Video : ONYX - It All Started in Brooklyn - 2026

Fredro Starr & Sticky Fingaz deliver "It All Started in Brooklyn", a single produced by Quab Lab. 

FastLife & Karbine - Under Pressure - 2026

Two weeks after the release of the single "Hood Hussein", FastLife and Karbine return with their 6-track EP "Under Pressure". I don't know if a physical release is planned, but I think the EP will be available on vinyl soon.

Mr. Ruckuz - The Verdict 1998-2026

 

LP - 2026 - Most Wanted Records 

Most Wanted Records is back with a nice reissue of the excellent Mr Ruckuz 's The Verdict EP, originally released in 1998 on Madd Versatile Records. 

"Originally released in 1998, "The Verdict" stands as one of Baltimore's most overlooked underground rap records. Issued in extremely limited quantities and originally released on vinyl without artwork, the record quickly disappeared into the hands of a small circle of collectors and dedicated underground hip-hop enthusiasts. 

More than twenty-five years later, Most Wanted Records is proud to bring this rare underground gem back to wax in a carefully crafted collector's edition.

The audio has been meticulously remastered by Milian Mastering, preserving the raw character and atmosphere of the original release while enhancing the overall listening experience for vinyl enthusiasts.

This edition also includes an exclusive bonus track, unavailable on the original pressing.

For the first time ever, The Verdict is presented with a complete artwork package designed by Prillustrationz, giving this long-overlooked release the presentation it has always deserved.

A highly desirable addition for collectors of rare 90s hip-hop, independent rap, and limited vinyl editions. Pressed on premium 180-gram vinyl!" - courtesy of Most Wanted Records

Available on standard Black vinyl (300 copies), Red/Black vinyl (200 copies), Test Press (5 copies), and also on CD. 

Order : Vinyl / CD 

Video : Ace SL - Enough’s Enough - 2026

 

Karbine and Ace SL team up once again to drop the single titled "Enough's Enough". Check out the visuals ! 

 

Radio Show : NO TV RAPS - June 05th 2026

 

Here is the first part of the latest episode of No! TV Raps radio show aired on June 05th 2026 on Radio FSK, Hamburg (Germany), with DJ Rug on the decks.  

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Donnie Propa Presents Straight From The Crate Cave - Roc Marciano Edition

 

Donnie Propa is back with his latest limited edition Mixtape (100% vinyl) dedicated to Roc Marciano. Available with 2 different covers and in 4 different colour ways.

A Side :

1. Two Cities 

2. Scarface Nigga 

3. Warm Hennessy (DJ Brans remix) 

4. Rocmarkable 

5. Chewbacca 

6. Prayer Hands 

7. Lay It Down 

8. Give It To Y’all 

9. What They Want 

10. Caviar 

11. M.A.R.S 

12. Keep It Movin’ (DJ Brans remix) 

13. How The Gods Chill (remix) 

14. Industry RMX 2 

15. 76 

B Side :

1. Outta Control 

2. White Russian 

3. Live With Show and A 

4. Quantum Leap 

5. Crossroads 

6. Presume The Unpredictable 

7. Change 

8. For Da Love 

9. Ain’t No Thang 

10. D.O.A 

11. Just Like A Star 

12. Golden Grail 

13. Red Apple Kings 

Order  

New Joint : Benny Slumz & Freddie Black - At All Costs - 2026

 

Benny Slumz & Freedie Black are reunited on "At All Costs", a Tone Spliff-produced track.

Video : Manage feat. Airklipz & Composure - Love the Sound - 2026

 

London,UK-based MC/Producer Manage (Lab79) presents the visuals for "Love the Sound" featuring Airklipz & Composure (w/ Cuts by Fidel Cutstro). 

Ghetto Professionals Present: Brick City Kids - Brick City Kids - 1997

 

Released in 1997, "The Ghetto Professionals Present: Brick City Kids" remains a gem of late 90s underground hip-hop. It came out on Ghetto Gold Recordings / Rawkus and it features two major voices from Newark, NJ : Tame One (R.I.P.) and El Da Sensei of the Artifacts, who both also formed the duo Brick City Kids. It's the only official release by Tame One and El Da Sensei under that name, making this 12" a particularly valuable document of their collaboration.

Behind the project was the Ghetto Professionals production crew, comprised of JuJu of the Beatnuts who needs no introduction, Vic Padilla a.k.a. V.I.C., a Beatnuts affiliate and member of The Groove Merchantz alongside Godfather Don, and Mike Heron, a producer who played a key role in the development of Hydra Records before later working with Rawkus Records.

The 12" consists of only 2 tracks : "Brick City Kids" (Clean / Street & Instrumental) on the A-side, and "What What" on the B-side. Together, the two songs form a cohesive and authentic snapshot of independent East Coast hip-hop in the late '90s. Nearly three decades later, this record still holds up remarkably well, serving as both a tribute to the talents of Tame One (RIP) and El Da Sensei and a reminder of the contributions of V.I.C., JuJu and Heron to the golden era of independent hip-hop. 

