UK Hip Hop 424 Items

Following on from Ramson Badbonez’ super limited ‘Jason Bonez’ concept album release in May 2018,
the rapper is once again donning the blood stained hockey mask as he returns to the character of Jason
Bonez and presents us with the blood curdling ‘Mic Day The 13th’. Continuing where the first ‘Jason
Bonez’ left off, this LP is heavily influenced by the cult classic horror film ‘Friday The 13th’ - Badbonez
proceeds to execute, mangle & massacre everything in his path over 12 expertly produced tunes, taking
care to explore different flow patterns and cadences on each track, a true feat considering Badbonez’
already very impressive level of lyricism. Featuring gritty production from Illinformed, Jazz T, Skeleton
Key & Mark Fear Beats; ‘Mic Day The 13th’ is not for the faint hearted, taking the term hardcore to
levels unheard.

The brand new album 'NFA' from Smellington Piff which features production from Leaf Dog, Illinformed and Smellington Piff and guest vocals from Leaf Dog, BVA, Farma G, Scorzayzee, Sean Peng, Cracker Jon and Gee Bag and cuts from DJ Jazz T and DJ Merk.

Acrylic Snail’ is the fifth album from Dirty Dike. Following a three-year hiatus since his last solo
outing ‘Sucking On Prawns In The Moonlight’ and after a ream of production work for the likes of
Rag ’n’ Bone Man (‘Put That Soul On Me’), Ocean Wisdom (‘Chaos 93’) and Lee Scott (‘Butter
Fly’) during that time, Dike is back with a brand new 14-track album; his most personal release
to date and a body of work that shines a full-beam-floodlight on his formative years, but
moreover, the dreamlike transition between then and now.
Firmly anchored in a chapter of the UK underground before everything went to shit, situated a
couple behind this current grizzly chapter, the songs bounce off the walls of abandoned
industrial estates and whoosh by at breakneck speeds like trains through tunnels. The album
embodies the freezing cold concrete pours, twilight toe slaps and irregularly shaped ballast
banks of the network. In short, ‘Acrylic Snail’ pays homage to the things Dike saw in the very
farthest reaches of night that made him who he is today.
Featuring a roster of guests vocalists (Rag ’n’ Bone Man, Jam Baxter, Lee Scott, Dabbla, Leaf
Dog, Eva Lazarus, J Man, Ronnie Bosh, Inja, Killa P, Foreign Beggars) and production from a
team of music makers (including Dike himself) ‘Acrylic Snail’ is an AAA invitation to Dirty Dike’s
playground and further cements his hard-earned status as one of UKHH's greatest
torchbearers.

Connecting Swindle’s grime and dubstep roots with UK jazz, funk and soul, No More Normal was created over a three year period, and spans “strings-laden soul to voicebox-heavy p-funk – often in the course of one song.”

The 11-track album features MCs Kojey Radical, Ghetts, D Double E and P Money, instrumentalists Yussef Dayes, Nubya Garcia, Riot Jazz, and singers Etta Bond, Eva Lazarus and Kiko Bun.

Known as the 1st MC to fully use the English accent mixed with Yardie, to make it more distinctly an African thing, is Green Crypto Knight formerly known as Bionic from the Human Beatbox Sipho Jozana's group London Posse alongside Rodney P and DJ Biznizz. Sipho left the group early and Bionic retired a few years later. In the following years he continued to make music,producing his own tracks just to stay match fit but with no intentions to release anything. That was until Jan 2018 when DJ Jazz T sent him a track they had done along with producer Dr Zygote 10 years earlier called Superlover (the first word in the chorus). The tune was a banger and as he now went by the name Green Crypto Knight he decided the tune should be renamed "Superman"(the last word in the chorus). He knew it was time for the resurrection after that career death at age 33. Now back Better Stronger Faster Bionicman (BionicAsar) has been rebuilt on positive settings to do was he was made for and release music infused with love and intelligence .
The 12" is pressed on Transparent Green vinyl and has full colour artwork by Ronny Oner.

Widely regarded as one of the most gifted writers in the UK, it is finally time for JAM BAXTER to reveal
his formidable new album ‘TOUCHING SCENES’. Treating us to 16 tracks of some of his most
polished and accomplished work to date, a fully fledged audio visual experience - a psychedelic
opus. A Touching Scene. Whether it is the incredible avant garde production, or the all-encompassing
scenic vocals. Nothing comes out of this experience unscathed. Tears of joy guaranteed.
Similarly to his previous record, the slightly slurred and and debauched ‘Mansion 38’, Jam Baxter
recorded this new body of work in the tropical settings of Bangkok, Thailand, with long time
collaborator and audio landscapist, Chemo. However, this time around, the pair have enlisted the
capable hands of GhostTown, Sumgii, Last Japan & Sam Zircon to contribute to the colour palette of
this more refined body of work, allowing the project to stand alone sonically as a more evolved sequel
to its low tempo predecessor. The album blurs the conventional genre lines of hip hop and grime in
it's production, with lyrical influences ranging from William S. Burroughs to Young Thug. There are a
multitude of sumptuous flavours in this finely woven package that cater to every conceivable taste
bud - perhaps making this LP Jam Baxter’s most complete and polished effort to date.
Jam Baxter is joined on this journey by a very carefully selected & varied set of vocalists; who all bring
their unique vista to the project, further enriching the tapestry. From modern day super star
Rag’n’Bone Man, to the ingenious Kate Tempest, to Grime pioneer OG Rootz (FKA Durrty Goodz), to
underground sensation Stinkin Slumrok as well as up & coming singer Rhi - there is a representative
from every facet of the fragmented UK scene all coming together to add to the poignancy of the
Touching Scene.

