Hackenbush Is Back

Chester P, one half of UK behemoths Taskforce, has released his new album "New Mic Order Part 2" via his bandcamp website. Its a real return to form (or rather, a return to the music scene, as he was never really "out of form" in the first place) and its very welcome in a UK rap scene that currently stands in a transitional period.

The veterans of the scene are slowly but surely dropping off and retiring one by one, and thus far, there have been very few artists or collectives coming through that can receive the baton and develop the scene further. Chester P has shown with this release, an album I've listened to for the past few hours and enjoyed thoroughly, that he's not ready to pass the torch. Especially not to those who aren't worthy.

The album is called "New Mic Order Pt.2", yet this isn't a New Mic Order at all. Its a return to the roots of Taskforce and UK rap. Its grit and grind sprinkled with inner-city verve and wordplay. Its a highly experienced british emcee (who should get a lot more plaudits and respect than he does) showing the new jacks how its done, and why its important that the UK rap sound stays entirely separate and individual to that of its parent US scene. Its an old mic order that continues to work... and I appreciate that.

The album is a meagre fiver, and for that you get one of the most solid UK rap albums so far this year, so preview the songs below, then head over to the site and get it bought.

Bitchin' Rock Stars From Mars

You can lick a dick, and you can suck a nut. Because Pyro Barz, Loudmouth Melvin and Postman P are WINNING.

The Last Music From The Corner?

Taskforce's Farma G released via bandcamp a track he'd recorded with Chester P back in September 2009 a few days ago, and its the last thing they've recorded together under the Taskforce name.

The track is superb, staying true to the gritty reality beats and rhymes that has made them so revered in the UK hip-hop scene. It would be very sad to see these two UK stalwarts stop making music together entirely, as some of the best moments of the scene since they joined it over 10 years ago have came from them.

One upside to this is, the bandcamp track does come with a short paragraph below stating that one last Taskforce album "Music From The Corner Vol. 5" is still due for release later this year. That gives us something to look forward to still from these two UK legends. Until then, allow "The Final Countdown" to whet your appetite, and continue playing everything from "The Butterfly Concerto" to "Grafdafuckup".

M9 - "Shot" VIDEO

From the incredible mixtape released a few months ago "Orion's Stencil", as presented by Hip Hop Hype Dog (www.hypedog.co.uk) and featured on this very site, M9 has released a mindblowing video for his lead track "Shot". Incredibly well done, and the song is still banging harder than my cock in your bird. Great stuff.

Mystro - 2010 Rap-Up (Radio Rip)

If you've not heard it yet, where have you been?! No matter though, check it out now, as Mystro, one of the UK's finest emcees, gives us the lowdown on anything and everything that happened in the past 12 months.

Coma patients wake up and listen to what you've missed, as Digmund Freud delivers it in with wit, humour and a sharpness akin to the coolest stanley knife you've ever seen.





And it doesnt end there. In conjunction with DJ esSDee (www.twitter.com/djessdee), Mystro has launched his new website complete with brand spanking content, videos and updates.

Visit http://www.mysdiggi.com/ muthaluvers, and be blessed with material from one of our favourite sons.

Genome Saga "Back To The Future"

A Labour Of Love

We have more great UK hip-hop for you today, with UK emcee Chuks Agu dropping his new mixtape "Labour Of Love Part I: The Passion Project" on his website.

His style is distinctly rooted in british culture and the beats transform and shapeshift from the modern 808's and sparse basslines of "Holy Ghost" to the horns and soulful snaps on "You Can Do it Too".

Another interesting and divisive aspect of Chuks, and the mixtape, is that towards the end (and intermittently throughout the mixtape) he speaks of christian values and how they affect his life. This adds an extra layer of emotional attachment to the lyrics, lending him a chance to tackle more introspective content.

Go to www.chuksmusic.com for information on the man himself and the brand new video for single "Worried", and either play the music from the section below and follow the download links or go straight to http://www.reverbnation.com/chuksmusic to check it out. Enjoy!

Orion's Belt Shines

From one UK heavyweight to another, M9 has released a mixtape which rivals ANYTHING (yes, even the incredible Isis Papers Mixtape that his Kush cohort Cyrus Malachi released earlier in the year!) that has came from our shores this year, and thanks to Hypedog its here for your pleasure! The link itself is from M9's own website, and the mixtape is released to build hype and anticipation for his forthcoming solo LP, which is bound to be an absolute gem of an album.

