Biggup & Elijah
United We Stand
(B & E Inc.)
www.bandeinc.com
 
This new single comes on a real positive tip with a strong message of unity. Dealing with issues such as racism and terrorism, this song should hopefully get Biggup & Elijah the respect they deserve. The production could be a little better as the actual final mix-down does let it down a little. The lyrical content through-out is as tight as their hard hitting and on point flows, making this a track you should definitely check out. Here ya get full version, instrumental and an accapella so mixtape DJ's may want to cop this to do blend mixes etc. We'd like to hear more from this duo. 

 

 

As part of the hugely popular UK crew Terra Firma, Kyza aka Mr. Sayso follows up the superb 'Lights Out' with two new banging tracks produced by Nottingham's number one beatmaker Joe Buhdha who has impressed before with beats for likes of Rodney P, Canibus, Klashnekoff, Jurassic 5 and El Fudge. 'Real Rap' drops over a famous old-skool type beat with positive lyrics like 'bring the fun back/and burn the gun chat' make this a feel-good up-tempo UK rap banger. The flipside 'Devil In A Dress' rocks on a double-time flex with intricate flows complimenting a deep story about some mad bird! Some peeps will compare to Obie Tribe's 'The Set Up' but it is a lot deeper and more complex. This one of the best UK singles we have had through for a long time. Hot. 

 

From Croyden comes the second release on Smoking Mics. It's a four man posse cut that holds the A-Side with a deep head-nodding beat produced by DJ Terror. Kinetics, R-Text, J –Khan & Aslan all hold the beat well, although it's the flipside that grabs us here. 'The Gathering' has an interesting percussive loop running through it with mad bell sounds and a bouncing deep bass riff that impresses. There's eight MC's on this cut givin' it a constant moving groove. Cuts by DJ Pager are up to his normal superb standard and the instrumentals are included here too.

 

If all UK Hip-Hop releases where as strong as this then we honestly believe the scene in Britain would be bigger. Keith Lawrence has impressed before with his hefty production skills and past collob's with Ty and The Extremists are now considered classic UK bangers. Here we see Seanie-T enter with some feel-good lyrics over a wicked skanking ragga influenced riddim track that injects a catchy hook making this so ideal for radio. The flip-side is ruder and has one of the heaviest bassline we've ever heard in a rap tune! Very bashy and very big, and a must if ya love ya Hip-Hop with a splash of ragga. Big up Keith for all the hard-work and delivering another hefty 12". For more information peep www.muzik-ed.com.

 

Ritual's new tune ‘Its On’ has been doing the rounds with certain DJs up and down the country.  The ‘pizzacato led funky beat gives it instant dancefloor appeal.  However the actual song doesn’t really quite hit the spot.  Ritual has defiantly gone for a more ‘accessible’ sound and to be total honest it doesn’t really work.  There no doubt Ritual can rip mics, however, on this new single he doesn’t kill it as much as everyone knows he can.  Still look for this though and see for yourself.

 

Sex, Money & Guns enter with too hefty street anthems. Featuring old skool veteran Ice-T alongside underground kings Smoothe Da Hustler & Trigga Tha Gambler, this grimy track drops hard with some hefty production and flows. The flipside 'Bang Bang' uses electric guitars over a string driven groove to create space for these sick emcees to drop more street lyrics. Definitely feeling this, make sure you cop it.

 

Canadian emcee DL Incognito is the first non-UK artist to step out on Wolftown Recordings. Here this 12" has two solid tracks taken from his 'A Sample And A Drum machine'. First up is the party-rocking 'Spit Forever 2' anthem that features female rapper Tara Chase. Supported by a whole heap of top deejays including Kiss FMs Chubby Kids this track also smashed when Channel U played the video for six months!  The flip-side 'Theirs Something' is deeper but hits just as hard. Still available on limited 12" vinyl grab this from the Rago Magazine shop now!

 

US rapper Bugz Bullet gives it with two tracks that are getting a lot of play Stateside. 'Brown Leaves' is a weed inspired track that is delivered well over a smooth beat with a catchy little female vocal sample. '17 Shots' features King James and builds nicely with big dramatic string stabs before a ragga style hook enters giving the track pure energy. Again the flow drops tight and lyrically it gets grimy with pure gutter chat! This is a hot single to hold of and it's destined to do good things.

 

This DJ Premier produced banger comes in with radio and street versions along with a juicy instrumental too. The beat seems to chop and twist like Premo is cutting it up on 2 decks. Its piano led head-nodder that has the infectious catchy hook 'Murdah, Murdah, Murdah, there's gonna be Murdha!'. The flipside is much grimier with the Fizzy Womack produced 'Nine & Two Clips' which uses the same sample as Ghetto Boys used 'Mind Playing Tricks'. M.O.P drop heavy with some nasty street lyrics and this 12" is definitely something to

 

Maspyke delivers two quality slabs of real authentic Hip-Hop with two classy tracks definitely worthy of major attention. With superb production and a real quality sound, 'Step' injects a wicked live bass-line, fat hand-claps and jazz tinges, reminding us of that kind of Jazzy Jeff, Dwelle, Hi-Tek, Tribe, Mos Def, Talib, Commom, Roots kind of vibe. The flows come sick too with clever metaphors and excellent vocal deliveries. 'Step' also comes with an instrumental version which is well handy as the beat is fiyah, and the bonus track 'Bells Of Winchester Square' hits hard too giving' you a taste of what to expect from the much-anticipated album 'The Static'. We like Maspyke, they are hot.

