JURASSIC 5 Feedback (Interscope) cd 13.98
Jurassic 5 have cut a nice niche for themselves over the last decade or so for being a reliable source of feel good school yard sounding old skool hat tipping hip-hop. While they still haven't outdone their great debut 12" they've managed to put out some pretty good records each time out. Along with like-minded friends like Blackalicious Jurassic 5 helped launch an alternative to the gangsta-rap that so dominated most of mainstream rap in the mid-late 90's. Feedback finds J-5 doing what they've been doing (they aren't ones for big reinvention) over the years. PARTY!
MPEG Stream: "In The House"
MPEG Stream: "Where We At"

JURASSIC 5 Power In Numbers (Interscope) 2cd 17.98
Highly anticipated new album from SoCal's powerful hip hop crew -- Akil, Chali 2na, Zaakir(Soup), Marc 7, DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, with guests Nelly Furtado, Kool Keith, and more -- who've grooved SF's Future Primitive Soundsessions many times, and man, are they good live. Righteousness is the name of J5's game, with uplifting verses and a general good time, standing-on-the-corner-rhyming-in-turn vibe. Same smooth groove, nothing hard about 'em. Super clearly enunciated vocals (almost disconcertingly so), FLUTE!, some rather predictable space-the-final-frontier style movie samples, head-knodding hooks. Not challenging in terms of instrumental complexity, nor adventurously creepy -- but they're not trying for that anyway. When Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark cut loose without the vocalists, they come up with a track like "Acetate Prophets", which incorporates motor sounds, scratching, Asian-sounding percussion, jazz guitar -- so good but it's a pity the track is left til last!
The second disc is for your computer or DVD player, and contains live performance footage, but the best material is of Chali 2na visiting his grandma for breakfast, or Cut Chemist showing off his word-for-word reenactment of a segment of Star Wars Episode 1, showing off his Star Wars action figures, and some incredible footage of Nu-Mark tapping out all sorts of percussive goodness on drumpads and the backstage food containers. Must be seen to be believed.
RealAudio clip: "If You Only Knew"
RealAudio clip: "High Fidelity"

JURASSIC 5 Quality Control (Interscope) cd 15.98
Los Angeles' best-loved old school singalong hip hop outfit breaks out with a new album on a major label. (let's hope they get paid, not screwed, what with the major label deal and the crazy low price) Jurassic 5 blend righteous, funny rhymes with Cut Chemist's bright turntablist tricks. Not heavy, not gangsta, not fronting... these are down home guys keeping a positive outlook for the future. You've seen them play the Future Primitive Soundsession shows so many times, now here's your chance to hear them while taking a shower or something.

JURASSIC 5 Quality Control (Interscope) 2lp 13.98
Los Angeles' best-loved old school singalong hip hop outfit breaks out with a new album on a major label. (let's hope they get paid, not screwed, what with the major label deal and the crazy low price) Jurassic 5 blend righteous, funny rhymes with Cut Chemist's bright turntablist tricks. Not heavy, not gangsta, not fronting... these are down home guys keeping a positive outlook for the future. You've seen them play the Future Primitive Soundsession shows so many times, now here's your chance to hear them while taking a shower or something.

JURASSIC 5 W.O.E. Is Me (Interscope) 12" 5.98
Two new songs plus various acapella and instrumental versions. Jurassic 5 signs themselves over to major labels and what do those creative boys do? They make music about it -- the WOE in the title stands for World Of Entertainment. Same sunny, vocals-led, sing-along hip hop that they've perfected.

