Nick Bike - "Scratch Sentence / 98 Beat / Skipless / 101 Beat" (6:19)
Review: Private Stock Records serves up a treat for DJs and turntablists with a new 12" packed with beats, scratches, and skipless tracks. Four skilled DJsiBig Once, Cutso, Double A, and Nick Bikeicontribute their skills to this collection, offering a diverse range of flavours for scratching and beat juggling. Each DJ delivers a 'Scratch Sentence' and a selection of beats at various tempos, providing a versatile toolkit for creative routines. The inclusion of skipless tracks adds another dimension, allowing for seamless blends and extended mixes. With its focus on functionality and quality, this release is a must-have for any serious turntablist or DJ looking to expand their arsenal of sounds.
Review: Kiss Klassics have been producing some high-quality promo double singles for a while now, this double headliner of Nelly and Fat Joe being the eighth instalment in their archival series. Side A was the runaway standout from New York rap legend Fat Joe's 2001 titanic-sized album 'Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.)', 'Whats Luv' with the one and only Ashanti. This marked Ashanti's debut year as an artist, the Tina Turner sample hook becoming the soundtrack of the block party and becoming one of the biggest songs of 2002. Side B needs no introduction. "It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes". No matter what you think of Nelly, 'Hot in Herre' continues to have the world in a chokehold over 20 years later.
Review: US rap royalty Nas's 'Ultra Black' features producer Hit-Boy and was released in mid-summer 2020 as the lead single from his thirteenth album, King's Disease. Lyrically, Nas pays homage to all things Black as he draws on his black heritage and African-American culture while the beats remain deeply laidback with jazzy chords up top. In an interview at the time with NME, the rapper said the song "represents love" although some interpreted the lyrics as a diss towards singer and rapper Doja Cat. This 7" features the vocal version and an instrumental.
Life Is Like A Dice Game (feat Cordae & Freddie Gibbs) (4:45)
Life Is Like A Dice Game (instrumental) (4:44)
Review: A whole bunch of Nas singles are being reissued on 7" courtesy of Mass Appeal at the moment, and each one is as essential now as it was when it first arrived. This one is slightly different as 'Life is like a Dice Game' was a demo and one of the firm fan favourites from the legendary New York mic man, taken from his undeniably best period - the Illmatic era. Now 30 years old, it gets revisited and completed properly with Freddie Gibbs and Cordae, who were 11 years old and not born when the track was initially recorded in 1993. The unfinished original version leaked in 1995 so to finally have it officially completed is epic.
Review: First featured on Nas' peerless 1994 album "Illmatic" - a classic that really should be in your collection - "The World Is Yours" is a classic Pete Rock production that has never appeared on a seven-inch single before. Mr Bongo has decided to set the record straight, pairing the album version, which includes some of Nas' most potent lyrics, delivered in fine style as you'd expect, with an instrumental take that showcases Pete Rock's brilliant beat and tight, on-point scratches. It's a deliciously baggy beat all told, with sampled pianos and subtle jazz lifts combining cannily to create a suitably laidback, golden-era groove.
Review: There are not many songs in the history of hip-hop that are more important than 'Hip-Hop Hooray'. The track single handedly helped catapult underground rap sounds into mainstream success. The song was a massive hit moving into the top ten on the Billboard and #1 on the hip-hop chart and with a memorable video directed by Spike Lee, it was in heavy rotation on every music and video platform. Naughty By Nature became household names and the single went on to sell platinum status. You could not escape this anthem of the streets. Now, the groundbreaking song is reissued on 7" for the first time in over 30 years.
Review: 'O.P.P.' by Naughty By Nature is an iconic hip-hop song that not only achieved commercial success, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning platinum status, but broke barriers and became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s. The song's success helped Naughty By Nature establish themselves as a major force in hip-hop and contributed to their longevity in the industry. 'O.P.P.' continues to be celebrated and remembered, showing the group's ability to blend rough subject matter with catchy pop hooks, making it a timeless classic in the genre. The Hip-Hop movement was arguably the most important cultural movement in the 80s and 90s. Here you have one of its most important soundtracks.
Review: NEMS, the "Mayor of Coney Island," joins forces with DJ Skizz and SkyAsia to drop 'Christmas Spectacular' on 7" vinylia physical release after its digital debut. This one is a proper holiday banger backed by High Water Music, FYL and DWMG and featuring eye-catching artwork with Kith's photography and a layout by Sieteson. Known for his gritty style and wit, NEMS puts his own twist on festive vibes, making this bit of vinyl a must-have for hip-hop fans wanting a fresh spin on holiday cheer.
