GNARLS BARKLEY The Odd Couple (w/Backwards LP!) (Atlantic) 2lp 23.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Okay, we listed this a while back. Sure we dug it, but then someone let us in on a little secret, which was that the vinyl version of The Odd Couple came with a second lp, which was the whole record IN REVERSE! BACKWARDS!!! Faithful readers of the aQ list know how much we love backwards music, so needless to say, the vinyl version of this is ESSENTIAL. So much so that since we got the lp we pretty much ONLY listen to the backwards disc. All dizzying and slippery and swoopy and trippy and, well, gloriously backwards! But be warned, we only have a couple copies, and have had trouble getting any more than that. We just wanted to give mailorder folks a chance to grab one of these
But just in case, some tripped out backwards Gnarls Barkley isn't enough for you, well, here's what we had to say about the UN-backwards side:
Summer Jam lightning rarely strikes twice, and in the case of Gnarls Barkley fluke hit, "Crazy", they were lucky lightning struck at all. So instead of setting out for the impossible, they have made a more memorable full length without the erratic stylistic leaps and goofs of their debut. The tone is darker, but more soulful and while the upbeat jams are fewer, they have enough hooks to keep you listening and coming back. While St. Elsewhere was neurotic and bi-polar, The Odd Couple is addressing demons in a far more beguiling and groovy manner, one that gets better with each listen. Could this be therapy?
MPEG Stream: "Going On"
MPEG Stream: "Run (I'm A Natural Disaster)"
MPEG Stream: "She Knows"

GOLD CHAINS Live At The Beta Lounge (MX Entertainment) dvd 19.98
Presented for your party pleasure: this DVD compiles a performance by righteous party-monger Gold Chains at San Francisco's Beta Lounge, along with plenty of extra videos and live performances, including the awesome "I Come From San Francisco" video, shot on a BART train! Locals: look for yourself and your friends in the videos. Out-of towners: experience the magic of a Gold Chains show from the comfort of your living room. The live at Beta Lounge portion comes peppered by unfortunate amounts of clean-cut white girls in flygirl pose mode and art-school graduate ghetto parody, but Gold Chains himself puts on a helluva show as always, making the most uptight of booties shake and temporarily redeeming the white-boy indie-electronic hip-hop genre (at least until the next time I'm reminded of the existence of Cex). Although it's funny; I know I was pretty drunk that night, but I remember the show being totally crazy, like crowd surfing, buckets of sweat, jam-packed dance-your-ass-off crazy. Somehow, the video doesn't quite seem to convey the mayhem. Perhaps the filming would have benefitted from another approach, or maybe I was just more wasted than I realized. Hmmm.

GOLD CHAINS s/t (Orthlorng Musork) cd 9.98
I can't believe that this record hasn't driven us mad. In the very near future, it very well may. But at the moment, Gold Chains certainly tickles our fancy for purposefully ridiculous, totally fun electronica/hip-hop. Gold Chains is the boisterous hip-hop pseudonym of San Francisco's Topher Lafata, who now releases his first album through Kit Clayton's Orthlorng Musork. Unlike the disastrous ironic electronica of Cex and Peaches, Gold Chain's megalomania comes with a charming flashiness which is so often lost in the pursuit of being self-effacing, in order to be funny or ironic. In terms of hip-hop delivery, Gold Chains is pretty old school, enunciating all of his syllables upon clearly defined rhythmic patterns and sounding a little quicker, but equally as raspy as Tone Loc or DMX. And his content is equally old school, boasting of almost exclusively about his sexual prowess, but occasionally it's about how much he can shred a microphone with his lyrics or the quality of the parties he throws. Getting some help from Kit Clayton on production, Gold Chains' backing tracks are a mixture of the seductive IDM grooves of Autechre or Pole and the muscular proto-electronica of Tackhead and Gary Clail. While Gold Chains' live shows are infamously IN-YO-FACE, bratty, and juvenile, he has the sense (and the skillz!) to make it all sound sooo good. Oh yeah, the last track is built entirely on a Stereolab song and it works perfectly. I'm not kidding. In short, this is a recommended debut from a local hero, with plenty of 'bling bling' in his future!!
RealAudio clip: "I Come From San Francisco"
RealAudio clip: "No. 1 Face In Hip Hop"
RealAudio clip: "Rock The Parti"

