Alecs Delarge UK Hip Hop 430 Items

cLOUDDEAD's debut album, compiling six 10" EPs that appeared between 2000-2001, is aurally dense and obscured. A sprawling mass of miniature beat-suites and Dadaist lyrics, this strange and beautiful 3xLP would influence a myriad of sub-genres (cloud rap, hauntology, lo-fi hip-hop, etc.) in the two decades since its initial release.

Only the three members of cLOUDDEAD – Why?, Doseone and Odd Nosdam – can speak to the group's origins, but in the context of underground hip-hop towards the end of the 20th century, their arrival makes perfect sense. Cincinnati had a vital scene; home to Scribble Jam, an annual confluence of MCs, DJs, B-boys and graffiti artists. While the trio soon relocated to the Bay Area where they co-founded the Anticon collective, their Midwestern roots – in ramshackle basements of off-campus hovels, as the "cerberus of Southern Ohio" – would remain the atomic heart of their early recordings.

As Chris Martins writes in the liner notes, "The only reason we know their names today is because of how loudly and curiously they aired their insularity. They rewrote the entire world as they knew it through their own fucked perspective, and when those mysterious 10-inches started popping up in record shops, it wasn't just a puzzle to investigate: there seemed to be a whole cosmology hidden in those grooves."

Each side of the album represents one of those elusive 10-inches, each embodying a universe unto itself. Opening salvo "Apt. A" and "And All You Can Do Is Laugh" are perhaps most emblematic of the cLOUDDEAD experience. Why? and Dose create a new language through boundless non-sequiturs, sing-song non-choruses and call-and-response hooks, while Nosdam's dexterous production shifts from crackling ambience of Flying Saucer Attack to tight Ohio Players drum breaks and oblique film samples.

Taken all together, cLOUDDEAD is an original interpretation of hip-hop in the surreal Y2K glow – a bizarre meeting point between William Basinski's Disintegration Loops and MF DOOM's Operation: Doomsday. All it took was a Dr. Sample Sp-202, Tascam cassette eight-track and cheap RadioShack mic. There's truly nothing like it.

This edition has been faithfully restored by Nosdam. Comes with poster.

Unsettled Scores Records is thrilled to announce the long-awaited release of Bombin’ by Brim, available for the first time ever on 7” vinyl and digital download. Bombin’ is the iconic title track from Dick Fontaine’s acclaimed graffiti documentary that originally aired on UK’s Channel 4 in early 1988. The documentary follows the journey of graffiti artist Brim in 1985, as he travels from The Bronx, New York to various locations across the UK, encountering legendary figures including a young Goldie (mbe) and 3D (Massive Attack / The Wild Bunch). The track became legendary to a generation of graffiti artists and Hip Hop lovers who grew up with the documentary. Remastered from a recently discovered cassette tape in the collection of Bombin’ composer David Toop Unsettled Scores Records is proud to finally release the full length recording, including previously unheard verses by Brim.

The incredible follow-up to an magnificent predecessor. Now on vinyl. This is the regular white edition.

Limited TO 150 Copies!

“Well travelled in my life got the maddest mileage…”

One year on from the release of ‘Mantra No. 9’, Fliptrix returns with his tenth solo album ‘Dragonfly’.

Written and recorded off grid in the Portuguese mountains and produced in full by the Leigh Brothers (Leaf Dog & Illinformed), ‘Dragonfly’ is Fliptrix’s lightning in a bottle moment; a series of life-changing events compelling Fliptrix to hole up in the studio to capture the true essence of his recent experiences in real time.

The result is his most alive offering to date; handbrake fully off, emotions and energies dialled up to 11 across 14-tracks. Each unpacking a tumultuous year which included the birth of his daughter and unexpected passing of his father, all this while navigating the ever-shifting music scene he has championed for so many years as the founder of High Focus Records and 1/4 of supergroup The Four Owls.

Exploring the connections between the natural landscape and the spirit world, the dragonfly as a totem to the other, but more poignantly, in the fact that Fliptrix’s late father played drums in his own rock band of the same name in the 1970’s, ‘Dragonfly’ carries a personal weight that sets it apart from his previous album offerings, Fliptrix delving deeper than ever before; incredible highs paired with moments of introspection, reflection and mourning as he searches for meaning in the songs that he writes.

And with a stunning feature courtesy of psychedelic RnB superstar Greentea Peng on huge single ‘Cosmic Scenes’, ‘Dragonfly’ is the perfect body of work to round off Fliptrix’s canon of ten solo albums, spanning seventeen years (and counting) of music making at the very top of the scene.

