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Friday, May 15, 2026
Hieroglyphics "Drum Talk" [SINGLE]
Hiero is back! Fresh off their international Hiero 360 Tour, the Oakland, CA super-crew has announced their first release in over thirteen years! All Said And Done will be released on 9/3/26 and the album’s first single “Drum Talk” is now available on all streaming platforms.
“Drum Talk” features an all-out lyrical smoke session from Casual, Souls Of Mischief members Phesto Dee and Tajai as well as Del The Funky Homosapien.
Listen to “Drum Talk”: https://promo.
Speaking on the forthcoming album (the first official Hieroglyphics release since 2013 mixtape The Kitchen) Del beamed “It’s like the best-case scenario, the way it’s working. I love it! It's working better than I even could have imagined.”
Formed out of the Bay Area, Hiero includes Casual, Souls Of Mischief (a quartet composed of A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai), Del The Funky Homosapien, Domino, DJ Toure and Pep Love. The crew announced their presence to the world on the track "Burnt", the B-Side to Del The Funky Homosapien's 1991 single "Mistadobalina." However, it was the 1993 release of Del’s sophomore album, No Need For Alarm, Souls Of Mischief’s debut album, 93’ Til Infinity and Casual's 1994 debut, Fear Itself that solidified their skills to hip-hop fanatics worldwide. Label frustrations and politics spurred the formation of their own label, Hiero Imperium. In 1998 Hieroglyphics released their debut album Third Eye Vision. This was followed by 2003’s offering, Full Circle.
More Info: https://hieroglyphics.
D.V. Alias Khryst "Rumble" ft. V-Twizzy, Trendsetta, Bada Bing & Will Sully [VIDEO]
D.V. Alias Khryst delivers "Rumble" as part of the "Flip Phone Rap Freestyles" series – a concept that consciously pushes back against the smartphone era's influence on hip-hop. Produced by Jp The Producer, directed by Matt Fingaz, mixed by M.I.N.G., and mastered at Batcave Studios. The label constellation – Dgsup Inc, ICW LLC Entertainment, Soulspazm Records, Teamwork Records – speaks to a broad independent infrastructure. Features from V-Twizzy Trendsetta, Bada Bing, and Will Sully fill out the roster. The "Flip Phone Rap" tag is more than branding – it's a deliberate aesthetic choice that prioritizes raw delivery and lyrical substance over production polish.
Fam Ross "They Don't Want Me Hear" [ALBUM]
Fam Ross delivers "They Don't Want Me Hear" – a title that doubles as declaration and defiance. Nine tracks with titles like "Drexel," "Kensvariety," and "Inmtoliverwitthebarber" that map Philadelphia's geography directly into the music. Drexel Hill, Kensington, Oliver Street – this is Philly narrated through hip-hop. Yorel Tifsim features on the opener. The track naming convention – running words together, referencing specific blocks and local figures – suggests deeply personal, neighborhood-rooted storytelling.
One Be Lo "Phoenix Sons" [VIDEO]
One Be Lo – one half of Binary Star, whose "Masters of the Universe" (2000) remains an untouchable underground classic – delivers "Phoenix Sons" from his "C Section" album. The Pontiac, Michigan MC has built a substantial solo catalog since Binary Star, maintaining the lyrical density and conceptual depth that made that project legendary. The title "Phoenix Sons" carries symbolic weight – rebirth, legacy, continuation. For heads who came up on "Reality Check" and "Honest Expression," Lo's return to the mic is always worth attention.
Pab Montage "Pab VS The Jet" ft. TheBeatDealers [SINGLE]
Pab Montage delivers "Pab VS The Jet" featuring production from TheBeatDealers.
UUuTANG MASKMAN x BEHOLD DA FRAIL HOARSE
UUuTANG MASKMAN exists in the experimental corner of Wu-Tang-inspired underground hip-hop. "Behold Da Frail Hoarse" – the title plays with language in a way that suggests deliberate abstraction. The Dehancer reference points to intentionally degraded visual aesthetics. Minimal information, maximum mystique. This feels like the deep underground where explanation takes a back seat to experience.
Timbo King x Asethic "Cup of Dollars" [SINGLE]
Timbo King – a member of Royal Fam and a long-standing affiliate of the extended Wu-Tang universe – delivers "Cup of Dollars" with Asethic. Staten Island runs through everything Timbo touches. No additional production details or features listed for this single. With Timbo King, the expectation is set – Wu-Tang-adjacent lyricism rooted in street realism and martial-arts-meets-five-percent philosophy.
J Littles & Blak Twang "Know About Me" (Prod. Kong The Artisan) [VIDEO]
Blak Twang is UK hip-hop royalty – active since the late '90s, a foundational voice in London's underground scene. J Littles connects with him on "Know About Me," produced by Kong The Artisan, from the album "Found" released through Noel & Poland Records. Mixed and mastered by Rola at Khameleon Sounds, with visuals by Honey JD. Blak Twang's presence on any track elevates it – his experience and delivery carry decades of credibility. Kong The Artisan provides the production framework, while J Littles holds his own alongside a legend.
Chip Fu "Invisible Footsteps" [ALBUM]
The three friends from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, first gained attention after performing at a hip-hop event at Howard University, which led to a deal with Jive Records. The "Have Mercy" single reunites Chip Fu with Busta Rhymes – two artists whose shared lineage in the early '90s Brooklyn creative explosion produced some of the most technically demanding rapid-fire rap of that era. Chip Fu arrives sharp – the speed-shifting cadences, tongue-twisting patterns, and animated wordplay that defined his work with Fu-Schnickens are present and undiminished, while Busta enters measured, building through the verse before shifting into rapid-fire territory, giving the track genuine shape. "Invisible Footsteps" also features a reunion with Shaquille O'Neal, more than three decades after "What's Up Doc (Can We Rock?)." Fu-Schnickens is also notable for its many references to martial arts films and Asian culture before Wu-Tang Clan helped make such references popular in hip-hop music. A return that arrives with something to say rather than something to trade on.
