Lost Girl (Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop Late Night rework) (3:32)
Special Technique Of Love (Jim Dunloop Shaolin Soul edit) (3:08)
Review: The mighty Dusty Donuts return to Queensbridge where they encounter a 'Lost Girl' featured on a legendary mixtape by one of QB's finest. This bouncy, choppy Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop Late Night Remix is sure to ignite any gathering. On the flipside, the vibes shift from Queensbridge to Staten Island and bring a special sound to work the crowd - this heavy soul classic arrives in true Shaolin style with choppy, dark soul chords and classic hip-hop beats. It's a track that commands attention with the drums but also locks in head and heart.
Review: The world can always do with more love and J Diggns delivers that on the A-side if this new jam on Digger's Delight with a refreshing remake. Blending the iconic Skull Snaps drumbeat with a melodic summer vibe, this track revisits a Bush Babee's classic from 1996 featuring Mos Def. At 93 BPM, it's a perfectly paced treat for classic hip-hop lovers. On the B-side, J reimagines the '96 Coolio remix with an "Atomic Dawg" vibe. Infused with classic samples and dancehall twists, it pays homage to "one nation under a groove" while delivering hard-hitting beats for the streets.
Review: In a rare backwards castling and killer checkmate, Friendly Records boldly re-press one of J Dilla's most beloved cuts, 'Geek Down', which appeared on his landmark Donuts LP. Known for its sample of the 2001 dark funk tune 'Charlies Theme' by The Jimi Entley Sound, this indelible, ringed hors d'oeuvre was essential for the critics' collective assessment that the 2005 LP was his magnum opus. Trailing pink sprinkles behind it, 'Geek Down' made Dilla's name. Sadly, the title would seem predict the artist's death just three days after the record's release. Dilla was a true productive geekazoid, and it shows in this track, with its untameable, above-the-law Western guitar wahs and tense, lilting strings keeping the goosebump hairs stood aright. The originally sampled track appears on the B, still only part-revealing the magic trick.
Janet Jackson - "Got Til Gone" (feat Joni Mitchell & Q-Tip - DNA edit) (4:43)
Black Eyed Peas - "Joints & Jam" (DNA edit) (3:45)
Review: Two iconic tracks, each remixed with finesse by the DNA crew. On Side-1, 'Got Til It's Gone' receives a fresh edit that enhances its laid-back groove and lush, genre-blending aesthetic. The DNA touch subtly amplifies the track's timeless charm to a higher level. Side-2 offers 'Joints & Jam (DNA Edit)', revisiting their breakout underground hit with a polished edge. The remix retains the track's infectious energy while elevating its funky, soulful essence, capturing the group's pre-megastardom authenticity. Together, these edits highlight DNA's ability to preserve the originality of each track while delivering a cohesive and modern reimagining. Neat work.
Friendly Pressure (Into The Sunshine 2024 extended) (3:50)
Friendly Pressure (Into The Sunshine Sped Up version) (5:17)
Review: Way back in 1998, Sunship revisited Jhelisa's 1994 single 'Friendly Pressure', turning in versions that made a massive impression on the then still young UK garage scene. This reissue presents the outfit's two original mixes alongside some tweaked new versions of the pioneering 'Into The Sunshine' mix, a rework that combined a swinging garage beat and MK style organ motifs with Jhelisa's sweet, soulful versions and the musical bounce of reggae. At the time, speed garage DJs tended to play the remix sped up, so Sunship have done that (B2), while also delivering a new 2024 extension of their pioneering revision. To complete the package, we also get the second Sunship rework from 1998, the 2-step style 'From Midnight Mix'. If you're a fan of UKG history, you need this in your life.
To Jest To (Hemp Gru Jungle Scratch rework, Scratch DJ Cent & DJ Vazee) (4:10)
To Jest To (Hemp Gru Jungle Scratch rework - PZG remix) (3:39)
Scratch Tool (bonus track) (3:30)
Tylko Ty To Jest To (feat Cheeba & Scratch DJ Mad - Hemp Gru Jungle Scratch rework) (4:10)
Mocny Bass To Jest To (feat Sabot & Scratch DJ Chmielix - Hemp Gru Jungle Scratch rework) (4:09)
Sabot (acappella) (4:08)
Review: Jungle Scratch's latest release JS002 is a vinyl-only 12" that hits all the right notes for beat lovers and turntablists. This time, they've taken Hemp Gru's 'This is it' and reworked it with contributions from Cheeba and Sabot, adding their own flavours to the beat. DJ Cent, DJ Vazee, DJ Chmielix, and MAD are on hand with cuts and scratches, giving the tracks that raw, live feel. As a bonus, Mad & Tuse have included a special track made just for turntablists, adding even more value to the release. Each copy also comes with limited edition stickers, and Tuse's artwork rounds off the package, making JS002 a must-have for collectors and scratch enthusiasts alike.
Review: Solene and J. Rawls team up for a delicious pair of pelagic, coolant nu-soul and house nocturnes, crossing the sparse but oceanic space between genres. On 'Love Moon', the producer and singer respectively cover such intense themes as late-night reflectivity and good company: "nothing glam, it's just you and me..." Solene intones this sombrely, as the last syllable is heard to trail off into a surfactant mist. Meanwhile, 'Can't Catch Me In Love' raises the emotive drawbridge once more, hoisting supporting pillars of kick drum and serene pan flute, as flirtatious gingerbread taunts are heard in the chorus, not to mention musings on past relationship blunders.
