UK Hip Hop 245 Items

Following hot in the footsteps of his debut HF release ‘Cocoa Butter’, ‘Off The Grid’ sees Renelle 893 team up with producer Bay29 on a body of work that offers an escape route from the monotonous every day; the duo taking us further and further off the beaten track, marrying moments of purest hedonism with stark reminders that the real world lies in wait, just after sunrise, with no pause button in sight. Laying the foundations with summer anthem (and lead single) ’Spaghetti’, Renelle wrestles with the fleeting nature of youth, and his topsy turvy relationship with the finer things in life. The dynamic is both gritty and nostalgic as Renelle walks the fine line between Hollywood hedonism and slurry excess, his mood swinging between moments of invincibility and vulnerability, expertly scored by Bay29’s ethereal, bass dripping instrumentals. Another SE London / Brighton hook up, one of many on the label in recent years, Renelle utilised his late night train rides to-and-from Bay29’s Brighton studio as an opportunity to refine the verses that make up the bones of the project. Twelve-tracks; six vocal, six instrumental, ‘Off The Grid’ is the first in a series of new works from Renelle 893 & Bay29. A perfect scene-setter for what’s to come. As Renelle 893 explains… “Off The Grid is about soul searching and figuring out what kind of adult I am looking to be, navigating a world filled with distractions that will do everything to numb the pain as life inevitably passes you by…”

Down The Local is the latest album from one the UK’s newest up and coming record labels. Certain Sound Records has been dropping releases from some of the UK’s finest artists since 2019.

This latest release is around the theme of the good and bad trips down the local boozer, it features an impressive line-up of some of the UK’s top Hip Hop artists, this includes Deeflux & Miracle, Louie G, Barry Manalog, Cappo, Luther Andross, Ash The Author, DJ Chud (Steel Devils), Gee Bag, Mysdiggi and Chrome.

2 Years since the drop of the aptly titled 'A Fleeting Now' Capriisun returns to Group BraCil to flex that dexterity over glistening grand piano and Spanish guitar

laden beats we know him so well on, in fact he demonstrated this expertly on his recent collaborative project with Group BraCil family and affiliates Verbz and Mr Slipz ('Pass Thru'), yet on Calliope we have some surprises. On the latest release Cap opts to show off his more suave and brash side. 'Calliope' is a more of a series of themed paintings than a collage like the album proceeding it, less dense , more like scenes from a european film noir than excepts from a chunky holiday novel. Attune to his work on Clbrks x Morriarchi's "Bonito", Cap is out the garden and firmly on the bustling strip, and with both the aforementioned artists appearing on the project, its definitely a continuation of Cap's more mischievous persona.

Ambitious, complex and hooky breakthru opus by NW english rapper/producer/songwriter Rainy Miller, issued by The White Hotel’s Head II label and featuring contributions from Space Afrika, Blackhaine, Maxwell Sterling, Jam City, Georgia Ellery, Henzo and more. Highly emotive and bruised gear, it’s essential listening if yr into Future, Chief Keef, Drake, more eaze, Rabit, Wayne Phoenix, Iceboy Violet, Kanye, Burial…

No doubt it’s the most cinematic depiction of what makes Rainy tick, with a choral prologue that sounds like a Burial vignette, precipitating a downpour of emotions that veer from tender to seething bass-boosted drill blowouts. The slippery combo of self-skewering and tearful Autotuned vocals and brittle, barely-present electronics immediately and inarguably recall Kanye’s 808s & Heartbreak, but here refracted into greyscale tales of Northern introspection, confidently torched 'n bleary-eyed industrial experiments.

Miller's best known at this point for his work with his college compatriot Tom Heyes (aka Blackhaine), whose ragged drill/power electronic subversions loom large over "Desquamation". But where Heyes zeroes in on viscera, isolation and substance-fueled rage, Miller's compositions are more pensive, melancholy and emotionally fluid, finding hopefulness in supposedly grim terrain on tracks like 'There's A Fiesta MkII On Fire'. "A Fiesta burns bright," he sings, accenting the last word as it collapses into chattering electronics and snatched Rhodes piano loops. It's a glorious amalgamation of influences, folding grime and ambient signals into something altogether new. From here, Miller pushes even further into the abyss, enlisting Space Afrika and Maxwell Sterling to assist on 'Breath, Sigh', a powerful symphony of sheet noise, ice-cold pads and soulful electric piano weaving around Miller's vulnerable voice.