JUST-ICE Masterpiece (Traffic Entertainment Group / Fresh / Warlock) cd 16.98
Not sure what it is exactly, but just recently there seems to be a sudden onslaught of classic old school hip hop reissues, mind you we're not complaining, but it is a strange selection of 'classics' (Whodini, Sparky D, Kool Moe Dee, Unique & Dashan). One of our favorite of the bunch though is this, originally released in 1990, record number four from old school hardcore MC Just-Ice, one of the first hardcore rap MC's (whose hyphenated name always made us think of metal band Vio-lence), who has a pretty bad ass delivery, very reminiscent of Big Daddy Kane actually, and really seems like he must have been an influence for the character Charlie Murphy plays in CB4 (still some of the best hip hop parody ever, alongside Fear Of A Black Hat). And while Just-Ice definitely cut an imposing figure, buff and tattooed, with a gold grill and some serious attitude, much of this record's success is due to the music, which of course is provided by legendary DJ Grandmaster Flash, whose sound is absolute classic hip hop, minimal scratching, layered soul loops, snippets of horns, killer grooves, creepy ominous basslines, simple shuffling beats, a super distinctive sound that pretty much defined hip hop of that era, but few did it better that Grandmaster Flash, and when combined with Just-Ice's badass flow, it's pretty tough to beat.
MPEG Stream: "Get Into Something"
MPEG Stream: "The Ice Man Commeth"
MPEG Stream: "Slow, Low & Dope"

JUVENILE Project English (Cash Money) cd 17.98
The reigning king of the Cash Money family returns. Some of you may remeber Juvenile from the puerile, but ridiculously catchy 'Back That Azz Up' from a year or two back. On first listen, 'Project English' is a little less obviously Cash Money unlike most of his label mates. The sound here is much more old school, with funky, simple beats and all sorts of weird samples and loops, to the point of almost sounding downright goofy, but kind of cute too. Also on display is a new improved delivery that displays shades of Chuck D. A good direction for the dangerously-close-to-being-played-out Cash Money sound.
RealAudio clip: "Intro - Lets Roll"

KANO MC No. 1 ((no label)) cd 14.98

KELIS Tasty (Star Trak) cd 16.98

KELLY, R Untitled (Jive Aces) cd 15.98

KELLY, R. Double Up (Zomba) cd 16.98

KELLY, R. TP.3 Reloaded (Jive) cd + dvd 17.98

KELLY, R. Trapped In The Closet (Zomba) dvd 21.00
Holy shit. This is so nuts it just might be the greatest thing you'll ever see. R. Kelly has singlehandedly gotten us to sing instead of speak even the most mundane things. We love him.

KELLY, R. Trapped In The Closet Chapters 13-22 (Jive) dvd 21.00

KELLY, R. & JAY-Z The Best Of Both Worlds (Jive) cd 18.98
This is indeed the best of both worlds. Touted as the first ever superstar, hip hop/R+B collaboration, ok maybe, but whatever. The pont is, this shit is goooood and I am digging this record like crazy. Imagine any of the last two or three Jay-Z records (and we have all been going a little Jay-Z nuts lately) with R. Kelly singing all the choruses (when he's not busy videotaping himself having sex with 14 year old girls, ummm). Reminds us of that Fat Joe/R. Kelly track from a few lists back that is still definitely one of the year's best singles. R. Kelly's got the most amazing voice, high and crystalline, silky and gorgeous. Definitely a case of 'he could sing the phone book...' And Jay-Z, what can you say? He's got a killer voice, a wicked flow and writes some fucking funny lyrics. Definitely recommended.
RealAudio clip: "Best of Both Worlds"
RealAudio clip: "Take You Home Wtih Me A.K.A. Body"

KELLY, R. & JAY-Z Unfinished Business (Jive) cd 16.98

KID 606 VS. DALEK Ruin It (Tigerbeat6) cd ep 7.98
The NY-based hiphop trio Dalek contributed rhymes to that excellent Techno Animal track "Dead Man's Curse", so it makes sense that Techno Anim's Kevin Martin and Justin Broadrick introduced Dalek to our own local darling Kid606. Thus, this excellent collaboration. As I've enthused in other reviews, Dalek's epic, incantatory vocal stylings are pushed right up against apocalyptic, doom-laden instrumentation: high pitched squealing feedback that sounds like air raid sirens, abandoned machine bleeps, paranoid dub-heavy beats, crashing cymbals and other live drumming, shimmering guitar. They are an apt match with Kid 606 and his bad boy I'll-mess-with-anything-and-make-it-kick-yr-ass style.
So, as if the original "Ruin It" track that appears here isn't great enough -- all glitchy fuzzed out broken buried melody courtesy Kid606 -- then Dalek ups and makes it even more intense and dramatic and spooky. Really good, some of the best material from either artists I've heard yet. In addition to the two title tracks here, there's even a slow sort of My Bloody Valentine-ish slice of melancholia here, laden with murk and record static. That piece appears only on the cd ep, as does the closer track "satans hard drive" which Dalek constructed spontaneously from one of the Kid's busted hard disks. Yeah, it's noisy!
RealAudio clip: "Ruin It, Ruin Them, Ruin Yourself then Ruin Me (original)"
RealAudio clip: "Ruin It, Ruin Them, Ruin Yourself then Ruin Me -- Dalek remix"
RealAudio clip: "Vague Recollection"

