Review: Dr. Dre's The Chronic gave rise to such heavy-hitters as 'Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang' and 'Let Me Ride', but what about its many "reimaginings" over the years? With The Ghronic, released in 2023, West Coast rappers 38 Spesh and Conway The Machine can't be said to have laid down their own version more so than they did treat the Dre touchstone as a starting point, dropping a nine-track array of similar G-funk whistling lowrider bumps, readapted for the contemporary New Yorker, and yet with fresh lyrical themes and subject matters. Reissued two years later on green vinyl, after an initially white-sleeved run, the productions are ever clean and the flows lackadaisical. Features from Lloyd Banks, Che Noir, Benny The Butcher and Elcamino cement the bluffing rep of a brag-heavy machine duopoly.
Review: For Record Store Day 2025, Bloom Japan presents a lovely 7" from the 45TRIO, who reimagine Minnie Riperton's classic 'Inside My Love.' This reinterpretation delivers a lush, jazz-infused instrumental take that honours the original's unique sensuality while introducing a fresh, soulful groove for modern 'floors. 45TRIO's tasteful blend of live instrumentation and vintage tones helps breathe new life into this timeless gem while the B-side offers a stripped-down version perfect for late-night spins or sample hunters. This is one to pick up and drop during those loved-up moments.
Review: Long Island's Aesop Rock takes listeners deep into the everyday moments that blur the line between the real and the surreal on this, his 11th LP. Self-produced, the album's intricate beats and complex structures provide a perfect canvas for his expansive lyricism. Tracks like 'Movie Night' and 'Send Help' explore this liminal space, mixing reflections on the mundane with eccentric, dreamlike imagery. The production pushes boundaries, channeling a sense of both experimentation and coherence, while tracks such as 'Black Plums' evoke a quiet, wistful nostalgia. Aesop balances cerebral exploration with emotional depth, pulling the listener through his introspective world with both precision and spontaneity. Hailing from New York, his work continues to reflect that city's blend of chaos and contemplation, navigating between complexity and raw instinct. The album's guest featuresiLupe Fiasco, Armand Hammer, Open Mike Eagle, Homeboy Sandman, and Hanni El Khatibiadd distinct layers to the project, each bringing their own energy to the sonic landscape. '1010WINS (feat. Armand Hammer)' and 'Charlie Horse (feat. Lupe Fiasco & Homeboy Sandman)' are highlights where the collaborations are seamless, blending each artist's style with Aesop's own. Throughout, the work showcases his most technically accomplished efforts to date, weaving together complex ideas with an instinctive flow that makes for an album as ambitious as it is enthralling.
Review: Aesop Rock has long thrived on twisting the ordinary into the uncanny, and his latest full-length after 2023's irony-packed Integrated Tech Solutions hears him deepen that fascination. Examining the unseen mechanisms that guide daily life - dream logic, half-formed memories, fleeting emotions - he now blurs the lines between perception and reality with densely packed verses and meticulous self-produced beats. A brooding, cinephilic album recalling the atmospheric street wiles of filmmakers like Wong Kar Wai, the playful 'Send Help', contemplative 'Movie Night' and dusky 'Black Plums' chart strange emotional terrain, brought to life through warped sonic forensic architectures and sharp lyrical precision. Joined by Lupe Fiasco, Armand Hammer, Hanni El Khatib, Open Mike Eagle and Homeboy Sandman, the album pivots constantly, driven by intuition but grounded in detail Speaking on the record's emphasis on public bareness, Rock remarks on 'Checkers', a song "about the neighborhood outside your home being the great leveller. You can't show up feeling one way because the world will show you otherwise."
Review: On their second release, Atelier Kamikazi continues to deliver raw, collaborative lyrics drawn from their experiences as street kids in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Like their debut on Seismographic Records, the group reflects on the harsh realities and surreal beauty of life in the city as they resist corrupt politics, challenge religious hypocrisy embodied by a figure they call "Priest Cat's Heart", and confront the dangers of "Bomb," a potent street drug. With vivid metaphors and unflinching honesty, they warn against its use while affirming their true tools for survival: words, wisdom and Loketo-the liberating hip-swing of Congolese dance.
Review: As you probably know if you're reading this, Jorun Bombay is one of the most consistently on for edit maestros in the game. Here he steps up with a new outing that sticks right at the heart of the dancefloor once more. 'Strictly Dann Stealy' is a clever mash-up of De La Soul's 'Eye Know (Know It All Remix)' featuring the original source vocals over a faithfully recreated instrumental. It channels the signature energy of early 90s hip-hop clubs with a fresh twist you've never heard before. On the flip, 'Whole Grain O's' offers a reimagined instrumental take on 'Oodles of O's' which is packed with reggae chants, added turntablism and signature 'Oh's'. It's a playful, party-ready version that balances just the right amount of nostalgia and brand new style.
