No surprise that a pair of MCs-Fatman D and Shortston-runs this label. Both “Stick Up” and flip “Dedication” are resolutely jumpy rollers, the kind that tear up the rave, putting the fun back in jungle. Flashback to ’96 here, but with better production quality and monster bass.
Give A Damn.
XLR8R’s first ever Politics and Style issue features Le Tigre, a New York trio headed by Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna, the original Riot Grrrl. Also getting political are Radio 4, Mark Stewart, Antibalas, Paris, and Herbert. Soul singer Goapele and hip-hop artists Balance and Frontline discuss success without going through majors. Plus coverage of Insight, Domu, Clinic, Robert Rich, Alex Attias, and Wall of Sound Jamaica.
Itsu
Various Artists The Dollar Hip-Hop Show
Too $hort may have put Oakland rap on the map, but there’s another side of the city’s hip-hop that’s more about stoned Sunday night ciphers and smoky, jazz-tinged boom-bap than 808 bass blasts and big pimpin’. The Greans Crew, Azeem, EyeCue and more lay it down thusly for the backpackin’ Bay Area contingent on The Dollar Hip-Hop Show, which features moody, at times psychedelic, production from local stars Jah Yzer, The Architect and Fanatic. Like many underground rappers, this crew is at times too verbose, trying to cram dozens of metaphors into each sentence without letting the beats breathe. But tracks like Azeem’s “Thirsty” and posse cut “Us Against the Industry” strike the right balance between conscious rhymes and gritty street beats.
Willie Bobo La Descarga Del Bobo
From Verve’s Latin vaults, Masters At Work’s Kenny Dope and Little Louie coax Bobo’s seductively percussive descarga rhythms into an uplifting Rhodes ‘n’ pads cocoon-pure dancefloor dreamtime beats. And for more shakers and timbales, Eric Kupper presents “Organika’s Cuchifritos” (Wave) marches between soca and Afrobeat with a red beret-wearing militancy and stylishness. Viva Nueva York!
Freddie Cruger Bap Yo Head
Them Scando’s been crate-diggin’ like a mofo, which makes “Bap,” featuring Brooklyn’s.Rappadon, Swedish hip-hop done really right. Meanwhile, you breakdancers got some windmills to do when the b-side bomb “Boogie Down Stureby” drops. No sleep til’ Stockholm.
Nu-Pacific Nu-Pacific EP
Like a fresh tide rolling up on an empty black sand beach, Curl Curl’s debut EP is a refreshing assortment of ambient jazz (Deepchild), sprightly broken beat (Bennson) and funked-up house (Amphibian) by a trio of Australian producers. As luxuriously melodic as they are rhythmically punchy, these tracks are perfect for barefoot dancing at Big Chill. Catch the new wave.
Youngstar Technique
Maximum flavor on this one from the mighty Youngstar, who mixes up crispy snaps with driving breaks and wobbly bassline patterns that will have the MCs calling “Switch!” Flip for The Bully’s experimental grime biz on “D-Tone,” entirely crafted from Casio keyboard pitch bends by a kid hyper off too many bowls of Count Chocula.
Skyver & D Jon Beastie General
It’s Australian tweak tech on “Beastie General,” featuring a generous pounding of Ram Records-style bass menace, punchy two-stepping breaks, and a twisted sample from Ashanti’s “Foolish” that makes her sound like an evil alien. “All That Stands” is not nearly so cohesive, with sweet female vocals, noodly synths, and pounding amens that never quite fit together.
SFX Beats Carnival
Simple but effective wins the race on this 12 from Spain’s Rasco and Isy. “Carnival” contains boom-bapping beats and a well-placed carneval horn sample that is bound to cause more than a little white-boy samba action. “Hungry” is more basic, with a large drop paving the way for catchy growling bass and shimmering keyboard touches.
