ARTIST: Live Wirez

TITLE: Approach The Mic b/w Straight From The Dome

FORMAT: 12"

YEAR: 1993

LABEL: JBR Records

Today it’s time for one of my favourite independent twelves from the year 1993. I can’t remember when I heard this 12” for the first time but I was hooked within a few seconds. In this timeperiod there were a lot of hip-hop releases that had typical ruff and raw sound that I don’t have to explain to you all. Live Wirez from New York was one of those crews that made their appearance in the independent hip-hop game back then.

ARTIST: Paint It Black

TITLE: We Got Pull

FORMAT: 12"

YEAR: 1992

LABEL: Long Hill Records

If my recent vinyl scores are an indication of what to expect in the near future, I can tell you that the year 2007 looks very promising already. It’s only the third week of January and already I purchased about a dozen dope records, most of which I’m sure will end up on Vinyl Addicts somewhere this year. Out of all those records this early 90’s indy release from the two man crew named Paint It Black was an immediate favorite.

ARTIST: B.A.D. Rep

TITLE: Nothing Can Stop Us Now b/w Say No Rhyme Before It's Time

FORMAT: 12"

YEAR: 1990

LABEL: Payroll Records

The ‘random rap’ hype is in the year 2007 still reaching his heights. As in many cases the records in this category are a bit overrated, but there are a lot of records that deserved to be revealed.

ARTIST: Trends Of Culture

TITLE: What I'm Feeling

FORMAT: 12"

YEAR: 1995

LABEL: Mad Sounds Records (test press)

Once again it’s time for the Smoov Brotha to do as Mad Skillz and represent VA to the fullest, Vinyl Addicts that is. Those of you who were frequent visitors of the old Vinyl Addicts blog might remember the Trends Of Culture audio special from earlier this year. In that particular post I shared every damn Trends Of Culture track I had in my possession at the time and back then I was under the impression that I covered about 95% of the Trends Of Culture discography. Now I knew the track “Y’all All Fall” (a release from 1998 on Rage Entertainment which I still haven’t been able to track down) was missin’, but apart from that 12” I thought I had all the Trends Of Culture records ever released.

ARTIST: Runaway Slaves

TITLE: Booty Mission

FORMAT: 12"

YEAR: 1992

LABEL: Savage Records

Now I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve spotted this 12” in the bargain bin of your local record store numorous times and passed up on it. And why wouldn’t you? With a weak ass title like “Booty Mission” this must be some Miami Bass type of record, right? To be honest this was my initial reaction as well when I first came across it a couple of years ago. And like most people probably would, I paid no attention to it whatsoever. It wasn’t until late last year – when I bought a stash of records from a German guy (the Runaway Slaves 12” bein’ one of them) – that I came to the conclusion that I had been wrong the whole time. Without question this was one of my best purchases of 2005, eventhough it was more or less by accident.

ARTIST: Brotha Life

TITLE: The Wreck'a b/w Show Taker

FORMAT: 12"

YEAR: 1993

LABEL: Island Noyze Records

The S M double O to the V is back in full effect with a brand new review for the hip-hop hungry masses. Lined up for today we have one of my favorite vinyl purchases of 2006, Brotha Life’s “The Wreck’a” b/w “Show Taker” 12” on Island Noyze Records.