MAIN SOURCE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Lovers of the famous East Coast hip-hop sound out of the States will have long been dial into this cornerstone classic, Dah Shinin', by Brooklyn duo Smif-N-Wessun. With help from the Da Beatminerz production crew, it is a timeless record with plenty of jazz and reggae flourishes thank to the great samples while the hardcore bars and beats have a real underground edge. MCs Tek and Steele are in perfect form over the 16 tunes and guest slots from Black Moon also bang. This is one no hip hop head should ever be without.

Review: Main Source cut a sharp figure when they broke through in the early 90s, made up of Toronto's K-Cut and Sir Scratch and New York's Large Professor. Their debut album Breaking Atoms is one of the greatest from that golden era for hip-hop, and there's no shortage of hot tracks to pick for a 7" pressing, but here Japan's P-Vine picks out the classic 'Live At The Barbeque' and backs it up with Large Professor's own self-titled joint. This is early 90s hip-hop at its best, boiled down on a handy little single for those moments when you just want the hits.

Review: We've been treated to a few revisits of tracks from the mighty Main Source and their seminal debut album Breaking Atoms, and now P-Vine are pressing up two of the best on a crafty little 7". 'Looking Out The Front Door' is a stone cold classic through and through, riding a dense and dusty break as Large Professor laments on love gone wrong. Despite the downcast lyrical theme, the vibe of the track is sun-kissed mellow gold, thanks in no small part to the buttery Rhodes licks. On the flip we get 'Snake Eyes', the opening cut from the album which cemented Main Source's legendary status back in 1991.