Empire Distribution INC
The Living Legends - The Gathering (RSD 2026 Exclusive)
In the vibrant, post-millennial landscape of independent hip-hop, few collective names commanded as much respect as The Living Legends. A monumental alliance of some of the west coast's most respected solo artists-including Murs, The Grouch, Eligh, Aesop, Bicasso, Luckyiam, Sunspot Jonz, and Arata-the crew's 2008 album, The Gathering, served as a powerful declaration of their unity and enduring relevance. The gathering was a snapshot of a legendary crew working at the peak of their collaborative power. The project masterfully weaves together the diverse styles of it's eight members, moving effortlessly from the conscious storytelling of murs to the soulful, introspective flow of the grouch and eligh, and the abstract lyrical dexterity of aesop. The production, handled largely within the collective, provides a lush, sample-heavy, and distinctly west coast soundscape that perfectly complements the lyrical fireworks. Tracks like the anthemic title track "the gathering" and the legendary posse cut "after hours" showcase the organic chemistry that made The Living Legends a seminal force in underground music. #for the first time ever, this pivotal album is being officially pressed on vinyl. This highly anticipated record store day 2026 release finally delivers the gathering to the format it's rich, soulful production has always deserved. This limited edition pressing is presented on striking coke bottle clear vinyl, a perfect visual complement to the album's crisp, refreshing sound. a crucial artifact of independent hip-hop history, the gathering on vinyl is an essential addition for fans who have supported The Living Legends for decades and a must-have for vinyl collectors looking to own a tangible piece of the era's best crew collaborations. #don't miss the chance to own this definitive, first-ever vinyl pressing of a true underground classic.
UPC/ISBN: 199316436259
Release Date: 04/18/2026
Product Information
Due to the nature of collectible items and ever changing market demand, we are unable to cancel pre-orders on ratio variants and select other items (1 per store variants, exclusive covers, ect) for a refund.For preorders on regular open order comics (the majority of which are normally cover price), we can cancel preorders and refund with a store credit that can be used in our brick and mortar stores or at thirdeyecomics.com
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At Third Eye, we ship thousands of comics every week, and we know condition matters. Whether you're reading, collecting, or grading, we want you to feel confident when a Third Eye package arrives.
This policy outlines our standard for new release and shipped comics, and the industry-standard guidelines we follow.
OUR STANDARD
Books without a stated grade will be offered as Near Mint 9.4 or better. We do not guarantee 9.8 condition on any book unless specifically noted.
We use industry-standard grading guidelines from:
- CBCS Comic Grading Scale
- Overstreet Comic Grading Standards
- CGC grading standards
If you're new to comic grading, the resources above are a great place to start.
WHY WE DON'T GUARANTEE 9.8
Modern comic printing is an imperfect process. Books are printed in massive
runs, bound at high speed, and shipped in bulk to retailers. Even brand
new books off the truck will exhibit minor production characteristics,
and that's normal, and consistent with industry standards across every
retailer.
A 9.8 grade represents near-perfection, and the reality is that not every printed book qualifies for that grade no matter where you buy it from.
We can absolutely commit to NM 9.4 or better. We cannot commit to 9.8 on every book, because that's not how comics are made.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS NM 9.4
Per industry standards, a book may exhibit the following minor characteristics and still grade as Near Mint 9.4, as long as there's no accumulation of defects:
Bindery characteristics:
- Minor to moderate corner tears
- White edges along the spine (common on most modern printings)
- Covers slightly offset from interior pages (common on cardstock covers)
Printing characteristics:
- Slight color rub on back covers
- Small paper wrinkles present from the paper roll prior to printing
- Wavy paper texture from the printing process
Spine characteristics:
- 2-3 small color-breaking spine ticks
- Minor non-color-breaking spine dings
These are normal modern production characteristics, not damage from handling or shipping. They are present on books across the industry, regardless
of retailer.
OUR RETURN & EXCHANGE POLICY
We do not accept returns or exchanges on books that meet our NM 9.4 or better standard.
We will replace or refund:
- Books damaged during shipping (clear shipping damage, not pre-existing print characteristics)
- Books that fall below NM 9.4 standard (significant spine damage, major creasing, tears, etc.)
- Wrong cover or wrong issue shipped
For premium variants (1:25, 1:50, 1:100, 1:250, 1:500 incentive covers, signed editions, exclusive variants), we apply enhanced QC during pull and packing. If a premium variant arrives outside our standard, contact us within 7 days of delivery and we will work with you on a replacement.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about a specific book or want to learn more about comic grading, our team is happy to help. Reach out to service@thirdeyecomics.com.
We appreciate your trust in Third Eye Comics, and we're committed to delivering books that meet the standards both you and we expect.