Hoffstein Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: Two remix-mashups come courtesy of Hoffstein under the pseudonym 'Westside Doom', dedicating some well-known MF Doom acapellas to some new instrumentals. The producer behind these cuts is Eets, who lends murderous, xylophonic moods to Doom's '2 Stings', while an even slower instrumental, full of lolling strings and warring ambience underpinning Westside Gunn's alto raps.

Review: Buffalo rap icon WestsideGunn gets the reissue treatment courtesy of Hoffstein on this tidy 7", which brings the DJ Daringer-produced 'Rolack's' back in reach. On the A side we get the vocal and instrumental, which finds the man known as Alvin Worthy flowing in his distinctive, tightly-wound style over a warm and soulful beat from Daringer. The instrumental lets the beatsmith's cuts fly, and there's plenty of them. On the flip things get darker as 'Over Gold' strikes a noirish tone before 'Free Ike Free Kiki' slows down and freaks out in a haze of low-slung brilliance.

Review: Westside Gunn's latest project, Hitler Wears Hermes 8, shows his adeptness as a curator rather than a central figure. The confrontationally prolific Buffalo rapper strategically incorporates dynamic guest appearances throughout both halves of the album, allowing them to shine while he takes a more subdued role. Gunn's writing exhibits moments of brilliance throughout. The album's smart sequencing and near-uniform excellence of guest verses highlight Gunn's skill as an A&R, with interludes further enhancing the album's atmosphere. While each half of the project leans heavily on collaborators and mise-en-scene, the overall result is a supremely competent yet somewhat forgettable addition to Gunn's discography. Notable moments include standout tracks like 'TV Boy,' where Gunn's delivery shines amidst grimey production, and collaborations with Mach-Hommy, showing their chemistry.