Review: Remastered from a lost cassette in composer David Toop's archive, Unsettled Scores Records has secured the rights to a first-ever release of the legendary title track from Dick Fontaine's iconic 1988 graffiti documentary. Originally airing on Channel 4, the film followed Brim's 1985 journey from the Bronx to the UK, where he linked up with future icons like Goldie and 3D of Massive Attack. A formative piece for graffiti writers and hip-hop heads alike, Brim's 'Bombin'' became a cult classic and remained so. This long-awaited 7" includes the full version and unreleased mixes.
Review: New York emcee Hassaan Mackey (Rawkus 50) delivers sharp, unfiltered lyricism, packing rhymes with onomatopoeia and raw street wisdom. Set to blackout beats by Detroit producer Apollo Brown (The Reset, Brown Study, Gas Mask, Clouds), we've the ideal backdrop here: deep bass set to the the crackle of well-worn vinyl. The result is a record on which we're given much more than our Daily Bread. Lyrical picturebooks of faded spirit photographs return like plasmic ghosts, each booing line steeped in a mood of eerie reckoning. Atonement lingers in every note, experience weighs heavy, yet a fierce hope burns through.
Review: More Chaos marks American rapper and record producer Ken's fourth studio album and shows a bold evolution of the distinct style he introduced on A Great Chaos. A pure solo effort with no guest features, the record sharpens his voice both lyrically and sonically and the production is handled exclusively by a close-knit circle of trusted collaborators, all of whom he's cultivated and refined across previous projects, and who give the album a cohesive, focused energy. With More Chaos, Ken expands the emotional and sonic range of what he's done before while staying true to the intensity that first defined his work. It's a sharpened vision well worth tuning into.
Review: Tom Caruana's Salsa Verde marks the seventh chapter in Def Presse's Crate Diggers series with KPM, built around exclusive access to the exalted library music production house whose reserves have fuelled hip-hop samplers, among others, for decades. A seasoned producer and multi-instrumentalist with a now 25-year track record, Caruana takes to the craft with easy motor automaticity, handling drums, keys, bass, and guitar himself, all while using samples for colour and melody rather than structure. The result is a rich, boom-bap-rooted album inhumed in live instrumentation, plus contributions from UK and US MCs. Caruana merges subtle humour, reflections on social media, and a refined, not overwrought showmanship.
Canto De Alright (Caflo vs Deeper Roots edit) (6:28)
Made You Do It, Look (3:45)
Fly Like The Payback (3:38)
Review: Next up on the brilliantly revitalised Gamm label is Coflo, who delivers a trio of dynamic reworks that show why he's one of house music's most exciting new producers. There are no lazy edits here-just bold, club-ready blends packed with flair. 'Canto De Alright' is a versatile transition tool that slides seamlessly between house and hip-hop. On 'Fly Like The Payback,' Coflo fuses Steve Miller Band and James Brown into a rare groove gem and closing the package, Nas gets a funky boogie rework that hits hard and grooves effortlessly. These tracks are hot, inventive, and destined to become weapons for DJs who like their sounds sharp and soulful.
Review: Flexing the full spectrum of roots music and featuring vocals from an epic range of singers from Omar to Liam Bailey, Nia Chennai to Tills; Green Lanes is the debut album from Jamie Rodigan and Aaron Horn's impressive Crate Classics project and it sounds every bit as fresh as it did when it landed digitally last year. Here on long-awaited wax it's been given a new coat of arms by way of some exceptional remixes from three artists who have spectrum flexing tenures themselves. Originator Congo Natty brings the teachings, pioneer Potential Badboy goes old testament on 'More Time', 'Missing' keeps it dreamy and soulful while Tyke get ruff on 'Westside'. An essential accompaniment to the full narrative.
Review: American neo-soul pin-up D'Angelo has released a couple of the smoothest records of the last 30 years. He even made a welcome comeback in the mid 2010s and added some more magic to his cannon. Here Kero Uno remixes a couple of his tunes and ups their funky quotient to make them more suitable to dancefloors. First, he flips 'Spanish Joint' into a key-laced and funky workout with low-slung, hip-swinging grooves sure to seduce next to the zippy synth leads. On the flip is his hot take on 'Feel Like Makin' Love', another bona-fide gem full of heart and soul.
