Captain Gloats vs The Beastie Boys - "Ring My Cheque Up" (4:34)
Captain Gloats - "Chequestrumental" (4:34)
Review: A genius soundclash with a distinct New York flavour, bringing two generations of world beating sounds from the Big Apple together on the same track. The rapping is just as smart mouthed and amusing as you'd expect, but it's their unlikely pairing with these familiar 70s disco grooves and additional beat enhancing that brings this release to life. It all makes for a heady, ludicrous but also ludicrously natural sounding mashup that you can really imagine causing carnage on many a dancefloor. There's an instrumental mix on the flip, too, for those after something a little less audacious to spin, but the A-side is where the true action is.
Review: TakeFingz returns with its seventh release and offers up a double A-side 7" tailored for dancefloor devastation. On Side A, DJ Katch reworks classic funk breaks into a groove-heavy party igniter that betrays some seriously sharp turntable skills and crowd-moving instincts. It's a surefire weapon for any set in high-energy settings. On the flip, DJ Toby Gee drops a bass-driven boogie funk jam packed with vintage chants and break-heavy grooves. Both tracks are precision-crafted with nods to B-Boy culture among them perfect for bodypoppers and lockers alike.
Review: Masters At Work's discerning left brain Kenny Dope left but one of many crinkle-cut marks on the sliced hot potato of dance musical oral history with 'Supa'. Born in Brooklyn, Kenny emerged from the underground hip-hop scene before lending a crate-digger's mentation to his work, obsessively chopping samples by way of tri-wielded MPC60, MPC3000 and E-mu SP-1200 machines. We're not sure which went into the making of 'Supa' and its two comprising versions, but this is a serious funk-jungle precursor, medleying ATCQ-Lou Reed instrumentals contra the acapella line from Super Cat's 'Nuff Man A Dead' (1991). Drop either of these tunas into an otherwise +160BPM set for a breezy, halftime surprise, one that nonetheless maintains the rolling energy.
Review: Flip The Script Radio is a place those in the know head to hear the to new MCs and hip hop acts before they blow up. To celebrate their six year anniversary, they have joined forces with Good For You Records and legendary MC and lyricist Grand Puba for this red hot new special edition 7". It finds the icon's classic 'I Like It' replayed by a n eight piece band but with some new verses delivered from the rap legend himself. He lays down in fine style and makes this a great new version of a classic that is filled with heart warming soul.
Review: In a rare backwards castling and killer checkmate, Friendly Records boldly re-press one of J Dilla's most beloved cuts, 'Geek Down', which appeared on his landmark Donuts LP. Known for its sample of the 2001 dark funk tune 'Charlies Theme' by The Jimi Entley Sound, this indelible, ringed hors d'oeuvre was essential for the critics' collective assessment that the 2005 LP was his magnum opus. Trailing pink sprinkles behind it, 'Geek Down' made Dilla's name. Sadly, the title would seem predict the artist's death just three days after the record's release. Dilla was a true productive geekazoid, and it shows in this track, with its untameable, above-the-law Western guitar wahs and tense, lilting strings keeping the goosebump hairs stood aright. The originally sampled track appears on the B, still only part-revealing the magic trick.
Review: Boom Bap Classics does exactly what it says on the tin once more here. For the eighth time, it has chosen some real heat to offer up on 7" as King Tee and The Alkaholiks feature with two of their golden era boom-bap gems. 'Bus Dat Ass' has a mix of raw and dusty drum breaks and big, bouncy bars that bring a party feel. On the flip things get more slow and dirty, the bars are less playful and more serious and the production features squelchy bass and hypnotic Middle Eastern melodies. Two gems, to be sure.
Review: Omar S sets his considerable dancefloor skills to something a little different on a new 7" featuring the vocal talents of TroiAlexis. A young talented Detroit female songwriter who was discovered by Omar S at the Conant Gardens Party Store when she sung acapella to him at a Hi Tech party, TroiAlexis lends an air of soulful class to Omar's trademark electro-slanted electronics on both sides of this single. There's a stripped down - and we mean stripped right down - bass heavy R&B mix on the A-side, while the flip has a sturdier house mix that still gives her voice room to soar.
Review: Potatohead People's classic tune 'What It Feels Like' featuring T3 (Slum Village), Kapok and Illa J, first released in 2020 alongside an unmatched live video, gets not only a reissue on vinyl here but a remix treatment from in-demand bass player Carrtoons. Switching up the order of the verses, dubbing out the horns and adding in his signature basswork, Carrtoons brings a fresh flavour to the track's already steaming, boom-bap verve. Fans of Anderson Paak, Smoove or anyone operating in the crossover of neo-soul, jazz and rap will be much pleased by this one.
