Mad Good Records

Independent record label established in 2022. Hip Hop, Underground Rap, Instrumental & Jazz. Specializing in limited edition Cassettes, CDs, Vinyl & Digital. Check us out at MadGoodRecords.com

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Keep It Rugged, the first official single from D.R.U.M.S. RUGGED's upcoming collaboration album with DJ Kawon ‪who handles the entire production. The album, Keep It Rugged will be available on limited edition Cassette and Digital Download via Mad Good Records in December.

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Today we had the pleasure of catching up with Mad Squirrel to talk a bit about his history in rap plus his new EP with Erik Solo!

Can you give a little history about your journey as an artist?I was out in the Bay Area doing my dissertation on underground hip hop and I was hanging out with The Latter—that is, Feller Quentin and Edison Victrola—when they talked me into recording some songs with them. I had written a few raps in high school and college. Next thing I knew, the Forest Fires Collective was born, which was pretty much me, them, and a few other folks who recorded at the house. Other opportunities to record and release music just followed from that. What was the spark that set off this project with Erik Solo? Did it come together organically, or was it a planned collab from the jump?Erik Solo and I have collaborated on a few things. We recorded “You Need to Grow Up” a few years ago. I think we just both found ourselves in a period where we were actively writing and recording—as you get older it’s more fits-and-starts. But I had these tracks. I invited him to get on them. It sounded dope. So we decided to make it a project.

Any plans to continue on with the collaboration after “Three Rap Songs?” We’ve done it before and I like what we’re doing. I’m going to keep recording music and I’m always down to record with artists and people I like. There’s no specific project in the works but I think it’s a pretty solid bet that you’ll hear more from us.

Any other projects in the works? I’ve got this underground tape that I recently put out there. I got an album I recorded back in 2021 with Blake Nine that I still need to get out. And Eddie Vic and I have a project called “Lodge Work.” Once all that’s done, I’ll get back in the lab writing and recording.

Big thanks to Mad Squirrel and shout out to Erik Solo! Be sure to check out their new EP titled "Three Rap Songs" out now on limited edition Cassette, CD and Digital Download via Mad Good Records

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The first collaboration project between Tre-Dot and DJ Kawon with their debut deluxe EP, Vinyl Tears. A soulful return to the essence. Every beat built from real vinyl records — the snap, the crackle, the warmth of analog sound that defined hip-hop’s foundation. This project embodies that raw, unfiltered energy… no shortcuts, no gimmicks, just pure emotion and storytelling. Vinyl Tears captures the feeling of needle-to-wax — that nostalgic hum that brings memories to life. It’s hip-hop in its truest form: lyrical, heartfelt, and rooted in the culture. Every record tells a story. Every track bleeds authenticity. Digital Download now available: madgoodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vinyl-tears Cassettes ship out next week. Thank you for the continued support!

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Isoneph's new album Alternate Rhythms is now available on limited edition cassette! Alternate Rhythms is the result of two years exploring stripped-down, minimalist forms, and focusing on bass, rhythm and space. While the concept of ‘beats’ is central, space and time play an equally important role, projecting the work onto a more experimental plane, where samplers and a mix of synthetic and electric bass form the foundation, and keys and synths cast a ‘dub shadow’ over a bed of beats and glitches. The work features two sides: Part One (‘Outset’), completed first and initially considered a standalone work, and Part Two (‘Transliteration’), which includes tracks begun concurrently or even earlier in time, but initially left unfinished. As part of a broader phase of introspection and reflection triggered by personal events, a re-evaluation of the tracks that comprise Part Two revealed similarities between the two sides, with an unexpected similarity in structure both at the track and side levels. It’s as if the two clusters of four tracks had developed along parallel time streams. Cassette and Digital Download now available: madgoodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/alternate-rhythms Thank you for the continued support!

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INTERVIEW: The BenchWarmers Clique

Today we caught up with Travisty the Lazy Emcee ‬ and Joka Wild of The BenchWarmers Clique ‪to discuss their recently released 10th Anniversary album The Ugly, now available on Mad Good Records.

Let’s start at the beginning — take us back to when The Ugly first dropped. What was the mindset and energy behind that project back then?