KID 606 VS. DALEK Ruin It (Tigerbeat6) 12" 7.98
Now available on vinyl. Here's what we had to say about the cd:
The NY-based hiphop trio Dalek contributed rhymes to that excellent Techno Animal track "Dead Man's Curse", so it makes sense that Techno Anim's Kevin Martin and Justin Broadrick introduced Dalek to our own local darling Kid606. Thus, this excellent collaboration. As I've enthused in other reviews, Dalek's epic, incantatory vocal stylings are pushed right up against apocalyptic, doom-laden instrumentation: high pitched squealing feedback that sounds like air raid sirens, abandoned machine bleeps, paranoid dub-heavy beats, crashing cymbals and other live drumming, shimmering guitar. They are an apt match with Kid 606 and his bad boy I'll-mess-with-anything-and-make-it-kick-yr-ass style.
So, as if the original "Ruin It" track that appears here isn't great enough -- all glitchy fuzzed out broken buried melody courtesy Kid606 -- then Dalek ups and makes it even more intense and dramatic and spooky. Really good, some of the best material from either artists I've heard yet. In addition to the two title tracks here, there's even a slow sort of My Bloody Valentine-ish slice of melancholia here, laden with murk and record static. That piece appears only on the cd ep, as does the closer track "satans hard drive" which Dalek constructed spontaneously from one of the Kid's busted hard disks. Yeah, it's noisy!
RealAudio clip: "Ruin It, Ruin Them, Ruin Yourself then Ruin Me (original)"
RealAudio clip: "Ruin It, Ruin Them, Ruin Yourself then Ruin Me -- Dalek remix"
RealAudio clip: "Vague Recollection"

KID KOALA Basin Street Blues (Ninja Tune) cd ep 6.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Yay! This is Kid Koala doing what Kid Koala does best, taking recognizable genre musics and just tweaking them enough to add a woozy modern effect, a li'l bit of scartching here, some pretty glitching there. This is a song taken from his forthcoming album, and is a New Orleans style jazz number made even more poignant and sweet with his signature touches AND it comes with a fantastic video you can play on your computer. The video, made by Monkmus, features an animated funeral procession that turns into an unlikely street celebration with a surprise ending. The other track, which presumably won't be on the album, is called "Vacation Island" and features the Kid doing that magic again, this time to an old Martin-Denny-ish tropical exotica, but with beats. So cute and nice. Not many left either...
MPEG Stream: "Basin Street Blues"
MPEG Stream: "Vacation Island"

KID KOALA Basin Street Blues (Ninja Tune) 7" 7.98
We also have a few of these on vinyl, not long for this world. Koala fans, act fast. Unlike the cd version (which we still have couple copies of), there's no dvd video on it (well, maybe there is, but we didn't try to put the 7" in our computer!) but it's vinyl and thus even more collectable. Our review:
Yay! This is Kid Koala doing what Kid Koala does best, taking recognizable genre musics and just tweaking them enough to add a woozy modern effect, a li'l bit of scartching here, some pretty glitching there. This is a song taken from his forthcoming album, and is a New Orleans style jazz number made even more poignant and sweet with his signature touches. The other track, which presumably won't be on the album, is called "Vacation Island" and features the Kid doing that magic again, this time to an old Martin-Denny-ish tropical exotica, but with beats. So cute and nice.
MPEG Stream: "Basin Street Blues"
MPEG Stream: "Vacation Island"

