Back catalogue: All genres

Review: cLOUDDEAD's debut album, a compilation of six 10" EPs released between 2000 and 2001, remains a quintessential example of abstract hip-hop. This expansive 3xLP, characterised by its dense, enigmatic soundscapes and avant-garde lyrics, has profoundly influenced a range of sub-genres such as cloud rap, hauntology, and lo-fi hip-hop. The trioiWhy?, Doseone, and Odd Nosdamiemerged from Cincinnati's vibrant underground scene, marked by events like Scribble Jam, and later moved to the Bay Area, where they helped establish the Anticon collective. Despite their shift to the West Coast, their Midwestern origins continued to shape their sound, rooted in the eclectic and experimental spirit of their early days. As noted in Chris Martin's liner notes, cLOUDDEAD's music was a unique blend of idiosyncratic vision and audacious experimentation. Each EP in this collection offers a distinct auditory experience. Tracks like 'Apt. A' and 'And All You Can Do Is Laugh' are emblematic of their surreal style, combining nonsensical lyrics and unconventional production. Nosdam's production seamlessly transitions from ambient textures reminiscent of Flying Saucer Attack to gritty drum breaks and esoteric samples. Restored by Nosdam and accompanied by a poster, this edition of cLOUDDEAD's pioneering sound, is the ideal version to get.

Review: Blakk Tape was the fourth solo mixtape put out by the underground legend that is Buffalo, New York rapper Conway The Machine. It came on Griselda Records back in 2018 with the majority of production handled by Daringer but with extra assistance from Beat Butcha, V Don and Bozack Morris. It notably eschewed collabs with other artists and finds the man born Demond Price going deep on a wide range of socially astute subjects and with his signature sense of dark, ominous soul casting a long shadow over most of the tracks.

Review: South African rapper TUMI teams up with French trio Chinese Man for a genre-defying collaboration here that reimagines hip-hop through a global lens. Drawing from dusty crates and forgotten corners of music history, such as banjo riffs, 1930s swing and Andean flutes, the production is a crate-digger's dream that boldly ventures far beyond traditional hip-hop terrain. The result is a rich, textured sound that's both nostalgic and refreshingly new as TUMI's lyrics weave between irony and poignancy and are grounded in sonic experimentation with sharp social commentary. This is a bold, borderless journey and proof that when cultures and styles collide, magic happens.