September 30, 2023

Hot Boy$ - Guerrilla Warfare (1999)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Pop Rap, Gangsta Rap
Label Number: UD-53264

© 1999 Ca$h Money/Universal Records
Guerrilla Warfare presents Cash Money Records at its finest. The Hot Boys feature Juvenile, B.G., Lil' Wayne, and Turk rhyming over phenomenal bounce beats provided by Mannie Fresh. Following the success of Juvenile's 400 Degreez and B.G.'s Chopper City in the Ghetto, Guerrilla Warfare highlighted a fully realized regional sound, indigenous to New Orleans. While Mannie Fresh effectively puts a gangsta lean on electro booty bass, the MCs sport accents dipped deep in a Cajun frying pan. As "I Need a Hot Girl" (featuring Big Tymers) and "We on Fire" made their mark on the airwaves, album tracks such as "Get Out of the Way," "Ridin," and "Clear the Set" decorated the streets. With something for everyone not dissuaded by a parental advisory, Guerrilla Warfare has rap classic written all over it.

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 tags: hot boys, guerilla warfare, 1999, flac,
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Copywrite - The High Exhaulted (2002)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: HTR-103

© 2002 Eastern Conference Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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 tags: copywrite, the high exhaulted, 2002, flac,
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Yaggfu Front - The Secret Tapes (2002)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: MCDY0502

© 2002 Mends Recordings
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 tags: yaggfu front, the secret tapes, 2002, flac,
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September 29, 2023

The Heatmakerz - The Rush (2007)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap, Pop Rap
Label Number: HBD-CD-MK16

© 2007 Major Key Entertainment
Rap producers the Heatmakerz (Thrilla and Rsonist ) call their sound "crack" because it's so addictive, and this 2007 release lives up to the hype. Having already produced hypnotic, drum-heavy tracks for the likes of Juelz Santana, Ludacris, and Cam'Ron, the Heatmakerz further their street cred with guest stars Peedi Crakk, and Diplomats Jim Jones and JR Writer, as well as Rsonist on occasional lead vocals.

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 tags: the heatmakerz, heatmakers, the rush, 2007, flac,
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September 28, 2023

Mello K - Hard & Mello (1994)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Pop Rap, Gangsta Rap
Label Number: None

© 1994 L.A. Boy Records
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 tags: mello k, hard and mello, 1994, flac,
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Lipkin - Lipkin (1995)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: Sweden
Language: English
Genre: Post Grunge
Label Number: SOR CD9

© 1995 Step One Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: lipkin, lipkin album, 1995, flac,
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Sleestack'z - Behind The Iron Curtain (1996)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: D2 24888-2

© 1996 Ichiban International
Taking their name from Sid and Marty Krofft's Saturday morning classic Land of the Lost, the Sleekstack'z' debut offers a taste of the group's revisionist hip-hop.

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 tags: sleestackz, behind the iron curtain, 1996, flac,
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Holocaust & American Poets 2099 - Theatre of Pain (2009)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop 
Label Number: SKR121; MUI-CD.10016

© 2009 Soul Kid/Music Access, Inc.
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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 tags: holocaust and american poets 2099, theatre of pain, 2009, flac,
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September 27, 2023

Extra Prolific - Like It Should Be (1994)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 01241-41532-2