On 'July Iii', the beats are reduced to pinpricks, heaving listlessly between stolen breaths and punctuated kick blasts, ‘while Misery is as Misery Does' revels in negative space, allowing overdriven pads to evoke an anxious tenor for Rainy’s melancholia. 'is 2 Die' grazes the same mood before erupting into a wrecking-ball roll of distorted kick drums and elegiac synths, and Blackhaine shows up on 'Way Out', the pair following 2020's breakout "Armour" with a corrosive back-and-forth, playing to each others' strengths.

Benefiting massively from repeat listens, ‘Desquamation' is an absorbing, deliriously atmospheric re-definition of drill, ambient and rap modes with bare north west soul; an arresting portrait of an ascendant artist attempting to find comfort in their artistic skin, and effectively broadcasting the malaise, uncertainty and future shock of the British working class thru this f*cking grim time of ours.

Black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve which also comes with a black vinyl 7” of remixes of ‘Spacebox’ by
NØISE and Batbirds.

The LP ‘All Welcome on Planet Ree-Vo’ due for release on 29th July could only really have been made in one city steeped as it is in Bristol’s decades of less conventional hip hop and bass music. Tweaked and fine tuned during the summer of 2020 the record punches with a mix of red eyed paranoia to a playful future funk. The album was all recorded, produced and mixed by Andy at Christchurch Studios, Bristol (home of Mezzanine era Massive Attack) with all vocals written and performed by T. Relly.

Whether folk, rock, jazz, electronica or hip hop, Stroud's musical innovators are united by a love of improvisation, experimentation and collaboration. This record is the first attempt to capture the key sounds of the scene and features acts as diverse as the haunting electronica of Orbury Common, the post-punk jazz of Mermaid Chunky, the etherial cello of Simon McCorry and glitchy hip-hop of Fidel Cutstro. The record also features a track from Blancmange legend Neil Arthur in his Near Future guise as well as the first ever recorded track by Wooolheads, a collaboration between Sound Records' own Sean Roe and artist Uta Baldauf. Other acts involved are Mahon Sounds, Little Metropolis, Unicorn Ship Explosion and Phonsonic.

Limited to 2500 copies.

To mark Record Store Day in 2022 Universal Music Catalogue are making Rizzle Kick’s 2011album ‘Stereo Typical’ available as an LP, on limited edition light green vinyl.‘Stereo Typical’ has been newly mastered for 180 gm vinyl at Abbey Road Studios, and is housed in an eye-catching gatefold sleeve reproducing the original artwork.Originally released in October 2011, ‘Stereo Typical’ was the Brighton Hip-Hop duo’s debut album, peaking at No. 5 the following February.

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

South London’s James Massiah returns to Jon Rust’s Levels imprint with the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2019 underground hit ‘Natural Born Killers’ EP. The six-track EP ‘True Romance’ is the artist / poet / DJ / producer's richest work to date, autobiographically charting the peaks and troughs of 21st century love, life and relationships. Massiah’s rap leanings ride over his signature neon productions, taking in an arc of influences including dancehall, dub, acid house, grime and left field pop. Gritty and shimmering in equal measure, this is essential for devotees of the Dean Blunt, Lord Tusk axis, or anyone switched on to the stream of rap bubbling up from the UK right now. Heavy rotations from Benji B, Jamz Supernova, Shy One & Scratcha DVA. A vital release for 2024.

You know Krash Slaughta right? The man behind the recent wildly successful Doom/Sugacubes mash-up LP Sugar-Coated Doom, not to mention his unofficial remixes of the Wu’s K.R.E.A.M. and P.L.O. Style and collab. 45 with Phill Most Chill, Rebel Base? ‘Is he at it again?’ the monkey hears you ask. Yes, he is at it again, though the closest of the the three aforementioned releases to what he’s about to drop is the Wu remix 45. And what he’s about to drop is Diggin Deeper, not a single this time but a whole remix album of one of his (and the monkey’s!) all-time favourite hip-hop LPs – to wit, Niggamortis – more usually known as Six Feet Deep (especially in the U.S., though minus the best track under that name) by hip-hop supergroup Gravediggaz.