Brand new album from legendary UK Grime / Hip Hop maestro!

Debut album by UK trio following their “Undertones” EP on Meltin Pot
Music, the label that brought you Twit One, FloFilz, Suff Daddy, Brenk
Sinatra, Dexter and others!
"Uhuru" is the debut album by Summers Sons & C.Tappin from London and Bristol.
The journey of this album started back in 2015 and was inspired by the people and
places of Tanzania. After three years of channelling the vibe into beats and bars, it is
finally here!
Summers Sons are Turt (rap) + Slim (beats) who are actually brothers. They are
longtime friends with vocalist and pianist C.Tappin. Their music can be described as
rap with a lot of jazz. We like to call it cool bap.
Turt first got into hip-hop through Grime but also cites UK wordsmith Jehst as a
major influence. Slim was doing UK Garage for a while, when his brother asked him
for some more chilled beats to rap to. Tappin came up in a musical family, picked up
the piano as a kid and played in indie bands.
With such diverse backgrounds Summers Sons and C.Tappin are not your average
rap group. They would actually rather name their crew a band. Which makes total
sense when you catch them live. Slim slices up the beats on his SP404. Tappin gets
busy on the keys and adds vocal harmonies while Turt holds down the vibe on the
mic, spitting lyrics with a message.
Still only in their early twenties Turt, Slim and Tappin are somehow old souls when it
comes to music. If you listen to "Uhuru" you are unmistakably reminded of the
Soulquarians school of fusing hip-hop, soul and jazz. Follow the Sons' "Road To
Uhuru" playlist on Spotify and you are treated with gems from D'Angelo, Dilla, Badu
and Bilal back to back with new UK Jazz tunes from Alfa Mist or Ezra Collective.
Rounded up with a selection of dusty beats from German beatmakers like Hubert
Davis and Twit One. On their own songs Summers Sons and C.Tappin are
connecting these dots in their very own style and fashion.
While Slim had already released beats on Banoffee Pies and Brownswood, Turt and
Tappin made their official debut on the "Hay Luv" album by Twit One , who they had
met when he played a DJ gig in Bristol some years ago. With the release of the
Summers Sons' "Undertones" EP on MPM in early 2018 the London - Cologne
connection became official. The six tracker introduced the sound of the Summers
and Tappin to a bigger audience and included remixes by FloFilz and Twit One.
Now get yourself ready for "Uhuru" ! To learn more about the album we recommend
the liner notes: We’re all as simple complex as the next man. No one really comes
correct with a set plan. It’s all guesswork. Feet stepping, Keep checking with my
head first.

Original AE co-founder Truck is back with a new album coming soon and delivers a taster with this lead off 7” single featuring fellow AE Productions recording artist and Hip Hop legend Phill Most Chill. 3,665 refers to the distance between Truck and Phill Most Chill’s home cities and the pair duel brilliantly over a heavy beat by Sir Beans OBE (The Aroma/Parlour Talk/Ruztik Records). No chorus hook nonsense here but Mr Fantastic supplies some sharp cuts to complement the MC’s.
The B-side is the ‘Raw Skeleton Version’ of Right or Wrong – a special stripped back version of a track from the forthcoming album produced by Mr Fantastic which will not to be released elsewhere. Truck flows effortlessly over the DJ friendly obscure Funk groove.
Available on black vinyl 7” in a run of 350 retail copies in full colour sleeve designed by Mr Krum.

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!

‘A psychedelic induced hypnotic state, crossing over borders of the physical realm...’
Ramson Badbonez, one of the most revered MC’s in the UK underground is back!
In his last musical offering, Ramson Badbonez took us through the conceptual ‘Year In The Life Of Oscar The Slouch’, a gritty seasonal account of the harsh realities of London inner city street life. This June, the illusive skull clad lyricist makes his grand return to the airwaves with his brand new collaborative effort alongside producer DJ Fingerfood entitled ‘Hypnodic’. As the title suggests, this is a much more cerebral journey onto the astral plains of the mind of Ramson Badbonez. However, do not be mistaken, Badbonez’ signature gritty rapping style is still as prevalent and as sharp as ever and is a perfect match for Fingerfood’s ‘Hypnodic’ production style. The album is tied together with a string of esoteric vocal samples and interludes as well as razor sharp cuts provided by the dexterous hands of DJ Fingerfood.
In a day and age where UK rap music is diluted with generic concepts and weak lyrics, Badbonez is back to demand respect through his impeccable lyricism. With big hooks, lyrical jabs and stomping production amidst features from the likes of Leaf Dog, Res One, Gadget & MAB to name a few this album is set to get some serious rotation.
‘Hypnodic’ will be released on High Focus Records on the 16th of June 2017 on limited edition vinyl, CD, limited edition cassette tape, and all good digital platforms!

