Back catalogue: Hip Hop/R&B

Review: Limited stock of official 2004 promo. 'U Haul' from Angie Stone
was written and produced by Missy Elliott.

Review: Ten years deep, First Word showcase just how timeless their output has been by exploring their vaults and repurposing some of their finest classics 10" re-releases. Never press to vinyl before, each of these cuts surges at the very forefront of hip-hop, funk and world music. Each track is a highlight; "African Kings" is quintessential Afrofunk laced with warm keys and undeniable groove infection, "The Nuts" is futuristic homage to Danny Breaks, Marc Mac conjures the spirit of the Steve Miller Band on his Homecut remix and the Capstone remix of the Andreya Triana-fronted "Good Morning What's New?" is a drum-heavy jazz daydream you'll never want to awake from. Here's to another 10 years!

Review: Bedroom beat producer Blank Check has teamed up with Honolulu's Aloha Got Soul and Tokyo's Grand Gallery for this majestic new six-song EP which comes on tidy 10" vinyl. It's mega limited with only 300 copies produced and it showcases loop-based music that evokes a floating sensation, which is reminiscent, say the accompanying notes, of Tommy Guerrero's world view. The instrumental sound features a dub-like quality that perfectly captures an urban mellow vibe that feels both original and authentic. Essentially it serves as a soundtrack to a short film that immerses you in atmospheric and cinematic soundscapes.

Review: Domu remixes 'Take It Low', from Manchester's finest hip-hop crew, Broke 'n' English. Domu's production is always on the mark
and his diversity and deftness never fail to shine through. Once again he comes up trumps reworking the original (taken from the
'Subject2Status' album) into an out & out club monster, part grimey , part hip-hop, part broken beat. Already aired and wholeheartedly
supported by Rob Luis, Benji B & Gilles Peterson. Broke 'n' English have just finished a run of gigs supporting Mos Def, De La Soul
and Pharaoh Monch and are building for their next album.

Review: All City's LA series reaches its penultimate episode with LA photographer come beatsmith Coleman and Detroit's Ta'Raach each taking a ten inch side of vinyl. More commonly known for the photographic direction of the Madvillain albums amongst other things, Coleman proves his production chops on his first solo endeavour. "Write Thing", the final collaborative track with Eglo's Fatima is pick here, with her buttery vocals riding the hazy orchestral stutter with aplomb. On the flip Ta'raach opts for the mixtape approach, adopting a Bullion style continual saunter through sampledelic heat.

Review: Quite possibly Community Library's rudest output to date, long-time junglist DJ C winds up some good and proper bouncement styles, alongside mic man Zulu, on "Bodywork". Side stepping all current trends for anything on a half-step tip, DJ C bubbles one up from the underground with a fiercely danceable, steamroller riddim constructed for excited pelvic grindations and wild gun finger salutes. Drop this in any dancehall from Dakar to Dublin for a spontaneous combustion effect.

Review: The dream team Dogger & Mindstate return to TNQ wax with this hearty package of soulful, hip-hop-influenced D&B flavours that was originally unleashed digitally last summer. Representing both their pathways into this music, from north to south, the duo recruit the likes of London's Verbz and Manchester's Sleazy F Baby to vocal and narrate their delicate, subtle but ultimately heavyweight rhythms. From the deep jazz of 'Different Roads' to the symphonic dynamics of 'From The Concrete', this is one of the hardest hitting and emotional records Dogger and Mindstate have made so far.

Review: The debut EP from Buscrates 16 Bit Ensemble and Sam Champ, Extra Medium pays homage to many sectors: the fine art of sampling, jazz, soul and hip-hop. Timeless, alluring, perfectly tempered and sporting some very talented vocalists, it's one of those records you feel like you've known forever on the first listen. Highlights include the dreamy sweeps and Ty-like flow "Know Thy Self" and the lolloping, Brownswood / Amp Fiddler soul of "Born Again". There's an album in the pipeline apparently... judging by this 10" yardstick, it's going to be pretty special.

Review: German Ivan Ave is a core member of the flourishing contemporary beat scene and has put out a coupe of crucial record on labels like Berlin's Jakarta. Now he branches out to Norway's Mutual Intentions with a crisp new EP, Mid Season, on 10". It showcases the dexterity of his voice which goes from offering up classic bloom bap era par's to more stylised Prince-esque deliveries on 'Mid' and downbeat, almost mumble rap styles on 'Names.' Four instrumental versions of the originals are included on the flip and will be sweet in the club, but you can't beat the vocals.

Review: Ahead of the release of the Rebirth of Detroit album which features Motor City upstarts MCing over DIlla beats, this taster 10" drops two stone cold slices of head-snapping hip hop that made Dilla such a legend amongst beatsmiths. Danny Brown is on fearsome form on "Jay Dee's Revenge", slightly delirious and completely on the attack in his flow, but it's all dressing for the utterly monstrous beat underneath. A big bass lick and nagging melodic hooks make this an unmissable reappropriation of the Dilla legacy. "Birthright" finds the excellent Guilty Simpson throwing down his laconic delivery over a sparser beat with the drums at the front of the mix.

