This new double CD from Son Records is a great purchase for those of you who don’t know about Son, fans of UK rap or people who want all the labels classics on a nicely packed re-mastered CD.  All the hits are on here and the first CD; 1998 - 2003’ reads like a who’s who of British rap.  Appearances by old skool veterans like Black Twang, Mad Doctor X, HKB Finn, and the Brotherhood give the first CD depth. Over artist are Nottingham’s Cappo, Scorzayzee, C-Mone, Styly Cee and Lost Island, as well Def Tex from Norwich, DPF and Midstly amongst others. The second CD ‘2004’ catalogues last years releases back 2 back. Wordsmith drops ‘Sun God’ from his new album, C-Mone gives up the hot video track ‘Stan Bac’ and theirs two tracks by Styly Cee. It’s all on there, and its something you need in your collection.  There was one thing we noticed though.. there’s no Pitman tracks on there.  We didn’t let this fact upset us too much though! Go cop this.

 

There isn't many UK rap trio's as tight as rappers Ricochet & Ultra and producer Fly. This is the second album by Universal Soldiers is an excellent follow-up the 2001 release 'Street Veterans Part 1&2'. There's just something about these cats that we love, it's probably the tight beats and the professionalism and realness of the emcees. This is more of an album than the first release, in the way that it flows through with the running order working so well. As far as the music goes check 'Crime Stories', the single 'Panorama On Wax', 'Metaphysics', 'Heavyweight Product', 'Undiluted' and 'Snakes And Ladders' which are all banging UK rap tunes. We really hope this album doesn't get overlooked, as this sometimes happens to quality long-players like this. Go on the website now and just buy it. 

 

The third album from one of the UKs leading independent Hip-Hop labels comes from the ten man crew Wolftown Committee crew.  Here you get a full twenty-tracks full of cutting edge street Hip Hop.  Banging from the into 'Ready for Us' soon gets the album under way and as tracks like 'Legendary Status', 'Blast', 'A So It Go', WV1', 'Dangerous Place', and Big Batty', bump thru ya set you know its serious biznezz.  Rappers Late, 10Shott, Size8, Big Wayne, Jai Boo, Conman, High Timez, and Lee Dee bless the beats of Tricksta & Pez.  The benefit of this album is that everyone on the Wolftown UK roster get chance to shine.  It's a classic UK Hip-Hop album and something that any enthusiast of Hip-Hop music should own.  Wolftown Committee are one of UKs best crews and this CD (or double vinyl) shows ya why.  Heavy Wolftown biz.

 

Now this cat is good. Simple things this album features some tight lyrical warfare as well some well thought-out rhymes and clever metaphors. Feelin' the deep mystical sounding 'A Double L attack' which features label-mates Da Alliance who drop hefty with intricate rap deliveries. 'Starving Artistry' is a killer joint that has a Premo style beat with a killer Rakim sample making the hook. Garcia spits fire everytime but on this cut his does rip it hard with his grimy voice and hard-hitting attack. Dynas features on the title track 'Anti-Social' which is an orchestral rhythm which builds suspense ready for some hefty street sh*t. Other tracks on this album that impress are 'Miami Life', 'Lets Get Poppin' and 'Life And Entertainment' which features Heckler. On the whole it's a solid release that is well packaged and well produced. Big up DJ Efn and Garcia for holding it down and delivering the goods everytime. It's anti-social baby.  

 

This duo from Bristol, England have been putting work of late so it's good to see a CD in circulation on the underground. Kelz being the old skool veteran keeps flows tight and gets deep lyrically. If Chester P is major of London, then surely Kelz should be major of Bristol. So with producer Trz unleashing some musical tones that hit the spot with a nice selection of samples too. Feeling the self titled anthem 'Souljah Clique' which has a humorous hook, as well as the deeper and more melodic 'Street Fables' which touches on the subject of fake Yankee MC's (yes they do still exist!). Other tracks like 'Nanny Simmit' hit the spot too and the jazz fused 'Changing The Game' oozes of solid metaphors. Sirplus, Philly Tame, Oshin from 57th Dynasty and CLG also feature, so hunt this CD down and add it to your collection.

