Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) 2LP Vinyl (Duck Down, Fatbeats)

2LP 22.99 Add to basket

Lieutenant Gaviston speaks of a recon mission in Kabul, Afghanistan where he discovers classified information that changes EVERYTHING that he believes about this W.A.R. This information is uploaded & transmitted through time. If you eventually hear this; you have been ordained or genetically pre-exposed to have received this information. What you will eventually hear is a WARNING.

These words are powerfully delivered by Idris Elba to set a tone for Pharoahe Monch’s upcoming album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). The material presented is a consistent message from start to finish with new epiphanies exposed after various sets of songs. The order of music helps the listener see the vivid stories that Pharoahe is painting through the use of his lyrics.

The production compliments Monch’s delivery & takes on a genuine art form that could easily stand on its own. Live instruments resonate at the start & end of certain tracks, such as his title song W.A.R. featuring Immortal Technique & Vernon Reid. Producers Exile, Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Fatin, Diamond D, Mike Loe, Samiyam, Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno & Pharoahe Monch himself help shape the album into what will be Monch’s greatest work to date.

Pharoahe Monch’s vision for the album is supported with guest features that provide an eclectic mix of sounds. Fans can look forward to material with Jill Scott, Styles P, Citizen Cope, Jean Grae, Royce Da 5? 9,” Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid, Phonte, Mr. Porter, Mela Machinko, Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind.

Various - Bedford-Stuyvesant Youth In Action - Talent Hunt Winners, LP Vinyl (Big Crown Records)

LP 21.99 Add to basket

Big Crown Records is proud to present the reissue of one of Brooklyns most sought after holy grails. Youth in Action, Inc. (YIA) was formed in 1963 when the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council received a grant to develop a youth services program in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community. It was originally organised to identify and address the social problems that were leading to the high crime rate in Bed-Stuy. What there is no mention of in either the NMAAHCs collection of YIA materials nor in the Brooklyn Public Library's also extensive collection is this talent show and the record that came to be because of it. Local vocal groups chose tunes to cover from the era (1964 - 1968) ranging from The Rascals to The Intruders, from The O'Jays to Billy Stewart. All of these groups were backed by a local act called The Thrillers Band. The winners of the talent contest were then invited into the studio to record their versions which would be pressed up on this record and given away to local radio and TV stations. The hope of the whole thing was that this would help the young groups get discovered by producers and record labels and start their professional music careers. The intro to the album is Reverend Horace Tyler congratulating the winners

What this album may lack in fidelity and production it more than makes up for in charm. The engineers at the recording sessions pump in pre recorded applause and screaming to give the it the feel of the day of the contest while the young groups sing their hearts out, clearly giving their all.

"It is with great pleasure that we make this available to the public again. This is a truly rare record, and an awesome piece of New York History."

Cut Beetlez & The Good People - Cut People, 12" Vinyl (Fabyl)

12" Vinyl 9.99 Add to basket

Following an initial foray into the hip-hop market with Bronx Slang, Fabyl Recordings heads boom-bap-wards once more as Finland’s Cut Beetlez and NYC’s The Good People come together to create a ‘Fabyl Four’ for new single Bad News. And so it falls to J-Man and HP Lovescratch to set up a positively cavernous double-bass-powered beat, with Emskee and Saint providing the rhymes – “Who’s this? Good Beetles or Cut People/ whichever you choose – just lethal!” Damn straight – they’re not here to appease you. Also comes in ‘clean’ and ‘instrumental’ versions and would seem to be the harbinger of a full-length collab. between the parties involved. All of which is far from bad news, I think you’ll agree…

Comes With Cut People Stcikers!

Brownout - Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath II , LP Vinyl, Limited Edition, Copper (Ubiquity Recordings)

LP 22.99 Add to basket

Austin, Texas-based, nine-piece Latin funk and breakbeat purveyors Brownout have announced the release of Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, Vol. II on October 28 via Ubiquity Records. The recording—the band’s second collection of material by godfathers of metal Black Sabbath—includes reimagined versions of “Fairies Wear Boots,” “Snowblind” and “Supernaught.” The tracks “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and “Symptom of the Universe” features vocals by Ghostland Observatory’s Aaron Behrens.

Track Listing: Supernaut; Snowblind; Symptom Of The Universe featuring Aaron Behrens; Fairies Wear Boots; Children Of The Grave; Electric Funeral; Sweet Leaf; Sabbath Bloody Sabbath featuring Aaron Behrens.