Review: After more than a decade, Phili star Freeway reunites with Seattle super-producer Jake One for their second full-length collaboration. Known for his timeless, versatile beats that always somehow resonate with both underground and mainstream audiences, Jake One's production provides the perfect backdrop for Freeway's gritty lyrics here. Next to those two, the record features an impressive lineup of guest appearances including Black Thought, Jadakiss, Conway the Machine, Sauce Walka, Peedi Crack, Scholito and Symba. Together, they deliver a powerful, cohesive project that highlights the enduring chemistry between Freeway and Jake One with hard-hitting beats and sharp, memorable rhymes.
Review: You will always have a job second-guessing where The Gaslamp Killer might go next. This time, it is to a new collaborative album with Jason Wool. ANANDA find the pair cooking up 33 minutes of avant-garde experimental jazz underpinned by heavy bass and topped with plenty of sound design madness that calls to mind the likes of Stanley Clark, David Axelrod and Aphex Twin. The synapse firing collage of 'Chaos In The Brain' is a great example of the joys of this record - organic and synthetic, chaotic yet calm. It's a real treat.
Disconnect! (feat Fredwave, Louis Culture, J Caesar) (3:57)
Called Me Insane (feat Elijah Waters) (1:27)
Over You (2:45)
Review: With this new sophomore album, East London's Jeshi faces challenges head-on and embraces chaos as a catalyst for creativity. He explains that he is driven by the desire to fully experience life and art, no matter how difficult and Airbag Woke Me Up captures this energy with a mix of tunes meant to provoke reactions and start conversations. Drawing from his global stage experiences, the dynamic sound shifts moods and tempos as Jeshi's versatile voice ties everything together with multiple layers of expression. This is a record which explores transformation after hardship and marks Jeshi's arrival as a defining artist of the day.
Review: Boy Better Know founder, vegan grime MC and one third of the Adenuga family legacy alongside Skepta and radio presenter Julie, JME has always floated above grime and bass music airspaces as an incontestable voice. Integrity first arrived through BBK as a fully self-produced banger set in 2015, corralling heavyweight collaborators Wiley, Giggs, Skepta, and D Double E to hammer home a certain message: simply put: don't mess. Wavering between dreamy and tearout instrumentals almost always orbiting 140bpm, and circulated between then "in" producers Joker, Deeco, and of course the inimitable Swifta, JME's subject matter always matches the vibe, be that as it may, boxing the opposition with car key fobs, or treating producers like prostitutes, giving them P for a beat. A certain nostalgia will wash over 10s grime listeners, as this limited edition clear vinyl reissue reinvokes the mouthy verbiage of one of grime's toppest guns.
Review: Alex "Landy" Hill was the producer for and founding member of the 80s r&b and disco group Timex Social Club. This gem is the result of a deep dive into his archives and is an unreleased 1990s Bay Area demo project. The collection features nine original tracks created in collaboration with vocalist Jordana and songwriter John Pruitt all written and recorded in Hill's modest apartment studio. As you would expect of him, the tunes capture the raw, soulful energy of the era's underground r&b and funk scene with a nice lo-fi edge and plenty of analogue sounds from the time. Long tucked away on ageing cassette tapes, the recordings have now been carefully restored by PPU to offer a great look at Hill's post-Timex era.
Review: Juice WRLD's posthumous album is a powerful continuation of the late rapper's unique style in that it mixes up introspective lyrics with emotive melodies and raw tap beats. The Party Never Ends delivers a mix of emo rap and melodic hooks that are all aden with the American star's signature vulnerability. Tracks like 'Misfit' and 'Party By Myself' dive into themes of love, loss and mental health, all of which resonate deeply with fans. The production is atmospheric and immersive with smooth transitions between songs and though the album captures Juice's raw energy and emotional depth, it also serves as a poignant reminder of the talent lost too soon.
Review: We don't half love a bit of Steven Julien, the artist formally known as Funkineven. And this new EP arrives just at the right time as the days brighten, the sun heats up and cruising day-time funk, house and boogie blends are all you want to pump out of your retro 3 series with the top down. 'Time' has distinctly 80s flavours with its bright chords and beats, 'Ultra' is more heavy with a contemporary rap/trap edge and 'Up' is a raw house cut with swinging kicks. 'Wraap't' is another crunchy and loved-up 80s street soul sound then 'Lil'bit' and 'Ballad' close out with more neon pads and retro-future melodic sparkle.
Review: Talib Kweli and J Rawls reunite after 25 years to deliver a heartfelt tribute to hip-hop's golden era. Their collaboration blends Kweli's razor-sharp lyricism with Rawls' authentic boom-bap production, crafting a rich, soulful journey through the genre's essence. Tracks like 'Breath, Eyes, Memory' bring introspection, while 'Turnstyle' captures nostalgia and 'Native Sons' pays homage to the Native Tongues collective. With an impressive roster of collaborators including Blu, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Skyzoo, the album underscores the depth of rap culture. A celebration of roots, growth and timeless artistry, firmly rooted in the traditions that shaped the genre.
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