I admit I wasn't familiar with this album, so many just pass us by, but as I sat back and listened, I slowly realised that this isn't just any soul LP, its a masterpiece, full of passion and tenderness, it was like a huge hug from long lost lover... Beautiful... Enjoy it.

Returning with their first full length record for Rough Trade, it will be fascinating to find out what Sleaford Mods made of 2016.

The title here refers to cuisine in a pub the pair visited that consisted of "half a scotch egg, cup of chips, pickle and a mini pork pie" - a menu that sums up the useless state of England, as viewed through the lens of lead ranter Jason Williamson.

Featuring all new songs recorded with Steve Mackey (Pulp), this is sure to be one of 2017's most-anticipated releases.

We are truly living in strange times. Our reality is snowballing into a dystopian nightmare with all powerful pig headed political figures pulling the rest of the world towards oblivion. Headlines read like chapters from the darkest of Orwellian fantasies and our world is starting to resemble the bleakest of premonitions put forward by the most ‘out there’ science fiction writers. To say the least, things are going a bit strange.
Few artists have managed to capture and reflect the current sate of affairs as well as new High Focus Records signings Strange U have with their debut album ‘#LP4080’. Perhaps one the most unique acts to hit the hip hop scene; bringing a truly fresh take on a subject matter lesser rappers have toiled with for years. Rapper King Kashmere and producer Zygote (aka The Maghreban) blend a careful mixture of social commentary and experimental excellence over left of centre rhythms sent from the mother ship whilst staying 100% Hip Hop throughout as the album title would suggest - a reference to the famous Tribe Called Quest Industry Rule.
But don’t get it twisted, it isn’t all doom & gloom. The album takes the listener to many different dimensions whilst maintaining a signature cohesiveness. From politics on "Mr Kill”, a pastiche of the modern rap game on "Shots" to the other worldly Sci-Fi of "Cimmerian Shade" and the self deprecating wit of "Waste of Space".
Overall, the duo aim to make music that bangs and that takes you elsewhere. Maybe it harks back some of the references they connected over, perhaps when hip hop acts had more character. More Goofball. More Experimental. More Gonzo.

New Gen' brings on 17 fresh faces from the UK wave for the LP, curated to expose and represent the rising voices of the genres. Among the talent featured are AJ Tracey, Avelino and 67.

New five-track EP.

‘TCR’ stands for “Total Control Racing” and is named after a Scalextric-style toy racing car game popular in the 1980s.

Paul White, South London purveyor of crumpled psych-hop beats and Danny Brown’s go-to UK producer, has unveiled an album-length collaboration with Florida rapper-singer Eric Biddines.

High Focus Records stalwart, Dirty Dike, not usually one to hold his tongue, is making a return to the airwaves this April without even saying a word. This time letting the beats do the talking for him, as he continues to gain as much respect for his production as he does on the microphone. After having produced Rag N Bone Man's critically acclaimed 'Put That Soul On Me' 12'' as well as one of the biggest breakthrough tunes of 2014, 'Walking', for phenomenal newcomer Ocean Wisdom, the second official installment of the 'A Dirty Dike Production...' series is upon us! This time around the outspoken rapper turned instrumentalist has enlisted none other than incomparable Northern lyricist supreme Lee Scott for a full length LP of that straight up unadulterated buttery Jazz Funk aptly titled 'Butter Fly'.
Following the tried and tested 1 producer 1 MC formula which has been responsible for some of Hip Hop's most classic and cohesive albums, the pair blend seamlessly together as both the production and the lyrics complement one another perfectly. Veering off from the thick soul sound of ‘Put That Soul On Me’ with Rag N Bone Man, Dike has opted to go for a more Jazzy approach. The album is densely packed with smoked out, nonchalant jazzy blends which provide the perfect musical bedding for an equally cool as a cucumber Lee Scott to deploy his effortless, hilarious and incisive social commentary to great effect. As Lee Scott puts it himself, he is that 'cool Daddy Boney M was going on about' and he always, always keeps it fly, totally money and utmost buttery.

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!

Onoe Caponoe, a London based, yet widely travelled audio astronaut, has been leaving stepping stones and musical bread crumbs for his listeners for years now, traveling further and further into the uncharted depths of the galaxy with each musical offering. Onoe Caponoe has consistently displayed an evolution in originality, experimentation, creativity and intergalactic psychedelic space travel through which his fans have faithfully followed him through every quadrant of the galaxy relishing in its hallucinatory and other worldly properties. In doing so he has become one of the most progressive and exciting artists in the London music scene, pushing the inter-dimensional envelope further into the multi coloured cosmos than any of his contemporaries who seem glued to the earth’s mundane concrete surface.

Recorded with a traditional live set up this time!