On November 5th, 1996, Beat Factory released the seminal hip-hop compilation, “Rap Essentials Volume One”. Featuring such Canadian heavyweights as Kardinal Offishall, Choclair and Rascalz, the album is also well-known for having launched the career of Toronto lyricist, Dan-e-o, through its inclusion of his now-classic single, “Dear Hip Hop”.
An EP of the same name was scheduled to drop the following year, but never surfaced. Eventually becoming available through a couple of different incarnations following the turn of the century, the “Dear Hip Hop” project never enjoyed an official retail release.
Until now……
On November 16th, 2014 – 20 years after the song was written – “Dear Hip Hop” will finally be released as a full-length vinyl LP courtesy of Sergent Records. Known for its vinyl-only releases of projects by respected hip-hop greats including 1st Down (Phat Kat & J Dilla), Kazi & Madlib and Rampage The Last Boyscout, the France-based label will present Dan-e-o’s 10-track “Dear Hip Hop” album in all its glory – as it was intended nearly two decades ago.
The “Dear Hip Hop” album consists of a teenaged Dan-e-o’s mid-90s recordings and includes two never-available or heard-before versions of “Dear Hip Hop” – “Dear Hip Hop (The 2nd Letter)” featuring Choclair, Frankenstein & Grimace Love and “Dear Hip Hop (Remix)” produced by Korry Deez.
Pre-orders for the limited edition “Dear Hip Hop” LP are available through Sergent Records now:
http://sergentrecords.bigcartel.com/product/sr-109-dan-e-o-dear-hip-hop-unreleased-lp
Listen to a sampler of the “Dear Hip Hop” LP on SoundCloud:
Dan-e-o’s new album “Inevitable” is out now!
BANDCAMP | http://urbnet.bandcamp.com/album/inevitable
ITUNES | https://itunes.apple.com/album/inevitable/id733658982
hiphoplifeandtimes 