{"title":"Rucksack Records","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRucksack Records is an Amsterdam-based record label that has been at the forefront of the music industry since its inception. With a diverse roster of talented *artists* and a commitment to delivering high-quality music, Rucksack Records has established itself as a leader in the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFounded by a group of passionate music enthusiasts, Rucksack Records is dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging talent. The label prides itself on its ability to identify unique voices and provide them with the platform they need to reach their full potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith an impressive catalogue spanning various genres, Rucksack Records offers something for every music lover. From soulful ballads to energetic dance tracks, each release showcases the incredible artistry and creativity of *its artists*. By combining cutting-edge production techniques with timeless songwriting, Rucksack Records consistently delivers music that resonates with audiences around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"blip","title":"BLIP","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn \u003ci\u003eBLIP,\u003c\/i\u003e rapper NAHreally shares witty observations of ordinary life over airy, melodic beats by The Expert. For the highly original and unpretentiously fun album, the emcee-producer duo is joined by Open Mike Eagle, Hemlock Ernst (b.k.a. Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands), Dillon (Full Plate), and Jesse The Tree (Strange Famous Records).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBLIP\u003c\/i\u003e marks a hat-trick of collaborative albums for The Expert. Last year’s ‘Ritual’ with Stik Figa reached a myriad of ‘Best Albums of 2023’ lists and was also praised by Public Enemy’s Chuck D. Together with Jermiside, The Expert kicked off his series of psychedelic hip-hop records with ‘The Overview Effect,’ featured on NPR's ‘Best New Music’ and Bandcamp Daily’s monthly column ‘The Best Hip-Hop,’ among others.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor NAHreally, \u003ci\u003eBLIP\u003c\/i\u003e is his official debut on vinyl, following a range of digital tapes with, most notably, 2022’s ‘HACKINAWAY’ (Mutombo Records) and 2021’s ‘Loose Around the Edges.’ In the words of DEF Magazine: “NAHreally’s music channels the mid-aughts free-flowing jazz rap renaissance while infusing it with the lyrical abstraction of top modern underground MCs.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn \u003ci\u003eBLIP\u003c\/i\u003e, NAHreally shows that there are fun ways to rap about everyday life. From boredom to basketball, or how his “ankles creak, and my left pinky’s bent” on the Open Mike Eagle-assisted single ‘Breaking Down In Real Time.’ NAHreally turns scenes of the mundane into playful rhymes. A homage to the ordinary life on this pale blue dot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“NAHreally has an admirable ability to use the structure of rap songs to expose life’s little absurdities,” Dad Bod Rap Pod’s Nate LeBlanc states in the liner notes. “BLIP is full of humor, pathos, life lessons, and well-honed skills displayed in a cohesive package that brings to mind a slew of well-chosen cultural touchstones that have been fed into the MPC. (...) Think of it like a Curb Your Enthusiasm-style comedy of manners, with more banging beats and an acute awareness of the awkwardness of ‘rap hands.’” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor The Expert, working on \u003ci\u003eBLIP\u003c\/i\u003e was his most intensive collaborative process to date. The two went back and forth over eighteen months, sharing close to a hundred four-bar loops as short ideas. From there, NAHreally and The Expert used those loops and melodies as building blocks to flesh out the sound for BLIP together. The Expert: “I use samples from lots of different records and add my own bass lines, drums, and synth lines—such as the outro piano and strings on ‘All At Once,’ even adding my own ‘aah’ background vocals à la Pete Rock. However, my overall goal is that I want all parts and samples to sound like they came from the same source. So you actually can’t decipher what’s been played or sampled; to make it sound like all the elements were always meant to be together.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50401835647307,"sku":"2175029","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/NAHREALLY__THE_EXPERT_-_BLIP_-_PACKSHOT_a08e9941_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726525590"},{"product_id":"essential","title":"Essential","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is essential. We don't just refer to the album title: this new record by multi-instrumentalist and producer Thysenterprise is essential material for lovers of spiritual jazz with a hip-hop edge. As described in the liner notes: \"The spirit of Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, and Coltrane permeate the music here. At times, Thysenterprise and his guests meld the influence of the great jazz cannon with the rhythms of hip-hop.