UK Hip Hop 298 Items

Skepta finally releases his sophomore album! Don't sleep!

A distanza di 10 anni dalla sua uscita e
dopo il rapido sold out della versione
"Limited Edition", la Tuff Kong Records è
orgogliosa di presentare la nuova reissue
in vinile di "kARMA", il masterpiece di
Kaos. Seguito e curato da Kaos in ogni
suo singolo aspetto, il disco dimostrò una
grande evoluzione e maturità dell'artista,
consolidandosi negli anni come un vero e
proprio classico dell'hip-hop Italiano del
nuovo millennio.
10 years since its original release and
after the quick sold out of the limited
edition, Tuff Kong Records is proud to
present a new vinyl reissue of "kARMA",
Kaos masterpiece. Curated by Kaos
himself in every single aspect, the record
shows great evolution and maturity from
the artist, solidifying this record as a true
classic in italian hip-hop of the new
millennium.
"L’album hip hop più importante degli
ultimi anni. È la chiave per aprire una
blindata di una casa senza finestre. Buia
come il buio. Pungente come il filo
spinato che la circonda" - Rockit
"Karma è un ottimo lavoro, la perla
hardcore e underground di questo 2007,
piena di raffinatezze e citazioni letterarie
e cinematografiche" - hano.it
"È l’immensa personalità di Kaos, i suoi
incastri metrici da infarto, le liriche
sempre ispiratissime. È la sua voce. Una
voce che esce dalle viscere: profonda,
sofferta e ringhiante" - Debaser
"Un disco di un altro spessore, di un altro
livello. Scritto da un mc di un altro
spessore, di un altro livello" - Rap
ManiacZ

C.Tappin is a pianist/singer from South-London and member of the Lightworks crew, which consists of him and
jazz-rap duo Summers Sons. In 2018 they released their debut album "Uhuru" on Melting Pot Music. "Ashes To
Ashes" is Tappin's first solo EP. It's a reflection of a musical and personal journey. On four original jams Tappin fuses
cosmic jazz, broken beat, house and rap. Inspired by his life in London as well as by his travels to Tansania where
he is working as a teacher for various school projects. "Ashes To Ashes" comes with three radical reworks by some
of Tappin's favourite producers: Slim (Summers Sons), Reginald Omas Mamode IV and Hodini. The cover artwork
has been done by UK painter / illustrator Tilly Mint (known for her artworks for Yazmin Lacey and Wulu).

Limited to 100 copies

Born in Dublin, yet grew up in both Germany & Switzerland, to mastering his craft in Manchester, producer
Pitch 92 is indeed a 3rd Culture kid. Being exposed to a wide variety of cultural influences from a young age, the
extensively traveled & worldly wise beatsmith is here to share his vision of the world along with a few friends on
his debut album ‘3rd Culture’.
Following on from the trailblazing 'Lost In Space EP', Pitch 92 is gearing up to drop his debut full length album
'3rd Culture'. As we have to come to expect from Pitch 92, this record boasts 17 expertly produced tracks
featuring the crème de la crème of UK talent - '3rd Culture' is a gargantuan Hip Hop masterpiece. Reading like
the 'who's who' of the UK Hip Hop & R'n'B scenes, the list of featured artists alone should be enough reason to
check out this record: The Four Owls, Jehst, Foreign Beggars, Tyler Dayley (Children Of Zeus), Coops,
Fliptrix, Verb T, Sparkz, DRS, Layfullstop, Marie Plassard, Jerome Thomas, Mysdiggi, King Kashmere, Dr
Syntax, Micall Parknsun, Jazz T & many more...
The ever versatile Pitch 92 manages to create the perfect foundation for each of his guests to expand upon,
blessing each production with his signature swing and keen ear for melody, resulting in a very strong and cohesive
body of work. To put it bluntly, Pitch 92, makes very sick beats and has crafted one of the most important Hip
Hop albums of 2019!

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.

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.

“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.

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.

‘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.

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.

Produced by Four Tet & Machinedrum!

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!

LP number three. The Baxter wave shows no signs of slowing anytime soon!

"The future of UK Hip Hop" - Times

Brand new Rag N Bone project 'Put That Soul On Me' produced entirely by Dirty Dike. Side A contains 3 brand new tracks one of which features Ronnie Bosh. Side B contains the instrumentals to the 3 tracks plus an acapella for the lead single 'Put That Soul On Me'.

This limited edition vinyl comes shrink wrapped with full colour sleeve.

Limited pressing!

Limited pressing!

Limited pressing!

Limited pressing!