As many will know, this LP with its horror-movie fixated lyrics gave birth to a whole hip-hop sub-genre – that of ‘horrorcore.’ However, none of those who came after seemed to manage the lyrical humour of The RZArector, The Grym Reaper and The Gatekeeper (a.k.a. RZA, Poetic and Frukwan) and the only bit of production by The Undertaker (a.k.a. Prince Paul) that they seemed interested in was the sub-metal rap sludge of the shouty Bang Your Head – i.e. the LP’s one weak spot. But don’t worry, Krash isn’t interested in that sort of thing. Not only does he avoid rap-metal beats for Bang Your Head, he doesn’t use any on the LP at all – hurrah! What he does do is employ, arguably, as eclectic an array of sample sources as Prince Paul on the original – though with an entirely different end result. Bang Your Head with its apparently sixties garage band-derived beat for example is one of the standouts. The skeletal piano skank of 6 Feet Deep is another, while a beat featuring spaced-out eighties synths forms the new musical backdrop to Constant Elevation. Two more of the monkey’s favourites on this one are Here Comes The Gravediggaz, now underpinned by double-bass-led funk and the glorious inappropriately joyous bounce of Blood Brothers. The result? Your favourite cuts on this one might not be the same as your favourite cuts on the original. Two different versions of a much-loved LP, then; it’s why people remix hip-hop. All the vocal stems were created by Krash and the ultimate intention is to do a limited vinyl release. Cover art is by the Dead Residents’ Junior Disprol.

Cookin Soul x Lord Apex
7 Inch vinyl with 4 tracks - The Bullshit / For all my Hustlers + Instrumental versions
Red colourway limited to 200 copies.

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.

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.

Crashing into 2022, Chaos Black sees IMS once again bring their trademark ‘Dring’ sound - a perfect backdrop of raw beats, bleak keys and dirty bass lines for Tenchoo’s notorious and vicious vocal delivery.

Village Live Records are proud to present 'Time & Tide', the new album by Mancunian poet and emcee, D'Lyfa Reilly.

The 12-track album is entirely produced by Village Live artist Aver and is the last release to be overseen by the label's co-founder Joey Deez, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

D'Lyfa burst onto the UK hip-hop scene in 2011 aged 19. After releasing a slew of mix tapes and videos he gained notoriety across the UK, most notably being featured on BBC Introducing and Charlie Sloth's 1xtra national radio shows.

It was during this period that D'Lyfa befriended fellow Mancunian hip-hop producer Aver. The two had a shared vision of an alternative, no-nonsense approach to music and worked together for years on a number of projects that never saw official release. 'Time & Tide' is a combination of reworked tracks from this era and new music the pair created in 2019.

The album will be available on limited edition 12" vinyl in two colour ways: standard black, and the other an aquatic-themed transparent blue with white swirl. The digital version of the album, along with the instrumentals will also be available to stream/buy when 'Time & Tide' is fully released at the start of 2021.

Debut LP by Manchester hiphop crew Voodoo Black (Sparkz, Dubbul O, Ellis Meade & Cutterz)

A download code is included. High Focus Records is proud to present TrueMendous’ first official release on the label, the highly anticipated ‘HUH?’ EP. This 7 track EP is the perfect introduction to TrueMendous - One of the most talented MCs from these shores whether it be her storytelling expertise, varied range or unrivalled flow. Taking reign as the first female rapper to sign to High Focus Records she is definitely one to look out for. With production from Chemo, Pitch 92, Illinformed, Winchester and Marcus Jakes this EP is going to make a serious dent in the scene. Featuring singles ‘That Don’t Mean’ and ‘O.T.Y.L Part 2’, the ‘HUH?’ EP sets the tone for TrueMendous’ future with unparalleled confidence.

The EP comes on single black vinyl, shrinkwrapped for extra freshness.

As a long time player in the UK Scene with the likes of The Mouse Outfit, Voodoo Black, and Levelz - We’re sure that most of you will be familiar with Sparkz by now.

Coming in strong with his debut release on HFR, Sparkz brings the heat with a series of unforgettable bangers that are guaranteed to liven up even the dreariest of functions.

Self-produced, written, and recorded by the man himself, ‘Overload’ is a testament to the years in which Sparkz spent honing his multi-disciplinary skillset.

