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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.

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.

“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.

Versatile barsman Vitamin G and prolific producer Mr Slipz unite on future classic ‘Prophet Of Doom’; an ambitious and expertly crafted collaborative LP across 18-tracks.

Meticulously engineered by Slipz and absolutely bodied by Vitamin G across wave-after-wave of flows and schemes, ‘Prophet Of Doom’ has all the hallmarks of a golden-era record; Slipz’ signature style and cuts courtesy of Ram One backed by movie samples and skits; pitch perfect foundations for Vitz’ unique deliverables.

With a list of feature verses including UK legends Jehst and Farma G, HF stalwart Verbz, Bristol’s Bil Next and Axel Holy, Shogun from Paisley, Manchester’s Pique Roscoe, Sk!nt from Sheffield, soul vocalist Kieran, and Wates & Tommy Mila from Cambridge, ‘Prophet Of Doom’ is poised to offer up something for everyone when it lands on October 25th, 2024 on High Focus Records.

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.

Jam Baxter, Dabbla and GhostTown return to complete the Dead Players trilogy this September.

‘Faster than The Speed of Death’ expertly represents the most recent chapter in a decade (or more) of music making from the trio. Born in Soul-2-Soul’s old studio, turned legendary squat, in Holloway, North London, before evolving into a collaboration from three different corners of the globe (Baxter living in Mexico City, Dabbla hopping around Europe and GhostTown settled in sunny Yorkshire) ‘Faster than The Speed of Death’ celebrates evolution, while staying true to the previous iterations of the Dead Players universe.

Collaborating from distance can have its pitfalls, however, this isn’t Dead Players first rodeo. Once the blueprint was established, Dabbla and GhostTown flew out to Mexico to be in the same timezone as Baxter; finalising songs, shooting videos and eating tamales at the summit of ancient temples all vital parts of the album process.

The result? A pitch perfect listen that emphatically completes the triptych. ‘Faster than The Speed of Death’ is a powerful reminder of the Dead Players universe; a joyride back down the rabbit hole where everything sparkles crimson and green, streetlights bouncing off the side of the getaway car, Baxter and Dabbla’s inimitable lyricism expertly propped up by GhostTown’s thunderous production across 13-tracks.

Speaking on the release, Dabbla explained…

“This album was made with love across time zones and territories. We almost killed ourselves making it. It might be our last, it might not, one thing is for sure, it’s the best Dead Players album yet…”

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

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.

Fresh from supporting Blur at Wembley Stadium this summer, Sleaford Mods are getting set for some of their biggest ever UK and Europe dates this autumn with the release of new six track EP, More UK Grim, on 20 October. Recorded at the same time as their acclaimed 2023 album, UK Grim, the freshly released songs not only continue Andrew Fearn and Jason Williamson's current dancefloor dominance, but with a mix of insight and wit, outrage and compassion, they critique and celebrate our turbulent times.à Lead single Big Pharma, shares a 'take no prisoners' lyrical approach with the band's recent album as it casts a doubtful eye down the 'truther' wormhole, although entwined around a slinky bass riff the track confirms the two-piece at their most dexterous musically. Big Pharma, which sets the tone for the More UK Grim EP, is accompanied by a sharply satirical animated video directed by Sean Sears, who has applied his distinctive, stylised 2D vision to examining the consequences of a health 'philosophy' that prizes drinking urine over carefully researched medical treatments.à "Big Pharma was written in the opening chapters of autumn 2022 when Covid kicked in again. It carries a lot of the normal Sleaford Mods absurdism but also looks at the ongoing fascination with trying to find truths in information wholly pushed by very questionable people," explains Jason Williamson. Alongside the lead single, the More UK Grim EP also features Under The Rules, Old Nottz, PO Crazeh and My 18hr Girdle, all previously unavailable.

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!

Releasing now for well over a decade - Neue Grafik: known to friends as Fred, has successfully transplanted from Parisian rookie to one- man London Institution. Beginning as a solo producer and DJ,Fred spread his wings upon relocating to South London - at first with his Neue Grafik Ensemble and later with his now iconic twice-weekly Orii Jam - the latter of which has given agency to an entire new generation of musicians; spawning an aesthetic, nurturing a unique sound and becoming a launchpad for countless artists.

Dalston Tape Volume 1 is Fred’s attempt to fall back in love with beatmaking - taking it back to the roots of where the project began. I say “attempt” because he’s simply learnt too much and made too many friends along the way to make a mere DIY beat tape. Since his early MPC-led productions on Parisian label, Beat X Changers, Fred has learnt to play the keys to a concert hall standard, he has become proficient in double bass and built up a dense network of collaborators who he has composed, recorded, engineered and produced for both at home in SE London and in the iconic Total Refreshment Centre Studios in Dalston.

This experience adds unavoidable dimensions to his toolbox - resulting in something more akin to a miniature-magnum-opus than a simple beat-tape.