Michael Nau - No Quit, Gold 7" Vinyl, Limited (Karma Chief)

Gold 7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Michael Nau crafts reflective indie rock tinged with folk and psychedelic influences. He was known for leading the like-minded projects Page France and Cotton Jones in the mid-2000s to early 2010s before beginning to record under his own name in 2016. Nau's newest single on Colemine Records' Karma Chief imprint finds him not only playing the lion's share of the music, but also pushing the psych-folk vibes more in a soul leaning direction. Just as catchy, slightly more upbeat, and timeless as ever. Nau crafts songs that transcend time, but always have a space.

El-Jay Burner - My Thing / Dub Thing, Vinyl 7" (Fabyl)

7" Vinyl 6.99 Add to basket

What a superb choice for the London based Fabyl record label to choose 'My Thing' for their first foray into releasing music on seven inch wax on this their thirteenth release. It's a decision we co-sign with a colossal thumbs up here at 45 Live. Now let's get back to the music. El-Jay Burner drops a drum heavy reggae-tinged soul face melter that will appeal to the soul heads new and old aswell as the reggae and hip hop heads because it's a bubbling melting pot of styles that works so well. The track is produced and arranged by the super nice producer Jimmy Plates who uncorks his creative bubbly like never before on this joint. Flip the record over for the dub cut with some creative vocal drops from El-Jay.

Brainstory - Breathe / Sorry, 7" Vinyl (Big Crown Records)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

Big Crown is proud to present the second 45 from the darling dears of Rialto, CA, Brainstory. We dropped their debut single on the label back in March and it instantly caught on with all the sweet soul fans. This new 7” showcases the funkier, jazzier but equally soulful side of Brainstory. Their debut album “Buck”, produced entirely by Leon Michels is due out in October of 2019.

The A side, “Breathe”, takes a page out of the Shuggie Otis playbook and then flips the script with some stoned out, west coast swag. In the words of Kevin, Brainstory’s lead chanteur, “Breathe is a song about letting go of the emotional baggage of our lives in order to become who we truly are. Before this new journey can happen we got to stop back and take a breath. Relax. Use the power of this simple act to become your higher self.”

Side B, “Sorry” keeps on with the same swagger as Breathe but finds brother and bass player extraordinaire, Tony, taking over the vocal duties. In his words, “Sorry is an expression of the truth in a relationship that has ran its course. Nobody wants to say it but eventually this truth prevails and becomes undeniable”.

Kingdem (Rodney P, Ty and Blak Twang) - The Kingdem EP, Limited Edition, Numbered (Tru Thoughts)

EP 11.99 Add to basket

KINGDEM - Rodney P, Ty and Blak Twang, a brand new supergroup formed of UK hip-hop heavyweights and a trio who need little introducing. London Posse affiliate and all-round Godfather of British hip-hop: Rodney P links up one of UK Black music’s true innovators and popularisers: Ty, and the original South-London colloquial hip-hop geezer: Blak Twang, to deliver a fresh future bass anthem that is rooted in their artists legacy to the UK hip-hop canon.

Fresh off the back of a powerful Fire In The Booth with Charlie Sloth (Beats 1) KINGDEM fill in the missing chapters of UK hip-hop’s history: The UK hip-hop scene has gone way underground so we set up KINGDEM to let artists come up from behind us. We want the next generation to know that they don’t need to be chasing that grime sound, that rap sound. I think a lot of young people just don’t know we ever existed and assume that hip-hop in the UK started in the early 00s when grime came out, Rodney P explains. We made it easier for the grime scene to come out and use their own accents. We paved the way to make people have an understanding and respect of the UK accent, this UK vernacular in the music.

Your Old Droog - It Wasn't Even Close, LP And CD (Green Streets Entertainment)

CD £12.99 Add to basket
LP £29.99 Add to basket

With no advance warning, acclaimed Brooklyn rapper Your Old Droog recently released the surprise album "It Wasn’t Even Close". Executive produced by Mach-Hommy, the album features appearances from the likes of DOOM, Roc Marciano, Wiki, and Mach-Hommy himself, plus beats by Sadhu Gold, Evidence, Daringer, V Don, Tha God Fahim, Mono En Stereo, and more. Named after a line from a classic Geto Boys song, the project was sparked by a pivotal conversation between Droog and hip-hop icon Scarface, who told the young artist he would single handedly bring New York back.

Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts – Adventures Of A Reluctant Superhero (Manphibian Music) CD And LP

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LP 19.99 Add to basket

The time has come for hip-hop’s favourite superheroes to unleash their highly anticipated album. The industry’s most recognisable voice, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, and turntable wizard Krafty Kuts have been not-so-secretly preparing this project since 2017 through over 150 live shows and countless studio sessions. The time has finally come to grab your capes, don a pair of tights and load up the turntable ready for the show to begin. This is Adventures Of A Reluctant Super Hero – prepare for the Purple Assassin and the Scratchman as they come and save your city, the scene and hip-hop as we know it.

