Hip Hop / R&B Recommendations February 2013

Review: Erstwhile producer to the very biggest names in hip-hop, and one of Fiddy's G-Unit faces, Nick Speed has flown the coop to develop his own solo career with the help of KDJ's Mahogani imprint. And he's making quite the statement; The Beat Down sizzles with myriad inspirations and influences, pitching Speed somewhere between Kanye and Dangermouse. At one moment we're marching to the military heritage of "Say Good Bye", the next moment our heads are revolving deliriously at the savage 8-bit techno wheezes of "The Agent". Blurring the lines between electronica, hip-hop and raw soul, this is an engaging listen that captivates from start to finish.

Review: Former 4Hero producer Marc Mac is getting a dab hand at creating bespoke, mixtape-style albums that blend civil rights-era dialogue with fresh, jazz and soul-flecked hip-hop instrumentals. Following on from the excellent Extend The Knowledge and It's Right To Be Civil sets comes Message From Soulville, a set that focuses on the role black Americans played in the Vietnam War. It's another doozy, mixing luscious, string-laden jams, boom-bap beats and head nodding grooves with considered skits and pointed, sample-based commentary. There are some fantastic individual tracks amongst the 70-minute journey, including a near blissful re-tweak of "Walk On By" that's near anthemic in its execution.