Big Cakes - My Soul (video)

Slightly bizarre video here from Big Cakes, who appears to be spitting from the operating table, as various surgeons cut him open, trying to find his soul. Good luck with that. The tune is dope though...

"I believe in the route of soul before paper"

DarkStar - Justified (Prod. by Noize Thievery) - First Son Records

DarkStar teams up with Noize Thievery and First Son Records to drop this banger that will be featured on the joint Noize Thievery/First Son Records ep

Tragic Allies - The basics Freestyle

Tragic Allies with a video from their Track of the Week mixtape.
Download the mixtape here

Sons Phonetic - Twelve Labours (Review)

Sons Phonetic formerly known as Correkt Minds of Waterford in Ireland recently dropped 12 Labours.
The first thing that hits when you listen is the production handled throughout by the one and only Mook and its a treat to hear such a cohesive project,every beat is quality and joined up by his  M.C. partners Sammy Dozens, Tommy Tyler , Mouse Hughes and Kav they prove theyre no crew to be taken lightly.
After the intro things kick off with Isolation featuring irish hiphop legend RiRa, they drop bars about "flatscreen televisions in the ice cream van in front  my weed sellin business".
Another highlight is "Renaissance" where Tommy Tyler and Mook trade bars proving Mook is a beast on the mic to.
Once you hear the ominous bassline of "Domino Effect" you'll be hooked and will agree with the sentiment "Fuck the mainstream,we dwell where these estuaries run" cos this is grimey hiphop at its best,SP arent looking to crossover just to put out hiphop the way it should be and as they state on "Danger Danger" this sums up their mindstate perfectly "Danger,danger the kids with the bars are back, Dusty loops,scuffed kicks and baggy parker jacks".
My personal favourite was "Hands of Time" over a crazy piano loop and a sweeping string sample the quotables keep coming "i keep my friends close, my enemies closer,so if you think you know me well then our friendship is over".
RiRa makes another appearance on "Rhyme Style Stencil" but hes the only guest on the album apart from some cuts by Jimmy Penguin proving you dont need big name features to make a sick album.
At 12 (Labours) songs long its just perfect as every song is top quality with the mix of deep beats and high level lyricism and was also mastered by the UK's Chemo.
SP are no joke.
For bookings contact sonsphonetic@gmail.com
Buy the album here on itunes or CD
Become a fan here and contact them for collabs or whatever.
Subscribe to the Youtube channel here

Cyrus Malachi - Ancient Future (Review)

If you've ever heard any project that Cyrus Malachi has been involved in previously, then you already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Ancient Future. These expectations will be lived up to immediately by the opening track, Dark Skies. Over pounding drums and atmospheric keys, Cyrus and long time collaborator M9 deliver typically gritty bars, kicking the album off in fine style.

However, after this same vibe is persisted with, to diminishing impact over the next couple of tracks, you could be forgiven for thinking that this album was going to add little to what you've already heard from Triple Darkness, Orphans of Cush or even M9. But you'd be wrong. As befitting a debut solo album, Cyrus Malachi uses the opportunity to create some more personal tracks, providing much needed variety in topic and tone. One example of this would be Duality, a love song, whose lyrics might seem corny in other hands. However, with his raspy delivery, and the typically solid production, it works a treat:

"As time passes, we grow closer,

Let's take a ride on life's roller coaster,

And experience it as two halves of one whole,

You're my light, I'm your dark, we share one soul"

Personal experience is also tapped into on Kemetic Love, as he discusses his family and the exceptional Black Maria, an emotive description of his trial and incarceration. The Anatomy produced track is a clear album highlight, with arguably Cyrus' strongest lyrical performance to date:

"Goons getting battered with washsocks filled with batteries,

Blood staines on the pool table - unadulterated savagery,

Her Majesty's rhapsody, brothers getting shanked and left in agony,

Screws call the cleaners, who freeze dry the blood and sweep it up casually,

Fights breaking out sporadically, tension because no one's seen their family"