Review: Quirky electro dance master Mr Oizo gives UK pop, r&b sensation Jamelia a funked-up, electroclash reworking of her new forthcoming single.

Review: After a summer spent deep within their own customized black hole, Kode9 & Spaceape emerge with this all-new single, the only vinyl outing for 2 tracks providing a preview of their feverishly awaited incoming full length CD 'Memories Of The Future', due at the front end of October. Featuring one of Spaceape's most direct verbal performances yet, 'Curious' opens in the wind tunnel - laced by the lush vocals of new recruit to the Hyperdub Kru, Ms. Haptic - and refrains with the infectiously ambivalent chorus "Maybe we will save you... Maybe we will kill you". Rushed along by its bustling hi-hats, 'Curious' drops into Hyperdub's customary wall of sub. While both tracks feature Kode9's distinctively offkey combination of melodica and synth, and an equally upfront vocal, 'Portal' swerves into another orbit altogether with deranged, alien synths skewing an accelerated, rollin' half-step groove, as Spaceape flows from outer to inner space. A wake up call to dub zombies everywhere. "A truly original ska-tech probe. Jettisoning dubstep's sludge step dirge for levitational piano chords, hallucinatory melodica loops and disorientating fx vapour trails, they've stepped up their game admirably. And with Spaceape moving out of LKJ's shadow into his own regal kingdom, there's an air of befitting confidence, and that's brilliantly heightened by Ms Haptic, sounding like Nicolette locked in the echo chamber.

Review: Firecracker's impeccable UNTHANK series continues, with boss man Lindsay Todd securing a first collaborative EP from Lemme Kno, a surprise hook-up between Maxmillion Dunbar and Rush Hour 'No Label' alumnus Morgan 'DJ Isle O'Man' Buckley. "The Tie With The Most Stripes" provides an excellent opening, with the duo exploring their shared love of instrumental hip-hop, Luke Vibert and sparkling dancefloor electronics. "Way (188 Krew Mix)" continues in a similar vein (think vintage Kenny Dope-style Jeep beats and samples meets lo-fi synths), before they reach for the jugular on standout cut "1234567". Built around early hardcore style breakbeats, loved-up chord sweeps, new age synthesizers and bleep melodies, the track harnesses both the musical zeitgeist, and each producer's distinctive talents.

Review: The LOL Boys duo of Jerome Potter and Markus Garcia hit No Relation with one of the biggest UK funky-inspired anthems of recent years: "Moments In Heartbreak" is a crafty two-step reincarnation of some of the finest early noughties moments, with some highly infectious lyrics. "Moments Grown & Sexy" is almost a continuation of that brilliant track, expanding and refixing those lyrics. BIG!

Review: A Very Spidey Christmas was first released only on digital platforms back in 2018. It entails five of the Christmas tunes that were first recorded for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. There is the lovely holiday song 'Spidey-Bells (A Hero's Lament)' by Chris Pine, who is also behind the festive 'Up On The House Top'. Other cast members such as Shameik Moore appear on 'Joy To The World', with Jake Johnson doing a fine turn on 'Deck The Halls' and Jorma Taccone on 'The Night Before Christmas 1967'. These are fun tunes with plenty of warming festive cheer on crystal clear vinyl 10" picture disc that is going to send collectors wild.

Review: Out now on 10" is "Inertia", the sublime follow-up to 2005's "Amongst Strangers" by Paul Cooper, or Mr Cooper to you. Limited to only 500 copies worldwide, the record features two exclusive tracks from the man as well as remixes.

Review: When working solo, Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Jack Steadman is known as Mr Jukes. His first solo album dropped in 2018 and feted some big collabs, one of which was with Barney Artist. That track was a firm favourite with everyone and so the pair worked on more music including a full-length last year. Now comes more of the good stuff in the form of the Eternal EP which pairs classic boom bap hip hop beats with more expressive and musical stuff like the horn-led, worldly-influenced drops of '93' . For us, the more neo-soul-tinged vocals and deeper, dustier beats of 'Sacred Symphony' are what standout here.

Review: The 1st in the Poo-Bah 10" series, Ras G drops 6 tracks of abstract hip hop/downtempo. Influenced by dub reggae, hip hop, cut & paste (ala Steinski and Coldcut) and downtempo, these are blunted beats of the highest order. Comes in a nice picture sleeve and hand numbered (out of 500).

Review: Mark Ronson works his magic and covers Britney Spears and Coldplay in a party breaks style on 10" vinyl.

Review: Rising 140 sculptor Samba proudly presents his own label 26.RAIN. Following a whole string of heavily supported releases on the likes of System Music, Deep, Dark & Dangerous and Encrypted, the label is a new outlet for a fresh synth-led fusion style he's been developing gradually. Deep, musical, not shy of an 808 or a two-step or two, there's a touch of UKG, wave and trap deep across both sides. "Acecloud" is the big neon dreamer of the duo while "Cookies" crumbles a little more delicately and introspectively. An excellent launch release, we're saving our rainy day money for 002.

