Melbourne's much loved underground hip-hop dup return with an enormous double LP offering, stacked with features from the finest Australian talent including Tiana Khasi, Krown, Izy, Nelson Dialect & more. Australian hip-hop/neo soul duo SO. Crates are a boom-bap prayer sent live and direct from the heart of two of the culture's most committed students. The group features Melbourne based beatmaker and DJ Skomes alongside California-via-Adelaide MC & poet Cazeaux O. S. L. O, not to mention the MUSE, a forever changing third party who completes the creative trinity of the Crates. With a legacy built on releasing a steady flow of cold-crush records and delivering uplifting live performances to the party people, SO. Crates prove that hip-hop's golden era is not a lost date in time, but a foundational state of mind. Functioning as a considered preview of what to expect from the album to follow, the hypnotic first release 'Stars' is an auditory exploration of what happens when two opposing charges collide; the joyful and the melancholy. Here, layers of instrumentation, samples and vocals sit atop a foundation of grounding beats - the track's roots from which piano samples, live trumpet and vocal embellishments spring. "When Skomes gets in his stride, it's always a bit of a happy/sad feeling. It can go either way, like a mood ring," says Cazeaux O. S. L. O. "I guess you could say we make mood ring beats, and 'Stars' is no exception. "
Release date:
June 24, 2022
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Jimmy Barnes Defiant (Red & Black Marble)
Mushroom Records
June 13, 2025 -
Ryan Amon Diablo IV Original Soundtrack [4xLP]
Iam8Bit
May 23, 2025 -
Baest Colossal
Century Media
August 15, 2025 -
Paralyzed Rumble & Roar
Ripple Music
May 9, 2025 -
Kaonashi I Want To Go Home
Equal Vision Records
June 6, 2025 -
James Live At The Acropolis
Townsend Import
May 9, 2025 -
Vindicator Communal Decay
Nltm Records
May 30, 2025 -
PUP Who Will Look After The Dogs? (Black Smoke/Pink/Purple Splatter)
Rise Records
May 2, 2025 -
Coil vs Elph Born Again Pagan (Extended; 30Th Anniversary) [3xLP]
Infinite Fog
May 16, 2025 -
California Irish The Mountains Are My Friends
7Hz Productions
June 27, 2025 -
Kat Hasty Time of Your Life
Jackie Java
May 16, 2025 -
Twistettes Red Door Open
Last Night Glasgow
May 9, 2025 -
Samantha Crain Gumshoe (Red)
Real Kind
May 2, 2025 -
Sleeper's Bell Clover
Fire Talk Records
June 13, 2025