Facelift (feat Estee Nack, Raz Fresco & Daniel Son) (3:19)
Overkill (feat Hus Kingpin) (1:38)
You're Dead (feat Al.Divino & Crimeapple) (3:12)
83 Canadian Hollow Tips (feat P-Dirt, Raz Fresco & Daniel Son) (3:35)
Head Hunters (feat Izrell) (3:41)
Welcome To Hell (feat P-Dirt, DJ Eclipse & ILL BILL) (2:54)
Maximum Overdrive (feat Raz Fresco, Goretex & J-Spliff) (3:42)
White Crown (feat Casual, DJ Eclipse & Planet Asia - part 2) (3:31)
Call Me Snake (feat P-Dirt & J-Spliff) (3:34)
Wild Style Warz (feat Raz Fresco & Da Flyy Hooligan) (3:52)
Writing On The Wall (feat Izrell & J-Spliff) (3:20)
Review: Bay Area producer Dead Perry follows up on the success of The Art of Re-Animation with his dark, gritty solo LP Acoustic Shadows. After impressing with his reimagining of Hieroglyphics' Casual's work, Perry now leans fully into his signature shadowy style and has said he was inspired by a Civil War phenomenon where sound vanishes due to geography for this work. The album's title reflects Perry's low-profile, graffiti-rooted ethos and the tunes feature a stacked lineup with Casual, Planet Asia, Ill Bill, Estee Nack and more all involved on a project that dives into murky sonic terrain. Standout track 'Call Me Snake' evokes John Carpenter and inspired P-Dirt's concept lyrics. A brilliant return.
Review: DJ A-L has been turning heads with his inventive edits for a couple of years now, always on this label and always reimagining classic hip-hop and r&b cuts with fresh twists. After kicking off 2025 with a bang, he's back already with two more standout reworks. First is 'MVP (DJ A-L Blahzay Blahzay Remix),' packed with raw, dusty breaks and that unmistakable golden-era grit. On the flip, 'Jump Around (DJ A-L Shoot Your Shot Remix)' leans into a smoother, more soulful vibe, riding a deep groove laced with 90s swing and crisp claps. It's another top-tier 45 rpm from DJ A-L that is tailor-made to get the vibes flowing.
Review: For the last couple of years, DJ AL has been serving up creative edits that breathe new life into iconic tracks from hip-hop and r&b. He's already dropped a big one in 2025 but quickly backs it up with two more razor-sharp reworks. First up is 'MVP (DJ A-L Blahzay Blahzay remix)' which has big old school energy, dusty and raw drum breaks and hard bars a plenty. 'Jump Around (DJ A-L Shoot Your Shot remix)' is a more soulful sound with a deep cut groove but still plenty of 90s hip-hop energy and some hip-swinging claps. A great return that is sure to fire up many a 'floor this summer and beyond.
Review: TakeFingz returns with its seventh release and offers up a double A-side 7" tailored for dancefloor devastation. On Side A, DJ Katch reworks classic funk breaks into a groove-heavy party igniter that betrays some seriously sharp turntable skills and crowd-moving instincts. It's a surefire weapon for any set in high-energy settings. On the flip, DJ Toby Gee drops a bass-driven boogie funk jam packed with vintage chants and break-heavy grooves. Both tracks are precision-crafted with nods to B-Boy culture among them perfect for bodypoppers and lockers alike.
Review: DJ Mitsu The Beats summons up a mellow, jazz-tinged spin on Norah Jones' early classic 'Sunrise', following a plucky piano-studio sesh shared with Takumi Kaneko of Cro-Magnon. After a cannonballing digital release, the "instrumental chill" track now takes shape as a 7" single, suturing Mitsu's laidback bop to Kaneko's smooth, sunspot piano lines. With cover photography by surf documentarian Atsushi Kumano, the single was in turn singled out for the surf music compilation Salt Meets Island Cafe: Sea of Love 2, curated by new lifestyle magazine Salt. Balancing beachside ease and unsurpassable musicianship, this track hankers at the title for next best surf-chill anthem.
Review: Following his standout 'Just A Flute Thing' single last time out, DJ Scientist returns with 'The Baku Files', a limited release that's an immediate crate-digger's dream. Side-A delivers a hypnotic, jazzy boom-bap instrumental built from rare Soviet-era Azeri jazz samples layered with gritty vocal chops from vintage rap records. It's a brilliant cross-cultural collage that feels at once nostalgic and fresh. Flip to side-B for 'To See You,' a slick, DJ-friendly rework of a Murat Kashlaev composition originally reissued on Spasibo Records and packed with head-nodding grooves, old-school flavour and new-school execution.
Review: Among heads, this is of the most hotly championed hip-hop collab records of all time - and yet it is all too unknown. Doomstarks is the fabled collaboration of masked raconteur come rapper MF Doom and one of nine sonic samurai, Ghostface Killah (here known as Tony Starks); Swift & Changeable: The Prequel is their quick-wristed, mic-proximate debut mixtape, released in 2012. Just as some comic books series would prologue their main stories with pre-release strips, The Prologue served as the "unofficial" warm-up to accompany the pair's long-anticipated debut album of the same name. The Prequel hears some of Doom and Ghost's most popular tracks and collabs from various projects, including the original Doomstarks tune 'Vistory Laps'; the album provides a chopped but not screwed experience, playing out in the style of a gapless, scratch-heavy DJ mix.
