Hi all,

I'm looking for recommendations on some good albums from the def jux label.

I've been following hip-hop since the mid 80's but have recently lost interest due to most of the new artists not catching my interest. However after hearing some tracks from various def jux artists, I'm interested in picking up some of their albums.

A local record shop has them on vinyl but they are 25 bucks a pop so I want to get the best ones. Some of the records they have include: aesop rock, madvillain, a bunch mf doom, rjd2, etc.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

$25 each?! Wow! Anyway, I've only heard a handful of the stuff that they've put out. What I have (and really like):

Murs - "The End of the Beginning" (EXCELLENT)
RJD2 - "Dead Ringer" (probably my favorite of his), "The Horror EP," "Since We Last Spoke"

Over at HipHopSite.com, they have a promotion where if you buy the new El-P album you also get an autographed poster and Def Jux DVD.

Murs, Murs 3:16, the Ninth Edition
RJD2, Since We Last Spoke
Cannibal Ox, the Cold Vein
Mr Lif, I Phantom

I'd look for those in that order.

The Madvillian and MF Doom stuff isn't on Def Jux. Madvilliany was released by Stones Throw and the other Doom albums were handled by Sound-Ink, Fondle Em, High Times, Insomniac, and Ninja Tune (maybe a couple others I'm forgetting). So, if yr looking for Def Jux merch exclusively, I'd skip those releases. Otherwise, buy 'em up!

[smacks head] I can't believe I left that out. That's even better than his previous CD.

Aesop Rock - Anything, really.
C-Rayz Walz - Ravipops

Dogg Pound - Dogg Food

Yeah, I know, it isn't def jux, but essential nonetheless.

Buy Every Aesop Rock album you can. I also recommend Cannibal Ox and RJD2. If you haven't already, check out Rhymesayers record label also. Atmosphere, Eyedea & Abilities, etc..