New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of “Don’t Need Gimmicks” by New York State rapper and producer duo Tone Chop & Frost Gamble. This is a special single edition of the original track which appears on their album ‘Beautiful Foundations’, released on May 15th.
Subsequently the pair premiered a new filmed documentary about their three decades working together, very much in keeping with the celebratory theme of the album itself, and held a launch event in their home town Binghamton at the end of May.
For this latest soundclash of bangin’ grimy beats and turntablism, Frost lets Pa Pa Fresh loose on the cuts, while Chop loads the verbal chambers alongside Brooklyn’s The Bad Seed . In with both barrels, an onslaught of punchline bars and precision flows land heavily on their targets with no quarter given. With the swagger of seasoned vets, an uncompromising display of robust rhymes hit hard in a barrage of blows. Smoke cleared and cartridges spent, they leave the scene with all the bragging rights.
Available on all digital platforms including APPLE MUSIC, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY
OFFICIAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE
We would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the press, radio & mixshow DJ’s and the public for the fantastic support received since this particular album campaign began back in December, and to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR and their affiliated production team for the phenomenal work they delivered before, during and after the release. We count ourselves extremely fortunate and it is all very much appreciated.
On Friday May 15th, we released the album “Beautiful Foundations” by New York State rapper & producer duo Tone Chop and Frost Gamble.
It is in essence a celebration of the pair’s working relationship and friendship which spans back over three decades, and in the same spirit the guest featured artists are those with whom they’ve built during that time including DJ Eclipse, The Bad Seed, Pf Cuttin, Grea8gawd, Decon Blu, Pa Pa Fresh and many more.
To mark the occasion further they have filmed a documentary about their entire time togetherwhich has just been published on Youtube today. In a highly impressive presentation, they delve deeper into their earliest days growing up in Binghamton and the impact hip hop culture had on them, and ultimately how they came to meet and work together for the first time.
They describe their initial recording sessions in Frost’s basement, referenced in the album’s title, and chart their subsequent journey including Frost’s move to Canada, reuniting several years later and building once more to become one of the most prolific partnerships in hip hop over recent years.
Industry trials and tribulations along the way are also covered and will resonate with many independent music artists from any genre, making this not only an overall fascinating insight to their own story, but will also likely hold significance for those with a particular interest in hip hop’s own progression over the years.
New Dawn Records are proud to announce the release today of the new album “Beautiful Foundations” by New York State rapper and producer duo Tone Chop & Frost Gamble.
A celebration of the pair’s working relationship and friendship spanning over 30 years, it reflects on the earliest days together in their home city of Binghamton, interrupted only for a time by Frost’s relocation to Canada, before reuniting in 2014 to become one of the most prolific partnerships in hip hop over recent years.
Dedicated to, and active in, the traditional elements of the culture from the very beginning, their music draws from the Golden Era of boom bap, turntablism and lyricism while incorporating contemporary progression. The result ia a highly impressive offering which remains fundamentally tru to its roots, delivered in a showcase of skilled wordplay, gritty rhymes and polished production.
The guest featured artists are those with whom they’ve built as part of their journey including DJ Eclipse, Grea8gawd, Pf Cuttin, The Bad Seed, Decon Blu, Pa Pa Fresh, DJ J Smooth, Fresh I.E. and more.
The album is available to stream and download at multiple digital stores including APPLE MUSIC, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY.
All the tracks appear in the full album’s video playlist on our Youtube Channel
In line with the theme of the album, a superb filmed documentary covering Chop and Frost’s entire story will be premiered to Youtube on May 20th, while their special launch event will take place on the evening of Saturday May 30th. Entry will be free at Binghamton’s Stellar Human vintage clothes store, and will include an album listening session, artist q&a and a screening of the documentary.
It is of course a happy coincidence that we too are in celebratory mode marking our own 30th anniversary as a label, and we would wish to place on record our sincerest appreciation to our in house teams at UrbanElite Productions and UrbanElite Promotions for their incredible work both in preparing and delivering this campaign, without which much would not have been possible.
