Akala – ‘Lose Myself’ feat. Josh Osho

London MC, Akala has been without doubt one of the finest voices to emerge in UK hip hop over the past number of years.

Always honest, challenging and thought provoking, Akala makes a welcome return with the release of a brand new video for his single ‘Lose Myself’ featuring Josh Osho. Akala is in indomitable form once again, dropping rhymes with help of Josh Osho against a rocking backdrop.  The single is out on May 20, a week before the release of his forthcoming fourth album, The Thieves Banquet, which is out on 27th of May. Akala has consistently proven his talent over the years, consequently it is worth checking out his previous three albums – It’s Not A Rumour (2006) and Freedom Lasso (2007) & DoubleThink (2010) – if you haven’t done so already that is.

You can check out  ‘Lose Myself’ feat. Josh Osho below & maybe, just maybe, this time we might see Akala grace our shores with his presence. Finger crossed.

(Video) Akala – A Message (feat. Selah)

Rapper, poet, call him what you like but Akala is undoubtedly one of the most talented MC’s on the planet.

Anyway Akala is back with a brand new record of articulate, intelligent and insightful hip-hop, Knowledge Is Power Mixtape Vol. 1. The first single ‘A Message (feat. Selah)’ offers an honest and insightful snapshot into problems and effects that one parent families can have specifically if theirs no father around. 

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)