Mayer Hawthorne cut his teeth in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he started making beats and DJing at the height of Detroit hip-hop. Since his debut heart-shaped seven-inch, Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out, dropped via Stones Throw in 2008, Hawthorne has released four LPs, raking in accolades from esteemed publications like GQ, New York Times Magazine, Playboy, and Rolling Stone. From NPR's proclamation of his imminent stardom to BBC Music's endorsement of his authentic soul, his artistry has captivated the hearts of critics and fans alike. With a wealth of additional press coverage and features in notable outlets such as Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and Vanity Fair, in addition to appearances on Conan, Letterman, Kimmel, The Today Show, and beyond, Hawthorne's cultural impact is undeniable.

Not only do critics and fans love Hawthorne, but his peers do, too. He opened for Amy Winehouse on her final tour before she tragically passed away, and served as direct support for Bruno Mars twice; he crafted modern yacht rock jams with Pharrell poolside in Miami and John Mayer called his debut the “album of the year” on Twitter. His songs have soundtracked episodes of Girls, the end credits of the final episode of Ugly Betty, and is the only non-Kanye song in the famed Spike Jonze directed short film, We Were Once A Fairytale. Hawthorne has written and produced the lion’s share of his catalog, and apart from his solo work, he collaborates with hip-hop producer Jake One on their boogie funk super-group, Tuxedo, which is now three albums and multiple world tours deep.

After the release of his last album Man About Town on Vagrant Records in 2016, Hawthorne launched the next phase of his career as a producer and writer for fellow artists. Recent credits include Jordan Ward’s single “Lil Baby Crush” released through Interscope Records,“Truth or Dare” by Chika featuring Freddie Gibbs, and most notably “Options featuring JID” from Doja Cat’s double platinum album Planet Her, which earned him a Grammy nomination.

This summer, Hawthorne debuted “The Pool,” a swirling, smoke-filled song that guides the listener towards transcendence. Written and produced entirely by Hawthorne, this song is where rebelliousness and carefree living intertwine, inviting you to embrace the thrill in psychedelic adventures. Now, Hawthorne is ready to share his fifth studio album, For All Time, an immersive experience that transcends boundaries and embraces the shadows. On this record, he delves deep into the depths of the human heart, exploring the complexities of love and the raw emotions that accompany it. It's a captivating blend of dark, sexy, and moody vibes that will transport you straight into a smoky, art deco jazz club. For All Time is a celebration of a love that burns with intensity, leaving an enduring mark on the soul.

Doja Cat's fourth studio album Scarlet introduces a new era for the Grammy award-winning global superstar that represents a rebirth in her career sonically and creatively.Scarlet shows the artist's versatility as a rapper, with this album being completely written by Doja Cat throughout. This 15 track collection includes the worldwide hit "Paint The Town Red."

As they set to work on their highly awaited sophomore album, Black Pumas broadened their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped from the cosmos. The debut was nominated for 7 Grammys and reached one million album equivalents. Chronicles Of A Diamond arrives as the fullest expression yet of their frenetic creativity and limitless vision.

3xLP * tri-color handmade color-in-color vinyl * 9 bonus tracks * gatefold* Limited to 500

GRAMMY winning album Black Radio III is just the latest historic milestone in the decade-long Black Radio series. An ongoing project, evolving over time, perhaps never complete but anchored in its creative commitment to celebrating black excellence in music. As a next chapter Glasper releases Black Radio III: Supreme Edition on vinyl for the 1st time. A 3xLP, in a gatefold jacket, with tri-color handmade color-in-color vinyl, & 9 bonus tracks (Mac Miller, Bilal, PJ Morton, India.Arie, & more)!

Usher's second album, My Way, established him as a young and skillful R&B artist with slow jams and memorable guest artists. The 25^th Anniversary Edition includes alternative album art that pays homage to the original cover from 1997 and a 2^nd LP of 3 re-imagined tracks, “You Make Me Wanna… ,” “Nice & Slow,” and “My Way” by James Carr.

