Hip Hop / R&B Recommendations June 2014

Review: Given the iconic status of Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw Records - not to mention the extended family feel about its' band of artists and collaborators - it's perhaps fitting that director Jeff Broadway has given the L.A-based label the full documentary treatment. Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton makes fascinating and entertaining viewing, with contributions not only from key members of the Stones Throw community, but also high profile fans such as Kanye West, Common and Snoop Dogg. Here, the DVD is packaged with a superb soundtrack CD featuring a host of new skits and jams from Madlib, as well as high-grade music from familiar Stones Throw artists such as James Pants, Dam Funk, Stepkids, J Dilla and Mayer Hawthorne.

Review: Any new album from The Roots is cause for celebration, but there's something extra special about this 11th studio set from the eccentric alternative hip-hop heavyweights. Like much of their best work, And Then You Shoot Your Cousin has a concept; according to rapper Black Thought, it's a satire on violence in hip-hop and American culture in general. With members of the outfit playing different characters at different points on the album, it comes on like an alternative hip-hop opera, or a musical with sampling, rapping, acapella tracks, scratchy beats, hip-hop soul anthems and brilliant piano work. In other words, it's an album by The Roots, and frankly it's excellent.