Featuring a who’s-who of collabs and guest appearances from hip-hop royalty, this 14-track record takes you to just about every corner of the genre, leaving no stone unturned. With Lyrics Born and Gift Of Gab joining on Guard The Fort to deliver a serious statement of intent to open the LP, the rest of the record is an adventure through funk, breaks, rolling basslines, buckets of groove and everything in-between. Throw in a generous portion of expertly delivered bars and vocals from genre sidekicks like Harry Shotta, Skye (Morcheeba), Omar, Dynamite MC and more, and you’re left with a hip-hop record that not even the comic books could have conceived.

DANGERDOOM – The Mouse And The Mask, Deluxe Edition LP Vinyl (Lex Records)

LP 19.99 Add to basket


Originally only available in Europe in limited quantities, Lex have repressed the Deluxe double vinyl LP edition of ‘The Mouse & The Mask’ for 2019.

Lex has a history of lavish packaging but this remains one of the lushest sleeves in the catalogue. Design by EHQuestionmark, the outer sleeve is made from thick translucent textured plastic with DOOM's mask printed on the cover, and mouse ears on each side of the mask forming a pattern that looks like a Rorschach test (a technique reused in another Danger Mouse project six months later). The inner sleeves, visible through the outer at first glance pattern based on an Ishihara test, but inside the circles in the pattern are tiny icons depicting different disasters - climate change, acid rain, holy war, nuclear leaks.

"The Mouse and the Mask" was produced by Lex super-producer Danger Mouse and masked supervillain MF DOOM. The album features Cee-Lo Green (also of Gnarls Barkley), Talib Kweli, Ghostface Killah, Money Mark and the cast of cult cartoon show Aqua Teen Hunger Force and ten years on remains DOOM's best selling album to date.

NEHRUVIANDOOM – NehruvianDOOM (Sound Of The Son) LP Vinyl (Lex Records) MF DOOM & Bishop Nehru

LP 15.99 Add to basket


"The future is looking increasingly bright for New York lyricist, Bishop Nehru’s. His reign of success continues on NehruvianDOOM, a collaborative effort between Bishop and famed masked producer/rapper, MF DOOM. one can’t help but tip their snapback to an MC that is demonstrating vast potential." XXL

"Nehru is unashamedly precocious - with a sharp flow that blends Rakim's focus Mos Def's lightness of touch... with hooks that lodge deep in your skull." Mojo

"A super dope album bursting at the seams with ill rhymes from DOOM and his young disciple over classic out-there production from Metal Face himself." Exclaim

Doom - Born Like This, CD And 2LP (Lex Records) Reissue, Limited!

CD 8.99 Add to basket

2LP 19.99 Add to basket


The limited edition vinyl repress is a deluxe double LP with embossed / debossed, spot-glossed, foil-blocked sleeve.

DOOM's most recent solo album, featuring guests including Ghostface, Raekwon, Bumpy Knuckles and Charles Bukowski with beats from J Dilla, Jake One, Madlib and the supervillain himself.

The Channels 4 / Carla & The Carlettes - Cross My Heart / Groovin, 7 Inch Vinyl (Big Crown Recordings)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket



Big Crown Records is proud to present for the first time ever on a 45 two tunes pulled from one of Brooklyn's most sought after Holy Grail soul records, YIA Talent Hunt Winners. Youth in Action, Inc. (YIA) was formed in 1963 when the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council received a grant to develop a youth services program in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community. At one point they threw a local talent show and the winners of the talent show were invited into the studio to record some of their tunes. The Talent Show Winners album is the top five amateur vocal groups backed by a local band known as The Thrillers Band, recorded sometime around 1968. The full length reissue is scheduled for an August 2019 release on Big Crown, this 45 will quick become a favourite amongst soul collectors, this is a truly rare record, and a awesome piece of New York History. The A Side is The Channels 4 cover of the Billy Stewart classic Cross My Heart. There's an unduplicatable charm on these recordings coming from the lo fi studio set up of the time, the fervour that the youths on these records are performing, and the pumped in audience applause they went with to make it see like the recordings were from the actual talent show. This is lo-fi gold. The B Side is Carla and The Carlettes killer cover of The Rascals Groovin. The take the popular tune of the time which came out of the borough of Queens and give it a proper Kings county soul treatment. Again, this is lo-fi gold.