© 1994 Jive Records
By 1994, the Hieroglyphics crew had been on a scorching hot streak (in terms of album quality if not necessarily sales) that extended back to Del's I Wish My Brother George Was Here and included Souls of Mischief's '93 'Til Infinity, the sophomore Funkee Homosapien album No Need for Alarm, and Casual's Fear Itself. Extra Prolific concluded this winning run with yet another highly satisfying, if meager-selling, effort. Unsurprisingly, Like It Should Be shares many of the characteristic qualities of the other Hieroglyphics efforts, not least the brilliantly flaky production. Chiefly courtesy of a pair of the collective's in-house producers (Domino, A-Plus) as well as Extra Prolific's own resident beatsmith, DJ, MC, and mastermind Duane "Snupe" Lee (Mike G. rounds out the duo, though only nominally a presence), the album is full of clever, unusual, and flat-out playful samples that twist molasses-thick soul and smooth jazz into strangely compelling mutations. Besides Snupe's ability behind the boards, he is a solid, imaginative rhymer. His syrupy, lackadaisical way with a lyric is very much owing to the rapper's original Houston home. This separates his style from the eccentric flows of his compatriots; unfortunately, the comparison doesn't always stand Snupe in the most beneficial light. He doesn't have the sort of idiosyncratic delivery that sets apart MCs like Del and Opio (who gets the best of his guest spot on "Now What"). For instance, Casual positively steals the brief "Cash Money" with his featured verse. The album, as a result, is perhaps not quite of a piece with efforts by Extra Prolific's crewmates. Regardless, even if second-level Hieroglyphics, Like It Should Be is quite strong and possesses a plethora of exceptional tracks -- "Sweet Potato Pie," "One Motion," "In 20 Minutes," "First Sermon" -- that belong in every collection of alternative West Coast rap.

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 tags: extra prolific, like it should be, 1994, flac,
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Jemini The Gifted One - Scars & Pain (1995)

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*Reissued on CD for the first time in 2012 by Octave. 
This pressing contains remastered audio and 12 tracks total.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: OTCD-2798

© 1995-2012 Octave
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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 tags: jemini the gifted one, scars and pain, 1995, flac,
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M.T. - Lord Have Mercy On My Soul (1996)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap
Label Number: FILECD485

© 1996 Profile Records
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Rahzel - Rahzel's Greatest Knock Outs! (2004)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: SSR 9010

© 2004 Sure Shot Records
Some showing off for showing off's sake keeps Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts from being the start-to-finish success Make the Music 2000 was, but the showing off includes an almost perfect human beatbox reproduction of the Art of Noise's "Moments in Love," so who's complaining? An album of human beatboxing and verbal sound effects might sound limited and "not for everyone," but besides having incredible, Bobby McFerrin-esque skills, Rahzel knows how to pace an album. Held together with a boxing motif and a ton of video game noises -- both sampled and imitated by Rahzel -- Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts does have a definite mixtape feel, making it a gritty alternative to Make the Music 2000. Built from Music 2000 outtakes, radio appearances, and whatnot, the mix whips by at a frantic pace with only the CD player's track counter able to separate the flow. The tributes to Jam Master Jay and Aaliyah are emotion-filled stunners that are easy to pick out -- as are Slick Rick's and Cee-Lo's appearances -- but half the fun of the album is letting all the noises spill out of the speakers unsorted. On the second listen, you might find that what you swore up and down was a sample is actually just Rahzel and his microphone. Fun and filling, this is the second time the man has proved the human beatbox can be much, much more than a freaky novelty.

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tags: rahzel, rahzels greatest knock outs, 2004, flac,
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September 25, 2023

Various Artists - Not The Same Old Song & Dance: Tribute To Aerosmith (1999)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: CLP 0688-2

© 1999 Deadline Music
Cleopatra's Not the Same Old Song and Dance: Aerosmith Tribute assembles a number of hard-rock and heavy metal veterans, most with their heyday in the '80s, to perform new versions of Aerosmith classics (in other words, there's very little recent material here). Most of the performers are faithful to the originals, which isn't necessarily a problem -- the material is well-chosen and represents some of Aerosmith's best. The main problem is that many of the performances are too mannered, the production too slick to recapture the down-and-dirty grit of the originals; plus, when some selections call for keeping pace with Steven Tyler's manic, fast-paced jive, the vocalists tend to come up short. Still, there are some individual highlights -- Vince Neil does a pretty good job on "Chip Away the Stone," and Ronnie James Dio captures the essence of "Dream On," to name the most obvious. Other performers include former members of Warrant, Tesla, Damn Yankees, Ratt, and Great White.

 tags: various artists, not the same old song and dance, tribute to aerosmith, 1999, flac,
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Maestro - Ever Since (2000)

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Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Pop Rap
Label Number: SONG20042

© 2000 Song
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Mood Ruff - Antarctica: Cold Cold World (2002)

