'Just Above The Blues' - Millennium Jazz Music (free download)

‘Just Above The Blues’ comes from thinking people’s UK Hip Hop outfit Millennium Jazz Music. Setting the context is ‘Prevention Enforcement & Punishment’ featuring a Gordon Brown speech about knife crime prevention over a melancholy beat.

‘Death Pours’ mourns the constant cycle of youths turning to crime only for it to end in fatality. The rest of the EP continues on a similar theme and ‘Idle Minds’, instead of talking of the problem, provides a solution by way of advice.

With a positive and realistic message I whole heartedly support what Gadget, J-LeeN, MSJ, Klarity, Ama, KyraUK and Serocee are trying to do in our scene.

'Idle Minds' ft. Serocee, Kyra UK & J-Leen - Gadget

Sweet melodies, a chilled, soulful beat and some sense chatted - all coordinated by Millenium Jazz and 'On The Radar' artist Gadget. Taken from the 'Just Above The Blues' EP.

'The Need To Be Heard' - Karl Hinds (album review)

It’s been 5 years since he dropped his last album but Karl Hinds is back with ‘The Need To Be Heard’. If you’re a fan of tracks like ‘Don Gramma’ and ‘You Don Know’ then don’t get too excited about this release – there is nothing of that classic calibre here. ‘Sarcasm’ is the closest Karl gets to his previous highs – definitely the album’s biggest track. Last track ‘Conspire to Deceive’ is also pretty hot and ‘Over 3 Years’ could have the potential to appeal to fans of the new wave of British urban music.

The rest of the LP, unfortunately, falls flat. It’s not that Hinds can’t spit – he can, but the tracks just don’t grab the listener and a lot of the production seems kinda out of tune. This is a collection of pretty competently made Hip Hop (and I hate to be the one who says this) but musically and conceptually it just does not stand up in the current scene.

‘The Need To Be Heard’ will be about in September or October on Ill Flava Records so you can make your own judgments on this CD then.

'An Ting' ft. Ty & Serocee - Wio-K (free download)

‘An Ting’ is the second track to be taken from Canadian Wio-K’s ‘Craftsman EP’. This time Wio-k connects with Ty and Serocee (last time he came correct with Kyza on ‘Hide and Shoot’) on this blessed out and summery track produced by Relic. Serocee brings the ragga flows whilst Ty chats in just the way you want him to.

Click here for some more Wio-K goodness.

Juice Aleem 'Jerusalaam Come' Launch Party **New Details**

Juice Aleem, UK Hip Hop leftfield legend? £3? All these artists: Blackitude, Cipher Jewels, Serocee, Triple Darkness and more? Yeah you know you wanna go. If London's too far then I hear there will be another party, possibly in Birmingham.

***Juice Aleem's 'Jerusalaam Come' launch party has changed venue to the Mother Bar, 333 Old Street (above the 333). Same line-up, doors 9pm, £3 pay on the door***

'Dance Hall Diaries Vol. 1' - Serocee (free download)

Some new Reggae/Ragga Hip Hop fresh from the Midlands - Serocee's 'Dance Hall Diaries Vol. 1'.

For those of you who are fans of man like Rodney P, Roots Manuva or the Demon Boyz for example then you may just like this. It's got a nice live/unmastered sound to it but don't let that put you off. Check it rudeboy!

Go to his site

Serocee - 'Strugglin' (Live)'
Serocee - 'Sound Tape Killin''

Next week he'll be dropping a 7" version of the John Holt sampling 'You'll Never Find', his ode to the UK soundsystem. It'll be out on Crate Escape Records/Windrush Pickney. Watch the video: