PRESALE - Poppy Ajudha / Skinny Pelembe - Watermelon Man b/w Illusion (Blue Note)

(Pre-Order) 7" Vinyl 10.99 Add to basket

RELEASES JULY 17TH

A1. Poppy Ajudha - Watermelon Man / B1. Skinny Pelembe - Illusion

Here we have a 7” featuring two tracks from the forthcoming Blue Note: Reimagined album on which modern artists take on jazz classics. Side A sees the intoxicating vocals of Poppy Ajudah adorn her version of Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man whilst on side B we have South African indie kid Skinny Pelembe reinterpreting Illusion, originally by America pianist Andrew Hill.

El Michels Affair - Adult Themes (Big Crown Records)

LP Opaque White Vinyl (BCR090LPC2) 19.99 Add to basket
(Forthcoming) LP Black Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket
CD 10.99 Add to basket

Big Crown Records is proud to present Adult Themes, the latest full length offering from El Michels Affair. This album takes the band’s “Cinematic Soul” aesthetic literally and sends the listener on a journey through a whirlwind of moods and energies. With their 2005 debut album Sounding Out The City, EMA spearheaded an instrumental funk / soul movement that inspired a slew of bands and even lead to the creation of a few independent record labels. El Michels has since lent his signature sound to artists from Adele to Dr John, Lana Del Rey to Aloe Blacc, and a who’s who list of others. In 2016 he co-founded Big Crown Records and has since produced the lion’s share of its output. A short stint as the touring band for Wu Tang Clan in 2007 led to the cult classics Enter The 37th Chamber (2009) and Return To The 37th Chamber (2017).

Adult Themes marks the long awaited, highly anticipated return to an album of original compositions from El Michels Affair.

Tracklist

1. Enfant
2. Adult Theme No. 1
3. Kill The Lights
4. Villa
5. Adult Theme No. 2
6. Life Of Pablo
7. Adult Theme No. 3
8. Rubix
9. The Difference
10. Hipps
11. Munecas
12. Adult Theme No. 4

Stretch And Bobbito + The M19s Band - No Requests (Uprising Music)

CD 14.99 Add to basket
Cassette 10.99 Add to basket

Stretch and Bobbito’s debut album No Requests explores the legendary club DJs’ vast musical knowledge with covers of songs directly from their record crates!

Featuring the M19s Band, a live band of elite hand-picked musicians, the gatekeepers of ‘90s Hip Hop step outside their foundational genre base to produce Latin, Afro-beat, Samba, Jazz, Reggae, and Soul reinterpretations of dance floor bangers—ranging from popular to rare and obscure—which loosely depart expected structure and create new nuances to familiar tunes. The group also offers original compositions along the sonic journey. All tracks have one goal in mind: GROOVE!

Tracklist

1 Anna From Woohside (Beat Suite)
2 Voices Inside My Head
3 Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
4 Festival Song (Bam Bam)
5 Magnificent Dance Feat. Rich Medina
6 Que Se Sepa Feat. Jose Parlá*, Mireya Ramos
7 The Mexican Feat Mireya Ramos
8 I Know You, I Live You (Edit) Feat. Maimouna Youssef
9 If You Really Love Me
10 Baby I'm Scared Of You

Skinshape - Umoja (Lewis Recordings)

LP Purple Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket
SIGNED LP Purple Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

LP Black Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket
SIGNED LP Black Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

CD 9.99 Add to basket
SIGNED CD 9.99 Add to basket

Fifth studio album featuring Malcolm Catto, D'Alma, Idd Aziz and Modou Touré.

Includes the singles Sua Alma, In The End and Afande.

Artwork by Japanese artist Ken-ichi Omura.

Tracklist

1. Sua Alma feat. D'Alma
2. In The End
3. Afande feat. Idd Aziz
4. Kourou feat. Modou Touré
5. Azon De Ma
6. Amigos e Inimigos feat. D'Alma
7. Sun
8. Sudan feat. Idd Aziz
9. Dourle feat. Modou Touré
10. Lehin Ti Aye Ba Iku

Holy Hive - Float Back To You (Big Crown Records)

LP 'Seafoam Wave' Blue Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket
LP Black Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket
CD 10.99 Add to basket

Big Crown Records is proud to present ‘Float Back To You,’ the debut full length album from Holy Hive.

Homer Steinweiss, the Brooklyn based soul/funk drummer, always had a soft spot for folk music. Paul Spring, a young idealist folk singer traveling the country with his guitar, always had a beautiful falsetto in his back pocket. A family introduction would lead to Homer producing a few solo records of Paul’s, which would eventually lead to the creation of Holy Hive. The two enlisted Joe Harrison on bass and started out recording their first tunes as a group. A tour with soul legend Lee Fields would turn out to have an unexpected effect on their sound as they played their material to crowds of soul fanatics looking to dance. It was this realization that forced the next step in their evolution and gave birth to a sound unique to Holy Hive, a sound that walks a line so perfectly it necessitated a new genre, Folk Soul.

Tracklist

1. Broom
2. Hypnosis
3. Blue Light
4. Oh I Miss Her So
5. Float Back To You
6. Be Thou By My Side
7. Didn’t You Say
8. Embers To Ash
9. Cynthia’s Celebration
10. Red Is The Rose
11. You Will Always Be By My Side Forever
12. Sophia’s Part

The Thompsons - Message (Froz1 Edit) / I'll Always Love You (Brewerytown Beats)

7" Vinyl 10.99 Add to basket

A1. Message (Froz1 Edit) / B1. I'll Always Love You

Brewerytown Beats proudly presents a special version of “Message” edited by Philly’s own Froz1. This version is not found on The Thompsons’ highly sought after 1975 release I'll Get Over It. The album is licensed direct from producers Eric Ward & Tyrone Broxton. The Philadelphia SOUL album that's rarely if ever been heard.

Clams Casino - Moon Trip Radio (Second City Prints)

LP Black Vinyl 23.99 Add to basket

New Jersey-native Clams Casino stands amongst the most respected hip-hop producers in the game today. After several years of underground notoriety, Clams became widely known after producing several of the standout tracks on A$AP Rocky’s monolithic debut mixtape Live. Love. ASAP and has received widespread critical acclaim for his collaborations with Lil Peep, Vince Staples, Lil B, Mac Miller, The Weeknd, Joji amongst others. Clams released his hugely anticipated instrumental album Moon Trip Radio late last year, a stunning collection of tracks that showcase his immense talent as both a composer and producer.

Tracklist

A1 Rune
A2 Healing
A3 NSX
A4 Cupidwing
A5 Glowing Bones
A6 Fire Blue
B1 Twilit
B2 Lyre
B3 In A Mirror
B4 Soliloquy
B5 Moon Trip Radio

Kool Keith - Saks 5th Ave (Volunteer Media)

LP Vinyl 21.99 Add to basket

Arguably poised as Kool Keith’s most sophisticated release to date, “Saks 5th Ave” serves as both a stepping stone forward in the artist’s prolific career, as well as a much needed reminder that the worlds most innovative emcee has a thorough grasp on far more than your average rapper. Touching on everything from the use of high fashion products to personal experiences including a near fatal car crash which occurred in 2017, The 16 track studio album produced by the versatile beat maker Dean “Landon Price Beats” Trotter channels Keith in a smoothly conscious state while laying down effortless bars over modern yet timeless hip-hop production. From the artist who brought you "Dr. Dooom”, “Sex Style”, “Keith” and everything in between, “Saks 5th Ave” is the latest and greatest haute couture in a world of Gap and Old Navy hip-hop.

Pete Rock & Camp Lo - 80 Blocks from Tiffany's Pt. II (Fatbeats)

2xLP Vinyl 29.99 Add to basket

Bronx duo Camp Lo have teamed up with the one and only Pete Rock to drop 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s (a mixtape series available as a full length). With the projects name paying homage to the BX gangs of the 70s, it’s only right that they bring it back to hip-hop’s essence in the video, graffiti, b-boys, rhymin’ on the project stairways, two turntables and a mic.

Pete Rock, whose production work helped define the 90s “golden age” is a rare exception. Rock’s one of the few musicians who made his name in the aggressively unflashy 90s East Coast sound who’s managed to stay continually relevant without capitulating to changing tastes.

80 Blocks from Tiffany's offers proof that amidst the expeditions rap music’s launching into new sonic territories like EDM, noisy psychedelia, and quasi-industrial music, the classic boom-bap stuff still has a place featuring Mac Miller, MOP, Ab-Soul, Talib Kweli and more...

Tracklist

A1 Intro
A2 Ladies & Gentlemen Feat. Talib Kweli
A3 Starlight Glitz
A4 Clean Getaway Feat. Uncle Murda
B5 No Uniform Feat. M.O.P., Pete Rock
B6 Meagan Good Feat Mac Miller
B7 Let's Toast
B8 Don't Ya Just Love It Feat Ab-Soul
C9 You Never Seen A City Like (The Bronx)
C10 Love Traps Feat Feat. Tyler Woods
C11 80 Blocks Party
C12 Glitter & Gold
D13 Dream Journey
D14 Pot Of Butta
D15 Outro

R.A The Rugged Man - Golden Oldies b/w It's Gone (Nature Sounds)

7" Vinyl 12.99 Add to basket

A1. Golden Oldies feat. Atmosphere & Eamon / B1. It's Gone

R.A. The Rugged Man and Atmosphere are two of the most important names in underground hip-hop history. Among the original architects of the independent hip-hop revolution, both of these iconic artists have defied the odds to thrive for decades in the ever- changing rap landscape. Now, R.A. The Rugged Man and Slug of Atmosphere are joining forces for the first time ever to bring some much-needed joy to listeners during these trying times. Featuring a hook by famed singer Eamon, the historic collaboration ""Golden Oldies"" is a feel-good trip down memory lane taken from R.A. The Rugged Man's new album ""All My Heroes Are Dead"". This limited- edition 7"" single gives fans the opportunity to experience the nostalgic anthem in all its old-school glory.

Kool Keith - Computer Technology (Junkadelic Music)

CD 13.99 Add to basket

Kool Keith is an educated man, boasting a pair of doctorates -- one in dooomology and another in octagon mathematics. With this immense medical and scientific background at his disposal, Keith has come to operate. Production on Keith's albums is eerily evil; his music is an LSD experience gone horribly wrong. Bizarre, ethereal sound effects and tight, piercing drum loops prepare the listener for a down and dirty lyrical delivery that's been cultivated since Keith first arrived on the rap scene with the Ultramagnetic MCs. Verses contain unique rhyme structures and original metaphors, and range from classic emcee braggadocio to tales of robbery and street sex. Keith's latest LP "Computer Technology" entirely produced by Junkaz Lou is yet another work of art. No MC on the planet is so grimy and yet so polished -- after years in the rap game, Kool Keith's as unique as ever.

Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Jazz Is Dead 001 (Jazz Is Dead)

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Over the last year Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have been making music with the masters. Composing and producing brand new albums with their heroes. This is our first presentation of work that has come out of these sessions.

Tracklist

1 Hey Lover feat Roy Ayers
2 Distant Mode feat Gary Bartz
3 Nancy Wilson feat Brian Jackson
4 Conexão feat João Donato
5 Down Deep feat Doug Carn
6 Apocalíptico feat Azymuth
7 Não Saia Da Praça feat Marcos Valle
8 Jazz Is Dead feat The Midnight Hour

R.A. The Rugged Man - All My Heroes Are Dead (Nature Sounds)

CD 14.99 SOLD OUT

Featuring Atmosphere, Immortal Technique, Wu-Tang Clan, Ice-T, Kool G Rap, A-F-R-O, Chuck D, Vinnie Paz, Eamon, M.O.P., Chris Rivers, Brand Nubian and More!

R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. R.A. has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form. He can obliterate rappers with ferocious battle rhymes, craft heartfelt personal songs fans can relate to, offend sensitive listeners with shocking vulgarity, challenge corrupt politicians and corporations, paint pictures with captivating storytelling, and deliver jaw-dropping flows that prove his lyrical skills are unmatched. Now, the Rugged Man is back with All My Heroes Are Dead, a new album that stands as his best work to date. The project showcases the full scope of R.A.’s considerable talent, making it a powerful statement from an unforgettable artist.

Smoke DZA - A Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed (Cinematic)

LP Vinyl 26.99 Add to basket

Dza pulls together a star studded group of Hip-Hop's best MCs for a true underground classic album.

Tracklist

A1 Morse Code Feat. Westside Gunn
A2 Praying For My Soul Feat. Flipp Dinero
A3 Dark Web Feat. T-Pain
A4 Bounce
A5 Brick On My Neck

B1 Rules Feat. Tish Hyman
B2 96 Knicks Feat. Dave West
B3 Frankie Carbone Feat. Nym Lo
B4 Get You Sum Feat. Buddy
B5 Fiscal Thoughts Feat. Wale.Ade

Tha God Fahim - Lost Kingz (Nature Sounds)

LP Vinyl 20.99 Add to basket

Known for impressive lyricism and streetwise wordplay set to dusty soul and jazz loops, Atlanta native Tha God Fahim has defied expectations for hip-hop from his city, and his steady stream of output continues to draw attention. Just a few years into his career, the talented emcee/producer has already released more than 100 projects, establishing himself as one of the most prolific artists in rap today. Despite his rapidly growing audience, Tha God Fahim remains an enigma, releasing little background information and maintaining an air of mystery about himself. Now, Nature Sounds is proud to present Lost Kingz, a brand new album from Tha God Fahim featuring Mach-Hommy and Vinnie Paz, plus production by DJ Muggs, The Architect, C-Lance, and Fahim himself.

Tracklist

A1. Iron Fist
A2. Running On E
A3. Blade Fordge (feat. Mach-Hommy)
A4. Play Ground Legend (feat. Mach-Hommy)
A5. Renowned

B1. A Breath Of Winter
B2. Stay Fly
B3. Scarlett Murder (feat. Vinnie Paz)
B4. Life After
B5. Cash Rulez

Andrew Hill - Smoke Stack (Blue Note)

180g Reissue LP Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

On his second Blue Note album Smoke Stack, pianist and composer Andrew Hill used an unusual line-up of two bassists (Richard Davis and Eddie Khan) along with the masterful Roy Haynes on drums. Blue Note founder Alfred Lion considered Hill to have as distinct and important a compositional voice as Thelonious Monk, and the seven Hill compositions that the quartet explore here contain all the rare beauty to be found in his music. Designer Reid Miles photographed Hill himself for the striking album cover design.

This Blue Note 80 Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Tracklist

A1. Smoke Stack
A2. The Day After
A3. Wailing Wall
A4. Ode To Von

B1. Not So
B2. Verne
B3. 30 Pier Avenue

Kenny Dorham - Trompeta Toccata (Blue Note)

180g Reissue LP Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

Kenny Dorham’s 1964 album Trompeta Toccata would be the final album that the great underrated trumpeter and composer would record as a leader, and it stands as a fitting testament to his prodigious talent. The album featured a stellar quintet with Dorham and his frequent collaborator Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone along with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath. The brilliant album cover design by Reid Miles featured the bold typography that made his style so influential.

This Blue Note 80 Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Tracklist

A1. Trompeta Toccata
A2. Night Watch

B3. Mamacita
B4. The Fox

Larry Young - Into Somethin' (Blue Note)

180g Reissue LP Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

His first album for Blue Note — Larry Young made it abundantly clear that he had his own unique approach to the Hammond B-3 organ. Rather than the tried-and-true soul jazz sound so strongly identified with the instrument, Young explored more modal territory over the course of his six Blue Note albums including this tremendous session featuring tenor saxophonist Sam Rivers, guitarist Grant Green, and drummer Elvin Jones. The remarkable album cover design by Reid Miles made excellent use of a memorable photograph by Francis Wolff.

This Blue Note 80 Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Tracklist

A1. Tyrone
A2. Plaza De Toros

B1. Paris Eyes
B2. Backup
B3. Ritha

Nelly - Country Grammar (MoTown / Universal)

20th Anniversary 2015 Reissue 2LP Vinyl 27.99 Add to basket

Country Grammar is the debut studio album from rapper Nelly. Country Grammar has sold 8.6 million copies, ranking it as the ninth best-selling rap album of all time in the United States. It was certified nine times Platinum, making it one of the highest certified albums in the U.S. history. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Country Grammar has been reissued on standard black 2LP vinyl.

El Michels Affair - Reasons feat. Bobby Oroza b/w Hipps

7" Vinyl 7.99 Add to basket

A1. Reasons feat. Bobby Oroza / B1. Hipps

Big Crown is proud to present this must have two-sider from El Michels Affair.

The A side “Reasons” is a collaboration that is sure to get all the Soul collectors very, very excited. Last time Bobby Oroza was in New York El Michels invited him to the studio to cut a tune together. Oroza’s voice finds it’s place perfectly over the track, talking us through the human struggle and still creating that energy that is uniquely his and has become his signa- true sound.

The B side “Hipps” is pulled from El Michels Affair’s recently released modern masterpiece Adult Themes.“Hipps” cuts in with a crushing drum beat and is quickly joined by the unmistakable horn arrangements that Leon has become famous for. In true EMA fashion the arrangement on this piece can’t be touche;, closing one’s eyes and listening will induce anyone to a vivid visual fantasy. It turns out to be something of a chapter from a book, and we recommend you treat yourself to the front to back experience of Adult Themes.

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - My Jamaican Dub b/w The Healer (Big Crown Records)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

A1. My Jamaican Dub / B1. The Healer

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band are an enigmatic bunch from Hamburg, Germany. One thing that’s not so shrouded in mystery, however, is their tunes. They have graced the decks of many a DJ from Brazil to Berlin. Here we have a 7” featuring two steel drum covers.

