I’m very pleased to report that following my excitement last month, the new records from Statik Selektah (100 Proof), Strong Arm Steady (In Search Of Stoney Jackson) and Freeway + Jake One (The Stimulus Package) are all very dope. All releases are 100% consistent dusty boom-bap and reiterate why Statik, Madlib and Jake One are at the top of the production game. You simply must have all three releases in your collection – in fact Free & Jake’s One Foot In is one of the best hip-hop tunes I’ve heard in the last five years, easy. Get on it.
Back home, dudes are getting mad busy at the moment, with the local scene getting peppered with a barrage of releases both free and for purchase. First up, legendary hip-hop duo Brethren have just put out their 20th anniversary release Bastion on Krosswerdz Recordings. Staying true to their old school roots, these two pioneers prove they are still relevant with another versatile release. Guests include Baba Israel, Def Wish Cast, Reason, Deejay Mathmatics and Brotha Black.
A release I missed from a little while back is DJ Skae’s Gueslist mix CD which features a who’s who of Sydney emcees (Skeptic & Dseeva, Sandro, Sleeping Monk, Dirtbox Kings, Torcha and Morganics, along with many more). It’s a great release and Skae definitely seems like he’s got his fingers in many pies, including working alongside with Skeptic & Dseeva, a healthy club DJ schedule and a background in graffiti. Check him out at www.myspace.com/djskae.>
Former Equills member and current frontman of acclaimed (and very dope) Illzilla crew, Mantra is undoubtedly one of the illest emcees in Australia at the moment and there is much hype surrounding his upcoming debut solo release Power Of The Spoken due out on Obese Records Friday March 26. It’s produced by M-Phazes, Mista Savona and Count Bounce and I can’t wait to hear what Mantra has cooked up. Expect some rapid fire, intelligent, textured and dynamic lyricism. More on this one once I’ve heard it in its entirety.
Comprising of MCs Agent Remix and Crisis, Creep Team is the new offspring of Melb group Phonic Division. Their new EP The Creep St is dark headstrong street music, influenced by ‘70s vigilante flicks. It is seven tracks deep and you can check out the video for Fire In The Hole online (crazy!) and the rest of their steez at thecreepteam.bigcartel.com.
One of my fave Australian emcees Mdusu has just dropped his new free mixtape The Excess Baggage. After a rough 12 months, Duse has relocated from Tassie to Sunny QLD, jacked a bunch of dope beats and scripted his experiences with heartfelt honesty and a raw sense of humour. You can grab a copy at www.myspace.com/mdusu. He’s also dropping his solo LP Ex-Samples proper later in 2010. Go Duse!
Mudd Promotions and Soul’d On Sound present Hell MuthaFuckin’ Yeah at PJ O’Reilly’s Tuggeranong on Saturday March 27 featuring Sceptic & Dseeva, Way Lyrical, 206 Collab, Convict and Dub Seven. $10 on the door. The same night @ Transit Bar Scott Burns will be in town to promote his upcoming new music with Alikeminds, Gabi and LouLou in support. DJs Buick, Bom, LouLou and J-Platnum will be spinning.
To hear music from all these releases and more, tune to The Antidote on 2XX 98.3FM every Tues night from 9:30pm.
Roshambo
