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Billy Woods

Golliwog

    GOLLIWOG is billy woods’ first album in two years, preceded by 2023’s Maps, his second collaboration with producer Kenny Segal. That nimble travelogue has little in common with woods’ newest work, despite the fact that Segal shows up a couple times in the credits. GOLLIWOG is a haunting collection that weaves horror, humor, surrealism and Afropessimism into a cinematic tapestry, aided and abetted by a murderer’s row of producers. African zombies, time traveling trap cars, malevolent ragdolls and a dying Frantz Fanon are just a few of the revelers in woods’ danse macabre.

    GOLLIWOG features production from The Alchemist, Kenny Segal, EL-P, Conductor Williams, Preservation, Messiah Musik, Sadhugold, Ant (Atmosphere), Shabaka Hutchings, Steel Tipped Dove, DJ Haram, Willie Green, Jeff Markey, Saint Abdullah, and LA-based experimental jazz trio Human Error Club. Meanwhile, woods is joined on the mic by Backwoodz labelmates ELUCID and Cavalier, along with rappers Bruiser Wolf, Despot, Al.Divino, and singer-songwriter Yolanda Watson.

    GOLLIWOG is another triumph in the woods oeuvre, as layered and compelling as anything he has ever done. A black carnival pitched in a muddy field overnight, empty rides whirring and clattering in the dark

    TRACK LISTING

    1. Jumpscare Produced By Steel Tipped Dove
    2. STAR87 Produced By Conductor Williams
    3. Misery Produced By Kenny Segal
    4. BLK XMAS Feat. Bruiser Wolf Produced By Sadhugold
    5. Waterproof Mascara Produced By Preservation
    6. Counterclockwise Produced By The Alchemist
    7. Corinthians Feat. Despot Produced By EL-P
    8. Pitchforks & Halos Produced By Kenny Segal
    9. All These Worlds Are Yours Feat. ELUCID Produced By Shabaka Hutchings & DJ Haram
    10. Maquiladoras Feat. Al.divino Produced By Saint Abdullah
    11. A Doll Fulla Pins Feat. Yolanda Watson Produced By Jeff Markey
    12. Golgotha Produced By Messiah Musik
    13. Cold Sweat Produced By Ant
    14. BLK ZMBY Produced By Steel Tipped Dove
    15. Make No Mistake Produced By Messiah Musik
    16. Born Alone Produced By Kenny Segal
    17. Lead Paint Test Feat. ELUCID & Cavalier Produced By Willie Green
    18. Dislocated Feat. ELUCID Produced By Human Error Club

    Ant

    Collection Of Sounds Vol. 4

      Legendary producer Ant, best known for his work with Atmosphere, proves once again how irreplaceable he is with 'Collection of Sounds: Vol. 4'. This latest release showcases the lifetime of dedication behind his craft, blending his unparalleled skills with a fresh, expanded vision. With previous volumes in the 'Collection of Sounds' series, Ant has traced his musical evolution, spanning hip-hop, funk, reggae and more, all influenced and inspired by extensive travel dating back to his youth. Vol. 4 deepens this exploration, introducing rock-inspired elements—guitars that wail, gnaw, and groove—while maintaining his signature sound.

      Despite these genre experiments, Vol. 4 is firmly grounded in hip-hop. The opening track, 'Hearing In Dark Colors', sets the tone, evoking long drives up desolate highways in the dead of night. Tracks like 'Created With a Heavy Brush' and 'Just Another Three A.M'. reveal a mastery of diverse soundscapes, while the triumphant 'Day After 2010' takes listeners on an unexpected journey. As the album circles back to hip-hop on tracks like 'A Pinch Brighter' and 'Prelude Revisited', it leaves listeners transformed, further solidifying Ant’s status as a visionary artist.