Schoolboy Q - Crash Talk, LP Vinyl (TDE, Interscope)

LP 19.99 Add to basket



ScHoolboy Q returns with CrasH Talk, his fifth studio album three years removed from his Grammy-nominated Blank Face LP. Preceded by singles Numb Numb Juice and CHopstix (featuring Travis Scott), the Top Dawg Entertainment MC comes through with dependable bars on the project, which boasts features from two of the West Coast's unwavering voices, YG and Ty Dolla Sign, and Atlanta young guns 6LACK, Lil Baby and 21 Savage. A sense of weariness pervades CrasH Talk. This is understandable considering ScHoolboy Q has had to deal with the loss of close friend Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle within six months of each other.

Doom / DAMU - MF DOOM & Damu The Fudgemunk – Coco Mango / Coco Mango Remixes, Colored 7" Vinyl (Fat Beats)

Colored 7" Vinyl 15.99 Add to basket



Orange vinyl limited to 500 copies worldwide. In a world where we all have our respective tastes in music, one artist has managed to remain at the top our lists and top of the food chain. MF DOOM is a name you can't go wrong with. Pop aficionados and underground hip hop purists alike have been far from shy when giving the man his due praise during his 30 year career. If you're collecting vinyl, then it's safe to assume you own at least one of his cult classics like Operation Doomsday, Viktor Vaughn, Danger Doom or MM Food all of which continue to be top performers years after their original release dates. His most popular is 2004's collaboration with Madlib entitled Madvallainy. Madvillainy has cemented DOOM as a legend in the minds of many. In 2011, Paris based production duo the Union collaborated with Doom for their album, Analogtronics on the single, "Coco Mango". This track would be remixed by DC's, Damu the Fudgemunk for a limited 7" that sold out in two weeks and became an underground smash in it's own right. Being a DOOM and Madvillain fan, Damu took to the opportunity to lay 2 remixes both inspired specifically by Madvillain's track "Rhinestone Cowboy". The results are commonly dubbed "CoCo Mango Sliced" (power outage mix) and "Coco Mango Diced" (boyscout mix). Coco Mango Sliced enlisted a sharp guest verse from Boston's Insight the Truncator. Fun fact: While producing the remixes, Damu lost power in his studio literally after recording a demo of the the first mix and lost the unsaved be in his MPC. That 2 track demo would become what was published, hence the (power outage mix). Instead of recreating the exact same beat he lost, Damu took the same sample and put a different swing on it, giving us remix number 2 (boyscout mix). Since its original release, these remixes have become known as "the DOOM record you've never heard" due to it's short shelf life. Though a repress would've made perfect sense in 2011, it's now 2019 and these tracks are finally getting a proper reissue. The cover art was handled by well known artist Joe Buck of De La Soul fame and pays homage to DOOM using his signature hand drawn technique accenting a classic masked photo of Damu the Fudgemunk. Everything about this record screams high quality hip hop. Brought to you by one of the genre's most respected producers, Damu the Fudgemunk and Redefinition Records, fans now have an opportunity to own this gem documenting and celebrating one of our largest icons, MF DOOM.

Your Old Droog - Transportation, CD And 2LP (Mongoloid Banks)

CD 13.99 Add to basket

2LP 24.99 Add to basket



Your Old Droog comes back with his second album of 2019, in the form of "Transportation". While I was a fan of "It Wasn't Even Close", I have to say this project is the one that I gravitate toward and it's what I would associate Droog with more musically. I guess one could say "Transportation" doesn't take the chances that the previous project took, Droog isn't rhyming over more experimental beats on here, he's sticking to his true and tried formula that has worked for him on his best projects in the past. The beats aren't straight up boom bap in flavor, but they are certainly derived from that formula. There are some familiar samples on here that have been flipped, so they work just fine. Droog is Droog as far as it goes with him on the mic, and that's a good thing, as Droog is one of the better emcees in hip hop currently. The only real issues with "Transportation" is the flow of the album is severely impacted by misplaced skits and clips at the end of songs, some of which are rather juvenile in nature (the old man in me speaking). Things would flow so much better with taking much of it out.

"Transportation" isn't going to make any new fans for Droog, he just takes a formula that was working for himself and sharpens it even more. I encourage Droog to take those chances that he has, it keeps his sound from becoming stale, but also use what works, and "Transportation" works for the most part.

