Enjoy Hip-Hop Responsibly

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Sphere of Hip-Hop is proud to be hosting this album for Cook & Uno. Visit this link for more information and to download.

Pick up other releases from LA Symphony and Cookbook & Uno Mas at SphereofhiphopStore.com.

I get so much music in the mail it is difficult to keep track of everything. Since I’ve been exposed to so much, it’s also easy to be unimpressed by the constant stream of mediocrity filling my mailbox.

When I got this one in the mail from Dunham/Daptone, it piqued my curiosity. The packaging was interesting and I dug the photograph selected for the cover art. Was I ever in for a surprise when I popped it into my CD deck. I was hooked after about a minute into the first song. When I learned it was an instrumental release, I was even more excited to pour over the whole record.

Guitars dripping with funk, great basslines, horns, on time drumming, keys… it has it all. Basically, if I had any music ability… this is the sort of record I would dream of doing. If you love dusty 45s… you certainly will dig a bunch of this album. Yes, I am gushing… it is that good.

Here is a legit and legal preview (courtesy of their PR folks at World’s Fair) of the title track Make the Road by Walking.

The album drops October 14th. Definitely buy a copy when it drops if you dig what you hear.

Some of you reading this maybe never owned a Walkman or anything with a tape deck. For others a cassette tape stirs up fond memories of when hip-hop seemed to be a bit more pure (with respect to artistry).

Almost 20 million cassette players sold in one single year as recently as 1994. In 2007 a paltry 48,000 sold. When was the last time you bought an album on cassette tape? Who was it? Drop a comment.

I managed to pick up the last few dozen copies of what were likely the last albums in our scene to be issued on tape. Uprok Records released their first 4 releases on the tape format:

• Sup the Chemist “Dust”
• MG! the Visionary “Transparemcee”
• Ill harmonics “An Octave Above the Original”
• Sinner’s Prayer “Hip-Hop Praise”

Just the other day I stumbled across them when cleaning out the Sphere of Hip-Hop “wherehouse”. I love the newer technology of CDs and digital (MP3 etc) but nothing takes me back like a cassette tape or even a vinyl record.

On the way home today I’m listening to my second copy (wore out the first) of Solseekers’ debut.

I’d love to read your comments.

R.I.P. cassette tapes.

I’ve been enjoying some of the tunes from this upcoming release for a minute. It’s refreshing and I think you ought to give it a shot. Preview Reiterate here.

If you’re ready to pick up a copy, show your support at the Sphere of Hip-Hop Store.

Paris Zax

As some of you might know, I love instrumental hip-hop and downbeat music. This artist has a track out called Connective Tissue. Hit up iTunes to check it out and see what he does with the beat. It’s pretty fresh. I’ve got the single but am still looking around for a CD copy.

Other instrumental stuff worth checking out:

1. Dert - Fledgling
2. Dert - The Short List
3. Yochannan - Worship Music

These guys are really fresh positive hip-hop crew. The producer for the crew (Doc) did all the imaging for the Sphere of Hip-Hop Radio show. It’s a pretty creative video and I’d love to see more like this in our scene.

Fantastic new album from Scribbling Idiot member Theory Hazit. My only reservation with the album is the quality of the recording. I wish it were given a proper mix and mastering treatment. Don’t get me wrong–I love dirty sounding gritty style hip-hop, I just like for it to sound nice. With that said, it’s worth the price and if you like his other material… buy it. Don’t pirate it or someone might just launch a cannon ball into your pirate vessel.

If you tune into the Sphere of Hip-Hop XM Satellite Radio show, you’re likely to hear a tune or two from the album.

Pick up Lord Fire at SphereofhiphopStore.com for just a few bucks.

Catchy tune from Spokane WA’s very Ajax Starglider. If you’ve ever been around Spokane you’ve probably been by this park. Check out the video which is the first of several on the way from Illect Recordings and Ajax Starglider. Of course, his new album “Middle Class Artisan” in stock at SphereofhiphopStore.com. Pick that up and enjoy the video.

New video from a crew I’m really digging on. Pick up their records at SphereofhiphopStore.com.