KID KOALA Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Ninjatune) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally Montreal's Eric San releases his debut full length. You've probably all heard the story of how Kid Koala got signed to Ninjatune -- Eric picked up the Ninjatune guys for a Montreal show, played his legendary Scratchcratchratchatch tape in the van all sneaky-like, and everyone was blown away. (This tape, which Aquarius was the only store in the world to sell, is now long out of print but you can hear a similar set at betalounge.com.) Kid Koala is a turntablist with more than his share of storytelling, songwriting abilities, so the pieces are so much better than your everyday series of tricks. He and DJ Z-Trip are the ones who will be making the turntablist record that will bring the world together like a Coca Cola commerical. I'd like to teach the world to scratch. Or something. If you're already into turntablist stuff, you already know you should get this album, and if you're new to the genre, this is one of the best places to start. Honestly. The cd comes with a cd-rom video game (a vinyl version of Asteroids) and a supercute comic book. While supplies last, get a free Kid Koala sticker with purchase. Highly recommended!

KID KOALA Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Ninjatune) lp 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally Montreal's Eric San releases his debut full length. You've probably all heard the story of how Kid Koala got signed to Ninjatune -- Eric picked up the Ninjatune guys for a Montreal show, played his legendary Scratchcratchratchatch tape in the van all sneaky-like, and everyone was blown away. (This tape, which Aquarius was the only store in the world to sell, is now long out of print but you can hear a similar set at betalounge.com.) Kid Koala is a turntablist with more than his share of storytelling, songwriting abilities, so the pieces are so much better than your everyday series of tricks. He and DJ Z-Trip are the ones who will be making the turntablist record that will bring the world together like a Coca Cola commerical. I'd like to teach the world to scratch. Or something. If you're already into turntablist stuff, you already know you should get this album, and if you're new to the genre, this is one of the best places to start. Honestly. The cd comes with a cd-rom video game (a vinyl version of Asteroids) and a supercute comic book. While supplies last, get a free Kid Koala sticker with purchase. Highly recommended!

KID KOALA Emperor's Main Theme (Ninjatune) 10" 9.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally on vinyl, this is the first track from Kid Koala's famous "Scratchcratchratchatch" tape (that will never be officially released due to all the presumably expensive samples.) Video game samples, music from David Byrne's soundtrack to the Last Emperor, an unerring sense of melody rarely found with turntablists, plus 3 non album tracks (in fact none of these tracks are from Kid K's recent full length Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) -- this 10" has got it all. If you've never heard Koala before, this is the place to start. You will be super happy with it!

KID KOALA Live From The Short Attention Span Audio Theater Tour (Ninja Tune) cd ep + dvd 13.98
Not one, but three DJ's spinning together live. And not just any DJ's but AQ faves Kid Koala and DJ Jester along with P-Love. 16 minutes of scratching and juggling as the trio scores a live soundtrack to animated short by Monkmus. Included on this disc from their set are "Stompin' At Le Savoi", "Page 275" (from the comic book), the always enjoyable "Drunk Trumpet", "Skanky Panky" and "Page 298". Recorded at Lock 17 in London in November of 2003. Also included is a DVD of video shot of Kid Koala performing live in concert.
MPEG Stream: "Stompin' At Le Savoi"
MPEG Stream: "Skanky Panky"

KID KOALA Nufonia Must Fall (Ninjatune / ECW Press) book + cd 28.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A plaintive minor key melody runs throughout the 16 minute soundtrack to Nufonia Must Fall, a comic book written by Kid Koala. Emphasis on the "book", cos this is over 300 pages long! The story, written and drawn by the Kid, tells a love story between a lonely office girl and a robot. It's poignant and sorta sweetly heartbreaking, in the same way that the music is simple and unhurried. Don't expect a full on hip hop crazy quilt of sounds like Koala's past projects, though. This is much simpler sonically. A collector's item.
MPEG Stream: "excerpt"

KID KOALA Some of My Best Friends Are DJs (Ninja Tune) cd 16.98
One of our fave turntable types, Canada's Kid Koala, is back with a new full-length: Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs. We dug the single that preceded it, the woozy New Orleans jazz based "Basin Street Blues" (the first track on here) and the rest of the disc is no disappointment. If you're hip to the Kid you know to expect a little whip-whip-whap scratchin', some boom-bap beats, a good ear for laid back grooves, scrambled samples, and some quirky humor. As with other recent releases from Kid Koala, his sheer adorableness extends into other media -- the cd comes with a game and both the cd and LP versions include a fat lil' comic book in the package.
MPEG Stream: "Basin Street Blues"

