Following up from his promising Left To Write EP, Sydneysider Skryptcha has returned with his debut full length The Numbers which will be released on Friday July 23 on the ever-busy Obese Records. From first listen, it’s a real boom-bap affair and showcases Skryptcha’s overall love for music, honesty and passion for life over its 14 tunes. The album features production from Domingo (USA), M-Phazes, Chasm, Mules, Jase and Ante Escobar. Guest slots from Dialectrix (who is on fire at the moment!), Lotek, Jeswon, Rachel Berry and Bastian Bones. Support the man when the album drops.
There has been a resurgence of dope mainstream hip-hop sounds of late, with three major releases catching my ear and spending extensive rotation time in my various systems. First up is the debut LP from the much touted Drake. Thank Me Later is a magnificent and wholly original debut LP, where the ‘heart on his sleeve’ attitude of Drizzy shines bright over the album’s entire running time. Whether crooning or rapping Drake exhibits his talents over some beautifully soulful and chill-wave production (Noah ‘40’ Shebib, Boi-1da, Swizz Beats, Kanye West etc). It’s an addictive album that really grows in depth with each spin.
Big Boi’s Sir Lucious Left Foot has finally arrived on Def Jam and it is a magnificent opus chock full of inventive songwriting and a bevy of jams ranging from outer space soul to marching band two-step club stompers. Awash with that forward thinking Outkast vibe, the LP is guest heavy but the collaborations never seem forced and Big Boi is still 100% the star. Lyrically and flow-wise he tears the album apart, proving that he is still one of the most underrated emcees still doing things today. Absolutely essential and up there as a contender for LP of the year so far.
Finally, The Roots have returned for their third outing on Def Jam with How I Got Over. The album is a real nod back to the live jam instrumentation of their ‘94 Illadelph Halflife days with ?uestlove’s drumming again showcased as the backbone of the Roots vibe. Chock full of guests, both expected (Dice Raw, Truck North) and unexpected (Joanna Newsom, Monsters of Folk, Dirty Projectors), the quality of inventive and captivating songwriting is always top notch. It’s a more chilled out outing that their previous effort Rising Down but is another notch in an already legendary (and faultless) oeuvre.
Jumping genres, there is a real bevy of fantastic new singles, EPs and LPs out in the bass music scene – too many to list really, but I will make mention of UK label Night Slugs who continues its domination of bass influenced house music with the latest release from co-label head L-Vis 1990. The Forever You EP is a straight up classic – at times deep and traditional in its homage to classic house and other times forward thinking in its drunken syrupy synth work. L-Vis again proves he is one of the leaders in the future of creative garage/house music.
Show-wise, the mighty M-Phazes (good gracious!) is in town on Saturday August 21 at Transit Bar to promote his latest LP on Obese. Rumour has it that he’ll be bringing some very BIG emcees with him for the performance. NZ d‘n’b don Dose is set to pummel Mercury Bar on Friday August 6 with supports from the who’s who of ACT d‘n’b and dubstep. And don’t forget Low Freqz is back at Hippo Bar for its second instalment on Saturday August 14 – so come along for your monthly bass music fix.
To hear music from all these releases and much more, tune to The Antidote on 2XX 98.3FM from 9.30 – 11pm every Tuesday night or stream at www.2xxfm.org.au.
Roshambo
