Underground Fossils is run by Dimxsk and often by Trylemma, who is on a hip hop spiritual journey in the Himalayas and may not be back for a bit. Posts are every Friday, usually some quality old sh*t but sometimes promotional posts or "reviews". We do all we can to make sure we don't post stuff that (1) You can still reasonably buy from the artist directly, (2) You can reasonably buy secondhand for cheap, (3) You can download easily elsewhere, (4) The artist(s) asks us not to for any reason. Rips will include our own personal rips, old scene rips, and random web rips.

Friday, December 31, 2021

Jonwayne - 404 Trilogy (2009)

 


Final post of 2021 in the form of Jonwayne's 404 Trilogy from 2009! 

A buddy recently asked me to hook him up with Jonwayne's three 404 mixtapes, so I figured I'd post them here as well. "404 Blueberries," 404 Rawberries," and "404 Madness" were all released in 2009 via blogs and forums. They're comprised of beats that Jonwayne made on the SP-404. Over the years, as Jonwayne has continued to build a name for himself, these ones have sort of fallen by the wayside. So get em now - all in one link!

404


Oh yeah, some may not know that Jonwayne was a lesser known Project Blowedian. Peep a young Jonwayne trying to get on the mic at the Blowed during an Otherwize and Flako7 freestyle (with Dibiase on the beats) lol!



Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Trylemma's Top 25 Projects of 2021!

 


With another year nearly in the books, here's my Top 25 Projects of 2021. Did you miss any? 


25. Chadio & The Dirty Sample - No Wives Club

24. Claud Six - Pantry

23. Illogic & Odd Nosdam - Right the Ship

22. 2Mex - Ghostwriting Songs for God

21. AllCityJimmy - 1/2 Child 1/2 Devil

20. RAP Ferreira - The Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures

19. Mestizo - IIWII

18. Jeff Spec & Birdapres - Illustration

17. Evil Ebenezer - Evil Thoughts Good Intentions

16. Shad - Tao

15. Milc & Calvin Valentine - Tiger Milc

14. RAP Ferreira - Bob's Son

13. Cleen - Lancaster Drive In

12. Baby E & Ouija Macc - We Never Forgot

11. Gift of Gab - Finding Inspiration Somehow 

10. R4PC4MP, Dug & Happy Tooth - Just Outside America's Test Market

9. Toussaint Morrison - Social Science Club

8. Dark Time Sunshine - LORE

7. Death Dealers Anonymous - Raised In The Rubble

6. Juice Wrld - Fighting Demons

5. Ceschi - This Guitar Was Stolen Along With Years Of Our Lives

4. Lil Lotus - Error Boy

3. Kanye West - Donda

2. Year Of The Ox - Year Of The Ox

1. Deadpan Darling - Deadpan Darling

Friday, December 24, 2021

Graves 33 - The Cost of Living in Section Hate (2011)

 


 

I was just talking to someone about Graves 33 and realized that this album is pretty much the ideal fossil for a Friday, especially a Friday holiday (happy holidays all!). In my humble opinion Graves 33 epitomizes everything great about the indie rap scene. He's amazingly talented both on the mic and behind the boards. He's a true artist who is just addicted to creating not just music but visual art as well, and he is highly conscious of his platform, always respecting his audience and doing his best to do good (this is pretty damn cool right here) while keeping his subject matter interesting, intelligent and dope as hell. It may be noted right here that I think he's one of the most talented folks working in the indie rap game at the moment. One man's opinion.

The Cost of Living in Section Hate, as mentioned on Trylemma's Cost of Living post is a bit of a compilation consisting of that album and Section Hate (lol no way), spruced up (basically remixed almost entirely, I have Cost of Living and most of Section Hate (but not all, if anyone has a full length rip of this PLEASE please hit us up lol) and I can tell you this album contains mostly unheard material. The production here is top notch, with some beautiful guitar work by Graves' father Randy Hansen and the rapping is confident and fresh with conscious topics and a laid back cool that is Graves' trademark.

Enjoy The Cost of Living in Section Hate!


DOWNLOAD



Tuesday, December 21, 2021

New Music: Jack Vaul - A Long Where Away

 


 

I had the good fortune to hear this little gem very recently, Mr. Vaul (of Adelaide, AU. Amusingly I neglected to mention much background when I originally posted this lol) was kind enough to drop it to us and I happily accepted the chance to do a post about it. My only other experience with Jack was through his work with Thorts as Thorts & Prayerz which is an amusing but ultimately dope little EP they did together. This is very much a different beast.

A Long Where Away is dark, hard hitting and heavy. Production tends towards melodic, brooding guitar driven dreariness with some moments of beauty, in many cases brought to you by vocalist rainforestcloudmachine like on the jaw dropping album closer "Castles", a meditation on isolation and loneliness which lyrically wouldn't be out of place on Pink Floyd's The Wall.

This seven track EP features a bit of everything for the modern indie rap consumer. Jack can certainly rip shit up crazy like on "Goldfishing" but his storytelling lyricism is notable as well, especially in places like the aforementioned "Castles" and in epic fantasy novel masquerading as hip hop track opener "The Notlands". Add to that some emotional awareness and mix all that up with a clear nice guy personality (he really wants us to get along as he states on "Snapcrackle"), some seriously banging production and catchy melodies and you have a very dope, very enjoyable album.