Translucent Highlighter Yellow Vinyl. Enigmatic Society is the next offering from the multi-faceted, Grammy-nominated supergroup Dinner Party. Full of opulently intricate instrumentation and a range of sleek R&B to smooth neo-soul vocals, Enigmatic Society is mesmerizing in it's entirety. The album features brilliant performances from the debut Dinner Party crew: Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington and 9th Wonder, with additional help vocalists Phoelix, Arin Ray, Ant Clemons, Tank and producers Sounwave, Hi-Tek and Trevor Lawrence Jr. Enigmatic Society serves as a follow up to the group's 2020 debut self-titled album and continues as a celebration of Black joy, life, art, and culture, as it pays tribute to the duality that manifests in both the beauty and adversity in Black America. This deep sense of community and family flows throughout the project with the album's artwork designed by Kamasi Washington's sister, artist Amani Washington.

Four-time GRAMMY®-nominated R&B superstar KEM, one of the most distinctive and vital voices in music today, commemorates his 20th anniversary of being signed to the Motown label with the release of his first live album. Recorded in Fall 2022 at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit, ‘Anniversary – The Live Album’ showcases the musical mastery and captivating vocals of one of the world’s most treasured singer/songwriters. Gold LP.

Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos brings together 146 demos from the legendary Stax Records. Including 140 recordings that are previously unreleased, this collection combines both songwriter demos of some of music’s biggest songs with full blown arrangements of never released tracks. This 7-CD set, packaged in 7x7 boxset, also included a new essay written by Deanie Parker and Robert Gordon, archival photos and is compiled by multi-GRAMMY award winning producer Cheryl Pawelski.

Cited as “one of the most exciting young artists in Nashville’s burgeoning soul scene” by Rolling Stone, Love You Anyway is the second full-length LP and brand-new album from the Philadelphia-born Devon Gilfillian. With an incisive eye and unassuming swagger, along with Devon’s deep knowledge and love of vintage soul, R&B, rock and hip-hop, Love You Anyway re-imagines modern soul music. First vinyl pressing will be on limited edition milky clear vinyl.

This 1965 collection from The King of Soul™ is as fresh and urgent now as ever. Featuring “That’s How Strong My Love Is” and “Mr Pitiful” among this beautifully curated collections of soul ballads, this is a foundational record in any collection.

Following the worldwide success of Steve Lacy’s critically acclaimed album Gemini Rights, this collection is now available on vinyl beginning 11/4/2022. The album features Steve’s chart topping global hit, Bad Habit.

Steve Lacy is a Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, producer, and musician who was born and raised in Compton, California. Steve was introduced to the music industry initially in 2015 as a member (guitarist) of R&B group, The Internet. His previous solo work includes his debut EP, Steve Lacy’s Demo (Feb 2017), his debut album, Apollo XXI (May 2019), and The Lo-Fis (December 2020). Steve has production, writing and feature credits with artists like Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Tyler, Mac Miller, The Internet, Thundercat, GoldLink, Solange, YG, Vampire Weekend, and Kali Uchis to name a few.

This is the FINAL album coming from legendary musician/actor Morris Day. Considered one of the founders of the “Minneapolis Sound,” as well as Prince’s “greatest creation,” Morris’s career has spanned 40 years. Now it’s the “Last Call.” Celebrate with us and some of Morris’s best friends as you journey through 12 final tracks with features from Snoop Dogg, Jazze Pha, E-40, Tech N9ne, Daddy O from Stetsasonic, Big Daddy Kane, Flo Rida, Trinidad James and Billy Gibbons.

Girls Night Out is the new compilation album from Babyface featuring some of today’s brightest & rising female R&B stars. The 12-track, Babyface-produced album is a sonic journey through love, heartbreak and all the emotions in between, featuring vocals from Babyface alongside special guests Ella Mai, Queen Naija, Ari Lennox, Kehlani, Doechii & more. Girls Night Outbridges the classic and the current with Babyface’s timeless approach to music production, exemplifying artistry at its finest.

Public Displays of Affection: The Album is a soundtrack of intimacy that seemed to offer an answer: You let love lead. Muni Long explains, “I am a lover. I prefer to be kind. I believe in fairytales. The reason Public Displays of Affection worked is because love was absent in R&B.” For this breakthrough project, Muni wanted to mimic the ebbs and flows of a relationship, dipping and diving between moods and sounds – which is real, because love can be tumultuous, too. Deluxe CD.