KID KOALA Some of My Best Friends Are DJs (Ninja Tune) 2lp 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
One of our fave turntable types, Canada's Kid Koala, is back with a new full-length: Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs. We dug the single that preceded it, the woozy New Orleans jazz based "Basin Street Blues" (the first track on here) and the rest of the disc is no disappointment. If you're hip to the Kid you know to expect a little whip-whip-whap scratchin', some boom-bap beats, a good ear for laid back grooves, scrambled samples, and some quirky humor. As with other recent releases from Kid Koala, his sheer adorableness extends into other media -- the cd comes with a game and both the cd and LP versions include a fat lil' comic book in the package.

KID KOALA Your Mom's Favorite DJ (Ninja Tune) cd 16.98
If you've never heard Kid Koala before, be prepared for a seriously head spinning wild ride. Unlike most DJ's, Koala doesn't go for insane turntable pyrotechnics, or goofy classic rock / hip hop mash ups, instead he uses his nimble mixing skills to weave together elaborate journeys through sound, assembling new songs out of various scratchy vinyl fragments, or subtly tweaking old songs into warbly tripped out new ones. Rock riffs get skipped and stuttered into new groovier shapes, Koala accompanies himself on old jazz jams with various instruments "played" on another turntable, lots of soundtrack snippets and random voices get all tangled up into bizarre conversations, separate records get mixed into super psychedelic blowouts, blues jams are peppered with slippery turntable solos. The results are twisted and slightly off kilter, like viewing a turntable jam through a cracked funhouse mirror. Alternately super rocking, super groovy, crazy funky, or just chin scratchingly baffling.
The most amazing thing is that Koala does all this stuff with just turntables and a reel to reel. This isn't some nerd with a computer, meticulously piecing together bits and pieces, this is one guy, a bunch of turntables, and some seriously mad skillz.
MPEG Stream: "One"
MPEG Stream: "Two"
MPEG Stream: "Three"

KID KOALA Your Mom's Favorite DJ (Ninja Tune) lp 17.98
Now on LP... If you've never heard Kid Koala before, be prepared for a seriously head spinning wild ride. Unlike most DJ's, Koala doesn't go for insane turntable pyrotechnics, or goofy classic rock / hip hop mash ups, instead he uses his nimble mixing skills to weave together elaborate journeys through sound, assembling new songs out of various scratchy vinyl fragments, or subtly tweaking old songs into warbly tripped out new ones. Rock riffs get skipped and stuttered into new groovier shapes, Koala accompanies himself on old jazz jams with various instruments "played" on another turntable, lots of soundtrack snippets and random voices get all tangled up into bizarre conversations, separate records get mixed into super psychedelic blowouts, blues jams are peppered with slippery turntable solos. The results are twisted and slightly off kilter, like viewing a turntable jam through a cracked funhouse mirror. Alternately super rocking, super groovy, crazy funky, or just chin scratchingly baffling.
The most amazing thing is that Koala does all this stuff with just turntables and a reel to reel. This isn't some nerd with a computer, meticulously piecing together bits and pieces, this is one guy, a bunch of turntables, and some seriously mad skillz.
MPEG Stream: "One"
MPEG Stream: "Two"
MPEG Stream: "Three"

KID SISTER Ultraviolet (Universal Republic) cd 12.98

KILLAH PRIEST View from Masada (MCA) cd 16.98
First Wu Tang record in a while that hasn't completely sucked (not counting the Method Man/Redman genius collaboration). No GZA production this time, but it doesn't matter all that much since whoever they got seems to be doing his very best GZA impression, and all things considered, has sort of outdone the master. Simple stuttery beats over cinematic strings and tinkling pianos with KP'S smooth but damaged and unfunky flow.

