Bristol, England’s Geoff Barrow—best known for being a founding member of the band Portishead—has just released a split EP featuring two tracks from his other band BEAK> and—plot twist!—two tracks from BEAK>’s “alter-ego”: <KAEB, which is… Continue reading
So I’m reading this very excellent article in the Fader about Grimes, and at the end of the piece there’s a scene in which she Skypes with Aristophanes, a Taiwanese hip-hop MC.… Continue reading
“Very, very, very on fleek…” It’s been a minute since I’ve posted a grime cut as my Track of the Day! Today’s selection fixes that. Kojo Kankam is better… Continue reading
Love this heavy-hitting German hip-hop cut from MC Umse featuring Berlin rapper Megaloh and Deckah on the beat. No idea what any of these words mean—apart from a possible shout… Continue reading
Grime innovator and Boy Better Know head honcho Skepta steps up with “That’s Not Me,” a brand new cut with an aquatic, bleepy and bloopy sample that sounds like Spongebob Squarepants’ ringtone.… Continue reading
Brooklyn’s Joey Bada$$ throws MC skill and Mos Def-ish sing-song rhymes over an unreleased J Dilla beat. “Two Lips” is available only via limited edition vinyl by Akomplice Clothing in order to raise… Continue reading
Common always sounds best over a Dilla beat. (His album Finding Forever is dedicated entirely to the late, great producer.) Yancey Boys ft Common & Dezi Paige – “Quicksand” (Official Video) … Continue reading
Alabama-born, West Chicago MC Mick Jenkins‘ laid-back yet perfectly controlled flow possesses an eery similarity to Ghostpoet‘s 3am drawl. Mick Jenkins – “The Roots” (Official Video) Download Mick Jenkins’ Trees &… Continue reading
Resembling a college-aged, hip-hop-obsessed Hagrid, the very talented Los Angeles rapper and producer Jonwayne returns with this confident cut of soulful whoops and scats, spinning hi-hats, synth-brass punches, and abstract poetic rhymes delivered with… Continue reading
This is that hip-hop of superlative quality produced by one of my musical heroes: 4hero’s Marc Mac. T.R.A.C. ft Yahzeed Divine – “This Is That” (Produced by Marc Mac) Get… Continue reading
Hip-hop producer Preservation worked on the original The Ecstatic LP from Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def. Here he re-jigs the entire album, adding deep-crate-dug record samples from New Orleans swing outfits… Continue reading
This agitated, gritty heatwave loop from Eglo’s mysterious new signing, Strange U, believed to be a moniker of UK hip-hop stalwart Kashmere the Iguana Man. Although why anyone would even think about adopting… Continue reading
Sheffield, UK, badman Toddla T teams up with Shola Ama and emcees Serocee and MC DRS to form super-collective Toddla T Sound. “Worst Enemy” is their first ever tune. Love the A$AP-esque pitched-down… Continue reading
Paris, France’s Mr. Bibal homage to the “heavenly fields” of his home city feels appropriately light and airy, and bounces along quite nicely. Forget jewelry and necklaces, we need more singers dedicated to… Continue reading
90s jungle forever! Footage from One Nation’s New Year’s Eve 1997 drum ‘n’ bass event featuring DJ Hype, DJ Zinc, DJ Brockie, Mickey Finn, Skibadee, MC Det, and MC Stevie Hyper D. … Continue reading
Hyperdub‘s resident MC and regular Kode9 collaborator the Spaceape pours forth future poetry on this solo endeavor. Spaceape – “On the Run” (Official Video) Experimental, tribal, anxious African rhythms.
That starry soul-hop from outer space-via-Amsterdam. La Melodia is MC Melodee and producer I.N.T. I can easily hear Pharrell’s falsetto and his signature live drums lacing a remix of this one. La… Continue reading
It’s always Friday somewhere. Kind of. Well, technically, it isn’t, but it would be nice if it was. London’s Kai Gama and Dr Sydney Velvet are the MCs, producers, and brothers otherwise known… Continue reading
JJ DOOM is the collab between leftfield hip-hop’s rapper-producer Jneiro Jarel & London-born, metal-masked MC DOOM. Viewing notes: 1. Saying “Ello guv’nor!” in an overly angular Cockney accent is oddly satisfying. Dropping… Continue reading
Philadelphia emcee and producer Has-Lo‘s “Fiber Optics” gets remixed by Paten Locke and retitled “Inherit the Stars.” The Mello Music Group label accurately describes director Nathan Hunter’s video above as an “animated,… Continue reading
Joining the dots. To get familiar with East London MC and former Roll Deep member Trim, listen to his track “Confidence Boost” as excellently reworked by James Blake under his Harmonimix alias. Here… Continue reading
Pure Bristol vibes. Rave in peace.
With a beat and flow that sounds much more Bow than Tokyo, Japanese grime is well and truly gaining some great sinister stringed, heavily bassed-out, walloping beat momentum right now from artists like… Continue reading
