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Download Kaboose – Bits and Pieces mixtape

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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.