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

That new type of british rap … feat. Joe Goddard & Roots Manuva!

close to NM. Original inner sleeve

Worldwide reknown for his unique Industrial North West New Town Retro Futuristic Philosophical Ignorant Rap Music from outer space, Lee Scott has recorded a live version of his latest self-produced full-length offering "There Is A Reason For Everything" in his living room. We're happy to release this unique take take on vinyl, with a brand new artwork by Jack "getarealjobkid" Rogers, housed in a beautiful screen printed thick cardboard jacket for all you collectors out there.

“Talk about a misfit, living in his own world…”

High Focus Records is delighted to announce ‘Art Thief’, the debut album from Renelle 893.

Citing Steve Jobs’ famous use of Picasso’s "Good artists copy, great artists steal” quote as central to the concept, ‘Art Thief’ is the culmination of Renelle’s wide-eyed appreciation of the river of influences that feed into the music he makes. From the trials and tribulations of life in the big smoke, to the grandiose cultural references that contribute to his style, the album is a triple distilled example of taking cues from the world and making them your own.

‘Art Thief’ is also a transformative listen, Renelle embarking on a profoundly personal journey across 14-tracks; addressing love, family, addiction, loyalty, pleasure and pain, each chapter expertly soundtracked by long-time collaborator Bay29. His expert production serving as the glue that binds the deeply personal with the wider narratives amidst a flurry of samples and signature breaks.

With guest appearances from Clbrks, Illiterate and HF’s own Nelson Dialect, ‘Art Thief’ is Renelle’s best attempt (to date) of transcending the rap game; this notion best represented in the album artwork which pays homage to Caravaggio's 'St. Jerome Writing', casting Renelle as both creator and masterpiece.

“Talk about a misfit, living in his own world…”

High Focus Records is delighted to announce ‘Art Thief’, the debut album from Renelle 893.

Citing Steve Jobs’ famous use of Picasso’s "Good artists copy, great artists steal” quote as central to the concept, ‘Art Thief’ is the culmination of Renelle’s wide-eyed appreciation of the river of influences that feed into the music he makes. From the trials and tribulations of life in the big smoke, to the grandiose cultural references that contribute to his style, the album is a triple distilled example of taking cues from the world and making them your own.

‘Art Thief’ is also a transformative listen, Renelle embarking on a profoundly personal journey across 14-tracks; addressing love, family, addiction, loyalty, pleasure and pain, each chapter expertly soundtracked by long-time collaborator Bay29. His expert production serving as the glue that binds the deeply personal with the wider narratives amidst a flurry of samples and signature breaks.

With guest appearances from Clbrks, Illiterate and HF’s own Nelson Dialect, ‘Art Thief’ is Renelle’s best attempt (to date) of transcending the rap game; this notion best represented in the album artwork which pays homage to Caravaggio's 'St. Jerome Writing', casting Renelle as both creator and masterpiece.

Red vinyl.

Sealed copy with a bent corner!

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.

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.

Written during a year of hedonistic isolation whilst exiled to a forgotten mining village, Alecs in Wonderland’ is the debut self-produced rap album by rap enigma and ‘one man band’ Alecs DeLarge.

Alecs navigates ‘Wonderland’ with a bulging backpack of references to 90’s Toonami imports, king skins and rap nerdology, multi-syllable boxing through beats in a smoked out stream-of-consciousness drawl. From the cartoonish braggadocio on ‘Scooby Snax’ and ‘AM To AM’, to proclaiming his love for his anthropomorphic MPC 2000 on ‘Girl Joint’, Alecs emphatically proving that he’s much more than just the man behind the boards. Merging classic New York rap sensibilities with sarcastic British humour, 110’s and Berghaus coats taking the place of Timb boots and Lo sweaters.

Musically Alecs draws inspiration from Quasimoto’s anything goes approach, feeding his sampler a range of ingredients from 80’s pop to private-press French prog. Grainy samples of VHS TV recordings warble atop rumbling 808s, diced up jazz and funk fragments punch their way through stuttering MPC drums, whilst guitar loops rock back and forth, all glued together by a loose narrative made up of cut up cartoon dialogue, movie trailers and adlibs.

Wonderland is Alecs’ custom built version of The Matrix, a perfect world created to escape the one outside his council flat window, idyllic living in Lynchian reality. A therapeutic outpouring of the lonely man’s psyche, or maybe just a slow descent into madness, polished and delivered to your ears

in Long Play form.

For the majority of ‘in Wonderland’, Alecs is the sole cast member. The first of the two guest spots going to the ever brilliant King Kashmere, reuniting with Alecs to ruminate the two sides of fame on ‘Megabus Dreams’, whilst Hpblk swoops in to drop a “stack on your conscious” on ‘Empty Pocket Posse’.

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.