Side A is BRSB's's take on Grace Jones' nightclub classic "My Jamaican Guy". They take the tune to a new height from the first beat, laying down an infectious groove that will get people out of their seats immediately. BRSB has received a lot of praise for their choices of covers. Occasionally reworking hits, but, most notably pulling the album cut gems from artists typically more championed by the underground. Well...here they go again, covering Erykah Badu's homage to the late great J Dilla "The Healer" on Side B.

Mo Fingaz - Gusto (We Stay True)

LP Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

‘Gusto’ is Mo Fingaz first full-length project; a 15 track collection of beats and compositions produced over the past two years. Lo-fi hip hop instrumentals crafted together with love, analog drum machines, samplers, live instruments and dusty old vinyl. After being sat on these beats for a minute, it finally feels like time to let them off into the ether..

Primarily a project that delivers crisp crunchy boom bap, with heavy doses of jazz and soul, and nods to various other genres throughout. The rhodes-laden ‘Groove Definition’ sets the tone, leading into an interpolation of a classic; one simply called ‘Reggie’. ‘Timecode’ raises up the SP1200 bit-crush levels some more, whilst tracks like ‘Astro’ and the album closer ’Netta’ take things a little deeper. The lead track ‘Gusto’ delivers skippier half-time jungle funk drums, with live bass played by his father and guitar by J-Felix atop the track. ‘Thirty-Eight’ and ‘1991 Broadway’ harp back to classic jazzhop of the golden era, whilst ‘Booooj’ adds a little dancehall swagger into the equation, before the classy string section of ‘Uptown’ swings into play.

This album is unashamedly one to nod your head to, and not one to be sleeping on..

Vanishing Twin - In Piscina! (Fire Records)

Blue 7" Vinyl 9.99 Add to basket

A1. Spice Lever 7 A2. In Piscina / B1. Gunky B2. The Third Door

Limited edition blue vinyl new four track 7" from Vanishing Twin. Cocktail umbrellas and chlorinated fantasies! It’s time to get cool in the pool with Vanishing Twin. Here are four streams of analogue consciousness to super-soak your deckchair daydreams.

Kelly Finnigan - I Called You Back Baby b/w Impressions of You (Colemine Records)

Limited Edition Coke Bottle Clear 7" Vinyl 9.99 Add to basket

A. I Called You Back Baby / B. Impressions of You

On the heels of a successful European tour and new album from his band Monophonics, Kelly Finnigan is happy to present to you this two-sided banger sure to satisfy the funk and soul needs of every DJ. The A-side, "I Called You Back Baby", an answer song to the deep Gloria Barnes soul cut is THE uptempo number from Kelly's album The Tales People Tell. Super funky drums from Monophonics' Austin Bohlman and percussion from Jungle Fire's Steve Haney make the breakbeat on this tune super tough. And after you're done sweating, you're gonna need time to cool off with the one you love. So flip the record over to burn one down with "Impressions Of You", a cut that's already been embraced by the lowrider sweet soul scene. This is a double-barreled sure shot!

The The Shacks / Brainstory - Smile Now, Cry later b/w Runaway (Big Crown Records)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

A. The Shacks - Smile Now, Cry later / B. Brainstory - Runaway

A 7” single taken from the forthcoming Big Crown compilation album Dear Sunny…, consisting of covers of Sunny & The Sunliners classics executed by artists on their roster. Here, The Shacks energetically tackle ‘Smile Now, Cry Later’, while Brainstory dramatically reinterpret ‘Runaway’ on the reverse.

The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (Madlib Invazion)

LP Black Vinyl 20.99 Add to basket
CD 10.99 Add to basket

The UK’s cosmic, psychedelic-funk ensemble issue their first album on maverick producer Madlib’s label, Madlib Invazion.

The Heliocentrics’ albums are all confounding pieces of work. Drawing equally from the funk universe of James Brown, the disorienting asymmetry of Sun Ra, the cinematic scope of Ennio Morricone, the sublime fusion of David Axelrod, Pierre Henry’s turned-on musique concrète, and Can’s beat-heavy Krautrock, they have – regardless of the label on which they’ve released their music – pointed the way towards a brand new kind of psychedelia, one that could only come from a band of accomplished musicians who were also obsessive music fans. Drummer Malcolm Catto and bassist Jake Ferguson are the Heliocentrics’ masterminds and producers, and they are obsessive weirdos in today’s musical climate, searching, progressive humans who are often out-of-time with current trends.

They have been playing together for nearly two decades and their collective drive is to find an individual voice. The Heliocentrics search for it in an alternate galaxy where the orbits of funk, jazz, psychedelic, electronic, avant-garde and “ethnic” music all revolve around “The One.” With Madilb’s label Madlib Invazion for Infinity of Now, the Heliocentrics have returned to develop their epic vision of psychedelic funk, while exploring the possibilities created by their myriad influences – Latin, African, and more.

Gang Starr - Jazz Thing (Mr Bongo)

7" Vinyl 12.99 Add to basket

A. Jazz Thing (Video Mix) / B. Jazz Thing (Movie Mix)

Given that Gang Starr recently reformed and jazz is now all the rage, it seems fitting that Mr Bongo has decided to reissue the rare 7" version of the group's 1990 masterpiece "Jazz Thing". It's a wholehearted tribute to the greats of jazz - and the role jazz records have in hip-hop's sample culture - that comes in two distinctively different mixes. On the A-side you'll find the "Video Mix", a bouncy and suitably jazzy DJ Premier production that layers Guru's fine rap flows above loose-limbed drums, smoky horn samples and his own super-tight scratches. Turn to side B for the "Movie Mix" - so-called because it was created for a Spike Lee flick - where Guru's vocal rides improvised horns and an entirely different beat crafted from Kool & The Gang samples.

Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Mr Bongo)

7" Black Vinyl 12.99 Add to basket

A: I Know You Got Soul / B. I Know You Got Soul (Dub Version)

There can be few hip-hop heads who don't know Eric B & Rakim's "I Know You Got Soul", a Bobby Byrd and Funkadelic-sampling beast from 1987 that remains one of rap's most recognizable moments. The rap from Rakim is iconic, but it's the Eric B beat behind - all loose-but-heavy, snare-heavy beats, recognizable guitar licks and chorus-style blasts of Bobby Byrd vocals- that makes the track such a club-ready hip-hop classic. Here it gets the reissue treatment on "45" courtesy of Mr Bongo, with the duo's brilliant vocal version being joined on the flip by the overlooked, delay-laden "Dub Mix". For those who covet alternate versions of classic cuts, this instrumental revision is a must.

Eric B & Rakim - I Ain't No Joke (Mr Bongo)

7" Black Vinyl 12.99 Add to basket

A: I Ain’t No Joke / B: Eric B. Is On The Cut

Mr Bongo's Eric B & Rakim reissue series continues via a fresh pressing of the hard-to-find U.S seven-inch single release of the NYC duo's second single, 1987 gem "I Ain't No Joke". Rakim's distinctive vocals naturally take centre stage on side A, albeit over a sparse-but-strong Eric B beat high on the kind of crunchy drums, headline-grabbing scratches and sampled horn motifs that marked out the duo's best collaborative work. As with the original American single, the B-side boasts "Eric B On The Cut", a quality cut-and-paste affair in the style of Grandmaster Flash's "On The Wheels Of Steel" that's little more than a highly impressive DJ routine.

Duke Ellington - Money Jungle LP (Blue Note)

LP 180g Vinyl Reissue 30.99 Add to basket

Part of the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series

On September 17, 1962, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach gathered at Sound Makers studio in NYC and recorded Money Jungle, one of the most celebrated jazz trio albums of all time. Generational and stylistic differences between the three masters led to fearless music-making of the highest order. The album was originally released on United Artists and featured 7 of Ellington’s indelible compositions including “Caravan,” “Solitude,” and a stunning version of “Le Fleurs Africaines (African Flower).” By going back to the original analog stereo master the Tone Poet Edition presents this classic album with superior sound quality.

Herbie Hancock - The Prisoner (Blue Note)

LP 180g Vinyl Reissue 30.99 Add to basket

Part of the Tone Poet Audiophile Reissue Series

Recorded and released in 1969, Herbie Hancock’s last Blue Note album The Prisoner is a powerful but overlooked masterpiece. A moving tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, this nonet session features some of the most exceptional instrumentalists in jazz including Joe Henderson, Johnny Coles, Hubert Laws, Garnett Brown, Buster Williams, and Albert “Tootie” Heath. Hancock said of The Prisoner: “I've been able to get closer to the real me with this album than on any other previous one.”

Mndsgn - Bed (Fatbeats)

LP Black Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

Mndsgn as you may or may not guess is pronounced Mind Design and is the alter ego of producer Ringgo Ancheta. He's already released several lovely records for Stones Throw but Bed is something different entirely. Originally issued on limited cassette it explores sleep and the places it takes us and also features a heartfelt tribute to Acheta's deceased cat.

Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (Roc-A-Fella Records)

Deluxe Collector's Set 2LP Vinyl 26.99 Add to basket

Includes CD, Poster & Lyric Sheet

808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by Kanye West. It was released on 24th November, 2008, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. Conceived in the wake of several distressing personal events, 808s & Heartbreak marked a major musical departure from West’s previous rap records, instead featuring a sparse, electronic sound and West singing through an Auto-Tune vocal processor. His lyrics explore themes of loss, alienated fame, and heartache, while the album’s production abandons conventional hip hop sounds in favor of a minimalist sonic palette, which includes prominent use of the titular Roland TR-808 drum machine.

Despite varying responses from listeners, the album received positive reviews from most music critics, who generally commented on West’s experimentation, and was named one of 2008’s best records in several year-end lists. Four singles were released in promotion, including the hit singles “Love Lockdown” and “Heartless”. 808s & Heartbreak has since been cited as a prominent influence on subsequent hip hop, pop, and R&B music. This was due to a new wave of rappers, singers, and producers coming to adopt aspects of its style and thematic content.

Vinnie Paz - As Above So Below (Enemy Soil)

LP Vinyl 29.99 Add to basket

Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks, Army of the Pharaohs, Heavy Metal Kings) returns with his fifth solo album.

Anna Wise - As If It Were Forever (Alpha Pup Records)

LP Vinyl (+ MP3) 22.99 Add to basket

GRAMMY award-winning musician and producer Anna Wise has announced her forthcoming debut album, As If It Were Forever, out via Alpha Pup Records, along with a new alt-R&B single "Nerve," which was written in a single evening.

Anna Wise shares, "I created 'Nerve' with Jon Bap and Nick Hakim in a single evening in Brooklyn, NY. Sometimes words and melodies flow out so fast, it's best to have all your tools ready to catch the ideas before they leave you and tap on the next person's shoulder. I had all my tools ready that night, and I'm grateful. Lyrically, it's about spring cleaning your relationships and not being afraid of letting go. Typical, I know, but it's a lesson I am still learning."

Chinese Man - The Groove Session Vol. 5 (Chinese Man Records)

2xLP Coloured Vinyl (+ MP3) 22.99 Add to basket
CD 11.99 Add to basket

15 exclusive tracks from Chinese Man on translucent orange & black splattered double vinyl - download code included.

An exclusive album to mark the 15th anniversary of the CMR label co-composed by Chinese Man, Baja Frequencia and Scratch Bandits Crew! Combining scratch music, trip-Hop, dub and tropical rhythms, The Groove Sessions Vol.5 highlights the artistic spontaneity and creativity in constant boiling of Label artists.

Afu-Ra - Urban Chemistry (X-Ray Production)

2xLP Gatefold Vinyl 15.99 Add to basket
CD 8.99 Add to basket

AFU-RA comes back with the project "Urban Chemistry" mixing Hip-Hop, Reggae and Soul, produced by Digital Cut, to be released in February 2020 on french X-Ray Production. On this new album, AFU-RA has invited one or more guests on each of the 18 tracks such as Sizzla, Jah Mason, Keny Arkana, Lord Kossity, Big Shug or Mann... Thanks to an exclusive collaboration with the brand Canna, all songs have been filmed in 15 cities in 8 different countries.