Until that arrives, enjoy this journey into the dark side of hip-hop, with one of UK hip-hop's most potent lyrical duos trading verses on the regular...Cyrus in the passenger seat and Melanin 9 up front in the driver's seat. Strap your seatbelt in for the ride because they're going in cold.


FULL 18 TRACK DOWNLOAD

01 Intro (produced by Munoz cuts by DJ Roast)
02 Light Years
03 Il Padrino
04 Mont Blanc (produced by Anatomy)
05 When Brothers Die (produced by Chemo)
06 Elijah
07 Spritual Scrolls
08 Black Box (Feat. Cyrus Malachi & Blasphemy cuts by Evil Ed)
09 Why (Feat. Cyrus Malachi)
10 Black Widow (Feat. Blasphemy & Cyrus Malachi)
11 Shot
12 Skit
13 Straight Live (Produced By Anatomy)
14 Tug The Rope (Jon Phonics Remix)
15 False Ego
16 Black Sapphire Pt2 (Feat. Cyrus Malachi produced by Munoz)
17 Voice Of A Child Torn (Feat. Triple Darkness produced by Beat Buthcha)
18 The Book (Bonus)

Iron Man

Iron Braydz, one of the true UK underground hip-hop heavyweights, has made a bold move to re-release his album from earlier this year "Devil May Cry" for free on his website. The album came out to huge appraisal, even getting plaudits from Wu-Tang Clan's RZA for its hard-hitting and edgy sound.

In fact, the plaudits are not surprisingly considering the Wu-esque soundscapes that bump and bounce through Devil may Cry from start to finish. The lyrics are cold, the beats are colder, and the album works incredibly as a single piece of art.

Even the guest emcees are picked out spectacularly, with M9 & Cyrus Malachi (both members of Orphans of Kush...a UK group who had one of the best albums of 2009) and US Stones Throw emcee Guilty Simpson all turning in big verses.


The whole album was executive produced and overseen by Braydz himself and mastered by top producer Baby J, and they handpicked beats from Braydz, Lewis Parker, Chemo, Morph Beats & Proppa.

So, go back to the turn of the year and relive a modern day classic, remembering how powerful hip-hop can be when its done right. Unfortunately we've not had a huge amount to shout about in the UK underground hip-hop scene this year in terms of great releases (save for a few standouts), but this is an example of what we can do. Enjoy every minute.

To download, either go to www.ironbraydz.com or click on the album title below (same link either way) and it'll take you direct to the download section on the official website, complete with a video for "Golden Legacy". Just enter your email address and it'll send the download link straight to you!

Iron Braydz - Devil May Cry (2009)

1. Intro
2. Devil's Death Day (feat. M9)
3. Death Machine
4. Hang
5. Golden Legacy
6. L's Formation
7. Shattered Dreams (feat. Cyrus Malachi)
8. Savin Artillery (feat. Guilty Simpson & Sav Killz)
9. Lost
10. Magic Man, Where's The Sun?
11. Feelings From The Heart
12. Crushed Mooncraters
13. Golden Legacy (09 Mentality Remix)

Droop-E Diamond

Inspiration comes from many different places, whether it be from your peers, your family, your friends, or your idols. My inspiration for the past few days has came from a low-key EP from a 22-year old producer from The Bay Area, California by the name of Droop-E (for those of you not in the know, he is Bay Area legend E-40's son).

The guy has been producing bangers since he was 14/15, and was a product of the hyphy movement that swallowed and spat out rap music for a strong couple year period and created some of the most innovative (yet sadly also some of the most ignorant) rap music the US have made in the last decade.

Droop-E's style has evolved since, and on his new EP "BLVCK Diamond Life", he found his inspiration.

Sade.

The EP sees Droop-E sampled from her/their seminal album Diamond Life for 8 tracks of hip-hop beauty. Laidback basslines, horn sections, airy synths, mellow vocals, all layered superbly and topped off with some of the Bay Area's finest. Its one of the best breakthrough EPs of the year, and its a massive evolution in sound for the kid who has already stepped out of his father's shadow to excel on his own.

Droop-E - BLVCK Diamond Life (2010)

1. Blvck Diamond Intro (feat. Matt Blaque & Laroo)
2. Like A Tattoo
3. I'm Loaded (feat. E-40)
4. Cherish The Bay (feat. Ya Boy & J. Valentine)
5. High In The Sky (Instrumental)
6. Sade Interview
7. Hungry (feat. 1st Place & Work Dirty)
8. Dreams

To Download, click on this link straight to his website:

http://www.droop-e.com/Download-Black_Diamond_Life.php