While You Were Sleeping: Top 10 Underground Hip-Hop Albums Of September 2013 (Part 1)

The onset of September signifies many things. The temperature steadily drops, the sun becomes scarcer, the seasons begin to change and with it all comes a brand new wave of independent and underground Rap releases to listen to. Which means picking the next 10 independent and underground Hip-Hop/Rap releases featured on this particular edition of “While You Were Sleeping.” 

Believe me, there was an abundance of music available to pick the best from these past two Tuesdays.

“While You Were Sleeping” exists to showcase quality indie and underground Hip-Hop/Rap releases that are regularly overlooked, under promoted or downright ignored by most supposed “Rap” or “Hip-Hop” sites. This is mostly attributed to a significant marketing and promotions budget at the disposal of the individual artists or their independent labels but much of it can be chalked up to general lack of interest on the part of mainstream Rap sites and publications because they don’t think independent or underground Rap deserves any attention because it isn’t “relevant” to them. I disagree. I maintain that excellence is always relevant. But I digress…

How this works is 10 indie/underground projects from the first two weeks of September appear in this installment and at the end of the month we post another 10 selections for a total of 20 albums a month. This week’s post features the return of the legendary DJ/producer/MC J-Zone, Exile, LMNO with Evidence, Planet Asia, Damu The Fudgemunk, Brother Ali with Jake One, German production supergroup Betty Ford Boys featuring Suff Daddy, Brenk Sinatra and Dexter, international producer Klaus Layer, YC The Cynic and more.

If you missed the previous eight full months of “While You Were Sleeping” you can just click here and feel free to revisit the previous WYWS installments at your own leisure. Now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way? Let’s get down to business.

Here’s what you all may have missed, while you were sleeping…

J-Zone – Peter Pan Syndrome (Old Maid Entertainment) 9.3/10.2013

Renowned producer/rapper J-Zone returns to the fold in grand fashion with his first new album in almost a decade called Peter Pan Syndrome.  This album is made specifically for oldheads in their mid to late 30’s that still pursue their dreams and passions rather than cave to the mounting pressure to “grow up” and enter the “real world”.  If you read J-Zone’s excellent book “Root For The Villain” then you have a fair idea of the various subjects he addressed in his album, dating in your 30’s, working a day job, race relations, gentrification and much more.

Every topic resulted in another song that was perfectly sequenced and made to attain the optimum listening experience within the flow of the album. You had the instrumentals placed in the perfect spots in the project as are the guest appearances from Al-Shid, Celph Titled, Has-Lo and Breeze Brewin. Even the Chief Chinchilla appearances help to push the album’s overall feel and pace. The final verdict? This is without question one of the best Hip-Hop albums of 2013. You can purchase Peter Pan Syndrome from iTunes, Amazon, UGHH or hit up J-Zone’s Bandcamp page to stream and cop it. Don’t sleep on it.

Damu The Fudgemunk – Spur Momento Trailer EP (Redefinition) 9.3.2013

Damu The Fudgemunk has been a staple of the underground Hip Hop scene for years as a member of Panacea and half of Y Society. He has racked up quite an impressive resume of releases to date released via Redefinition Records (Overtime, Spare Time, Supply For Demand & How It Should Sound Vols 1 & 2). His 100+ beat magnum opus Spur Momento looks like it will finally be released in 2014 but in the meantime Damu releases the Spur Momento Trailer EP to whet our appetities for the full project. Damu’s latest release is available for purchase via iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats & UGHH or you have the option of streaming it and purchasing it from Damu’s Bandcamp.

Exile – Zip Disks & Floppies (Dirty Science) 9.3.2013

Exile (Dirty Science, Radio & 4TRK Mind) is a world renowned master of the MPC 2000XL. If you’ve ever see his live show or heard his legendary back catalog of work as a part of Emanon or his production work for everyone from Blame One and Blu to Jurassic 5, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big Sean or Snoop Dogg then you’re already well aware of this fact. The thing is, Exile’s days of using the MPC2000XL are drawing to a close. Don’t be sad though as his loss is our collective gain and he decided to release an album consisting of 13 raw slaps he made and saved on his MPC over the years for our aural pleasure. You can pick up Zip Disks & Floppies via iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats & UGHH.

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Photo: J-Zone

Betty Ford Boys (Brenk Sinatra x Dexter x Suff Daddy) – Leaders Of The Brew School (Melting Pot Music) 8.30.2013/9.3.2013

German record label Melting Pot Music is the home of three of the foremost Hip Hop producers in the country. All three gained international recognition from their work on the critically acclaimed MPM Hi-Hat Club series of releases. Between Suff Daddy (EFIL4FFUS, The Gin Diaries, Suff Sells & Bricks & Mortar), Brenk Sinatra (Gumbo 2: Pretty Ugly & Supa Soul Sh*t) and Dexter (Hi-Hat Club Vol. 3: The Jazz Files & The Trip) they’ve all built up loyal followings leading up to the release their recent debut 10% Vol. EP as Betty Ford Boys then the album.

If you love dope beats and enjoy instrumental Hip-Hop then this jawn is a must have, no two ways about it. Leaders Of The Brew School can be copped from iTunes, Amazon, directly from Melting Pot Music or stream and purchase it directly from their Bandcamp page.

Klaus Layer – The Adventures Of Captain Crook (Redefinition) 8.27.2013/9.3.2013

Klaus Layer first came to my attention during my constant searching YouTube & Vimeo for beat videos to post on my site Producers I Know. I ended up subscribing to his YouTube channel and posting both his live beat demos and instrumental videos to my site and before long Redefinition Records announced they had signed him and his debut album was on the way. I’ve been waiting to hear this project for about a year and the wait was worth it.