      TRACK LISTING

      1. Hearing In Dark Colors
      2. Darker Colors
      3. All Right Now, Listen
      4. Prelude Revisited
      5. Behind The Sound
      6. Day After 2010
      7. Just Another Three A.M.
      8. AAAND
      9. Side Eight Synesthesia
      10. Created With A Heavy Brush
      11. Hearing Situations
      12. All Sounds In Place
      13. A Pinch Brighter
      14. Classical Piano Number Seven
      15. 4-Track Beyond Beat / Supreme Shoutout
      16. Coloring, Shading And Endings

      MF Doom

      Mm..Food - 20th Anniversary Edition

        Originally released in 2004, MF DOOM's 'MM..FOOD' is hailed as a classic hip-hop album full of inventive production, brilliant wordplay, and unique themes. Celebrated for its seamless blend of humor, wit, and social commentary, the album ushers listeners into a bizarre world of food-related metaphors, painting a bitterly comedic portrait of a life tainted by vice, violence, and jealousy. It was a brilliant and novel concept that gave DOOM plenty of room to explore the album’s subjects.

        Throughout 'MM..FOOD', DOOM embeds complex ideas within seemingly simple narratives. Album opener 'Beef Rapp' is a multi-pronged metaphor reminding listeners of the dangers involved in the glorification of conflict, especially within the rap game. 'Hoe Cakes' borrows its name from the sweet, hot water cornmeal patties, which he uses as a symbol to rhyme about indulgence and excess. Continuing the motif, DOOM uses the Madlib-produced 'One Beer' to fold layers of depth about escapism and ego, while the popular 'Rapp Snitch Knishes' critiques the self-incrimination and contradictory behaviors of some rappers. Overall, 'MM..FOOD' is both a social commentary and a piece of social satire, showcasing MF DOOM’s ability to blend serious themes with his unique, playful lyrical style.

        In celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary, 'MM..FOOD' has been repackaged with all new artwork by Sam Rodriguez!

        TRACK LISTING

        1. BEEF RAPP
        2. HOE CAKES
        3. POTHOLDERZ FEAT. COUNT BASS D
        4. ONE BEER
        5. DEEP FRIED FRENZ
        6. POO-PUTT PLATTER
        7. FILLET-O-RAPPER
        8. GUMBO
        9. FIG LEAF BI-CARBONATE
        10. KON KARNE
        11. GUINNESSEZ FEAT. ANGELKIA & 41ZE
        12. KON QUESO
        13. RAPP SNITCH KNISHES FEAT. MR. FANTASTIK
        14. VOMITSPIT
        15. KOOKIES

        Black Star

        No Fear Of Time

          A quarter century since their 1998 debut, No Fear of Time finally reunites one of the greatest hip-hop duos of all-time, Black Star. Group members Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli first joined forces to deliver their iconic breakout, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, which quickly became one of hip-hop's most revered works and launched both already-rising stars into the stratosphere. Although each has since enjoyed success and acclaim in their individual careers, they've never realigned for a sophomore follow-up to that release until now.

          Produced entirely by renowned beatsmith Madlib, No Fear of Time has a future vibe with vintage soul. The 9-track album was recorded guerrilla-style in hotels and dressing rooms around the globe, and initially saw a non-traditional release, being made available exclusively on a subscriptionbased podcast platform. Now, the album is officially available on physical formats for fans worldwide to own and appreciate the triumphant return of Black Star.

          TRACK LISTING

          00 O.G.
          01 So Be It
          02 Sweetheart. Sweethard. Sweetodd.
          03 My Favorite Band
          04 The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing
          05 Yonders
          06 Supreme Alchemy
          07 Freequency W Black Thought
          08 No Fear Of Time W Yummy Bingham

          Aesop Rock

          Labor Days - 2024 Repress

            The Labor Days 20th Anniversary Edition 2xLP is pressed on metallic copper vinyl. Labor Days was Aesop Rock's fourth release and his third full-length studio album. The project was originally released in 2001 as his first album on Definitive Jux. The album includes popular songs "Daylight" and "9-5ers Anthem", and guest features from Illogic and C-Rayz Walz, as well as production from Aesop Rock, Blockhead, and Omega One.