Magic In Threes - 3 [Remastered] (KingUnderground Records)

LP Black Vinyl 21.99 Add to basket

The album was previously released digitally in 2016 by the band’s own imprint, G.E.D. Soul Records. Now newly remastered with lacquers cut by the legendary Pete Norman (Led Zeppelin, David Bowie) and released on KingUnderground.

The music would make the perfect fit in movies like the recently released Dolomite revamp, and the now cult classic Black Dynamite. But it doesn’t fit into a blaxploitation soundtrack style box alone. You could imagine iconic rappers like Ghostface or Black Thought using these soundscapes. ‘3’ would even fit comfortably next to classic KPM or De Wolfe library releases from the mid 70’s, just as well as current indie trio, Khruangbin.

mndsgn - Oblique Kitchn [Reissue] (Fatbeats)

LP Vinyl 19.99 Add to basket

Released in 2012 on 30 hand dubbed cassette tapes, "Oblique Kitchen" sautees a medley of mid-tempo rhythms in a frying pan of aromatic loops and stewed softsynths. the cover collage depicts immenent transcedance amidst the faces of absurdity.

Sean Price & Lil' Fame - Price Of Fame (Ruck Down Records)

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Sean Price & Lil Fame join forces for 'The Price of Fame' album. The 11-track project features M.O.P., Smif N Wessun, Rock of Heltah Skeltah, Conway The Machine & Guilty Simpson. The album is entirely produced by Lil Fame and contains all unreleased Sean Price verses.

The Professionals - The Professionals (Madlib Invazion)

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LP Vinyl 25.99 Add to basket

The Professionals – Beats by Madlib. Raps by Oh No. Real. Rap. Shit. Featuring Adub, Elzhi, Chino XL.

Madlib is a highly regarded and influential hip-hop producer and occasional rapper, who has left his distinct and stylized sound on classic tracks and critically beloved albums by the likes of MF DOOM (Madvillain), J Dilla (JayLib), Talib Kweli (Liberation), Georgia Anne Muldrow (Seeds), and more. Madlib’s collaborations with rapper Freddie Gibbs (Piñata & this year’s Bandana) are some of the most acclaimed hip-hop records of the past decade, and his various DJ mix compilations (Madlib Medicine Show, Beat Konducta) have earned high praise from a vareity of journalistic sources.

Oh No is a rapper and producer who has left his mark across a wide swath of releases. His 2006 concept album Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms (Which exclusively sampled the works of musical theatre composer Galt MacDermot) was highly acclaimed upon its release, as well as his various crate-digging DJ mix projects (Dr. No’s Oxperiment, Dr. No’s Ethiopium).

He has produced tracks for the likes of Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Aloe Blacc, Talib Kweli, and Prodigy, while contributing guest verses to tracks by Czarface, Apathy, Murs, Little Brother, and more.

Slum Village x Abstract Orchestra - Fantastic 2020 (Ne'Astra)

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"Live jazzy orchestral interpretations of the Jay Dee aka J Dilla produced Slum Village classic Fantastic Vol 2!

On this, the 20th anniversary of Fan-Tas-Tic Volume 2's release, the Abstract Orchestra are proud to pay tribute to this highly innovative hip-hop classic. Across a 2-CD set of studio recordings, the big band applies their own jazzy spin to Dilla's classic productions, with occasional assistance from the surviving members of Slum Village themselves. The end result is Fantastic 2020, a hybrid blend of smooth, funky brass rhythms with boom-bap sensibilities that is just the kind of tribute that an often unsung, but highly influential group like Slum Village deserves, and is a more than welcome addition to any Dilla completist's library.

EAMON - Captive Thoughts (Now-Again Records)

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Platinum recording artist and unapologetic soul singer Eamon is set to release his new album Captive Thoughts on Now-Again Records. After his ambitious and critically acclaimed 2017 album Golden Rail Motel, Eamon's new record feels like an even deeper expression of the lost art of the singer's ability to make the listener feel every single lyric. 'Simply put, I'm singing every note as if my life depends on it' says Eamon through a thick Staten Island accent that hasn't faded since relocating to Los Angeles.

Now-Again Records was so impressed with Eamon's Golden Rail Motel that they approached the singer and offered him a unique deal: he could comb through their vast catalog of songs from the 60's and 70's in order to sample music to create an album of his own. At first working with Stoupe, the producer from legendary hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks, Eamon would stay up late into the night sifting through sample upon sample in search of the perfect fit for the album. Eamon then approached his steadfast producers Benj Heard and Snipe Young with seven songs to tackle together. The end result was something fresh and forward looking but also a throwback to the golden era of soul music. While many will remember Eamon for his groundbreaking song 'Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)', the music he has recorded since his comeback from his decade-long hiatus represent the evolution from a controversial kid to a dynamic and respected artist. Captive Thoughts channels Eamon's childhood performing in his father's doo wop group, his immersion in 1990's New York hip hop, his obsession of classic soul music, and the intense lyricism and performances of Golden Rail Motel into one, cohesive album that is capable of moving the listener in unexpected ways. Eamon's voice communicates the highs and lows of being human with his unforgettable style. This record, like the songs it samples, is here to stay.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Half Manne Half Cocaine(Madlib Invazion)

12" Vinyl 12.99 Add to basket

This exclusive 12 inch release features “Half Manne Half Cocaine” and “Palmolive” from Bandana, the critically acclaimed best-seller from Freddie Gibbs and Madlib.

In addition to full instrumentals for both selections the set includes the Madlib bonus beats “Zebras In The Myst” and “Night Vision” not found anywhere else.

