SOULS OF MISCHIEF Vinilo y CD

Review: All time hip-hop classic alert! This is an evergreen gem from the US crew that is an evergreen favourite with hip-hop lovers of all ages. Released in 1993 on an album of the same name, it's a standout example of the lyrical dexterity of A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai. Its mellow, soulful production complements the effortlessly smooth flows which are packed with sophisticated wordplay and inventive beats that set it apart from usual West Coast gangsta rap by offering a fresh, alternative sound. Decades later, '93 'Til Infinity' remains a defining piece of hip-hop history. .

Review: In 1995, Oakland's Souls of Mischief released No Man's Land, the follow-up to their iconic debut and it didn't disappoint hardcore fans but despite its brilliance, this golden-era hip-hop gem was often overlooked and never received a commercial vinyl release in the US. To this day, it remains without an official US reissue but now that changes this Record Star Day. Get On Down celebrates this classic with a special double LP release presented in a gatefold jacket pressed on eye-catching "Tide Pod" colour vinyl. It's packed with classic hip-hop heat, free-flowing bars and signature soul from this iconic outfit.

Review: Montezuma's Revenge is the fifth studio album by Souls Of Mischief, the Oakland, CA hip-hop quartet and splinter group of the mighty Hieroglyphics Crew. Now the first-ever vinyl reissue of this 18-track font of Aztec hip-hop ambrosia is upon us. Notably, the album's striking cover featured a fifth member of the group: the legendarily innovative producer Prince Paul, who executive produced the LP, handling most of the beats and overseeing the musical direction of the album from start to finish. Paul accompanies MCs A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai as they take turns over multisyllabic flows, witty similes and smooth lyrics, deploying a dry, arid and untreated boom-bap sound; these punishing phonics do timeless justice to a certain mid-90s Cali rap sound, embalming its beats in a rigid, desiccating wrap.

Review: There are very few albums across any genre that stand the test of time better than 93 'Til Infinity, the classic debut record from the Hieroglyphics Crew's very own Souls Of Mischief. In an era where gangsta rap and g-funk dominated the West Coast rap scene, Souls broke ground on a completely unique and thoroughly West Coast tip. While the Dres and the Snoop Doggs were garnering much of the mainstream attention of the day, Souls were quietly forging a charismatic, critically acclaimed and cohesively shaped record that when categorised, sounded much closer to a tribe called quest than N.W.A.. The resulting sound of their debut is characteristic of the distinct style explored by the collective, including a rhyme scheme based on internal rhyme and beats centered around a live bass and obscure jazz and funk samples.