GOLD CHAINS s/t (Orthlorng Musork) lp 8.98
I can't believe that this record hasn't driven us mad. In the very near future, it very well may. But at the moment, Gold Chains certainly tickles our fancy for purposefully ridiculous, totally fun electronica/hip-hop. Gold Chains is the boisterous hip-hop pseudonym of San Francisco's Topher Lafata, who now releases his first album through Kit Clayton's Orthlorng Musork. Unlike the disastrous ironic electronica of Cex and Peaches, Gold Chain's megalomania comes with a charming flashiness which is so often lost in the pursuit of being self-effacing, in order to be funny or ironic. In terms of hip-hop delivery, Gold Chains is pretty old school, enunciating all of his syllables upon clearly defined rhythmic patterns and sounding a little quicker, but equally as raspy as Tone Loc or DMX. And his content is equally old school, boasting of almost exclusively about his sexual prowess, but occasionally it's about how much he can shred a microphone with his lyrics or the quality of the parties he throws. Getting some help from Kit Clayton on production, Gold Chains' backing tracks are a mixture of the seductive IDM grooves of Autechre or Pole and the muscular proto-electronica of Tackhead and Gary Clail. While Gold Chains' live shows are infamously IN-YO-FACE, bratty, and juvenile, he has the sense (and the skillz!) to make it all sound sooo good. Oh yeah, the last track is built entirely on a Stereolab song and it works perfectly. I'm not kidding. In short, this is a recommended debut from a local hero, with plenty of 'bling bling' in his future!!

GOLD CHAINS Straight From Your Radio (Tigerbeat6) cd 9.98
Who rocks the parti? Local darling Gold Chains cracks the whip with five new dancefloor hotties giving a heads up to the Cologne and Berlin Schaffelfieber sound. Having travelled the world in his brief career as Gold Chains, Topher Lafata has absorbed the sounds of other lands to craft his own brand of electrosonic hiphop thunder. Following on his acclaimed debut for Orthlorng Musork, "Straight From Your Radio" is another brief encounter with the hard beat mystic nonmaterialistic witch doctor. Each track is very distinct from the next from the rubbery bass of the lead off track to the absurd cootchie song. So silly and repetitious, it lyrically reminded me of Snow's "The Informer" from '93. Continuing on, "Let's Make It" pumps out the big beats Sweet and Gary Glitter style. Y'know those thumpin' '70s enormo-party anthems! He even does a reworking of Samhain's "Human Pony Girl"! Come join the caravan...
RealAudio clip: "I Treat Your Cootchie Like A Maze"
RealAudio clip: "Let's Make It"
RealAudio clip: "Human Pony Girl"

GOLD CHAINS Straight From Your Radio (Tigerbeat6) 12" 9.98
Who rocks the parti? Local darling Gold Chains cracks the whip with five new dancefloor hotties giving a heads up to the Cologne and Berlin Schaffelfieber sound. Having travelled the world in his brief career as Gold Chains, Topher Lafata has absorbed the sounds of other lands to craft his own brand of electrosonic hiphop thunder. Following on his acclaimed debut for Orthlorng Musork, "Straight From Your Radio" is another brief encounter with the hard beat mystic nonmaterialistic witch doctor. Each track is very distinct from the next from the rubbery bass of the lead off track to the absurd cootchie song. So silly and repetitious, it lyrically reminded me of Snow's "The Informer" from '93. Continuing on, "Let's Make It" pumps out the big beats Sweet and Gary Glitter style. Y'know those thumpin' '70s enormo-party anthems! He even does a reworking of Samhain's "Human Pony Girl"! Come join the caravan...
RealAudio clip: "I Treat Your Cootchie Like A Maze"
RealAudio clip: "Let's Make It"
RealAudio clip: "Human Pony Girl"

GOLD CHAINS The Game (PIAS) 12" 7.98
Don't call Gold Chains a player, he's in love with you. And don't call him played out, 'cause this single is another evolutionary step for the genre twisting, scruffy-voiced laptop MC. Broken electric funk and tech-hop beats infuse one of Gold Chains catchiest, best-produced (and that's saying a lot) tracks to date. Features a hectic pitched-up remix by Kit Clayton, and a groovy house-ier mix by Luomo (aka Vladislav Delay).

