Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3, the latest release from Family Tapes, stephenxjones, and Sun Cut Flat, is a philosophical stance wrapped in rhythm and rhyme. With 12 tracks, this 64-minute journey invites listeners to engage with hip-hop on a more conscious level.
The album weaves together metaphors of chess and basketball to represent strategy, intellect, and structure. Each song is a piece in a larger whole—three per “quarter,” moving from morning to night, across the urban landscapes of NYC and Atlanta. The result? A compelling narrative arc that speaks to growth, resilience, and clarity.
Refusing to glorify violence or substance abuse, the project opts for vulnerability, critical reflection, and emotional maturity. The boom bap beats, melodic instrumentation, and occasional scratches serve as sonic anchors, grounding each track in hip-hop’s rich tradition while pushing boundaries.
It’s a record that’s both radical and rooted, and one that deserves a place in any serious listener’s library.