Come On Down (To New Orleans) (feat Fullee Love aka Soup Of Jurassic 5 & Haisizzle) (4:13)
Come On Down (To New Orleans) (feat Fullee Love aka Soup Of Jurassic 5 & Haisizzle - Professor Shorthair Bounce remix) (4:41)
Review: Connie Price & The Keystones team up with Fullee Love (aka. Soup of Jurassic 5) - as well as New Orleans' very own bounce king Hasizzle - to bring you the brand new second-line funk anthem 'Come On Down (To New Orleans)'. Patently referencing and working within the regional New Orleans hip-hop style known as bounce music, Price, Love and Hasizzle stick true to the soulful, syrupy and yet still hard-edged call-and-response style indicative of this 80s-90s stylistic cusp. Slacken lyrics, soul-tinged choruses, skrrt ad-libs and one-two-step antiphony predominate on this versioned A-B sider, as Professor Shorthair also provides a quintessential bounce demo mix on the B.
Review: Paul Sitter and Tony Lavrutz's collaboration on Eu e Meu Amor plays like a breezy stroll through sun-drenched sounds and smooth rhythms. Their work here pulls effortlessly from bossa nova and tropicalia, but without leaning too heavily on nostalgia. The production is tight and warm, with layered guitars and whispered vocals that could easily soundtrack a lazy afternoon. It's not overly flashy, but it doesn't need to be; the charm is in the simplicity, the way the melodies unfold and gently stick with you long after the record ends.
Catch The Beat (Dimitri From Paris & Mousse T's Oldskool edit) (3:56)
Catch The Beat (Special remix instrumental) (5:02)
Review: Slick, plinky-plonky hip disco editry/reissue-tastics from Peppermint Records, who celebrate their 30th anniversary in style with the first in a series of edits and remixes on vinyl. First up is a 7" version of T-Ski Valley's 'Catch The Beat', featuring an edit of Dimitri from Paris & Mousse T's classic Oldskool mix, flipped with the 'Special remix instrumental' on the B. Limited Edition - so act fast!
Review: After offering up EPs titled "Hard Times" and "Changing Times" in 2017, Kaidi Tatham returns to First Word to complete the trilogy with "Serious Times". Of course, the music contained within the EP's tightly packed grooves is as joyous, rich as intricate as ever. Check, for example, "Don't Cry Now", a samba-soaked, sun-kissed affair that wraps harmonic freestyle vocals, twinkling electric piano lines and darting jazz-funk bass around a seriously shuffling groove. Tatham's much-discussed jazz-funk influences are once again given an airing on "Sugar", while his fine piano work takes pride of place on instrumental hip-hop head-nodder "Zallom". Best of all, though, is opener "Cost of Living", which emphatically weaves together all of these strands and more besides.
Review: Back in 2004, Japanese r&b artist Tina headed into the studio with self-styled 'king of digging' Muro - a prolific DJ, producer, record collector and re-editor - to record some tracks for her fifth solo album. The most acclaimed of the lot was 'Struttin With Muro', a dope, funk-fuelled jam that made use of some choice Roy Ayers samples. At the time, Muro also prepared alternate takes - utilising different elements of the sampled Ayers track - which then appeared on a now impossible to find promo 12-inch. This 45 offers up those two takes - vocal and instrumental - and both sound like guaranteed party-starting jams, the kind of hybrid r&b/funky hip-hop workouts that never fail to get things going out on the dancefloor.
Review: TNT Vol 8 brings two powerhouse tracks from Nelly's debut album in 1999 to a 7" format on TNT Rap Classics. This hip-hop gem features 'Ride Wit Me' on Side-1, a collaboration with City Spud that peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in the top 10 internationally. The track, written by Nelly and Jason "Jay E" Epperson, creatively interpolates DeBarge's 'I Like It.' Side-2 features 'Country Grammar,' Nelly's debut single that introduced his signature style to the world. Written by Nelly and Epperson, this track reached number seven in both the U.S. and U.K. and made a significant impact globally. 'Country Grammar' incorporates a melody from the children's clapping game 'Down Down Baby,' and the clean version replaces explicit lyrics with radio-friendly alternatives. Hip-Hop enthusiasts, collectors and DJs should be excited about this wicked 45,
Review: Running Man Records, the brainchild of DJ Benny Ben aka Ben Sims kicks off with a rare gem from the depths of 90s hip-hop. This debut release unearths a cassette demo from Tricky Tee and The White Shadow of Norway, recorded in NYC in 1991 and never before released. 'Who's In Town?' is a raw and energetic slice of classic hip-hop, showcasing Tricky Tee's signature style - rhythmic beats and socially conscious lyrics that hark back to the genre's formative years. While Tricky Tee may not be a household name, this release offers a glimpse into the vibrant underground scene of early 90s hip-hop, sure to be high up the shopping list of any dedicated head or collector seeking to delve deeper into the genre's history.