Tom Caruana Remix Projects- Inner Space, Colored Or Black Vinyl 2LP (Tea Sea Records)

Red/Blue Colored 2LP £24.99 Add to basket

Black 2LP £24.99 Add to basket

Krautrock pioneers Can get the Caruana sample flip treatment. Featuring a plethora of emcees, Inner Space is the meeting of 2 worlds. Trippy, playful, weird and banging! Many of the acapellas are exclusive to this project as they were sent directly to Caruana by the artists. 14 of the 36 tracks feature exclusive acapellas. 1 brand new track from Willie Evans Jr. and an exclusive hook on the track with Supastition.

SIGNED - Lee Fields & The Expressions – Wake Up / You’re What’s Needed In My Life, 7" Vinyl (Big Crown Records)

SIGNED 7" Vinyl 9.99 Add to basket

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket



Following up on the massive success of Lee Fields recently released full length “It Rains Love” we drop another 45 for the DJs and collectors. This time showing off two different sides of Lee & The Expressions range. The A side “Wake Up” is Lee’s heavy duty, drum driven, anthemic tune for the times. Fields calls out the highly over–used and abused term of the current presidency “fake news.” Over a hard as nails sound bed courtesy of The Expressions he goes on asking people to wake up and not let this propaganda sway them from knowing what is right and wrong. The B side “You’re What’s Needed In My Life” is a gushing testament to the beauty of love. Solidifying his title as the Professor of Love it’s almost like he’s writing your girl’s valentine for you. Going beyond how happy the woman he is singing to makes him and telling of how she makes everyone she meets happier. This two–sider is about as classic as possible, a heavy duty funk banger on the A side, and nothing but love on the ballad B side. Another classic and timeless offering from the one and only Lee Fields.

Bobby Oroza - Lonely Girl / Alone Again 7" Vinyl (Big Crown Records)

7" Vinyl £8.99 Add to basket

Lonely Girl is the next must-have 45 offering from Bobby Oroza. Following up on the success of his debut album This Love, and by popular demand, we had to put these two tunes on a 7 for the DJs and collectors.

The A side “Lonely Girl” is a uptempo dancer sure to fill the floor at soul parties around the world. Bobby finds a kindred spirit in an introverted young lady and puts his best foot forward to persuade her to take a chance on him. The Cold Diamond & Mink production puts this one over the top with their signature tough drums and lush instrumentation laying down the perfect paper for Bobby’s poetry to be inked on.

Yugen Blakrok- Anima Mysterium, Now CD Added To Stock! Also Picture Disk/Single Sided LP, Limited Edition (IOT France)

CD £14.99 Add to basket

LP £23.99 Add to basket

Five years after releasing Return of the Astro-Goth, Yugen Blakrok descends from the vast cosmos and delivers to the world an impressive lesson in style, with her second album Anima Mysterium. Far from the stars but heavy with the irradiant wisdom; it’s towards Earth, humanity and the obscurity at its core that the South African rapper directs her incantations.

Accompanied by Kanif the Jhatmaster’s beats, Yugen’s flow sows the frontiers of a world where the subconscious frees itself and confronts man with his most hidden secrets. Yugen’s poetry has something Ovidian, depicting her as an agent of Metamorphosis, a reincarnated goddess in terrestrial form calling humanity to itself. “Why in the deepest darkness my soul beams like a lantern Engineered in female form...silent carrier of the force I’m a sandstorm in desert dunes, a shadow with a torch “Land of Gray, Yugen Blakrok The osmosis between Yugen’s words and Kanif’s instrumentals comes across from the first listen. On Return of the Astro-Goth, the astrological ideas covered by the rapper found a perfect canvas in the mix of wind instruments, dub and electronic echoes from the beatmaker. Here, Yugen lays hers flow over instrumentals of rock, jazz and even at times something that sounds close to witch-house. The project, released under French label I.O.T Records, extracts the essential oils from hip-hop as seen by the two artists, whose creative freedom and artistic integrity contrast with the current rigid codes of the genre. At their sides they have rallied to their musical odyssey artists from South Africa and the US, including hip-hop legend Kool Keith himself.

DJ Yoda - Homecooking, Limited Edition Red Vinyl, LP (Lewis Recordings)

Red Vinyl LP £19.99 Add to basket

Limited Edition Red Vinyl Out Now!

DJ Yoda, an artist much beloved of the summer festival circuit, here develops his craft beyond funky beatmaking, bringing in live instrumental artists to complement his samples and tasty turntablism. Songs are the key here, with musicians like Theon Cross, Nubya Garcia and Eva Lazarus helping Yoda craft a real jazz and soul mood. Home Cooking is released by Lewis Recordings.