KING GEEDORAH Take Me To Your Leader (Big Dada) cd 16.98
Fans of DJ Shadow, Boom Bip, that recent Unagi disc, QBert, Madlib, Ninjatune label, Dr Octagon and all Dan the Automator projects: you will looove this. It's my (Windy) new favorite record. Now, in another review this week I wasn't at all ashamed in admitting that I don't know the material of Peter Gabriel, but let's make it clear that I haven't heard any other MF Doom material, and now the excellence of this King Geedorah album is going to make me have to go backwards to hear Doom's Operation Doomsday and all the other stuff. Anyway, this is hip hop, some of the best I've heard in a long time. Each track has the de riguer single hook that loops throughout, which can sometimes threaten to bore, but only in lesser hands. With Doom the hooks -- often soundtrack-derived orchestral, swelling piano and string dramatics -- are delicious so sustaining them creates just the most luxurious comfortable groove. And he adds ample doses of applied audio grit -- sudden glitches, vinyl static, disjointed drums, vocal snippets interspersed with the skills of several guest MCs -- that just enhance the casually pulled together feel of the album. It's not messily done, mind you, just flows so well that it seems effortlessly catchy and kickass.
MPEG Stream: "Fazers"
MPEG Stream: "The Fine Print"
MPEG Stream: "Fastlane"

KING RHYTHM What's Left (Quatermass) cd 14.98
Skewed leftfield hip hoptronica from Germany, a cool hybrid of classic hip hop and tech step drum and bass. Think Ed Rush or anyone on No U-Turn stepping in for Timbaland, and turning bouncing, loping booming hip hop big beats, into skittering two step workouts with rumbling, woofer-blowing basslines. Add a couple pretty wicked MC's and you're in business. Cool stuff.
MPEG Stream: "What's Left Breaks The Silence"
MPEG Stream: "Steve's Job"

KIRB AND CHRIS Niggaz And White Girlz (Rapitalism) cd 14.98
Our favorite new hip hop record for sure. The minute we first heard this, we knew we had to get a bunch for the store. We finally did, but then realized we were at a loss for words (who, us?), so we hit up the guy who turned us on to the record in the first place, AQ pal / gay gangsta Matt Wobensmith, who had this to say about Kirb And Chris:
Take your favorite '80s new wave and pop hits, chop them up, lace them with party rhymes and what do you have? "Niggaz and White Girlz," maybe one of the most brilliant hip hop albums in years. Concept album? 80s revival? Party record? Political statement? Shameless excuse to get laid? Oddly, all of the above.
Inspired by the San Francisco club scene -- where Kirb and Chris do most of their "new wave thuggin'" -- reworking '80s megahits comes effortlessly, as they give new life to the Cure's "Close To Me" ("Closer"), the Smiths' "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" ("Doorstep, Girl"), and not one, but TWO Gary Numan joints, "Cars" and "Down in the Park." Round it out with Simple Minds, Talking Heads, the Human League, the Police, the B52's and others, and you've got quite a rich library to sample from. But does it work?
Absolutely.
As crate diggers constantly scrape the bins for new source material, it only makes sense that synth-driven new wave could be the next wave. Highly enjoyable, and we didn't even mention how hilarious this album's between-song skits are.
This album should totally be huge!
MPEG Stream: "Closer"
MPEG Stream: "Down In The Park"
MPEG Stream: "Cars"
MPEG Stream: "When The World Is Running Down"

KNOC-TURN'AL The Way I Am (Elektra) cd 14.98

KNOWN UNSOLDIER, THE (SAGE FRANCIS) Sick of Waging War (Sage Francis) cd 14.98

KO-WRECK TECHNIQUE Ko-Wrecktion (Warp/Chocolate Industries) cd-ep 10.98
Combining the talents of Skam's push button objects and DMC world champion DJ Craze, Ko-Wreck Technique brings funky IDM abstraction and flashy turntable wizardry together. Plaid also does a remix.

KOOL DJ RIZE Who's the MC (Malvado) lp 7.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
An 8-track mini-LP of sorts from this local DJ whose smooth production carries over into the nice hip hop breaks and scratching. Certainly a great scratching record to drop in one's set.

