summary 
Friday, 27 June 2003
Former Fondle 'Em recording artist, Megahertz crew member (alongside
Copywrite & RJD2), seasoned battle rapper and principle mc on RJ's 'Dead
Ringer' is now on the solo tip with his perfected army of one stance.
With featured dope hard production by Camu Tao (Def Jux allstar >>> S.A.
Smash), Copywrite and DJ Przm behind Jakki's blistering diss attack this
12" could blow up large style. Lyrically Jakki knocks the competition
cold out for the count with a fierce assault of clever punchlines and
sick-witty concepts. Intelligent banging if you must! Housed in an
extremely dope sleeve with a … Read more
Friday, 20 June 2003
The long long awaited return of Detroit’s Motech label!! Straight up killer Detroit techno, stripped raw and funky is the way of DJ 3000 and its showcased with style here. The opener ‘Stand Alone’ drops in like Rob Hood’s ‘Detroit: One Circle’ a stripped and raw techno number with a single vocal intoning ‘Stand Alone’, keeping it real with its basic ingredients and stepping the pace up via the 4/4 makes it another entry into the Detroit stable of ace techno. Flip for another winner with the second track ‘Clutch’ a very skippy electro number, bass heavy with the kicks and cracking snares and machin… Read more
The Lacks are better known in these parts as Lacksidaisycal who had releases on Carl Craig's Antidote label. This detroit crew are equally down with Slum Village and the man Jay Dee, in fact for a forthcoming album project Mr Dilla is handing the production duties to Lacks such is his belief in them. This 12" is pure Dilla shiznizz. Three vocals 'The Idiology', 'Hustolin' and 'Jeed Demo #2 (B-Boy)' plus instrumentals. Pure doped up thuglove joy.
New family compilation direct from the home of the All Natural crew in
Chicago. Production duties like the 'Writer's Block' album with All Natz
Capital D is handled by in the most by the mighty Molemen crew which
elevates this album sky high. Extra hype production on two tracks comes
from Madd Crates, including the killer 'Simple Words' Upfront on lyrical
duties are Capital D, Mr Greenweedz, Spotlite, Iomas Marad, Prime and
the Daily Planet. Twelve tracks, cool comic artwork. Stone quality hip
hop.
Friday, 13 June 2003
Dope french hip hop coming straight outta Toulouse. Flowing rhythmical
lyrics (in french of course) with a rhythmical and musical flow halfway
between Vadim and Jay Dee. Originally available as a very limited 7-inch
that caught the attention of the good folks at Grand Slam Magazine.
Features 'Beatshopper' (vocal & inst), 'Laisse Faire' (vocal & inst),
'Moody P', and 'CDJ'. Cool vibes and a warm big up.
Finally, some new Mountain Brothers material on wax and it's a winner.
Taken from their CD only new album 'Triple Crown'. This 12" also
features an exclusive remix by DJ Cheapshot of Styles Of Beyond, and
'The Roli Rho Show‚ plus instrumentals.
A rock solid debut hip hop album from the trio of MC Mazzi & producers
Zvi & Koncepts managing to avoid the pitfalls of so many weakly-produced
and ill thought-out independent debut albums, reflecting their own
visions without veering between cartoonish thuggery or nerdy far out
pre-occupations. Joining the party are a host of like-minded emcees,
including old schooler Percee P, Pumpkinhead, 427 (ex ABB & Stones
Throw), Juggaknots, Kirby Dominant, Infamous MC, C Rayz Walz (now a Def
Juxtian), Subconscious and Wordsworth.
Eric B & Rakim made many all time classic hip hop tracks. 'Follow The
Leader', 'Eric B Is President' and 'Juice (Know The Ledge)' are but
three. But this killer from 1990 is the one for me. This is the remix
12" featuring The 45 King at the top of his game. Two versions one
mad-disco loop remix and the other chopped funk sweetness plus accapella
for the sample bank filling. Pure classic.
Two very fine selections from the 'Long Way Back' album, both supreme
Jay Dee productions. 'Who Smoked Sunshine' rocks a sunny nu soul vibe
but with a very serious lyrical undercurrent. A killer track in clean,
album and instrumental version. 'Chiquita', clean and album version is
another dope Dilla production but this time with a little Timbaland vibe
in the mix. A cut above.
Friday, 06 June 2003
Force Tracks continues to flow out the summer spins with a modern Acid House kicker in line with the spirit of the times.’Wild Nights’ is a club mover, 303 infected body music that builds and builds AND BUILDS in the correct stylee, while ‘Kick Das’ digs deeper, hitting home with bass-filled funk and with a slight French touch. Check.
