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Tag - HIP HOP

Boca 45 - Return Of The Original Dancefreaks 45 - out on Jack To Phono Records

Tuesday 25 October 2011, 00:49

Boca 45 Return Of The Original Dancefreaks 45
Boca 45 - Return Of The Original Dancefreaks 45
(7"/Digital) Jack To Phono JTP027/JTP027D, 2011-10-17

Don't say Boca's back; he's never been away. Scott "Boca 45" Hendy is the Bristol UK beatsmith who's been at the forefront of funky breakbeat music for well over a decade. With three solo artist albums in the bag, Pitch Sounds, Vertigo Sounds and Bombonera Sounds for labels Jalapeno, Grand Central and Unique, dancefloor devastating collabos with DJ Andy Smith as Dynamo Productions, and The Beekeepers project with rising star Parker, now has never been a better time to catch a Boca 45 fever. Return Of The Original Dance Freaks parts 1 & 2 sees Boca's debut on Jack To Phono Recordings. Boca here pays homage to legendary Japaneese label Major Force (with artwork to match) and supplies a Disco/Hip Hop/Cut and Shut/Dancefloor monster which will keep floors shaking into 2012 and way beyond. His love of disco, soul, funk and hip-hop jumps out of anything he touches, and it's easy to make comparisons to fellow sample-slayers like Cut Chemist, RJD2, DJ Format and DJ Shadow.

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Diego and The Dissidents - Cosmic Dust - out on Jack To Phono Records

Tuesday 25 October 2011, 00:46

Diego and The Dissidents Cosmic Dust Original Remixs
Diego and The Dissidents - Cosmic Dust - Original + Remixs
(Digital) Jack To Phono JTP026D, 2011-10-10

What has emerged is a striking mix of psych/hip hop cut together to sound like an encyclopedia of contemporary music. 2010's Contaminated Waters weaved itself through various genres of music from golden era hip-hop to rock, via revered break beats, dub, and classic guitar riffs. Here on this fresh new EP for 2011 Scott Hendy has managed to construct another heavy nugget from the files with Cosmic Dust. The track is Bass and Beat heavy, but has riffs which Hendrix would had been proud of and all round winner which should work on dance floors and radios alike. It's accompanied by remixes from Bristol rising star DJ Parker and Jack To Phono label mates Phase 5 Stereo. The almost classic Contaminated Waters Part 4 is also included within the EP with the Acid Washed video by award winning film Director John Minton and HOT brand new remixes from Ben One turning out a Flying Lotus-inspired mix and Tom Eno has taken the same track back to a mid 70's rock steady number. A super varied quality package from Jack To Phono HQ.

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BNC (Bruises n Cuts) - Make Bail - free download from Cast-A-Blast Records

Monday 24 October 2011, 23:26

BnC Make Bail
BNC (Bruises n Cuts) - Make Bail
(Free Download) Cast-A-Blast Records, 2011-10-11

High taxes, low wages, politicians, bankers and a wrecked economy. All this combined with a personal twist can't keep Cast-a-Blast's very own BnC from making it look like it ain't no thing, with his latest installment Make bail. A contagious funk riff lifted and reworked to speak out, make you both laugh & cry while doing the boogie. Listen to the words you might find some of your own tribulations in there. Made available to all the fans for free starting Monday 10/10/2011 direct from Cast-A-Blast website and for less than 100 downloads. Enjoy!

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US3 - Lie, Cheat & Steal - out on US3 Records

Wednesday 19 October 2011, 14:41

US3 Lie Cheat and Steal
US3 - Lie, Cheat & Steal
(CD/Digital) self-released US3CD005, 2011-10-03

The 8th album from producer Geoff Wilkinson's hip-hop-jazz crew Us3 sees the introduction of 2 new MCs with different backgrounds & nationalities. From Puerto Rico via New York comes Oveous Maximus, and from London, England comes Akala. Akala & Oveous articulate the album theme in the hard-nosed title track, culminating in an epic crescendo of horns. Both rappers acknowledge the spoken word roots of rap respectively; Oveous on the blues-drenched Wild West, and Akala on the staccato stop/start rhythms of The Ring. The melancholic guitar drenched groove of Ghost sees Oveous telling a story of abuse and revenge, while the breakbeat led Puppets has Akala telling a modern day parable relevant to us all. The Us3 sound is expanded to include flamenco influences on , and the Fela Kuti-like afrobeat of (You Are) So Corrupt. Lie, Cheat & Steal was recorded in London before, during, & after the recent riots, & Akala sums up the atmosphere on Pressure Bursts Pipes over an amalgam of piano, electronica, horns & angular beats. The 8-piece Us3 live band will be performing a 19-date European tour in October 2011 (check dates in the rest of the entry).

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Rodney P - Live Up feat. The People's Army and Mighty Moe - out on Tru Thoughts

Saturday 15 October 2011, 22:20

Rodney P Live Up The Peoples Army Mighty Moe
Rodney P - Live Up feat. The People's Army and Mighty Moe
(Digital Single) Tru Thoughts TRUDD034, 2011-10-17

Live Up featuring The People's Army and Mighty Moe (Heartless Crew) is out as a digital single on 17th October - the first official release from the former London Posse man Rodney P since he signed to Tru Thoughts earlier this year, causing a wave of excitement throughout the media, and much anticipation for new music. A stand-alone single channelling the restless mood of our times and issuing a rallying cry, in the wake of student protests and then the August riots which made headlines around the World, this cut is as timely as it is catchy; the lyrics are purely uplifting hip hop as each MC on this posse track has their turn to spit some positive verses. A viral single for the smartphone generation.