Sonnyjim & Brainorchestra "Politic Ditto" ft. The Musalini [SINGLE]
Sonnyjim – Birmingham, UK's most prolific underground export – links with Brainorchestra for "Politic Ditto," featuring The Musalini. Sonnyjim's catalog is vast and his ability to bridge the Atlantic through seamless collaborations with US-based artists remains one of his defining qualities. The Musalini adds his own weight to the track. Brainorchestra provides the canvas.
OT The Real & BoriRock "Evil Eye" (Prod. Nickel Plated) [VIDEO]
OT The Real and BoriRock deliver "Evil Eye," produced by Nickel Plated, as a visual from the album "Villain." The track operates within the gritty, street-level aesthetic that OT The Real has cultivated throughout his catalog. Nickel Plated's production reinforces the dark atmosphere the album title promises. No frills – just execution.
Chill Rob G "Survival of the Better" [ALBUM]
Chill Rob G, born Robert Frazier, is a gruff Queens MC who was part of Wild Pitch producer the 45 King's Flavor Unit MCs in the early '90s, releasing one album, Ride the Rhythm. "Ride the Rhythm" contained four singles – "Dope Rhymes," "Court Is Now in Session," "Let Me Show You," and "The Power" – and was selected as one of The Source's "100 Best Rap Albums" in 1998. Now, decades later, "Survival of the Better" arrives with a feature roster that reads like a hip-hop history course: Copywrite, Sadat X, R.A. the Rugged Man, Stretch (of Stretch & Bobbito fame), Chuck D, Wise Intelligent, and Lakim Shabazz. That's Poor Righteous Teachers, Public Enemy, and Wild Pitch lineage converging on eleven tracks. The title itself signals intent – not just survival, but elevation. When a voice this historically significant returns with collaborators of this caliber, the underground pays attention.
BAWON "Rite Thang" [VIDEO]
BAWON – also known as Stalin The Innercity Rebel – has been holding it down in Queens for over a decade. "Rite Thang" is the sixth official music video from "Winter In America (The Epstein Files Disclosure)" on Free Em All Records. After five visuals confronting political power structures, this track returns to the block. Built at 106 BPM over a sub-bass dominant boom bap foundation, the record sits in the classic East Coast pocket that Queens helped define. Press coverage from HOT 97, The Source, Hip-Hop Vibe, and Hype Magazine speaks to the reach. The most human entry in the series – an MC doing what he was built to do, in the place that built him.
Lord Sko & Statik Selektah "Elevator Music" [ALBUM]
Statik Selektah produces the entire album – a quality baseline that needs no elaboration for anyone who knows his catalog. Lord Sko, just 22 years old, hailing from Washington Heights, delivers "Elevator Music" as a follow-up to his 2025 project "PIFF." The feature list is serious: Dave East, B-Real, Smoke DZA, Ab-Soul, Marco Plus, LIFEOFTHOM, and Kai Ca$h. Nine tracks, all produced by Statik. The generational bridge is the central narrative here – a young MC from NYC pairing with one of the most respected producers of the last two decades. Whether Sko can hold his own alongside the heavyweight features is the real test. Statik's confidence in the pairing speaks volumes.
JFliz x DJ Lump "Sploofs & Nag Champa" [ALBUM]
Twelve tracks of deliberately hazy hip-hop – JFliz writes and records, DJ Lump handles all production and cuts, with mixing and mastering from Hilltop Productions and Tali Rodriguez. The project description is refreshingly honest: this isn't about tight concepts or overthinking bars – it's about vibe. The kind of album meant for incense, open windows, and letting the mind wander. Track titles like "Diary Entry," "Spaced Out," and "Rhythm Of Your Heart" reinforce the mood. DJ Lump's cuts provide the hip-hop anchor while the production breathes freely. Not every project needs to be a lyrical assault – sometimes the most honest approach is to simply let the moment exist.
Conway The Machine, 38 Spesh & Dave East "Da Cypher" [VIDEO]
Conway The Machine, 38 Spesh, and Dave East on a single beat is the kind of East Coast convergence that demands attention. "Da Cypher" comes from EMG The Label's compilation "Reshaping The Culture Vol. 1," produced by DJ Profluent. Conway brings Griselda's grimy foundation, 38 Spesh delivers Rochester's street poetry with Trust Gang precision, and Dave East adds Harlem's narrative weight. The cypher format strips everything down to its essence – no hooks to hide behind, just bars. Three MCs with different flavors but the same commitment to lyrical substance.
Primo Jab & Chuck Chan "Standin On Bidness" [EP]
Six tracks built around a singular thematic axis: the absurdity of corporate life. Track titles like "Office Culture Vultures," "Night Of The Living Wage Slaves," "Corporate Affairs," and "MiddleManageMentality" read like a satirical manifesto against the nine-to-five grind. DJ Grazzhoppa contributes scratches on three cuts. The conceptual framework here is tighter than most EPs manage – a cohesive statement rather than a collection of loosies. Primo Jab and Chuck Chan use hip-hop as the vehicle for workplace critique, and the approach is sharper for its specificity.
Classic Der Dicke, Johnny Katharsis & Mase "Asbest & Hallimasch" ft. DJ Schwan [VIDEO]
German-language underground hip-hop with Classic Der Dicke on production, Johnny Katharsis and Mase on the mic, and DJ Schwan providing cuts. The title "Asbest & Hallimasch" (Asbestos & Honey Fungus) – toxic and organic simultaneously – perfectly frames the aesthetic. No autotune, no trap patterns. This is boom bap in German, with turntablism as a non-negotiable component. The Deutschrap underground thrives in releases like this – far removed from the commercial German rap landscape, operating with complete creative autonomy.
Paz One x Madchild "Too Long" ft. Gravity (Prod. Dox Boogie) [SINGLE]
Madchild – the Swollen Members veteran from Vancouver – needs no introduction to underground heads. His distinctive voice and aggressive delivery have been fixtures of Canadian hip-hop for decades. Paz One links with him on "Too Long," featuring Gravity, with Dox Boogie handling production. Released through Soulchain Records, the single stands alone without album context. Madchild's name on a record still carries weight in the independent circuit.
