Cleopatra US Vinilo y CD

Review: Biz Markie was one of the true titans of the early East Coast hip hop scene - a staple of Marley Marl's Cold Chillin' label with a cheeky demeanour which showed even the toughest hip-hop didn't have to be moody. 'Just A Friend' originally dropped in 1989 and became a mainstream hit in the US, breaking Markie to the world and ensuring the success of his second LP, The Biz Never Sleeps. Nearly a year since he passed away, Cleopatra have revisited one of his most enduring classics and given it a fresh airing on this tidy 7". If you don't already have it and you take your old-skool hip-hop seriously, don't sleep on this one.

Review: Biz Markie was one of the true titans of the early East Coast hip hop scene - a staple of Marley Marl's Cold Chillin' label with a cheeky demeanour which showed even the toughest hip-hop didn't have to be moody. 'Just A Friend' originally dropped in 1989 and became a mainstream hit in the US, breaking Markie to the world and ensuring the success of his second LP, The Biz Never Sleeps. Nearly a year since he passed away, Cleopatra have revisited one of his most enduring classics and given it a fresh airing on this tidy red 7". If you don't already have it and you take your old-skool hip-hop seriously, don't sleep on this one.

Review: Highly collectible 7" vinyl from the dearly departed East Coast rap icon, Biz Markie! This re-cut version of Markie's classic ode to unrequited love has been remixed and remastered to sound better than ever. Released in 1989, far before the concept of the "friendzone" had crystallised and become a popular meme, we can hear its nascent stirrings in this subversion of original-era hip-hop, in which Markie crudely and comedically spans disgruntled, dejected raps and twinging croons, all expressive of the pain of rejection.

Review: Method Man is a bonafide legend of the hip-hop world and with this one he passed down some of his shine by presenting a debut album from Street Life, a then-new prodigy with a thugged out style on the mic. The album has never before been available on vinyl and it packs a real punch with standout singles such as 'Can't Stop, Won't Stop' featuring Method Man, 'Street Education' plus 'A Star Is Born' featuring fellow Wu Tang associate Inspectah Deck. These are raw beats and even more raw bars with next level lyrical skills from an artists who has also appeared on tracks by the iconic Wu Tang Clan, Method Man and more.

Review: Paula Perry's 'Tales From Fort Knox' is a stalwart addition to the hip-hop canon, in large part thanks to its cementing the influence of women on the genre. With appearances from fellow heads including her band Masta Ace, Kelly Price and Bahamadia, this (her only album) is a down-to-earth affair - criminally underrated in the genre - regaling street tales from the Fort Greene estate, Brooklyn aka. Perry's 'Fort Knox'. Ultra-minimal, prototypically groovy instrumental beats paint a no-holds-barred yet hopeful picture of Perry's experiences, culminating in a what can only be recognised as a personal, ferocious album.