Little Brother "The Listening" (Deluxe Edition, 2003)

You don't know your future if you don't know your past. North Carolina trio Little Brother puts its own twist on this oft heard truth. The group's first album brims with reverence for hip hop pioneers, especially on "So Fabulous," into which they weave smile-inducing tributes to artists as divergent as Kool G Rap and Digable Planets. But these cats aren't just back-in-the-day revivalists--they add their own distinctive spin. Structured like a daily radio broadcast, The Listening unfolds into one of the most addictive debut platters in recent memory. Down-to-earth MCs Phonte and Big Pooh have great chemistry and thematic breadth: They craft emotional verses to an infant son and an incarcerated brother on "Away From Me," but also offer comic relief, as when Phonte recalls quoting Trick Daddy at a pretentious poetry reading ("The Yo-Yo"). Balancing their wordplay, producer 9th Wonder meticulously builds soul-drenched grooves like the bouncy swing of "Shorty on the Lookout." Having learned their lessons well from hip hop innovators, Little Brother stakes claim to a promising future. They've definitely been listening. - Vibe Magazine (April, 2003). I noticed they released a Deluxe Edition which includes all the bonus tracks in one place and the original album's instrumentals. Listen to that deluxe edition of The Listening now on it's original release date.

Props to Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh and 9th Wonder.

Prince Paul "Prince Among Thieves" (Press Kit, 1999)

While still just a Long Island high school student, Prince Paul Huston began his recording career in 1986 when he joined rap music's original hip hop band, Stetsasonic, as its resident "surgeon on the mix." In addition to DJing for the six-man group, Paul seized his internship with Stet to flex his fledgling production skills on cuts like the driving title song to 1988's much-heralded In Full Gear LP. However, it wasn't until a trio of eccentric and hugely talented hip hop-bred teens from Paul's Amityville, L.I. neighborhood enlisted his production guidance that Paul would emerge as the eclectic visionary that he remains known as today. De La Soul's platinum-certified 1989 masterpiece, 3 Feet High And Rising, established Prince Paul's signature sound; a collage of funky soul loops, old school club tracks and breakbeats, samples from childrens' records and virtually anything else in reach all woven together by ingeniously choreographed audio skits. Having risen to hip hop's upper echelon of console controllers, Paul's wizardry left its mark on 3rd Bass' "The Gas Face" and "Brooklyn-Queens" (both from the gold-certified The Cactus Album), Cypress Hill's "Latin Lingo"-remix and the title cut from Big Daddy Kane's gold-certified 1989 LP, It's A Big Daddy Thing among many others. Paul and De La Soul would also refine 3 Feet's creative peaks with 1991's equally outstanding, gold-certified De La Soul Is Dead and 1993's superb, but commercially neglected Buhloone Mindstate.

Around this time, De La's commercial struggles, coupled with the dissolution of Stetasonic and Paul's aborted deal for his own label, Dew Dew Man Records, sent the musical brainiac into a period of introspection that would greatly shape his future recordings. Teaming with Wu-Tang Clan's sound architect, RZA, former Stet bandmate, Fruitkwan, and former Tommy Boy soloist, Too Poetic, in 1994, Paul blazed another trail  for hip hop when he formed one of the music's first supergroups -- the faux "horror-core" quartet, Gravediggaz. If the group's image played up the campy side of ghostly games, its debut LP, 6 Feet Deep, reflected a smart-aleck intelligence that reveled in the mockery of the music industry and all its trappings. In his most recent work, Paul's disillusionment with the record industry has driven him to sagely seek collaborations and projects that are compatible with his own creative visions. 1996's Psychoanalysis LP rejuvenated Paul by providing him an unbound forum with which to express his mental musings. His remix to the Kool Keith-helmed Dr. Octagon project's "Blue Flowers" of the same year drew kudos from hip hop's critical cognoscenti. And his contributions to Chris Rock's Roll With The New spawned the hilarious Puff Daddy hit single spoof, "Champagne," and received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album of 1997. His latest project, "A Prince Among Thieves," synergizes the varied talents at Prince Paul's hands for a cinematic and musical opus of unprecedented scope for hip hop music. - Press Kit (Tommy Boy Records, 1999). 

