Shabazz the Disciple — Hood Scripturez

Collaborative effort between Brooklyn rapper Shabazz the Disciple and Canadian producer from Vernon, British Columbia DJ Extremidiz. The disc should look like a concept about the rules for survival in the hood, revolving around street and spiritual themes, similar to his previous CDs. In addition, there are excerpts against the government, the Bush administration, the US agency FEMA and the closing is a sequel to "Diary of a Madman" ("Page Two"), a song by Gravediggaz released in 1994 which sees Shabazz among the protagonists. The production of Extremidiz is compact, discreet boom bap that relies on different melodic and jazz samples, and has only one beat wrong ("Brooklyn Niggaz", unlistenable). There's also what may be one of the last collaborations between Shabazz and Hell Razah in "The Sun of Man Must Suffah", together with Aslan (to note that "R.I.P. Thug Angelz" was recorded prior to the release of this LP). The performer spits bars with a calm, sometimes hardcore rapping, going to place 15 skits in 29 tracks, which is over the top. He considers this his real debut, having released a "mixtape that's not a mixtape" in 2003 and a "street album" in 2006: it's not a bad LP, but it's no better than the previous two. 5/10.

De La Soul — Buhloone Mindstate

Third studio album for a hip-hop group that has resurrected, De La Soul. The trio stands out for being one of the hip-hop acts to have the worst covers in the history of the genre, this one is no exception. While other artists are moving on, following the rap trends or trying to innovate, this group looks to the past to copy production and lyrics from their previous records.

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo — Wanted: Dead or Alive

Kool G Rap renounces the production of Marley Marl, probably engaged in other projects, so Eric B comes to his rescue. He's not a producer or a DJ or something like that, but he has procured a contract to Rakim and since then he lives on income: Eric B procures him Large Professor, who produces the entire album, except "Rikers Island" (by Marley Marl), "Erase Racism" (by Biz Markie & Cool V) and "The Polo Club" (by DJ Polo).

Sunday Service Choir — Jesus Is Born

In early 2019, Kanye West founded his own gospel group, Sunday Service Choir, with whom he sings every Sunday in church, often remixes of songs from his own discography in a gospel, religious and Catholic key. In December 2019, West released the first album of the group, a direct follow-up to his previous solo record, "Jesus Is King", a Christian-themed gospel CD released two months earlier.

Cappadonna — Alcappachemist [mixtape]

I don't even remember how I found out about this, I think the most likely thing is that I was half-heartedly browsing through Cappadonna's discography on discogs. Or maybe he appeared on YouTube as a suggestion after listening to Remedy's latest album to see if there were any good tunes or if it was a terrible release as many fans claim. I don't know. This tape sounds like one of the thousands of mashup albums people create in their free time. Rhythms by The Alchemist, rap by Cappadonna, might sound good to hardcore rap fans. For some crazy person, because who would ever think of putting the spectacular productions of Alchemist for the mad rapping of Don Cappachino? Nobody would waste them. Instead it seems that this thing is really legitimate. There's a specific cover, in which Cappadonna wears a Mexican hat, glasses, t-shirt, his name in the center, title with "artistic" that's incomprehensible even after multiple attempts to read it. Fourteen tracks, two guests, High Noon and Addiemak, both also participated in Cappachino's studio album "Show Me the Money", published in the same year. The mixtape is released on Cappadonna's label God Love Family Entertainment.

Kanye West — Jesus Is King

After releasing the Wyoming Sessions albums, in summer 2018 Kanye West flies to Chicago to work on Chance the Rapper's seven-track album. Subsequently, West claims that the sessions with Chance brought him back to the Christian faith. Around this time, West also moved away from hip-hop, going to record music with Lil Pump and other artists close to the emerging SoundCloud rap scene, announcing his definitive return to Chicago and the arrival of the new Chance the Rapper album "Good Ass Job", however, West never returned to Chicago and that project was never released.

Dr. Dre — The Chronic

 «Yo I don't smoke weed or sess / Cause it's known to give a brother brain damage» (Dr. Dre in "Express Yourself", NWA, 1988.)

Andre Young expresses himself in these terms, before changing the history of hip-hop music by releasing an album that will identify him forever with weed, "The Chronic": the title refers to a type of high-quality marijuana. After four intense years, three albums, an EP and several certifications, N.W.A finally disbanded: Ice Cube left the most dangerous group in the world in 1989 due to financial differences, soon being targeted by all the other members, including Dre himself, whose accounts two years later don't add up. The boy sends The D.O.C. and Suge Knight to check the documents, and they discover that a large chunk of the money he was owed never arrived, because the group manager Jerry Heller pocketed them in the dark, as Cube had already tried to warn them. Suge Knight, with his methods, convinces Eazy-E and Jerry Heller to free Dre, The DOC and Michel'e from their contracts with Ruthless: Knight, Dre and The DOC found a new label, Future Shock, then changed into Death Row Records.