GOLD CHAINS Young Miss America (Pias America) cd 15.98
Gold Chains' new album is again a kick ass, completely weird hybrid of hip hop and bedroom electronics so over the top and colorful that it demands a lot of attention. Not as completely catchy as his selftitled debut, this is still exciting and a fun listen. And check out "Break or Be Broken", decidedly non hip hop love song with pretty rock chord progressions, a good direction for Gold Chains.
MPEG Stream: "Young Miss America"
MPEG Stream: "Break or Be Broken"

GOLD CHAINS & SUE CIE When The World Was Our Friend (Kill Rock Stars) cd 14.98
SF indie hip-hop artist Gold Chains brings it again! Rocking a more earnest and cynical parti... When The World Was Our Friend offers up more broken electric funk and tech-hop beats for fans of previous albums, though on a slightly darker and harder note. Congruent to its title, the album is less hoochies in thongs sippin champagne in the hot tub, and more holy shit man what the fuck is going on. More emphasized this time around is frequent collaborator Sue Cie, singing a generous amount of the tracks. When The World definitely pushes Gold Chains into a different realm. Looking forward to it being pushed even harder!
MPEG Stream: "Better Together"
MPEG Stream: "Come To Cali"

GOLD CHAINS & SUE CIE When The World Was Our Friend (Kill Rock Stars) lp 15.98
SF hip-hop artist Gold Chains brings it again! Rocking a more earnest and cynical parti... When The World Was Our Friend offers up more broken electric funk and tech-hop beats for fans of previous albums, though on a slightly darker and harder note. Congruent to its title, the album is less hoochies in thongs sippin champagne in the hot tub, and more holy shit man what the fuck is going on. More emphasized this time around is frequent collaborator Sue Cie, singing a generous amount of the tracks. When The World definitely pushes Gold Chains into a different realm. Looking forward to it being pushed even harder!
MPEG Stream: "Better Together"
MPEG Stream: "Come To Cali"

GOODIE MOB One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Koch) cd 16.98

GORILLAZ Demon Days (EMI) cd 17.98
Some changes have taken place in the Gorillaz 'virtual band' ranks since their wildly popular, super vibrant and fun self-titled debut in 2000. That album was a wholly collaborative effort between Blur-man Damon Albarn, man-of-many-hats Dan The Automator, and cartoon illustrator Jamie Hewlett along with contributions from Miho Hatori, Ibrahim Ferrer and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. For one thing, Mr. Automator has left the clubhouse, leaving Albarn as the lone lord of the musical manor. An immediate clue-in to the contrast between 'old' and 'new' Gorillaz can be read in the album's title and seen in Hewlett's latest Gorillaz' illustrations. He continues to provide the visual representation of the group, but his former palette of playful cartoonish hues have been replaced by the darker tones found in the more mature subject matter of graphic novels -- a suitable match for the headier undertones of the music. On the cover characters' faces there's nothing but grimaces and suspicious scowls. When we heard that Danger Mouse was slipping into the production control seat formerly occupied by The Automator, we were expecting some manner of radical changes in the Gorillaz's actual sound -- perhaps a little wilder approach or sumthin'? -- but it's really not that drastic of a departure from their past recordings. No, the primary difference is in the album's moodier undercurrent. Whereas the conceptual and sonic effervescence of its predecessor offered a sense of escapism, once you delve beneath the shiny pop surface of Demon Days, things feel somewhat more claustrophobic, sinister and foreboding. Guests this time include Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder (!), London Community Gospel Choir, San Fernandez Youth Chorus and even Dennis Hopper! Dig it!
MPEG Stream: "Last Living Souls"
MPEG Stream: "Dare"

GORILLAZ Plastic Beach (Virgin) cd 17.98

GORILLAZ s/t (Virgin) cd 17.98
Previously import only, now available domestically for like $8 less! Gorillaz is a project of AQ-pal Dan the Automator (Dr. Octagon, Deltron 3030) with guests Damon Albarn (Blur), Miho Hatori (Cibo Matto), Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club), and Del tha Funky Homosapien! Sounds exactly like you'd think it would (assuming you'd think it would sound mostly like Blur, with little hip hop flourishes), with Dan's funkified hip hop under a layer of Albarn's slightly mopey vocals. (The tracks with Del on the mic are much more successful.) This already sold over a million copies in Europe; way to go Dan!
RealAudio clip: "Sound Check"
RealAudio clip: "Double Bass"

