Don't Let 'em Stop You
Sunspot Jonz
This Los Angeles rapper/producer is half the duo Mystik Journeymen, and has been in the scene since Too Short and Heiro. This time he goes for self and Battle Axe Records is backing his emotional stories of independent hip hop and life as a black man. Eighteen tracks feature fellow Living Legends members PSC, Eligh, The Grouch and Scarub. The Swollen Members and Moka Only contribute as well. As a member of Living Legends they've produced more than 50 records. Add this one to their repertoire. Check Sunspot's "There She Goes," a ditty about failed romance and heartbreak. Boo hoo. -BatleaxeRecords.com
The Mic Planet Sessions
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Kool Keith (Dr. Octagon, Black Elvis, Ultramagnetic MCs), MF Doom (KMD), Mystic (Grammy nominee), 2Mex, Poison Pen, Breese, Evaflowin', Planet Asia, Rasco, Royce da 5'9" and a host of others are collected and placed on this hip hop time capsule that represents independent hip hop's rhyme styles for the 2003. Iz-Real (radio host, founder of Insomniac Magazine) put together this album for the sake of showcasing the who's who of independent hip hop's most-gifted artists. From abstract metaphorical prose to aggressive rhyme combat, it's here. From funky to the raw, and from smooth to pure, these artists deliver the goods. -InsomniacMusic.com
Full Circle
Hieroglyphics
Now here's a good update for their award-winning Web site hieroglyphics.com (8 years running). Let's give a warm welcome to the Bay Area's own Hieroglyphics! In seasoned form are producer/rapper Domino, Del the Funkee Homosapien (I Wish My Brother George Was Here-1991; No Need For Alarm-1993; lead on platinum selling "Clit Eastwood" from Gorillaz album); Souls of Mischief ('93 to Infinity-1993; No Man's Land-1995); and Casual (Fear Itself-1994). This follow up to '97s Third Eye Vision moves to show that when formulas work they are money. But wait, there's more! Tajai with his Power Movement LP, Casual with Smash Rockwell, Pep Love with Reconstruction and Del with Eleventh Hour, will rap up the '03 with definite Bay Area style. -Hieroglyphics.comHymie's BasementLex Records
[Not pictured] Yoni (aka cLOUDDEAD from Mush Records) and Mr. Andy Broder (aka Fog of Ninja tune) form a team up to produce a genre-less music experience that could make you say "WTF!?!?" Their music is simply a combination of piano recitals, hip hop bumps, indie rock tinkering, kazoos, kitchen sinks, Moogs and weird things. The music is great when you are on a man-made-drug type of high. Not your average everyday kind of lyrics; think of it as higher-plane poetry. -LexRecords.com
Click of Respect
Kool G Rap & 5 Family Click
The original gutter MC is back with a new crew. Kool Genius of Rap was one of the '80s originals as a member of the Juice Crew with DJ Polo. The groundbreaking collective of Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Masta Ace, Graig G, Roxanne Shante and hip hop's original super producer Marly Marl set the record straight and made blueprints for the up and comers. Ahead of his time with East Coast Gangsterism, he dropped bombs from '86 to '92: "Road to the Riches," "Streets of New York," "Talk Like Sex," "Ill Street Blues," and the posse cut "The Symphony." On this album he brings that signature raw gutter feel and dishes it out with his real life, 23-year-old wifey Ma Barker; Ma Barker's 20-year-old brother, Hammerz; and 22-year-old cousin, Glory Wars. This was supposed to be a compilation album to showcase individual talent, which goes to show that if you stick with the family good shit always happens. It happened here. -BlazeTheWorld.com