Review: The Record Store Day drops are coming in thick and fast now and for hip-hop fans this is a heavy one. Neither of these tunes have ever been on a 45 rpm together before. They are classics from the legendary Philly crew with hard breaks and headier bars on 'My Part Of Town' set over a jostling bassline and tough hits. On the flip is 'Mountain's World' which is a deeper and more vibes-joint with less in your face energy and a smarter wordplay as well as some super scratch-work.
Review: Grammy award-winner Tyla broke the internet with her viral track 'Water', becoming the first South African artist in over 55 years to enter the Billboard Hot 100 - as well as the youngest South African of all time ever to do so. The 'Water' challenge swept the internet, earning her top ten placements in multiple countries and nominations for various awards - rightly so, her voice is sultry, the beat is smooth and the hook is infectious. On the other side of the 7" coin is Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Rema with his career-defining breakout hit 'Calm Down', his vocal talent shining through the minimal instrumentation. It's easy to see why the world was entranced, bolstered massively by a remix featuring Selena Gomez that has since led the track to be nominated for several Billboard and MTV awards, as well as holding a long list of world records: Most streamed Afrobeat song on Spotify, Longest charting African song on Billboard, most watched Nigerian music video... we could go on.
Review: A rarely legit example of raw hip house from Chicago's Tyree & Ungkel Huud, who are, well and truly, tired of this BS - by which they mean illegitimate house music of the wannabes' kind. MC Tyree buckles up for a challenging but knocked-out-the-park verse glided over four mixes, from Wade Teo's opener to an acid killer, decrying the falsity of upstart house producers: "get out my house! You been here too long... matter fact, you can kiss my..." With an instrumental mix on the flip too, you can be sure for a fiery start to your next vocal-soaked DJ set.
The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing
Yonders
Supreme Alchemy
Freequency (with Black Thought)
No Fear Of Time (with Yummy Bingham)
Review: No Fear of Time, the long-awaited sophomore album from the legendary hip-hop duo Black Star, is finally available in physical formats, including a stunning gatefold LP. After a digital-only debut in 2022, this release celebrates the dynamic collaboration between yasiin bey and Talib Kweli, who first captured hearts with their iconic 1998 album. Produced by Madlib, No Fear of Time showcases the duo's evolved artistry, recorded in diverse locations worldwide, including hotel rooms and backstage at Dave Chappelle's shows. The album's unique style flows seamlessly, with tracks like 'So be it' and 'Sweetheart. Sweethard. Sweetodd', igniting old-school vibes while addressing contemporary issues with sharp wit. With their powerful reunion, Black Star reaffirms their influential status in hip-hop, reminding listeners of the genre's rich cultural depth.
Review: YES! Any self respecting music fan will no doubt already have fully acquainted themselves with Black Messiah, the long promised new album from soul artist D'Angelo and know that it already stands as one of the long players of the year if not the decade! The real fans have probably been waiting for the vinyl release and it's great to see the correct decision has been made to grant Black Messiah a double LP pressing. Everyone no doubt has their favourites on Black Messiah but it's great to have cuts like "Sugah Daddy" on wax, that one is perfect for the house party situations.
Review: Elusive former Odd Future wordsmith Earl Sweatshirt celebrated the ten year anniversary of his seminal 2013 major label debut Doris back in August to a sold out crowd down the road from our offices in KOKO. Directly after the show had finished, the mass would march down to the Jazz Cafe for an exclusive club night where teasers were unveiled of the long-gestating collaborative album with esteemed, multi-generational hip-hop producer The Alchemist. Already streaming while vinyl currently sits on the presses, Voir Dire offers a reliably hazy, laid back yet subtly esoteric collection of forward thinking, muted bangers; breathing with the same sonic ambivalence of a project such as Madvillainy, while the mainstay features from Sweatshirt alumni MIKE and Vince Staples aid in grounding the work within the ever-expanding tapestry of Earl's output.
