Introducing: Byron | Articulate & Witty UK MC

Raised in grey, British suburbia of his hometown of Slough, MC and lyricist Byron, has been bubbling under the surface for a while releasing numerous mix-tapes and tracks. Fueled by a passion for poetry, a diet of UK Grime and Garage and a desire to have his say, he has turned his insight and frustration into something terrific.

His frustration, story-telling abilities and articulation culminate in intelligent and informed stories of what he sees all around him, lyrics are delivered with razor-sharp wit, humour and sometimes aggression and anger. The music has a very Garage and Grime feel to it. ’Don’t Hate, Work Harder’ is a perfect example of this, while ‘All Part Of The Magic’ and ‘Don’t Judge A Book’ display his story-telling abilities.

Byron is a talent and a very promising one at that. There is no reason why we shan’t be hearing much more about him in the future. 

You can spin a few tracks below or dowload his latest release, Deep Lyrics Dirty Beats Part II for free.

Download: Byron – All Part Of The Magic

Download: Byron – Don’t Hate, Work Harder

Download: Byron – Check This Out (Freestyle)

Coki – ‘Tree Trunk’ | Dark distorted saw-toothed Dubstep

This latest offering from London producer Coki should refresh a few memories of how Dubstep is supposed to sound.

‘Tree Trunk’ is an absolute whopper of a track and the standout from the Don’t Get It Twisted EP without doubt. It’s dark and menacing, lurking in the shadows, waiting to unleash a barrage of distorted serrated sawtooth bass, reverb and brute force.

You can listen to it below or but it from here.

 Coki – Tree Trunk via Prodygy

Ghostpoet feat. The D.O.T. – ‘Trouble’

Ghostpoet has already left his mark on 2011 with his rather unique debut, Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam.

Not content with that he has teamed up with one of his biggest fans, Mike Skinner and Rob Harvey (The D.O.T.)  to collaborate on a new track ‘Trouble’ for the latest Rizlab’s project. Fans of the contributing artists will, like me, be delighted with this development and even more so when they hear the result which is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Damu’s rework is fantastic too adding steel drums, a hard edged sound and a general freshening up.

Don’t just take my word for it, give them a spin below and make up your own mind.

 Ghostpoet – featuring THE D.O.T. – Trouble

 Ghostpoet – featuring THE D.O.T. – Trouble (Damu Remix)

Roots Manuva – ‘Get The Get (Slugabed Remix)’

UK hip hop has been going through a fairly healthy patch recently, no better time to welcome the return one of it’s finest stalwarts, Roots Manuva.

He’s back with a new LP 4everevolution and single ‘Get The Get’. The single would be good enough on it’s own but Slugabed’s remix accompanying the release is superb – adding glitches and beats transforming this party tune into a hard-hitting dancefloor tune.

Get The Get is the first single from forthcoming 4everevolution LP which people are saying may be his best LP yet. 

4everevolution and ‘Get The Get’ are out now on Big Dada / Banana Klan.

 Roots Manuva – Get The Get (Slugabed Remix) via Ninja Tune

 Roots Manuva – Get The Get

Us3 – ‘Lie, Cheat & Steal’

Us3 is the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson, formed in 1992 they returned with their 8th album Lie, Cheat & Steal on October 3rd.

Wilkinson’s hip-hop-jazz crew sees the introduction of two new MC’s, New York based rapper Oveous Maximus and all round UK hip hop genius Akala.

They have kindly previewed two tracks ‘You Can Run But You Can’t Hide’ and ’Lie, Cheat & Steal’ on SoundCloud. As with anything Akala touches, this is pure gold. Sharp, articulate and powerful lyrics over a more unfamiliar but no less impressive old school jazzy sound, just wait for the epic crescendo of horns to kick in on the title track.

Lie, Cheat & Steal is out now.

Us3 - You Can Run But You Can’t Hide (ft Akala)

 Us3 – Lie, Cheat and Steal (ft Akala + Oveous Maximus)

Noisia – Tommy’s Theme

Inimitable Dutch trio Noisia are gearing up for the release of new track ‘Tommy’s Theme’ on October 24th.

Fans of Noisia’s stunning 2010 album Split the Atom will not be disappointed by the absolutely stunning ‘Tommy’s Theme. It is a morphing many-headed dubstep beast that reinforces their revered reputation for thumping electronic beats.

‘Tommy’s Theme’ is out on October 24th via Mau5trap.