\"  '\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eEssential\u003c\/i\u003e moves with ease from spiritual sounds to hip-hop-infused head nods. The liner notes by writer John Morrison perfectly encapsulate the type of sonic trip you're in for: \"While the improvisational heights that Thysenterprise and crew reach throughout the album owe a debt to hardbop and the avant-garde, there are beats and textures here akin to the work of Karriem Riggins or A Tribe Called Quest. The result is a truly contemporary sound that plays freely within the depths of human feeling.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eEssential\u003c\/i\u003e is by far Thysenterprise's most personal album to date. From beginning to end, he pays a heartfelt tribute to his late father. The artist revisits and rearranges melodies from iconic jazz records that formed a profound connection between the two of them. Throughout the album, there are nods to songs that were essential for Reinier's musical upbringing. It shows that the saxophonist plays with heart and doesn't shy away from expressing grief and loss. Or as stated in the liner notes: \"We play for pleasure, we play to understand ourselves and the world around us, we play to celebrate and remember our loved ones.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Renowned Dutch alto saxophonist Benjamin Herman joins Thysenterprise for intimate call-and-response on \"Feedback of Silence.\" Next to that, Michael Moore graces \"Happiness Is a Memory\" with a heartfelt bass clarinet solo. Moore is part of the Han Bennink-founded ICP Orchestra. It's safe to say that Thysenterprise builds on that rich lineage of improvisation, playfulness, and distinct originality. On 'ESSENTIAL,' he takes that to new heights. The album comes beautifully packaged as a gatefold 2LP with vinyl-exclusive alternate takes on the D-side.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50402999271755,"sku":"2056888","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Thysenterprise_-_ESSENTIAL_Album_Cover_24015d60_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1726556826"},{"product_id":"soil-3","title":"Soil","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSoil \u003c\/i\u003eby Amsterdam-based producer and musician Jelee is heavily influenced by video game world-building. Like a beat alchemist, he carefully pours his love for beats into his lifelong passion for video game soundtracks. That far exceeds your typical 8-bits and bobs: \u003ci\u003eSoil\u003c\/i\u003e unfolds like a challenging adventure game, held together by a sonic palette of hip-hop-minded drum programming, jazz-inspired chords, and synthesized sounds.The album features tight-knit homegrown collaborations with jazz multi-instrumentalist Guido Hoek, rising deejay Jerrau, producer lofi prototype (“one of Amsterdam’s best-kept secrets when it comes to beatmaking,” says Jelee), deejay, producer, and keyboardist Mo Wrights, and singer Erosi. With influences ranging from Brainfeeder’s roster to Zelda games, Jelee presents a multifaceted take on music.Jelee’s music has been featured on compilations by Resilienza Records, Stamp The Wax, and Carista’s ‘Modern Intimacy Volume 1.’ Jelee is also known for his expressive live sets, such as the support act for Onra, Samiyam, and Salami Rose Joe Louis.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50424702533963,"sku":"2056248","price":20.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/3e90255f-9481-0017-17ab-e4cefa7aa442_f8c41e46_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726781626"},{"product_id":"the-overview-effect","title":"The Overview Effect","description":"\u003cp\u003eSometimes you need to look to the past as much as the future. With \u003ci\u003eThe Overview Effect\u003c\/i\u003e Jermiside and The Expert have created one of the most original hip-hop records in the last decade. The album is a vast musical collage of psychedelic soundscapes merged with hip hop’s golden age. A socially conscious psychedelic hip-hop album inspired by Marvin Gaye’s narrative on \u003ci\u003eWhat’s Going On\u003c\/i\u003e mixed with tripped-out beats reminiscent of Edan’s \u003ci\u003eBeauty \u0026amp; The Beat\u003c\/i\u003e. The production on \u003ci\u003eThe Overview Effect\u003c\/i\u003e takes on late-60s psychedelic folk\/rock, viewed through a 90s b-boy mentality of heavy drums and dope breaks. Built with a keen ear for detail, The Expert (Dublin, Ireland) densely layered his productions with tons of samples, seamlessly weaved together. Swirling strings, sitars, Moogs and crunchy guitars are all present, accompanied by trippy sound effects. “In terms of songwriting, very few songs on this record have a ‘classic song structure’,” says The Expert. “Key influences include bands like The Zombies, The Beach Boys, The Left Banke, and Love’s 1967 cult classic, Forever Changes.” The productions are also influenced by his long-time favorites including The Avalanches, RZA, Pete Rock, and Large Professor, as also shown on previous releases like The Expert’s ‘Excursions’ LP on Cold Busted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50469703156043,"sku":"1146291","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0b555cb7-56df-4bd9-a7a5-16b61ddec4d8_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727365935"},{"product_id":"ancient-methods","title":"Ancient Methods","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAncient Methods \u003c\/i\u003eis an album by Chicago-based producer Spectacular Diagnostics. A big bang of beatmaking matter: from cut-up jazz keys to distorted sci-fi movie dialogues. And from echoes of traditional Bollywood chants to three features by Billy Woods, Elucid and Nosaj who, in contrast, break down traditions to shape their own.