Lord Finesse "The Awakening" (Hip-Hop Connection, 1996)

Lord Finesse's classic 'The Funky Technician' helped establish the now-famed DITC clique, introducing Show & AG and featuring productions by DJ Premier and Diamond D. The 'Return Of The Funky Man' set continued in a similar vein, but had little success. Three years later, and now on his fourth label, Finesse returns with 'The Awakening'. Although much was recorded during his period at Bandoola Records, it still sounds fresh in '96. The recent 'Hip 2 The Game' single was a good indicator -- Fineese's well constructed lyrics over self-produced beats, which while more mellow than previously, are hard enough to satisfy. 'No Gimmicks' (featuring KRS-One), the omitted B-Side, doesn't appear here either, but its replacement, 'Brainstorm' -- again featuring KRS but also OC -- isn't likely to disappoint. Elsewhere AG successfully collaborates with Finesse on the posse cut "Speak Ya Peace'; while other efforts like 'Food For Thought' and 'Flip Da Script' are admirably solid. Although technically an EP, 'The Awakening' is another consistent effort by Finesse, and unlike some full-length efforts, contains no filler material. - HHC, 96. Finesse is still one of the best out of D.I.T.C!

The full review and an OG sticker from The Awakening are below...

Brother Ali "Satisfied Soul" (Album Stream)

Brother Ali’s “Satisfied Soul” (his debut Mello Music Group album) is a thunderclap, a 17-track sermon where truth and vulnerability collide with legendary producer Ant's signature production. Ali wields his pen like a blade, slicing through the smoke of political despair and personal revelation, delivering wisdom with a preacher’s cadence and a rebel’s fire. Ant crafts a sonic mosaic of dusty drums, warm vinyl crackle, and ghostly rhythms that feel like they’ve been pulled from the deep pockets of America’s forgotten record shops. This is thought provoking, spiritual rap, full of jagged self-reflection and unflinching critique, rooted in hope and defiance. Ali's voice weaves stories that feel more like conversations with an old friend than mere tracks. This isn't just an album—it’s a movement wrapped in the spirit of resilience. One of my favorite artists and people. Listen below...

J.Period Presents "Dilla Soul" (EP Stream)

A Dilla Day exclusive! J.Period Presents… Dilla Soul [Remixes], a re-imagining of De La Soul classics over re-mastered J Dilla gems, featuring Native Tongue icons: De La Soul, J Dilla, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep, Common, MF DOOM and more!! Of course, the exclusive artwork is once again handled by the talented Dan Lish. Rest In Peace, J Dilla; a nice way to honor J Dilla on his Born Day. Also, Rest In Peace to Trugoy the Dove of De La Soul, Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, and MF DOOM. Enjoy Dilla Soul, the 7-track Remix EP from J.Period + hit the tags for more...

Donnie Propa "Straight From The Crate Cave: Valentine's Day" (Mix)

Here we go... a Valentine's Day mix from UK's Donnie Propa. The hour long joint is available on cassette and features tracks from Method Man & Mary J. Blige, Large Professor, Masta Ace, Biz Markie, The Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, Da King & I, Kurious, Big Pun, Biggie Smalls, LL Cool J, Gang Starr, Pharoahe Monch, Jeru The Damaja, Raekwon, Lost Boyz, Common, Fat Joe, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Slick Rick and so much more. Donnie Propa has released several mixes in his Straight From The Crate Cave series, but this is the first of this kind. Donnie Propa has stated that the mix was done with 100% vinyl, so enjoy the snaps and pops on this fantastic mix. Hit the tags for more.