Review: Once known as the technical wunderkind of alt hip-hop collective Odd Future, the ascension of Earl Sweatshirt to incomparable outlier status as a wordsmith very much in his own lane, has been a muted spectacle to behold. Celebrating the tenth birthday of Doris (his acclaimed major label debut released in 2013) earlier this year in front of a sold out KOKO just a stone's throw (no pun intended) from our offices, the anniversary show was immediately followed by a mass exodus down to Camden's Jazz Cafe where a limited club experience teased material from the much-pondered collaborative project with legendary producer and long-time Earl affiliate The Alchemist. Currently available to stream while vinyl continues to be pressed, Voir Dire exudes a lackadaisical, dare we say positive demeanour across its brief half-hour runtime, with Earl unpacking his fading twenties, preparing for his encroaching thirties and delving into the shift in perspective that comes with fatherhood. Brimming with both artist's trademark flourishes of drugged out, apathetic delivery and chopped, screwed and warped jazz and soul samples, the subtle coalescing of styles results in a work that's equal parts enlightening yet understated, while long-time collaborators/friends Vince Staples and MIKE both offer standout appearances.
Review: There is so much killer hip-hop out there right now it is a real delight. It is fair to say that much of it is of an old school bent - boom bap drums and silky soul flurries, but that doesn't make it any less essential. Coming back for a third album here is legendary beat maker and MC Large Pro aka The Large Professor. His highly anticipated long player is rich in signature sounds that can be sung to, danced to or skated to. All 10 cuts are gold standard bangers and take in highlights such as the young energy of 'Let It Fly' to the more sleazy ghetto sounds of 'Rooftop Love.'
Review: The Alchemist and Larry June say they 'followed what felt natural' when writing this one and the results are organic and absorbing. This is the CD version of the pair's new album which finds them combine forces for this smoother than silk outing on Empire that brings the best out of both. The Alchemist is a veteran producer who has worked with a who's who of hip-hop over the years, and June is a Bay Area rapper with a real touch of class to his work. He can rap about anything from gourmet food to art, teaching people how to hustle, or whatever else.
Review: If Detroit as a collective mind knows what's good for it, it'll note 8 Miles To Moenart as one of its most prized dance albums. Tall Black Guy's debut LP hears a tenth anniversary reissue edition via First Word; the artist known personally as Terrel Wallace recalls his humble Detroit beginnings; he was raised on an early staple diet of Motown, and the phono-dubbed source material of which is here heard breezily funnelled and assembled into ten gaunt, sample-flipping house numbers. But this new edition doesn't fail to switch things up either, in fact presenting it almost as a different record; two new tracks feature, 'From Home To Work, And Back' and 'Running The Motor', on top of an alt-mix of the single 'Mon Amie De'troit', previously only available on 7" vinyl. "While it's nice to reminisce,", says Wallace, "it's important to look forwards, so I wanted to include something new here to represent my progression as an artist, so there's some new versions included, that I created with the help of some jazz musician friends of mine."
Black Is (feat DSTL, Sareem Poems & Rich Medina) (5:29)
Review: Golden Era boom-bap and modern hip hop sounds are fused to perfection on this new collaborative EP from the big dogs Tall Black Guy and Ozay Moore who team up with guests including KUMBAYA, Malaya and more on this fresh new gatefold LP. 'Viberite' is one of this pair's best collars - a smooth and celebratory track with mellow vibes and soulfully atmospheric textures. 'Make It Like This' rides a nice loose, tumbling beat with warming chords heating it up from below and seductive flows up top. 'Does Anybody Care?' is not only a great title but a string-laced, soul-enriching gem of a tune, too,
Review: The Grudge, Tame One's long-awaited debut solo album, finally sees the light of day again with a reissue, 17 years after its initial release. Born from the vibrant East Coast culture of skating, graffiti, and MCing, Tame One's partnership with Division East Records brings forth a raw and unapologetic expression of Newark's hip-hop scene. Despite its previous obscurity, this reissue on purple vinyl breathes new life into the album, showcasing Tame One's lyrical prowess and the album's gritty production, remastered by Shape, Mishap, and others. The inclusion of an unreleased Stretch Armstrong HOT 97 freestyle featuring Redman and Rah Digga adds to the album's allure, making it a must-have for both hardcore fans and newcomers alike. With artwork by DJ Porno, Tame One's longtime collaborator, The Grudge is a strong album pushing the enduring legacy of Newark's hip-hop culture.
