Back catalogue: Hip Hop/R&B

Review: UK ensemble Abstract Orchestra is led by producer Rob Mitchell and has built its name through jazz-infused hip-hop tributes to legends like J Dilla and MADVILLAIN. Their latest cut, 'Big Bad Wolf,' features Detroit MC Guilty Simpson, whose booming baritone drives the track's cinematic narrative. Originally shelved and not put out, Mitchell revived the collaboration by rewriting the entire instrumental. The result is a two-part journey: from eerie, dreamlike strings to hard-hitting live drums, textured synths and reverb-heavy vocals. With lines like 'when a good guy becomes a villain' Simpson's in raw vengeance mode and jay lyrical grit meets with tight musicianship for modern hip-hop orchestration at its boldest.

Review: .5 Borough Breaks are back with another essential slice of 90s hip-hop nostalgia. Their latest 7" revives a 1995 Hot 97 favourite-a gritty, golden-era banger that once ruled the NYC airwaves. Handily pressed for both DJs and collectors, Blahzay Blahzay's 'Danger' captures the raw energy of East Coast rap at its peak. As always with this label, the flip side features the original sample source: a soulful gem 'Rockin Chair' from recently departed legend Gwen McCrae whose legacy shaped generations of soul fans and hip-hop heads. As such, this 7" combines deep digging with authentic hip-hop flair and pays tribute to both the beatmakers and the soul pioneers who inspired them. Essential wax.

Review: Following the likes of 'A Journey Into Abstract HipHop' and 'Snap Your Neck Back', the Gasoline collective continued their early legacy with 'Fuck You I'm 21' which arrived digitally in 2023, 21 years after the debut EP. It comes now as a 7" with all the original cuts included. The opener is an old-school blend of raw beats, scratching and smart samples, 'Human Sucks' then pairs moody spoke words with eerie late-night boom-bap and 'Zattar' is a short beat interlude that oozes atmosphere. 'Dark In The 46th District' is the final short but pithy beat sketch which is a great example of experimental hip-hop and beat culture from the turn of the millennium.

Review: Celebrating its tenth anniversary, 36 Seasons remains a unique album, combining gritty storytelling with soul-driven production. With a compelling narrative written by Matthew Rosenberg, the album immerses listeners in the life of Tony Starks, a streetwise figure navigating betrayal, revenge and redemption. The collaboration with The Revelations brings a fresh, live-band sound that elevates the classic Ghostface energy, blending sharp lyricism with rich, retro-soul instrumentation. Guest performances feature Kool G Rap, AZ and Pharoahe Monch further enhance the storytelling, adding layers of character development, while tracks like 'The Dogs of War' and 'Homicide' showcase sharp lyricism and dramatic tension, while the album's emotional depth, especially on 'Love Don't Live Here', offers a more intimate side of Starks. This reissue brings out the full range of the album's soulful grooves and cinematic narrative. Whether revisiting 36 Seasons for its narrative or its production, this anniversary edition invites both new listeners and longtime fans to experience it in a fresh, vivid light.

Review: Ghostface Killah's 36 Seasons, first released in 2014, plays out like a gritty graphic novel; we follow Ghostface's maskless alter-ego Tony Starks as he returns to Staten Island after nine years in solitary. Expecting to reunite with his old life, he instead finds his community in disarray, friends turned enemies and betrayal lurking around every corner. So, fuelled by revenge and a broken heart, Starks becomes a reluctant antihero, navigating a grave landscape of corruption, street politics and lost love. The album unfolds over soul-drenched production from The Revelations, creating a cinematic backdrop for the narrative's descent into movie violence and moral compromise. This reissue through Salvation keeps true to the album's original totting of 14 tracks, eschewing the extra ten on the deluxe edition.

Review: Ghostface Killah, legendary Wu-Tang Clan member, invites us to relive the cinematic brilliance of 36 Seasons, his tenth studio album and a conceptual death blow. The record chronicles the journey of Tony Starks (not an uncoincidental Iron Man reference), whose return to Staten Island after nine years, after a lengthy stint in the slammer, finds him only a further embroilment in the seedy underworlds and ganglands of New York. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the album is reissued here in special editions and with exclusive bonuses, including an original graphic novel booklet and poster, diving deeper into a gripping saga of personal redemption and street resilience.

Review: Jean Grae and Quelle Chris come together brilliantly here on Everything's Fine, a sharp, satirical and refreshingly non-toxic hip-hop album from two of the genre's most unique voices. Superbly blending Jean's razor-sharp lyricism with Quelle's introspective wit, the project takes aim at societal absurdities with intelligence and humour and comes with notable Cameos from comedy heavyweights like Nick Offerman, Michael Che, John Hodgman and Hannibal Buress who all add an extra layer of punch. Politically charged, deeply self-aware and sonically adventurous, this is essential listening for fans of boundary-pushing rap, and it comes on a stunning tri-colour vinyl that is as bold as the music itself.

Review: Following the success of Lo-Fi Ghibli in 2022, underground hip-hop head Grey October Sound is back with a new cover album that finds him reimagining iconic Japanese city-pop tracks through lo-fi hip-hop. It is another gem from P-VINE that features laid-back reinterpretations of classics such as Miki Matsubara's 'Mayonaka no Door,' Yasuha's 'Fly-Day Chinatown,' and Taeko Onuki's 'Tokai' alongside songs by Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi and Yumi Arai. It's. Lush world of carefully hinted at nostalgic melodies with relaxed beats soothing mind, body and soul, all with a lo-fi and retro city-pop charm.

Review: Go-to lo-fi from Grey October Sound, P-Vine's resident hip-hop group and collective vibe queller. Having built a steady beatmaking operation initially from Studio Ghibli thematics and other anime associations, the group now continue to turn their hand to originals, furthering your capacity to wind down after many a long, protracted cramming sesh. Whether flashcards, cats on laps and hot steaming cocoa are or aren't your thing, that's OK, because we can bet the dragging rhythms of 'Tokai', the desultory pocket piano missive '1000%', and/or the closing crepuscule 'DOWN TOWN' will be.

Review: Goyard Ibn Said marks Ghais' debut album arrived following two self-released mixtapes. Released under Fat Possum, this concept album introduces Goyard as a fictional anti-hero, guiding listeners through a narrative split into two acts. Act 1 celebrates the glamour and wealth of mainstream hip-hop stardom so is filled with ambition and triumph. However, Act 2 takes a somber turn as it delves into the personal struggles and tragedies faced in the pursuit of success. The album's compelling storytelling is heightened by Ghais' intricate production so offers a rich and evocative exploration of fame's darker side and marks a strong debut in the hip-hop scene.

Review: UK rapper Sonnyjim and producer Giallo Point deliver a cinematic masterclass in street rap on their new collaborative album. Sonnyjim's razor-sharp wit and sardonic charm cut through every bar of No Vi$ible Means of Income 3 while weaving tales of crime, luxury and survival with grit but also lyrical elegance. Giallo Point crafts lush, noir-inspired backdrops full of moody strings, dusty loops and crisp drums that feel ripped from a gangster flick. The album stays proudly UK-rooted with top-tier guest spots from Jehst, P4VAN, Juga-Naut, Farma G and Beny Laylo, all of whom help make an immersive world of suspense and swagger. British hip-hop at its most refined and raw.