Author: Justin Patrick Moore

Ben Pedroche :: Independent As F***: Underground Hip-Hop From 1995-2005 (Velocity Press)

Hip-hop was never my main musical obsession, but it pulsed through the background of my youth—skate sessions, cheap forties, porch-side blunts—quietly shaping the soundtrack of growing up. Ben Pedroche’s Independent as F*** a vibrant history of indie rap from 1995–2005, taps straight into that world, revealing how artists built their own freedom and infrastructure far from the grip of major labels.

Alessandro “Asso” Stefana :: Self-Titled (Ipecac)

As the crisp Autumn air settles over the Ohio Valley, Alessandro “Asso” Stefana’s self-titled new album on Ipecac perfectly captures the season’s shifting moods with its experimental, folk-infused soundscapes. Blending minimalist arrangements, evocative Americana, and haunting archival vocals from Roscoe Holcomb, this record weaves a deeply emotional journey that feels both timeless and vividly rooted in place.