Back catalogue:

Review: Private Stock Records serves up a treat for DJs and turntablists with a new 12" packed with beats, scratches, and skipless tracks. Four skilled DJsiBig Once, Cutso, Double A, and Nick Bikeicontribute their skills to this collection, offering a diverse range of flavours for scratching and beat juggling. Each DJ delivers a 'Scratch Sentence' and a selection of beats at various tempos, providing a versatile toolkit for creative routines. The inclusion of skipless tracks adds another dimension, allowing for seamless blends and extended mixes. With its focus on functionality and quality, this release is a must-have for any serious turntablist or DJ looking to expand their arsenal of sounds.

Review: 'O.P.P.' by Naughty By Nature is an iconic hip-hop song that not only achieved commercial success, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning platinum status, but broke barriers and became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s. The song's success helped Naughty By Nature establish themselves as a major force in hip-hop and contributed to their longevity in the industry. 'O.P.P.' continues to be celebrated and remembered, showing the group's ability to blend rough subject matter with catchy pop hooks, making it a timeless classic in the genre. The Hip-Hop movement was arguably the most important cultural movement in the 80s and 90s. Here you have one of its most important soundtracks.

Review: Spanish producer Nueen and Manchester vocalist and rapper Iceboy Violet, who you might well recognised from appearing on Hyperdub releases by the likes of aya and Loraine James, come together for a collaborative work that follows the story of a four-year-long relationship. As you can imagine, therefore, it takes in peaks and troughs, emotional highs, depressive lows, and plenty in between that will all feel all too familiar to anyone who has ever fallen in and out of love. Drill-laced beats are laced with intimate melodies, and excitable chords spiral out of control while a menacing ambience percolates up from below. It's a powerful listen with a relatable narrative.

Review: Nazar, the nom-de-guerre of an anonymous Manchester-based producer, presents their sophomore album Demilitarize, following his acclaimed 2020 debut Guerrilla, released amid the pandemic. Nazar's first album securely firmed the artist's name within and beyond the Hyperdub diaspora, thanks to its unique melding of Angolan kuduro music with rough textures, field recordings, and media clips, retelling the story of his family's exile from the Angolan Civil War. Nazar is the son of Jonas Savimbi, a former general of the Angolan independence movement; after Angola's emancipation from Portuguese colonial rule, Nazar relocated to suburban Brussels. More recently, he fell seriously ill with tuberculosis contracted in Angola; battling mortality, the new album reflects a mix of introspection and blossoming love, which contrasts the warring rawness of his debut. Demilitarize is dreamier, with Nazar's submerged, mantra-like vocals at the forefront, evoking artists far-removed from the crumby, unedifyingly rough kuduro that characterised his first EP 'Enclave'. Nazar explains, "I wanted to create something almost metaphysical, inspired by the cyberpunk anime Ghost In The Shell." The sound is delicate, with relatively sculpted rhythms enveloping his own recorded voice throughout.

Review: After years spent working alongside a talented pool of jazz musicians as the Neue Grafik Ensemble, Fred N'Thepe has decided to go solo for the first time this decade. Dalston Tapes Vol 1 is, according to Rhythm Section International, a conscious attempt by the artists to return to his beat-making roots. It's an album, then, rooted in hip-hop mixtape culture, where vocal numbers featuring guest MCs sit side by side with rap-free "beats" - lusciously and impeccably crafted instrumentals in which warming bass guitar lines, deep electronic sub-bass, sparkling electronic motifs and choice samples cluster around loosely swung, MPC-driven beat patterns. It's a great collection all told, with nods towards club-ready broken beat and deep house sitting side by side with Dilla-esque workouts and references towards London's vibrant hip-hop and grime underground.

Review: Yes Lawd! marks another triumph in Anderson .Paak's ascendant career, showing his evolution from Breezy Lovejoy to a prominent figure in California rap. Teaming up with Knxwledge, .Paak delivers a beautiful beat tape that pays homage to classic Stones Throw duos. Tracks like 'Livvin' embody triumph and success, echoing the tradition of rags-to-riches narratives in rap. Knxwledge's production shines throughout the album, drawing inspiration from church music, hip-hop, and J Dilla, creating rich instrumentals that serve as the soul of the record. Paak's emotive delivery and vocal flexibility are standout features, as seen on tracks like 'Best One' and 'Lyk Dis,' where he channels urgency and empathy reminiscent of DMX and Young Thug. Yes Lawd! stands as a significant achievement in .Paak's career, showcasing his growth as a vocalist and songwriter. While Knxwledge's production balances.Paak's contributions, the album overall offers a compelling glimpse into .Paak's evolving artistry.

Review: The implied sequel to their first and only album Yes Lawd!, the ingenious production and vocal duo of wonky hip-hop producer Knxwledge, and esteemed multi-talent Anderson .Paak - together known as NxWorries - comes in full force, a full eight years after said debut. A seeming reversal of the mood of the first record, Why Lawd? submits a plea of desperation rather than confidence to the heavens, though nonetheless sports features from the likes of Dave Chappelle, Thundercat, H.E.R., Snoop Dogg and Earl Sweatshirt, in what still amounts to an endlessly enjoyable, bumpy ride in the modes of smoked-out neo-soul and challenging lo-fi.

Review: Yes Lawd! by NxWorries, the collaborative project between Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, is a stunning achievement in contemporary hip-hop and r&b. Released on Stones Throw Records in 2016, this album showcases .Paak's raw talent and Knxwledge's masterful production skills. The album delves into .Paak's personal journey, from overcoming adversity to achieving success in the music industry. Tracks like 'Livvin' embody triumph and resilience, with .Paak's emotive vocals soaring over soulful beats. Knxwledge's production is a standout feature, paying homage to classic Stones Throw duos like Dilla and Madlib while infusing the sound with his own unique style. Paak's lyrical prowess shines throughout the album, with poignant reflections on his past and candid insights into his relationships. Yes Lawd! is an excellent listen from start to finish, with standout tracks like 'What More Can I Say' and 'Link Up' showing the duo's chemistry and creativity. Yes Lawd! solidifies .Paak's position as a rising star in the music industry and cements Knxwledge's reputation as a visionary producer.