RENAISSANCE is the highly anticipated new album from global icon Beyoncé. Packed with rousing anthems that resonate with everybody, RENAISSANCE is a culmination of freedom and escape that encourages unimaginable jubilation, agency, and movement with abandon. The singular intent of RENAISSANCE, a reinvention of four on the floor, is to showcase music that stirs you from the soul and encourages your dancing feet.  It is a celebration of a club era when anyone who felt like an outsider sought each other and formed a community of freedom-seekers to express themselves creatively through the rhythm, which we still celebrate today. 

2022 release, the seventh album by the R&B and pop superstar. Includes the single "Break My Soul".

When you think of R&B in the 21^st century, romance, sex, love, and Tank instantly come to mind. With vocal fireworks lit enough to heat up any bedroom and an instantly recognizable presence, the nine-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum singer, producer, actor, comedian, and R&B Money label founder has defined two decades of the genre with one seminal record after another. Along the way, he has gathered hundreds of millions of streams, picked up platinum plaques, and sold out shows around the world. However, he leaves the game with one more magnum opus, delivering his tenth and final full-length offering, R&B Money [R&B Money/Atlantic Records], in 2022.

 

“For me, I’ve adjusted and lived through the changes with R&B,” he explains. “R&B is back in an amazing place. There are so many R&B artists who have incredible careers. The title R&B Money speaks to how lucrative the R&B business is and how expensive the music is. However, relationships and love are expensive in terms of how much you have to emotionally and spiritually invest. The investment is worth it though. R&B is about relationships. Nothing gives you the blues like a relationship when it goes wrong. Nothing gets you more excited than a relationship when it goes right. It’s never changed for me. I’m still making R&B.”

 

Throughout 2021, he assembled what would become R&B Money as his most ambitious body of work yet. “I’ve got more songs than ever,” he says. “I wanted to give it all I’ve got. For the first half of the album, it’s a vibe. You’re either making up or making out. There’s a song for any groove you’re in. It’s a ride, so pack a lunch.”

Best New Artist GRAMMY nominee and critically acclaimed band Tank and The Bangas return with their third studio album, Red Balloon. Red Balloon was born out of a pandemic-ordered break from the band’s rigorous touring schedule. The hiatus gave the band space to grow, allowing them to reunite as a more unified group. This new work pushes the band to a new level, shedding light on their unique observations and reflecting on the ills of America while also celebrating the beauty of Black life.

Following a record-breaking debut, Ella Mai brings us her highly anticipated sophomore album, Heart On My Sleeve. With the physical available upon immediate release on May 6, 2022, fans can experience the thrill of running to the store to grab the CD and press play on their favorite R&B songstress.

Love & Algorhythms is an interstellar synthesis of astral Soul, R&B, and sci-fi Funk. Working with producer Paul Butler (The Bees, Micheal Kiwanuka, Caroline Rose, Hurray for the Riff Raff), Seratones have taken the invitation to knock at the door of the cosmos. A.J. Haynes’s voice dances with soul-stirring devotion at the altar of Black Feminisms: weaving the words Toni Cade Bambara, Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis multiverse, echoes of bell hooks, and Audre Lorde’s Power of the Erotic. With drummer Jesse Gabriel’s machine-like precision and the transcendental touches from guitarist Travis Stewart, the album oscillates between Alice Coltrane-inspired bliss & Giorgio Moroder’s ecstatic release. Each song hovers and pulsates in the wide, dark matter—constellations guiding a journey through the subtle body, the vast fullness of the human experience and the irresistible potential of liberation.

The Ohio Players came into musical prominence in the 1970's as pioneers of street funk and underground R&B. After signing with Mercury Records in 1974 the Ohio Players landed three consecutive platinum albums with Skin Tight, Fire and Honey. Seen as their commercial breakthrough, Skin Tight boasts a fuller production and more prominent horns as exemplified on the hit title cut and fellow single "Jive Turkey." One of the finest albums from one of the greatest funk/R&B bands that ever was reissued here on gatefold colored 180g vinyl LP by Friday Music.