‘Overload’ is available to order now on a limited run of 250 black vinyl, as well as available to purchase digitally from the HF shop, and across all digital platforms.

Boot proudly present Micall Parknsuns 6th studio LP "Still..." on limited edition single black vinyl. With killer features from Kyza, Scriblah, Joker Starr, AyePee, Josiah and Naughtz. Produced by Micall Parknsun, Aypee and Apollo with cuts by Jazz T. Killer artwork by Glen Stone. Includes the smashes "Still... "and "Kept Going"

10 years since their debut LP, Jam Baxter, Dabbla and GhostTown make their long-awaited return with 'Cherry Turbo / Death By A Thousand Cocktail Sticks'.

‘Cherry Turbo / Death By A Thousand Cocktail Sticks’ is available to Order.

Limited edition pressing on vinyl, full colour 350gsm reverse board gatefold sleeve. 6 track album. Shrink wrapped.

Village Live Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated '10 year anniversary' reissue of Micall Parknsun's critically acclaimed album, 'Me, Myself & Akai,' originally released in 2013. This special reissue marks the first-ever availability of the album on vinyl, making it a must-have for collectors and hip-hop enthusiasts.

Produced entirely on the iconic Akai MPC 1000 by Micall Parknsun himself, 'Me, Myself & Akai' showcases his impeccable production skills. The album features captivating guest vocalists including Joker Starr and Ramson Badbonez, along with razor-sharp cuts by the legendary Jazz T.

Vinyl enthusiasts and fans of Micall Parknsun's work can secure their copy by pre-ordering the limited edition vinyl release. Pre-orders will be available exclusively on the Village Live Records Bandcamp store, with sales going live at 7 PM UK time on Friday, July 7th.

With only 300 copies available, this reissue promises to be a highly sought-after collector's item. Fans are encouraged to act swiftly to secure their copy of 'Me, Myself & Akai' and experience the raw talent and captivating production that Micall Parknsun has to offer

Following on from his last EP, 'Stacker Upper', Lunice returns to his spiritual home, LuckyMe, looking more confident than ever with his next release, 'One Hunned'. Much like his fellow LuckyMe cohorts, Hudson Mohawke and Rustie, Lunice takes ample inspiration from 80s/90s r'n'b, but still manages to be part of a small contingency of producers who are completely carving out a whole new path. Expect big neon-clad synths, soul laden vocal snippets and slick as hell drum-programming, with remixes from The Blessings and Girl Unit to boot.

Little Simz' debut album from 2015 reissued.

Pitchfork gave a 7.8 rating back then and wrote: "At 21, the London rapper Little Simz raps with a shapeshifting hardness and ragged sense of spiritual burden that brings to mind Lauryn Hill and Kendrick Lamar. Both Lamar and J. Cole have cosigned her, and her debut is a tense, terse concept album wrestling with her sense of destiny."

A year on from ‘Good Evening’, the critically acclaimed collaborative album with Verb T & his
stellar contribution to Ocean Wisdom’s UK TOP 40 ‘Wizville’ album, producer Pitch 92 is
ready to show off his new works to the world, as he enters a new stage in his career and begins
to spread his wings as a solo artist. Known for his soulful sound, inspired by the likes of
Madlib, Pete Rock & J Dilla, Pitch 92 has carved out his own unique style and pulled out all the
stops for his debut release on High Focus Records.
Entitled ‘Lost In Space’, this new EP is a perfectly balanced mix of vocal and instrumental
tracks showcasing the raw talent of the Manchester based producer. Pitch 92 has assembled a
healthy roster of artists to work alongside, ranging from UK Hip Hop royalty to up & coming US
artists as well as accomplished musicians.
Spanning from UK Hip Hop favourites such as Jehst & Verb T, to new faces such as [ K S R ],
Sparkz and Doctor Outer as well as hooking up with Sony Music’s Ashely Henry, one of the
UK’s most accomplished jazz pianists as heard on ‘One Handed’ - Pitch 92, armed with his
trusty MPC, expertly provides the perfect backdrop to accommodate each of his guests, as well
as putting forward instrumentals that stand out as masterpieces in their own right, Pitch 92
applies finesse and the ability of a veteran producer, despite only being 26 years old - One
listen of lead single ‘Lost In Space’ featuring Jehst and Confucius MC is all you need to
confirm that we are indeed listening to a master at work.
In short, ‘Lost In Space’ is a production masterclass and serves as the perfect introduction to
the Pitch 92 sound, of which you will be hearing more and more, guaranteed.

