Nas – The Steel Town Remixes Album Stream – Steel Town Sounds Crew

Pittsburgh producers Benny Blue, Chuck Mak & Noetik 5000 put their own sonic spin on various moments from the career of Queensbridge’s favourite son.

The Remix Series EP Stream – El Jazzy Chavo

Greece-based producer El Jazzy Chavo offers respectful reinterpretations of 90s classics from the likes of Nas, O.C. and Black Moon.

New Joint – A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest – “The Space Program” (@ATCQ / 2018)

This final music video from one of the greatest groups of all-time dropped via Apple earlier in the year but is now available on YouTube – like so many Hip-Hop heads who grew-up with Tribe I have countless memories attached to their music – peace and thanks to Q-Tip, Ali-Shaheed, Jarobi and Phife (RIP).

Album Review – Micall Parknsun & Mr Thing

Micall Parknsun & Mr Thing

“Finish What We Started”

(Village Live Records)

Genuine creative chemistry is something that’s hard to come by in any artistic partnership. It’s something magical that can’t really be fully explained by those involved, but it can definitely be felt, heard and seen by those on the outside of the process.

Chemistry doesn’t even just come down to having talent – two of the most gifted individuals in their respective fields may choose to work together, but if they’re not on the same page creatively then the end result is likely to be hollow and underwhelming.

Thankfully, that isn’t a problem UK duo Micall Parknsun and Mr Thing need to worry about, with their brilliant new album “Finish What We Started” pulsating from beginning to end with an energy that can only be achieved when people share the same drive, focus and passion for what they do.

As two of the most consistent figures within the UK Hip-Hop scene, both Parksnun and Thing have spent years building concrete-solid reputations as reliable purveyors of true-school flavour, with the pair deciding to join forces last year for the well-received single “The Raw” (which is included here in all its rugged glory).

The overwhelmingly positive response to “The Raw” inspired the duo to complete “Finish What We Started”, with DMC DJ champ Mr Thing handling all of the production, leaving Micall Parknsun, a talented producer in his own right, to concentrate on delivering lyrically throughout the project.

The anthemic album-opener “Started” sets the tone in no uncertain terms, as London-raised rhymer Park-E drops confident, self-assured bars over full-bodied, sample-driven beats.

The head-nodding “Certain For The Win” showcases some of Thing’s best work behind the boards, with the former Scratch Perverts member blending slow, deliberate drums and a hypnotic piano sample, topping it all off with some deft cuts.

“Don’t You Care” is a relentless, bass-heavy, soul-laced banger, featuring Parknsun showing the rap game some tough love via no-nonsense rhymes which come from a genuine place of love and concern for the culture (“What happened to the emcees? What happened to stage presence over dope beats? How come we keep on forgetting ’bout its history? It seems we never learn our lesson ‘cos we don’t teach…”).

“Klingon Face” is an up-tempo floor-rocker, with MP being joined by fellow UK wordsmith Joker Starr to trade quick-fire lyrics over explosive break-beats, paying tribute to Hip-Hop’s golden-era in the process. All that’s missing here is a multi-syllable late-80s verse from either Big Daddy Kane or Rakim.

The head-nodding “I’m So Glad” signals a shift in the album’s mood, with Essa (pka Yungun) and Parknsun displaying sincere gratitude for their blessings, which include marriage, fatherhood and family bonds, whilst the stirring “Still Struggling” balances the uncertainty of life as an artist with the responsibilities and financial pressures of the wider world.

An album with real replay value, “Finish What We Started” is the sound of both Micall Parknsun and Mr Thing at the top of their game, mixing old-school values with now-school skills.

Let’s hope neither of them have finished just yet.

Ryan Proctor

New Joint – Fliptrix

Fliptrix – “New Breath” (@HighFocusUK / 2018)

Third single to be lifted from the UK emcee’s forthcoming album “Inexhale”.

 

New Joint – Evidence

Evidence – “The Factory” (@Evidence / 2018)

Taken from the West Coast wordsmith’s “Weather Or Not” album.

New Joint – Sareem Poems & Ess Be / Finale

Sareem Poems & Ess Be ft. Finale – “Shallow” (Illect.BandCamp.Com / 2018)

Taken from the album “Mind Over Matter”.

New Joint – Kool G Rap & 38 Spesh / Cormega

Kool G Rap & 38 Spesh ft. Cormega – “Dead Or Alive” (38Spesh.BandCamp.Com / 2018)

Animated visuals from the NY duo’s forthcoming collabo album “Son Of G Rap” featuring production from Pete Rock, Showbiz and DJ Premier.

Knowledge, Wisdom & Understanding Album Stream – Raashid Aariz

21-year-old Virginia-based producer Raashid Aariz demonstrates some real musical mastery on this captivating instrumental project, blending soul, jazz and Hip-Hop with sublime results.

Blackcurrent Jazz 3 Album Stream – Funky DL

It’s all in the album title, as veteran UK producer-on-the-mic Funky DL serves up another helping of feel-good, jazz-infused true-school flavour on his latest long-player.

New Joint – BeeB x Starklove

BeeB x Starklove – “Fresh Bread” (SlaveMarketRadiyo.BandCamp.Com / 2018)

The Newark, NJ emcee drops some Brick City flavour over dusty, piano-laced production from Starklove.

New Joint – ST. Da Squad / Hectic

ST. Da Squad ft. Hectic – “To The Beat” (@STDaSquad / 2018)

Produced by Statik Selektah.

XV EP Stream – Bub Rock

The Strong Island emcee laces mellow production from The Standouts with slick, street-smart rhymes on this impressive EP.

Fresh Jive EP Stream – Bugseed

New collection of instrumental jazz-influenced dopeness from the Japanese producer.

New Joint – Hakim Green

Hakim Green – “Life In The City” (@HakimGreen / 2018)

Produced by Domingo.

New Joint – Canibus

Canibus ft. Nappi Music – “The Odds” (ThatsHipHopMusic.Com / 2018)

Produced by Thanos Beats and taken from the veteran mic-ripper’s new EP “Full Spectrum Dominance”.

New Joint – Bodega Bamz

Bodega Bamz – “Terror” (@BodegaBamz / 2018)

The Rotten Apple emcee gives props to Fat Joe’s Terror Squad on this piano-laced cut off his new project “P.A.P.I.”.

New Joint – Agallah

Agallah – “Ag Al Ghul Is The Man” (@AgallahTheDon / 2018)

Boisterous beats and rhymes from the Crooklyn-raised artist’s self-produced album “Ag Al Ghul – No Mercy For The Weak”.

New Joint – Jamal Gasol

Jamal Gasol – “First Cousins” (@WhoIsJamalGasol / 2018)

Taken from the NY emcee’s Kil-produced EP “No Joy Without Pain 2”.

New Joint – DJ Jazzy Jeff

DJ Jazzy Jeff – “It’s June Already” (@DJJazzyJeff215 / 2018)

Animated visuals for a mellow interlude off the Philly legend’s recently-released album “M3”.