2Dope PremiereSongs

The Visionaries – “All Along” b/w Crown Royale – “Stratasphere” (prod. DJ Rhettmatic)

blame it on JES7 April 4, 2016
Visionaries-all-along

For nearly 20 years now, Los Angeles-based rap group The Visionaries have held down the California underground sound — releasing multiple acclaimed records, including 1997’s Galleries.

The faction, comprised of 2Mex, LMNO, Dannu, Keycool, Lord Zen and the Beat Junkie’s DJ Rhettmatic, have gone on to deliver four studio albums: the aforementioned Galleries, 1999’s Sophomore Jinx, Pangaea (2004) and We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For) (2005) — all through their storied label Up Above Records.

There was a brief, two year period back when I was a young, snot-nosed teenager where all I’d listen to was The Visionaries, the Living Legends, Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone, The Walkmen and Souls of Mischief. I was on my backpacker rap tip hard. So when the brother DJ Rhettmatic hit me up to ask if we’d be interested in premiering a new track from the legendary rap clique, I didn’t have to think twice.

Rhett is set to launch a brand new, limited edition 45 vinyl series which will “feature his own production work & with artists that he collaborated with; both new, old and unreleased.” Set to be released through Sound Junkies Recording, the first offering features The Visionaries’ “All Along” — the first from the group in years, and samples revered musician Adrian Younge.

Crown-Royale-stratasophere

The second single sees The Black Opera‘s Jamall Bufford and Rhett (of Crown Royale fame) “getting down on a spacey Boom Bap track” while the Beat Junkie turntablist/producer “lays down along with traditional scratch chorus hooks, on some dynamic duo DJ/MC steeze.” Listen to “Stratasphere” below.

Purchase the single on 7″ (45) via Fat Beats now, and keep it locked here for more from Rhett in the near future.