 

Ohio based crew the Mortal Miztuz have been making moves since the release of three underground CD's and opening shows for G Unit, Jadakiss, Cee-Low and Trina. From the off the album has selection of diverse styles keeping it interesting for the listener. Some of the moodier street sh*t on here like 'Dangerous' and 'Let Me Live' impress on a deeper tip, but its tracks like 'Until The Morning' and 'The Warning (Featuring Synbeatz) that are going to get these cats noticed. There is so much potential for this crew to be real big as vocally and lyrically they have a unique flavour and with quality hooks and tight production the future looks bright. Hunt this CD you need it.

Space
One Night
(Black Eye)
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Blackeye Records outta Brooklyn have been putting in a lot of work of late and this new album by Space is the label's best outing so far. Featuring a whole host of guests including Anarchist, Joon, Dee Dee, Crys, Elma Budd, Rob-in Spree, 2 Unique, Candis Blake, Darcel, Ms. Reality and skits by infamous female radio personality Wendy Williams. The inner-city sound of Brooklyn drops hard with some clever metaphors and concrete flows. Most of the tracks are worthy of radio and club play, but 'Where U At' is well DJ-friendly, where as tracks like 'Strikin On Tha Kettle' and 'Fee So Good' would be all over radio stations everywhere if Black Eye had the budgets to pay the radio pluggers. This emcee has a raw talent and a nice vocal tone that fills the speakers. Check for this album and grab it when you can, and thanks for the tee-shirts – that's always a good look when we get free sh*t.

 

British Hip-Hop producer Evil Ed has been putting in work heavily since the mid-nineties, and is best known for the beats he's made for YNR Records, Tommy Evans & Jehst.  Here the Northern beat-maker joins forces with a whole host of UK talent and drops his debut album pretty much like how skits did with 'Countryman' a few years back.  Stand out cuts are the collaborations with Yungun on 'Nico Suave', Universal Soldier 'Ricochet' impresses on 'A New Way Of Thinking but the best track on this CD has to be 'Black Stallions' by Kyza.  Sick delivery by an emcee we tip to do big things in 2005. Other tracks feature the likes of Jibbarish, Doc Brown, Junior Disprol, A Saviour, Tommy Evans, Jehst, Mr Thing, and Manchester's Microdisacs. On the whole the album is heavyweight UK Rap, but be warned if you don't like jazzy authentic sounding funky NYC style beats then stay away.  This release is pure in every sense of the word.

Karl Hinds
Have Patience
(Ill Flava Records)
www.illflava.com

 

Love him or hate him, you can't deny that Karl hinds puts in a lot of work and doesn't chat any f**kery just pure science. This is by far is strongest album from Karl and will definitely go down as a UK rap classic. It features banger after banger touching on a wide range of subjects and unleashing a selection of hard-hitting beats. Feeling 'You Done Know' which features Toyin on the hook which is a track that always goes down well in the clubs, also feeling the lyrically deep 'Psycho Analysis' and a wicked song about all the Hip-Hop beef called 'The Verdict'. The collob's come thick and fast too with Seanie T and Roots Manuva killin it on the raga fused 'Lord Of The Blings', Kiss FM's DJ MK gets on the cuts for 'London Underground Part 2', Skinnyman kills it on 'Lets Av It', new skool cat Grimlock impresses on ''Still Murdering Em' and Out Da Ville's Tempa drops hefty on 'You Piss Me Off'. It's another solid album from Karl Hinds and another notch on Ill Flava's belt. Tight.

 

This album is written, rapped, produced and engineered by Insight. What? That ain't enough? Okay he does all the cuts too and comes up with all the marketing ideas and more! It's the hard-working man they call Insight. A lot of you will know about him already but if ya don't this album is a real good place to start. Jazz-tinged beats and authentic style production this will appeal to B-Boys (and girls!) that are fans of real underground beats and MC's who deliver clever intricate metaphors with raw ready flows. Feeling the 'Evolve' joint and the cinematic 'Nventors (Black)' track which has a real deep mystical groove that locks you in. Peep the Edo G & AG collaboration 'Trategy' too which bangs too. This is well worth hunting down and adding to ya CD collection. Raw, undiluted flavour. 

