UK Mixed Bag Vol. 1

So here we are, the first instalment of four compilations I've created over the weekend from various vinyl 12"s in my collection. Initially I ripped a lot of them onto mp3 just for personal use but I had honestly forgotten about how great some of these tracks are.

Its called a mixed bag for a reason for starters, with a huge spectrum of artists spanning from the early 90s all the way up to possibly about 2005, and on this first volume we have some big names and some small names all together on the same 18-track album.

You've got the northern panache of Asaviour and Jehst, the legendary Blak Twang, the veteran sounds of MCD over a Deckwrecka track and Huntkillbury Finn lying amongst the newer names of Foreign Beggars...not to mention some classics in there from London Posse, Karl Hinds & DJ MK.

Its a joy to listen to some of these tracks after such a long time, and even this site has took a small hiatus from posting UK songs recently admittedly. Most of that is due to there being a dearth in UK underground rap that I personally find as inspiring as that which was released 5-10 years ago, but hopefully the frontrunners like Sway and Dizzee can inspire and usher in a new breed that are fit to take the torch and fire it up.

Until then, enjoy UK hip-hop at its finest...

UK Mixed Bag Vol. I (2010)

1. Blak Twang - Don't Test
2. Cel One (feat. Sniper) - Code Red
3. Dead Residents - Verbal Assassin
4. DJ MK (feat. Jehst, Kyza & Supa T) - It's All Live
5. Doc Brown (feat. Yungun & Harry Love) - Out There
6. Foreign Beggars (feat. Dubbledge) - Hot Plate
7. Huntkillbury Finn, Gunshot & Taskforce - Liar Liar
8. Jimmy Screech - Lets Get Moving
9. Jonzi D - Live At The Apricot Jam
10. Junior Disprol (feat. Alkaline, Jehst & Skeleton) - Junq Waffle
11. Karl Hinds (feat. Tempa) - You Piss Me Off
12. London's New Delegates Of Major Stars - Foldinem
13. London Posse - Money Mad
14. Deckwrecka (feat. MC D) - Priceless
15. Encona Coarse - Taste Of The Future
16. Asaviour (feat. Kyza & Yungun) - Money In The Bank (Remix)
17. Champions Of Nature (feat. Supa T, Apollo, Jehst, Profound, & Lewis Parker) - Finalisation
18. Dynamic Syncopation (feat. Def Tex) - Way Past Noon

No Compromise

I finally managed to purchase my copy of the Orphans Of Cush album 'White Noize' which came out late 2009 today and gave it a full listen. I have to say...its already the best album I've heard so far in 2010.

The Orphans are essentially a supergroup of emcee extraordinaires, with Kyza, Cyrus Malachi, M9 and Masikah all killing it from start to finish with vere after verse of deep, dark lyrics over brooding beats.

This sort of LP is what puts my faith back into not only the UK scene but hip-hop as a whole. Its been a while since we've had a group come out on that Wu-Tang type of album style....by that I mean not the Wu sound but the way the Wu just packed every single song with verse after verse of intelligent, thought-provoking and entertaining material over great beats. Not even the Wu themselves does that these days but the Orphans Of Cush show a consistency and quality control second to none here.

Song after song after song just hits you with more and more "realness", for want of a better word, and the beats are perfectly matched to them, leading with piano spills and low basslines and melancholy key changes. Producer Chemo is credited as the Executive Producer of the album but nowhere does it state who produces each beat on the album (although one or two are clear beatjacks or big samples). I can only assume Chemo handles a lot of it on the boards and he does a sterling job aswell.

The great thing about this LP is not one of the four emcees outshines or overshadows another. In fact every emcee blends so well its honestly like a Voltron situation where their minds have met as one. Cliche, yes I know. Cheesy, yep I know. Another small reference to Wu-Tang (Meth famously said they form like Voltron), yep right again. But its totally correct.



Staying true to this blog's ethos of not taking away from the artists I have always only ever uploaded either free albums, mixtapes or old albums in an effort to familiarise fans with the artists and get them back into the record shops so I won't upload the album.

Instead, I'll slap a 9 out of 10 on it here and plead with you all to get it bought. Here's a link to where you can do so:

http://www.suspect-packages.com/artists/m-q/ORPHANS_OF_CUSH.php

..And if you need any more convincing, here's a couple of the songs and videos and extra titbits from the group.

Chemo's remix of the title track. HEAVY.

A nice impromptu live performance of Novocaine by Cyrus Malachi & Kyza

A nice interview with three quarters of the group just explaining the reasons they hooked up and the group's reason for being

And finally just as a treat here's one of the tracks from the album...'Pop Tarts', over a classic Pharoahe Monch beat ("God Send" I think).