New Joint – The Mouse Outfit / Dr Syntax / Sparkz etc.

The Mouse Outfit ft Dr Syntax, Sparkz, Truthos Mufasa, Dubbul O & DJ Cutterz – “Who’s Up Next” (@TheMouseOutfit / 2016)

Posse cut from the UK crew’s 2015 album “Step Steadier”.

New Joint – The Mouse Outfit / Sparkz

The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz – “No Wonder Why” (@TheMouseOutfit / 2016)

The Manchester emcee drops well-crafted rhymes over the Outfit’s jazzy swing off the crew’s “Step Steadier” album.

New Joint – The Mouse Outfit / Fox

The Mouse Outfit ft. Fox – “Step Steadier” (@TheMouseOutfit / 2016)

Reggae-influenced title track from the Manchester-based band’s 2015 album.

100 Best Albums & EPs Of 2015 (Part Two) – Skyzoo / Starvin B / Kingpin etc.

Check Part One here.

Estee Nack & Purpose – “14 Forms: The Book Of Estee Nack” (Ill Adrenaline Records) – Massachusetts microphone fiend Estee Nack joined forces with his Tragic Allies comrade Purpose to craft this shining example of quality underground Hip-Hop. Combining rugged intellect with raw street knowledge, the passionate wordsmith guided listeners through his inner-city world whilst keeping his third-eye wide-open, backed by the melancholy-yet-melodic boom-bap of Purpose.

Iomos Marad – “Liberation – The Voice EP” (IomosMarad.BandCamp.Com) – In a time when so many artists are satisfied with simply filling their music with shallow, one-dimensional rhymes, veteran Chicago emcee Iomos Marad released this veritable feast of sonic soul food; a life-affirming collection of thoughtful Hip-Hop which sought to motivate, educate and illuminate in equal measures.

Skyzoo – “Music For My Friends” (First Generation Rich) – Whilst the lyrical content may have differed, the tone of Brooklyn emcee Skyzoo’s third full-length solo project reminded me of Jay-Z’s 1996 classic “Reasonable Doubt”. Drawing on his younger years for inspiration and taking the listener deep into his hopes, dreams and concerns, the gifted artist painted verbal pictures rich in the imagery of inner-city New York, making you feel as if you were sat right there on the album cover’s illustrated stoop, listening to Sky choppin’ it up with his close-knit crew.

Sparrow The Movement – “The Jacob Theology (Book 1)” (Jamdan Records) – NY-bred, Baltimore-based emcee Fla-Fla balanced religious beliefs and life observations with his undeniable passion for Hip-Hop culture on this brilliantly-executed concept album featuring quality production from The Custodian Of Records, Supreme War Clique and Constant Deviants.

Cappo & Nappa – “Rebel Base” (KingUnderground Records) – With talented UK producer DJ Nappa digging deep into his crates for a sublime selection of sample material both familiar and obscure, this project from the mighty Cappo further solidified the Nottingham artist’s reputation as one of the most complete emcees in the game, as tracks like “Get Live” and “Elite Marine” overflowed with intricate, laser-precise lyricism.

Starvin B – “The Foreigner” (Stay Suave Music) – The first of an impressive four projects released by the Queens, NY representative in 2015, “The Foreigner” found Starvin B going global and benefiting from the skillful production of Switzerland’s Sauce Jacqson. Recorded in just one week, the album was not only a testament to the Rotten Apple emcee’s undeniable talent, but also his strong work ethic which manages to balance both quantity and quality.

Res One – “Delph Efficacy” (SplitProphets.BandCamp.Com) – Split Prophets member Res One’s debut solo album showcased the Bristol resident at his creative best. With a thick cloud of weed smoke hanging over every one of the nineteen tracks on offer here, the UK emcee blessed some of the finest production heard in 2015 from the likes of Badhabitz, Simiah and Evil Ed, ensuring “Delph Efficacy” will still stand as a superior example of British Hip-Hop for years to come.

Raw Poetic & K-Def – “Cool Convos In Quantum Speech” (Redefinition Records) – Nimble, intelligent wordplay, expert sample-based production and soulful, feel-good vibes made up the sonic foundations of this impressive collaborative project from talented Washington emcee Raw Poetic (of Panacea fame) and veteran New Jersey producer K-Def.