Robert Glasper’s highly anticipated third installment to the Black Radio album series. Black Radio III, much like both of its predecessors, is a cultural moment that celebrates black love and resilience, features an eclectic group of talented collaborators, and is composed by Glasper who the New York Times proclaims is “probably the most prominent jazz musician of his generation”. An innovative and essential addition to Glasper’s seminal Black Radio series. Limited Edition Indie Exclusive Chartreuse 2 LP.

Indie Exclusive variant on Coke Bottle color vinyl. Kendra Morris's Nine Lives, to be released on Karma Chief Records (a division of Colemine Records) in early 2022, marks not only the culmination of the decade since the release of her first LP Banshee, but also a turning point in Kendra's life. Nine Lives heralds the beginning of a new chapter; label, and an evolution to the next level of adulthood. This collection of her original songs encapsulates moments from what could be nine lifetimes. Kendra, while very much a New Yorker and veteran of almost 2 decades on the NYC scene, hails from Florida and aesthetically embodies the broader sense of American culture, bringing to her contemporary sound influences found in music and cinema dating back to the mid 20th century. Her music conjures imagery evocative of road trips to weird and wonderful places. Concurrently a visual artist, filmmaker and animator, Kendra harnesses the feline nine lives metaphor repeatedly. In the context of the chapters of her musical trajectory alone, we see at least 9 lives. From discovering multi-tracking on a karaoke machine as a child, to playing in bands in Florida, moving to NYC and creating music alone on an 8 track, releasing her first 2 LPs on Wax Poetics, releasing her 2016 EP Babble and collaborating with DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, MF Doom, Czarface, Ghostface Killah, Dennis Coffey, and David Sitek, to name a few. The life of this multi-disciplinarian artist contains units of time and story lines through which we can all relate to universal themes of love, loss and overcoming one's fears. Kendra, never ceasing to heed her spiritual calling to continue creating music and art, no matter what, has no plans of slowing down but a belief in only evolving, eager to begin experiencing her next nine lives.

Stro Elliot (of The Roots) puts his spin on ten James Brown classics. The remixes draw upon a variety of inspirations, from Afro-Beat to electronica.

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing of this compilation from the iconic disco group.

Following up their 2019 full-length album All The Way This. All The Way That., Freekbass & The Bump Assembly continue to push the limits of their "funk forward" style in Krameria. Recorded just a few months before quarantine at Color Red Studios in Denver, CO, the album's themes present an uncanny timely nature delving into themes of tenacity, escaping one's thoughts, fantasy, and more. With Eddie Roberts tracking and producing the album, you'll find classic production tones mixed with Freekbass' future funk and signature thumping style in a delightful concoction that's suited for many musical tastes.

2022 release. Dawn FM is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd. The album is narrated by Jim Carrey, and features guest appearances from Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne. The production was handled by The Weeknd himself alongside Oneohtrix Point Never-who produced the majority of the tracks-as well as Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Calvin Harris, and Swedish House Mafia, among others. The album serves as a follow-up to The Weeknd's fourth studio album, After Hours (2020). EXPLICIT

A fever dream in sonic form, The Alien Coast is the first album St. Paul & The Broken Bones recorded in their hometown of Birmingham. Produced by Matt Ross-Spang (Drive-By Truckers, Margo Price) - the bands fourth full-length is a dizzying convergence of rock & roll and R&B, psychedelia and stoner metal, gospel and jazz-funk. At turns explosive, elegant, and thrillingly unhinged - it makes for a majestic backdrop to the groups visceral exploration of the strangest dimensions of the human psyche.

The 5^th Dimension’s “Greatest Hits On Earth” is being issued, featuring 11 of their most beloved hits including “Last Night I Didn’t Get To Sleep At all,” “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In,” “One Less Bell To Answer” and more!

