For the Record (Label): More Love for Stones Throw

Well, those devilish masterminds at Stones Throw are at it again, digging through the dustiest of crates to bring us all the latest and greatest in hip hop wizardry.

Resident mastermind Madlib is all over the place these days, jumping from style to style like some kind of blunted superhero. He just dropped the first of his twelve Medicine Show CDs. Entitled Before the Verdict, this first one has Quasimoto's other side releasing a full 17-track hip-hop album with original tracks and "the OJ Simpson remixes" featuring Guilty Simpson. We've been told to consider it a prelude to Madlib & Guilty's collab OJ Simpson. Just to show what he's putting down, the fine ST folks have graced us with this collab between 'Lib and Simpson that can't be found on either the Medicine Show or upcoming OJ Simpson CDs. You might recognize that intro from Madvilliany. Sounds like Madlib is in his usual rarified air, and Simpson sounds loose and juiced. This joint looks to be pretty damn good. Oh, and he's releasing In Search of Stoney Jackson, his collab with Strong Arm Steady, this month, too. Damn, does the man ever rest?

mp3: Before the Verdict (Madlib & Guilty Simpson from the Stones Throw Website)

mp3: The Paper (Madlib & Guilty Simpson from Madlib Medicine Show No. 1: Before the Verdict)

mp3: Best of Times (Stoney Jackson ft. Phonte from In Search of Stoney Jackson)

Changing directions nearly entirely, the label also just released The Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1, a look back at the "genre of underground DIY electronic music from North America and Europe in the late 1970s and 80s." Not sure if that's your thing or not? Hell, they've got you covered there, too, with this tasty sample.

mp3: Flying Turns (Crash Course in Science from The Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1)

And last but certainly not least, those busy bastards bring us Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti. The boxed set includes "covers and music inspired by the Godfather of Afro-Beat. This Fela Estate-approved anthology includes rare and previously unreleased music from Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia, Trinidad and more." Now, if you don't know your Fela, you are missing out. The man had a thing for zombies, too, so you know we dig him.

mp3: Woman Pin Down (Dan Satch and His Atomic 8 Dance Band from Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti)

Seriously, when do those cats sleep? Well, as long as they keep pumping it out, we'll keep listening and salivating for more.