Tribe Called Quest - Scenario, 7" Vinyl (Mr Bongo Reissue)

7" Vinyl £11.99 Add to basket

A. Scenario (Album Version) / B. Scenario (Young Nation Mix)

All-time classic hip-hop of the highest possible grade from A Tribe Called Quest, featuring that verse from Busta Rhymes as part of Leaders of the New School, with Charlie Brown and Dinco D. Near-replica reissue of the prized, Germany-only 7” from 1992, cut loud.

Your Old Droog - It Wasn't Even Close, LP And CD (Green Streets Entertainment)

CD £13.99 Add to basket
LP £29.99 Add to basket

With no advance warning, acclaimed Brooklyn rapper Your Old Droog recently released the surprise album "It Wasn’t Even Close". Executive produced by Mach-Hommy, the album features appearances from the likes of DOOM, Roc Marciano, Wiki, and Mach-Hommy himself, plus beats by Sadhu Gold, Evidence, Daringer, V Don, Tha God Fahim, Mono En Stereo, and more. Named after a line from a classic Geto Boys song, the project was sparked by a pivotal conversation between Droog and hip-hop icon Scarface, who told the young artist he would single handedly bring New York back.

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V, 2LP Vinyl (Young Money)

2LP £29.99 Add to basket

Tha Carter V has had a long road to release, most notably due to the feud (and subsequent legal battles) between Weezy and Birdman. Originally slated for a 2015 release, the album was put on hiatus when Weezy sued Cash Money for $51 million in order to get out of his contract. However, he settled that case in June of this year, and patched up things with Birdman at Lil Weezyana Fest in New Orleans, so things are looking up for the latest Carter opus. The long-delayed album captures Wayne how we want to remember him: openhearted, word-drunk, and exhilarated by the possibilities of his own voice.

Big Tone + House Shoes - Big Shoes, 2LP - Orange/Black Splatter Vinyl (Fat Beats Exclusive)

2LP £26.99 Add to basket

Orange/black splatter vinyl, limited to 100 copies.

“BIG SHOES is all about fitting the shoes that came before you and filling the shoes that will come after you. Taking the best from those who led and teaching those who will follow in your footsteps how to lead.” - House Shoes

BIG SHOES deals in legacy. The legacies we inherit, carry on or betray, and the legacies we leave behind for others. House Shoes and Big Tone know about legacy. The Motor City titans came up in a time when Detroit Hip-Hop experienced a super-bloom of creativity and innovation. In their own ways, they took on a mantle for the city and it’s music scene. They bled for it. They lost friends and pillars of their city. Then, they grew up and created families of their own. Still, they’ve pressed on and continued.
Tone and Shoes have been friends and collaborators for a lifetime. BIG SHOES is a chronicle of their experiences, together and alone, carrying out the heavy and heralded legacy of being a Detroit musician. This reconciliation of the pain their journeys have faced includes a recognition of the growth brought about as a result. BIG SHOES is also a family reunion, with a litany of guests, witnesses and friends.
This isn’t a Hollywood tale of triumph, it’s a bittersweet story of blessings and baggage. Our protagonists don’t end the album in loud and garish opulence, they complete a cipher. Where they began dealing with the weight of the lineage they carry on, we leave the story with our two auteurs in control and at peace with the patrimony they’ve built--and continue to build.

BIG SHOES is fully produced by House Shoes with Big Tone handling the mic, with family appearances from Denmark Vessey, Blu, Quelle Chris, Jimetta Rose, 87 and MoSel.

Gang Starr - Step In The Arena, 2LP 180g Vinyl, Urban Legends Re-Issue (UMe)

2LP £27.99 Add to basket

Step in the Arena is the second studio album by hip hop duo Gang Starr, printed as a 1990 release and commercially released on January 15, 1991. The album received critical acclaim and was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The Source magazine stated: “Step in the Arena stands alone on a musical level, yet it also remains true to hip-hop’s underground heritage.” In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source’s 100 Best Hip Hop Albums.

Urban Legends/UMe reissue Step In The Arena on 2LP 180 gram black vinyl.

Thee Sinseers - It Was Only a Dream, 7" Gold Transparent Vinyl (Colemine Records) Limited

7" Vinyl 9.99 Add to basket



Straight from East L.A., Thee Sinseers embody the lowrider sweet soul vibe. Love songs, washed wie th reverb, slow tempos for rolling, and a vibe for days. This type of doo-wop soul has been embraced by the Chicano culture and with a growing scene, Thee Sinseers look to make their own mark. The A-side, a very doo-wop leaning tunis contrasted with the James Brown cover on the B, I Don't Mind. Both sides just crush.

