Back catalogue: Hip Hop/R&B

Review: An independent hip-hop fixture for more than 15 years, famed Los Angeles emcee Blu has mastered the lost art of the album, imbuing each project with unique themes and often recruiting a single producer to craft a cohesive sonic experience. This has lead to full-length collaborations with the likes of Exile, Madlib, Shafiq Husayn, Oh No, Damu The Fudgemunk, and more, along with the 2018 classic Gods In The Spirit, Titans In The Flesh, produced by Virginia beatsmith Nottz. Now, Blu and Nottz reunite for the new album Afrika, a celebration of the rich history and culture of their ancestral homeland. With Swahili song titles and thunderous beats from Nottz, the collection finds Blu proudly embracing his roots, connecting black struggles in the U.S. to those of African peoples worldwide. This powerful message is reinforced by a legion of talented guests, as Afrika features appearances by Quelle Chris, Mickey Factz, Shad, Ill Camille, Scienze, Cashus King, and more.

Review: Fatlip & Blu were coming at us Live From The End Of The World on this sublime album via Nature Sounds. Fatlip of course has already assured his legacy as a member of The Pharcyde, one of the scene's most pioneering outfits back in the 1990s. He was an always creatively adventurous soul and Blu is no less acclaimed having always been able to narrate a wide range of tales. Here they called upon a wide range of west Coast talents and covered plenty of golden tunes which all now make it to wax for the first time. Guests include Del The Funky Homosapien, Gift Of Gab, MC Eiht, And Ras Kass, Along With Members Of Jurassic 5, Tha Alkaholiks, Souls Of Mischief, Freestyle Fellowship and more.