SMOKE DZA Vinyl & CDs

Review: Smoke DZA and Benny The Butcher, two titans of New York hip-hop, join forces on this gritty and captivating album. Originally released in 2019, this offering is a testament to their lyrical prowess and undeniable chemistry, their verses weaving tales of street life and hustler anthems over the raw and soulful production of legendary beatmaker Pete Rock. Tracks like 'By Any Means' and 'Bullets' showcase their sharp wordplay and hard-hitting delivery, while collaborations with Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Styles P add further depth and intensity to the mix. This reissue, celebrating the album's fifth anniversary, not only brings this classic back to vinyl but also includes the previously unavailable Pete Rock instrumentals, offering a deeper dive into the sonic landscape of this collaborative masterpiece.

Review: Independent New York City rapper Smoke DZA and LA beatmaker Flying Lotus are hip-hop heavyweights in their own right but now they come together for their new EP Flying Objects with a bunch of equally high-profile guests such as Black Thought from The Roots, plus Estelle, Conway The Machine, and more. Together they have cooked up a mind-altering sonic trip featuring spaced-out pads and crunchy beats. The bars are hard and speak of the Black experience and the synths are often otherworldly and celestial as they soften the edges of the lyrics. Another great project from both.