I wish more tracks from this collaboration had seen the light of day. Maybe one day, the Ghetto Professionals will dig into their vaults and finally unveil some unreleased Brick City Kids tracks... Peace 

90 Proof - The Windy City Theory - 2026

2xLP - 2026 - 90's Tapes / HHV 

Recorded between 1998 and 1999 and originally self-released in very limited numbers on CD only, "The Windy City Theory" finally gets its first official release accompanied by two bonus tracks. Here's an excerpt of the description from back then: "The Windy City Theory" is the first official endeavor by Chicago's finest, 90 Proof. 90 Proof brings an array of styles to the table of hip-hop for those that hunger for the real and have a taste for originality. The fact that this crew cannot be classified under any one category allows them to reach every type of listener, with a very unique vocal presence that is evident in their music. The theme of this first project is simply life in the harsh streets of Chicago. Using melodic tracks and cutting edge lyrics, the six MC's paint a vivid and realistic picture in the minds of their listeners. Don't be mistaken though, these are far from your everyday gun-toting street hustlers turned rappers that you are so accustomed to hearing at the top of today's charts. 90 Proof is a totally self-contained unit with a number of in house producers, artists and writers with styles ranging from urban soul to hip-hop ... "As the world rotates, we create." - courtesy of 90's Tapes 

Available in a limited run on 2LP (350 copies), CD in jewel case (300 copies) & MC (100 copies).

Order 

 

Erule - Forever Living - 1996

Big thanks to 12manrambo for sharing this exclusive archive from his vault featuring LA-based emcee Erule. Originally aired on The Joint in 1996, the show was broadcast on KKBT 92.3 FM The Beat (Los Angeles) and hosted by Mike Nardone & King Emz. 

The recording includes an interview, a freestyle and a spin of the track "Forever Living", which wasn't intended to be Erule's official single from his forthcoming album, but rather a DJ-exclusive sneak preview. Only a few vinyl copies were pressed on a white label. 

In the interview, he explains his relationship with Pallas Records and why he and King Born decided to launch their own record label, Relentless Recordings. Enjoy!

RUN DMC in The Gavin Report - 1991

 

From The Gavin Report - Issue #1840 - January 25, 1991

Demo : Special Ed - We Rule (Unreleased Demo Version)

 

This kind of demo, recently posted on YouTube, proves that Special Ed recorded some really interesting demo versions in the early '90s that still remain unreleased. I don't know if it was produced by Akshun, but to be honest, I prefer this version to the one that was released on the album in 1995. Big thanks to K. for the upload. Peace

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Video : Shabaam Sahdeeq feat. General Steele - Top Tier - 2026

 

Brooklyn-based emcee Shabaam Sahdeeq and Producer Es-K deliver the visuals for "Top Tier" featuring General Steele of Smif-N-Wessun, which was originally released in January.

This is the second single taken from their collaborative album "Outside The Lines", available now Digitally. 

Buttas & Fro Organix - Double Dutch : The Album - 2026

 

You may remember Buttas, the Richmond,VA-based female emcee whose excellent '98 release, "Diamonds and the Gold", I previously reviewed on the blog, and who was kind enough to take part in an interview. She returns today with a brand new project titled "Double Dutch", with Fro Organix once again handling production duties on all tracks.

New Joint : Manage ft Menace Mendoza & Fidel Cutstro - Creation

"Creation" is the brand new single released by London, UK-based rapper/producer Manage, featuring guest appearances from Menace Mendoza and Fidel Cutstro.

D 2 Tha S - Livin In A Hellhole / Doomsday

D 2 Tha S, short for Dedicated To Tha Streets, is a legendary rap duo from Chicago, Illinois, comprised of rapper Kay-Tone (RIP) and rapper/producer The Legendary Traxster. Both artists were also members of the influential Ill State Assassins collective alongside E.C Illa, Cayex, Chainsaw & Toxic of Tha Chamba, D. Villa and several other key figures from Chicago's underground hip-hop scene.

The group caught attention in the early 90s following a highly publicized beef with Treach and Naughty By Nature. Throughout the decade, D 2 Tha S released several singles that are now considered true Chicago rap classics and remain an important part of the city's hip-hop legacy.

Their first 12" (Livin In A Hellhole) came out on Deep Dish Records in 1993. It consists of the lead single "Livin In A Hellhole" (Radio, Remix and Instrumental) on the A-side, and the tracks "Gimme My Reck", "Livin In A Hellhole" (Hellhole Original) and "Sound Of Revolution" on the B-side.

12" - 1993 - Deep Dish Records

All these songs were supposed to appear on their debut album "Funky Flava", which was meant to be released shortly afterward, but unfortunately it never saw the light of day. In 1994, they released their second 12" (Doomsday) on another Chicago-based label, Under Cover Productions.

12" - 1994 - Under Cover Productions

Tracks like "Come Wit It", which can only be found on the CD version of the single, make me think that other excellent unreleased tracks are probably sleeping somewhere...

"Doomsday" would be followed by a third single that unfortunately failed to catch my attention.

In later years, The Legendary Traxster went on to become one of Chicago's most respected and influential producers, working with many major artists from both the local and national rap scene. Meanwhile, Kay-Tone, born Trevor D. Caston, gradually disappeared from the spotlight during the late 90s. Sadly, he passed away on September 12, 2010, at the age of 36, due to complications from asthma, leaving behind the legacy of a respected artist and pioneer of Chicago rap. Rest In Peace.