Review: The Nextmen team up once more with Kiko Bun here and he is proving himself to really be one of the UK's standout vocal talents right now. Together they to deliver a big anthem bursting with feel-good vibes. Perfect for sunny days, this track begs for windows down and volume up. The vocals are packed with soul and flow freely over instrumental beats with a cool sense of funk. The tune has another robust groove doused in club culture and a love of hip-hop, as is often the case with Dom Search and Brad Baloo aka The Nextmen who are renowned UK DJs and producers celebrated for their eclectic mixes, albums and podcasts.
Review: In a break from their usual program, Circoloco look to Chicago and the rising star that is NEZ. Previously spotted last year on Three Six Zero alongside Felix Da Housecat, now NEZ throws down three varied cuts that show he's one to keep tabs on. First up comes 'You Wanna?', a pumped up peak time house cut with our man upfront inciting the dancefloor to come alive. 'Let's Get It' drops down into trap mode with Schoolboy Q jumping on the mic, and then the B side turns the heat up with the mighty Moodymann and Gangsta Boo chipping in to create a party monster in 'Freaks'. Skip this one at your peril.
Review: Few labels are better at saving up big cut-and-paste tunes from the world of hip-hop, r&b, funk and breaks than Heat Rock. Here they come again with more of the goodness, firstly with Nick Nack. His 'And Ya Say' roll deep, with smooth bars flowing freely over the leggy drums. On the reverse, Chicago's Altered Tapes crew offer up their own unique take of hip hop classic 'Still Running' in the form of a shuffling Bossa B-boy flip which has Latin percussion and ass-wigging drums. Both of these are floor-friendly cuts that pack in plenty of heritage.
Review: First time released on 7" vinyl, and taken from the critically-acclaimed Non Phixion album The Future Is Now. This reissue of Strange Universe includes the original LP version produced by Necro, plus two new remixes by The Czar-Keys and Marco Polo. The Strange Universe was birthed amongst the numerous blunted, Colt 45 malt liquor-fuelled sessions Non Phixion had with Doom at their Area 51 studio in Canarsie in 1998. Necro provided the beat, which everyone thought sounded like something Doom would have made. It was one of the first songs recorded for The Future Is Now.
Review: Baltimore's gothic synthpop golden child Nourished By Time (Marcus Brown) has made a wonderful name for himself so far, flaunting a blithe, nigh ghostly vocal talent, usually paired with a lo-fi alt-pop aesthetic. The 'Catching Chickens' EP, his debut record for XL Recordings, continues this trend with a brand new five-track EP, following up 2023's equally great LP Erotic Probiotic 2. Written between 2022 - 2023 in his home studio in Baltimore and along his world travels this past year, Catching Chickens is derived from the film Rocky, and the iconic scene in which Rocky's trainer makes him chase and catch a flock of chickens as a test of agility. Channelling Brown's per usual contemplation of late stage capitalism and post-pandemic loneliness, every song here is indicative of a well-earned artistic progression.
Review: Neibiss and Pasokon Ongaku Club's collaborative single 'Flow Ya Mind' is a superb new single from an Osaka-based label themed around "baths." This marks their second release following 2022's On Rei/Froject A by EVISBEATS and Nagipan. The track combines a solid bassline with an ambient backdrop, snappy Amen breakbeats and Neibiss' relaxed, bath-themed rap. The song's calming composition is said to suit any hot spring setting and we can't disagree. Mastered by Naoya Tokuno and with artwork by Neibiss' rafitt, the is a fine new 7".
Luniz - "I Got 5 On It" (feat Michael Marshall) (4:17)
Review: The Street Knowledge "45 series" appears to have been set up to educate heads on original 1990s hip-hop jams, or at the very least deliver fresh pressings of some seriously classic cuts. This inaugural release begins with Warren G and Nate Dogg's 1994 heater "Regulate", a deep and seductive number that makes great use of samples from Michael McDonald's teary blue-eyed soul classic "I Keep Forgetting". Flip to the B-side and you'll find Luniz 1995 hit "I Got 5 On It", a cut that's been bitten, reworked and re-made umpteen times in the 24 years that have passed since it was first released. As this reissue proves, the Oakland duo's original version is still streets ahead of the rest.
