Man Bites Dog Records is proud to announce the newest addition to the ever expanding label, rapper AG Da Coroner. The Brooklyn native is the first artist signed by Vice President and Director of A&R Roc Marciano, who joined the label in April. AG Da Coroner’s debut album, Sip The Nectar, will feature production from Harry Fraud, The Alchemist, Statik Selektah, ATG, Stu Bangas, Skammadik, Ice Rocks, D.C., Vanderslice, and Nappanot, and will be released later this year.

Marciano expressed his excitement over the newest member of the MBD team, “I wanted to sign Coroner because he’s one of my new favorite artists. Coroner is just ill, I like his voice, his demeanor and him as a person. A real serious talent.” Label founder R.M.L. agrees, “Coroner is nasty. I got a chance to witness first hand at SXSW last year when he went up during Meyhem Lauren’s set…I know everybody will be looking forward to this album.”

AG Da Coroner, who has made a name for himself as part of The Outdoorsmen, a crew that includes Action Bronson, Meyhem Lauren, J Love, and Jay Steel, has also previously appeared as a guest on the track “Michael Landon” from Eddie B & Harry Fraud’s Horsepower EP, and has no doubt that he’s a perfect fit for the label. “This project is 30 plus years in the making, and is my first, so it will forever be my most emotionally intimate LP and I’m extremely pleased to put it out through Man Bites Dog Records,” he says, “Roc made it his business to come and get me and that was all I needed to hear.”

Man Bites Dog Records has been on a tear over the past couple years, with recent albums from MHz Legacy, Stu Bangas & Vanderslice, Copywrite, Vast Aire, and more. And with a busy year still ahead, including upcoming releases from Eddie B & Harry Fraud, Illogic & Blockhead, Roc Marciano, and others, label founder R.M.L. is first excited to release MBDR Volume 2, out today and available for free download via the label’s SoundCloud.

Volume 2 is full of original, exclusive songs that will only be available on this album, and the project includes features and production from the likes of Copywrite, Bronze Nazareth, Hayze, Curly Castro, Killah Priest, Stu Bangas, Double A.B., Vanderslice, Kount Fif, Reef The Lost Cause, Jason Rose, and more. And while the label could have easily released this project through retail, label founder R.M.L. is instead offering the project for free download as a thank you to the label’s supportive fans. “In this climate, anyone can download music illegally,” remarks R.M.L., “so I wanted to reward our fans that do the right thing and pay to support our records.”

As a follow-up to MBDR Volume 1, released a few years back, Volume 2, which was mixed and mastered at Royal Crown Studios offers fans an updated look at the label’s talented roster. “I think this is a good introduction to some of the new faces on the label, both emcees and producers,” explains R.M.L. “For fans, it’s a nice warm welcome to what makes Man Bites Dog Records special.”

The first half of 2012 has proven to be a triumphant year for Man Bites Dog Records, and now, the burgeoning hip-hop label is excited to announce a string of forthcoming releases. The rest of the year promises to be busy, as the label prepares for high profile releases from MHz Legacy, Stu Bangas & Vanderslice, Wais P, Bronze Nazareth, and Double AB & Dub Sonata.

Man Bites Dog Records first emerged in 2010, establishing its presence with the release of Killah Priest’s Three Day Theory and Copywrite’s Life and Times of Peter Nelson. With both albums receiving critical acclaim, MBDR followed the next year with Vast Aire’s OX 2010: A Street Odyssey, and in 2012, the label has continued to roll, with a new album from Copywrite, God Save The King, in addition to The Swashbuckler LP, from producers Kount Fif & R.M.L.

On August 7th, Copywrite will release God Save The King: Proper English Version, a remixed re-release of God Save The King that includes features from high profile UK artists such as Context, Dru Blu, Mystro, and SAS. On August 28th, producers Stu Bangas & Vanderslice will release Diggaz With Attitude, featuring Roc Marciano, The Alchemist, Evidence, Apathy, Ill Bill, Vinnie Paz, Blaq Poet, Celph Titled, Esoteric, and more. Their video for lead single “The Gusto,” featuring a who’s-who in the hip hop world with Apathy, Roc Marciano, The Alchemist, and Evidence, racked up over 20k views in the first 72 hours it was released on YouTube.

On September 18th, MBDR will release the latest effort from rapper Double AB, Media Showers, a collaborative effort with producer Dub Sonata that includes features from Cannibal Ox, Evidence, Rhymefest, Sean Price, and more. The duo’s first video, for the single “Lord Knows What” with Roc Marciano, will be released in the coming weeks.

On October 9th, Wais P, will release his debut solo album Pimpin’ Saved My Life. The album will include production from Harry Fraud, Statik Selektah, The Bizness, Stu Bangas, and Vanderslice, and the project will also include guest features from the likes of Action Bronson, Smoke DZA, Joey Bada$$, Kokaine, and more. Prior to the album’s release, Wais P will release a free mixtape, Pussy Rich.

To wrap a productive fourth quarter, MBDR will release their biggest album to date, a new album from MHz Legacy, the beloved Ohio crew that includes Copywrite, RJD2, Jakki Da Motamouth, Tage Future, and Camu Tao, who passed away in 2008. Despite serving as one of the most influential collection of artists in underground hip-hop for over a decade, MHz, to date, has released only one album, Table Scraps, which was a collection of singles and b-sides. This new album is expected to offer some of the artists’ most accomplished work-to-date. Although not yet finished, the album is currently slated to include production from RJD2, Harry Fraud, Marco Polo, Stu Bangas and Illmind, in addition to features from Ill Bill & Slaine (La Coka Nostra), Oh No, and Slug. Longtime fans of the group will also be happy to hear that the group ensured that Camu Tao’s voice be heard and thus incorporated never before heard verses on several songs.

As Man Bites Dog Records uses the rest of 2012 to solidify itself as one of independent hip-hop’s premier labels, the label expects even bigger things for 2013 and beyond. “Making an impact in the music business takes a lot of hard work and talent from a whole team of people,” says label founder R.M.L. “We’re lucky to work with talented artists that have been working hard to make music that will impact the future. I am truly excited for all our fans, new and old.”