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Review: The reissue of Pete Rock & CL Smooth's Main Ingredient reminds hip-hop heads what a timeless masterpiece it really is. The record has a sure place in hip-hop history and has since it was originally released in 1994. The album showcases the duo's famous and unparalleled chemistry, with Pete Rock's soulful production and CL Smooth's smooth lyricism blending seamlessly on tracks that continue to resonate with listeners and very much capture the essence of 90s hip-hop while still remaining relevant today. 'Sun Won't Come Out', 'The Main Ingredient', and 'Get On The Mic' all demand to be played loud and proud

Review: American soul man Bilal dropped his debut album in 2001. Back then, r&b and neo-soul were in their golden times and Bilal was one of the best in the game. The singer songwriter was of course part of he influential 90s collective The Soulquarians alongside members D'Angelo, Q-Tip, Common and Questlove and some of those feature here as well as the likes of Robert Glasper. Production was taken care of by none other than Dr Dre alongside Raphael Saadiq and J Dilla. Lead single 'Soul Sista' toped the US charts and remarkably this is the first time the album has ever been available on vinyl.

Review: Finnish hip-hop duo Bombfunk MCs made a massive splash in 1999 when they dropped their debut album In Stereo. It sold well due to the success of its lead singles like 'Uprocking Beats' and 'Freestyler', which took after a mixture of big beat and b-boy raps for an effective semester of classes in the school of hip bangerology. This reissue by MOV reminds us, though, that there are plenty of greats left to be heard on the album, too, from 'Sky's The Limit' to '1,2,3,4'. A point of pride for the Finnish music scene, it's certainly not one to be missed for those seeking a complete collection of breaks records.

Review: This is a deluxe reissue on nice heavyweight black vinyl via Music on Vinyl of En Vogue's first-ever album Funky Divas which was a true favourite of the 1990s. It's a rich array of hip-hop and r&b styles with its scores of hit singles securing it staple status across the Western world. The album's playful fusions of funk and new jack swing - as well as of course some extremely on-point style and corsage from members Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones - rendered this a girl group great. Cop this latest pressing and you can expect rock novelties like 'Free Your Mind' amongst many more.

Review: American rap outfit Sugarhill Gang changed music history with their fresh hip-hop sounds and never more so than on their self-titled album. It is often said to be the first rap full length and it came in 1980, a full four-plus decades ago now so gets a special, if possibly slighty late, 40th-anniversary reissue on limited edition and numbered heavyweight vinyl. It, of course, includes the band's most seminal tune, 'Rapper's Delight', in two different versions, as well as equally timeless joints like 'Rapper's Reprise (Jam-Jam)' and the much loved 'Sugar Hill Groove'. A bona fide classic, this one.

Review: By the time he released Kakusei in 1998, DJ Krush was already a veteran of trip-hop production, now enjoying the wider reach afforded on a major label after James Lavelle's Mo'Wax label initially brought him to upfront Western ears. Even if it was released on Sony, Kakusei found the Japanese beatsmith taking his sound deeper and further out. Just check the likes of 'Parallel Distortion', with its icy atmospherics and staggered rhythmic ripples punctuated by DJ Sak's cuts. Cutting up his source material with ever-increasing confidence and creating something positively murky in the process, Krush created a truly evergreen album in Kakusei and now it's being repressed on heavyweight vinyl and sounding phatter than ever before.

Review: Continuing the celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, Music on Vinyl is releasing the second instalment of 'Hip Hop Collected', turning the focus away from the first 20 year and moving the lens towards the late 90s and early 2000s - the peak of abstract and gangsta rap. Featuring timeless classics like N.W.A's 'Straight Outta Compton', Dr Dre's Jay-Z-ghostwritten track 'Still D.R.E' and Bahamadia's 'Uknowhowwedo' to name a few. The aim of the compilation is not to prove as an exhaustive list by any means (namely the mysterious absence of Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot and Public Enemy), but to serve as a comprehensive memorial to a genre that changed the world. Printed on super limited green and white 180gm audiophile vinyl, the package comes with an insert with liner notes.

Review: Black Grape was founded by former members of The Happy Mondays, Shaun Ryder and Bez (a.k.a. Mark Berry). New band members included rappers Paul "Kermit" Leveridge, Carl "Psycho" McCarthy, drummer Ged Lynch (all three from the first wave of UK hip-hop and influential Hulme, Manchester act Ruthless Rap Assassins), guitarist Paul Wagstaff (from the Paris Angels), and Oli "Dirtycash" Dillon on ocarina. It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah contains ten catchy songs, most prominently the album's preceding hit single 'In The Name Of The Father', with influences from indie-pop, alternative, funk, disco, with rough guitar, rapping all glued together and produced by American Danny Saber. On release in 1993, the debut album immediately charted at the very top of the UK Albums chart and was certified Platinum.

Review: The debut album for Ultramagnetic MC's Critical Beatdown has continued to get more press over the years as one of the best underground 80s hip-hop albums. The group was most known for launching the career of Kool Keith but also featured the talented Ced Gee, TR Love and Moe Love who completed the early foursome lineup. This newly expanded version released by Music On Vinyl keeps the entire album in tact on the first record while smartly and thankfully, gathers a few of their most heralded other tracks of their earnest beginnings in the form of extended versions. All and all, you have the most complete packages of their early music dedicated to wax. This new expanded version is printed in a limited number of copies and comes on 180g 2x12 green vinyl. As an added bonus, there is a booklet that overviews and contains a lot of great information about this landmark release.

Review: WHODINI's Open Sesame album is a perfect example of the best of 1980s hip-hop. It showcases the group's pioneering blend of catchy beats, slick rhymes, and infectious energy. Originally back released in 1987, the album features iconic tracks like 'Funky Beat' and 'Rock You Again (Again & Again).' With its innovative production and charismatic performances, 'Open Sesame' solidified WHODINI's status as one of the most influential groups in the genre. From start to finish, the album exudes a sense of excitement and creativity, leaving a lasting impact on hip-hop music which means it might sound of its time but it remains a classic and an essential listen for any fan of old-school rap.

Review: American hip-hop group Ultramagnetic MCs dropped their second album Funk Your Head Up in 1992. It was the group's second album and many of its tunes, at the request of the Mercury Records label execs, were remixes by outside producers. Hardcore fans of the group didn't like the results and neither was the album a particular commercial success, with the one hit was, ironically, a Beatminerz remix of 'Poppa Large' that never made the album. But the band's ever-reliable, clever lyrics and concrete breakbeats feature throughout with oodles of funk, helping to ensure you want to get down.