Back catalogue: All genres

Review: While punk imprint-turned-electro and bass outfit Bunker Records specialises in 'dark electronic music for mutants' (as they put it), the Den Haag-based imprint is not averse to offering up oddball excursions and releases that are formidably hard to pigeonhole. We perhaps shouldn't be too surprised, then, to find them offering up a first label outing from Lunatika, a trap and drill rapper from the Hague whose Split Second Origins Part 1 LP is restlessly brilliant and impossible to describe. His raps - sometimes doused in auto-tune - are a constant, as is a lo-fi sound that pushes booming basslines and lo-fi beats to the fore. Bolted onto this framework are nods to mutant hip-hop, chopped and screwed R&B, dub, UK bass and his beloved drill and trap.

Review: Lupe Fiasco's Tetsuo & Youth marks a pivotal transition in his career, reflecting his evolving relevance in hip-hop. In his latest work, Lupe embraces a nuanced exploration of change, using seasonal interludesi"Summer," "Fall," "Winter," and "Spring"ito thematically structure the album. Each season encapsulates different moods, from the playful innocence of "Summer" to the dark realities of "Winter," culminating in a sense of renewal in "Spring." Highlights include the impressive 'Mural', where Lupe displays his talents with a nearly nine-minute verse, and 'Deliver', which poignantly addresses systemic issues through the metaphor of a delivery driver. The production, featuring contributions from DJ Dahi and others, provides a rich, musical backdrop that elevates his storytelling. Tetsuo & Youth is not just a comeback; it's a powerful statement of resilience and artistry in a genre often criticised for its complacency.

Review: On Signature, Joell Ortiz's raw lyrical prowess converges with L’Orange's time-honed production chops, resulting in a pure collaborative bombshell. L'Orange crafts beats exuding an undeniable vintage charm, which mesh delectably with Ortiz’s frank flows and delivery; most notable among these fusions is ‘In My Feelings’, detailing Ortiz’s upbringing as a young Brooklynite in search of purpose, then reflecting on his self-actualisation since those day ones. Not all is peachy, though: ‘Masked Up’ draws compelling metaphorical parallels between music industry rejection and harder street hustling, and L’Orange’s hazed-out stomper of a beat wickedly complements these harder-than-nails travails.

Review: Brooklyn don Joell Ortiz is back with one of his most potent partnerships to date. L'Orange is the kind of hip-hop producer who knows how to bridge the gap between sample-rooted nostalgia and head-twisting innovation, and so we're gifted with a full suite of beats that shock on first listen before burrowing their way into your subconscious before the second bar is finished. It's the perfect backdrop for Ortiz to lay down his crystal clear street tales, delivered with the perfect blend of venom, humour, sensitivity and stubbornness - gifts hard won on his rise to the top of the rap pile and deployed to devastating effect on this album.