TRACKLIST:

A1. Half Manne Half Cocaine (Vocal Version)
A2. Half Manne Half Cocaine (Instrumental)
A3. Zebras In The Mist (Bonus Beat)


B1. Palmolive (feat. Pusha T & Killer Mike)
B2. Palmolive (Instrumental)
B3. Night Vision (Bonus Beat)

Herbie Hancock - Directstep (Get On Down)

Limited Edition Gatefold LP Vinyl 28.99 Add to basket

This is a Black Friday 2019 item. Previously Issued On LP In Japan Only. Out Of Print Since The 1980s. Housed In A Deluxe Gatefold Jacket and Exclusive Japanese- Style OBI-Card and Includes A Full-Colour Insert. Throughout the 1970s, legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock engaged in a prolonged period of experimentation across sounds and recording formats, releasing several albums for Columbia that were only issued in Japan. 1979's Directstep was one such album, one that made use of a new form of recording technology called Direct-To-Disc. This method recorded masters in real time to acetate discs, rendering incredibly high fidelity LP pressings, but sacrificing the ability to edit or overdub. A challenge Hancock and his group were more than up to. Directstep utilized other technological advancements as well, incorporating brand new electronic instrument technology such as the electronic wind instrument the Lyricon, the freshly released Propet-5 synthesizer, and of course the Sennheiser Vocoder which would become a key part of the artist’s arsenal during his electro-funk period in the 1980s. Beyond all that, Directstep is an incredibly solid collection of Herbie Hancock material, featuring stirring remakes of Hancock staples Butterfly and I Thought It Was You as well as brand new track Shiftless Shuffle.

Get On Down is proud to present this reissue of Directstep, a gem of jazz-fusion, available on vinyl for the first time in 30 years for RSD Black Friday.

Miles Davis - Miles In Tokyo: Miles Davis Live In Concert (Get On Down)

Limited Edition Gatefold LP Vinyl 28.99 Add to basket

This is a Black Friday 2019 item.

Miles Davis was on the verge of forming one of his most acclaimed ensembles in 1964. It was this year that he travelled to perform in Japan for the first time, bringing with him 3/4ths of the musicians that would form his famed "second great quartet"; Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on double bass, and Tony Williams on drums. In addition the jazz legend brought along saxophonist Sam Rivers to replace the recently exited George Coleman. Davis and Rivers never developed any major chemistry and frequently found their distinct styles frequently clashing (or perhaps dueling) in their performances. Rivers would ultimately be dismissed from the group at the end of their trip, leading to the arrival of Wayne Shorter, and the inception of the second great quintet. The partnership of Miles Davis and Sam Rivers may have been short-lived, but it did produce the live album Miles In Tokyo. The record is a rare jewel in Miles Davis' discography, featuring high-energy live versions of songs by Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, and Richard Carpenter, as well as a restlessly fast-paced take on the Davis staple So What.

This collection has previously only been available in Japan, but is now presented on vinyl for the first time in America by Get On Down, just in time for RSD Black Friday.

The J.B's - More Mess On My Thing Reissue (Now-Again)

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LP Vinyl + Booklet 26.99 Add to basket

The companion to These Are The JB’s - the long lost, unreleased album by James Brown’s first backing band: the Bootsy Collins led JB’s, that Now-Again issued in 2014. Never-before-heard originals including the band’s mythical demo recording for James Brown, which only made it to a one-off test press on King Records. The full version of the song was recently discovered in Universal’s vault by James Brown detective Harry Weinger and is presented here for the first time ever. Also included is the JB’s powerful medley not presented on Now–Again’s issue of the lost These Are The JB’s. Covers by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and The Beatles. Contains extensive booklet with full annotation, liner notes by Brown historian Alan Leeds and never-before-published photos.

James Reese And The Progressions - Wait For Me: The Complete Works 1967- 1972 (Now-Again)

2CD 12.99 Add to basket
LP Vinyl + Booklet 45.99 Add to basket

Trombonist, bandleader, songwriter, arranger and producer James Reese never issued an album with his Progressions band, only a series of 45s – some under his own name, some under that of his collaboraors – out of Spartanburg, South Carolina on his Najma label, from the late 1960s until the mid 1970s. He was as ambitious as he was talented, and his ouevre ranges from brutal, deep soul to sophisticated instrumental ballads to jazz-inflected funk. Now-Again’s Egon first discovered Reese’s music on a 24 lock-in in Concord, North Carolina’s legendary record and antique clock repository, Ye Olde Clock Shoppe, in 1999. After he tracked down Reese, he officially reissued two of Reese’s songs on his seminal Stones Throw anthology The Funky 16 Corners. He later issued more of Reese’s music on the Now-Again anthology Loving On The Flipside.

Sourced from rare 45s and multi-track master tapes, Wait For Me: The Complete Works 1967-1972 presents both issued and recently-rediscovered songs in the full-length format, in a cohesive set that shows the brilliance still arising from the American soul and funk sub-strata. Long time Now-Again associate Kenny Dope presents a remix of the song “Throwing Stones,” and Now-Again mastering engineer Jason Bitner presents alternate mixes of various cuts on a bonus second LP, available only to subscribers. Those mixes are also included as part of the 2 CD set that accompanies the vinyl album. Both LP and CD version contain an extensive booklet detailing the trajectory of Reese and his band. Download card for WAV files included with the LP.

Juju - Live At The East 1973 (Now-Again)

LP + Booklet LP 26.99 Add to basket

Now-Again Records Presents Limited Edition Deluxe Reissues Of The Lauded Black Fire Catalog In 2020.

First up in the series, this previously unreleased live session recorded at the legendary Brooklyn venue The East in 1973. Magical, mystical, Afrocentric, progressive, words that could be used to describe any number of musical compositions by Sun Ra or his cosmic brothers and sisters, from John to Alice Coltrane, early ‘70s projects on record labels like Detroit’s Tribe or Houston’s Lightin’ or the interests of one Washington, DC native named Jimmy Gray that centered under one, perfect moniker: Black Fire. Gray spent nearly three decades pushing boundaries as a Black American promoter, distributor and, finally, record label owner. Together with Juju’s leader James “Plunky Nkabinde “ Branch, Gray oversaw sixteen releases on Black Fire Records between 1975 and 1996. These are the definitive reissues of five of the label’s key titles; all were lacquered, most directly from master tape by legendary Los Angeles mastering engineer Bernie Grundman, With this set, Juju and Black Fire’s story burns forth into its fifth decade, its message not tempered, its sound pure. It’s cycle, once again, complete. Each release is packaged in a thick, tip-on sleeve and includes a deluxe booklet with extensive notes on the album, the Black Fire collective, and the musical and cultural revolution they created.