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Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 7 77521 15042 1

© 1993 Giant Records
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 tags: mood ruff, antartica cold cold world, 2002, flac,
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Dressy Bessy - Fast Faster Disaster (2019)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Pop
Label Number: YEP-2654

© 2019 Yep Roc Records
Over the years, indie fixture Dressy Bessy's records moved from fun and fizzy pop into scrappier, attitude-heavy sounds. As early as 2005's Electrified, bandleader Tammy Ealom began injecting her good-natured melodies with a more sinister, punky flavor. From there the band just continued to turn up the volume. Fast Faster Disaster marks not just the Denver group's seventh studio album, but 20 years since their 1999 debut. While not completely unrecognizable from their twee beginnings, Dressy Bessy has come a long way. Ealom's off-center songwriting and larger-than-life presence remain the focal points of the band, and finds different articulations over the course of the album. She moves from summery, slow-burning grooves on the slinky "I've Fallen in Love" to sneering confidence on "Tiny Lil Robots" to heartfelt pleading on the low-lit slide-guitar slowdown "Mon Cheri." Much of Fast Faster Disaster is a high-energy stomp, from the high-tempo blur of "Sweet Medicine" to a faithful cover of the Buzzcocks' "What Do I Get?" The band is joined by a host of guests on "The Real McCoy," a song written for long-time affiliate Scott McCaughey when he was going through uncertain times health-wise. The song's uneasy emotional themes are offset by bright and zippy guitar lines and a spirited chorus of backing vocalists including Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker and the Posies' Ken Stringfellow. Unlike any other track on the album, the song serves as a reminder of Ealom's songwriting range. Not tied to one mode of expression, Dressy Bessy's colorful songcraft continues to evolve even as they push into their second decade.

 tags: dressy bessy, fast faster disaster, 2019, flac,
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September 24, 2023

David Bowie - Low (1991 Reissue) ☠

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*Reissued in 1991 by EMI. 
This pressing contains 14 tracks total.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Art Rock
Label Number: CDP 7977192
☠: Selected by Buccanner
© 1977-1991 EMI Records
Following through with the avant-garde inclinations of Station to Station, yet explicitly breaking with David Bowie's past, Low is a dense, challenging album that confirmed his place at rock's cutting edge. Driven by dissonant synthesizers and electronics, Low is divided between brief, angular songs and atmospheric instrumentals. Throughout the record's first half, the guitars are jagged and the synthesizers drone with a menacing robotic pulse, while Bowie's vocals are unnaturally layered and overdubbed. During the instrumental half, the electronics turn cool, which is a relief after the intensity of the preceding avant pop. Half the credit for Low's success goes to Brian Eno, who explored similar ambient territory on his own releases. Eno functioned as a conduit for Bowie's ideas, and in turn Bowie made the experimentalism of not only Eno but of the German synth group Kraftwerk and the post-punk group Wire respectable, if not quite mainstream. Though a handful of the vocal pieces on Low are accessible -- "Sound and Vision" has a shimmering guitar hook, and "Be My Wife" subverts soul structure in a surprisingly catchy fashion -- the record is defiantly experimental and dense with detail, providing a new direction for the avant-garde in rock & roll.

 tags: david bowie, low, 1977, 1991, flac,
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David Bowie - Lodger (1991 Reissue)

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*Reissued in 1991 by EMI.
This pressing contains 12 tracks total.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Art Rock
Label Number: CDP 79 7724 2

© 1979-1991 EMI Records
On the surface, Lodger is the most accessible of the three Berlin-era records David Bowie made with Brian Eno, simply because there are no instrumentals and there are a handful of concise pop songs. Nevertheless, Lodger is still gnarled and twisted avant pop; what makes it different is how it incorporates such experimental tendencies into genuine songs, something that Low and Heroes purposely avoided. "D.J.," "Look Back in Anger," and "Boys Keep Swinging" have strong melodic hooks that are subverted and strengthened by the layered, dissonant productions, while the remainder of the record is divided between similarly effective avant pop and ambient instrumentals. Lodger has an edgier, more minimalistic bent than its two predecessors, which makes it more accessible for rock fans, as well as giving it a more immediate, emotional impact. It might not stretch the boundaries of rock like Low and Heroes, but it arguably utilizes those ideas in a more effective fashion.

