August Releases

AUGUST RELEASES
KILLAH PRIEST - "THE OFFERING" - GOOD HANDS RECORDS - AUG. 21
Longtime Wu Tang Clan affiliate and Brooklyn, New York native, Killah Priest returns with a long awaited, highly anticipated album called “The Offering”. Best known for his life and career altering appearance on the track “B.I.B.L.E” from GZA’s “Liquid Swords” album, his classic debut “Heavy Mental”, and for his intensely spiritual lyrics loaded with metaphors and religious references, the former Sunz Of Man group member brings his passion for quality rhymes back on this new release. Priest delivers a monster of an album that features a star studded supporting cast including Nas, Immortal Technique, Ras Kass, Canibus, Kurupt, Hell Razah and more. Recent group collaboration projects such as The Black Market Militia and The Horsemen Project have had fans foaming at the mouth for Priest’s newest solo effort, and “The Offering” is sure to satisfy their hunger by showcasing why he has been considered one of the top lyricists in the game for years. Killah Priest will be featured on BET’s “Rap City” the week of Street Date!

BRAND NUBIAN - "TIME'S RUNNIN' OUT" - SOUND OF DISSENT - AUG. 21
Brand Nubian formed after Grand Puba’s original group, Masters Of Ceremony, split up. Their first single “Brand Nubian” dropped in 1989 and their debut album, “One For All”, was released in 1990. Critically acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant rhetoric on tracks like “Drop the Bomb” and “Wake Up”. The video for the single “Wake Up” was also banned from MTV. The singles “Slow Down”, “All For One” and “Wake Up” all became hits on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991. After pursuing individual careers, Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, Sadat X and DJ Alamo reunited in 1997 after contributing a song to the “Soul in the Hole” soundtrack, titled “A Child Is Born” as well as releasing the underground single “Rockin’ It”. The success of both songs propelled the group to record their second album with all four original members. Most people believed that the album entitled “The Foundation” from 1998 was their reunion album, but it is in fact the “Time’s Running Out” album, unheard and shelved until now that would lead the quartet back into the recording studio to recapture and reclaim the iconic sound of the “One For All” album. Featuring production handled by Puba, Jamar, Alamo with help from DITC legend Lord Finesse and Slick Rick producer/DJ Vance Wright, this is must have for Brand Nubian and the vintage Hip Hop collectors in general.

C.L. SMOOTH - "THE OUTSIDER" - BLACKHEART ENTERTAINMENT - AUG. 21
CL Smooth, half of the legendary and influential "golden era" Hip Hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, created many classic rap anthems during the 90s including “T.R.O.Y.”, "Straighten It Out", and "Lots Of Lovin". CL has one of most recognizable voices in all of Hip Hop and he’s back to bless the mic once again. After the pair split in 1995, CL Smooth remained musically inactive for about 10 years, only appearing on five isolated tracks with his former partner and declined even to appear as a guest on other artists' albums, with the exception of a track called "Only the Strong Survive" with DJ Krush. Recently, however, he has contributed vocals to songs by AZ and Dipset affiliate JR Writer. He released his debut solo album, “American Me” early this year. This CD, “The Outsider” is considered a companion piece to that album, further showcasing his relevance with a bunch of new tracks, remixes by J Period, Drawzilla and B Rock, plus live versions of some of his old mid 90s classics. Guests vocalists include Butta Verses (De La Soul associate), JR Writer, Scales of Nappy Roots, and Young Breed. “The Outsider” is hosted by So So Def’s "Da Franchize" DJ Shakim of the Heavy Hitters and Super Friends DJ Crews, and with one listen, you’ll realize that CL’s voice still has the impact it did when it first was heard on the "All Souled Out" EP back in 1991.