Destruct "Only Child" feat. Blu, Kayla Macias [VIDEO]
Destruct, representing The Resident People collective out of Los Angeles, drops the new album "Return Of The Deadly Kid." The visual features appearances from Blu and Kayla Macias, with production from Luis G. Destruct himself handles filming and directing, with Hvlloween Films on editing. Having Blu on a record carries a certain weight – the Project Blowed lineage and LA underground credibility run deep. The self-directed visual approach speaks to the same DIY ethos that defines the West Coast independent scene.
Write 2 Speak "Check The Levels" ft. C.o.N-Vers, Bxrbarian & C.Facts (The Last Elect) [VIDEO]
Diss Figured Records presents "Check The Levels" from UK hip-hop group Write 2 Speak, featuring C.o.N-Vers, Bxrbarian, and C.Facts of The Last Elect. C.Facts handles production, mixing, mastering, video, and artwork – total creative autonomy. C.o.N-Vers delivers the vocals. This is the UK underground operating at its most self-sufficient. No external dependencies, no waiting for approval. The infrastructure is built in-house, and the output reflects that focused, uncompromising approach. Diss Figured Records as a platform for this kind of release speaks to the independent ecosystem thriving outside the mainstream.
Tone Chop & Frost Gamble "Beautiful Foundations" [ALBUM]
Tone Chop and producer Frost Gamble celebrate three decades of working together with the release of "Beautiful Foundations" on New Dawn Records. This is a landmark project in every sense. Frost Gamble, a respected producer in underground hip-hop, has impacted mixshows globally for over a decade, achieving international distribution of vinyl and CD releases, charting in several countries, earning a Juno nomination, and having his music selected for inclusion in the official Archives & Library of Canada. Fourteen tracks, all produced, mixed, and mastered by Frost. DJ Eclipse, Pa Pa Fresh, and DJ J Smooth contribute cuts – an acknowledgment of years of support. The feature list reads like a family reunion: Will K, Myne Frame, The Bad Seed, Yasha, Pf Cuttin, Doc Holiday, Decon Blu, Pa Pa Fresh, Grea8gawd, Fresh I.E., and Carmela Marie. Frost's entry into hip-hop came in the early '80s through breaking, later MC-ing, graff, and beatdigging – Binghamton close enough to NYC that the tapes would arrive a few months after dropping. The album captures the essence of building something real from nothing – basement sessions, four-track recorders, and an unbreakable bond.
Juga-Naut "Scratch The Surface" [VIDEO]
Juga-Naut is a professional and prolific artist, rapper, producer, and chef who has been setting the bar in the contemporary hip-hop landscape for over 15 years, combining exquisite poetics, soul-shaking beats, and a defiant delivery with a deep love for food, art, music, and culture. "Scratch The Surface" arrives as the first single from his upcoming self-produced album "Eaten Bread is Soon Forgotten" – a title that carries weight. The video, shot and directed by Flipped Slides in Nottingham, is described as a "Nottingham-Noir mystery of the modern age." With a discography spanning 16 published projects since 2011 and performances alongside hip-hop royalty, his creative consistency is surpassed only by his love for the culture – born and bred in Nottingham, U.K. The Nottingham accent works for rapping very well – they don't draw out their words, fitting more syllables in. A self-produced album from an MC of this caliber demands attention.
YP AKA Young Paul "Beef & Broccoli" (feat. WNDRBEATS) [EP]
YP aka Young Paul was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, and has been living in the South Bronx for almost a decade. The "Beef & Broccoli" EP with WNDRBEATS is built around a bodega aesthetic – track titles like "Chinese Spot," "Oatmeal Cookies," and "Quarter Waters" paint the corner-store landscape of inner-city New York. WNDRBEATS is a longtime collaborator, having produced YP's "God Forgives LP" previously. Selah The Corner and C4 Crotona contribute to "Quarter Waters," while H.U.R.T. and R-Swift appear on "White Tees." With over a decade of releases, YP has collaborated with some of the best DJs and artists from around the world, with his mission being to create art that hip-hop fans can appreciate. Five tracks, no bloat – a focused EP that bridges street realism with a faith-driven perspective without compromising on either end.
Pasquale "Specials 2" [ALBUM]
Specials 2 is the result of a couple years of work, and results matter. Imagine being whisked away to a far off world filled with similarity and anomaly all together. Over-filled ashtrays and smokey gear. Smoke makes it sound better. Is it a concoction of brilliance? Why do we continue to create? The children thought the chips were delicious. It’s like if graffiti was music. Feel blessed to live in this simultaneously best and worst timeline even with all of the crazy shit going on in the world. Buy that piece of wax you’ve had your eye on, or that new sampler that just came out even though you have five already. Hop in we’re going for a rizz-ide. And here is the soundtrack.
Produced by Pasquale
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Akinyele & Kia "Put It In Your Mouth (Cadillac Chronicles)" [VIDEO]
Akinyele holds a distinct space in the East Coast hierarchy. Whenever the Frankie Cutlass-produced beat for "Put It In Your Mouth" drops, it still commands the room with absolute authority. Sitting down for the Cadillac Chronicles in Atlanta alongside vocalist Kia Jeffries, the Queens native unpacks the cultural footprint of their legendary club anthem. This operates as more than mere nostalgia – it’s a living documentation of how raw, unfiltered hip-hop transitions from underground shock-value to a timeless staple. Kia’s vocal performance remains the crucial anchor that gave the track its crossover bounce, perfectly contrasting Ak’s unapologetic and razor-sharp bars. Watching them break down their history proves that genuine chemistry outlasts any era, maintaining the core energy that made the record a phenomenon in the first place.
RLX x MichaelAngelo "Even Higher" [VIDEO]
RLX delivers "Even Higher" as a single from the album "GABO," with MichaelAngelo on production and Chow Films handling the visual. Limited context available, but the track title suggests aspirational or introspective territory. The artist-producer combination takes center stage without additional feature clutter.
Aldo Sobredosis "Avaricias" (feat. Crow DMC'S & Derka) [VIDEO]
Spanish-language underground hip-hop with Aldo Sobredosis handling vocals, lyrics, and beat, while Crow Demeces contributes verses plus mixing and mastering duties. Derka rounds out the feature list. The track comes from "Skills on Pads," with visuals by StreetThitFilms. Latin American underground hip-hop maintains its own ecosystem – crews, labels, and collectives operating in parallel to the U.S. scene while developing distinct regional identities.
