In a landscape increasingly dominated by commercial flash and nihilistic excess, Family Tapes is carving a lane of their own—rooted in intellect, resistance, and cultural restoration. Today on Music Crowns, we are proud to premiere the groundbreaking Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3—the latest installment in the revolutionary series by Family Tapes, stephenxjones, and Sun Cut Flat (aka Nico Beats), featuring powerful collaborations with Derek Cedar and Mistah Levy. Released via Symphonic Distribution, this 12-track opus is more than music—it’s a declaration.
Following the strong critical reception of the first two volumes, Vol. 3 doubles down on Family Tapes’ central mission: reclaiming hip-hop as a tool for intellectual discourse, cultural healing, and personal growth. Through a rich, conceptual framework involving chess, basketball, and sober living, the project makes a defiant statement in an era where artistry is too often overshadowed by algorithm.
Both stephenxjones and Derek Cedar teach chess in their communities (Atlanta and NYC respectively), and they use it here as a guiding metaphor. The 64-minute runtime mirrors the 64 squares on a chessboard, and the album unfolds like a basketball game in four quarters, three songs each—traversing a day in two cities, two lives, one movement.
But the soul of Vol. 3 lies in its conscious rejection of violence, misogyny, and drug glorification. Sobriety isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a spiritual and creative pillar. The group doesn’t preach—they practice. Through intricate lyrics and lush boom-bap jazz production, they offer clarity and vision in a genre often clouded by the opposite.
🔥 TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:
“Br@ve New W0rld”
The album opens with a dusty soul sample and raw lyrical content echoing early Kanye and Common. With Derek Cedar recounting being chased out of Dubai for defending LGBTQ rights mid-performance, this track sets the album’s tone: defiant, honest, and rooted in lived experience.
“Higher” (ft. Mistah Levy)
Pulsing bass, meditative energy, and razor-sharp lyrics explore masculinity and growth. Think Nas meets Radiohead, with a twist of jazz-fusion consciousness.
“Dearly Beloved”
A tearjerker for anyone who’s lost a matriarch. Jazz keys and J Dilla-inspired grooves provide a poignant canvas for reflections on generational wisdom and grief.
“Azzi Fudd”
Named after the UConn star from the 2025 Women’s National Championship, this track interweaves sports, Black excellence, and systemic critique with a cypher-ready cadence.
“Just Think (Outwardly)”
A masterclass in intellectual boom-bap. Historical and philosophical references from Ishmael to Guns, Germs, and Steel power a track that challenges listeners to actually think—outwardly.
“Glaciers”
Perhaps the most cinematic moment on the record. Inspired by classical music, Nico’s production feels like boom-bap symphony. The lyrical theme? Mastery takes time, sweat, and sacrifice.
“Aquarium NYC”
Closing the album with grace, this track meditates on gentrification, jazz heritage, and the Black experience in a changing New York. An emotional and musical crescendo that sticks with you long after the final note.
If you miss the golden era of Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Black Star, Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3 is the spiritual successor you’ve been waiting for—but it’s not a copy. This is backpack rap for the now, elevated by academic insight, street knowledge, and lived authenticity. stephenxjones and Derek Cedar met while studying in Boston, and their work seamlessly bridges the classroom and the corner.
Through Family Tapes, stephenxjones and Sun Cut Flat (Nick) have created a fully independent, artist-owned platform. With each volume, they push forward not just music, but a movement. Vol. 3 is proof that hip-hop doesn’t have to choose between art and activism, or bars and balance.
At Music Crowns, we celebrate those who challenge the status quo and make space for stories that matter. Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3 is exactly that—a blueprint for what independent, responsible, and radically creative hip-hop can sound like in 2025.
This isn’t nostalgia. It’s evolution.
Stream Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3 now—available on all platforms via Symphonic Distribution, and keep your ears on Family Tapes. They’re not just preserving the culture. They’re reimagining it.
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