GORILLAZ Spacemonkeyz versus Gorillaz - Laika Come Home (Astralwerks) cd 16.98
This appears to be dub versions of tracks from the Gorillaz record. Said outfit, you will recall, is a project of AQ-pal Dan the Automator (Dr. Octagon, Deltron 3030) with main guests Damon Albarn (Blur), Miho Hatori etc. Bearing little resemblance to the original Gorillaz album, or indeed its other, first remix record spinoff, all vestiges of rock and hip hop are stripped away in order for the bass to get heavier, the vocals to get echo-ier, the pace to slow down. As dub, it's decent, if a trifle formulaic. Melodica, horns, organs, even a flute round out the sound. This is my favorite of the Gorillaz-related projects.
RealAudio clip: "19/2000 (Jungle Fresh)"
RealAudio clip: "Starshine (Dub 09)"

GRAE, JEAN Jeanius (Blacksmith) cd 14.98

GRAE, JEAN The Bootleg of the Bootleg EP (Babygrande) cd 10.98
Man, people have been dying for this, the first official release from Jean Grae, who has had the hip hop underground in a tizzy, popping up all over the place, stealing the show on other folks' songs and comps. This ep is short, especially for such a hotly anticipated debut, but it's made up for with a 45 minute bonus track megamix of unreleased cuts and freestyles. Grae has a wicked flow and a sharp tongue, spitting vitriol in all directions, sparing nobody. The beats and loops are spare and old school, but the flow is anything but. Check out the aptly titled Hater's Anthem to understand just how pissed, and how good, Grae really is. Guest spot by now defunct AQ faves Cannibal Ox.
MPEG Stream: "Hater's Anthem"
MPEG Stream: "Swing Blades"

GRAE, JEAN This Week (Babygrande) cd 15.98

MPEG Stream: "A-Alikes"
MPEG Stream: "Going Crazy"

GRANDMASTER FLASH The Official Adventures Of... (Strut) cd 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
All right, we're all probably familiar with Grandmaster Flash, the guy that invented scratching and turntablism, who was instrumental in laying down one of the foundations of hip hop -- he was THE DJ. In the voluminous, entertaining liner notes (it's on the respected reissue label Strut after all) to this collection you read about the Dog Paddle Theory (walking your fingers along the outside rim of a record), the Phone Dial Theory (sticking your finger on the circle label inside the record), and the Clock Theory (finding a break and playing it over and over using the previous two methods to control it). Yep, this guy figured that stuff out and here we have a fun mix cd which includes lots of rare live tapes, lots of live scratching 'n sampling, excerpts of Flash talking about dating girls who had covetable record collections, and various favorite tracks he loves to mess with (Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Babe Ruth's "The Mexican", etc.) -- all expertly sequenced into a party of a record, a fine tribute to the man (no "White Lines" though). Really fun.
RealAudio clip: BABE RUTH "The Mexican"
RealAudio clip: GRANDMASTER FLASH "Flash Got More Bounce"
RealAudio clip: GRANDMASTER FLASH "Tear the Roof Off"

GRANDMASTER FLASH The Official Adventures Of... (Strut) 2lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now on vinyl!
All right, we're all probably familiar with Grandmaster Flash, the guy that invented scratching and turntablism, who was instrumental in laying down one of the foundations of hip hop -- he was THE DJ. In the voluminous, entertaining liner notes (it's on the respected reissue label Strut after all) to this collection you read about the Dog Paddle Theory (walking your fingers along the outside rim of a record), the Phone Dial Theory (sticking your finger on the circle label inside the record), and the Clock Theory (finding a break and playing it over and over using the previous two methods to control it). Yep, this guy figured that stuff out and here we have a fun mix cd which includes lots of rare live tapes, lots of live scratching 'n sampling, excerpts of Flash talking about dating girls who had covetable record collections, and various favorite tracks he loves to mess with (Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Babe Ruth's "The Mexican", etc.) -- all expertly sequenced into a party of a record, a fine tribute to the man (no "White Lines" though). Really fun.
RealAudio clip: BABE RUTH "The Mexican"
RealAudio clip: GRANDMASTER FLASH "Flash Got More Bounce"
RealAudio clip: GRANDMASTER FLASH "Tear the Roof Off"