At the time we were just trying to make some dope music. We were coming off Adventures in 8 Bits which received mad love and we embraced that but didn't want to be pigeonholed as video game rappers. This project was more of a traditional sound.

Looking back now, 10 years later, how do you feel The Ugly holds up? Anything you would’ve done differently — or are you still proud of how it hit?

What crazy is The Ugly consisted of tracks that didn't make it on to a project called "Late Money", which was supposed to be our BIG project. Unfortunately, Late Money never was released... we hope to revive it and remaster it soon. Back to your question tho, yes I am still proud of this project and think it holds up today. Dope beats and rhymes will never expire; boom bap is timeless. Thinking back, I do wish we were more focused on the business side, but we had a fun ride, hindsight is always 20/20. Big shouts to all the emcees, producers, and homies involved in THE UGLY we are all The Bench.

Sonically and lyrically, The Ugly has a rawness to it — what were you drawing from creatively during that time?

We are fans of the culture; our lives and experiences influenced our music. Our love for the music with artists like Wu, MF Doom, Gang Starr, Busta & Flipmode, BCC, Blackstar, Mobb and MOP was the backdrop. Jewbei and 1914 brought the grit and soul and George Spits of LlamaBeats engineered this project to keep it raw. It was just a dope line up 

What do you hope new listeners take away from The Ugly today — especially those hearing it for the first time in 2025?First off, I hope they just simply dig the project. I hope they continue to listen and try to catch the complex simplicities throughout The UGLY. I hope this project can take them to a place where they can feel how they want. Put one to the sky, sit back and vibe out.

Can we expect any new music, shows, or projects coming off the back of this anniversary drop?We did just rock a quick set down in FL recently and hope to do more soon. I have been building we Joka and we have some things in the stash and hope to bring something out in 2026. Big shouts to all the listeners and keep it locked.

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Isoneph - Alternate Rhythms (PREVIEW)

Isoneph is an electronic music project started in 2011 by Mario Buoninfante, an Italian musician based in London, UK.

Over the years, the project has branched out into different directions, always maintaining its roots in beats, dub, and heavy bass music, while also exploring the more experimental corners of the electronic music world.

Alternate Rhythms is the result of two years exploring stripped-down, minimalist forms, and focusing on bass, rhythm and space. While the concept of ‘beats’ is central, space and time play an equally important role, projecting the work onto a more experimental plane, where samplers and a mix of synthetic and electric bass form the foundation, and keys and synths cast a ‘dub shadow’ over a bed of beats and glitches.

The work features two sides: Part One (‘Outset’), completed first and initially considered a standalone work, and Part Two (‘Transliteration’), which includes tracks begun concurrently or even earlier in time, but initially left unfinished. As part of a broader phase of introspection and reflection triggered by personal events, a re-evaluation of the tracks that comprise Part Two revealed similarities between the two sides, with an unexpected similarity in structure both at the track and side levels. It’s as if the two clusters of four tracks had developed along parallel time streams.

releases October 31, 2025 | MadGoodRecords.com

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Dr Butcher speaks on his friendship with Understanding and the making of From the Vault in this new interview:

Meeting & collaborating with Understanding? Dr Butcher: We met through the kinship of a mutual friend named Marc Thompson. He and I met at August Martin high school. Understanding met him while attending Kings College.

The making of From the Vault? Dr Butcher: Understanding would stop by the lab to record performance sets that he would utilize for talent shows or hip-hop gospel events. He firmly believed that my tracks gave him a street edge that was uncommon for that arena. The recording process was basic. Due to the fact that I only owned production gear at that time, the recordings were recorded to a cassette tape.

Plans for a full length back in the 90s? Dr Butcher: It was discussed on many occasions, but bad timing prevented us from doing so. The Vault sessions are all that exist from that era.

How does it feel to see From the Vault finally come out? Dr Butcher: The feeling is gratifying, to say the least. His joy and sense of accomplishment are a reminder that music is the only drug that elevates and inspires the soul.

Be sure to check out "From the Vault" by Understanding & Dr Butcher at MadGoodRecords.com

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PFM & Iron Ora "Pomegranate Sunset" ALBUM SAMPLER mixed by KEMS 2023 | Hoverock Music / Mad Good Records. CDs and Cassettes now available at MadGoodRecords.com