Juno Recommends Hip Hop / R&B September 2020

Review: American hip hop gang The Ultramagnetic MCs hail from the Bronx and bring that real rawness each and every time. Founded by Kool Keith in 1984, the group also included Ced Gee, TR Love and Moe Love and their 1989 classic "Give The Drummer Some" is a stone cold rhyme that is well worth reissuing. It has drums tighter than tennis racket strings and crisp wooden hits, tons of vinyl crackle and of course some slick verse work. "Moe Luv's Theme" brings the funky breaks and scratching, reversed stabs and lively rhymes. As far as pieces of early hip hop history go, they don't come much finer.

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: There's been plenty of great "golden era" hip-hop reissued on wax lately, mostly via tidy and on-point seven-inch singles. Here's another, as Mr Bongo offers up a replica edition of the increasingly scarce "45" of Black Sheep's 1991 scene anthem "Strobelite Honey" - a playful and fun-packed affair that still gets feet moving 29 years after it first hit clubs. On the A-side you'll find the superior "Maybe We Did Remix", in which Dres's entertaining lyrics about courting a woman at a club ride crunchy drums, scratches, squally high pitched horn sounds and a wealth of killer samples. Turn to the flip for the far funkier original version, which lifts warm, squelchy and groovy elements from early '80s disco cuts by Change and Luther Vandross.

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: GLOW is a team of composers, producer and songwriters who work on solo projects as well as part of various groups, and they have a lush indie soul sound. Their "Ten of Diamonds" featuring the legendary voice of UK soul, Omar, is now revisited and remixed by a crack team of artists. Don-E goes first with a laidback, sun kissed version to make you well up with romantic feels. After an album version and a cosmic tinged, slow motion funk and soul jam known as "Track 3", the ever on point DJ Spinna serves up two fresh versions with jazzy chords and deep soul vibes that take you late into the night.

Review: This is the first time ever you can own The Beasties' entire set, as performed at the Open Air Festival in St Gallen, on vinyl. This, then, also marks the first live release of this period from the band's long and illustrious career, and one of the first to feature the legendary Mix Master Mike on stage with the rest of the crew. He takes care of the intro and then its straight into hard bars and crashing hits, blistering drum rhythms and mad scratching. This is an essential cop for any and all Beastie Boys fans.

Review: The fine trio of K Le Maestro, Lancecape and God Damn Chan come together on this scorching 7" to serve up their own interpretations of some fine source material. "Track 1" is all dusty MPC, dreamy Far Eastern melody sounds and bumping hip-hop beats that wash over you like a lovely day dream. "Track 2" is a little more heavy hearted, with a dragging baseline buried deep and some sombre trumpets up top for all the jazz feels. "Track 3" is somewhere in between - part romantic instrumental, part soul stirring beat, but all gold. We're told it will not be repressed, so act fast to get this one in the bag because it's pure killer.

Review: ILL BILL and Nems have long been making their mark in the hip hop world. They represent Brooklyn neighborhoods Canarsie and Coney Island, and have affiliations to the likes of the FYL brand as well as groups such as La Coka Nostra. Now they come together once again for Gorilla Twins, which has beats by Scram Jones, Stu Bangas and ILL BILL, amongst others, as well as features from Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, D.V. Alias Khryst and Lord Goat. It makes for a dark and edgy record of hardcore raps, paranoid beats and raw energy that harks back to the genre's hey day while bringing plenty of contemporary perspectives.

Review: Buffalo's finest Benny The Butcher leapt from Upstate New York to the world with his tough rhymes and real talk. A Friend Of Ours marked a major step forward for the rapper, drawing serious praise thanks in no small part to the heavyweight production spots from Rick Hyde, Chup, DJ Shay and Marc Spano. Rolling somewhere between a mini-album and EP, and packed with cameos from 38 Spesh, El Camino, Dark Lo, Dufflebag Hottie and Skyzoo, this is a sure shot of modern day hip hop with more than a few nods to a certain seminal mob series.

Review: Back 2 Da Source continue their fine run of form in reissuing golden era hip hop of the highest order with this one from The A.T.B.A.N. Klann. This group was put together by the one and only Black Eyed Peas main man Will I am and Apl De Ap. A.T.B.A.N actually stands for A Tribe Beyond A Nation and Grass Roots was their debut album, schedule for release in 1994 on Ruthless Record. However, when Eazy-E passed away, the album was shelved... until now. This is the first time the record has made it to vinyl and across 17 cuts it sets a fine standard in Killafornia conscious rap.