hip-hop

Supersoul: Plastic Rap

Electronic hip-hop from Miami.
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Jun 29, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica

Lukid: Onandon

Lukid’s beats are nicely crafted out of bits and pieces.
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Mar 10, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica

February Roundup

Hip-hop and IDM: DJ Cutler, Bukue One, 8yone, and Arc Lab.
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Feb 28, 2007 in Reviews

Various: Everything

This compilation reveals a vibrant Midwest rap community.
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Jan 3, 2007 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Distrakt: Distraktions

Distrakt is a natural crate-digger.
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Nov 30, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Cappablack: "Components & Variables" MP3

From Façades & Skeletons courtesy of ~scape.
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Nov 14, 2006 in MP3s

Cappablack: Facades & Skeletons

My favorite tracks are instrumentals.
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Nov 12, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Jair Dynast: V.I.A.L.E.N.C.E.

Most of this album is too poppy for my taste.
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Oct 17, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Fresh Air: Slowly Coming Along

Yet another hip-hop group expertly combining jazzy early nineties-style production with conscious lyrics.
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Oct 8, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Jedi Mind Tricks: Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell

Just the right mix of over-the-top violence and personal introspection.
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Sep 27, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Black Ice: The Death of Willie Lynch

Black Ice is a poet.
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Sep 18, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

J Dilla: "Love" MP3

Featuring Pharoahe Monch. Courtesy of BBE.
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Sep 12, 2006 in MP3s

J Dilla: The Shining

A beautiful, bittersweet release.
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Sep 9, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: From the Powerhouse

Graffiti legend Rammellzee and dubby electronic music from Berlin.
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Jul 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Strange Fruit Project: The Healing

Three MCs from Waco, Texas: Myone, Myth, and Symbolyc One.
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Jul 25, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Shadow Huntaz: Instrumentals

Both discs are great, with production courtesy of Funckarma and MCs Non, Breaf, and Dream.
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Jun 28, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Mr. Lif: Mo' Mega

Mr. Lif teams up with El-P for his first album in four years.
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Jun 9, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Small Eyez: Vipassana

Small Eyez is a rapper from Ohio, and this is his first EP.
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Jun 2, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Machine Drum: Mergerz & Acquisitionz

This two-disc remix project is so big, it’s taken me a while to form an opinion of it.
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Apr 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Ghostface Killah: Fishscale

Ghostface has a knack for combining pop-friendly tracks with really crazy experimental and underground ones.
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Apr 27, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

CopperShot: Issues

According to their press material, Copperpot and LongShot both have bad boy reputations.
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Apr 7, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Innerstance.Beatbox: "Tekniques"

IBB shows his skill as a producer on this new CD/vinyl single. The centerpiece is a funky, clubby tune.
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Apr 2, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Modill: Midnight Green

Chicago-based Modill have a fresh sound, thanks to creative raps by Racecar and inventive production by funk drummer K-Kruz.
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Mar 13, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Tanya Morgan: Moonlighting

Tanya Morgan is a rap group posing as a soul singer. Von Pea teams up with the duo Ilwill (Ilyas and Donwill) for a wild hip-hop ride.
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Feb 21, 2006 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Futurism Ain't Shit to Me 2

The sequel to Kyo’s 2004 compilation offers an even wider variety of strange hip-hop. This time there are even excursions into grime and nerdcore.
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Feb 13, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Prefuse 73: Security Screenings

Prolific Prefuse 73’s latest mini-album sees him veering even further from hip-hop influences.
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Feb 4, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Depth Affect: Arche-Lymb

Combines hip-hop beats with unusual sounds.
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Jan 19, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: The Celluloid Years

Electro with connections to punk, jazz, and reggae.
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Jan 14, 2006 in Reviews: Disco/Funk

Malcom Kipe: Lit

Interesting hip-hop breaks.
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Dec 29, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica

Dabrye: Additional Productions Vol. 1

A few tasty tracks.
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Dec 13, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica

The Primeridian: Da Allnighta

Creative lyrics, smooth flow, and jazzy production.
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Dec 1, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Innerstance.Beatbox: "Astor Street"

Courtesy of Consumers Research and Development.
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Nov 10, 2005 in MP3s

Various: Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture

A dream-team compilation.
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Nov 9, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Innerstance.Beatbox: Your Eyes Are Like UFOs, My Darling

A real treat.
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Oct 31, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica

The Pharcyde: Humboldt Beginnings

Less humor and less soul.
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Oct 2, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Cyne: Evolution Fight

Refreshingly honest and real.
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Sep 25, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

One Be Lo: S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.