Yes, we hear the influences of Pete Rock, Mad Lib, J Dilla and Al Dobson Jr but we also hear the musicality of D’Aneglo, James Blake and live contributions from an ever growing army of young graduates of the Orii School.

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.

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

Versatile barsman Vitamin G and prolific producer Mr Slipz unite on future classic ‘Prophet Of Doom’; an ambitious and expertly crafted collaborative LP across 18-tracks.

Meticulously engineered by Slipz and absolutely bodied by Vitamin G across wave-after-wave of flows and schemes, ‘Prophet Of Doom’ has all the hallmarks of a golden-era record; Slipz’ signature style and cuts courtesy of Ram One backed by movie samples and skits; pitch perfect foundations for Vitz’ unique deliverables.

With a list of feature verses including UK legends Jehst and Farma G, HF stalwart Verbz, Bristol’s Bil Next and Axel Holy, Shogun from Paisley, Manchester’s Pique Roscoe, Sk!nt from Sheffield, soul vocalist Kieran, and Wates & Tommy Mila from Cambridge, ‘Prophet Of Doom’ is poised to offer up something for everyone when it lands on October 25th, 2024 on High Focus Records.

Jam Baxter, Dabbla and GhostTown return to complete the Dead Players trilogy this September.

‘Faster than The Speed of Death’ expertly represents the most recent chapter in a decade (or more) of music making from the trio. Born in Soul-2-Soul’s old studio, turned legendary squat, in Holloway, North London, before evolving into a collaboration from three different corners of the globe (Baxter living in Mexico City, Dabbla hopping around Europe and GhostTown settled in sunny Yorkshire) ‘Faster than The Speed of Death’ celebrates evolution, while staying true to the previous iterations of the Dead Players universe.

Collaborating from distance can have its pitfalls, however, this isn’t Dead Players first rodeo. Once the blueprint was established, Dabbla and GhostTown flew out to Mexico to be in the same timezone as Baxter; finalising songs, shooting videos and eating tamales at the summit of ancient temples all vital parts of the album process.

The result? A pitch perfect listen that emphatically completes the triptych. ‘Faster than The Speed of Death’ is a powerful reminder of the Dead Players universe; a joyride back down the rabbit hole where everything sparkles crimson and green, streetlights bouncing off the side of the getaway car, Baxter and Dabbla’s inimitable lyricism expertly propped up by GhostTown’s thunderous production across 13-tracks.

Speaking on the release, Dabbla explained…

“This album was made with love across time zones and territories. We almost killed ourselves making it. It might be our last, it might not, one thing is for sure, it’s the best Dead Players album yet…”

Limited signed edition. Only available at HHV. One copy per customer.

“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.

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.

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.

I feel it will be a real head- turner for anyone who knows my music. I'm really
proud of that. It's exactly what I wanted to do... Make music that I'd listen to and
I'd put on my playlist."
Destined for a playlist, speakers and stage near you imminently: 'Dog Eat Dog
Food World' simultaneously takes things back to Niko's roots but also zooms out
to reveal a much wider picture of who he is and what makes him tick. He
describes his new creations as happy music and that he feels it's a refection of
what it's like to be a British teenager but each cut comes with a barbed tale of
high, lows, lols and woes.
Featuring singles such as 'trespass coat', 'ur bundle of joy!', '14 days', 'miniclip'
and 'it's not litter if you bin it', Niko's nak of sharing relatable smalltown stories,
deconstructing the concept of trying to adult in the 21st century and the
challenges of living, laughing and loving under the late stage capitalist kosh
secure his role as a Gen-Z Mike Skinner.
We're going to really hone in on Niko's engaged and strong online presence with
an abundance of fun, unique content. There will be 3 skits released in between
each of the singles to tease elements of the album and showcase the narrative of
the lyrics and themes. We will be collaborating with the likes of Buzzfeed/Evening
Standard/The Metro/Dazed/The Face and connect with fans via live streams

Picture the scene; King Kashmere goes down a rabbit hole watching Cuth playing live on his Instagram channel. After catching much wonderment from the experience, KK DMs Cuth to propose the idea of working on some music together…

Fast forward a few and Kashmere finds himself riding a wave of overwhelming nostalgia as he listens through the zip Cuth swiftly sent his way. All the beats ‘Sound Like Home’. Potent flashes of his formative years in-and-around NW London begin to dominate his writing; all the time wrestling with the otherworldly references that have become synonymous with King Kashmere’s penmanship.

Fast forward a few more and ‘Sounds Like Home’ lands in our inbox; a 13-tracker home to some of KK’s most emotive work to date. Reminiscing on simpler times, long lost friends and offering up a fresh perspective on the beauty (and brutality) of the human condition, ‘Sounds Like Home’ is both the first HF release of 2024 and an enlightening reminder of Kashmere’s view of the world.

While most spend their days wading through the treacly undercurrents of a decaying hometown, Jam Baxter spends his days carving out on a new existence in the heart of Mexico City.