Heartbreak Of A Broken Stitch (feat Harriet Morley) (2:37)
SM_FID (2:26)
Everything Ends With An Inhale (1:29)
Cement Skin (2:42)
Pixel Petals (2:52)
Slammd (interlude) (1:42)
Closer (3:12)
Terrence's Time Bomb (2:05)
Fragmentary (Eraser) (3:03)
Inside My Head (interlude) (2:12)
Still (feat Dawuna) (2:06)
Fawning (interlude) (2:02)
Kiss Me Again (6am In Helsinki) (feat Bennettiscoming) (2:39)
Review: Spanish producer Nueen and Manchester vocalist and rapper Iceboy Violet, who you might well recognised from appearing on Hyperdub releases by the likes of aya and Loraine James, come together for a collaborative work that follows the story of a four-year-long relationship. As you can imagine, therefore, it takes in peaks and troughs, emotional highs, depressive lows, and plenty in between that will all feel all too familiar to anyone who has ever fallen in and out of love. Drill-laced beats are laced with intimate melodies, and excitable chords spiral out of control while a menacing ambience percolates up from below. It's a powerful listen with a relatable narrative.
Review: Mike Flips and Seize join forces here for an album that draws on the magic of classic boom bap. Life Cycles is brought to life with the dexterous rhymes of the talented Outsiders Syndicate MC Nord1kone and makes for an introspective trip that both looks to the past, but also the future. There are some cultured guest spots along the way too from El Da Sensei of the Artifacts crew as well as another Outsiders Syndicate MC in The I.M.F. Arriving on translucent blue vinyl this is a perfect record for those with a love of the old school but who like a little new school freshness with their beats.
Review: Belgian producer Sim Nagai is back to take you on a worldly trip with ore of his well designed sounds on this new album for Cold Busted. It will be no surprise to learn once you hear this album that he loves to travel and manages to ably capture that in his work. Equator Hotline is packed with exotica-fuelled beatscapes and transportive vibes. On 'Animal Lithographs' there are lush harp sounds and subtle eastern melodies, 'Floating Through The Delta' is a humid and steamy trip down the river with the gentle patter of hand drums and swooning strings and 'Catching Waves' then carries you away on more gently broken beat loops and sun kissed melodies. This is super warm music for super warm days.
Review: Jupiter is a radiant return for Noa that signals a new quality to her artistry. Following her 2021 album, And Then Life Was Beautiful, which was shaped by personal challenges and a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Nao embraces joy and healing on this fourth outing. Tracks like 'Elevate' and 'Wildflowers' express optimism with others like 'Better Days' and 'Happy People' underscoring the theme of growth. The album blends funky guitar solos, delicious drum patterns and nostalgic sounds throughout and manages to show up great musical versatility across a rich, emotionally powerful album.
Review: By this point Nas doesn't have anything prove in terms of East Coast hip-hop, but here he is after all this time delivering some of the most vital work of his career. With Hit-Boy on the buttons, the Illmatic man cuts through with razor sharp invective as he weaves stories and standpoints with frankly mind-bending dexterity. Whatever got him fired up, this is the sound of an artist driven to set the mic on fire, but equally there's a sense of maturity in his lyrics and delivery which shows how much he's learned on his long and winding journey. Stepping up to the mighty MC, the beats are no joke either, hitting a sweet spot between true-skool ethics and fresh approaches so it doesn't feel like a throwback exercise. All hail the return of the king.
Review: Mass Appeal are busy putting on a mix of Nas reissues and newly finished versions of demos that have reminded us just how great the legendary New York rapper really has been over his storied career. This time out they are reissuing a full instrumental version of his 15th studio album Magic. It arrives on highlighter yellow coloured vinyl and even without all the brilliant bars from Nas, the beats here are top drawer from 'Wu For The Children' to 'Meet Joe Black' via 'Wave Gods.' Another crucial one for the collection of any hip-hop head.
Review: Many years after its release, Illmatic still remains a gold standard hip hop album and one of the most accomplished debuts ever recorded. It's the multi-syllabic internal rhymes of Nas, the tales he tells of life in the Queensbrudge suburbs of New York and the lexicon he uses which makes it resonate through the ages. Of course, the production (taken care fo by Bas as well as DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock and Q-Tip) and wealth of samples also elevates each tune to a higher plane that few have ever matched since. Including Nas himself, frankly. The album is widely regarded as one of greatest and most influential hip hop albums of all time, so don't sleep on this latest vinyl issue.
One Mic, One Gun (feat 21 Savage - bonus track) (2:49)
Review: Nas is riding high on a renewed wave of recognition and relevance in the rap game through these collaborations with Hit-Boy, which have been flying out at a rate of knots since King's Disease in 2020. If the pair sometimes revert to classic boom-bap in the style Was originally found fame with, on Magic 2 they're also testing limits with some Atlanta and Memphis-inspired rhythms that show the NYC veteran to be hungry for new challenges and more than able to step up to them. Just sit for a minute with 'Abracadabra' and you'll hear everything you need to know about the new tricks Nas can fold into his inimitable flow.
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