John Densmore & Chuck D "every tick tick tick" [VIDEO]
This pairing bridges eras in unexpected ways. John Densmore – The Doors' drummer – joins Chuck D of Public Enemy on "every tick tick tick" from the album "do+pe=no country for old men." Chuck D's willingness to cross genre boundaries isn't new – his collaborations have spanned rock, metal, and electronic music while maintaining his political edge. Densmore brings percussion history that predates hip-hop itself. The fusion honors both lineages.
Eligh x FAZE.ONE "Boss Dreamers" (feat. Basik) [VIDEO]
Eligh carries decades of underground credibility as a Living Legends member – the Bay Area collective that's been defining independent hip-hop since the late '90s. "Boss Dreamers," produced by FAZE.ONE and featuring Basik, arrives as a single from the upcoming album "The Way The Light Looks." Vinyl, CDs, and posters available through his shop. The Living Legends network – Murs, The Grouch, Scarub among them – established a template for DIY success that still resonates.
Clever 1 x Shar the Analog Bastard "Brown Paper Bagz" (feat. Ralphie Reese) [VIDEO]
Shar the Analog Bastard handles production – a name that signals aesthetic intent. Clever 1 and Ralphie Reese share mic duties on "Brown Paper Bagz," with Vipe TV providing the visual treatment. The approach is straightforward: analog warmth, underground ethos, no pretense. The "brown paper bag" imagery carries its own weight in hip-hop iconography – from corner store runs to studio sessions.
Louie Sincere & Fat Kneel "Cash Rules" [VIDEO]
Off the album "A Dark Storm," this collaboration between Louie Sincere and Fat Kneel comes with limited edition ponchos as merchandise – a creative merchandising angle. The video, shot and edited by King Author, captures the HiSpeed Network aesthetic. Fat Kneel represents Cooper Circle while Sincere holds down the 508 (Massachusetts). The title "Cash Rules" carries obvious Wu-Tang connotations – a high bar to reference, but independent artists continue to draw from that well.
OneSun x Mickey Blue "Targets" [VIDEO]
OneSun operates on full DIY mode – the "Targets" video was shot, directed, edited, and given special effects treatment entirely by the artist himself through One Vision Films. The album "To Fall on Deaf Ears" features complete production from Mickey Blue, available across major streaming platforms. This level of self-sufficiency isn't just admirable – it's the blueprint many underground artists follow when label support isn't part of the equation.
Juxx Diamondz "By Any Means (Brick By Brick)" [VIDEO]
Juxx Diamondz delivers what the title promises – a raw anthem built from pain, pressure, and perseverance. "By Any Means (Brick By Brick)" speaks to the grind mentality, staying solid through setbacks while hustling with purpose. The street-to-studio narrative is well-worn territory, but authenticity in delivery makes the difference. The visual reinforces the message – this is music for those still building their legacy one move at a time.
The Uce & Khrysis "G&G" [VIDEO]
Khrysis needs no introduction to heads familiar with North Carolina's contribution to the culture. As a Justus League affiliate alongside 9th Wonder, he's provided production for Little Brother, Murs, Sean Price, and others who value that soulful, sample-driven approach. The Uce remains a lesser-known quantity – "G&G" arrives without extensive context. But when Khrysis is behind the boards, the foundation is solid.
Ralphy Red "Red Chandeliers" [EP]
The cover art pays direct homage to Action Bronson's "Rare Chandeliers" – The Alchemist's fully-produced 2012 project that helped establish both artists. Ralphy Red delivers a pack of unreleased remixes from that classic, filtered through his own lens. Six tracks, exclusively digital. The project description speaks to chasing that sound, hunting for "uncut gems" in the underground. Whether the remixes live up to the source material is for listeners to decide – but the intent is clear.
MightyHealthy x Sankofa "Jack Palance Tears" [VIDEO]
Taken from the album "MHK-ULTRA," this collaboration pairs Fort Wayne rapper Sankofa with Miami producer MIGHTYHEALTHY. The video, directed by Chef Mike, visualizes what the description calls a critique aimed at tech oligarchs. Jack Palance – the Hollywood tough guy – lends his name to the title, though the tears here carry different weight. MIGHTYHEALTHY's production is combative by design, creating space for Sankofa's fire without competing with it. Available clean on streaming platforms for those who need it that way.
Boxguts x DJ Akoza "Metal Head Space" [EP]
Boxguts, the emcee from Brooklyn, links with DJ Akoza – producer and DJ from Houston, Texas, founder of EastDownToTheSouth Records and former member of Sixset and Doomshop Records. "Metal Head Space" arrives as a six-track statement with all artwork and rhymes by Boxguts, beats and scratches by Akoza. The aesthetic leans industrial – track titles like "Jagged Jaws," "Cyborg's Revenge," and "MechaGutzilla" telegraph the mechanical, dystopian energy. At the center is Boxguts' commanding presence – his delivery carries the confidence of an artist comfortable in his own creative lane, leaning into pure lyrical performance with tight cadences and vivid wordplay. It's the type of performance that reminds listeners why Hip-Hop's core has always been about voice, conviction, and presence on the mic.
Big Twins x DJ Mickey Knox "Grimey Life Remixes" [EP]
Big Twins first appeared on Mobb Deep's 1996 album "Hell on Earth" on the track "Animal Instinct" and later appeared on the Fat Beats Vol. 2 compilation alongside Atmosphere, J-Zone, and Quasimoto. In 2002 he joined Mobb producer The Alchemist on Slum Village's Dirty District mixtape, and in 2004 appeared on Alchemist's "1st Infantry" as official MC for the supporting tour. The "Grimey Life Remixes" revisit his ambitious, focused 2018 album – longtime collaborator The Alchemist provided the haunting "Phantom of the Opera", while Knxwledge crafted "Memories" with its angelic, percussion-heavy production. DJ Mickey Knox now retrofits five cuts with fresh production while stacking verses from Mav, Eto, Flee Lord, Rob Banks, Ransom, Mooch, and Rigz. The QB legacy continues.