A brand new album of brand-new songs from the No. 1 R&B Group of All Time, The Temptations. Features tracks written and produced by Narada Michael Walden, the young hip-hop producer K. Sparks, longtime group member Ron Tyson, founding member Otis Williams, and the equally legendary Smokey Robinson, whose classic songs launched the group’s original hit streak. The new album release will coincide with Otis Williams’s 80^thbirthday, and the Broadway return (and road show edition) of the hit musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations.

$ (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 1971 movie of the same name. The soundtrack was composed and produced by Jazz legend Quincy Jones and includes performances from Roberta Flack, Little Richard and Doug Kershaw. This version will be the first repressing since 2002, and will be pressed the color of money on mint green vinyl. SIDE A 01 Money Is (feat. Little Richard) 02 Snow Creatures 03 Rubber Ducky 04 Redeye Runnin' Train (feat. Doug Kershaw) 05 Shady Lady 06 Money Runner 07 When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You) [feat. Roberta Flack with the Don Elliott Voic SIDE B 01 Do It - To It! (feat. Little Richard) 02 Candy Man 03 Passin' the Buck 04 Kitty with the Bent Frame 05 Brooks' 50c Tour (Main Title Collage) [feat. Little Richard and Roberta Flack]

This release is a special one; a moment where the two halves of the Mr Bongo record label unite, our heritage re-issues and our contemporary artists roster. Minoru Muraoka's 'The Positive and the Negative' is a firm favourite at Mr Bongo. It sees a master of the shakuhachi, a traditional bamboo Japanese flute, flex his prodigious skill resulting in a unique mix of breakbeat jazz and Japanese folkloric music. 'The Positive and the Negative' featured on the 1970 'Bamboo' album, which Mr Bongo reissued in 2019. Heralded by DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Egon, and many others. The record's cult status had us thinking how could we pay further homage to a sublime track such as this. The opportunity came to us in an email from Melbourne's Surprise Chef with a link to the fabulous reinterpretation of the track which they had just recorded. Forged in their signature sound, "The Chef" have made 'The Positive and the Negative' their own whilst simultaneously treating the original with utmost respect. The shakuhachi and koto have been replaced by synths and guitars, but the breakbeat psychedelic vein flows richly through both instruments The 7" vinyl format was the right fit for this release, so the original Minoru Muraoka recording which clocks in over nine minutes has been edited into a 7" version to accompany Surprise Chef's new take.

The 1976 Warner Bros Motion Picture “Sparkle” features a soundtrack created by two Soul giants – Aretha and Curtis. Whilst the movie stars - Irene Cara and Lonette McKee (primarily) - sang the songs on the film, “Sparkle (Music From The Warner Bros. Motion Picture)'' features the Queen of Soul herself 'Aretha Franklin', accompanied by composer and producer Curtis Mayfield recorded at his Curtom studio in Chicago. It will be pressed on LP - for the first time since its original release in 1976 - on a Crystal Clear vinyl. SIDE A 01 Sparkle 02 Something He Can Feel 03 Hooked on Your Love 04 Look into Your Heart SIDE B 01 I Get High 02 Jump To It 03 Loving You Baby 04 Rock with Me

Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 is a career-spanning, 31-track collection of music pioneer Sam Cooke’s greatest works. This collection presents tracks from Cooke’s gospel and early R&B career, pop/soul hits from the Specialty and RCA labels and combined them with the cream of the masters that are part of his own company, Tracey Records. Includes comprehensive liner notes by Peter Guralnick as well as detailed musician credits. Limited Edition Indie Exclusive 2 LP on 180-gram clear vinyl.

Limited clear vinyl LP pressing. Exclusive pressing on clear vinyl of this holy grail of European progressive jazz-funk featuring players from Marc Moulin's Placebo/Sam Suffy, and El Chicles/Nico Gomez crew... or as someone says on Discogs: 'HOLY GRAIL! A Funk Jazzy classic record. Deep groove with a deep bass and powerful horns. Excellent from start to finish. KILLER!!!' If you prefer a more restrained description, there is also this: 'New pressing of the highly sought-after and very expensive Belgian jazz-funk-rock LP from 1972. Featuring members of Marc Moulin's Placebo and Sam Suffy line-ups.' All of this leads us to the same conclusion - this is an album well worth investigating if you like funky grooves