I don’t really recall what I was doing exactly when I happened to stumble on 90s Hip-Hop tribute site. You know those sites that post up, not only 90s boom bap, but memorabilia from T shirts,  caps, posters and CD liner notes. I’m more particular about liner notes to be honest, back then I loved going through the album credits, trying to find out who produced what, government names of who did that, shout outs and just about any extra info I can get my hands on.

  Besides the obvious labels that ran the 90s, Loud records for me provided that ultimate hip-hop high. They provided a solid platform for more than a handful of my fav acts from GZA, XZIBIT, Dead Prez, Mobb Deep, M.O.P, Cella Dwellas etc.  Loud records in particular had this style of making their liner notes unique, maybe not mind blowing but they had this weird in your face graphics, sometimes with a yellowish hue (check M.OP, dead Prez, Cella Dwellas albums) that always caught my eye. But anyways back to the music. The aforementioned Cella Dwellas were a duo (Phantasm and Ug) on Loud records in the 90s, their style for me is like a blend of early Heltah Skeltah and Lost Boyz. Topically Cella Dwellas surely differed from the groups I just mentioned and ultimately crafted a solid debut “Realms ‘N’ Reality” and a follow up “The Last shall be First” in 2000.

 Fast forward to today and Phantasm one half of the duo blesses us with a slick visual for his single “Louder Than Ever”. Times may have changed but somethings do stay the same as Phantasm effortlessly rides the banging backdrop provided  by German producers Soulbrotha. Phantasm mixes good ol braggadocio, wit and also bemoans the state of the rap game without sounding bitter but rather like a true OG who has paid his dues and is back to get more returns.

Hit the play button and get familiar with Phantasm.

The 7-inch vinyl single which also features the Brooklyn Remix as the B-Side, is now available worldwide through Ill Adrenaline Records, via Fat Beats. You can stream or purchase both versions through iTunes and all major digital retailers and streaming platforms, just be sure to bump it louder than ever!

Louder Than Ever (Digital Buy/Stream Links):

• iTunes: bit.ly/iTunesLouderThanEver

• Amazon: bit.ly/AmazonLouderThanEver

• Google Play: bit.ly/GooglePlayLouderThanEver

• Spotify: bit.ly/SpotifyLouderThanEver

• Tidal: bit.ly/TidalLouderThanEver

Louder Than Ever (7-Inch Vinyl Buy-Links):

• Fat Beats: bit.ly/LouderThanEverFatBeats
• UGHH: bit.ly/LouderThanEverUGHH

• HHV: bit.ly/LouderThanEverHHV
• Vinyl-Digital: bit.ly/LouderThanEverVinylDigital

Previous post

Supreme Flows and DeMaciiio rep Detroit in '?'

Next post

The Sons of Boombap Present . . . The Past is the Future