Review: Details on the good Dr Ray are thin on the ground, but both here tunes suggest that whoever they are, they have a love or raw, classic hip-hop and rap. 'Speaking On Death Row' has big Hammond organ chords that speak of a gospel sermon but they soon make way for big, raw drum breaks and hard-hitting bars. Jumbled percussion fleshes out this old-school gem. 'Lyrical Rec Room' is more stripped back with a raw boom-bap low end, rhythmic bars and synth stabs to inject the energy. Two ageless, time-worn sounds that are as authentic as they come.
Review: Two more battle weapons handpicked from the eponymous UK armoury. Label motto ("You want this party started, right?!") and A-cut refrain ("la-di-da-di, we like to party"), converge in perfect sync here on this latest 7": the obverse samples Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick's 1985 mover, peppering slight but bright brasses over a punctuated beat mix. 'Tambou' on the B-side honours a historic canonical Swizz Beatz crunk bit with a re-edit of 'Tambourine', produced and released in 2006 for blase partystarter Eve.
My Nigga (feat $ilkmoney, Quelle Chris & Big Kahuna OG) (4:58)
Lil One (intro) (1:26)
Lil One (4:39)
CheckOnMe (feat Lojii) (3:51)
Nottooshabby (feat Quelle Chris, Nickelus F & $ilkmoney) (4:51)
Lord Forgives, I Hold Grudges (feat Denmark Vessey & Pink Siifu) (3:58)
The Times (4:02)
Forever Dream (interlude) (0:31)
Forever Dream (3:17)
Corner Pocket (feat Quelle Chris & BbyMutha) (3:05)
Dr Phil (feat Sycho Sid - skit) (1:23)
YOUGOTME!! (3:09)
Foreverever Dream (interlude) (0:56)
Say Thank You (feat Pink Siifu & Turich Benjy) (5:21)
Review: Fly Anakin's latest fun length marks a new chapter in his career, but it still brings forth the sharp lyricism and soulful, experimental production he is known for. This one was executive produced by Quelle Chris, whom he has worked with since 2019, and finds Fly serving up his ambitious work to date and collaborations with Denmark Vessey, BbyMutha, Pink Siifu, and The Alchemist. After years of honing their chemistry, Anakin and Quelle Chris deliver their most bold, unorthodox sounds yet and push new boundaries for hip-hop while exploring freedom and artistic evolution. It all reflects Anakin's mastery of both lyricism and production with plenty of intimate, emotive moments.
My Nigga (feat $ilkmoney, Quelle Chris & Big Kahuna OG) (4:58)
Lil One (intro) (1:26)
Lil One (4:39)
CheckOnMe (feat Lojii) (3:51)
Nottooshabby (feat Quelle Chris, Nickelus F & $ilkmoney) (4:51)
Lord Forgives, I Hold Grudges (feat Denmark Vessey & Pink Siifu) (3:58)
The Times (4:02)
Forever Dream (interlude) (0:31)
Forever Dream (3:17)
Corner Pocket (feat Quelle Chris & BbyMutha) (3:05)
Dr Phil (feat Sycho Sid - skit) (1:23)
YOUGOTME!! (3:09)
Foreverever Dream (interlude) (0:56)
Say Thank You (feat Pink Siifu & Turich Benjy) (5:21)
Review: Fly Anakin is a multi-talented rapper and producer from Richmond, Virginia, with more than a decade of experience in the hip-hop game that has established him as a sharp lyricist and soulful producer. Anakin's collaborations with artists like Freddie Gibbs and Pink Siifu have shown his mastery of both classic and pioneering sounds, and this new album, The Forever Dream, is a marked shift that explores unorthodox and experimental approaches with executive producer Quelle Chris. The project is built on unconventional beats and represents a new phase of freedom for Anakin. After years of refining his craft, Anakin remain one of the purest and most direct rappers in the scene.
Review: This Record Store Day, Fo’ Clips Eclipse’s 1995 G-funk gem 'Just Be Thankful' resurfaces with a limited-edition 7-inch pressing on blue vinyl - the first time that the title cut and 'Can You Feel Me' have been on wax in some 30 years. Originally produced by Compton legend Tweedy Bird Loc, they blend smooth synths, soulful hooks and streetwise lyricism that epitomises the West Coast sound. 'Be Thankful' notably samples William DeVaughn’s 1974 classic to add a nostalgic touch and confirm the tune as a real bit of cult classic hip-hop history that remains influential decades later.
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