With a forest of rare succulents of house plants on his eighth floor balcony, a notepad in his back pocket (for lizard spotting) and a flea market typewriter primed in his writing room, Baxter affords himself the time and grace for his new surroundings to seep into him, watching his writing take on new life in the exchange; days and nights spent in quiet contemplation as he sharpens his skills in unpacking the universe.

Granuja has eschewed the at-times chaotic metropolis of Medellín for a quiet life in the hills of La Ceja, where he produces and writes (followed around by his pack of loyal dogs). Six years since his debut solo LP ‘Círculo Vicioso’ dropped back in 2017, Granuja has been steadily carving a name for himself in Latin America and beyond with a series of critically acclaimed rap releases.

Baxter & Granuja first met in 2020; the former taking an impromptu 2-hour taxi cab in thickest night to Granuja’s studio way up in the winding hills of Antióquia. As with all great creative endeavours, plans to record ‘a couple of tracks’ snowballed; a single became an EP became an album, the momentum fuelled by a new Jack Danz’ instrumental landing in Baxter’s inbox every fortnight.

Before sunrise the bones of ’De las Sombras’ were born.

There is no question that Granuja and Baxter bring out a different side of one another. The two artists hopping borders, barriers and time zones; switching languages as often as they switch flows across an album unified by an all-encompassing sense of doom.

At its core, ‘De las Sombras’ is a gothic listen. A haunting, swooning downward spiral. Blacks, whites, purples and greens bubbling a thick concoction. Life and death at loggerheads in the back-and-forth; expertly soundtracked by Jack Danz most haunting works to date and complemented by a series of curated vocal samples furthering the gloom.

We like to think of ’De las Sombras’ as an OST for the album artwork. The castle a picture perfect symbol of an album persistently flirting with the supernatural.

UK rap legend Verb T returns with ‘The Tower Where The Phantom Lives’, a mesmerising new LP that sits alongside the most enlightened and adventurous in his glittering discography.

Bound by a set of contrasting emotions and energies; fiction and fantasy wrestling with everyday curveballs, ‘The Tower Where The Phantom Lives’ showcases Verb T at his razor sharp best. It is the wisest version of Verb T to date; complemented by the wonderfully melodic production of Vic Grimes, the Canadian producer proving to be the perfect ally for Verbs to deconstruct the world at large, his magnifying glass growing more-and-more forensic as each track unfolds.

Mental exploration, self deprecating humour, didactic story telling woven together by haunting movie samples, ‘The Tower Where The Phantom Lives’ listens like an OST; each track / scene propping up a wonderful narrative arc; Verb T the lead role and Vic Grimes the composer of their very own psychological thriller, extreme highs and lows eventually settling into a contemplative groove on final track (and lead single) ‘Your Heart Deserves’.

Coby Sey steps out with his remarkable debut album 'Conduit'. "'Conduit' is a statement of intent, reaffirming my dedication to transcend the tangible through music – it’s my way to continue and contribute to the musical lineage laid by those before me, locally and worldwide." - Coby Sey

15 track album by Bronze Nazareth and Leaf Dog.

“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.

Here's the all new The Mouse Outfit album with guest appearances by IAMDDB, Black Josh, Dubbul O, Sparkz, Dr. Syntax and many more. Another quality release by one of our favorite UK crews. Tip!

High Focus Records regular and member of UK rap super group The Four Owls, Verb T has joined forces with production wizard Pitch 92 for the new album ‘Good Evening’. Pitch, who has spent the past few years as the musical mastermind behind the award winning
Mouse Outfit collective has excelled himself on this release bringing to the table a delectable selection of funk & soul infused bangers serving as the perfect backdrop for Verb T to unleash his smooth brand of thoughtful lyrics and hooks.
Having spent 3 years writing for ‘Good Evening’ Verb T has put forward some of his most personal rhymes to date, delivered with a new found passion that sees the veteran build on a body of work that stretches back to the days of Low Life Records and now sees him as a major part of the ever expanding High Focus Records movement. The album features guest vocals from UK giants Ocean Wisdom, Jehst, DRS, Fliptrix, BVA, King Kashmere of Strange U, Sparkz, Black Josh, Rye Shabby, Confucious MC and Moreone.
Individually, Verb T and Pitch 92 have accomplished a huge amount, however with ‘Good Evening’ both artists have put forward arguably the best work of their careers. Built from scratch with the live show element in mind, this album really feels like a party, Good Evening! Enjoy!

Damon Albarn's brainchild which includes the massive hit Clint Eastwood feat. Del!

Nice remixes of Mobb Deep, Raekwon, MOP, Children Of The Corn, Black Moon, Camp Lo and many more!

Pitch, Chini and Defty present the follow-up to the well-received "Escape Music" album with features by Sparkz, Verb T, Fox, Dr. Syntax, Truthos Mufasa, Dubbul O, Jman, Ellis Meade, T-Man & Cutterz!