Lady Leshurr – Quarantine Speech
Was only a matter of time til the Queen weighed in. Sound advice and flows as ever from Lady Leshurr.
HAYNESY & JD – Change (featuring DJ Jabbathakut)
The latest track from Haynesy features people from all across the world connecting from isolation to put together a video encouraging others to stay positive and create a better world.
Pickle Rich – ‘My Way’ ft Chie
Pickle Rich – ‘My Way’ ft. Chie (Prod. King Bracket). Mixed and Mastered by King Bracket.
Eskar – ‘Bait’ Review
Huddersfield emcee Eskar has been at this rap game longer than most, receiving props from the likes of Chester P whilst sharing the same stage. Currently set to release the next chapter of his monolith discography of independent mixtapes, albums and EP’s – ‘BAIT’ intends to snare rappers attempting to bite Eskar’s lyrical styles. The seven track journey details depression and how it inadvertently inspires an undying passion for keeping his music career afloat. In his own words, “When I put something into motion I’m just like a shark, because If I stop swimming, I’ll die.” Despite being renowned for boom-bap projects, this EP transcends genres whilst upkeeping to Eskars traditionally complex rhyme schemes, produced entirely by veteran Leeds producer Jack Danz.
The unnerving opener DOG ON A HOT TIN ROOF kick-starts with a rapid flow, before female Huddersfield emcee Krankit provides a captivating melodic hook in amongst dark instrumental transitions as Eskar lyrically depicts anguish and anxiety. Somewhat inspired by Paul Newman’s ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’, it’s a hard-hitting introduction to swallow. This is followed by BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND, with a contrastingly slower flow and a calmer beat to match. Compact with clever punchlines and riveting samples, this track aptly demonstrates Eskar’s lyrical versatility. Fans of posse cuts will be pleased to hear MOVE THAT DOPE, boasting verses from Micky Swags, Krankit, Kemestry, Jack Danz and Mury P; a thrilling exhibition of West Yorkshire’s rhyming talent.
Long-term collaborator Irn Mnky provides an obligatory interlude entitled BRUCE, a conceptual track from the metaphorical viewpoint of a shark with a heavy instrumental headbanger underpinning it. Track five, LUNAR SEA is certainly the most controversial as it triggered Bradford battle rap legend Lunar C to respond with a diss track entitled One Punch Combo 2, despite Eskar’s claim the track in fact had nothing to do with him and the title was pure coincidence. This beef is worth judging for yourselves, be sure to check out both raps and form your own opinions. Next up is DOWNCAST, not one for hip-hop purists but fans of emo rap won’t be disappointed. The EP climaxes with BLUNDERBORE, taking Eskar back to his roots with a 90bpm beat – rare to hear from Jack Danz on production. Nevertheless the track bangs, with a variety of fast-fire rhymes and concepts combined.
Sometimes when emcee’s release independently for so long, fans incorrectly assume their style becomes stagnant – with BAIT, Eskar defies this perception with his most versatile musical offering to date. As most tracks are over five minutes long, Eskar evidently made an artistic decision to give listeners the impression of drowning in the music. Overall it’s an interesting composition, combining multiple hip-hop styles to suit a variety of tastes. It’s safe to anticipate more hip-hop creativity as Eskar continues his rap career. Currently available for free download, hear the BAIT EP linked below.
Words By Ethan Evo
Chris Amor X Junior Caesar – Olympic Trappers
Chris Amor and Junior Caesar coming with assured flows on head-nodder ‘Olympic Trappers’. We linked up with the two spitters late last year and in addition to dropping an effortlessly sick cypher for us, we got an ear-full of a load of the tracks they have coming up. Watch out for them and the Dream XXVI team in 2020, they’ve got plenty vibes ready to drop.
Gen Co. X Budge – Strange Shaped Head ft Kosmic Keith
Week one of government mandated isolation and shit has already started getting weird down in Portsmouth. Gen Co. and Budge are convinced there’s an alien living with them. Obviously our initial reaction was concern for the amount of hallucinogenics they might be taking to deal with quarantine. But they’ve got the little guy on camera and wrote a gully, low key banger about him which has us satisfied that their claims are legit and they’ve got this shit under control.
Bombed out Blah-esque visual by Tru2c. Follow these guys for more dope weirdness incoming.
Joe Publik – C’est La Vie
Latest track from Joe Publik is fire yet again with a slick visual to boot. ‘C’est La Vie’ is lifted from the Stubborn Vectis LP on Played Out Records, which you can cop on digital, vinyl, CD or tape here.