 tags: david bowie, lodger, 1979, 1991, reissue, flac,
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Mykill Miers - It's Been a Long Time Coming (2000) ☠

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: ILL72020-2
☠: Selected by Lass
© 2000 Ill Boogie/Blackberry Records
Only a few minutes in, you hear someone shout, "I'm the illest brother coming out of the suburbs." Well, maybe not. Coming out of the indie rap circles of the West Coast, Mykill Miers finally releases a much-anticipated debut album with little fanfare and only mild disappointment. It's Been a Long Time Coming is a refreshing first effort even when it's faulty. Tracks like "Wanna Be an MC?" is a fuming, spit-filled, party-stomper, naming such targets as DMX, while guest artists (Freddie Foxx, Iriscience, etc.) chime in with usually spirited, beneficial results. The production is also successful in the same way. Much like the popularizing tricks of DJ Shadow, the "scratches as hooks" mentality is common. This effective bag of tricks climaxes in the final title track -- a fusion of jazzy introspection and an ode to creative MCing -- where Miers shows off without making a false move. Which makes it even more unfortunate that most of these tricks are hammered into the ground by the time the album's massive 17 tracks are completed. The originality starts to wane and it's possible that some more preparation before plunging into the studio for the first time would have helped matters. This debut is simply easy to recommend for those into the growing scene of underground Californian hip-hop, but it is difficult to pass along to those craving for a revolutionary step away from the conventions of rap.

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 tags: mykill miers, its been a longtime coming, 2000, flac,
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Styles of Beyond - Megadef (2003)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: ILL72065-2

© 2003 Spy Tech/Ill Boogie Records
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September 22, 2023

Duran Duran - Liberty (1990)

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*U.S. first pressing. 
Contains 11 tracks total.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Pop Rock, Pop
Label Number: CDP 7 94292 2

© 1990 Capitol Records
Apart from the greatest-hits collection Decade, Big Thing was the lowest-charting Duran Duran album to date, prompting the band to rework its sound for 1990's Liberty. Unfortunately, the group has no idea what direction it wants to pursue. Liberty features everything from disco to guitar rock, adding elements of Motown, Philly soul, and new wave along the way. The stylistic diversity may have worked if the band had material to support it, but nothing on the record matches their best work -- it doesn't even match the finest moments of Big Thing.

 tags: duran duran, liberty, 1990, flac,
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Saxon - Best of Saxon (1991)

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Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label Number: CDP 7 96065 2

© 1991 EMI
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 tags: saxon, best of saxon, 1991, flac,
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September 21, 2023

Various Artists - The Drastic Jungle Project (2000)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Drum N' Bass, Hip-Hop
Label Number: INSOM00102

© 2000 Insomniac, Inc.
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

 tags: various artists, the drastic jungle project, 2000, flac,
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The Cars - The Cars Greatest Hits (1985)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: New Wave, Pop Rock
Label Number: 60464-2

© 1985 Elektra
The Cars were responsible for some of rock's most recognizable radio hits by the mid-'80s, so when the band took an extended break after their successful tour for Heartbeat City, 1985's Greatest Hits was assembled. Mixed in with the familiar selections was a brand-new track, the playful "Tonight She Comes" (which became a Top Ten hit), as well as a remix of the overlooked "Shake It Up" ballad "I'm Not the One." And while most of the expected hits are represented ("Just What I Needed," "Let's Go," "Drive," "Shake It Up," etc.), some of the selections prove questionable -- why was the title track from Heartbeat City (an unsuccessful single) included instead of the 1984 Top 20 hit "Hello Again"? Other missing radio staples include "You're All I've Got Tonight," "It's All I Can Do," and the title track from Candy-O, which would have made the collection definitive (all are included on the more extensive Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology from 1995). But for the casual fan, Greatest Hits will do the trick.

 tags: the cars, the cars greatest hits, 1985, flac,
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