The emotion poured into this song is evident in the delivery, as he wraps up the track by saying "I'm never going back again". Other notable tracks include Brave New World, which paints a hellish picture of the future, the "Black Girl Lost" style cautionary tale of Black Maria, and Cyrus Malachi's version of the history of Hip-Hop "Animal Circus"

Are there any negatives then? Only that at 20 tracks long, it could maybe be a little more streamlined. In my opinion, the tracks which could have been left out were the US collaborations, although not necessarily because they are weak tracks, far from it in a couple of cases. Strangely, Cyrus Malachi always takes the last verse on these tracks, making him seem like an afterthought on his own album. On top of that, a few of the guest verses, notably Ruste Juxx's attack on "Ugg mug bitches", seem incongruous with the prevailing mood. That said, this album hits far more frequently than it misses, with heartfelt lyrics, and extremely solid, usually piano dominated, production.

8.5/10

Reggiimental - Winter Wonderland

Not really relevant at this time of year, I don't really feel like thinking about winter again...

Anyway, this is nice atmospheric track from Birmingham's Reggiimental, in which he breaks down the best and worst of that time of year.

Lewis Parker - Six Feet Deep in Dirt & Dust (Video)

Absolutely one of the best producers going, Lewis Parker looks like he is going to be dropping another LP shortly, entitled Dangerous Adventures. This is following hot on the heels of his Big Game LP and the International Summers collaboration with John Robinson. This doesn't sound like a complete track, as it comes to a pretty abrupt end after one verse, but it's definitely enough to whet the appetite for another LP album.

Mike-L/Mikelmatic - Diggers Anthem Live

Mike-L or Mikelmatic performs 'Diggers Anthem' from his LP The Columbo Tip . Many producers and beat makers have videos of them in the lab piecing together there latest ''hit'' I havent seen anyone bulid an entire track in one take, in realtime and make it look like such a breeze. The song is Dope too. Shouts to MPC forums and Mike-L for sharing this incredible footage there.

GV Clik - Itolism ft. Sonnyjim (Official Video)

Track taken from the new Ep - Itolism from GV Clik available here http://sleazedadon.bandcamp.com/

Bill Shakes - Light It Up (Prod. Lee Scott)

Off Bill Shakes recent ep "For Goodness Shakes"

TROOP RAW - COMFORT ZONE (PROD. BY STUDS RAMROD)

The first leak from Troop's forthcoming "Art.illery" EP, which will be released on First Son Records and features LordWillin' and Swann and production from Enlight,Studs Ramrod and more.

Sleaze & Sonny Jim - The Long Road (Video) & The Late Checkout Mixtape

Surely one of the country's hardest working, Sonnyjim returns with yet another video... This is a soulful laidback track that will feature on Sleaze and Sonny's Work In Mnemonics EP, which is "coming soon"...

If that's not enough, Donnie Propa has put together a 43 minute Sonnyjim mix, similar to the tapes he put together for Lee Ramsey and Cappo recently. You'll be sure to recognise some of the tracks, but probably not all...

And finally... If you haven't checkout out the Purple Patch EP yet, do so...

Joker Starr - Whole (Produced by Wizard)

I really felt this needed to be posted. I heard it today on the Camberidge based radio show 'Rhyme Pad'. Its taken from Wizards newest offering 'That Work' and reminds me of why i love UK Hip Hop. The beat is nice and Joker Starr flows perfectly over it. Definatly a big tune.

Go cop Wizard - That Work for a mere £4.99 from Suspect Packages HERE

CunninLynguists - Oneirology...free stream!!!

Im sure Ads got a review in the works so I wont delve too deep into analysis, safe to say CunninLynguists live up to the promise of there previous work. Astounding beats, emotional deliveries and vivid, visual content. Anyone that claims Hip Hop has no soul or isnt an artistic artform hasnt heard CunninLynguists, no other group can deliver such inspiring and affecting soundscapes. Dont Sleep on this you'll regret it

Mr Brown - Beats For Days

Now this is dope! A new instrumental EP from Mr. Brown, dropping on Headcount records. This is some smooth, soulful boom-bap to bop your head to. It's even dropping on vinyl. A throwback in more ways than one then...