What's Worth Hearing Today? Part 2 (free downloads and reviews)

Roots Manuva has met Wrongtom and made a tune called 'Jah Warrior'. It's really cool - I love a bit of Mr. Manuva and this Wrongtom fella seems pretty dope too. They've also done a couple of remixes; one of 'Buff Nuff' called 'Rebuff' and I think it's a greater than the original, especially in the chorus. 'Bashment Boogie' also gets tickled with the remix stick and 'Basement Bogle' is definitely rather bogling - good stuff. Buy.

UK Hip Hop artist QRED has joined up with US MC Brandeesh, looped up some apocalyptic beats and got busy with the darkness in a most admirable way. 'Raise The Levelz' has those big sonics that every Hip Hop fan really hankers after. You can download three tracks fro free - but only if you then keep your ear to the underground for more.

Leaf Dog has roped in the rest of 3 Amigos, Jimmy Raygun and Deadline on this Naive produced banger to tell us to do it 'Right Now'. Usual madness from these boys ensues.

Extra Curricular are the live Hip Hop band that Jack Flash fronts. They've put up a couple of free downloads on their blog. There's 'Don't Stop' and 'Where The Problem Lies' - both great tracks with totally different vibes but a recognisable sound. Check them out some more please.

Byron, a UK MC who really deserves more shine, has put out a free EP called 'Hard Worker'. these tracks are billed as covers, you and I might see them as Byron using well known instrumentals and taking cues from the subject matter. The most recognisable tune, B.O.B.'s 'Airplanes', gets done to begin with and then before you get comfortable Byron coes in over Maniac's 'Boiler' - wow, versatile! the further 3 tracks couldn't be more different either - whatever you do, don't pigeon hole or limit this guy - he can do it all. Give it a proper listen.

JC is gearing for a new assault of releases on his own No Money Records. He's hooked up with Oddisee for lead single 'Ayo' which is a double time rhythm with a relentless horn section accompanied by Oddisee's laid back delivery. Malik from Moorish Delta 7 provides the vocals on the flipside 'Soul Search' - a real headnodder. Told ya Yorkshire had the heat. Preview both tracks here. Buy it here.

Have no idea where this came from but it's an awesome bit of instrumental Hip Hop from Kwestro called 'I'm Blowing Up'.

Here's something new from a new artists too: LnC offers up 'Take You On A Journey' for your delectation. See what you think, I think he's pretty nice with his - feeling all aspects of this track. Solid.

To finish with, check Kaos' new track 'Traffic Lights' - got time for this.

'Too Broke To Go Solo' - Tactical Thinking (album review)

If you want raw, hyperactive, non-stop Hip Hop look no further than Tactical Thinking’s ‘Too Broke To Go Solo’. The group approach equates to pack mentality – with a united goal (to bruise your ear canal) this collective of artists hit hard.

17 tracks, 1 hour, 6 MCs and 2 Producers plus guest spots from even more TT family members makes for a relentless audio assault. Opener ‘Dusk ‘Til Dawn’ embodies the whole album in one track – this is their war cry. With sometimes cheeky lyrics, sometimes downright dirty it’s hard not to faux-screwface and get down to this release.

With a variety of beats ranging from electronica (‘Superstars’ and ‘That’s Right Move’) to wonky dubstep (‘Stick ‘Em Up’ and ’10 to 3 Chicks’), straight up Hip Hop (‘Do Wah’) to jaunty productions borrowing from a range of musical genres (even Barbershop Quartets) no two tracks sound alike – and that’s a grand thing.

Buy this, take a deep breath, slot into your player, sit back and prepare for the face-distorting G Force of Tactical Thinking – mighty.

The Nextmen, Joker Starr, Tempa, Steg G, Organix & JVF Clique free downloads

A few beats and pieces for you here:

Joker Starr is clearing out his unreleased back catalogue and giving it away for free. Check out 'Punchlines' with Dark Angel and then keep your eye on his blog for more.

More from Notz - Tempa's done a version of 'Run This Town' and has dropped it for free to build anticipation for her forthcoming 12".

Steg G has done a Baltimore style remix of 'Can You Feel It' in celebration of the late great MJ's birthday. I know nothing about B-more and have no idea whether this is it but I'd sure jump around to it on a night out.

For an exclusive mixtape from The Nextmen head over to their site and sign up to recieve their mailouts. The mix is awesome and features tracks from their new album 'Join.The.Dots' and a whole load of dope tracks and mashups from the spectrum of music.

There is an Organix mixtape up for free download. It's the '5 A Day Mixtape Vol. 1' and it features tracks from Mal, Jay Madden, Tai, Wizard, Scizzahz, Antidote, Stickman, Naive and Simple Samples.

