Starlito & Bandplay - Not The Country You Know [2LP]

Format: 2 x LP
Catalogue No.: ERE1256  
Barcode: 199316518429
Release Date: 19 Jun 2026
Genre: Rap

2xLP, Gatefold Jacket, Two single-sided inserts, Black vinyl

About: 
In the evolving landscape of modern Southern hip-hop, the pairing of Starlito and Bandplay stands out as a unique bridge between street-level authenticity and refined, calculated musicality. Their collaborative project, Not The Country You Know, functions less like a standard release and more as a manifesto—a masterclass in the chemistry between a seasoned, introspective lyricist and a producer who possesses an intuitive grasp of the region's pulse. It is an exploration of legacy and adaptation, capturing the tension between where they came from and where the culture is currently headed.

Bandplay, long recognized for sculpting the sonic identity of Memphis icons, brings his signature, trunk-rattling 808s to the project, yet he manages to pivot here. The production feels remarkably expansive, masterfully blending the raw, stripped-back aesthetics of classic Tennessee rap with forward-thinking textures that refuse to be confined to a single sub-genre. Complementing this, Starlito operates with his trademark mix of cynical observation and genuine vulnerability. He navigates these beats with the weary grace of an artist who has weathered the music industry's relentless cycles, treating every bar like a necessary piece of a larger, ongoing story.

The album’s title serves as a direct commentary on these shifting tides. Across the tracklist, the duo investigates the growing disparity between the romanticized South and the cold realities of the streets, alongside the inevitable evolution of the music business itself. There is no frantic chasing of streaming-era trends or algorithmic bait here; instead, the project remains a stubborn, confident assertion of artistic identity. By weaving together Starlito’s "voice-of-reason" flow and Bandplay’s evolving, genre-bending sound, Not The Country You Know challenges the listener to abandon their preconceived notions of the region, offering instead a complex, urgent vision of a South that is as haunting as it is vibrant.

2xLP, Gatefold Jacket, Two Single Sided Inserts

Tracklist:
A1/1. Not The Country You Know
A2/2. This Ain't That
A3/3. Am I Wrong
A4/4. Comin Right Back
A5/5. Bad For You
A6/6. Nasty Player
B1/7. God Mode
B2/8. Freddy Tiffany
B3/9. Is You Cool
B4/10. How You Wanna Play
B5/11. No Fun
B6/12. Ain't Going
C1/13. Should I
C2/14. Always Something
C3/15. Who Am I
C4/16. Psychology of Revenge
C5/17. Control What I Can
C6/18. What's Really Real
D1/19. Plant a Seed
D2/20. Chasing
D3/21. Massage Envy
D4/22. Walk Away
D5/23. Bad at Goodbyes

Socials: 
Starlito
Twitter: 161k followers
IG: 376k followers
FB: 355k followers
YT: 159k subs / 55M views

Bandplay
Twitter: 15.4k
IG: 115k views