Amazing.
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Aug 31, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Jus Allah: All Fates Have Changed

Uneven production and absurdly violent lyrics.
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Jul 11, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Immortal Technique: "Bin Laden"

Political hardcore.
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Jul 10, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Shadow Huntaz: Valley of the Shadow

Gritty vocals and elaborate, murky production.
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Jun 20, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Zion I: True & Livin'

Bound to become a classic.
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May 1, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Teeth

Downtempo electronica inspired by hip-hop and dub.
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Mar 2, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica

Prefuse 73 feat. Ghostface and El-P: "HideYaFace"

We need more angry tracks like this.
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Feb 23, 2005 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Noakes Pressure: "Rhyme More"/DLF: "5 Bar Funk"

Hip-hop-informed electronica.
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Jan 25, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica

Ra: Raoul Loves You

Gritty urbanscapes with the occasional uplifting moment.
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Nov 12, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica

KutMasta Kurt: Redneck Games

Remixes, from Blackalicious to The Beastie Boys.
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Nov 11, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Automato: Automato

The kind of hip-hop we need in 2004.
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Nov 4, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Zion I: Family Business

The production is thick and vinyly.
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Oct 4, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Prince Po: The Slickness

Deeper than average [hip-hop] club tracks.
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Aug 2, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

The Roots: The Tipping Point

A lot more poppy than their previous LPs.
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Jul 24, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Futurism Ain't Shit to Me

Hip-hoppers embrace a technology-enhanced future.
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Jun 21, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica

Team Shadetek: Burnerism

Hip-hop beats and grungy electronics
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Jun 15, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica

Shadow Huntaz: Vampire

Another blast of dope electronic hip-hop.
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May 31, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Urban Renewal Program Supplement 1.5

Far superior to its predecessor.
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Mar 28, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

King Gheedorah: Take Me to Your Leader

The beats are fresh and the unknown rappers do their jobs.
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Feb 21, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Shadow Huntaz: That Ain't Where It's At

Experimentation with hip-hop.
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Feb 16, 2004 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Jimmy Edgar: Access Rhythm

Slickly-produced instrumental hip-hop.
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Jan 29, 2004 in Reviews: Electronica

Vast Aire: "Look Mom... No Hands"

Solid hip-hop.
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Dec 7, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Dual Purpose: Runfastmaybefaster

A killer set of tracks.
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Nov 6, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica

Diverse: One A.M.

There’s not a single weak cut.
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Nov 2, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Diverse: "Explosive"

A future classic.
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Sep 29, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Infiltrate

Politically conscious electronica and hip-hop.
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Aug 5, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica

Prefuse 73: One Word Extinguisher

Few artists get me as excited at the blending of electronics and hip-hop.
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May 21, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica

Tomato Weirdo: Best Before End + Toujours Comestible

Another Spring release I can confidently add to my list for the best of ’03.
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May 18, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica

Push Button Objects: Ghetto Blaster

A decent balance between rap and more abstract pursuits.
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May 13, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica

Beta Bodega Coalition: Banana Republic Vol. 3

As important musically as it is politically.
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May 4, 2003 in Reviews: Electronica

Souls of Mischief: Spark

Lyrics bound to satisfy even the most discerning head-nodders.
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Mar 30, 2003 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Crunch: 2

Crunch: 2...
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Nov 1, 2002 in Reviews: Electronica

Diverse: "Certified"/"Build"

Diverse: “Certified”/“Build”...
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Sep 19, 2002 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Urban Renewal Program

Various: Urban Renewal Program...
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Sep 6, 2002 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals

Various: Staedtizism 3: Instrumentals...
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May 26, 2002 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: Solid Steel Presents DJ Food & DK "Now, Listen"

Various: Solid Steel Presents DJ Food & DK...
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Nov 4, 2001 in Reviews: Electronica

Prefuse 73: Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives

Prefuse 73: Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives...
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Aug 9, 2001 in Reviews: Electronica

Crunch: 1

Crunch: 1...
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Mar 15, 2001 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: Rapid Transit

Various: Rapid Transit...
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Dec 5, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: SoleSides Greatest Bumps

Various: SoleSides Greatest Bumps...
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Nov 5, 2000 in Reviews: Hip-Hop

Various: Xen Cuts

Various: Xen Cuts...
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Oct 7, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica

Boulderdash: We Never Went to Koxut Island

Boulderdash: We Never Went to Koxut Island...
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Apr 24, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica

Push Button Objects: Dirty Dozen

Push Button Objects: Dirty Dozen...
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Feb 28, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica

Ko-wreck Technique: Ko-wrecktion

Ko-wreck Technique: Ko-wrecktion...
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Feb 24, 2000 in Reviews: Electronica

DJ Vadim: USSR Reconstruction

DJ Vadim: USSR Reconstruction...
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Apr 19, 1998 in Reviews: Electronica

Luke Vibert: Big Soup

Luke Vibert: Big Soup...
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Feb 15, 1998 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: Street Jams: Electric Funk Parts 1-4

Classic ’80s electro.
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Jan 11, 1998 in Reviews: Disco/Funk

Coldcut: "More Beats and Pieces"

Coldcut: “More Beats and Pieces”...
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Aug 3, 1997 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: Journeys by DJ: Coldcut

Various: Journeys by DJ: Coldcut...
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Jul 13, 1997 in Reviews: Electronica

Various: Hip-Hop Don't Stop

Various: Hip-Hop Don’t Stop...
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May 4, 1997 in Reviews: Hip-Hop