GRAVEDIGGAZ Nightmare In A-Minor (BMG) cd 15.98
This is the third record from these masters of 'horrorcore' recorded while Gravediggaz mainman Poetic was struggling with colon cancer. He died before they finished the record, but his partner Frukwan finished putting it together and finally we get to hear the results. The sound has changed a bit since their last record 'The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel'. While it's still creepy and 'horrific', it sounds less manic and hysterical, more subtly sinister, and lyrically, Poetic started rhyming about being sick and his cancer, so the rhymes seem much more intense and personal. And no RZA this time, but their production hasn't suffered for it, lots of creepy scary loops, far away piano, ghostly female vocals, sick beats and amazing rhymes: Frukwan and Poetic had such amazing chemistry together. It's really sad to lose someone so talented and so young, but at least we're lucky to have one more record and one more chance to enjoy his amazing art.
RealAudio clip: "Bloodshed"
RealAudio clip: "False Things Must Perish"
RealAudio clip: "Burn Baby Burn"

GRAVEDIGGAZ Pick, the Sickle, & the Shovel (Gee Street) cd 15.98
Supergroup composed of Prince Paul, a guy from Stetsasonic, RZA of WuTang. We're thinking it's more ferocious and thus better than the recent much-hailed WuTang record!

GRAYSKUL Deadlivers (Rhymesayers) cd 15.98

GREENTHINK Blindfold (? (anticon?)) cd 14.98
Anticon main men Dose One and Why? take some time out from their ridiculously prolific release schedule as well as a break from their tripped out psychedelic big beat hip hop, and with the help of a shitload of guests come up with a record full of short, sharp and super abstract hip-hop-ish soundscapes. Bizarre and tripped out and as fucked and out-there as you've come to expect from the Anticon collective. Maybe more so. Features Mr. Dibbs, Slug, Sole, Moodswing9 and about a million others.
RealAudio clip: "Three "
RealAudio clip: "Six"
RealAudio clip: "Ten"
RealAudio clip: "Sixteen"

GRIP GRAND Welcome To Broakland (Bomb Hip-Hop) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

GUILTY SIMPSON Ode To The Ghetto (Stones Throw) cd 14.98

GURU Baldhead Slick & Da Click (LandSpeed) cd 17.98
Guru has one of the greatest voices in rap. Ice Cube's or DMX's are great too, but more mean and scratchy. I mean, when I imagine the devil, he sounds like Ice Cube. But Guru is smooth and effortless and his voice is deep and warm, and his flow is so ridiculous sometimes, like he always has way too much to say to fit it in the verse, but just keeps going and trails off into the next part. And Gang Starr was the shit, but post Gang Starr, Guru, started this Jazzmatazz crap and everything was smoooth and 'for the ladies'. But on 'Baldhead Slick...' The Guru has returned and this time the music is up to it. No smooth jazz, no chillout bullshit, this is hard and weird. The beats are slamming and the vocals are delivered with full force and maximum fury, but without losing the 'smooth'. Essential.
RealAudio clip: "Where's Our Money"
RealAudio clip: "Back 2 Back"

GURU Jazzmatazz: Streetsoul cd 16.98
A new installment in the popular hip hop and soul jazz crossover series created by Gangstarr's Guru. Featuring Macy Gray, Erykah Badu, Kelis, The Roots, Herbie Hancock, Les Nubians, and more.

GUSSET Ask Dr, Kim cd 15.98

GZA Pro Tools (Babygrande) cd 16.98

GZA / GENIUS Beneath The Surface (MCA) cd 15.98
Great cover art depicting the earth after an impact with an asteroid that leaves a GZA-logo shaped crater. A pretty darn good disc for those who need their Wu-fix.

HANDSOME BOY MODELING SCHOOL So, How's Your Girl? (Tommy Boy) cd 16.98
Here we have Dan the Automator (of Dr. Octagon fame) and Prince Paul (of De La Soul fame) hamming it up, as the proprietors of a fictional modeling school, wearing tuxedos, hanging with models, smoking cigars, riding in limos, and living the life. Dan assures us that it's all a big joke. But we're not so sure. One thing is for sure though, this record is no joke (except, of course, for the occasional skit, and the samples from Chris Eliott's 'Get a Life' sitcom, which is where the HBMS name came from). Awesome production, sick beats and a pretty amazing set of guests: Del, Cibo Matto, Mike D, Grand Puba, Sadat X, DJ Shadow, DJ Quest, Sean Lennon, Money Mark, Alec Empire, Kid Koala, Sensational, Paula Frazer (Tarnation), Josh Hayden (Spain) and more.

