Back catalogue: All genres

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.

Review: GAMM has been a treasure trove of edits, golden old soul and forgotten funk gems for an eternity and they come correct again with this monstrous dance floor dynamite on a loud, one-sided vinyl pressing: Ukokos & Jabco's hip hop and gospel styled rework of the world renowned clip of Kanye West's Sunday Service band doing a live cover of "Keep Rising". A majestic, triumphant and real floor filling, crowd pleasing bomb that will bring everyone together for many years to come.

Review: This is the second reissue of godlier standard early rap and hip hop work from The Ultramagnetic MCs that is out this month. "Traveling At The Speed Of Thought" comes from their debut Critical Beatdown album in 1989 and is a real hard hitting tune stuffed with all sorts of punchy breaks that are easily recognisable and have since been heavily sampled by the likes of The Beastie Boys. The Ultramagnetic MC's were pioneers of hip hop in the late '80s and this shows why with its confident lyrical flow, big beats and brash vibes. Mr Bongo, of course, always do it right and that's the truth again here with this vital 7".

Review: Although they would go on to become one of New York's most iconic hip-hop crews, the Ultramagnetic MC's were fresh-faced newcomers when they first popped up on Next Plateau Records - an imprint better-known for its proto-house and post-boogie releases - in 1986 with debut single "Ego Trippin". As this first ever seven-inch edition proves, it remains a stone cold classic: a heavy, stripped-back "golden era" gem in which the group's multiple MC's aim to get the party started over an iconic beat and weighty electronic bassline. As with the original version, it comes backed by flipside "Funky Potion", a scratch-happy, similarly constructed number full to bursting with effervescent rhymes, crunchy beats and distinctive bass.

Review: The Ultramagnetic MCs, a pioneering hip-hop group from the Bronx, NYC, are celebrated for their innovative sampling, complex rhymes, and surreal lyrical style. Founded by Kool Keith, the group also includes Ced Gee, TR Love and Moe Love, with Tim Dog joining unofficially in 1989. Their track 'A Chorus Line,' initially the B-side of a single, quickly became one of their standout hits, introducing Tim Dog to the scene, while the instrumental from 'A Chorus Line' was later reworked for Tim Dog's controversial debut single, 'F--- Compton,' produced by Ced Gee, which played a significant role in igniting the East Coast/West Coast rivalry of the 1990s. This 7" release features both parts 1 and 2 of 'A Chorus Line,' offering a glimpse into the early days of Ultramagnetic MCs and their influential role in hip-hop history, capturing the raw energy and groundbreaking creativity that defined their legacy.

Review: If you are a true boon-bap obsessive you will know that The U.M.C.'s 'One To Grow On' is a prime cut form that sounds heyday back in 1991. It sounds as good now though all these years later and is still the sort of dusty, infectious vibe that new school producers so often try and ape. You can't beat the OGs though and whether you go for the a-side with the hard bars or the more sunny and carefree flip with its sunny flutes and crisp breaks, then this is a 7" for you.

Review: German hardcore band Urge drops their fiery single 'Brainwashed'. After one year of work on this remix, Canadian rapper Abdominal, known for his work with DJ Format, is heard rhyming over a heavy Mo'Wax-esque beat produced by Smoove, including skilled cuts by Berlin-based turntablist and DJ Robert Smith. Together, they've built a deep-sounding monster of a tune. The 7", which sits in a Japanese Katta round inner sleeve, includes the original song, as well as bonus beats n' breaks for all the DJs.

Review: Harkening back to some of the best and earliest hip-hop to grace the earth, 'Ced Gee and Kool Keith' from a reunited Ultramagnetic MCs is a paramount example of the rap game's early ideal of gregariousness and ostentation. A throwback to when it was baggy tracksuits and giant clocks; these two primordial rappers work through new funk samples, car bonnet-bumping thumps and dizzying lyricism on an EP that errs more on the playful side than the 'gangsta'.

Review: US3's debut album Hand On The Torch was a landmark record when it dropped back in 1993. At a time when the world was getting to grips with sample culture, Blue Note reached out to the London-based crew and gave them access to the archives. With such a rich pool of source material, they got busy strapping iconic breaks and licks from one of the great jazz stables to crisp beats. There's a lot of ground covered, with hip-hop jams sidling up alongside funky beatdowns and plenty more besides. It's a stone cold classic given the reissue treatment, bringing the likes of 'Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)' back to life for a new generation.