LP+CD+7"

Tkay Maidza, the first female rapper signed to 4AD, announces details of her highly anticipated new album, Sweet Justice. The follow-up to her 2016 self-titled debut will be released on 3 November and includes the recent Flume-produced earth-shuddering single ‘Silent Assassin’. Today, Tkay shares a blistering new track, ‘Ring-A-Ling’ and official video directed by Jocelyn Anquetil.

“I’m never choosing compliance,” a defiant Maidza utters ‘Ring-A-Ling’; a warning from the Zimbabwean-born, Australian-raised, Los Angeles-based rapper, singer and producer and a mantra for Sweet Justice. Produced by Two Fresh, Tkay says of ‘Ring-A-Ling’, “I wanted to make an empowering song that tells others that my biggest focus are my goals.”

The result of a dark night of the soul—and ensuing epiphany—that led to a series of professional and personal reckonings, Sweet Justice isn’t a revenge album, but it does stem from a profound sense of karma. In a traditional sense, it’s a breakup record: about Tkay splitting off from her self-doubt and warped sense of self; the toxic figures that populated the last chapter of her life; and the idea that she should stick to any one lane.

After severing ties with old friends, she found some new ones on the same creative wavelength: Canadian producers Stint and Kaytranada, and fellow Australian Flume, all of whom contribute production. Sweet Justice is an album that embodies the beautiful contradictions of Tkay’s art: it’s a coming-of-age record by someone who’s mastered the game; an album about karmic justice and accountability that’s bright, breezy and incredibly fun. In Tkay’s mind, it’s a rebirth album, a record about harnessing the feminine power that was innate in her the whole time.

Tkay Maidza says, “Sweet Justice was a way for me to channel my emotions from what I’ve experienced in the last two years. It’s a diary of things and thoughts I’ve kept to myself. Making the record was a healing experience and I’m grateful to have worked with producers who have inspired me throughout my career.” Sweet Justice follows the 3-year-long, 24 song-strong genre-bending Last Year Was Weird trilogy exploring Maidza’s own African-Australian experience. The project earned her a 2021 ARIA Awards win for Best Soul/R&B Release and an NME Award for Best Solo Act From Australia in 2022. Following on from tours with Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, Tkay is currently in the southern hemisphere for arena shows with Lizzo with her own headline shows to be announced soon.

Brand new 19 track album by BVA - The Dam Builder, which is entirely produced by Leaf Dog and features Benny the Butcher, Leaf Dog, Verb T & Ramson Badbonez.

Limited TO 350 Copies!

Ocean Blue vinyl, full colour 350gsm reverse board sleeve with Gold Embossed accents. 14-track album. Shrink wrapped.

“Well travelled in my life got the maddest mileage…”

One year on from the release of ‘Mantra No. 9’, Fliptrix returns with his tenth solo album ‘Dragonfly’.

Written and recorded off grid in the Portuguese mountains and produced in full by the Leigh Brothers (Leaf Dog & Illinformed), ‘Dragonfly’ is Fliptrix’s lightning in a bottle moment; a series of life-changing events compelling Fliptrix to hole up in the studio to capture the true essence of his recent experiences in real time.

The result is his most alive offering to date; handbrake fully off, emotions and energies dialled up to 11 across 14-tracks. Each unpacking a tumultuous year which included the birth of his daughter and unexpected passing of his father, all this while navigating the ever-shifting music scene he has championed for so many years as the founder of High Focus Records and 1/4 of supergroup The Four Owls.

Exploring the connections between the natural landscape and the spirit world, the dragonfly as a totem to the other, but more poignantly, in the fact that Fliptrix’s late father played drums in his own rock band of the same name in the 1970’s, ‘Dragonfly’ carries a personal weight that sets it apart from his previous album offerings, Fliptrix delving deeper than ever before; incredible highs paired with moments of introspection, reflection and mourning as he searches for meaning in the songs that he writes.

And with a stunning feature courtesy of psychedelic RnB superstar Greentea Peng on huge single ‘Cosmic Scenes’, ‘Dragonfly’ is the perfect body of work to round off Fliptrix’s canon of ten solo albums, spanning seventeen years (and counting) of music making at the very top of the scene.

Stellar debut south-londons rising star Loyle Carner! No exaggerations, no fakin', just pure UK flavor. Tip!