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50502183420235,"sku":"1133283","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/c6735d34-8238-40bd-bafc-c7ad13d7c56f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727789156"},{"product_id":"raw-lessons","title":"Raw Lessons","description":"\u003cp\u003e There’s no room for chance in the beats of Spectacular Diagnostics. Every movie dialogue, every loop, and every tiniest of sample serves a clear purpose. Layers of sound unfold a new world to explore, carefully put together like an archeologist excavating old records - a theme more literally hinted at with the title of his previous album, ‘Ancient Methods.’ \u2028\u2028\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn \u003ci\u003eRaw Lessons,\u003c\/i\u003e that focused, detailed approach also shows in the rigorous selection of emcees the Chicago-based producer works with. The features are a snapshot of today’s supernova of an independent scene. From Wrecking Crew and Backwoodz affiliates Curly Castro and PremRock, to the distinct signatures of Fatboi Sharif and Bruiser Wolf. The UK is well represented with features by SonnyJim, King Kashmere, CLBRKS, Lee Scott \u0026amp; Bisk, and long-time collaborator Kid Acne. Two of the earliest Big Dada signees in the late-90s—Juice Aleem and Mike Ladd—close the album as two contemporaries who paved the way for much of the forward-thinking, free-form hip-hop of today on both sides of the pond. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I was trying to get the same level of intense detail you had on some of the early Blackalicious projects like ‘Nia’ and ‘Blazing Arrow’,” says Spectacular Diagnostics about his approach. “Very connected and mapped out; overall building another world on this record. When I was in the middle of that, it was feeling a bit overwhelming. But now that I’ve been able to take a step back from all the work, I think ‘Raw Lessons’ is a very cool, dense, layered project. I’m really happy with how it all turned out.” \u2028\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50505887613259,"sku":"2006568","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/SPECTACULAR_DIAGNOSTICS_-_RAW_LESSONS_-_RSRECS14_-_PACKSHOT_e06107b1_thumbna.jpg?v=1727817624"},{"product_id":"ritual-12","title":"Ritual","description":"\u003cp\u003eProducer The Expert fuses elements from jazz and 60s-era psychedelic music on \u003ci\u003eRitual\u003c\/i\u003e. Combine that with emcee Stik Figa at his most honest and personal, and you have the recipe for a must-cop. The tracklist already sets the tone for what to expect with guest spots by Blu, Solemn Brigham (of Marlowe), Defcee, Sleep Sinatra, Tanya Morgan, and Daniel Luke. Hip-hop heads who have heard last year’s psychedelic hip-hop opus ‘The Overview Effect’ by The Expert together with emcee Jermiside, already know they’re in for a trip. Stik Figa has a good ear for beats. His releases include early work with Oddisee, the collaborative album ‘The City Under The City’ with L’Orange, last year’s ‘Valley of Dry Bones’ with Griselda’s Conductor Williams, and several releases on Mello Music Group with production work by Apollo Brown, Black Milk, and Exile, among others. Now, with The Expert, Stik Figa finds himself in a sonic pastiche. Layers upon layers of Mellotron chords, vibraphone melodies, guitar stabs, and swirling strings tumble over each other. All for hard-hitting beats that defy the golden-era boom-bap rulebook. Stik Figa, on his turn, moves with ease from dead honest observations to showing lyrical dexterity and skill, to expressing inner struggles. All of that makes \u003ci\u003eRitual \u003c\/i\u003ea head-nodding, mind-blowing body of work. The way jazz influences collide with psychedelic production pushes both the Dublin, Ireland-based producer and the Topeka, Kansas native emcee into new hip-hop territory.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucksack Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50529891909963,"sku":"2021142","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/01-Ritual_front_d78e1689_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728067847"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_9a1b921f_thumbnail_4096_ec1ed960-148a-4b0a-87db-80c140b21c8f.jpg?v=1726525571","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/rucksack-records.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}