Klaus Layer’s Jazz inspired soul infused beats make for great listening and there are features from Blu & ScienZe as well.  The Adventures Of Captain Crook can purchased from the following digital and physical music marketplaces: iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats, UGHH, directly from Redefinition Records or you can stream and purchase it from Bandcamp.

Brother Ali x Jake One – Left In The Deck (Rhymesayers Entertainment) 9.5.2013

In the process of creating Brother Ali’s excellent 2012 LP Mourning In America & Dreaming in Color there were several songs created that either didn’t fit the overall narrative of the album or were left unreleased. These 10 songs were then collected and packaged as the new collaborative project cleverly titled Left In The Deck. You can stream Left In The Deck right now from SoundCloud then receive the download link with the purchase of one of the Cassette t shirts featuring the cover art shown above from Fifth Element, Rhymesayers Entertainment’s music store. A dope Rap album and an ill T shirt for $19.99? Talk about bundling…

Jaisu – A Short Album (Astral Black) 9.9.2013

Jaisu first achieved fame on via his popular series of  YouTube beat tapes and later from his Bandcamp releases (Straight Out The MPC & 2 Stacks) and Soundcloud beats in addition to his production for Danny Brown, Sha Stimuli and Maffew Ragazino amongst others. Jaisu has since wiped his old SoundCloud & Bandcamp pages clean so if  you want to get down with his beats now this is the floor to get on the elevator. Jaisu’s slaps have had beatheads worldwide making the scrunchface since 2010 and here’s your opportunity to find out why. Jaisu’s long awaited new release A Short Album is now available for purchase from Bleep or you can stream and cop it directly from the Astral Black Bandcamp page.

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Planet Asia x Dirty Diggs – High End Cloths (Empire Distribution) 9.10.2013

West Coast veteran MC Planet Asia (The Last Opening, The Grand Opening, The Medicine, Pain Language, Black Belt Theatre, etc.) releases his first project since the well received and critically praised collaborative LP Abrasions with producer Gensu Dean from earlier this year (which was featured on WYWS), High End Cloths. 

This 10 track release is produced entirely by Gold Chain Military affiliate Dirty Diggs and has the sound and aesthetic we’ve all come to expect from Planet Asia and his cohorts in recent years. If you enjoyed the feel of the Gold Chain Military Chain Of Command album or the Durag Dynasty 360 Waves LP then you should also be feeling High End Cloths which can be acquired from fine musical (I almost wrote retail) outlets such as iTunes, Amazon & UGHH.

Various Artists – DEMOS: An Independent Artist’s Guide To Success OST (HipNOTT Records/Empire Distribution) 9.10.2013

Back in 2010, the documentary film “Demos: An Independent Artist’s Guide To Success” was initially announced as a creation of the head of HipNOTT Records in association with Velv Somersault. Here it is in 2013 and the release of the documentary and the soundtrack are both finally upon us and have both turned out to be more than worth the wait. The film’s soundtrack features music from  The Barrell Bros (Skyzoo & Torae), Tanya Morgan, Chaundon, Supastition, Rapper Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli, King Mez, El Prez, General Monks (Planet Asia & Triststate) and more.

In addition, the soundtrack features production from IMAKEMADBEATS, Trox, Kash, Kuddie Fresh, Dae One, THX, ArtOfficial and more. If you’re searching for a film about the independent music industry with an ill soundtrack featuring underground rappers and producers (and you really should be if you’re reading this) then you need this in your collections. Look for it on iTunes, Amazon & UGHH (CD + DVD). Get your learn AND your head nod on…

LMNO x Evidence – After The Fact (Up Above) 9.10.2013

LMNO (Leave My Name Out, Economic Food Chain Music, P’s & Q’s, Selective Hearing, James Kelly, Selective Hearing 2, Born Again, etc.)  has been an active MC for the past two decades and he’s a member of the crew Visionaries with numerous solo albums to his credit over the past decade and change. His first proper release of 2013 comes in the guise of his collaborative LP with Evidence (Dilated Peoples & Step Brothers) titled After The Fact.

LMNO is no stranger to making albums with the same producer as he’s done it successfully several times over in the past with notable producers such as Kev Brown, DJ Babu, Astronote, Dert, Mr. Brady, Theory Hazit, Georgia Anne Muldrow and others. The blend of LMNO’s bars over Evidence’s raw beats makes for another excellent LP from Up Above Records. After The Fact can be copped from iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats, UGHH & a special t shirt & CD bundle is available if you buy it directly from Up Above Records.

SLEPT ON BONUS PICK: YC The Cynic – GNK (YC The Cynic) 8.26.2013

Even though this feature is called While You Were Sleeping and I’m trusted to keep abreast of all the best of the latest independent and underground Hip Hop releases from time to time I overlook one or under/overshoot a release date. That is the case with YC The Cynic’s excellent self released LP GNK. I thought it was going to drop September 3rd when it actuality it hit iTunes and Amazon the previous Tuesday. Had I known? It would’ve made Part 2 of my August WYWS post a few weeks back. Since I don’t own a time machine this is the best I can do to rectify my oversight. This album is so good that I fully expect to see it in a gang of end of the year lists. GNK can currently be purchased from both iTunes and Amazon. Do me a favor and cop it.

EVEN MORE RAWNESS: Stainless Steele – Everything Is Sacred, Nothing Is Sacred (Bandcamp) 9.2.2013, Fitz Ambro$e x 0hbliv – Zen Vapors (Cascade) 9.3.2013 & B.O.M.B. (Oliver Sudden x Luca Brazi) – B.O.M.B. (Boom Bap Professionals) 9.6.2013

While You Were Sleeping will return in a few more weeks to showcase the rest of the best underground & independent Hip-Hop releases from September. Until then, this is Dart Adams saying “Don’t sleep”.