And as ever, our thanks to the public and media worldwide for the ongoing support. Enjoy this fantastic album.
With 2026 being our 30th anniversary as a label, we’ve been taking occasional leisurely strolls down memory lane, re-visiting some of our catalogue from more recent years and highlighting them on our social media platforms.
We now go much further back in time, to a track we released exactly 24 years to the day on May 6th 2002. “Meltdown” by hip hop group Belles in Monica was the second lifted from their only album release ‘Resistance is Futile’. The 12″ vinyl and CD formats included remixes by Phi Life Cypher’s DJ Nappa, scratch turntablist and DMC finalist Krash Slaughta (Monkey Mafia / II Tone Committee) and Manchester producer Gripper. Alongside previous single “Y’All Under Surveillance” it became one of the crew’s most recognizable tracks.
It also became one of their most contentious cuts in relation to its actual lyrical meaning, causing some consternation and hand wringing in certain quarters, mainly those of an eternally confused nature…..despite the clue being in the name and self evident to most at the time…..
Nevertheless, with all of the various historic interpretations, we felt the time had come to explain this once and for all through the medium of filmic references which will either finally bring clarity, or confuse further…..and both’s fine by us……
So without further ado, as we help ourselves to another slic of birthday cake – and very tasty it is too – may we present “the Box Office smash of 2026 just waiting to happen“, 24 YEARS LATER – BELLES IN MONICA “MELTDOWN” [Decoded] on Youtube
Formed a long time ago in a land time forgot, Belles in Monica went through many personnel line ups before settling on the trio of Kruze, Red and DJ Dema.Their first airplay came about in appropriately bizarre fashion in the Spring of 1994, when the then presenter of BBC Radio 1’s flagship breakfast show, the late Steve Wright, asked for demos to be sent infor possible broadcast.A demo was duly dispatched, and not thinking it had a hope in Hell of being played, they went on vacation….only to be told on their return by many who had heard the show that it had indeed been selected, played and received props from the presenters. All of which they’d missed…….
Seven years later having signed with New Dawn, they again enjoyed Radio 1 airplay as their aforementioned singles received strong support from Steve Lamacq, host of the renowned Evening Sessions show. Steve had form as a champion of UK hip hop at the time,something that’s not been forgotten. This was just before the BBC decided to launch its 1Xtra station specifically for this genre, the impression given at the time it “wasn’t quite right” for Radio 1 listeners….how times have changed. We remember George Ergatoudis, head of the new channel, contacting us and other labels at the time for vinyl to play and help kick start the new programming…..how times have changed. We also realise that for current generations this news post will have received a TL;DR after the first sentence…..how times have changed…..
All fun in the sun though. We released Belles in Monica’s catalogue in digital format for the first time in 2019, combining their first two singles in the “Y’All in Meltdown EP”It’s on Bandcamp and Spotify among others.
The full version of “Meltdown” is on Youtube
We hope you’ve enjoyed this little journey down Amnesia Alley. Must dash, the nurse says it’s custard and rhubarb on the menu tonight but it’s first come, first served and you know what him two rooms down’s like….
Returning to the original point momentarily though, it’s all in the mind……
New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of the new single “The Smoothest” by New York State rapper and producer duo Tone Chop and Frost Gamble.
Featuring fellow upstate marksmen Decon Blu and Pa Pa Fresh, the latter also lacing the joint with additional cuts, this is the third single from the Binghamton pair’s album “Beautiful Foundations” out on May 15th.
Following on from the album’s title track released in December, and “Play No Games” featuring DJ Eclipse which dropped last month, the new cut is a tribute to the lyrical golden era of New York in a showcase of wordplay delivering a salvo of old and new school slang. Chop’s trademark bullish bars and the effortless flows of Decon Blu and Pa Pa Fresh dictate the narrative, the three re-united from their earlier Four Sportsmen project.
Driven along by Frost’s customary slick productions, it’s a classic recipe of seasoned campaigners shelling rhymes with ease over a luscious beat immersed in soulful flavas and exquisite turntablism.