DARYL HELMS AKA SPACE & HOWARD STEVENS OFFER THEIR NEW GROUP EFFORT.
DNH A HYDRA WORLD.
THE LP SEES THE NATURE SOUNDS RECORDING ARTIST DROPPING HIS ABSTRACT
NEW YORK LYRICISM OVER HYPNOTIC PRODUCTIONS BY THE LONDON BASED PRODUCER.
THE LP SHOWCASES DNH’S FUNK PUNK REGGAE & SOUL INFLUENCES & STANDS PROUD IN THEIR
REVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT & MULTICULTURALISM.
DNH FIRST RECORDED TOGETHER ON THE FIRST WEATHERMEN PROJECT “PARANOID ANDROID”
WITH CAGE & MASAI BEY.
SPACE WOULD GO ON TO FEATURE ON LP’S WITH CAGE, VAST AIRE, CAMUTAO,
CANNIBAL OX….
HOWARD STEVENS WOULD PRODUCE FOR THE LIKES OF MF DOOM, MF GRIMM,
LEWIS PARKER ETC….
THE LP WAS MIXED & MASTERED BY JUICE, ALSO PRODUCING “HYDRA WORLD TRANSMISSION”.
IT ALSO FEATURES A CO-PRODUCTION WITH HIS GREEDY FINGERS BRETHREN SMIMOOZ ON
“MADE IN AMERICA”
THE ALBUM IS AVAILABLE AS SHRINK WRAPPED LP VINYL & DIGITALLY.
THE SINGLE “ANGELS OF GOD” IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD & THE VIDEO BY TRYPTA MEDIA
THERE WILL ALSO BE A SUPPORTING VIDEO AFTER RELEASE FOR “ROUND THE WORLD”

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

Freedom Of Speech. A new album that is the meeting of 2 minds & 2 styles, an old school flavour with a definite new school twist. Haynesy & JD had a chance meeting on social media & decided to swap a few ideas for fun, but it soon became apparent that something good was happening & they agreed to do a single which quickly led onto to the idea of a whole album instead. Haynesy fresh from the well received ‘Dope Beat Biz Vol 1’ & JD similarly with his ‘Chapters’ series then embarked on what would become ‘Freedom Of Speech’, an 11 track album with every track stand alone in its own right & each with an individual style & message. Digital release set for August 3rd with a vinyl release to follow

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!

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!

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.

Unlike countless previous campaigns for his established labels Finders Keepers, Twisted Nerve and various other imprints, Andy Votel hasn’t come here today to try to persuade you to buy his latest record. From the quietest stall on a very niche market these late-to-the party U.K rap recordings simply Needed to be released, for sanity’s sake. And if it’s taken 30 years to do so, then so be it. Dirty laundry doesn’t air at the bottom of the basket. Demons don’t exorcise themselves. Even if you’re not a feline fan, this cat is now out of the bag. Emanating from a “prehistoric” existence, near the end of the last millennium, schoolies Votel and his slightly older college mates, were once best recognised in Mancunian clubs and bars as teenage vinyl nerds and bum-fluffed battle-rappers under the collective name “Violators Of The English Language” (which in acronymic form explains Andy’s own exotic pen-name). As steadfast supporters of the 80’s/90’s Brit-core rap scene coming out of London, the multicultural “Violators...” Mancunian accents were perhaps a bridge-too-far to secure dream-job contracts for humble labels like Kold Sweat and Music Of Life. An unlikely constructive meeting with Gang Starr’s DJ Premier (while Andy helped out at a radio station) and playing warm up DJ sets for countless US rap hero’s might have temporarily added inspirational fuel to the fire, but after an active period combining graffiti, rapping, scratching, obsessive record digging and beat making into their daily operations, adulthood eventually began to rear its unwelcome head. The tragic teenage death of one member was shortly followed by another’s young parental commitments, and then came the concept of “proper jobs”, an avenue that Andy would then partly evade by becoming a DJ and designer for labels like Fat City and Grand Central (who soon invested interest in the crews instrumentals) and the next chapter is now committed to a fertile Discogs database history. A decade later Andy Votel (with his reluctant moniker) and his digging skills would begin to provide direct sample material for the likes of Madlib, Mos Def, JayZ, Nas, Dr Dre, Ghostface Killa and Action Bronson amongst others, and the “Violators…” black book of break-beats and catalog numbers soon began to feed a same-but-different rap beast.