Once again, the Zone has decided to go back on his decision to give up the mic, and presents the first single from his fourth album, '$ick Of Bein Rich'. Last seen and heard dropping bugged instrumentalistic hiphopisms for Lex the self-produced '5-Star Hooptie' tells the tale of his beat-up 1993 pimpmobile car, while 'Eatadiccup' is simply Zone and Celph Titled trash talking in ig‚nant fashion over one of J's most ugly-faced beats - rawcore Edan stylee. Funny full colour sleeve. Looking forward to the album for sure. Rough, dirty, large.
The long-awaited return of Mister Jason and Nabo Rawk, some four years
on from their much-loved and classic 'Me & Him' 12" and 'Sloppy Seconds‚
EP on Biscuithead where Edan started as well. 'Me & Him' still comes
around on mix tapes, and remains a classic of funky lo-fi hip hop made
by spoilt white kids aiming to aggrovate their republican parents with
smutty rhymes and silly sounds. Neither track here messes with that
pattern too much, and thats a good thing. Clean, dirty & inst for both.
Bugged hip hop fun(k).
Next 10" from the Skuff/Idjut production team is another block bumping
mash up. Bringing the party vibe to a dub funk hip hop blend of Clipse
over the classic Kool & The Gang 'Jungle Boogie' rhythm. Vocal &
instrumental versions, both getting heavy rotation from the regular
trendy deejays. 500 copis only.
Seemingly set for release in France before anwhere else, this is the first album the Wu Tang auteur has released under his own name, and features collaborations with some of France’s finest MC's, including Saian Super Crew, I Am, and Passi, alongside Skinnyman and Mister Tibbs plus Method Man, Ghostface and other clan members. Seventeen tracks.
Friday, 30 May 2003
Limited single from the forthcoming Electronicat album "21st Century Toy". Lush coloured vinyl/clear picture disc sleeve and postcard, also features exclusive non-album track "Shake It". 300 copies only.
Lead emcee in the back in the day party rockers Funkdoobiest drops an album for Swollen Members’ Battle Axe label. Twelve tracks. Semi-thugged out but with enough dirty funk in the production trunk. Guests include Moka Only. Pretty cool.
Friday, 23 May 2003
Latest album from Force Inc. Part Drexciya, part Juan Atkins, part Global Communications, Tom Butcher, aka Codebase’s melodies and electronics are at once starkly futuristic and gloriously timeless. “Seek and Destroy” employs an ace analogue synthline and beatbox, a house-ish beat in the finest Detroit sense sets the tempo while twilight keys sequence themselves perfectly. “Cascade View” is another standout, an epic synth structure once again dominates, an overflow of warmth and crunch perfect for the drexciyan heads out there. Fans of the analogue sound of Detroit should check this out without delay...Ace.
The stand-out jazzed up track from Mr Pitch's 'Live At Home' LP, the one
that starts with the alarm clock ringing at 8.30 am and takes us through
a day in the life of Apani B Fly Emcee of Polyrhythm Addicts and Antipop
guesting renown. The b-side has a broken beat hip hop downtempo dip
remix from Mr Pitch himself that hits all the right buttons. Many
versions.
Friday, 16 May 2003
More brooklyn raggafunk in the house, 'Word To The Wise' features vocal licks from JahDan of 'Sound Bwoy Burial' notoriety in congress with the Noble Society crew across three versions, asking 'what does it take to make you freak out' while squalls of guitar create a heavy ragga/p-funk blend - an enticing mixture. Even the backing vocals sound like Bootsy and George Clinton at their acid fuelled heights, its quite a brew. The equally serviceable 'Killa Sound' on the flip employs Steele of Cocoa Brovaz over some elevating classical piano and a heavily Timbaland influenced riddim, spare, … Read more
Alongside Capital D from All Natural, Vakill is Chicago's finest lyricist and rapper recently featured backing up DJ Vadim amongst others. Now being down with the mighty Moleman production powerhouse can only help elevate him to the next level status. After the excellent 'End Of Days' 12" comes the album. Thirteen tracks featuring dark shaded rhymes with a rugged flow - adherring strictly to the golden age principles of masterful language wrangling and clever, meticulosly crafted rhyme schemes crafted over the supreme tight and original production flavor of Panik and Memo. Only Vast Aire can … Read more
Now on vinyl. Long awaited solo debut for the other half of The Artifacts. Six years on from when he and El Da Sensei departed Eastern Conference do the right thing and drop this def album. A brief album by today's standards (40 mins) comes as a welcome relief, making this album concise and free from the usual empty air that infests current, run of the mill extra long players. Lyrics drop hard but with wisdom and soulfulness. All graced by killer production from names such as J-Zone (Old Maid, on killer form), Camu Tao (Def Jux), RJD2 (tune) and Mighty Mi... plus more. Ace graf, another rock solid hip hop album from Eastern Conference.