ANKHLEJOHN x V Don "Trauma or Tragedy" [VIDEO]
ANKHLEJOHN, the gritty underground rapper, joins forces with acclaimed producer V Don for another chapter in their ongoing partnership. "Trauma or Tragedy" serves as track four on "Everything Beautiful Died Early", featuring CRIMEAPPLE, Sha Hef, and BabyMaine across its twelve tracks. V Don's production is minimal yet haunting – the instrumental leaves space for each verse to breathe while maintaining a gritty atmosphere. The beat doesn't overpower – it guides. That restraint is exactly what makes the track hit harder. ANKHLEJOHN has built one of the more remarkable independent catalogs in contemporary underground hip-hop through his Shaap Records imprint. The album explores themes of struggle, survival, and the harsh realities of life – territory Ankh navigates with practiced precision.
Killer Ben x DirtyDiggs "Summer of Vince Carter 5" [EP]
Killer Ben is a Gold Chain Music affiliate whose sharp lyricism has consistently been backed by DirtyDiggs' quality sample-based production. The fifth installment of their Vince Carter series doesn't deviate from the formula that works. Diggs' beats carry that dusty warmth – chopped loops with serious low-end weight, drums that knock without oversaturating. Ben rides them with the confidence of an MC who knows his lane. Features from Planet Asia, Montage One, and Styliztik Jones round out the project without overshadowing the core partnership. Eight tracks, under twenty-four minutes – the kind of concise execution that respects your time while delivering substance.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
RetcH "Who Woulda Thought" [VIDEO]
RetcH has spent over a decade building one of the most distinctively unsettling presences in New Jersey's rap underground — a voice that sits somewhere between apocalyptic and matter-of-fact, where the bleakness is never decorative. "Who Woulda Thought" pairs him with A$AP P, a producer whose aesthetic runs atmospheric and pressurized without defaulting to noise. The beat here creates the kind of low-ceiling environment that RetcH has always thrived in: unhurried, dense, with enough space for his delivery to register every detail. The track extends a run of recent singles that have maintained the same uncompromising focus that defined "Lean & Neck" and his subsequent catalog. For listeners already deep in his discography, it confirms the trajectory; for those coming late, it's a direct entry point into what he does best.
Barbaydose "Motion" [VIDEO]
Barbaydose has been one of the Bay Area's most consistent independent operations since their 2020 debut "Future Reminiscent" — a trio built around Bsidez, WeInTheCloud, and producer-rapper-engineer Hiright, all operating out of Oakland. "Motion" opens the "Addition" EP's visual campaign and marks a deliberate tonal shift: production from Psych Major steps away from the collective's own beat catalog toward something more stripped and atmospheric, cutting the West Coast brightness the Bay typically trades in. What remains constant is the chemistry between the MCs — interlocking internal rhymes and a synchronized delivery that only develops through sustained collaborative work. NFB Kofi features on the video. The Hieroglyphics thread runs through their DNA, but this is a crew that has developed its own architectural approach to boom bap rather than borrowing a blueprint.
2Mex "Take Cover" [EP]
2Mex — born Alejandro Ocana in Los Angeles, member of The Visionaries, Project Blowed alumnus, fixture at the Good Life Cafe since 1992 — has always operated with the conviction that underground hip-hop is both a craft and a community responsibility. "Take Cover" is a covers project in the truest sense: a veteran MC running back underground classics and old-school touchstones through his own filter, the track listing alone carrying enough weight to anchor serious listening. In 2016, he had a leg amputated due to diabetes complications — a moment he addressed on 2017's "Lospital" — and has remained active since. The five-track runtime is deliberate: no padding, no gesture toward a broader audience. Title choices like "Downtown Science" and "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" signal exactly what kind of listener this is made for. For those who know, it's a reaffirmation. For those who don't, it's an introduction to a lineage that shaped much of what the independent scene is today.
Bernadette Price "Gunn Butt" (feat. Terror Van Poo) [VIDEO]
Bernadette Price — Brooklyn MC, Ruck Down Records CEO, widow of Sean Price — stepped fully out from under any legacy context with "Kissing the Ground for Sinners," an album that belongs to her entirely. "Gunn Butt" is representative of the project's core: Stu Bangas' production maintains the Duck Down lineage Bernadette knows intimately — dark piano loops, minimal percussion, space used deliberately — while her delivery is sharp and unambiguous. She doesn't rap like someone paying tribute; she raps like someone with something to say. Terror Van Poo's presence on the track sharpens the exchange without pulling focus. The album was released to coincide with what would have been Sean Price's birthday, a detail that carries weight without requiring the music to carry it explicitly. Mixed by Vinny Idol.
Blac Kami "Saint Lux Vol. 1" [EP]
"Saint Lux Vol. 1" is Blac Kami's intentional warm-up before his full-length BRNDN — a four-track EP with a different producer on each cut: AWSMEJ, B0NDS, Talen Ted, and NOIRE. What could feel scattered holds together through the specificity of Kami's perspective: police brutality and the footage that documents it, intimacy under pressure, the weight of personal history delivered without theater. He raps with patience and conviction, trusting the listener to meet him where the words actually land. "The Corner" features T.E.E. and functions as the EP's most grounded moment, a scene so detailed it reads like testimony. No staging, no overreach — just a MC establishing terms before the main event.
Rosco P Coldchain & Nicholas Craven "Frankenstein" [VIDEO]
"Frankenstein" is the sixth video from the collaborative album "Play With Something Safe," which stands as one of the more significant underground documents of recent years. Rosco P Coldchain — born Amin Porter, North Philadelphia, veteran of the Clipse's Lord Willin' and Hell Hath No Fury orbit, 14 years incarcerated — raps here with the specific gravity of someone who has processed more than most are asked to carry. Nicholas Craven's production follows the drumless soul-loop architecture he's refined across records with Boldy James, Roc Marciano, and Mach-Hommy: unhurried, warm, built for long stories. The pairing is consequential because Craven's palette doesn't compete — it listens. "Frankenstein" is co-produced with Mike Shabb and mixed by Roberto Viglione, a track cut from the same cloth as the album's broader refusal to rush its own weight.
