New Joint – White Boiz

White Boiz – “Mary’s Son” (@StonesThrow / 2017)

Sublime, soulful beats and rhymes from West Coast duo Krondon and Shafiq Husayn.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Clarity” (@StonesThrow / 2017)

Produced by Tzarizm.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Nonbelievers” (@StonesThrow / 2016)

El RTNC-produced flavour from the NY emcee’s new album “Kindness For Weakness”.

New Joint – Guilty Simpson

Guilty Simpson – “The D” (@GuiltySimpson / 2015)

The Motor City emcee pays homage to the place that raised him over a relentless Katalyst-produced track from his new album “Detroit’s Son”.

Ultimate 45s Mix Stream – BreakBeat Lou

Legendary crate-digger BreakBeat Lou pulls out some funk-fuelled gems for the latest Stones Throw podcast.

New Joint – Dam-Funk

Dam-Funk – “We Continue” (@DamFunk / 2015)

Aside from my addiction to Hip-Hop, I also spent a lot of time as a kid in the 80s discovering the funk of Zapp, The Bar-Kays, Slave etc, so props to West Coast artist DF for keeping that classic feel-good vibe alive on this track from his forthcoming album “Invite The Light”.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Unforgettable” (@StonesThrow / 2015)

The NY emcee revisits his 2012 Stones Throw EP debut “Subject: Matter” with new visuals for this smoothed-out Jonwayne-produced track.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “America The Beautiful” (Stones Throw Records / 2015)

Taken from the NY emcee’s album “Hallways”.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman / J-Live / Kurious

Homeboy Sandman ft. J-Live & Kurious – “Enough” (@StonesThrow / 2014)

Stream-of-consciousness flows and minimalist Inspirmentalist production from the NY artist’s “Hallways” album.

52 Best Albums & EPs Of 2013 (Part Three) – Ill Bill / J-Zone / Dirt Platoon etc.

Ill Bill – “The Grimy Awards” (Uncle Howie) – The Brooklyn emcee kept one foot in the gritty past of NYC and the other striding towards an apocalyptic future as he shed light on both his influences and pivotal life moments throughout this extremely personal project. With production from the likes of Large Professor, DJ Muggs and DJ Premier, Bill dropped arguably his most impressive work to date (and an honorable mention has to go to Q-Unique for one of the year’s best verses on “L’Amour East”).

Omniscence – “Sharp Objects EP” (Omniscence.BandCamp.Com) – Having made his name in the 90s with underground classics such as “Amazin'” and “Touch Y’all”, the North Carolina punchline king returned like he hadn’t missed a beat, displaying his agile lyricism on this EP built on the strong, jazzy head-nodding sonics of Australian producer Debonair P.

Dam-Funk & Snoop Dogg – “7 Days Of Funk” (Stones Throw) – Getting back to his G-Funk roots, Snoopzilla got in touch with his inner Bootsy Collins by uniting with talented producer Dam-Funk for this synth-heavy blast of retro goodness that sounded like Tha Dogg Pound had gatecrashed a 1983 Bar-Kays jam session. Ooooweeee!!!

J-Zone – “Peter Pan Syndrome” (Old Maid Entertainment) – Providing theme music for thirty-something Hip-Hop heads everywhere faced with the cold realities of growing-up, Zone Loc’s latest opus found the Queens, NY producer-on-the-mic navigating the pressures of full-time employment, property ownership and relationships with his usual blend of sarcastic humour and musical inventiveness.

DJ Skizz – “B.Q.E. (The Brooklyn-Queens Experience)” (Gawd Of Math Music) – Amidst ongoing debates around the topic of New York rap losing its identity, producer DJ Skizz enlisted the likes of Masta Ace, Al’ Tariq and Rasheed Chappell for a hardcore shot to the dome that needed to be listened to whilst wearing a hoodie and Timberlands to be fully appreciated.