19 tracks feat. Noah23, Icon The Mic King, Lady Daisey, Chefket and many more, rapping in English, Spanish, Dutch, Bosnian, German and other languages.

Recorded with a traditional live set up this time!

From Munchen 2 Croydon ... Producer Bobby Slice (Germany), LeoLex (Germany) & The Strange Neighbour (uk) link up to create this international connection ... featuring artists from all over the globe!

Finally, here it is, the impossible to find 1993er “chapter one” demotape from 1993. Back in the days only about 30 copies of this tape have been made. Numskullz, Britcore Rawmance Records, Burning Anger Records and Mr. Tibbz joined forces to put together the whole thing in its most possible original format, coming as a 6 track 12inch Ep incl. an intro. Furious early 90ies classic Bristol UK HipHop History right here. Mastered by Rola himself.

All Artworks by Mr.Tibbz.

In uncertain times, hope and unity are important when moving through the unknown, so it feels like our latest release arrives at the perfect time. The title of the project is a handy mantra for these strange days, with the content serving as a reminder of what has come before, as well as a portent for what lies ahead.

This is Vice Beats’ full-length tribute to legendary Jay Dee called “Dilla: The Timeless Tribute” where he is using Miguel Atwood-Fergusson’s Mochilla tribute “Suite For Ma Dukes” as the foundation. 14 tracks full of harmonies that are connected to one of the greatest. Features Greg Blackman, Audessey (of Soundsci), J-Dubble, Brotherman and many more. Tip!

Funky DL steps into the arena with his highly demanded album “Blackcurrent Jazz 3”. Seamlessly weaving his boom-bap style with jazz breaks throughout every track and topped with his smooth and often intense flow, his lyrical ability is top shelf and the beats are at an unequalled standard of excellence. The album showcases some of the finest Jazz Hip-Hop in the scene as it shifts through varied styles of Jazz and Jazz moods. With features from the Nujabes collaboratives Cise Starr and Substantial, the entire set oozes with golden droplets of musical magic moment after moment. The tone is set immediately as the album starts and continues an incomparable and superb standard of quality music right up until the final track.

Dawuna follows that insane ‘Glass Lit Dream’ album with a stunning 3-track whitelabel, burning thru R&B's resinous ash with lilting, minimal production and a neo-soul glow. Some of the best music we’ve heard this year - of any description - essential if yr into anything from Prince/Camille to Coby Sey/Tirzah x Nearly God x D’angelo

The opening moments of 'white boy' define the whole of "EP 1": a pitched-up sample of Black Panthers chanting "no more pigs in our community" looped into an unimpeachable demand. Skip past it at your peril, it's a historical remnant from the tail end of the US civil rights movement that grounds Dawuna's music in tangible real-world politics at a time when police are still unremittingly exterminating unarmed black men across the USA and beyond. Close to a minute later, a brittle pinprick rhythm rattles beneath Dawuna's unmistakable croon and a low, growling bassline, with the lightest, most evocative drones as accompaniment.

Lead track 'baby boy' is even stronger, matching a svelte, dismantled trip-hop shuffle with one of Dawuna's craziest vocal performances to date. It's impossible not to fantasise about Prince on this one - the layered, panning vocal transposed and deployed in multiples, like Bob George and a Camille production merged into one of the most immersive pieces of soul music you’ll likely ever hear. Dawuna's vulnerability transports the sound into 2022, offering a level of melancholy that feels funereal, mourning the broken promises of the past.

The sentiment carries into the heartbreaking finale 'yout done tried', a deliriously lo-fi stepper that sounds like a ‘Baduizm’-era Erykah demo dubbed to overworn tape. Dawuna's vocal is pitched and distorted before being chipmunked for the chorus, crying over bone-dry acoustic drum bumps and gut-piercing sine wave warbles. It's a sensual lullaby for the modern age.

Levels.

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!