NOAH-O "Heretic" [VIDEO]
Noah-O has been holding down Richmond's hip-hop scene for over two decades, and "Heretic" is the record that makes clear why that tenure matters. Produced entirely by Ant The Symbol — the most quietly prolific beatmaker in the RVA underground — the album sits inside a heavy, deliberate boom bap pocket that never chases trends or volume. The title isn't provocation for its own sake: Noah-O uses the heretic frame to examine faith under pressure, loyalty tested by circumstance, and what it costs to operate with conviction in a music landscape that rewards conformity. His delivery is measured and precise, built on a lyricism that reads as lived-in rather than performed. Released through his own Charged Up Entertainment in partnership with Kontra Rekords, this is independent infrastructure functioning exactly as intended — without compromise.
Gaine$ x NOM "Big G$'s" [SINGLE]
Buffalo wordsmith Gaine$ sonically flexes over new single “Big G’$.” The track is monolithically powered by a lush tapestry of funk keys and wobbly bass composed by producer NOM.
Speaking on the track Gaine$ commented “To me the beat tapped into some of the feeling of nineties West Coast Hip-Hop. Like when Tupac tapped in with musicians from the P-funk era. When a sound calls out to you, you must meet that energy where it’s at. Honestly, I used to feel smaller than others while not realizing I’ve been the giant in the room the whole time. This is “G’s” arriving in real time.”
“Big G$” is the second single from the recently released LP, Mr. Gaine$ (fully produced by NOM).
Album guests on the project are sparse but Buffalo-centric including Griselda's own Brother Tom SOS on the track "Ms. Merrimac" as well as Gaine$ brothers-in-rhyme Toneyboi and Skate Cobain.
More Info: https://www.instagram.com/gaines90/
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
KOGZ "Wipe Your Smile" [VIDEO]
Perth, Australia has quietly sustained one of the more underacknowledged Hip-Hop underground scenes outside of the traditional English-speaking centers, and KOGZ — born Drew Marciniak — has been a consistent presence in that ecosystem since his 2014 debut "Piece of Mind." His work with the SBX production circle and the SMOG collective established his footing early, and the approach has remained stable: lyricism first, no gimmicks, no clout chasing. "Wipe Your Smile" is a standalone single that operates on those same terms — unadorned rap, the kind that depends entirely on what gets said and how. For those who trace the connective tissue between American boom bap and its Southern Hemisphere interpreters, KOGZ represents a strand worth following.
Es x Nec Nymbl "Voice Over Gold" [ALBUM]
Voice Over Gold is a debut LP from a duo whose combined experience adds weight to its central thesis: that the spoken word — its precision, its purpose, its impact — carries more lasting value than any signifier of material success. Mississauga emcee Es, at 50 years old, brings the kind of seasoned perspective that only comes from decades inside the culture, and his reference points are clear — Public Enemy's urgency, KRS-One's didacticism, translated into his own measured voice. Toronto's Nec Nymbl handles the full production load, drawing from his background in Scarborough's late-90s Hip-Hop scene to build a sound that prioritizes atmosphere and groove over contemporary trend-chasing. The result is cohesive and assured. DJ K-Flip cuts throughout; J Wyze, Solar-C, Athena K and Unknown Mizery contribute features. The record is available on vinyl.
Sean Links "Rock On" [VIDEO]
North Carolina emcee Sean Links has been building steadily in the underground with a focus on substance over spectacle, and the pairing with producer True Cipher has delivered some of his tightest recent work. "Rock On" arrives alongside the "Chalky White" project — a consistent body of work rooted in traditional rap values: drum patterns with actual weight, samples handled with care, and bars that don't rely on tricks. Links holds the pen confidently without overreaching, which is a skill in itself. A strong representative cut from a regional voice that deserves more ears in East Coast-adjacent discussions.
Eclyse (Hypogeal Sounds) "The Shadow That Drank The Fire" [ALBUM]
Jacksonville MC Eclyse has been one of the most prolific voices in independent Hip-Hop for nearly a decade, consistently pairing with international producers to build a catalog that now exceeds 40 albums under his Hypogeal Sounds imprint. The Shadow That Drank The Fire represents a deliberate lean into the darker frequencies of his output — a 13-track project built around three distinct production voices: SMG (Johannesburg), Omar Glomar, and Someone, whose combined work creates a cinematic, shadow-heavy atmosphere that matches Eclyse's stated intent. His writing throughout positions the album as both personal excavation and a kind of psychographic self-portrait — the oddities, the obscurities, the textures that define his inner world externalized into sound. Manage and Grim Moses appear as features. For listeners new to his catalog, this is an accessible entry point into what Eclyse calls his "darker and grittier side."
G.Dot & Born ft. Chi Sees "G R A N D" [VIDEO]
Boston duo G.Dot & Born have spent the better part of a decade building credibility the old-fashioned way — through consistent output, connections with scene veterans like Edo G and Grap Luva, and a stubbornly East Coast-rooted approach to rap. "G R A N D" continues that trajectory as a focused single, with Chi Sees lending an additional voice and Italian beatmaker Silla DDR — whose production sensibility draws from New York's Golden Era — handling the instrumental. The duo's delivery remains characteristically measured: street-literate bars without theatrics, the kind of work that rewards familiarity with the catalog.
H.I.K.Y.B? - Abstract Vernacular (GOTM082) [EP]
Gold On The Mixer's GOTM082 continues the London collective's trademark approach: no intros, no padding, no features that don't pull weight. Zatoichi's Ears handles production and mixing throughout, building a sound that sits somewhere between Blah Records minimalism and classic East Coast Boom Bap — drums dry and punchy, samples treated with restraint. Bearserker (Raz Ghoul), Deeq, EF Knows and Jaroo share mic duties across four tracks, each bringing a distinct voice without disrupting the record's internal consistency. Deeq rounds out the package with the artwork. GOTM082 is a tight, functional release from a collective that understands economy as a craft principle.
Monday, May 11, 2026
El Gant x Maticulous "Wordle" (feat. Brother Ali) [SINGLE]
Veteran NY emcee El Gant and Brooklyn producer Maticulous have joined forces with the legendary Brother Ali to bring "Wordle", a powerful single that tackles socioeconomic inequality that exists in our country and how the nature of humans attached to devices plays a part in society being numb to it all.