I'm pretty enthusiastic about dude. To be fair I haven't heard much. But I'm very intrigued. I would say if you're feeling nostalgic for those Sage Francis days and missing Cubbiebear then you're going to like A Long Where Away. And like I said Jack Vaul is super cool so he definitely deserves your ears and support!

Also, this is his first foray into physical albums, and El Gran E Records out of Texas is offering copies for those of you in the USA. Congratulations to him, that's totally awesome. All the rest check out his Bandcamp here, where he's got lots of free stuff as well for those of us who are apparently not getting a Christmas bonus this year and really not happy about it.



Friday, December 17, 2021

Trylemma's Holly Jolly Christmas Mixtape V.2!

 


And once again, here is the fully revamped "Trylemma's Holly Jolly Christmas Mixtape V.2!" 28 Holiday Bangers to get you through the cold! 

TRACKLIST:

1. Buck 65 - The Night Before Christmas

2. Random - Christmas Is Comin'

3. Murs - Christmas Rules Everything Around Me

4. Planet Asia, TriState & Blu - Everyday Is Christmas

5. NutCracker - F.D.O.G., Tabb Doe, P.W. Esquire, B-Line & Equipto

6. Sahtyre - Home For The Holidays

7. Theory Hazit - Homeless On Christmas

8. Wool See - Merry Merry Vibes

9. Ras Kass - Jack Frost II

10. Jonwayne - Sticky Bandits

11. Macklemore - It's Christmas Time

12. Circus & Gangstahz For Gawd - Black Santa

13. Gregory Pepper - White Gold

14. Wordburglar - My Christmas Catalogue Number

15. Geniusis - Little Drummer Boy

16. Mark Reveley - Charlie Brown's Weird Christmas

17. Moka Only & Psy - Wonder Winterland

18. Earl Sweatshirt & Tyler The Creator - Fuck This Christmas

19. Jesse Dangerously & MC Lars - Swag Nog

20. Boac - Santa Claws Is Coming

21. Teenburger - White Christmas

22. Lucas Dix - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

23. Lil B - King On Xmas Eve

24. Noah23 - Wisemen

25. Bop Alloy - Our Message

26. Jolly Ol' Saint Ricc - Santa

27. D-Sisive - Here Comes Santa Claus

28. Born Allah - Mama Wasn't Kissing Santa


DOWNLOAD

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

New Music: WD4D - The Wrap Vol. 2

 

Today's new one comes via WD4D and his new EP, "The Wrap Vol. 2!" 

Most of you probably know WD4D best for his time in the West Coast underground in the late 90s/early 2000s, putting out songs with the likes of Awol One, Matre, Bukue One, Maleko, Existereo and more. You might not know, however, that he's still at it - nowadays focusing mainly on purely instrumental music.

"The Wrap Vol. 2" is the second installment in WD4D's Christmas series, quickly constructed Christmas instrumentals to fit the season. For those in need of some cheer this season, check it out!


The Wrap Vol. 2

Friday, December 10, 2021

Livestock - For My Man Sittin' on a Boat (2008)

 


 

What can I say about Livestock...

I'm waiting. Yes I was actually asking you. Fine whatever. I'll say that it's rare that a rapper can both come across as the weirdest member of the Plague Language Fam (oh yeah besides The Main... that guy and his clams..), and a family man who can write songs that will have you sobbing hysterically ("Wider Circles" is seriously beautiful.)

For My Man Sittin' in a Boat is to my knowledge a bit of a farewell to the rap scene. Livestock dropped some leftovers and quit the game to focus on family. Good for him. It's a great selection of songs with features from Baracuda, The Main and Koko Bonaparte. Good stuff.

Enjoy!


DOWNLOAD

 


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Sankofa - Music With Friends (2008)




Got my booster a few days ago and I'm still thinking I'm not feeling so hot from it. My shoulder still hurts which is weird because I got it Thursday night but whatever. I'd rather have a sore arm than a shiny new headstone saying "Death by Stubborn Refusal to Face Reality".

That said, I'm just gonna do something everyone usually likes and offer up some free music. I have a few reviews in the pipeline and I haven't forgotten about you guys but given it's the silly season let's just put our feet up for a bit. Anyway Sankofa is a talented and seriously chill individual from Fort Wayne, Indiana that's been about it since a lot of us probably hadn't been born yet. Music With Friends is a collection of three little EP's he made with a bunch of different producers and put out for a bit before disappearing it. I REALLY like this one though and don't want to see it gone so here.

Kofa if you don't want this shared let us know, I'd be happy to take it down. But my man your old shit is amazing and for those of you who aren't familiar, his new shit is great also.

For tongue twisting conscious lyricism from a dude who looks like Santa Clause, enjoy Music With Friends.

 

DOWNLOAD

 

 

Friday, December 3, 2021

VA - Reigncraft Volume 4: The Labor (2004)


Reigncraft was a compilation series spearheaded by Seattle producer KNDNM. The series was supposed to have acted a business-card of such for Seattle (and surrounding NW area) rappers, producers, and recording studios. They were supposed to have dropped once per season, but we had to settle for one per year up until the final volume (Volume 8.)

Today's upload is one of my favorites, "Volume 4: The Labor." One of the great things about the compilation was that is showcased various sounds from throughout Seattle. This volume is heavy on the G-Funk sound, but it has some serious bangers in that sub-genre. Cyphalliance, Bad Luk, Unexpected Arrival, D-Sane, Byrdie, and many others stop by.

Peep it below (FTD Scene rip)! 


Reigncraft Volume 4: The Labor