Mass Appeal US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The extended Wu-Tang Clan universe continues to throw out plenty of great new music at a rate that nerve seems to slow. Next up is Set the Tone (Guns & Roses), a 12th (yes, 12th!) studio album by cult rapper Ghostface Killah, on Mass Appeal Records. Known for his vivid storytelling and raw lyricism, Ghostface brings that once again with a mix of hard-hitting tracks and reflective moments. It features an impressive lineup of guest appearances including Jim Jones, Sheek Louch, Method Man, Raekwon, Nas and Kanye West, among others. With this star-studded collaboration, Set the Tone delivers a dynamic fusion of classic Wu-Tang sound and modern hip-hop ideas that are sure to maintain Ghostface's reputation as a powerhouse in the rap game.

Review: 2021's 'Magic' is the fifteenth studio album from undisputed East Coast hip-hop icon Nas. Written entirely by him and producer Hit-Boy, these nine brisk, retro hip-hop uppercuts contain the same grit and immediacy that made Nas's 'Illmatic' one of the most beloved hip-hop records of all time. Featuring DJ Premier and A$AP Rocky on 'Wave Gods', a definite highlight on the record of front-to-back bangers, as Hot-Boy and Nas are going at it like they have something to prove - and whatever it is they proved it.

Review: US rap royalty Nas's 'Ultra Black' features producer Hit-Boy and was released in mid-summer 2020 as the lead single from his thirteenth album, King's Disease. Lyrically, Nas pays homage to all things Black as he draws on his black heritage and African-American culture while the beats remain deeply laidback with jazzy chords up top. In an interview at the time with NME, the rapper said the song "represents love" although some interpreted the lyrics as a diss towards singer and rapper Doja Cat. This 7" features the vocal version and an instrumental.

Review: Hip hop super group Run The Jewels aka Brooklyn-based rapper-producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike continue to turn out new albums that continue to get a great reception. But at the same time, their old albums are still much sought after and so are being reissued. Run The Jewels 2 first came back in 2014 and received widespread acclaim from critics. They appreciated its darker, more layered production and Killer Mike and El-P's lyricism and chemistry and its guest contributions from the likes of Zach de la Rocha, Travis Barker and Diane Coffee.