Review: Coby Sey's monthly NTS show has long been essential listening for those with a passion for skewed hip-hop, experimental electronica and off-kilter ambience. Last year saw him successfully step into music production for the first time with an industrial-tinged 7" of left-of-centre sonic experiments. This EP for Whities is even more impressive, and features a range of tracks that variously draw influence from glitch-heavy electronica, glacial soundscapes, offbeat techno and the kind of hazy downtempo fare that's hard to pin down. It's a hugely entertaining collection that belies its' creator's relative lack of production experience, suggesting the Londoner - whose spoken word vocals appear throughout - could be a name to watch in the years to come.

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: SZA's sophomore 2017 album Ctrl remains one of contemporary r&b's best records of the last decade. It cleared up with awards and has had us hanging on tight for a follow up ever since. There is none on the horizon yet, but there have been a couple of singles in the last year. 'Good Days', on her home label Top Dawg Entertainment comes with clean and dirty versions. The tune has all the glossy synth work and swirling pads you would expect, with SZA's own aching vocals layering in the soul and vulnerability, while warm backing vocals add an extra element of goodness.

Review: "Raach City Riot" marks the first instrumental release for Ta Raach. This EP captures the essence of people living in a bleak society and how they face down a bloated regime and its jive idealisms.

Review: Twit One is a master of crafting lo-fi beats with a difference. His sounds are hazy and frayed round the edges for that extra real and lived-in feel. On this new EP he arranges and composes some perfect vocals, lush samples, jazzy chords and nicely chopped up chords into 14 super short and super sweet tracks. Teenwolf is a perfect companion for a lazy Sunday afternoon, a mindful walk or a smoking session on the sofa round your mates. There are references to soul, the cosmos, jazz greats and much more in this potent little record.

Review: D3 Elements clocks up release number five here by offering up a full EP to Zhao-Ski, who previously appeared on the VA EP release in 2014. What he serves up are a clutch of instrumental hip hop tracks that speak to the soul.
Zhao-Ski has been a key figure on the Detroit scene for years. A DJ since his teens and owner of the Black Operation Records label since the 90s, he has produced as part of collectives, played live with MCs and has been mentored by the famous Mad Mike Banks. As such his credentials and skills are long established, so he makes a welcome return to the D3 ranks.
'Enter the Void' opens things up with louche, sun kissed beats that immediately brighten up your world. 'Mischief Meadow' has tumbling drums, trilling keys and lots of dusty atmospherics and 'Warning Signs' marries spoken world snippets with jazzy percussive, slowly funky drums and woozy pads that lull you into a wholly relaxed state. On the flip, 'Tight and Upright' is all about the huge over sized drums, snares and cymbal splashes that are all miked up super closely, then 'Time Reimagined' starts with some filmic and evocative vocals and sound design before a trumpet led groove unravels in stoned trip hop fashion. Overall, this is a magically compelling and authentic little ride through the mind of Detroit's hip hop king, Zhao-Ski.

Review: Amp Fiddler brings the vibes on "Right Where You Are", the first single to be lifted from the brand new and supremely soulful album "Afro Strut" backed with some serious mixes coming from Tom Middleton and Hot Chip. Both of Tom's mixes are as expected deeper than deep, spacey and very much in his Global Communication style. One is a full soulful vocal mix on "The Way The Deep" tip while the dub gets ever so spaced out and heavily effected. Hot Chip strip the whole thing down to a mid paced eight minute voyage into future soul and the extended version completes the package.

Review: For a project that has taken thirty years it would be totally inadequate to call the formation of Hypocritical Beatdown a lockdown-project. There's a deep history and psychology in these records by Violators Of The English Language and their spin-off groups Magnets (Rap Group) and ProVerbs, that combines stage-fright, loss, pride, creative-schizophrenia, racial inequality, surrealism, personal politics, brotherhood, artistic-constipation, better judgment, love, anti-love, soul searching and much more.

The one remaining untapped energy source here is perhaps FEAR, refreshing when used correctly, but never imposter syndrome. As maligned and mutated as this British Hip-Hop might appear to be, it could not be more pure. Each member of all of the Hypocritical Beatdown crew were committed to this cause as soon as the doors opened. They rapped on stages before they had even tasted beer or lost their virginity and the curse had already taken hold in the years when these youngsters still had to be back home before dark and it has never left their bloodstreams.

That's why this record NEEDED to be made. Completed, recorded, exorcised, committed to vinyl, rotated and liberated. Not unlike the VHS tape in a well known Japanese horror film, every listened copy, complete with its broken beats, old-school sensibilities and Marmite Mancunian accents, adds to the mystic circle... breaks the dream... some people might even like it. If you were given a chance to go back and meet your teenage self, wouldn't you?