 

The long awaited solid solo debut by ex-London Posse rapper, BBC 1xtra DJ and general old skool UK Hip-Hop veteran Rodney P has dropped. Kicking of with a track reminiscent of the original London Posse vibe, 'The Nice Up' bounces on a ragga-rap tip setting the stage for this superb long-player. The title track 'The Future' is a hard-hitting deep soundbwoy affair produced by Stone which impresses. Peep 'Big Tings Again' a rework of 'Big Tings We Inna' featuring MC D and the super funky 'Doggist' where Rodney P drops rhymes about his gyalist ways. Special guest Karizma features on 'No Pets Allowed' a track dissin' all the fake thugs and other hot tunes include 'We Don't Like Coppers' produced by Skitz with cuts by Deckwrecka. The last track 'Riddem Killa' which is still a killer. It's a top album from Rodney P and lets just hope that we haven't got to wait to long for a follow-up album. Purchase well recommended.  

 

These cats have been putting in work since 1993 featuring on mixtapes by the well-respected DJ EFN. It kinda shows in the album, as the tracks are all delivered with confidence and a style that is infectious. It kicks off with a DJ Craze collaboration entitled 'Battle Crazy' which is a 'must have track' for worldwide B-Boys. The album then continues to impress with a string of club shaking anthems including the awesome 'That's Crazy' which features fellow label mate Garcia and Def Jam recording artist Nore. Garcia features again on the heavy 'Foundations' cut, leaving the Da All to go alone for the rest of the album before murdering it with two bonus tracks that are absolutely essential. 'F.O.T.S Part Two' sees Garcia, Dynas, Skam2?, Society and De Ja collaborate, and the last track is 'That's Crazy Part Two' with Capone & Noreaga, Musaliny'n'Maze and Garcia featuring.  These boys have proper skills no doubt and they have opened shows for the likes of Busta, DMX and Outkast. Tight long player from Da All and we look forward to more from this crew.

 

Another quality full-length album from Sir Prestige's Social Misfit imprint. Here we see Mic Concise, Manifest, Braynz & 9 Lives step for seventeen tracks of UK rap bangers. 'UK Underground' is worth checking with some down to earth lyrics bout the state of home-grown hip-hop industry. Karl Hinds features on 'United Force' which is one of the strongest tracks on the album and Pique/PQ contributes well on 'Accept This' too, as well as BBC 1xtra radio DJ personality Ace stepping up to rock on 'Poison Ace'! We are feeling 'Where The Love At?' which is a nice positive track. It's kind of Black Eyed Peas done well! Musically it's a wicked summer vibe and we feel there needs to be a video to this tune man!!! Big up Stone Circle and please support the realness buy purchasing releases like this now. 

 

After dropping the well under-rated album by North West rapper Azarel in 2002, Ocean Records return with this impressive compilation of underground US Hip-Hop. Nineteen tracks deep this compilation benefits from not being biased towards certain cities and features tracks from artists from Seattle to Boston. Hardworking and truly independent artists impress here with some heavy tracks, notably Mr. Dog, Mac Money & Young smash it with 'Get It Craccin', as well as appearances by Doujah Raze with his underground class 'Irish Cream', and Storm The Unpredictable with 'Contradictions'. Other tracks are quality too, so make sure you try and grab a copy of this. Nice compilation.  

 

This twenty track compilation album from Canadian Hip-Hop label 'Hip-Hop Spot' features a whole host of quality beats and rhymes with a lot of underground talent representing fully. Celph Titled, Apathy, 7L, Esoteric, Red Cloud and Angle all make solid appearances but being honest the best tracks come from the not so well known emcees. Storm The Unpredictable wins our vote for the tightest MC on there with two tracks that make this CD essential buying. First up is the horn-led groove that is 'Contradictions' which has a solid delivery vocal wise and a nice authentic sound. The second track, which is the last track on the CD, is called 'Stop Lyin' which is a really humorous rhyme where he lies his ass off about what he's been doing. It's all good as you step into the mad dream-world of Storm's mind and imagine him being down with Bill Gates and getting all the best r'n'b chicks! Priest Da Nomad also features on this track who adds another edge making this the best track on the compilation. Peep C Rayz Walz on 'These Bills' too, that man can rhyme for days! This is a well put together album and well worth hunting down.

 

Seventeen tracks deep this album from Moonshine Bandits shouldn't be overlooked. Proceedings start with a hefty collobo' with Bubba Sparxxx entitled 'Country Livin' which sets the stage for the quality of the album. Other tracks impress such as 'Clukaz', 'No More Blingin' and the laid back groove that is 'Same Ol Me' which features underground rising star Haystack. Other tracks do impress to, but the best track on the album has to be 'Crooked Swerve' which features the legendary E40. On the whole this album does have a unique flavour that bounces along on a drunken rap vibe. It's definitely something you need to cop, and hunt down. Young Droop, Bukshot and Kaos also feature on this long-player. Make sure you peep this.

 

Twenty tracks deep this album comes from one part of the Essex crew Ironbridge. It's on a mid-tempo tip with head-nodding beats with a few bangers thrown in for good measure. Feeling 'Planet Of The Fakes' because digs at Blazin Squad, Ja Rule, fake gangster rappers and phoney managers, are always very welcome at Rago Magazine! The opening track 'Womb To The Tomb' drops with a nice beat produced by Ill-Son and the double take flow on 'Drop Bombs' is tight as f**k and comes like a British version of Twista. Some cats may get bored of his fast flow as on some tracks this tends to get a tad tedious, but the album does have enough highlights to warrant a purchase. Maybe it didn't need to have twenty tracks and maybe dropped fourteen or fifteen would have been better. Check this out though.

 

A good label compilation album with some real nice highlights from some emcess that show great potential to make it big in the game. Of Seattle the label delivers twenty one tracks with the first track to grab our attention being Narcotik's 'Chips To A Cell'. Feeling this rapper and he has a vocal tone that fills the speakers with a flow to compliment it. More street action comes from the likes of Last Men Standing and Frame before Vitamin and K-Stiell bounce along with a sick track about pimpin. Check for the killer '90% Of Me' sample which works really well and the rhymes in the hook kill it to; 'It's The Pimp Of The Year/All I gotta do is get in her ear/So tell ya bitch to come to here/I like the way she put a twist in her rear/sex ain't a past-time baby it's a career!'. Other emcess that stand out on this CD are Hectik with 'Haters', The Block Burners collobo' with Redskin and the track by Danger. Grab a copy of this album, it's tight.   

 

London B-girl Nicci Cheeks has been putting in work for years so it was good to see this compilation drop by presented by her. She's been representing ABB Records from her offices in London for time and this album is a real reflection of joints she is feeling and that are on the soulful authentic Hip-Hop tip. Little Brother feature with 'Starship' one of the albums highlights, Mr. Complex teams up with Biz Markie for a killer track called 'Glue' and Defari reps hard with 'Diamonds In The Rough'. Other artists that contribute towards the album are the underrated J Rawls, Marc 7 from Jurassic 5, Main Flow of Mood, Ambersunshower, Sa-Ra, Lone Catalysts, Girl 6, Lifesavas, J Ro from The Liks, E-Lone, Lib, Neco Redd and The Platinum Pied Pipers. It's got a real vibe about it, its laid-back quality grooves with inoffensive MC's doing their thing. It's out now on Manchester's Fat City Recordings and is well worth picking up a copy. Big up Echo for getting involved and sponsoring such a cutting edge release and big up Nicci for making it happen.  

 

Hailing from the Livin' Legends crew this new CD contains fourteen jazz and funk fused hip-hop tracks all delivered in a unique way and flavour. This is definitely for mans into Slum Village, Del and Souls Of Mischief. As a rapper and a producer his style has an original slant making this an enjoyable album to listen. The killer joint for us has to be the flute driven laid-back groove entitled 'Better With Time' which features Hieroglyphics emcee Pep Love. The album also features his fellow Livin' Legends rappers The Grouch and Luckiam.PSC who drop heavy too. Grab this CD and check him out also at www.llcrew.com/bicasso for more information.