Available to download and stream from all digital platforms including Apple Music, Tidal Music and below on Bandcamp and Spotify
Official visuals have also been published on Youtube
It was also confirmed recentlythat Chop & Frost will celebrate the release of the album with a special free vinyl listening event at Binghamton’s Stellar Human store on Saturday May 30th, which will include a public screening of their upcoming biographical documentary and a Question & Answer session.More details to followin the weeks ahead.
Meantime, all media enquiries about the release can be sent to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PRvia the CONTACT PAGE on their site.
Our appreciation as ever to all for your generous supportas we continue to celebrate our own 30th anniversay this year.
We are pleased to announce the first release of 2026, our 30th anniversary year.
“Play No Games” is the second single to be taken from the album “Beautiful Foundations” by New York State rapper and producer duo Tone Chop & Frost Gamble” out on May 15th, and follows the single edition of the album’s title track which dropped in December.
With additional cuts by legendary turntablist DJ Eclipse, host of the long running “Rap Is Outta Control Show” on Sirius XM channel Shade 45, this joint has all the trademark qualities displayed by the pair over many years.
Classic grimy boom bap beats the backdrop for the veteran rap battle champion’s hard bars, as Chop goes hunting for would be title contenders. Knockout punchlines, bangin beats and supreme turntablism in a heavyweight bout for the heads. Slick business from the Binghamton boys who will soon announce details of a special launch event due to take place in their home town shortly after the album’s release and the premiere of their filmed autobiographical documentary.
“Play No Games” is available to stream and download from a wide variety of digital stores and platforms including APPLE MUSIC, TIDAL MUSIC and below on Bandcamp and Spotify
The official accompanying music video, filmed by Frost himself, is also now available to watch on Youtube
All international media and DJ enquiries about this, or any of our releases, can be addressed to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR via their CONTACT PAGE
As ever, we greatly appreciate all the support we’ve had over the years, primarily as a result of the fantastic artists we’ve been fortunate enough to work with – it’s a reflection of their immense talent. The journey continues…..
New Dawn Records are proud to announce the upcoming release of the new album “Beautiful Foundations” by New York State rapper and producer duo Tone Chop and Frost Gamble on May 15th 2026, digitally distributed by Xelon Entertainment.
The release holds special importance for the Binghamton pair, celebrating both their long term friendship and working partnership of 35 years. We as a label, coincidentally celebrating our own 30th anniversary next year, are thrilled to join them on the latest part of their journey which dates back to their earliest days of recording demo’s and mixtapes in a basement, armed with a Four Track, MPC60 and Gemini DJ Sampler.
Originally part of the crew Binghamton’s Most Wanted, Chop had already built a fearsome reputation in the local rap battle scene prior to the link up with Frost, but from their first meeting, a strong connection was made and a lasting bond built, both musically and personally.
The turning of the page into the 21st Century also marked a temporary pause for this close collaboration as Frost made the move to Canada. Now permanently relocated, he began production work on projects with artists such as Young Bleed, Sadat X and Fresh I.E., while back in New York, Chop remained prolific dropping upwards of 50 mixtapes including the “Chopper City” series.
However some ties can never be broken. Destiny determined the inevitable, with the pair re-uniting to deliver the “Veteran EP” in 2016, their first official release together. Our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR handled the publicity at the time for both the EP and the album “Respect is Earned Not Given” the following year. The resulting worldwide media coverage and public response would act as the catalyst for what would become their most prolific period of output, with a quite phenomenal back catalogue of singles and EP’s built up over recent years.
The reflective and celebratory nature of the new album also represents Chop and Frost’s steadfast passion for all aspects of the culture through the years, embracing change while being true to the essence. This is never more evident than in a new short documentary they have just filmed which will be premiered shortly after the album release. A fascinating autobiographical account of their story which also provides a historical narrative of hip hop’s own development through the decades.