Sharp, intelligent lyricism is displayed along with booming/head nodding production by maticulous truly make this track memorable. This is the first single from the El Gant and maticulous album "House of Cards" out this July.
Mr. Adams "New Beginnings" (feat. Veteran Eye & Snoff The Maker) [VIDEO]
Mr. Adams represents Good Music Group out of North Carolina, and New Beginnings lands as a 2026 summer single with an explicit uplift orientation – the title, the production choice, and the collaborative structure all point toward something designed for forward movement rather than introspection. Veteran Eye of Fly Dragon Dynasty and Snoff The Maker appear alongside Adams as co-performers, with B Squared handling composition and Brian Staples of Livewire Studios taking responsibility for recording, mixing, mastering, and the video itself. That level of in-house production infrastructure around a regional independent release is worth noting: having a trusted studio relationship that covers the full audio-visual package allows artists outside major markets to deliver polished, complete singles without label support. North Carolina continues to demonstrate consistent underground hip-hop output beyond its more visible names, and this single fits that pattern.
RZA "Bobby Digital Presents: Single Mothers" (feat. Pearl Gates, Masta Ace & Mathematics) [VIDEO]
Bobby Digital Presents: Juice Crew landed as one of the more historically loaded releases of the year, reuniting RZA with the surviving members of hip-hop's original Queens-and-Brooklyn supergroup under the Bobby Digital production persona. Single Mothers is the EP's emotional centerpiece: Masta Ace, who was himself raised by a single mother, brings a specificity of detail to the subject that separates the track from any generic social commentary. Pearl Gates contributes alongside Wu-Tang affiliate Mathematics, and RZA's production delivers the framework expected from the Abbott's classic toolkit – obscure sample selection, deep bass register, deliberate snare hits. The full EP includes posse cuts with Kool G Rap, Craig G, and Grand Daddy I.U., as well as solo moments for Big Daddy Kane and Roxanne Shanté, making Juice Crew the first collective statement from these names since the Marley Marl era. The vinyl was released as an RSD exclusive through 36 Chambers and Ruffnation Entertainment.
Diction Uno "Loosey's Vol. 2" [ALBUM]
Diction Uno is a Portland-based MC with roots going back to his 2010 debut Truth Serum and a track record that includes collaboration with Oldominion's Smoke M2D6 as full producer on a project, as well as connections to Rob Sonic and Apathy. Loosey's Vol. 2 is exactly what the name suggests: a collection of tracks that didn't fit a single-project framework but warranted release on their own terms. Ten cuts, ten collaborators spread across the tracklist – Blackheart, Panama Red, SonTavo, Silas1Wolf, Emiliano Raps, and others – creating a portrait of an MC who maintains a wide network of creative relationships across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The loosie format has a specific function in independent hip-hop: it keeps an artist's name in rotation between major projects, documents ongoing creative activity, and gives collaborators a vehicle. For listeners following Diction Uno's discography, this sits alongside its predecessor as a document of the Portland underground's connective tissue.
Krohme ft. Kurupt, Apathy & Bub Styles "Mustard Gas" [VIDEO]
Krohme has been building a producer's resume since the 1990s that reads like a who's who of underground credibility – Kool G Rap, Chuck D, Sean Price, Lord Jamar, Sadat X, Ras Kass, Hell Razah among the credits – and Mustard Gas is a continuation of that trajectory. The track pulls together three distinctly different voices over Krohme's dark, gritty production framework: Kurupt brings the Compton lateral cadence of Tha Dogg Pound, Apathy arrives from the Demigodz and Army of the Pharaohs lineage with his characteristic dense technical construction, and Bub Styles holds down the Brooklyn end. The combination works because Krohme's beat doesn't favor any single style – it holds space for all three without collapsing into genre neutrality. Produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by Krohme, with bass contributions from Lufono, the track sits on Before the Animals Know You're Dead, his full album. The video was assembled by midi.chlorian. Worth noting: Krohme runs Calm Bomb Collective, a nonprofit record label built explicitly around amplifying Disabled, Autistic, and Neurodivergent voices through music – a structural commitment that runs underneath the entire project.
Sage The 64th Wonder "The Standard Deviation" [ALBUM]
Sage The 64th Wonder operates at the intersection of boom bap craftsmanship and manga mythology from Chicago's south suburbs, and The Standard Deviation is his latest project in a year that has seen him release consistently – the Sagewav instrumental series, Wonder Tapes, and now this. The ten-track format features Danny Barz, B.A.M Remy, and Roy French in supporting capacities, with Sage himself as the primary architect across production and lyrics. His framework is built from MF DOOM's blueprint in its structural logic – the mask as symbol of transformation, the multi-series release approach, the total creative control – but executed through his own "sage~wav" aesthetic: boom bap foundations, lo-fi soul textures, and a lyrical vocabulary that draws on ancestral language and cassette-era mysticism. The Standard Deviation continues to demonstrate that Chicago's underground extends far beyond the visibility of its more commercial names, and Sage's refusal to position himself within any established scene framework is by design.
Mike Fantastik "I'm The Bad Guy" [VIDEO]
I'm The Bad Guy is the video release from Apocalypse WOW: Redux, the complete remix and remaster of Mike Fantastik's 2007 debut album that has now received its first digital distribution through Cutthroat Productions. Old Man Death, the Omaha-based producer and label head, handled the full remix and remastering of all thirteen tracks, which means this is not a simple archival upload but a genuine sonic revision. The original record disappeared into the noise of the MySpace era without finding the audience it likely deserved; the Redux recontextualizes a catalog piece as a proper underground document. The project carries the horrorcore-adjacent energy characteristic of Cutthroat Productions' broader output – dark humor, boundary-testing subject matter, a consistent DIY infrastructure built around a stable of collaborators including Komatose, who appears here as on multiple Cutthroat releases. Physical copies and merch are available directly through the label's own shop.