HANDSOME BOY MODELING SCHOOL White People (Atlantic) cd 17.98
Handsome Boy Modelling School (aka Prince Paul and Dan the Automator) again offer up quite a cast on White People, their second album. De La Soul, Chester Bennington, Mike Patton, RZA, Mars Volta, Dres (Black Sheep), Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand), Cat Power, Julee Cruise, Pharrell Williams, John Oates(!) and others contribute in unpredictable ways throughout the album. You'll even hear a testimonial by Father Guido Sarducci! Due to the light-hearted and jokey nature of much of this album, any lyrics about real issues are a bit hard to swallow with any legitimacy, but hey, who's counting. Let's PARTY!!!!!!!!! The songs involve a pop-music quality but only by way of its servitude to hip-hop. And of course, the production is as exemplary as would be expected by this duo. Released in conjunction to an amazing instrumental version of the album.
MPEG Stream: "If It Wasn't For You"
MPEG Stream: "Are You Down With It"

HANDSOME BOY MODELING SCHOOL White People (Instrumental) (Atlantic) cd 17.98
Personally, I think, on a very consistent level, the instrumental versions of most hip-hop records are absolutely amazing. In some cases, superceding the original tracks. Being the influential producers they are, Prince Paul and Dan the Automator (aka Handsome Boy Modelling School) have rightfully released an instrumental album version of their second full-lenth, White People. It rules. And it rules hard. Handsome's production shines here without the jokiness of the album's lyrics. I kind of even prefer these instrumentals over their music-celeb and lyric-driven counterparts but, hey, that's just me. Anyway, both versions of White People are totally great. So, the choice is yours!!
MPEG Stream: "If It Wasn't For You (Instrumental)"
MPEG Stream: "Are You Down With It (Instrumental)"

HANGAR 18 The Multi-Platinum Debut Album (Definitive Jux) cd 14.98

HAR MAR SUPERSTAR 3 Song EP (Insound) cd 9.98
Purported to sound like Timbaland, Har Mar Superstar instead seems like the bastard son of Jamiroquai. His claim to fame is that he is the brother of Sean Na Na and might have an album on Kill Rock Stars in the near future.

HARD, SCOTTY The Return of Kill Dog E (WordSound) cd 15.98
Scotty Hard (producer of New Kingdom, De La Soul, Wu Tang, Ice, etc.) makes his solo debut. Brutal, damaged, slo-mo, dubbed-out hip hop that sometimes ventures into druggy spacerock territory! With cameos from Sensational, Mr Dead and a bunch of other messed up rappers. Another totally superior WordSound release. We love this.

HATCHA & BENGA 10 Tons Heavy (Planet Mu) 12" 9.98

HAWD GANKSTUH RAPPUHS MC'S (WID GHATZ) Wake Up and Smell the Piss (Load) cd 14.98
You can never have too much Hawd Gangstuh Rappuhs MC's (Wid Ghatz). And god knows we're trying! Full length number two, in less than a year, and it's everything you've come to love from these East Coast miscreants. Bad drum programming, stupid lyrics, bad skits, horrible sense of humor. Fucking Brilliant. If the last HGRMWG was too much skit and not enough music for you, then this should balance it out, much more music, hardly any skits, and not as much rapping as you might expect. But the rapping that is there is really stupid and really, really funny. Includes what I think was their first track ever, the Cypress Hill spoof 'The Bong (Get In The)'.
RealAudio clip: "The Bong (Get In the)"
RealAudio clip: "Operation Albino"

HAWD GANKSTUH RAPPUHS MC'S WID GHATZ 2 Hype 2 Wype (WordSound) cd 14.98
Oh yeah! Finally, a full length from the best worst rap group EVER. God Albino, Duke Crapmore and Flybot Van Damn are three skinny white guys who absolutely destroy on the mic. Fuck Paul Barman and his wacky 'college guy' shtick, this is the shit. Stupid and funky and juvenile and offensive and so so funny. HGRMWG are like the Geto Boys, if the Geto Boys were immature, whiny, skinny white art-school drop outs. We've been following these guys for a while -- they've contributed standout tracks to all three of the WordSound comps as well as cameos on the Spectre records. Primitive loops, lo-fi recording, ridiculous fake voices, and lots and lots of skits! And ANYONE who bought a Steven Schultz record off the last list, HAS to buy this. In fact, I'm just gonna go through the files and send out copies to those people. You know who you are...