Heads get ready for this. Beats, bars, turntablism, the culture….hip hop is something you live
WATCH THE OFFICIAL ALBUM VIDEO TRAILER ON YOUTUBE
Four singles will be released ahead of the album, beginning with the title track on December 9th. All will be available to download and stream on Bandcamp, Apple / iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon and more.Visuals will appear on our official Youtube channel @newdawnrecords
All press, multimedia and radio DJ inquiries can be addressed to our in-house promotional division UrbanElite PR
We would again like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support since we re-launched the label in 2019, the public, the media and of course the artists we’ve worked withas we move forward into the completion of our third decade in existence overall. From the beginning all these years ago to now, it’s been quite a ride, so our appreciation to all.
New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of the new single “Drop Jewels” by New Jersey rapper Tru Trilla.
This is taken from the album “XVI : Return of the Gods” we released on May 31st which was immediately featured on Bandcamp’s front page “New & Notable” spotlight section. Since then, Tru appeared as the special guest of DJ Eclipse and DJ Riz on the Rap Is Outta Control Show alongside Prince Ak, broadcast on Shade 45 / Sirius XM on Sunday June 9th.
The new single featuring fellow Newark native Prince Ak and Brooklyn’s lyrical warrior Juxx Diamondz includes the original album version produced with additional cuts by Tone Spliff, plus a special remix by our long time affiliate Qadir who has delved back into the 1970’s for a filmic themed concoction to add a lil’ different twist.
New visuals have also been published for both versions on our Youtube channel.
Out thanks to Kloser of the TwoBC crew for the artwork and to everyone who has been supporting the album release in the past couple of weeks, it’s greatly appreciated.
All enquiries from media, press and DJ’s about this release should be forwarded to our in house promotional & production representatives UrbanElite PR who can, for example, provide official mp3’s for radio play if required. They can be contacted HERE
Enjoy the new music and look out for more in the months ahead.
As someone pointed out to us the other day, 2022 marks the twentieth anniversary of some of our original single releases which at the time enjoyed healthy support, often appearing in DJ Magazine’s hip hop club charts, reviews in UK & US publications and notable for the airplay afforded to them by among others, Steve Lamacq who hosted BBC Radio 1’s flagship Evening Sessions show.
Time flies indeed !
They were all by the crew Belles in Monica and included a number of remixes, all released on 12″ & CD formats. We in fact still have a very limited amount of original stock available of both formats, details at our STORE.
“Y’All Under Surveillance” with remixes by G-Sharp (including cuts by DJ Devestator), DJ Nappa of Phil Life Cypher and The Runaways. Originally released on February 4th 2002
“Meltdown” with remixes by Krash Slaughta, Gripper and Phi Life Cypher’s DJ Nappa including cuts by DJ Mr Thing. Originally released May 6th 2002
What D’Ya Need with remixes by DJ Krash Slaughta and Unsung Heroes. Originally released September 23rd 2002
All of these together with most of our original back catalogue were of course made available in digital formats since we re-launched the label in 2019, streaming on Spotify, Tidal, Apple, Amazon and many more including on our Youtube channel.We have included some versions on our Youtube channel’s Singles Playlist
Included in the 18 track playlist are our most recent singles released over the past couple of years, taken from albums by London’s Ramson Badbonez, Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown and New Jersey’s Tru Trilla.
They include features by heavyweight names from both sides of the Atlantic including Reks, Skyzoo, Ruste Juxx, Recognize Ali, Genesis Elijah, Micall Parknsun, Jehst, Kashmere, Sleep Sinatra, Johaz of Dag Savage, MysDiggi, Truemendous, Juxx Diamondz, Justo the MC and the late, great Blacastan and Primo Brown of legendary Italian crew Cor Veleno.
Also added are the two singles from this summer, Qadir’s remix of “Bismillah” and Shahin’s re-working of “Lame Duck”.Dope rhymes, bangin’ beats and serious turntablist skillz from then and now as a soundtrack for your day – enjoy !
We’ll have news of new forthcoming joints and albums currently cooking in various kitchens shortly, so keep ’em peeled.
