Rap & Hip Hop Vinyl Records

NO_ONE EVER REALLY DIES is the new album from N.E.R.D , and their first album since 2010. This album includes the hit single "Lemon" (featuring Rihanna). Other guest artists include Kendrick Lamar, Future, Andre' 3000, M.I.A., Gucci Mane, and Ed Sheeran.

J. Cole, the Grammy nominated and platinum selling rapper, has released details on his third full length LP 2014 Forest Hills Drive via Roc Nation / Columbia. The album name is derived from the address of his actual childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The project is a meditation on the value of love relative to worldly success. The 2014 Forest Hills Drive house marked a change for a young Cole and it spawned his path in rap. With an elevated sense of domestic pride (from trailer park to tree-lined street) to actually having privacy for the first time (his own room) this proved an instrumental time and the story flourishes from there. The house, eventually foreclosed on when Cole was still too young to help, was recently purchased back by him this past fall (his first property purchase) and he promptly invited fans to come and listen to the album at the end of November before anyone (including his label and press.)

J. Cole chose to forgo a traditional industry album rollout in order to have it be a more personal experience for his fans. He wanted the album to be ingested as a whole. He wanted to limit pre-album hype and context. There were no singles released leading up to release and no early promotion to garner press. He wanted it to be pure for fans and he wanted the tale to be heard by them first and the perception to be personal and theirs alone.

Doris is the debut studio album by Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt. It follows his first mixtape Earl, which was released in 2010 when he was sixteen. After returning from a forced stay in a Samoan boarding school, he began working on his debut album and signed a deal with Columbia, rather than Odd Future's Odd Future Records.

Doris features guest appearances from Odd Future members Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Tyler, The Creator along with Casey Veggies, Vince Staples, RZA and Mac Miller. Production was primarily handled by Sweatshirt under the pseudonym randomblackdude and production duo Christian Rich. Additional production was provided by Matt Martians, The Neptunes, RZA, Samiyam, BadBadNotGood, Frank Ocean, and Tyler, The Creator. The album was supported by three singles; "Chum", "Whoa" featuring Tyler, The Creator, and "Hive" featuring Vince Staples and Casey Veggies.

Flower Boy is the fourth studio album by American rapper Tyler, The Creator. The album, which is his first under a major record label, is set for release on vinyl via Columbia Records. Although the album's production was handled entirely by Tyler, The Creator himself, it features guest vocals from a range of artists, including Frank Ocean, ASAP Rocky, Anna of the North, Lil Wayne, Kali Uchis, Steve Lacy, Estelle, Jaden Smith and Rex Orange County. The album has received widespread acclaim from critics and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200.

Flower Boy features the four singles: "Who Dat Boy" / "911," "Boredom," "I Ain't Got Time!" and "See You Again."

Atlanta-based DIY rapper and producer Russ is set to release his major label debut album, There's Really A Wolf, on vinyl via Columbia Records. The diverse 20-track album was produced, mixed, mastered, engineered and written exclusively by Russ himself. The album features both of his Billboard Hot 100-charting breakthrough tracks, including the Platinum-certified hit "What They Want" and Gold-certified song "Losin Control," along with the previously released track "Cherry Hill."

For 10 years, Russ has been doing it all himself. A self-proclaimed "DIY pioneer," Russ produces, mixes, masters, engineers and writes all of his own music. His strong vision and self-belief has resulted in two Top 10 radio hits, 175 million total Youtube views to date, 3.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and over 225 million plays of his vast catalog, all sung word for word by his dedicated fan base at sold-out shows across the globe

All Things Work Together is the new and highly anticipated album from Lecrae. The 14 track album balances profound introspection with cunning social critique. Lecrae's affecting reconciliation towards hope rises to the height of his verbal gifts on All Things Work Together. This is an artist in command of both firepower and nuance, fearlessly transforming his message into an uplifting soundtrack of healing-through-pain.

The album includes the previously released hits "Blessings" featuring Ty Dolla $ign, and the powerful "I'll Find You" featuring Tori Kelly. Other tracks include the album's insightful opener "Always Knew," the prophetic "8:28", and "Watchu Mean" featuring Reach Records protégé Aha Gazelle.

On All Things Work Together, Lecrae also enlisted a cast of multiple award winning producers, acclaimed guest artists, and impressive up-and-comers for the diverse effort, including Metro Boomin', who produced the single "Hammer Time" featuring 1K Phew.

In describing his vision for All Things Work Together, Lecrae explains: "It's a journey through chaos and hope and brokenness and blessing. When you're in the middle of the chaos, you can come to realize that it is shaping you, creating endurance. It's knowing that the struggle can bring about a richness in character beyond all wealth. Part of the DNA of this album is the realization that all things do work together to make you into the person that you need to be."

L.A. rapper Domo Genesis has released his official debut album Genesis. Despite big time appearances from Wiz, Juicy J, Anderson .Paak and more, the former Odd Future rapper manages to put his own personality on center stage for his first attempt at a major label project.

The first single from the album, “Dapper” with Anderson .Paak, showed a new, groovier side of Domo that wasn’t always apparent on his previous tapes. In the YouTube description of the video he wrote, “Thanks for the love, its been awhile but im finally ready to give my honest self.”

Songs like “Awkward Groove” and “Wanderer” show his vulnerable charm. Coming from the violent explosion that was Odd Future, MCs like Doms and Earl have been adjusting to the aftermath in their own unique ways.

