artists who would later become central figures in hip-hop, including Mos Def, Masta Ace, Pharoahe Monch and Da Bush Babees.
Recording under the name Mastermind, D.Prosper released his debut EP "The Adventures of Mastermind" in 1996 on Brainchild Entertainment, which is his own record label. The wax is composed of the songs "Karma", "Autobiography of a Bad MC" on the A-side, and "Ambulance Ride" on the B-side. All the productions were handled by D.Prosper and Avatar.
In 1997, he followed up with his second single "Waited All My Life / Hip-Hop Heads", released on Brainchild Entertainment/Griotchild Entertainment, with Avatar and him still handling the productions.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, D.Prosper chose not to aggressively pursue mainstream visibility. Instead, his work reflected a deliberate and thoughtful approach, prioritizing artistic integrity over industry pressure. This choice contributed to his cult status in the 90s underground scene, where he was respected as a talented lyricist and a bridge between poetry and hip-hop.
By the end of the decade, D.Prosper began shifting his focus toward the business and creative development side of the industry, laying the groundwork for a later career in A&R. However, his contributions during the 90s remain an essential chapter in underground hip-hop history... defined by intellect, restraint and a deep respect for the culture.
No need to say that his 12-inches are highly recommended ! You'll find the second one fairly easily, but tracking down the first one will be a whole different story.
