Hydra: Underground's Finest

Hydra: Underground's Finest is an aural history of Queens, NY-based underground hip hop label Hydra Entertainment's 12 output from 1995 through 2005, selected and presented by DJ Koco, one of Tokyo's premier hip hop DJs. Hydra was a powerhouse in it's day, holding it's own with other mid-1990s independent labels Rawkus, Fondle 'Em, Eastern Conference, Game, Landspeed, Fat Beats, and D.I.T.C. An integral part of the East Coast underground hip hop movement from 1995 through 2005, Hydra is world renowned for sought-after singles by major label-affiliated artists Mobb Deep (Loud/Sony), Screwball (Tommy Boy), Cormega (Def Jam), and The Beatnuts (Relativity), as well as the top tier of a burgeoning independent movement - The High & Mighty, Godfather Don, Nick Wiz, and Ghetto Professionals - and was the launching point for a string of A-list producers; A Kid Called Roots, Alchemist, E-Boogie, Mike Heron, EZ Elpee, Ayatollah, and DJ Fusion are just some of the producers who had their debut or nearly-debut credit on a Hydra single. This is the first CD release for most of these tracks, which were taken from vinyl and skillfully sequenced and mixed by Japan's DJ Koco (Donuts Record), who's as well known for his deep underground hip hop knowledge as he is for his battle, beat-juggling, and scratching skills. DJ Koco has a handful of critically-praised mixes circulating, and is in demand as an opener for Japanese dates for US hip hop acts. Includes tracks by Mobb Deep, Kamakazee, Screwball, The Unsociables, A Kid Called Roots, The High & Mighty, Slade Savage, E-Boogie, Godfather Don, Dennis Kellman, Mike Heron, Hostyle, K. Fanat, The Beatnuts, Nick Wiz, Big Meal, DJ Fusion, Powerule, Ghetto Professionals; appearances from Cormega, Kamakazee, MC Shan, Prince A.D., Offdamental, and Quik; and productions by Marley Marl, Pete Rock, The Unsociables, A Kid Called Roots, Alchemist, Bezo, E-Boogie, Godfather Don, Mike Heron, EZ Elpee, Ayatollah, The Beatnuts, Nick Wiz, V.I.C., and DJ Fusion.