 Noisia – Tommy’s Theme

Video: Toddla T – ‘Streets So Warm’ feat. Wayne Marshall & Skream

If you been reading this blog for a while you’ll know I’m a massive fan of the prodigious talent that is Toddla T.

The Sheffield producer’s second album, Watch Me Dance is one of the finest records this year, so it’s hardly surprising that news of one of it’s standout tracks, ‘Streets So Warm’, being released a single is greeted with jubilation.

‘Streets So Warm’ features Wayne Marshall and Skream and is out 17 October w/ remixes from Zed Bias, Ross Orton & Pipes and Serial Killerz.

Ghostpoet – Liiines (Error Operator Straight Edge Remix)

Ghostpoet‘s latest single ‘Liiines’ has been given a face lift from London remixer/producer Error Operator.

‘Liiines’ is already one of the UK MC’s more uplifting numbers and it is given a nice coat of gloss along with a slight livening up too. This is the third single taken from his stunning Mercury nominated debut, Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam.

Ghostpoet hits Whelan’s (Dublin) on September 26th. Tickets €12.45 excl. charges.

Download: Ghostpoet – Liiines (Error Operator Straight Edge Remix)

New Modeselektor ‘Pretentious Friends’ (feat. Busdriver)

With under three weeks to it’s release, Modeselektor‘s Monkeytown might well be the most-anticipated record of the year.

‘Pretentious Friends’ is the first full track to surface from the German electro duo’s record. It demonstrates their more playful side with L.A. based MC Busdriver’s pretty ridiculous vocals certain to raise a smile.

The record is out on September 30th and also features appearances from Thom Yorke, PVT (formerly Pivot), Anti Pop Consortium, and more. Really looking forward to this, if it gets close to Hello Mom! or Happy Birthday!, it will be a classic! 

 Modeselektor – Pretentious Friends (feat. Busdriver)

Introducing: Kaleid

With the astounding depth of talent coming out of Newbridge right now, introducing this talent is becoming something of a regular occurrence.

Kaleid (aka Peter Fleming) is a 19 year old musician originally from Dublin but now living in Newbridge. His sound is heavily indebted to dubstep and bass and evolved from a love of hip-hop, drum and bass and house. 

He began life djing at parties but over the past 12 months has taken to making his own sounds. His latest cut ‘Lime’ is superb and captures what he’s all about; a steady building minimal track full of glitchy beats with a slight spacey feel. 

Kaleid is currently a resident DJ at ‘Decoy Dublin’. You can catch a one hour feature for Whiplash on RTE Pulse, September 30th.

Kaleid – Lime

Download: Kaleid – Mix for Whiplash (RTE Pulse)

Toddla T – Watch Me Dance

With 2009’s debut, Skanky Skanky, Toddla T established himself as a prodigious talent. Two years on, the Sheffield producer is back with his second album, Watch Me Dance.

Recorded between Sheffield and Kingston in Jamaica, this dynamic has left it’s mark on the record, it sounds like a halfway house between two musical cultures. An affection for clattering beats and powerful basslines remains but it is only on the high energy ‘Badman Flu’ that jumpy dancehall/bass sound of his debut is fully revisited. 

His time in Jamaica comes to the fore on two of the standout tracks, ‘Streets so Warm’ and ‘Fly’, where the vocal talents of Wayne Marshall and Ms Dynamite are fully realized. Elsewhere lead single ‘Take It Back’ hankers back to the pop-rave hits from the ’90s and ‘Lovely Girl’, ‘Body Good’ and ‘How Beautiful It Would Be’ continue the cheery summery vibes. Even when longstanding collaborator Roots Manuva lends his vocal talent to the title track, the upbeat is preferred to gruffness. 

The biggest leap Toddla T has made is his ability to craft tunes with a foot in both camps, no longer is he solely concerned with battering the ears off you. This newly found eclecticism jumps between styles and tempos and is bound by a sense of fun and a willingness to embrace it. Watch Me Dance is a fun album reminding us of the summer we never had.

 Toddla T – Watch Me Dance feat. Roots Manuva

Toddla T – Fly (Feat. Miss Dynamite) via wrgmag

Video: Ghostpoet – Liiines

Ghostpoet has unveiled a brand new video for the third single taken from his stunning Mercury nominated debut, Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam.

‘Liiines’ sees the UK MC’s now signature hazy slurred delivery come to life on one of his more uplifting and inspirational numbers. It is a great track and video from one of the finest albums of 2011.

Don’t forget to mark your diary, Ghostpoet plays Whelan’s, Dublin on September 26th. Tickets €12.45 excl. charges.