Identical Testicle - Galaxy Cross (2012)

"Smoking the best weed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, hasn't slowed down Beno and Rejoicer a bit - they fire up beats by the minute. One would think that making so many beats in such a short period of time results in a monotonous plethora but on the contrary - many different styles, different BPMs, using many tools of trade such as Moog, African and Swiss percussion, guitars and bass guitars, Ableton Live, Harps, all sorts of old and obscure synthesizers - just to name a few!"

- Alessandro

Onra - Chinoiseries (2007)

"Onra is a French hip-hop beatmaker based in Paris, with Vietnamese ancestory. In 2006, he went on a trip to Vietnam for the first time, and collected 30~ vintage pop vinyls of Vietnames and Chinese origin from flea markets, in poor condition, which he went on to use to construct this album. Chinoiseries is an extremely rich sounding instrumental hip hop album composed of 32 sketches from these vinyls, released in 2007."

Sample: "The Vallee of Love"

- Alessandro

Steel Train - s/t (2010)

Featuring Jack Antonof (otherwise known as 1/3 of indie pop band fun.), Steel Train creates some pretty high energy youthful anthems bursting with both freedom and anxiety, such as "Touch Me Bad," a manic ode to obsessive compulsive disorder. Overall a fantastic addition to any summertime roadtrip playlists of the gayest variety.

Sample: "Bullet"

- Jake

Neutral Bling Hotel - In My G4 Over Da Sea (2012)

Neutral Bling Hotel was an American /mu/core formed in the early 1990's by singer, guitarist, songwriter and notorious gangster Lil' Jeff Swagnum, known by his stage name, Mashed Potato. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and dope beats.
(Neutral Milk Hotel's ITAOTS/Hip-Hop mashup by Psycosis. EXTREMELY WELL DONE GO GET IT.)

Sample: "Oh Dougie"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Magical Mistakes - Special Friends EP (2012)

Magical Mistakes is an American electronic artist residing in Japan. Living in a small village in the mountains somewhere in Japan, he's found inspiration and time to further explore production. "Special Friends EP" is a taste of what he's been working on from that inspiration. It consists of six magical electronic tunes that are really worth checking out. You can download it for free on Magical Mistakes' bandcamp, or you can buy one of the 50 CD-Rs that comes with a box of Japanese chocolates and a 'Thank you!' note for 12 U.S. dollars.

Sample: "Lady Lazarus:Via Elysian Fields (Magical Mistakes remix)"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Ackryte - Shades (2012)

"Shades" is a collection of Ackryte's favourite tunes that he's created over the past few years, as well as some new material that hasn't been heard before. The album serves as a lead-up to his debut album that'll be released later this year, a chance for you to become more acquainted with Ackryte's work. Ackryte creates relaxing electronic beats that almost sound like hip-hop instrumentals, with jazz/soul/funk samples. Great stuff to actually listen to as well as to have it sort of in the background. Whether that be for browsing, working or whatever you do in your free time. And it's free!

Sample: "Come Naturally"
Download
Bandcamp


- Alessandro

Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Gonna Eat That? (2011)

Hail Mary Mallon consists of Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz. Aesop and Rob Sonic have a great chemistry going when put together and never have disappointed before this project. When they and DJ Big Wiz got together for their very own project, it wasn't a disappointment either. Amazing lyrics, a lovely combination between Aesop and Rob Sonic's flow and the raw beats that DJ Big Wiz provides the two with, makes for an album that can not be missed in your hip-hop collection!

Sample: "Garfield"

- Alessandro