Strange Neighbour – “The Heisenberg EP” (Revorg Records) – Taking his inspiration from the anti-hero of cult TV show “Breaking Bad”, UK producer Strange Neighbour got busy in the lab and cooked-up this drum-heavy batch of bangers featuring the varied lyrical styles of Phoenix Da Icefire, Oliver Sudden, Big Toast and more.

Durag Dynasty – “360 Waves” (Nature Sounds) – The Alchemist continued to spend the year churning out ridiculously dope beats with this full-length crew effort from Planet Asia, Tristate and Killer Ben. With the West Coast trio each spitting sharp lyrical darts, Alchemist’s stripped-down beats provided the right amount of thump to ensure said darts exploded on impact as intended.

Chairman Maf – “1976” (ChairmanMaf.BandCamp.Com) – UK producer Maf’s debut full-length instrumental project was a masterclass in creating mood music. Ranging from ethereal boom-bap to intergalactic soul, “1976” took the listener on an unpredictable sonic journey which had a worthwhile destination around every corner.

Skyzoo & Antman Wonder – “An Ode To Reasonable Doubt” (Loyalty Digital Corp) – The Brooklyn lyricist paid homage to Jigga’s classic debut respectfully and creatively on this Antman Wonder-produced EP. Retreading the musical steps of golden-era Hov definitely meant attempting to fill some big shoes, but this brilliant eight-track release found Skyzoo adding just as much to “Reasonable Doubt” as he was taking. No regrets here.

Dirt Platoon – “War Face” (Shinigamie Records) – Straight off the streets of Baltimore, duo Raf Almighty and Snook Da Crook cracked the concrete beats provided here by French producer Kyo Itachi like a pair of lyrical jackhammers. Rough, rugged and raw, “War Face”  left your eardrums feeling like they’d just been pummelled by the neighbourhood bully.

Tommy Tyler – “The Golden Section” (SonsPhonetic.BandCamp.Com) – The Irish emcee delivered a moody, hypnotic five-track EP that drew the listener into a sombre world further enhanced by the bass-heavy production of Mook. Music to listen to with the lights off.

Ryan Proctor

Check Part One, Part Two and Part Four.

Sands Of Rhyme – Homeboy Sandman

Interview with Homeboy Sandman discussing being on tour with Brother Ali, the so-called New York rap resurgence and his recent album “First Of A Living Breed”.

 

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Couple Bars” (Stones Throw Records / 2013)

J57-produced track from the album “First Of A Living Breed”.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Whatchu Want From Me” (Stones Throw Records / 2012)

Taken from the NY emcee’s album “First Of A Living Breed”.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Not Really” (Stones Throw Records / 2012)

The NY emcee reflects on his newfound ‘fame’ on this mellow track from his recent album “First Of A Living Breed”.

New Joint – Strong Arm Steady

Strong Arm Steady – “Classic” (Stones Throw Records / 2012)

Taken from the West Coast crew’s Statik Selektah-produced album “Stereotype”.

New Joint – Guilty Simpson

Guilty Simpson – “Ultimate Athletes – Oh No New Heights Remix” (Stones Throw Records / 2012)

Oh No puts a new twist on this track from the Detroit emcee’s 2010 “OJ Simpson” album.

New Joint – Homeboy Sandman

Homeboy Sandman – “Watchu Want From Me?” (Stones Throw / 2012)

Oddisee-produced track from the charismatic NY emcee’s forthcoming album “First Of A Living Breed”.

My Vinyl Weighs A Ton – Peanut Butter Wolf

Stones Throw Records’ head-honcho Peanut Butter Wolf discusses the origins of his passion for vinyl on Fuse.TV’s “Crate Diggers”.

Stereotype Album Sampler – Strong Arm Steady / Statik Selektah

Click here to preview six tracks from the West Coast crew’s forthcoming Statik Selektah-produced album “Stereotype” featuring Chace Infinite, Planet Asia, David Banner and more.

New Joint – Strong Arm Steady & Statik Selektah

Strong Arm Steady & Statik Selektah – “Premium” (Stones Throw Records / 2012)

Taken from the West Coast crew’s forthcoming Statik-produced album “Stereotype”.