Rap & Hip-Hop Pre-orders

Hip Hop Vinyl Pre-orders: New Rap Albums, Reissues and French Rap

Why pre-order hip hop on vinyl?

Hip hop vinyl pre-orders let you reserve an album before release, usually when the choice of editions is widest. Rap releases often come in several variants: black vinyl, color, alternate covers, an OBI strip, sometimes a signed version. Limited runs sell quickly and are not always repressed. Ordering early lets you pick your version and compare offers from partner stores.

The current lineup covers both sides of the Atlantic. On the US side there are JPEGMAFIA, Maxo Kream and Chuck Strangers. On the French side there are Passi, a former member of Ministère A.M.E.R., plus Josman and Ziak, from one of the biggest rap scenes in Europe. Vinyl is hip hop's original format, the medium of DJs and sampling, and for many fans it is still the natural way to hear a rap album.

Rap reissues: classics back on wax

A good share of rap pre-orders are reissues of classic albums. Many records from the '90s and 2000s had small vinyl runs at the time, and original copies now sell for high prices. Nas' "Illmatic," released in 1994, is a prime example of an album whose reissues collectors watch for. Check the product page to see whether it is a remaster, an expanded edition or simply a new pressing.

• Single or double LP: long albums sound better spread over two discs
• Instrumentals or bonus tracks included or not
• Color variant exclusive to one store
• Original or redesigned cover
• An official edition rather than an unlicensed pressing

Hip hop labels active on vinyl

In the US, independent labels such as Stones Throw, Rhymesayers and Mello Music Group regularly release their albums on vinyl, often with limited variants. Majors like Def Jam regularly reissue their catalog around anniversaries. On the French side, more and more rap albums now come out on vinyl, sometimes in several editions from the pre-order stage.

One caution: rap is a genre where unofficial pressings circulate, especially for albums that never came out on vinyl. An official edition, released by the label or under license, means a proper source and royalties for the artists. When in doubt, go by the store's product page and the label it names.

Comparing hip hop pre-order prices

The same rap pre-order can be priced differently depending on the store and the edition. On Vinyles.com, each product page lists the offers available from partner stores, so you can compare the exact edition before ordering from the store you choose. Release dates are estimates: delays of a few weeks are common in vinyl and do not mean the release is canceled.