Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3

Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3 is a bold and expansive return from Family Tapes, stephenxjones, and Sun Cut Flat, with featured contributions by Derek Cedar and Mistah Levy. Clocking in at 64 minutes and structured like a four-quarter basketball game, this twelve-track opus bridges the soulful roots of boom-bap with a future-facing, intellectually charged vision for hip-hop. Set against a backdrop of chess metaphors and cityscapes from NYC to Atlanta, the album’s thoughtful structure and thematic ambition make it both a personal statement and a cultural manifesto. It's a dynamic journey through a day in the life and mind of two cities deeply tied to the genre's evolution.

At its heart, Vol. 3 is a powerful meditation on masculinity, sobriety, and self-actualisation. Tracks like “Higher” and “Just Think (Outwardly)” dive headfirst into philosophical inquiry and emotional reflection, offering an alternative to the nihilism often found in mainstream rap. The production is warm, textured, and unflinchingly nostalgic, drawing from jazz, classical, and soul while keeping its pulse firmly in the boom-bap tradition. The chemistry between stephenxjones and Derek Cedar is undeniable, their verses often blending high-level wordplay with grounded storytelling. Meanwhile, Sun Cut Flat’s Nico Beats laces every track with a sonic palette that’s simultaneously vintage and forward-thinking.

What makes Hip Hop Sovereignty, Vol. 3 essential is not just its skilful execution, but its uncompromising moral and creative stance. This isn’t rap for clout, it’s hip-hop as cultural reclamation. From “Azzi Fudd’s” celebration of women in sport to the emotionally resonant “Dearly Beloved,” the album stays committed to building community through art. It’s a love letter to old heads and young thinkers alike, drawing a direct line between lyrical excellence, social consciousness, and personal growth. In a landscape crowded by noise, Vol. 3 offers clarity, conviction, and something even rarer: purpose.