'Ren's Brain' edition: matte with foil and debossed detailing.

Digipak.

Limited to 200 copies.

Self Produced Album By Oliver Sudden

Matte with gloss and red foil detailing. Digipak.

Finally, we have it in our hands. The long overdue 6 Track Monster EP by Franky Roar (Hamburg Hardcore City) and Alikazam (of Dookie Squad). 6 superdope tracks bringing together the classic Hardcore HipHop / Britcore Vibe in a modern way, 666% our cup of tea with hevay features by DJ Specifik (of B-Line Recordings), Mr.Memory (of Dookie Squad), Chrome (of Def Tex / Chrome/ill Inspired), Mistha Bohze and DJ Krashslaughta (of Two Tone Committee), MC Oliver Twist, Whirlwind D (Solid ‘n’ Mind / B-Line Recordings) and Remark (of Deliveranc).

check the snippets here or on youtube, we are sure, you gonna love it as we do.

full picture cover with incredible Artwork by John Dyer.

This is the limited red vinyl edition with additional cover artwork once again made by the incredible Skat himself, only 100 made.

Wow, we’re so happy to reissue these incredible two gems from the mighty Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express. Mr. Auger is a superb Hammond organist & pianist. Known previously for his work with Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity in the 60s, Oblivion Express vibes kicked off in the 70s.

Our A side ‘Inner City Blues’ is a cover of the Marvin Gaye classic. A Hammond driven groove with a deep percussive backing and killer vocals, this version stands up as a banger in its own right, a must have cut!! b/w ‘Voices Of Other Times’ is one of my favorites from the Closer To It LP, a super funky, jazz-rock thang, up-tempo and includes a wonderful sample and loop. Dynamite Cuts DJs tool, and one for the collectors!

Both tracks are taken from the groundbreaking ‘Closer To It’ album from 1973 which was such a genre bending release it entered the US jazz, R&B and rock charts simultaneously. We release this amazing 45 with the permission & cooperation of Greg Boraman’s Soul Bank Music – who recently announced they have licensed Brian Augers’ full back catalogue to re-issue, including many previously unheard rarities from Brian’s personal archive.

Very Limited (120 copies through Srd) RED Vinyl 7” with Shepard Fairey artwork. Ree-vo Announce THE Release OF Their ‘spacebox’ Single ON 7” With Remixes BY Nøise AND Batbirds AND Stunning Original Artwork BY Shepard Fairey.

Hit plus 2 unreleased tracks

The incredible follow-up to an magnificent predecessor.

High Focus Records are proud to present the latest collaboration from Verb T and Illinformed.

Stranded in Foggy Times both continues and completes the trilogy that began back in 2015, with The Man with the Foggy Eyes, before broadening the horizons with last year’s release of The Land of the Foggy Skies. This final chapter returns to the same conceptual landscape as its predecessors, but also sees Verb T and Illinformed returning to a more classic approach to album making.

In spite of its concept, the Foggy Trilogy is something of a personal outpouring for Verb T, with the original aim being to vicariously discuss the trials and tribulations that play a part in his life, including his struggles with chronic illness and the feeling of alienation from leaving his hometown, while also reflecting on the state of the world as a whole.

As with the previous albums, Stranded in Foggy Times finds Illinformed moving away from the more rugged sound that has shrouded the British scene over the last few months, thanks to his collaborations with the likes of Datkid and Wish Master, instead providing Verb T with an arguably more mellow backdrop. From the string and piano driven introduction on Legacy, to the blissful head-nod vibes of the closing track, Blind Faith, the union between beats and rhymes sits at the perfect level.

The album also boasts one of the most impressive guestlists of the year, one that is very much a product of both players’ worlds. Thanks to Illinformed’s Bristol connection, there are features from the likes of Res One, Datkid, Leaf Dog, Smellington Piff and Chillman, as well as some locally sourced cuts from DJ Rogue. While on Verb T’s side of the fence, we have features from Rye Shabby and Moreone, along with a collaboration that reignites the same creative spark he found in his early days, as King Kashmere steps into the booth on Feeling Strange.

All in all, Stranded in Foggy Times does exactly what it sets out to do, by drawing the trilogy to a close while also providing insights into Verb T’s personal world and the world at large. The fact that it also happens to be one of the strongest rap albums of the year is the icing on the cake.