The production is especially lush and enveloping. Tyler produced “Go (Gas)” and perhaps more, but it’s more impressive that he’s been able to build a nice brand for Odd Future Records with himself, Domo and The Internet.

-Max Weinstein (XXL Mag)

Best of compilation.

Sprawling rap collective from Shaolin (aka Staten Island), changed the course of hip-hop, spawned dozens of solo careers.

Emerging in 1993, when Dr. Dre's G-funk had overtaken the hip-hop world, the Staten Island, New York-based Wu-Tang Clan proved to be the most revolutionary rap group of the mid-'90s -- and only partially because of their music.

Best of compilation.

Nas is an enduring rap legend, lyrical master, and author of 1994's Illmatic, one of hip-hop's defining moments.

I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt is the second studio album by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt.

On his first studio album, 2013's Doris, the most mysterious member of L.A. shock-rap gremlins Odd Future proved himself by exploring real-life alienation. On his excellent second LP, Earl Sweatshirt keeps deepening his game — spooling out dense, mordant rhymes over zombifically blunted tracks as he somehow sucks you into his sunless reality. It's amazing that music so claustrophobic can be this engrossing.

As always, Sweatshirt is most compelling when he's going toe to toe with his own demons. "I spent the day drinking and missing my grandmother," he raps on "Huey," perfectly summing up the music's desolate vibe. "Mantra" opens with some maniac grandstanding ("With a cleaver and a .30 and some twisted weed/I pick one and let the crimson leak"), then slides into a downhearted breakup song. "Grief" is a harrowing shut-in snapshot: "I just want my time and my mind intact/When they both gone, you can't buy 'em back." At just 10 songs in a half-hour, I Don't Like Shit is surprisingly concise — even if it's sometimes dark and paranoid enough to make There's a Riot Goin' On sound like the Three's Company theme. And who needs more? Even a half-hour with Earl is enough to leave you with a lifetime of creepy memories.

"…elegant pop that takes in tender soul, muscled rock and flickers of hip-hop attitude.” - The New York Times

On his second full-length we find 19 year-old Raury Tullis an impassioned and vexed hip-hop/soul/folk prodigy. Sung and rapped lyrics on irresponsible friends and lovers, modern consumerism and poverty enflame an outstanding album that blazes through his almost showy arsenal. But Raury’s scrappiness keeps things authentic. The frantic “Revolution” crunches with intent, “Trap Tears” flits outrageously between gorgeous, earnest acoustic verses and a low-slung crunk chorus and even the lighter moments (“Mama”, “Friends”) have a Woodstock earthiness.

Snoop Dogg's new album is BUSH. The album is entirely produced by friend, fellow-innovator, and Grammy Award-winner Pharrell Williams, and is the latest offering from one of music's most prolific and revered trendsetters.

The historic pairing between longtime friends Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams came after multiple successful collaborations in the studio, which started over a decade ago. As noted by Snoop Dogg, the duo made a pact with each other to restore the 'missing' vibe in today's music by creating songs dedicated to a "better present and an ideal future."

Channeling retro-futuristic funk topped with a feel-good mix of R&B and pop, BUSH blossoms with "a funkadelic glow," says Snoop Dogg, "totally different than anything either of us has ever done." Anchored by Pharrell's effervescent production and Snoop's smooth vocals and delivery, the album features a number of surprise collaborations.

Snoop Dogg has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, reigning for more than two decades as one of the most recognizable giants in music. Snoop's successful incarnations within music, film & TV, his Snoop Youth Football League, fashion, brands and technology continues to set him apart as the consummate cultural icon, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Ranked 400/500 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

20th Anniversary Of One Of Hip Hop's Most Celebrated Albums

In 2014, Legacy Recordings will release Nas’ seminal debut album as an expanded 20th anniversary edition titled, Illmatic XX. Long considered one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time, Illmatic is a densely textured, deeply lyrical portrait of life in the US’s largest public housing project, Queensbridge. Upon release, the record signaled the resurgence of the moribund New York hip-hop scene and helped pave the way for Biggie Smalls, Jay Z and a new generation of New York rappers.

Illmatic XX is the ultimate fan experience and features new liner notes by longtime friend, Sacha Jenkins (Ego Trip), previously unseen and rare photographs, and a personal note from Nas.

2014 is the year of Illmatic XX!

Ranked 400/500 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Import (Germany)

Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994, on Columbia Records. Following his signing to the label with the help of MC Serch, the album was recorded during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Its production was handled by Nas, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and DJ Premier. Stylistically a hardcore hip hop album, Illmatic features Nas' multi-syllabic internal rhyme patterns expressing inner city lyrical themes and narratives based on his native Queensbridge, New York.

Upon its release, the album debuted at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 59,000 copies in its first week. However, its initial sales fell below expectations and its five singles failed to achieve significant chart success. While it experienced initial low sales, Illmatic received positive reviews from most music critics upon its release and earned praise for its lyrical content, production, and Nas' lyricism. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and in 2001, it earned platinum certification after shipments of one million copies in the United States.

Since its initial reception, the album has been recognized by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. It contributed to the regional scene's artistic renaissance in New York, while marking an influential, stylistic change in hip hop at the time. Its influence on subsequent hip hop artists has been attributed to the album's production and Nas' rapping. Several writers have cited Illmatic as one of the quintessential hip hop recordings and one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. It has been included in numerous best album lists by critics and publications.