“Introvert” is an expansive piece of music that begins with a mighty orchestral fanfare and doesn’t let up as Simz peels off bars that grapple with fear, frustration, and possibility on both a personal and more universal level. “My speech ain’t involuntary,” Simz raps, “Project with intention straight from my lungs/I’m a black woman and I’m proud one/We walk in blind faith not knowing the outcome/But as long as we unified then we’ve already won.”

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert follows Little Simz’s 2019 album, Grey Area. Simz produced the album with her regular collaborator Inflo, and it will feature guest appearances from Cleo Sol, Obongjayar, and even The Crown star Emma Corrin.

The Four Owls highly acclaimed classic album 'Nature's Greatest Mystery' produced by Leaf Dog. The album features such classic as 'Life In The Balance, Not Like Before & Much To Much and features Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter & Q-Unique. This album made waves the world over and is a must have for any collector or Hip Hop fan!

Limited edition repress on orange splatter vinyl, full colour 350gsm reverse board sleeve. 14 track LP over 2 discs. Shrink wrapped.

Run of 500 vinyl.

His most striking offering to date, ‘Tears Of The Dragon’ is an evolutionary listen, Onoe staying true to the primordial pillars found in the DNA of all the great albums; love and lust, loss and heartbreak key players in an inspired narrative arc that sees Onoe reveal all about his recent past in unmistakeable fashion.

Having written a heap of songs and arranged a number of versions he was More than happy with, real life events saw Onoe return to the bones of the album, with a desire to create something truly timeless. As a result, he moved away from a mixtape mentality and began to carve out the real truth along a stricter, more considered sonic path, crystallising his experiences with an immediacy that makes the album even more unique.

Writing a love album made all the more sense after speaking directly to fans when touring Europe late last year. Stories of love, heartbreak, and the positive influence his music has in moments of extreme emotion became a driving force for Onoe when writing the record and constructing the arc…

“…everything is fine, then they break up, then follows the aftermath. Repeat.”

‘Tears Of The Dragon’ follows the same aesthetic that has become synonymous with Onoe’s universe. A tapestry of speeds and rhythms, nights and days, smooth and hardcore; expertly tied together by Onoe's love-fuelled source code.

15-tracks, with features from Lofty305, Ledbyher, Eter & 169 stalwart L-Zee Roselli, ‘Tears Of The Dragon’ really is an album for the ages.

As Onoe explains…

“I want this album to be my Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ … I also listened to Prince a lot and would tell people my next album is gonna sound like Prince meets Max B at a Halloween party…”

London Calling 2008: great dubstep, grime, digital dancehall tracks feat. Warrior Queen, Spaceape, Flowdan of Roll Deep Crew, Tippa Irie, ... highly recommended!

UK rap legend Mr Key returns alongside Illinformed with flash album KEZ.

12" Black Gatefold Vinyl w/ 12-Page Comic Book ~ Limited TO 250 Copies!

After yet another extended hiatus, Mr Key is back with an unexpected concept album that combines tongue-in-cheek Viz mag humour, razor sharp lyricism, and pitch perfect boom bap production, to paint a surreal technicolour portrait of life amongst the freaks at the glorious, grotty edges of society.

Cutting his teeth as 1/5 of UK hip hop supergroup Contact Play, which he followed with two acclaimed experimental segues alongside Greenwood Sharps, Mr Key’s musical journey has been far from mundane. His new flash release - ‘kez’ - a concept album which documents the rise of a plucky kestrel through an off-grid anarchist commune - 'Bene' - populated by an ensemble cast of misfits, lost souls, drug dealers, new age healers, and would be cult leaders, is without doubt the weirdest and most wonderful twist yet.

´kez´ is a kaleidoscopic offering which diffracts the four years Mr Key spent in a chaotic off-grid commune in Southern Spain through the conceptual lens of cinematic New York golden age classics like ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’ and ‘Prince Among Thieves’; the zero f**ks given energy of Contact Play and early era High Focus, and the foul mouthed British surrealism epitomised by Monty Python and Viz magazine. Such a strange concoction could easily miss the mark, but in the hands of a trio of veterans - Key, Illinformed and cartoonist Monsta - the results are as exceptional as they are unique.

With features from Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter, Ronnie Bosh, Smellington Piff, Leaf Dog, BVA and Sammy B-Side, and art from longtime friend and collaborator Monsta bringing the story to life at the crumbling edges of modernity.