JVF Clique have just dropped a rather rudely titled track concerning a particular racist party leader - check it, I'm with them on the sentiment.

That's all for now but I've got some more free-to-download mixtapes to vet for ya, so keep your ears peeled.

‘Superstars B/W Dust til Dawn’ - Tactical Thinking (single review)

I’ve been onto the Tactical Thinking crew for a few years now and have been waiting for their first proper release. The time has come, well it will have late August. Not content with fitting into any mould TT have opted to break onto the scene with some dirty electronica styled Hip Hop. Don’t let that put you off though - the crew consists of some of the most classically trained MC in the country – you should see them freestyle.

Lead track ‘Superstars’ laughs in the face of heat magazine and its unsecure, obsessive readership - check the vocoder (way better than autotune). Crew members Naïve and Mr. Dick bring the glitchy ruckus on ‘T.A.C.T.I.C.A.L.’ (which features Kid Genius, Deadline, Derogatory and Mr Dick on raps) and ‘That’s Right Move’ (that features Jim Raygun, Deadline, Assa, Derogatory, Mr Dick and Jay Madden).

‘Dusk Til Dawn’ proves they’re not just on the electro hip hop vibe with it’s Mexican, double timed, grime-esque madness – ariba! The gang (this time Derogatory, Kid Genius, Jim Raygun, Mr Dick, Deadline and Assa) spit tongue twisters about just how good they are.

This double sided single is some of the freshest Hip Hop around at the moment – throw away your misconceptions and prejudices and get your hands on this digital download and prepare for the album ‘Too Broke to Go Solo’. ‘Superstars B/W Dust til Dawn’ is out on 24th August.

On The Radar Artist Profile: Jut

Name: Jut

Age: 23

From: North West (Macclesfield)

Track on ‘On The Radar’: 'Coming For The Game' ft. Jay Madden, Chris L & Assa

Tell us the story behind the track: Chris L hooked up with fellow North West MC’s Jay Madden and Assa, I flipped the beat, DJ NSD from Knutsford came through to do the cuts, Naive recorded the vocals, I produced it, Ojb mixed and mastered it.

Record Label: GP

Who you roll with: A bunch of stinkin’ winos an coke fiends.

Favourite album(s): GZA - 'Liquid Swords'

Describe your style in three words: Thorough, dark, mythological

Past/Present/Future projects: Check out previous Gouki P & Chris L material. Jut also features on HHB Vol. 3, Beit Nun – Where The Art Is, UKHHF Mix CD, Filthy Rich – From The Dirt/Operation Light etc. Future… currently in the process of providing beats for 777, O.N.E., Warghosts, Beit Nun, Analyst and lots of other domes I don’t want to mention yet… Stay tuned.

On The Radar Artist Profile: The Three Amigos

Name: The Three Amigos (Leaf, Bva + Naive)

Age: Leaf 22, Bva 22, Naive 25

From: Leaf - East London + Glastonbury, Bva - Glastonbury, Naive- Brighton

Track on ‘On The Radar’: 'Real Life Drama' - The Three Amigos

Tell us the story behind the track: Well we wanted to make a statement to everyone that we were not like them and that we make real music to help real lives! So this is a big GET F**KED to some certain MCs trying to fade the 3's empire!

Record Label: R.L.D Records (Real.Life.Drama)

Who you roll with: Artists we roll with are Mr Dick(our DJ), (Kid Genius, Assa, Contact Play - R.L.D Crew a side project of ours), Tactical Thinking crew, Ghosttown, Orifice Vulgatron. DJ Insight, Dirty Dike, SMB, 2 Many Steps. We have worked with Sadat X, Diamond D, Rampage (Flipmode) and Dr Syntax.

Favourite album(s): ‘36 Chambers’, ‘Ready 2 Die’, ‘Moment of Truth’ (Gangstarr), ‘Firing ‘ (M.O.P.), Dr Dre’s ‘2001’, Task Force’s ‘MFTC 1’ and basically every album from the 90's.

Describe your style in three words: Real Life Drama

Past/Present/Future projects: We have an album from 2005 that we released on R.L.D Records which is still available from our website or myspace page. ‘World War 3’ is nearly ready to be released, its set for 2009 on R.L.D records with some help from Dented Records. Leaf's solo album is also pretty much finished and features Diamond D and Rampage (Flipmode). Other projects being worked on are another 3 amigos album, An R.L.D Album featuring the whole crew and a few more projects yet to take shape.

If you have yet to download Certified Banger Presents: 'On The Radar Volume 2' then click here now!