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Katalyst - Deep Impressions - out on BBE

Tuesday 11 October 2011, 10:34

Katalyst Deep Impressions
Katalyst - Deep Impressions
(CD/Digital/Instrumental Digital) Barely Breaking Even BBE178, 2011-10-11

The follow up album to Katalyst highly acclaimed 2007 album What's Happening, a former triple j feature album, Deep Impressions is his 3rd full length album and his most impressive work to date. The latest product of his audiophiliac obsession, Deep Impressions deconstructs and distils soul, hip hop, funk, jazz, reggae and electro influences into what is perhaps most accurately described as "the Katalyst sound". On Deep Impressions, Katalyst collaborated with the likes of Los Angeles hip-hop artist Bootie Brown (of The Pharcyde), Sydney's own KweenG (KillaQueenz), underground legend Mr Clean, and upcoming North Carolina MC Coin Locker Kid. Katalyst also teams up with long-term collaborators Stephanie McKay (USA), Steve Spacek (UK), Hau (Koolism), and Jade MacRae.

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Ugly Duckling - Moving at Breakneck Speed - out on P-Vine Records

Monday 10 October 2011, 10:20

Ugly Duckling Moving at Breakneck Speed
Ugly Duckling - Moving at Breakneck Speed
(CD/Digital) P-Vine PCD-93429, 2011-08-17 (Japan), 2011-10-10 (rest of the world)

Ugly Duckling is back with their fifth full-length album Moving at Breakneck Speed. After more than a decade in the music business, Young Einstein, Andy Cooper and Dizzy Dustin are well accustomed to the recording process. For their latest LP, the boys dug deep into their bag of tricks to create what they feel is their most dynamic and complete release to date. Moving at Breakneck Speed is an exciting and musically exotic adventure story that has our desperate heroes circling the globe to outrun an evil gang of super-criminals determined to put an end to UD once and for all. The record is made up of 14 power packed tracks that showcase Ugly Duckling's classic production sound as well as the flavorful and humorously soulful vocal styles of Dizzy and Andy. "By the time you work on your fifth record, you ought to know how to do it, right?" asks Andy, "I think we put all of the pieces together to make a really, really good album".

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Roots Manuva - 4everevolution - out on Big Dada

Monday 26 September 2011, 11:13

Roots Manuva 4everevolution
Roots Manuva - 4everevolution
(2xLP/CD/Download) Banana Klan/Big Dada BD190/BDCD190/BNDNL190, 2011-09-26

On September 26th (in the UK and Europe, October 11th in the USA) Roots Manuva will release a brand new studio album, 4everevolution, via Big Dada/Banana Klan. The album is just a few seconds under an hour long, consists of seventeen tracks and covers every style from wonky reggae through pop-funk, street spitting, straight up hip hop, sung ballads and epic death-disco. Big Dada think it's his very best work since Run Come Save Me. They're wondering (whisper it) whether it might be his best album... (sshh) ever. The album mainly revolves around Roots' own production and voice, with contributions from Banana Klan stalwarts including Ricky Ranking, DJ MK and Daddy Kope. In addition, on three tracks Mr Manuva introduces talented young singer Rokhsan. Other guests include Skin and Cass Lewis from Skunk Anansie, Elan Tamara and Spikey T. Production, meanwhile, comes from as far afield as Australia, Rodney Smith's travels allowing him to meet beatmakers and producers all over the world. To get the world at large in the mood for the record to follow, Big Dada are offering the chance to download Roots Manuva's version of Watch Me Dance for free. The download link is here: bigdada.com/rootsmanuva.

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Roots Manuva - Get The Get - out 2011 on Big Dada

Monday 26 September 2011, 11:06

Roots Manuva Get The Get
Roots Manuva - Get The Get
(Digital Single) Banana Klan/Big Dada BDDNL188, 2011-09-26

Roots Manuva comes storming out of the blocks with the first full single from his forthcoming album, 4everevolution. Get The Get is a hyped up, clever party tune, which sees Mr Manuva apparently encouraging you to drink Italian wine ("soave") whilst actually telling you to "get suavay" - a new Manuva coinage meaning (very roughly) to cut a rug in on your own personal, ragged style - a kind of "Party Rock Anthem" for nerds, dole-boys, crafts-girls and, well, people with some semblance of taste... Not since the crufatin liveth has Rodney Smith come out with such a hard-hitting dancefloor tune, his rhymes tight and energised and offset by some smokey, fifties-style vocals from up-and-coming young singer Rokhsan.

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Kid Koala - Space Cadet - Graphic Novel / Soundtrack out on Ninja Tune

Monday 19 September 2011, 12:16

Kid Koala Space Cadet
Kid Koala - Space Cadet - Graphic Novel / Soundtrack
(10") Ninja Tune ZEN174, 2011-07-20
(MP3 or WAV Download & PDF book / Book & CD) ZENDNL174/ZENCD174, 2011-09-19

Space Cadet is a 132-page graphic novel drawn entirely on etchboards. It is accompanied by a "still picture score" of music composed and recorded by Kid Koala. This charming story of an adventurous space cadet and her guardian robot touches on the relationship between technology and isolation, and celebrates the idea of connectivity through family and the cycles that build generations. A tomorrow-days lullaby about finding your place in the universe, the use of etchboards have given Koala's trademark pathos-drenched tales of love and loneliness a whole new depth and beauty. The music, meanwhile, matches this mood. Built up from the Kid's own piano playing, which sounds like a speakeasy pianist playing Satie when the punters have staggered home, Koala has added strings, horns, marimba and subtle use of his core instrument, the turntables. The results are scintillating, a suite of music that certainly reflects the moods and themes of the book, but which bear repeated listening in their own right.

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