NBN Schallplatten & CDs

Review: 108 was a short-lived Bay Area hip hop group consisting of rappers Encore and Grand The Visitor along with producer Sedric Edwards. They released their "Mission Infinite" album in 1996 in very low qualities and now NBN Archives has done the right thing and press it up once more. It's an album deserving of all the attention it will get as it fuses fluid flows with woozy late-night hip-hop production and killer basslines. Made on a simple home set up but with a live bass player, it oozes that lo-fi, imperfect feel that makes it all the more lovable.

Review: In Florida, 'bussin' means tasty, and so is a perfect name for Devin Morrison's solo debut album on NBN Records. A perfect melange of smooth funk, golden era r&b and gospel overtones, it's a feel good record that balances nostalgia with modernism in all the right ways. Guests like Grammy Award nominees KING, L.A. singer Joyce Wrice and seasoned originals like Ace Hashimoto (aka Brandun DeShay) all feature amongst G-funk basslines, melting vocal harmonies, timeless duets and futuristic gems. This record proves that good r&b will never go away.

Review: Earlier in the year, Adrian Van Der Velde and Onra delivered the first fruits of their studio collaboration as OXP, an album of early 90's R&B, new jack swing and G-funk inspired songs entitled 'Swing Convention'. It was an inspired set, though its vocal-heavy nature resulted in a demand from some DJs for an accompanying set of instrumental versions. Happily, we can report that they've listened to feedback and duly delivered a partner album that showcases their own impeccable beats and backing tracks. Heavily indebted to the likes of Jam & Lewis, Teddy Riley, Daz Dillinger and Dr Dre, their beats are smooth, deep, synth-heavy, soulful and supremely sexy.