Snoop Dogg — Mac + Devin Go to High School

Soundtrack of the film of the same name. Snoop Dogg collaborates with Wiz Khalifa on a project entirely dedicated to their common passion. Warren G, Nottz, Jake One and Soopafly are the names that stand out behind the keyboards, while guests are Juicy J, Bruno Mars, Currensy and Mike Posner. New blockbuster Wiz must bring Snoop's descendant mainstream career back up, nothing simpler: the disc revolves around twelve songs condensed into pop rap and funky rhythms, less than fifty minutes of listening, an unusually low amount for Snoop, which allows the tape to travel at cruising speed after a few minutes. Published by Atlantic, it's distributed by Warner: audiences and critics are lukewarm towards the product, which comes third in the rap chart and struggles to grind physical copies, certifying gold by the RIAA after almost five years. 5/10.

PRhyme — PRhyme [deluxe edition]

First historic collaborative album between Detroit rapper Ryan "Royce da 5'9"" Montgomery and New York (Houston native) producer Christopher "DJ Premier" Martin. The first already part of Slaughterhouse, among others, the second already part of Gang Starr: both legends of the underground. The two artists have already collaborated together several times in the past, in particular, Premier has repeatedly given the best rhythm in Royce's solo albums. It remembers, better than the others, the '99 underground hit "Boom", one of the best works of the Michigan MC on a fantastic untouchable loop. DJ Premier's production features samples from Adrian Younge's music throughout the album.

GZA — Legend of the Liquid Sword

Fourth solo studio album by Gary "GZA / Genius" Grice, which recalls his most famous work, "Liquid Swords". Production is provided by Arabian Knight, Mathematics, RZA, GZA, Jay "Waxx" Garfield, Boola, Bink, Tyquan Walker, Jaz-O and DJ Muggs. The guests of the edition are the members of the Wu-Tang Clan Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, RZA, Inspectah Deck, his son Kareem Justice and the affiliates Streetlife, Armel of Ancient Coins and the Two on the Road, a duo consisting of 12 O'Clocks of Brooklyn Zu and Prodigal Sunn of Sunz of Man. Also present, sometimes uncredited, are Santi White, Anthony Allen and the Governor Two's. The cover is reminiscent of the noir, dark and futuristic aesthetic of "Blade Runner" (1982), movie to which "Liquid Swords" is sometimes compared.

Solomon Childs — The King Kong of New York [unofficial]

Solomon Childs, rapper from West Brighton, Staten Island, New York on one of his early mixtapes. There's uncertainty about the original release year, it doesn't matter. There are no production credits, among the many to support him in these twenty songs, are Mary J. Blige, Tierra Marie — rnb singer who had a LP with Roc-A-Fella as a teenager — RZA and Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan, Lord Superb of American Cream Team and Cappadonna, Wu-Tang affiliated emcee who with Solomon Childs and Ghostface Killah is part of the Tony Starks' group Theodore Unit.

Eminem — Curtain Call: The Hits

In 2005, Eminem announced his retirement with a greatest hits compilation. The album was almost entirely self-produced, along with Dr. Dre, Luis Resto, The 45 King, Jeff Bass, Mike Elizondo, and The Recording Academy. Guests included Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Dido, and Elton John.

Buddah Bless — All for the Love of the Gain

In 2003, Danny "Buddah Bless" Hill is one of the main guests of "Love Hell or Right (Da Come Up)", the first album by Wu-Tang Clan producer Mathematics. Buddah Bless also gets a solo track and momentum gained from the Mathematics record, which sells tens of thousands of copies, allows him to publish a solo CD, which comes out the following year without a budget. Production is handled largely by Hitman Ali Vann, Dibbie Tech makes four beats, Shy is credited once.

Lord Finesse — The Awakening

After publishing his second studio album, Lord Finesse starts his career as producer, working with DITC artists Big L, Fat Joe, O.C., Diamond D, and others, among which Ill Biskits, Biggie Smalls, AK Skills, and Grand Puba. After the deal with Giant Records, Finesse signs with Penalty Recordings and records his new LP in 1995, releasing in 1996. The author is the unique producer, while the tape is full of guests: DITC rappers OC, Showbiz, Diamond D and AG, along with Doo-Wop, KRS-One, Akinyele, Marquee, Kid Capri, Grand Puba, Sadat X and Large Professor.

Suprême NTM — Paris sous les bombes

After completing the short four-date tour for the album "1993... J'appuie sur la gachette" in May 1994, the group Suprême NTM returned to the studio in early June to prepare their third album. DJ S left NTM and the group now looked for another DJ and producer. Kool Shen and JoeyStarr turned to former Assassin member DJ Clyde for several productions, assisted by DJ Max. The rapper and producer of Assassin Solo also left his group at the same time and joined the recording of the album along with The LG Experience and Lucien who connected NTM with the Beatnuts, with whom they had already collaborated two years earlier. Badbreak & AL.X were the main guests on the album and would later form the group Psykopat.

MC Lyte — Eyes on This

The best female MC of her time. She drops a second album when everyone was still afraid to release the singles.

Othorized FAM — Hot Like Sahara Sand

Second studio album released by Othorized FAM, a hip-hop group from Staten Island. The group consists of Molly-Q, Lounge Lo, Wigs and Crunch Lo. There are no production credits. Guests are Lounge Lo's big brother — and new member of the Wu-Tang Clan for about a year when ChamberMusik picked up the project and legitimized it among the Wu releases — Cappadonna, the affiliate of the group Lighter Shade, Polite of American Cream Team, Franky Boots, Clocka, Killerman Archer and Son Don Moet, already a guest on several Solomon Childs records.