Lewis Parker continues to dig deeper and get stronger in ways, on his most recent addition to his impressive and wide body of work. 20 plus releases into his career, Parker goes in from the opening bars of his new LP ‘Frequency of Perception’. The veteran producer and rapper comes in hot, clearly rooted in his ideas and views, wasting no time dropping knowledge and his opinions on social issues, current rappers, and the rap industry itself. The prolific UK-born hip-hop legend proves to be as tapped into the feel of a pocket as he was when he came on the scene in the 90s. “All I Got”, the album’s first single, has a groove to the bassline that you won’t forget and keeps the delivery of Parker’s bars moving. The spacey keys show themselves early in the record and are a constant that gives the record a dreamy feel, adding mystical and psychedelic energy. “All My Life” is a well-executed balance between the energy found in the flute production and the smooth vocal hook on the tune. Keeping the progressions in check, but also allowing it to maintain a free spirit. That spirit is complemented by features by Eloh Kush and John Robinson, on the track. Other feature appearances on the record include Planet Asia, who is a familiar collaborator of Parker’s, and once again delivers a notable performance on “Thug Livin”. The bar is high whenever these two come together on a record, collectively with nearly 50 years of experience, it feels as if they communicate on another level when creating together. The whole album touches on dynamics in line with the iconic sound that Parker built his reputation on for decades. All while finding new ways to tell stories, not just through his own lyrics, but further exploring instrumentation. Lewis remains consistent in his craft, continuing to cook up beats and productions with classic techniques and fresh ingredients. There is no sense of reaching, the productions exude an attitude that reaps a true passion for his craft.

The new album from Creatures of Habit (Eric the Red, Sean Peng, Illinformed).

We are very very pleased to come up with the exclusive vinyl pressing of "Escape Music", a heavy 19 track album from Manchester's The Mouse Outfit with such vocal guests like Dr. Syntax, Sparkz, Dubbul O, Fox and Black Josh.

Take your time and check out the official videos to a few certified bangers off the album and you'll know why we are so damn enthusiastic about this release.

Limited edition of 500 copies of the collaborative album "Stop Signs" by Confucius MC and Pitch 92 with cameos by the likes of Jehst, King Kashmere and Renelle 893. The vinyl edition includes all 12 vocal tracks plus all respective instrumentals to make it 24 tracks in total. Play it loud!

Originally released back in mid-2020, The Four Owls (@thefourowls) third album 'Nocturnal Instinct' has been given the long overdue REPRESS treatment.

With a STELLAR list of features from Bristol's own Smellington Piff, to the global talents of Kool G Rap, R.A The Rugged Man, Masta Killa, Roc Marciano, DJ Premier, and with the signature production of Leaf Dog and vocal talents of Big Owl (@mrfliptrix), Bird T (@verb_t), Rusty Take Off (@bva_mc) and Deformed Wing (@therealleafdog) an ever-present, the 14-track LP cemented the Owls legacy as international torchbearers of the UK scene.

Grab The Four Owls ‘Nocturnal Instinct’ on ‘TWILIGHT BLUE’ 2 x 12” Vinyl today.

LIMITED NUMBERS (Never to be repressed in this colour way).

After over a year spent in a slight creative slump in a crumbling terraced house in Tottenham, Jam Baxter rang his label boss while heavily intoxicated to request they fly him to Bangkok forthwith, to rejoin forces with '...so we ate them whole' producer and engineer, Chemo. After an initial period of understandable hesitancy, the flights were booked and Baxter found himself suddenly regurgitated from the belly of a Jet Airliner into the magical and surreal surroundings of ‘Mansion 38’.

The album features Dirty Dike, Dabbla, Lee Scott & Trellion and comes shrink wrapped with a full colour 8 page booklet containing photos and Jam Baxter's 'Morning Revelation Elixir' recipe.

101 Piano's / Two Blazing Eyes In The Sun (Crusades Stoned Desert Mix)/ Blood & Sand Montage ('98 Demo Versions)

“GREY Area” continues to cement herself as a prominent artist not only in the UK, but across the globe, with her genre-bending sound and the undeniable honesty of her lyrics. “GREY Area” is a glorious melting pot of neo-soul, deep funk and experimental pop, without neglecting her roots of hip-hop and grime, providing a deeply personal commentary on her own life experiences alongside wider observations in society. Little Simz comes across experienced, free and at times ferocious - navigating through this world with political awareness, intelligence and integrity.

* This 10th Anniversary Edition will be one pressing and then gone, the album is remastered, pressed on Transparent Red Vinyl, features new sleeve art by Cold War Steve, comes with a fanzine and a flexi disc featuring an unreleased track. **

Uluru is back with a Reggae Hip-Hop future classic. Following the teaching of masters like J-Star, Dj Maars and L'Entourloop, Dj Dibba makes is own solo debut on vinyl with 2 heavy weight dancefloor killers, meticulously assembled in Rome, Italy. Fusing rocksteady with hip hop, spicing it up with dub influences and modern drum beats, this 7” will definitely give a shake to the reggae hip-hop scene.