Kelly Finnigan - Catch Me I’m Falling b/w Trouble, 7" Limited Pink Vinyl (Colemine Records)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket



Pink colored vinyl limited to 1300. Debut single from Kelly Finnigan’s LP The Tales People Tell. B-side is exclusive to this 7-inch and will not be on LP.

The lead single that kicked off Kelly's solo career. Ultra sweet, super mellow, just one of the most tender moments on Kelly Finnigan's solo LP The Tales People Tell. Utilizing the pocket playing of Max and Joe Ramey from The Ironsides, Kelly's falsetto shines bright for all to hear.

Lee Fields & The Expressions – Wake Up / You’re What’s Needed In My Life, 7? Vinyl (Big Crown Records)

7" Vinyl 7.99 Add to basket



Following up on the massive success of Lee Fields recently released full length “It Rains Love” we drop another 45 for the DJs and collectors. This time showing off two different sides of Lee & The Expressions range. The A side “Wake Up” is Lee’s heavy duty, drum driven, anthemic tune for the times. Fields calls out the highly over–used and abused term of the current presidency “fake news.” Over a hard as nails sound bed courtesy of The Expressions he goes on asking people to wake up and not let this propaganda sway them from knowing what is right and wrong. The B side “You’re What’s Needed In My Life” is a gushing testament to the beauty of love. Solidifying his title as the Professor of Love it’s almost like he’s writing your girl’s valentine for you. Going beyond how happy the woman he is singing to makes him and telling of how she makes everyone she meets happier. This two–sider is about as classic as possible, a heavy duty funk banger on the A side, and nothing but love on the ballad B side. Another classic and timeless offering from the one and only Lee Fields.

Jedi Mind Tricks Presents: Army Of The Pharaohs – Ritual of Battle, 2LP Vinyl (Babygrande) Reissue

2LP 29.99 Add to basket



The sophomore album from the underground supergroup spearheaded by Jedi Mind Tricks’ front man Vinnie Paz. Available only briefly after a small repress, the album will now for the first time ever on Limited Edition Gold Vinyl. “Ritual of Batlte” also marks the first time since 2000’s “Violent By Design” that Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah have appeared on the same track together.

Blu & Exile - True & Livin', 12" Vinyl EP (Dirty Science)

12" EP 14.99 Add to basket

After 2017’s 10 year anniversary tour of Below The Heavens and a b-sides/rarities release in In The Beginning many wondered whether or not Blu & Exile would ever reunite for a proper new release or if that year was as much a curtain call as it was a celebration. Putting those questions to rest, Dirty Science Records is proud to announce the True & Livin EP – as Blu & Exile’s undeniable chemistry is yet again put on display.

“True and Livin feels like a spiritual call to all that have honor and truth in their being. It sees how present day and beyond is always trying to calculate or monetize what comes from God or what comes from an artist’s spirit, but it also recognizes the truth that is inside of Blu and Exile's music and brags about it, even in a humble way somehow. This might be the first hip hop braggadocio song that invites us all to feel the same about themselves as long as they connect to the spirit and truth that is inside this song and inside us all.” Exile says about the EP’s title track.

Positivity and strength remain a theme on this EP, in Spread Sunshine and the stand out posse cut featuring most of the Dirty Science crew in Choosey, Johaz, Cashus King, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn & Blame One on Power To The People. Blu adds, ““Power To The People” is a call to the people, a call for the people to unite. Unification is power, power in numbers.”

Adrian Younge & Ghostface Killah - Twelve Reasons To Die II (Serato Control Vinyl & Linear Labs) 2x7" Vinyl, Limited To 500!

2 X 7" Vinyl + Picture Disk 22.99 Add to basket

Standouts from GFK & Adrian Younge's 12 Reasons To Die now on Iimited edition serato 45's!

Limited edition double 7” picture-disc package containing two singles from Ghostface Killah’s Twelve Reasons To Die II project, originally released back in 2015 in conjunction with producer and composer Adrian Younge. ‘Get The Money’ features the dextrous flow of Vince Staples, now a mainstream star.

Holy Hive - Oh I Miss Her So / If I Could See Her Now (Big Crown Records) 7" Vinyl

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

Holy Hive, the group that coined the genre Folk/Soul, comes out swinging with this monster of a two-sider. The A side "Oh I Miss Her So" is pulled from their recently released Harping EP: a drop dead gorgeous tune of love and longing featuring the harping of Mary Lattimore. The tune serves as a testament to The Hive's gift for songwriting and arrangement, taking the listener on a ride from the first notes of Paul's falsetto to the outro featuring Dave Guy's (The Roots) gorgeous trumpet solo. The B Side is The Hive's crushing cover of Sunny & The Sunliners' classic "If I Could See You Now". Homer's world renown drumming provides an instant dance floor backbone to the tune while Paul's signature vocals add a welcome twist giving the original version a proper run for it's money. This cover is pulled from the forthcoming Big Crown Records label compilation "Dear Sunny..." a collection of Sunny covers done by the roster of Big Crown artists.