Big Dadaesque out of school homework vibrations on this indi UK hip hop 12". The a-side with Skanky and Blufoot is uber rough, mad spitting lyrics and dirty raw music - sick. The Big Dada steez come on the flip where Infinite Livez & Blu rock the dope 'Live & Learn', raggaish flow and hyped chorus flavour. Ill biscuit tin beats and moody synths. The bonus cut 'Wassyourgame' increases the sickness.
Friday, 09 May 2003
The devious duo are back with their sonic gadgets and the illest-fitted suits in the west. Stoloff & Hopkinson use machines to create music that would have been implausible in the 20th century, yet is immediately familiar, witty, human and not quite right. Layered beats, intricate sounds, rich melodies and french lyrical flow blended with a unique grasp of reality. A mish-mash based loosely around 3 tracks, 'Idead', 'Dual' and 'Woodpecker' are spread across the format, including instrumentals, acapellas, scratches and interludes.
Friday, 02 May 2003
The Moscow invasion continues!! Rising star Yura Moorash makes his Force Tracks debut following his Trapez onslaught, forgoing the minimal styles for some deep dancefloor dopenessswaying on the techy side that keeps the bump rolling with solid bassline bottoms to make this gem hopping. Check.
The second offering from Stilleben this week hits a more 8 bit electro vibe and pulls out all the synths for an 8-bit battle. 6 trax of crazy beats and noises are available and the opener ‘2 Achilles in one’ heads of with Sonic the Hedgehog synths and phat analogue basslines squelching away, joined by dark vocals making all sorts of weird and wondeful noises, a party-esque opener. The spannered manner of the synths holds all the character on this 12”, almost stretching the notes and warbling them to extremes give’s the 12” a certain insane feel, check ‘Dancing Shadow’ with its unforgettable bassline, a brilliant groove is eked out of the machines. Check.
DIPLOMATICS
Hum-Bug / Everybody Wants To Be Free
Now Again / Stones Throw
12" // £5.99
Cat. Number: NA 2002
More killer fresh as a daisy funk bombs from Egon 'Stones Throw''s Now
Again imprint. Baad picture sleeve outing for two down home genius live
funk band killers, fusing parts 1&2 from 7" issue into extended 12"
territory. 'Hum-Bug' drops hip hop tempo drums, bass, organ and horns
like classic Blue Note era funky Lou Donaldson, check the drum break -
wow. On the flip 'Everybody...' add's wailing vocals, wah-wah guitar
into the mix with the same kick ass drums and funky feel. True funk
dopeness.
Friday, 25 April 2003
Two blasts from the forthcoming 'Ownerz' album. 'Nice Girl, Wrong Place' kicks a fat 'Seven Minutes Of Funk' styled break with the Guru dropping lyrics bout' de females. 'Rite Where U Stand' features Jadikiss, Premo scratches the groove up nicely while the two emcee masters catch wreck. A slight jig factor is in place but it's still Gang Starr baby. Competition is none.
Ejax is a bootleg workout squaring Basement Jaxx’s 'Razorcaine' up
against Missy’s 'For My People', guaranteed to turn the party inside
out. Bassline rolls like like a drunk rhino, the heavy off-beat rhythm
never quits, jericho horns wail and scream, and the filtered bass sounds
are grittier than the ocean floor. A full-on mental groove that‚’l go
off in your face if you shake it too hard. Limited edition one-sided
cut.
Friday, 18 April 2003
As promised, now on vinyl - one warm long week since the digital version fell into my lap. Killer extended EP from Minnesota's Oddjobs crew. What was going to simply be a 12" has now expanded into mini album territory. 'The Shopkeeper's Wife' makes a welcome return, rumbling bass, hyper drums and dope lyrical flows - and a hyper breakdown before the track drops out. Of the five all killer new tracks, sample 'Hypnotized' tripped drums, floating melodics and a rickety percussive element with guitar licks. Then onto 'The Mighty Fine' featuring Rhymesayers man Eyedea, a genius funky track wi… Read more
Friday, 11 April 2003
Debut release from new hip hop label Skullsnap. Features MC’s Konny Kon (Microdisiacs), Chuck Nubian... and Fynamo, artists who have worked with the likes of Roots Manuva and Mark B.
