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Mic King & Chum
‘Flavor Ade’
Mic King says: “In the age of ‘hipster rap’ and overrated media darlings, we bring fun music to the table that doesn’t include awful lyrics. This album is very much proof that your raps don’t have to suck in order for everyone to have fun. The song that has the most [...]

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Ralph Rip Shit
‘OCDC Vol One’
(WWW.OCDC.CO.UK)
Ralph Rip Shit says: “This release will definitely put some warmth into any listener’s winter!”
We say: “A free download project from the man touting himself around town as having the best name in rap, ‘OCDC Vol 1’ is the product of “Classic Tuesdays spent in the studio together with the [...]

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ALPHABETIX
‘ANONYMOUS EP’
(30 TONNE SLUG)
Mr Ris says: “Check the EP ‘cos it’s crammed full of up-beat bangers with that Alphabetix twist. My personal favourite track is ‘Bounce’ ‘cos it’s a serious head-nodder.”
We say: A four-person strong crew from Leeds consisting of emcees Mr Ris, ABD and Angel S plus producer DJ Sir+, this nine track long [...]

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DIAMOND DISTRICT
‘IN THE RUFF’
(MELLO MUSIC)
Oddisee says: “Our inspiration for the album was our love for a particular golden era sound – and the need for DC to contribute to that sound.”
We say: Possibly the most bizarre release of the oh-nine, this is the retail version of an album previously available as a free download. The [...]

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HHC does the track-by-track thing to Damon Dash and The Black Keys’ rock-meets-rap project, out at the end of November…
BLAKROC
‘BLAKROC’
(BLAKROC RECORDS)
1. ‘COOCHIE’ FEAT. LUDACRIS & OL’ DIRTY BASTARD
An inspired up-from-the-vault collabo, Luda and the late great Dirt McGirt basically run around town looking for chicks to get involved with. ODB holds down Jeanine (from Queens) [...]

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SOULS OF MISCHIEF
‘MONTEZUMA’S REVENGE’
(HIERO IMPERIUM)
Opio says: “It was a different creative process working with Prince Paul, who ended up executive producing the album. It gives it a new angle, but it’s still the same classic Souls Of Mischief lyrical standard.”

We say: Despite being proud Bay Area boys, Opio and company have always had a strong [...]

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THE KILLER METERS
‘BREAKIN’ OUT’
They say: “‘Black Mountain’ was the first song to get put into the album’s melting pot – a real nasty groove that rocks as much as it funks. We split people down the middle with this – and most of! – our tunes, in a kind of ‘You’re either on this bus [...]

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BREEZ EVAHFLOWIN’
‘BREEZ DEEZ TREEZ’
(DOMINATION RECS)
Breez says: “To me, this album is what hip-hop sounds like if it was allowed to grow up. It’s life documented in a lyrical artform that uses more lyrics than anything short of a full-blown opera.”
We say: Conceived while Breez was holed up down in the woods of North Carolina, [...]

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MICALL PARKNSUN
‘FIRST SECOND TIME AROUND’
(YNR)
Parky says: “This album took me longer to make than the last one, but I feel it’s got more songs, more bangers, and more tracks. My favourite is ‘Holding It Down’ produced by M-Phazes, which to me defines the essence of the hip-hop I used to love – that hip-hop you [...]

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JAY ARE
‘THE 1960S JAZZ REVOLUTION AGAIN’
(GROOVEATTACK)

They say: “The incomparable hip-hop producer J Rawls is back with another instalment of jazz-hop excitement, this time teaming up with the extraordinary talent of John Robinson aka Lil Sci. Together they are Jay Are!”

We say: Even if you thought you’d had your fill of mid-tempo Lone Catalysts style tracks [...]