Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Chicago's Altered Tapes alter two brand new ones for their latest 7", making up for a short AWOL period with two mashups of the utmost rawness and class. First, on the A-side, comes a slick homage to ATCQ's brightest star Q-Tip, who nonetheless, shockingly, only ever scored one hit single in his lifetime, 'Vivrant Thing'. We are reminded of this once again, if only for the fact that it shouldn't have been the case, through Altered Tapes and King Most's raw but relaxed new version. The B-side marks an unusually roomy and reverberative rework of the Tribe's 'Scenario' by their fellow editor Boombaptist, bringing dub effects-laden heat to an already wild tune.

Review: Japanese talent DJ Koco aka Shimokita is a hardcore 45rpm devotee. They are his chosen tools as a beat-juggling DJ who can do logic-defying things with his grooves. He is a regal on Bloom and already dropped serious heat in January with 'World Famous'. This time he is back with a fresh take on 'Made In New York' which is a 1985 classic by renowned Brazilian funk and jazz pianist Tania Maria. He brings his signature hip-hop flair and creativity with his trusted crew, 45trio, and enlists the dynamic saxophonist King TJ (DA-Dee-MiX) to elevate things further.

Review: The fledgling hip-hop label Pibe marks its fifth release with a rather lovely 7" that packs a genuine punch. Kero Uno is the artist behind the two singles with some great bars from contemporary lyricists. Opener 'Do You Remember?' is a summery sound with a feel-good vibe and guests Blu & King Most do a fine job of adding extra colour and charm. On the reverse is a much more soulful and sentimental sound with more gentle beats and a crystal clear and clean vocal from Ace Hashimoto swirling up next to jazzy chords. Tidy stuff.

Review: A chance to own this much loved pre-album classic from King Kruke aka Southwark-raised Archy Marshall on a neat 7". The track, originally issued in 2012 on the Rinse label, has all the hallmarks that would make Marshall famous, namely a lilting, emotionally direct vocal performance, some rather nifty guitar work and some rough cut breakbeats with a lovely whiff of bedroom production about them. The flip, meanwhile, is adorned with an instrumental version, making this quite the all round desirable item.

Review: We've got a lovely bit of golden-era hip-hop here from the DATUM Recordings label. It comes on 45rpm and features one jam each from King Most and Casquiat. The former goes first with 'A Tribe Called Westwood' with signature Tribe bars and a deep cut groove with raw bass. On the flip is 'Colossal Rhymes' which is a great big slice of boom-bap complete with smooth flow, organic percussion and some eerie melodies hanging in the air above the beats.

Review: Kool Keith, Jazz T and Doctor Zygote deliver a lyrical gem with 'Heavyweights.' This track isn't a diss, but a declaration of superior MC skills, featuring a heavy bassline and a jazz-infused, ominous mood reminiscent of a detective movie soundtrack. Kool Keith's standout chops make this a classic. Side-2 offers the instrumental version, showing the intricate production and allowing the dark, jazzy atmosphere to shine on its own sounding like an eerie detective show. 'Heavyweights' is a great addition to any hip-hop/r&b collection, highlighting the artistry of these heavy-hitting collaborators.

Review: Mega-sick big breaks from Brighton's Krafty Kuts, flipping undocumented verses from an earlier collab between the producer and verbalist TC Izlam, 'Ill Type Sound'. Every beat hits with huge plantar weight here, with kicks and reverso-claps rooting themselves in sonic continual soils. The original mix features here too, with twisty scratches, pan pipes and turntablist's kick rolls bringing a distinctively kitsch, jazzy, De Wolfe samply feel. "We got the groove, we got the sound, we got the vibe to make you get down!"

Review: Phill Most Chill and Krash Slaughta have teamed up for Definition of Ill, a fiery collaboration that showcases their exceptional skills as rappers and producers. The EP features two tracks, 'Definition of Ill' and 'I Ain't Playin' With Y'all', both of which are packed with hard-hitting rhymes and infectious beats. Krash Slaughta's production is top-notch, providing the perfect backdrop for Phill Most Chill's lyrical prowess. The beats are heavy and energetic, while the rhymes are clever and witty. The duo's chemistry is evident on both tracks, resulting in a cohesive and powerful listening experience.

Review: XL Recordings presents the long-awaited repress of keiyaA's 2020 album Forever, Ya Girl. The singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist was raised in Chicago's South Side; now based in New York, her jazz training, R&B sensibilities, and hip-hop inheritability are all deployed to full effect, crafting an experimental soul sound inundated with powerfully sultry voice and dense lyricism. Aiming to to foreground the standpoint and intellect of the black woman in the late-stage capitalist landscape, Forever, Ya Girl brings a sawn-off, digital neo-soul inflection to themes of struggle and grace, all while deploying many a quirky interjection and voice-modded sample between the beats.

Review: Keshi's new album Requiem is a powerful statement to his growth as an artist. Created across Houston, LA, New York, and Tokyo, this 13-track album showcases Keshi's exceptional talents as a songwriter, producer, and performer, with an ambition clearly aimed at arena performances. Born Casey Luong, Keshi has built a reputation for his unique blend of lo-fi hip-hop and r&b, characterised by soothing vocals and deeply introspective lyrics. Requiem, his sophomore album, follows 2022's Gabriel, which solidified him as a top debut artist. The new album delves into themes of love and loss, particularly influenced by the death of a close friend. This profound experience shaped Keshi's perspective on life and time, culminating in the album's title track, 'Requiem,' which reflects a coming-of-age realization. The album also features the single 'Say,' infused with city pop influences, adding another layer to Keshi's evolving sound. Requiem promises to be a deeply emotional and resonant project, continuing to connect with listeners worldwide.

Review: Mo Chara, Moglai Bap, and DJ Provai - aka Belfast's finest, Kneecap - entered the studio with producer Toddla T in the summer of 2023 and quickly decided to scrap everything they had prepared for their upcoming album. Instead, they chose to build a pub together. Nestled in a West Belfast side street, The Rutz is a community boozer where the entire neighborhood congregates. Although the pub exists only in the band's imagination, all the action on Kneecap's exhilarating debut album, Fine Art, takes place there. Like the band itself, Fine Art is fiercely intelligent, consistently hilarious and genuinely thought-provoking, its genius lying in immersing you in a world previously unrepresented in modern music. Across the record's 12 tracks and interconnecting moments (featuring contributions from friends including DJ Annie Mac), the pub vividly comes to life, providing the perfect backdrop for the colorful characters that populate the album. From the moment the idea was born in Toddla T's studio, The Rutz was the obvious setting for the world of Kneecap. This album is a masterstroke, capturing the spirit and soul of Belfast with brilliance.

Review: Producer, rapper and musician Kurious shares his new album Majician, cementing the legacy he's built in music since at least 1994. Harking back to the style and feel laid down on his debut A Constipated Monkey, Kurious continues to weave a lifelong tapestry of lyrical history and insight, whilst always remaining true to his most signature flow, ducking through and under each pocket in the beat. The tracks are as menacing as they are magnanimous: 'Separation Anxiety' is a personal excoriation by way of lyrical free association, while 'Par For the Course' renders drum breaks from the early Reagan era totally revitalised. The level of work Kurious poured into into Majician thus bolsters his reputation as one of the premier MCs of his time.