 

Cuba via New York with this hot rap talent bussin out hard with this superb four track 12" clear vinyl. There is a new Hispanic talent in town and this emcee looks set for big things with a hot single that is destined for big things. Led by massive brass stabs and head-nodding groove 'Let Me Rap To You' also speed's up a vocal in the beat giving it a feel similar to beats on Roc-A-Fella. It comes with a Remix too which is slightly darker with a heavier bassline. The instrumental version of the remix is also included as well as a bonus cut 'VIP'. Watch out for Alvare, he is a must for fans of underground Hip-Hop. Big up Crisis Center for the hook-up.

 

London rap here that here is worth searching out for. A big James Brown style riff rides through making this beat so f**kin' funky! Low, Locks and Flem join up with Shack and deliver a street anthem for British Hip-Hop kids. Its straight spittin, with metaphors about how good ya gotta come if ya gonna test these mans. All emcees on the track hold there own and we are sure that when the video drops for this track on Channel U it will give this crew the exposure they need. Davey Inc is a Prince's Trust and London Development agency backed project and its real good to see investment in talent like this. For more information hit up Gail Davey at www.daveyinc.com

 

Second 12” from the superb album by Wolverhampton’s 10 man army ‘Wolftown Committee’ Three tracks deep here we get the excellent video track ‘Boxed’ which was also the title track to a short film.  Stafford / London producer Jay-Are deals with the remix of ‘’Think’, while local Brume JT reworks Jai Boos awesome ‘A So It Go’ making it more radio and club friendly.  On the flipside you get the three instrumentals making this 12” a superb package.  This 12” is available from the RAGO shop so do yourself a favour and grab this now!

 

Malarchi has been a little quiet since his well received album 'Forgotten World' dropped in 2001, but now he's back with a new single that features two DJ friendly tracks. First up is 'Wine & Dine' which has Eastern inspired beats and is a good club banger, although we know 'Simple As' is the track that heads are gonna be bumping. A sick bouncing beat is laced with a moving bass riff and evil strings, where Malarchi busts nuff different flows and proves he is still one of the UK's tightest. A good return, welcome back bruv!

 

Production wise this isn't what you'd expect from Pete Rock as he smashes it with a Southern influenced beat that rocks from the start. Dred Prez drop deep lyrics about the US government and the current state of play, making this a tune to get. Dred Prez have been doing their thing with integrity for years and respect has to be given for kicking the realness. This single features radio mixes and instrumentals also making it very club friendly.

 

Taken from the superb new album from one of the world's most talented wordsmiths, 'I Try' is a slice of raw funk hitting Hip-Hop that could possibly see Talib crossover to a bigger audience. Produced by 2004's biggest rap phenomenon Kayne West and featuring lush hook vocals by Hip-Hop's first queen Mary J Blige, this track drives hard with an up-tempo piano led soulful groove. Album, Radio, Instrumental and Accapella versions are included here too making this even more attractive to DJ's. A slice of quality music from Talib and co… Hefty.

 

Philadelphia Hip-Hop crew return with two tracks from their 'Tipping Point' album, to coincide with a UK tour in November 2004, (including dates in Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester, Bristol and Brixton). 'I Don't Care' is a funk fuelled track that has a soulful infectious sung hook. The flipside 'Duck Down' is much grimier with a banging Timbaland/Neptunes style beat with tight flows and excellent deliveries. Both tracks are worthy of heavy DJ support and I am sure this 12" will be getting the rotation it deserves. More good stuff from The Roots.

 

This is a remake of Ludacris's 'Southern Hospitality' by UK rapper Tommy Evans. It's on the same kind of tip as 50pence's release 'In The Pub', and don't get us wrong it's cleverly done and most of the lyrics are switched up to make it a funny exercise. It's a Northern thing so you get the normal Pub, Cricket, Tea and John Smiths jokes. Can't help thinking this is the type of track that would have gone down better on a mixtape rather than a 12" and although being well funny the idea is getting a bit rinsed out. The flipside 'Trials Of Life' is disappointing although production wise the beat isn't bad, Arro struggles to lock onto the beat tightly.

This new 12" on Son records comes from Out Da Ville's C-Mone. Now solo and with a new deal with Son Records, C-Mone unleashes more UK rap. As she aims to aims to get up there in the ranks of Estelle and Shystie with a head-banging Nick Stez produced track she gets Smily to feature. The flipside 'Disfunktional' is more laid-back track produced by DJ Fever. Good stuff from Son Records and support C-Mone where ever ya can. Peep her website at www.c-mone.co.uk.