What’s up good peoples? In case you hadn’t realised I’m now all up in EVERY issue of BMA, so you’ll get more good music info, more ranting and more realness. So without further ado, let’s get busy with a nice lil rant on hip-hop at the moment. Now I know that the early months (Jan-Feb) are usually quiet for hip-hop, but is it me, or is the hip-hop scene mad stagnant right now in regards of quality releases? There hasn’t been anything that’s really blown me away for a minute or so now, so I am very thankful that releases from boom-bap beat-extraordinaires Jake One, M-Phazes and Statik Selektah are close on the horizon. I mentioned Statik’s new LP last issue, but also coming up is the mighty Jake One, who is set to release his collaborative album The Stimulus Package with Philly microphone slayerFreeway very very shortly. Expect slamming production, vicious rapping and some high profile guest verses from the likes of Raekwon, Beanie Sigel and Bun B. It’s on Rhymesayers too – bridging that gap between mainstream and independent sounds very nicely. That man M-Phazes is set to release his production LP Good Gracious onObese at the end of the month too – complete with collabs with Muph + Plutonic, Dialectrix, Phrase, Illy, Solo and many many more. M-Phazes is killing these days, so can’t wait to hear the fruits of his labour (think he’s got a few previews up on his MySpace too, so get listening and spread the word).
Speaking of talented beatsmiths, the legendary Flying Lotus will release his much anticipated second LP Cosmogramma on Warp in May. Expanding on his signature sound, FlyLo will continue his journey into the ‘psychedelic reams of soul’ and this time feature collaborations with Rebekah Raff, Thundercat, Laura Darlington and Thom Yorke. I smell a classic on the horizon!
Also on the verge of a second full player is UK’s Breakage, whose upcoming album is entitled Foundation. Melding his d‘n’b roots with his newfound love of dubstep and downtempo, Breakage has been making some major noise with some big big singles of late ( Run Em Out, Hard), so I expect the album to be a monster. On Foundation he’s worked with the likes of Burial, Donae’o, Newham Generals, Roots Manuva and Kemo – so I’m expecting him to go deep on this one. Can’t wait.
A few tidbits now. Thundamentals have released the third single from their Sleeping On Your Style LP – the latin/soul influenced My Lady featuring Sydney’s Ray Mann. They’ll be touring about the country during February/March so stay tuned for that.
Jess Harlen ’s latest single I Go is also out now and is again produced by Plutonic Lab. It’s taken from her album Neon Heartache and comes complete with shimmering harmonics and meditative lyrics (written in Brooklyn, NY!). More real soul music on Obese’s offshoot Plethora Records.
I mentioned the Summer Rooftop party last issue – but don’t forget it’s coming up on Saturday February 20 and features Canberra’s finest hip-hop outfits. Come and get involved!
To hear music from all these releases and more, tune to The Antidote on 2XX 98.3 FM from 9:30 – 11pm every Tuesday night.
Roshambo
roshambizzle@yahoo.com.au