KOOL G RAP & DJ POLO Best Of Cold Chillin' (Landspeed / Cold Chillin') cd 15.98
Totally smoking old school rap, back when that simply meant an MC and a DJ equipped with just turntables and a drum machine, none of that fancy modern bull. Kool G Rap and DJ Polo released two records together ('89 and '92) with producers Marley Marl and Eric B and left an indelible mark on hiphop. Specializing in street stories and raunchy sex tales, their 'Riker's Island' was covered by Noreaga, and their classic 'Streets of New York' will have you bobbing and weaving like you never heard hip hop before.
RealAudio clip: "Streets of New York"

KOOL KEITH Black Elvis/Lost In Space (Columbia/Ruffhouse) cd 15.98
Here at Aquarius we are of the opinion that Kool Keith is at his very best on the classic Dr Octagon record, his scatalogical rapping perfectly complemented by the Automator's booming, kick ass hiphop instrumentation and by QBert's inimitable turntablist skills. Followup albums such as 'Sex Style' and Dr Dooom disappointed way more than they pleased, which we strongly think is due to the presence of Kut Masta Kurt, instead of the Automator, at the mixing board. (Perhaps this is a coastal thing -- we know many folks in NYC disagree with us... but they're all wrong!) That said, we are happy to report that Keith's new persona as the Black Elvis is a much more successful effort. Neither Kurt nor the Automator is represented here much, but whoever partnered with Keith this time knew to keep the beats mixed far below the rhymes. Keith's rapping is crystal clear and as full of headscratching nonsequiters as ever. Recommended! LP is not yet available (end of August).

KOOL KEITH Collabs Tape (Nocturne) 2cd 24.00

KOOL KEITH Matthew (Funky Ass Records) cd 17.98
Yet another new album of messed up rap from this Ultramagnetic MC alum (the man formerly known as Doctor Octagon). Though we were rolling on the floor by the end of the first song, the first time around, the joke has clearly begun to wear thin for Mr Keith (for those who didn't see the tarnished brass on his ass a few records back). I don't know, maybe he just needs a really good producer, or a shitload of coke, or maybe a shitload less coke, but whatever it is, he needs something to keep Senstional from stealing his 'most fucked rapper' crown.

KOOL KEITH Sex Style Instrumentals (Funky Ass) 2lp 15.98

KOOL KEITH Spankmaster (TVT) cd 16.98
Slowly but surely, Kool Keith is losing his charm. After three progressively bad post-Dr. Octagon records (plus the inexplicably horrible Analog Brothers), we're beginning to realize just how stale Keith really is without Dan the Automator. Sure, Dr. Dooom had its moments, and Black Elvis was a somewhat humorous dis record, and yes, Keith definitely has an awesome, unmatchable vocal style; but how can he top the brilliant production and weirdness of Dr. Octagonecologyst? Twenty songs, more sex than Sex style. Buy the Cannibal Ox or the new Sensational record instead.

KOOL KEITH Thee Undatakerz (Activate Ent.) cd 12.98

KOOL MOE DEE s/t (Traffic Entertainment Group / Jive) cd 16.98

KOSMIC RENAISSANCE Live At Namba Hatch - Osaka, Japan (e22 / Isotope Records) cd-r 7.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

KREATORS No Contest (Bomb) cd 15.98
Production, mixes, and all scratches by G-squared. New on Bomb Hip Hop!

KRUSH, DJ Code4109 (RedInk/Sony) cd 15.98
Krush, Japan's best known (Stateside) DJ, presents a DJ set featuring cuts by himself, DJ Cam, The 45 King, Old World Disorder w/ Eminem, the Orchestra & Choir of Bulgarian Radio, Jazzanova, and many others...a nearly 70 minute mix of some of his favorite stuff.

KRUSH, DJ Jaku (Sony Japan) cd 16.98
A name you can trust. You can always count on the tracks woven by this Japanese sonic craftsman to be of the highest caliber. Every sound is expertly chiseled and meticulously assembled. With its haunting high melodies from a shakuhachi (or perhaps another flute-type instrument), stuttery tactile breakbeats, deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep bass, and turntable scritchin', Jaku is no exception. Full, rich and enveloping but without extraneous clutter. This is a totally fitting soundtrack for high-end cocktail lounges and haute couture boutiques. With each album, Krush's overall sound has grown increasingly serene and smooth grooving, but on Jaku special guests such as Mr. Lif, Aesop Rock, and Japanese turntablist Tatsuki spice things up a bit.
MPEG Stream: "Still Island"
MPEG Stream: "Decks-athron"