            TRACK LISTING

            1. Labor
            2. Daylight
            3. Save Yourself
            4. Flashflood
            5. No REgrets
            6. One Brick (feat. Illogic)
            7. The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3
            8. Coma
            9. Battery
            10. Boombox
            11. Bent Life (feat. C-Rayz Walz)
            12. The Yes & The Y'all
            13. 9-5ers Anthem
            14. Shovel

            Aesop and Blockhead have never done a full album together, until now. “Garbology” came together over the course of the pandemic during stagnent periods for both – a dry creative period with neither really having any focus – so Blockhead started sending Aesop some beats for him to write over; with no real expectation, direction or end goal in sight, their creative juices began to flow naturally once more…

            “Garbology” encapsulates much of the claustrophobic tension of of current times, capturing a snapshot of Aesop and Blockhead expressing a means of entertaining themselves the midst of a major global crisis.

            Blockhead’s thick, atmospheric street beats compliment Aesop’s unique, quick-fire flow perfectly. Almost instantly transporting you under railway bridges, to underground subway stations, crumbling corner shops and abandoned waste grounds. If you’ve obsessed over the gritty cinematography of Detroit, Baltimore, Gary and other forgotten industrialized areas of the US (the label is based in Minneapolis); then this dark, isolated and wrought piece is the perfect soundtrack. Lyrically it’s poignant and tight, Aesop’s storytelling able to evoke thoughts, feelings and memories that the listener may not have experienced first hand but can completely sympathize with through the duo’s honest and authentic presentation. Possibly my favourite release from Aesop Rock and a brilliant showcase of Blockhead’s beats – which are unlike any other available in the market! 10 outta 10 all around – top of the class for these two.


            TRACK LISTING

            1. The Only Picture
            2. Jazz Hands
            3. Wolf Piss
            4. Legerdemain
            5. Difficult
            6. All The Smartest People
            7. Oh Fudge
            8. More Cycles
            9. Flamingo Pink
            10. All Day Breakfast(feat. Homeboy Sandman)
            11. Fizz
            12. That Is Not A Wizard
            13. The Sea
            14. Abandoned Malls

            The explosion of indie Hip Hop labels in the early 90s resulted in an ongoing snowball effect that started to shift the narrative around an artist’s need to sign to a major label. Coincidentally, quality home recording equipment was also becoming more easily accessible and, with the rising popularity of CD-R technology, this allowed artists to write, record, and manufacture their own albums right at home.

            Appleseed was a highly celebrated and influential release from that era, cementing Aesop Rock as a new face whose talent could not be denied. The album explores creative concepts with inventive writing and stripped-down yet melodic and melancholic production. Six out of the eight songs were produced by Aesop Rock, with Omega One producing “Sick Friend” and longtime collaborator Blockhead handling “1000 Deaths”, and the project’s sole guest lyricist was Doseone.

            The DIY process was followed in every aspect, as Aesop himself recalls, “I did the Appleseed hand style while working at Tepper Galleries in NYC. The cover was made at Kinko’s. The first Appleseed CD’s were CD-R’s I duped at home and sold from my backpack at an MF DOOM show at Brownies, which was right below my apartment at the time. I continued to sell hand to hand in NY, while Blockhead started fielding some mail orders from a young internet. People would send us cash or a check, and he’d cut the covers out and mail them off.“

            The two of them were able to move a couple thousand CDs that way before turning their attention to newer projects, particularly Float in Aesop’s case. As a result, Appleseed went out of print for many years before resurfacing as a merch item on tour. However, in all that time it was only available on CD, directly from Aesop. Finally, 21 years after its debut, Appleseed officially returns, now available on all digital platforms, as well as on vinyl for the first time!


            TRACK LISTING

            1) Appleseed Intro
            2) Dryspell
            3) Same Space (The Tugboat Complex, Part 2)
            4) Sick Friend
            5) Hold The Cup
            6) 1,000 Deaths
            7) Blue In The Face
            8) Odessa Feat. Doseone


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