5 Albums I forgot I owned

So I sometimes forget that I own albums, they get lost in the rotation of my Iriver or I purchase them at the same time as another album which gets more spins, so I forget about some great music that's in my collection. But I just reloaded my whole Iriver with new stuff, and so I ran through my CD's to make sure I didn't miss anything, and came across some gold that I had totally forgot about.
Here's a bit of info on these dope pieces, and then there's a D/L of a selection of tracks from each album for you sampling pleasure.
Enjoy kids!

1. Bombay The Hard Way: Guns, Cars And Sitars
This sweet mash-upesque album features the music of Indian composers Anandji and Kalyanji, who composed and conducted music for the "Brownsploitation" films from 60s and '70s Bollywood.
Every track on this record sounds as though it's straight out of a 70's blaxploitation flick, but with an Indian twist to it like a jammin' sitar lick instead of wah-wah guitar.
This funky joint is the work of Dan The Automator, (Dr. Octagon, Handsome Boy Modeling School) with additional beats credit going to Josh Davis, better know as (say it with me now....) DJ Shadow. Some tracks play to the hip-hop influences of the producers, with the boom and the bap emphasized and laid out over sitar loops, flute solos and heavy string and moog accompaniment. Other tunes on the record hold truer to their original forms, with emphasis on composition and instrumentation.
Super funky, and well worth hunting out.

2. Oh No - Exodus into Unheard Rhythms

Exodus is a production project based on the catalog of Galt MacDermot (most famously known for being the man behind the musical Hair). Eothen Alapatt (Stones Throw General Manager) is the connection between Oh No and the man behind the music from Hair. Dating back to his college radio show at Vanderbilt University, Eothen has made a habit of digging up long-forgotten music legends, and he continues to do so at Stones Throw.
Galt's work has proved familiar sampling ground for Stones Throw's artists since Eothen's arrival at the label. But while the original connection isn't his, Oh No's sheer enthusiasm is the catalyst behind this record.
The original idea was to have Oh No make a couple tracks based on Galt's work. He came back with a couple dozen, and the result was a dope ass album with tight beats and great rhymes from a laundry list of M.C's.

3. Ahmad - Self Titled

An excellent lyricist with a smooth voice and great flow, Ahmad (who was only 18 when he made his debut album) delivers an upbeat, laid-back album with classic 90's beats. I can listen to this album any time, but it's super cool for a warm evening on the porch with a few cold ones. Back in The Day remains a stone cold Hip Hop classic, even 15 years after its release.

4. Ivens - Sounds To Expire To

Melbourne’s Awakenings crew has never made conformist hip-hop. In fact there releases are about as far from the stereotypical Triple J Aussie sound as you can get, and this album is no different.
Ivens has been working hard behind the scenes in Melbourne for some time now. A founding member of the Awakenings crew, he locked himself away for twelve months with production whizkid Plutonic Lab, and Sounds To Expire To is the result.
Each and every time Plutonic Lab steps into a studio he (IMO) excels himself. on Sounds to Expire to, he has orchestrated some bizarre futuristic movie soundtrack, haunting and melodic while also dark and moody. A lot like the first two Aesop Rock albums, with Blockheads minimalist style but a less grimey flavour.
Ivens lyrics are very Aesop-esque as well, with some crazy imagery and clever word play making repeat listens a must.

5. Lewis Parker - Masquerades and Silhoutettes
Lewis Parker is seen as the cream of the crop when it comes to a lot of things. Producer-MC's, British Producers, Sample Based Producers, he pretty much reigns supreme over all these catalogues, and this is (mainly) because of this album. Super short (only 8 tracks) but super dope, it pretty much put Britain on the Hip Hop map, as noone could discount this album as a classic. Atmospheric beats and strangly imaginative lyrics make this an album that will stay on high rotation from now on for me.
Well worth hunting out, if anyone ever sees it on Vinyl buy it immediately and i'll buy it off you the same day.
Well, enjoy the sampler kids, remember to support the artists.
Peace

5 Albums I Forgot About Sampler Download