I Self Divine, frontman for the always-engaging rap group Micranots, finally sheds the burden of group members and a shared spotlight. On Self Destruction, Divine rhymes alone over an array of beats provided by Vitamin D, Jake One, Bean One, and Atmosphere beatsmith Ant, and uses the extra space productively. Tracks like “Sunshine,” “Overthrow” and “This Is It” display an introvert who can loudly speak his mind if the mood is right. Self Destruction further solidifies Rhymesayers Entertainment‘s niche for quality hip-hop.
Various Artists Mad Professor: Method to the Madness
Neil Fraser, the legendary British dubmaster known as The Mad Professor, started with a four-track setup in his living room circa 1979. With decades of experience under his belt, it‘s not surprising that the double-disc set Method To The Madness is a comprehensive listen. Split into one disc of his Ariwa label‘s classics and a second disc of Mad Prof pop remixes, you get a clear impact of how his madness spread from reggae into other genres. Although it boasts names such as Perry Farrell, Massive Attack, and Jamiroquai, it‘s the lesser-known artists that are this compilation‘s true gems. Songs like Sandra Cross‘ wistful digital roots tune “Country Living” reflect the insightfulness that has made Fraser a dub icon.
Public Enemy featuring Paris Rebirth of a Nation
Being one of the most paramount rap groups of all time means that the standard you‘ve set is your worst competition. On the track “Rise” and throughout the album, Public Enemy‘s Chuck D still “reps like he‘s possessed by Malcolm X.” Yet Rebirth lacks the Bomb Squad‘s beautifully chaotic production and the sense of urgency it garnered. Paris‘s beats fall short of Shocklee & Co.‘s creations, and the album‘s MC guest list is unnecessarily full. Though Chuck D is still the wiser and Flava Flav continues to be one-of-a-kind, Rebirth pales in comparison to PE‘s brilliant backcatalog.
Candela Allstars (Matty 2 Deep Remix) Brobombique
This smooth and melodic house groove has the catchiest authentic Puerto Rican vocals and percussion. A sureshot for hips worldwide!
Kinny & Horne Us on Fire (Original Mix)
A flirty love tune that flips the old “Bam Bam” horns into a nice new mid-tempo groove. Lyrics are singing: “I return your smile/loving you in my own kind of way.” She sounds like a bonafide cutie!
Dubaware Soundsystem Eastern Child
My favorite beginning of the night/set the vibe right tune. When the vocals come in, there‘s an overwhelming feeling of peace and ease in the air.
Assassin Infiltration
On his full-length debut, Assassin knocks out the competition with his lyrical boomshots and rope-a-dope beats. Under the tutelage of Penthouse Studios owner/producer Donovan Germain, the 22-year old Jamaican has developed into one of the island‘s most promising dancehall artists. This lyrically gifted deejay brings a street reporter‘s eye for detail to tracks like the autobiographical “Gangsta City” and the MLK-inspired “Free at Last”. He teams up with reggae legend Freddie McGregor to unite the generations in the soul-stirring “Youth Well Cold.” From the confrontational “Step Pon Dem” to the radio-friendly “Let Me Know,” featuring Chi-town‘s Syleena Johnson, Assassin demonstrates versatility, successfully walking the line between street credibility and commercial viability.
Hazard Use Your Brain
I like music that makes me smile and this track absolutely does. Hazard turns on the fun and pulls it off nicely without being cheesy. “Use Your Brain” is wicked in the mix and gets drawn in every set. Keep an eye out for this guy in the future.
State Of Mind Sun King
On this 12″ from New Zealand, an intense, chant-driven intro leads into a heavy drop, introduced by a pounding drum roll and an Indian vocal leads on through the whole track, giving it an uplifting and hypnotic feeling.
D-Bridge Without Answers
Darren from Bad Company comes with two deep steppers on Soul:r. Intricate sample tweaking, top grooves and the already trademark D-Bridge sub make this 12″ a must have for the advanced listener.