Don't Rush The Process (feat The Easy Access Orchestra) (5:06)
Just Not Right Rudi (0:48)
All I Need (1:57)
We Chillin' Out (feat The Easy Access Orchestra) (5:07)
Knocknee Donkey (3:15)
Any Flavour (2:38)
Funky Fool (1:31)
Sooretama (feat Robert Mitchell) (4:33)
Runnin' Tru (3:59)
What A Dream (2:20)
Mind Yourself (0:42)
Review: Kaidi Tatham is a master of broken beats and a widely respected figure in the London music scene. His new 12 track album takes us on a lush and louche trip through all his myriad musical skills and styles. Boogie, gospel-tinged hip-hop, jazz-funk and more all colour the futurist grooves with contributions from The Easy Access Orchestra, and pianist Robert Mitchell. This is a fourth solo album from the man and maybe his best yet, even though it has come so quick on the heels of the release of An Insight To All Minds in 2021.
Review: Kaidi Thatham remains one of the truest artists in the field of broken beat and modern jazz, and his fifth album for First Word shows no signs of slowing down. There's a certain signature you know belongs to him when those nasty Moog synth lines start flexing around the groove, but there's such depth and variety to his expression at this point in time, it feels like the possibilities are endless. From rattling neo-funk get downs to blissful downtempo reveries and on to the killer hip-hop of 'The Only Way' featuring Uhmeer on mic duties, this is an album bursting with invention at every turn.
Midnight January 30th, The Mothership Comes For Mike (3:15)
Survivor Syndrome (We Did It For Mikey) (4:58)
Review: Farewell My Friend from Thes One is a tribute to the artist's late music partner Double K. As you'd expect, it is packed with real emotion and heart and layers up fresh beats with meaningful melodies across a superb selection of instrumentals. The track titles themselves tell the story of how the pair met and detail their journey as hip-hop outfit People under The Stairs. It's an album that is as good as any he has been involved with and is heartfelt throughout. Well worth checking for fans old or new.
Show You The Way (feat Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins) (3:35)
Walk On By (feat Kendrick Lamar) (3:22)
Blackkk (2:00)
Tokyo (2:23)
Jameel's Space Ride (1:11)
Friend Zone (3:12)
Them Changes (3:05)
Where I'm Going (2:04)
Drink Dat (feat Wiz Khalifa) (3:41)
Inferno (4:00)
I Am Crazy (0:26)
3AM (1:14)
Drunk (1:42)
The Turn Down (feat Pharell) (2:29)
DUI (2:20)
Review: Flying Lotus collaborator Thundercat returns to Brainfeeder with his first full album since 2013's superb Apocalypse. Presented over four coloured pieces of 10" vinyl, Drunk is a thrill-a-minute, mix-tape style trip through the multi-instrumentalist and beat-maker's various inspirations (think skewed hip-hop, jazz, soul, funk, left-of-centre electronica, and so on), all of which have been fused and mutated to fit his unique musical perspective. His high standing within the leffield hip-hop community has allowed Thundercat to snag some impressive guest stars, too, including Kendrick Lamarr, blue-eyed soul legend Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Pharell and jazz man Kamasi Washington. Old pal Fly-Lo also lends a hand.
Before I Loved Myself I Pooped My Ankles (True) (3:45)
Paris (bonus tracks) (2:43)
A Message For Austin/Praise The Lord/Enter The Void (2:31)
Review: Virtuoso bassist & singer Thundercat releases a very special deluxe edition of his album Apocalypse, ten years on from its original release in 2013. Packed with gems including the certified classics 'Heartbreaks + Setbacks', 'Lotus and the Jondy', 'Tron Song' and the all-out cosmic funk bullet 'Oh Sheit, It's X', Thundercat brings a fusion of pop, soul, electronica, prog rock and funk into an unexplored dimension, with his signature basslines gliding sky high to meet Executive Producer Flying Lotus' astral touch. The new edition also contains two previously unreleased tracks, 'Before I loved myself 'I' pooped my ankles (true)' recorded with Austin Peralta and Taylor Graves, and 'Paris' (with Mono/Poly). The deluxe LP also features special rainbow holographic artwork housed inside a transparent PVC outer slipcase complete with 'x-ray' holographic skull print.
Review: Tinashe's Quantum Baby, her seventh full-length album, arrives at a pivotal moment in her career following her departure from RCA Records. This project continues the narrative arc started with Baby Angel, an independently released mini-album that marked a significant creative leap for her. Quantum Baby opens with 'No Simulation,' a contemplative track that sets a low-key tone, aiming to introduce a deeper narrative. 'When I Get You Alone' offers a sultry groove, while 'No Broke Boys' stands out as a memorable anthem with a catchy beat. The album closes with 'Nasty,' a tracK that is sure to be a hit with all who play it. Overall, Quantum Baby has lots great moments.
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