Pull up guaranteed!

Pressed on high quality black and yellow/orange vinyl (48 gr.) Edition of 500, cut it loud and fat, highly recommended for big sound systems.

Due for release on July 28, 2023 on High Focus Records, a new collaborative LP ‘Sight Beyond Sight’ from the powerhouse trio of producer Mr Slipz with rappers Verbz & Nelson Dialect. This new LP is a continuation and culmination of the sounds heard on their previous records. The dynamic rhyming partnership of Nelson Dialect & Verbz going back and forth with relentless wordplay over the signature hard hitting drums & jazzy samples of Mr Slipz production. Showcasing a variety of moods throughout the record from neck snapping, classic rap joints like 'Strike Back’ & the album title track 'Sight Beyond Sight’ to more reflective & personal songs about loss and relationships heard on 'Homecoming’ or 'Beside Me’. To vivid storytelling and conceptual cuts like 'Cause and Effect’ Verbz and Nelson communicate the aspirations and the choices of young artists in the modern world like a roadmap any individual can reference; ‘Sight Beyond Sight’ truly offers something for every listener. There are notable features on the album including the deeply reflective cut 'Homecoming’ with Hiatus Kaiyote back up vocalist Jace XL on the chorus. There is also the blistering posse cut 'Starting 5’ featuring UK Hip Hop legend King Kashmere, NuphZed & Renelle 893, who recently signed to High Focus. Having already released critically acclaimed albums on the cult UK Hip Hop label High Focus, the anticipation is brewing and stage is set for another landmark release for the label from this exciting new trio with ‘Sight Beyond Sight’.

The album is completely produced by illinformed and features 1jack, All Hail Y.T, Babylon Dead, Bil Next, Bill Shakes, Bisk, BVA, Chris Skillz, Crossbow T, Datkid, Dirt Platoon, Eric The Red, Frek 1, Gaza Glock, General, Inja, Jack Jetson, Jay Nice, Leaf Dog, Left Lane Didon, Lisaan'Dro, Pertrelli, Res One, Ruste Juxx, Sean Peng, Sk!nt, Smellington Piff, Tony Broke, Verb T, Wish Master & Wyatt Earp.

Limited to 500 copies.

Young Fathers - Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G. Hastings - announce details of their brand new album Heavy Heavy. Set for release on February 3rd 2023 via Ninja Tune, it’s the group’s fourth album and their first since 2018’s album Cocoa Sugar. The 10-track project signals a renewed back-to-basics approach, just the three of them in their basement studio, some equipment and microphones: everything always plugged in, everything always in reach.

Alongside the announcement ‘Heavy Heavy’, Young Fathers will make their much anticipated return to stages across the UK and Europe beginning February 2023 - known for their electrifying performances, their shows are a blur of ritualistic frenzy, marking them as one of the most must-see acts operating today. The tour will include shows at the Roundhouse in London, Elysee Montmartre in Paris, Paradiso in Amsterdam, O2 Academy in Leeds and Glasgow, Olympia in Dublin, Astra in Berlin, Albert Hall in Manchester, Trix in Antwerp, Mojo Club in Hamburg and more (full dates below)

To mark news of the album and the tour, Young Fathers today release a brand new single, “I Saw”. It’s the second track to be released from the album (following standalone single “Geronimo” in July) and brims with everything fans have come to love from a group known for their multi-genre versatility - kinetic rhythms, controlled chaos and unbridled soul. Accompanied by a video created by 23 year old Austrian-Nigerian artist and filmmaker David Uzochukwu, the track demonstrates the ambitious ideas that lay at the heart of this highly-anticipated record.

Speaking about the title, the band write that Heavy Heavy could be a mood, or it could describe the smoothed granite of bass that supports the sound… or it could be a nod to the natural progression of boys to grown men and the inevitable toll of living, a joyous burden, relationships, family, the natural momentum of a group that has been around long enough to witness massive changes. “You let the demons out and deal with it,” reckons Kayus of the album. “Make sense of it after.”

For Young Fathers, there’s no dress code required. Dancing, not moshing. Hips jerking, feet slipping, brain firing in Catherine Wheel sparks of joy and empathy. Underground but never dark. Still young, after some years, even as the heavy, heavy weight of the world seems to grow day by day.