Limited edition, one time pressing

Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage (Get On Down)

Remastered Gatefold 2LP Vinyl 30.99 Add to basket

Raphael Saadiq did not rest on his laurels after bringing his famed R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! to a close in 1997. In the coming years he was a highly sought after producer and session musician, leaving his mark on tracks by D'Angelo, The Roots, and Erykah Badu, and briefly formed the supergroup Lucy Pearl with Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and Dawn Robinson of En Vogue. After nearly a decade of working in the realm of New Jack Swing, Saadiq's interests gradually gravitated towards the burgeoning musical subgenre of neo-soul.

In the nearly two decades since the album's release in 2002, Instant Vintage has never been reissued on vinyl. Get On Down aims to change all that in 2020 with this sterling LP reissue, featuring remastered audio and an intricately re-created Gatefold sleeve of the original, enigmatic cover art.

Ben Pirani and The Means of Production - That’s The Way It Goes / Dreamin’s For Free (Colemine Records)

Limited Edition Hand Written 7" Black Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

A. That’s The Way It Goes / B. Dreamin’s For Free

Beautiful stripped-down lowrider-soul from Ben Pirani and The Means of Production on Colemine Records, released for Valentine's day.

Planet Asia - A.G.E (All Gold Everything) [Air Vinyl Records]

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Planet Asia is in his King Medallions bag this year. After dropping the criminally slept-on Initials On My Jewelry last Spring, the Fresno beast is back with the drip-heavy A.G.E. (All Gold Everything). The album features production from DJ Skizz, DirtyDiggs, Nicholas Craven, and more. Guests include Defari, TriState, Montage One, Stylistik Jones, and more!

KXNG Crooked & Bronze Nazareth - Gravitas (Air Vinyl Records)

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Featuring Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah, Planet Asia And Else.

Long Beach legend Kxng Crooked takes a break from his consistently dope Weeklys series to serve up listeners a slab of hardcore Hip-Hop fashioned with lauded Wu affiliate Bronze Nazareth. It's East meets West in a collision of sound. And plenty of Crooked and Bronze's homies come along for the ride, including Snoop Dogg, RZA, Ghostface Killah, Planet Asia, Ras Kass, and many more.

Fred The Godson - God Level (Air Vinyl Records)

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Featuring Benny The Butcher, 38 Spesh, Jim Jones & more.

Fred The Godson gave listeners a couple drums earlier this year on his collab album with Joell Ortiz, "Gorilla Glue." The effort was well-received by fans and critics alike. Be that as it may, Gordo plan's to close out 2019 with more fire. He's linked up with 38 Spesh and his TCF Music Group to release a surprise drop on November 15th titled "God Level." The album includes features from 38 Spesh, Benny The Butcher, Jim Jones, Axel Leon, and more. However, the lead single is a solo aural assault dedicated to getback titled "Retaliation." This litany of intricate punchlines over a hard Hesami beat is the perfect intro to "God Level."

38 Spech x Benny The Butcher - Stabbed & Shot (Air Vinyl Records)

CD 18.99 Add to basket

INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED INSTRUMENTALS!

Air Vinyl is proud to be reissuing Benny The Butcher and 38 Spesh's seminal joint album, Stabbed & Shot. These underground kingpins were both at their hungriest at the top of 2018 and this LP is the proof. Air Vinyl will also be releasing Stabbed & Shot II later in 2020, so this re-release should get fans ready.

Benny the Butcher is as hot as any artist on the planet right now, fresh off of an incredible 2019 with his The Plugs I Met project, the collaborative effort Statue of Limitations (with Smoke DZA), and his Shady Records debut alongside his Griselda brethren Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine, entitled WWCD.

38 Spesh is heading up the Trust movement, and also had a stellar few years, including his Son of G Rap album (alongside Kool G Rap) and songs with Styles P, Jadakiss, Uncle Murda, AZ, N.O.R.E., Kool G Rap, and French Montana. He has worked with several high-profile producers as well, including the likes of DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Alchemist.

Album art by Manuel "Cep" Concepcion

Statik Selektah & Paul Wall - Give Thanks (Tuff Kong Records)

LP Vinyl 27.99 Add to basket

During the course of 2019 boom-bap ambassador Statik Selektah has provided the masses with several collaborations with southern legends such as Bun B and Curren$y and now ends the year with a collaboration with the People’s Champ and H-Town O.G. Paul Wall. The extraordinaire producer provides a brand new soundscape for Paul Wall to spit to, his classic boom-bap trademark and soulful vibes characterise these seven songs which also see guest appearances by B-Real, CJ Fly, Benny The Butcher, Nems, Haile Supreme, Termanology and Mia Jae. Delivering this collaboration on thanksgiving the two have given life to an unlikely but incredible collaboration.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana Beats, Instrumentals LP (Madlib Invazion, ESGN, Keep Cool, RCA)

LP Vinyl 25.99 Add to basket

The instrumentals to the acclaimed 2019 collaborative album from Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, now available on vinyl.

Madlib, the prolific producer and adept sampler with a record collection spanning all genres and eras and Freddie Gibbs, the gravel-voiced braggadocios rapper, a vocal athlete. As a pair, they exude a natural chemistry and craft an alchemical music. Reunited after their widely celebrated 2014 album Piñata, Gibbs and Madlib are back with Bandana, a brand new collaboration for 2019. Bandana includes first single, “Flat Tummy Tea,” which received critical praise upon release from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Vulture, Pitchfork, FADER, GQ, and more. The album will also include features from Pusha T, Killer Mike, Yasiin Bey, and Black Thought and more.