Bottom Feeders (Cap Jones x Jay Fehrman) "Kings of Style" [EP]
Bottom Feeders is the working unit of Cap Jones and Jay Fehrman, a Minnesota-based MC-producer partnership operating fully outside the industry infrastructure – everything mixed and mastered by Cap Jones himself, artwork by Czarheel, released into the Dead World Radio and Loop City Slums network. Fehrman out of Saint Paul brings a sample-excavation approach to his beats that prioritizes texture over shine, and Cap Jones has spent years developing a lyrical catalog that includes work with Killah Priest and Shabaam Sahdeeq, demonstrating he can hold his own in serious company. Kings of Style at four tracks is a compact release in a series of them – Heavy Set and Sad Eyes preceded this earlier in the year – suggesting a consistent drip model that keeps the Bottom Feeders name circulating without the need for a major project drop. The project's self-sufficiency, from production through mastering to distribution, is the de facto political statement for this kind of artist.
BloodShed Redd "West Coast Cosmos" [EP]
BloodShed Redd arrives with West Coast Cosmos as a three-track self-contained statement. The track sequencing – Redd Alert, Redd Spoke Is Clout, Redd a Nometry – reads as a deliberate self-introduction, each title embedding the artist's name as a structural anchor. Running roughly thirteen minutes across three full-length tracks, this is not a quick loosie but a focused creative package. The West Coast geography is in the title and presumably in the sonic orientation, though the project stands independently of any established collective infrastructure. For an artist without an extensive public-facing discography, releasing something this intentionally shaped speaks to someone working with a clear vision of how they want to enter a room. hhheadz covered his When Adults Swim EP earlier, which means Redd is building momentum release by release in the right direction.
Mista Pigz "Seven Leaf" [VIDEO]
Mista Pigz has been building his name in Albany's Capital District through years of consistent work – sharp writing, raw delivery, and a deliberate indifference to whatever direction the market is moving. Seven Leaf is a weed-culture track with a specific hook: all of the strains mentioned in the lyrics were actually grown by Seven Leaf Farms, which grounds the song in something more concrete than the usual genre vibe. Milkshake Godfather, who handled full production on the Am I Tripping? project and has become the primary sonic architect for Pigz's recent run, provides the beat – a straight boom bap construction that doesn't attempt to dress itself up. The video was assembled by midi.chlorian, known for mashup work that tends to add visual texture without overshadowing the music. For listeners who follow the Upstate New York scene, this is Pigz operating in familiar but dependable territory.
DMH "BEERRUN 3" [ALBUM]
DMH operates out of California under a single principle – keep everything raw – and BEERRUN 3 delivers exactly that. The third installment in a series that started on cassette alongside ALL SALES FINAL, this fifteen-track project runs under thirty minutes with tracks clocking between one and two minutes apiece, each one a tight unit with no room for fat. Recorded at Lost Colinas, mixed by Estimate, and mastered by Comfygod – the same circle of collaborators who have helped shape DMH's increasingly coherent lo-fi universe. The tracklist itself signals an artist whose reference points stretch past hip-hop into cultural criticism, internet folklore, and game culture: "BILLYWITCHDOCTOR.COM" and "NEUROTOMIC PROTOCORE" sit alongside "NO SUCH THING AS ETHICAL CONSUMPTION UNDER LATE STAGE CAPITALISM" without irony, because irony requires distance DMH doesn't bother with. The BEERRUN series across its three chapters forms a distinct discographic statement: short, dense, self-contained, deliberately outside any trend.
Big Twinz "PAIN" [VIDEO]
Big Twinz – born Jamal Abdul Raheem, raised in the Queensbridge Houses – has been operating in the shadows of that block's mythology since his 1996 debut on Mobb Deep's "Animal Instinct," and he has never strayed far from the weight that address carries. His twin brother Twin Scarface died that same year, and that loss runs as a quiet undercurrent through everything Twinz has made since. The partnership with DJ Woool stretches back to the TG1 mixtape era and remains one of the more coherent producer-MC alignments in the current underground: Woool's metallic, anxiety-adjacent boom bap drums sit under Twin's sandpaper delivery with a logic that doesn't require explanation. PAIN doesn't ask for reinterpretation – it delivers exactly what this pairing has always delivered, and that refusal to evolve for the sake of evolution is, in the Queensbridge tradition, a form of integrity.
The Fabreeze Brothers (Paul Nice & Phill Most Chill) "The Bonus Tape" [ALBUM]
01. Powerman & Iron Fist (Original Version)
02. Phyllis Diller (Original Version)
03. Golden Crown feat. Oxygen (LP Sampler Version Without End Scratch)
04. All Out War (Original Version)
05. Breakdown (Original Version)
06. Heroes Of The East feat. Paten Locke & Jorun Bombay (Original Version)
07. Fashion Plate (Blue Sheepskin Remix)
08. Audobahn (7 Inch Version)
09. U Been Warned
10. The Pack Up Pt. 1
Twistello "Almost That Time" [ALBUM]
1. Sidewayz (Prod. Werdperfect)
2. Limelight (Prod. Abraham Lilson)
3. Chess not Checkers (Prod. Nom)
4. Get wit me (Prod. Shadow Magnetic)
5. Martin 2 Malcom (Prod. Malachi)
6. Negus (Prod. Abraham Lilson)
7. Keyz on the floor (Prod. Nom)
TWISTELLO x ABRAHAM LILSON "U KNO WHO" [VIDEO]
"U KNO WHO" is a new video from the latest single TWISTELLO! Produced ABRAHAM LILSON.
Available on all streaming platforms.
K-Rec & Checkmate "Good Nutrition" (feat. Sadat X) [SINGLE]
“Good Nutrition” is the first single lifted from The Method, the upcoming collaboration album from Canadian rap legend Checkmate and Vancouver producer K-Rec. Featuring Brand Nubian member and Hip Hop icon Sadat X, the track blends smoky west coast vibes with a razor-sharp East Coast-styled scratch chorus for a timeless underground sound. Raw bars, soulful production, and authentic boom-bap energy collide on this heavyweight collaboration. “Good Nutrition” available now on bandcamp!
38 Spesh x TrickyTrippz "The Main Line" (feat. Method Man) [SINGLE]
Right back at 'em, 38 Spesh is unleashing the next "8 Shots" single just a week after the first!! This joint is also produced by TrickyTrippz and features a Wu member who only seems to get better with time, Method Man!!
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