HAWD GANKSTUH RAPPUHS MCS WID GATZ s/t (Black Hoodz/Wordsound) 10 7.98
The history of rap will forever change with Guy Albino, Dook Crapmore, and Flybot Van Damn, a trio that is easily the most retarded hip hop outfit ever to grace the earth. Self deprecating, bombastic lyrics proclaim themselves as the mythical 'Sucker MCs' ridiculed throughout hip hop since the beginning of time, while shouting about being stupid white kids high on crack... loaded with scatalogical rhetoric that we really want Snoop Dogg to utter, through an exemplary rhythmic if wholly caucasian delivery... the ultimate transmutation of African-American culture into a suburban nightmare via Phoenix, Arizona. Absolute.
So highly recommended by Andee...

HELIUM3 3 s/t (Quaketrap) 12" 8.98
Latest blast of hip hop madness from local crew Helium 3 (responsible in the past for Pancake Circus, Yoko Solo, Thug Emporium etc.) and their shit just keeps getting better. The beats are simple and solid, but the loops and samples are just tweaked enough to keep things interesting. The rappers spit rhymes that fall somewhere between the nasal whine of Cypress Hill's B-Real and the lazy laconic drawl of 50 Cent. Lyrically the flow is fleet and fast and a bit absurd which definitely reminds us of those Anticon / Mush folks. A teaser for their forthcoming full length. Can't wait!
MPEG Stream: "Primary Position"
MPEG Stream: "Razor Blades"

HERBALISER, THE Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ninja Tune) cd 16.98
I'm a fan of the Herbaliser, the Ninjatune duo whose mix of hip hop, trip hop and noir-ish beats is consistently really clever, listenable, and pretty much mistake-free. This new full length is really worth a listen. The record begins with a deep, velvet-voiced female diva crooning over a Tricky-like, dark breakbeat groove, and is accompanied by a veritable orchestra of trombone, violin, viola, cello, wurlitzer organ, flute, piccolo, "war drums", sax, Hohner clavinet... the list goes on. The next few tracks are excellent straightforward hip hop with guest vocalists including Rakaa Iriscience (Dilated Peoples), Blade, MF Doom, and more. The rhyming is tight, the instrumental backup is lighthearted, and the scratching is super seamlessly incorporated into the mix (something I wish happened on other records more often). The third strain represented here is instrumental interludes that are not filler and are genuinely cinematic -- these guys could seriously score a thriller or something. (And they get extra points for the "Taking of Pelham 123" sample!) The album continues to flit amongst the diva trip hop material, the great hip hop tracks, and the cinematic climaxes. Somehow the multiple personalities of the record don't seem as schizophrenic as they are inspired; maybe it's cos they're English, where hip hop isn't separated so much from dance music like it is in America (the Automator being the only American exception I can think of). Just extremely well executed! Recommended, especially for fans of stuff like Kruder and Dorkmeister, Tricky, underground hip hop in general, Kid Loco, etc.
RealAudio clip: "Something Wicked"
RealAudio clip: "Time 2 Build"

HERBALISER, THE Take London (Ninja Tune) 2cd 16.98

HI-TEK Hi-Teknology (Rawkus) cd 15.98
Light and funky hip hop from Reflection Eternal producer Hi Tek. You might remeber the Taleb Kweli /Hi Tek record from a while back. Well, the sound is similar, but this time around he's got a bunch of guests on board: Common, Taleb Kweli, Mos Def, Jonell, Buckshot, Slum Village and more.
RealAudio clip: "Get Back Part 2"
RealAudio clip: "The Sun God"

HI-TEK Hi-Teknology (Rawkus) 2lp 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Light and funky hip hop from Reflection Eternal producer Hi Tek. You might remeber the Taleb Kweli /Hi Tek record from a while back. Well, the sound is similar, but this time around he's got a bunch of guests on board: Common, Taleb Kweli, Mos Def, Jonell, Buckshot, Slum Village and more.

HI-TEK The Sun God (Rawkus) 12" 6.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Featuring guests Common, Vinia Mojica, Talib Kweli and DCQ. Four versions of "The Sun God" and three of "Get Back Pt. 2".

HIEROGLYPHICS Full Circle (Hieroglyphics Imperium) cd 16.98

HIEROGLYPHICS Third Eye Vision (Hiero Imperium) cd 14.98
East Bay's Del tha Funkee Homosapien and crew return with some alternative hiphop.

HIGH PRIEST Ghost in the Drummachine / Stimulus Simulator (Antipop Recordings) 12" 6.98