Sunny & The Sunliners – Smile Now, Cry Later / I Only Have Eyes For You (Big Crown)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

Brilliant reissue on Big Crown from one of the pioneers of Chicano soul, Sonny Y Los Sunliners, with the A-side anthem 'Cry Now, Smile Later' and a Flamingo's cover of 'I Only Have Eyes For You' on the flip.

A. Smile Now, Cry Later / B. I Only Have Eyes For You

Bobby Oroza - This Love, CD (Digipack) And LP Vinyl (Big Crown Records)

CD 10.99 Add to basket
LP 18.99 Add to basket

When Bobby Oroza and the Cold Diamond & Mink production duo first got together in the studio they cut "This Love". That turned out to be a hell of a start. Since they originallyreleased it in 2016 the tune has become somewhat of an underground hit. From the heavy air play at car shows and swap meets in the South West to being featured in numerous movies and tv shows, it even made it's way to an Earl Sweatshirt mixtape. All of this has lead to a lot anticipation for Bobby Oroza's debut full length which is appropriately named after the tune that started it all. Big Crown Records is proud to present the debut full length from Bobby Oroza, This Love. Bobby pushes the borders of souland rock balladry and creates a sound distinctly his own. Cold Diamond & Mink provide a pitch perfect collection of lo-fi, low-key classics on which Bobby's smokey tenor floats atop, breaking hearts on some tunes and melting them on others. Maintaining the band's signature dark and intim ate aesthetic, they run the gamut of tempos, breaking hearts on some tunes and mending them on others. The group's second single "Your Love Is Too Cold" is a stomper that blends the groovy soul drumming of early Motown records with guitar that could have been lifted from a James Bond score and has been getting heavy spins across the globe at soul parties and on radio shows. Bobby takes care of the dancers with a few up numbers, ranging from the northern soul nods on "LonelyGirl" & "Falling in Love" to the 70s jazz funk nod on "Keep On Believing". However, the ballad lovers with the uncontrollable urge to two-step late into the night will be the real winners with "This Love". Bobby thrives on the bed of dark and intimate sensuality found on tracks like "Alone Again", "Down On My Knees", and "Deja Vu". The world is about bear witness, and surely be taken back by this strange and unique shade of Soul born in Finland but made for the whole world to enjoy.

The Maytals - Monkey Man / Day And Night, 7 Inch Vinyl (Jukebox Issue, Get On Down)

7" Vinyl 8.99 Add to basket

7' singles were instrumental to the development of the Jamaican music industry, more affordable than full lengths for the consumer, they also allowed the labels to turnaround what was being recorded into music played from their booming sound systems as quickly as possible. In that spirit, Get On Down will be reissuing some of the most crucial Jamaican sides on 45, staring with The Maytals 'Monkey Man.' Recorded in 1969, the cut was a smash hit in Jamaica and hit number 47 when released in the UK in early 1970. 'Monkey Man' went on to be highly influential on the British Two-Tone movement of the later 70s with The Specials offering up a ripping version of the cut on their 1979 debut. The B Side, 'Night And Day', though not a chart-burner, is certainly one of the most solid rock-steady cuts you'll ever encounter rife with bubbly keys, tight snares and Toots Hibbert's incredibly soulful vocals.

Symarip - Skinhead Moon Stomp / Must Catch A Train, 7 Inch Vinyl (Jukebox Issue, Get On Down)

7" Vinyl 10.99 Add to basket

A classic killer cut from one of the most strangely-named acts to ever record for Trojan Records – a tune aimed specifically at the growing market of young Brits listening to reggae at the end of the 60s – with a fantastic groove that effortlessly blends soul and rocksteady with some very offbeat lyrics, and a great chorus too!

Upsetters (Lee Scratch Perry) - Jungle Lion / Freak Out Skank, 7 Inch Vinyl (Jukebox Issue, Get On Down)

7" Vinyl 10.99 Add to basket

Fantastic early material from Lee Scratch Perry! "Return Of Django" references the Italian western theme in the title, but the sound is pure Kingston, pre-Black Ark – with a wicked organ line bubbling and dipping throughout the instrumental – while a tenor gets all crazy and honky at times, and deeply soulful at others! "Dollar In The Teeth" has a groove that's maybe more conventionally ska/rocksteady – but the horns still get all nice and weird!