Skatta – Shutdown
Banging new grime visual from Coventry artist Skatta, who’s built a name over the past few years, representing the West Midlands grime sound. Bringing a reality rap element with his songs Skatta’s known for his true to life lyrics and concepts, and this one’s no different. Taken from his latest Fight Night Flows EP, he carries the boxing theme into a solid visual, shot at Red Corner Gym in Skatta’s home town.
Voodoo Black – ‘Sitting At The Table’ Review
Arguably the most viable crew in the UK hip hop scene to have yet reached the heights they’re due (we’ve been ranting about this for a while), Voodoo Black are not playing with their long awaited debut LP. Collectively Sparkz, Dubbul O, Ellis Meade and DJ Cutterz have been some of the hardest working humans in the game for close to a decade. On top of dope solo efforts from all of them that are well worth checking with spare COVID isolation time, the three spitters have massively contributed to highly regarded and lucrative releases by The Mouse Outfit and have been putting out music under the guise of Voodoo Black since their first self titled EP back in 2013.
If you were to try and differentiate the sound of Voodoo Black versus Mouse Outfit up to this new decade, to massively oversimplify; you could say that efforts with the mouse mob were more funk, jazz and soul influenced and Voodoo Black have been more concerned with crafting hard tunes for hip hop purists. Sitting At The Table sees the lines blur to a middle ground that’s sublime.
Everything that has made the collective dope since day is alive and well on Sitting At The Table. There’s a new edge to SATT though. Cutterz and crew steer the production more in the direction of the kind of funky, mellow melodies underpinning rhythmic grooves that catapulted tracks featuring the VB roster to a wide following in collaboration with the Mouse Outfit. All while still staying true to the Voodoo sound. Manchester’s unique hip hop influence is in full effect alongside stylistic nods to US golden era sounds. Flows from all 3 MCs throughout are flawlessly on point. Both warm and hard hitting, what’s most striking about verses from all 3 is the fact that there is literally no weak link. For 3 artists with their own unique sounds, the level of stylistic cohesion that maintains a distinctive soundscape on all tracks is something that can only be built though a creative partnership and friendship over years. Flows blur into one another on every track in a way that’s barely noticeable.
Singles ‘Know Broke’ and ‘Fizzy’ are exemplary of the kind of consistent sickness found permeating through tracks 1 to 10. ‘Fizzy’ sounds like an after hours lock in at a jazz club. ‘Know Broke’ edges in with similar dulcet musical stylings, followed by hook from Sparkz phasing in seamlessly to a trap-esque drum line that instantly converts the track to a certified head-nodder peppered with effortlessly complex rhyme schemes on every bar.
The calibre of the sparing features on the project is telling in regards to the standing in the scene that the crew deserves. The group’s Manchester home ground is represented in style with soul-hop queen LayFullStop‘s appearance on the super smooth ‘In The Mood’ and under-hyped mistress of melody EVABEE on ‘My Medicine’. As the LP has lyrical talent in abundance from the crew, its not surprising that its not heavy on the guest spots. The two remaining spaces go to UK heavyweights Leaf Dog and Jehst. Banger ‘Abracadamting’ features the ever-returning drifter bringing his A game. Likewise Boom Bap anthem ‘Fall Back’ has Leaf coming equally hard on the first verse. The fact that both MCs drop Voodoo Black tributes in their bars is testament to the fact that whether or not VB have still to reach legend status among parts of the hip hop fanbase, they already hold that accolade among the scene’s leading names.
Formerly members of the Room2 family, Voodoo Black have transitioned to Village Live for this project. As cross pollination to different demographics can be advantageous for acts trying to get their name out to new heads and the Village have their own dedicated following (and exclusively release fire), this could prove to be a smart move. DJs: Cop this shit on vinyl for guaranteed smooth party grooves. Everyone else: Cop the format of your preference HERE.
Cosm – Medusa Eyes ft Ash The Author & Jabbathakut
Pure fire from Cosm and Ash The Author. Flawless flows come as standard from these two. The combo of them linking up over a gloriously old school beat from g-man with expert cuts by Jabbathakut on ‘Medusa Eyes’ makes this one particularly heavy. Slick visual shot by our guy Dfacer. Cop Cosm’s Medusa Eye’s E.P here.
Subscribe to ukhhdotcom YouTube channel for a tonne more fire coming thick and fast in the next few weeks.