Heresy – “Heresy” (Polar Entertainment) – Led by UK-raised, US-based Hip-Hop vet Monie Love, this all-female crew (including Dominique Larue, Carolina Dirty and MyVerse) kicked back against today’s mainstream notion of female rappers being all about image-over-talent, demonstrating raw rhyme skills without sacrificing their femininity whilst backed by production from J. Rawls and Black Sheep’s Mista Lawnge.

Kingpin – “Art Of Survival” (KingpinLondon.BandCamp.Com) – Reflecting the realities of life in inner-city London via genuine insight and personal experience, Kingpin’s second solo album was as much about motivating the minds of those living in the circumstances described throughout this project as it was about opening the eyes of those on the outside looking in. Intelligent street music.

Planet Asia & DirtyDiggs – “Nautica Nagas” (Gold Chain Music) – West Coast wordsmith Asia is one of those blessed emcees who can honestly claim to have gotten sharper throughout his career, having made the journey from being a student of the game when he debuted back in the late-90s  to becoming a present-day master of the artform. Backed by the production of fellow Left Coast resident DirtyDiggs, this EP found PA delivering his usual brand of seemingly effortless lyricism over instrumentals that ranged from stripped-down and bass-heavy to hypnotic and soulful.

Figub Brazlevic – “EXPEDITion Vol. 1: From Ghettos To Galaxies” (FigubBrazlevic.BandCamp.Com) – Man Of Booom member Brazlevic provided a truly engrossing listening experience in the form of this flawlessly crafted instrumental album. Soaked in the influences of dusty-fingered 90s East Coast boom-bap, the tracks heard here also found the German producer living up to the project’s title, bringing a jazzy, spaced-out vibe to the proceedings which landed on the right side of experimentation.

The Mouse Outfit – “Step Steadier” (TheMouseOutfit.BandCamp.Com) – Having carved out their own creative space within the UK Hip-Hop scene with 2013’s “Escape Music” album, Manchester, England’s Mouse Outfit further solidified their reputation for delivering unique homegrown flavour with this follow-up. Once again incorporating a variety of musical influences outside of Hip-Hop, including jazz, soul and reggae, the live band collective enlisted the lyrical talents of emcees such as Sparkz, Verb T and Dr. Syntax to ride the rhythms of their bubbling, organic soundscapes.

C-Rayz Walz – “ALMIGHTY: The 12 Jewels” (Sun Cycle Industries) – Described by Bronx-raised emcee Walz himself as being “the rhythmic scroll to decode your soul when your third eye zones”, this ambitious Five Percent-influenced project featured a lengthy list of guest emcees, including Oxilla Born, Spit Gemz and Agallah, spitting a relentless barrage of gritty street righteousness over sample-heavy, straight-out-the-basement production. Postive energy activates constant elevation.

CZARFACE – “Every Hero Needs A Villain” (Brick Records) –  Once again combining their shared passion for Hip-Hop and comic books, Boston’s 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang member Inspectah Deck donned their sonic super-hero costumes a second time for this follow-up to their self-titled 2013 project. With allies such as Large Professor, JuJu of The Beatnuts and Meyhem Lauren bringing their own special powers along to battle any rap villainy that stood in their way, the elements of “Every Hero…” came together just like cereal and Saturday morning cartoons.

Skuff – “Level” (Audio Danger Records) – Delegates Of Culture member Skuff dropped arguably the best project of his career in the form of this succinct eleven-track package of true-school beats and rhymes. Backed by stellar production from DJ Nappa, Leaf Dog and Chairman Maf, the Cambridge-based emcee achieved a good balance between personal reflection and lyrical showmanship here, proving that his love of the mic definitely hasn’t diminished over the years.

The Deity Complex featuring Unseen – “Supreme Architecture” (The Deity Complex) – Chicago-based producers Supreme Scientist 7, Golden Luohan and Chief Abbot Haderach Wu Mei blessed NY emcee Unseen with a dope selection of unique, jazzy soul-laced beats on this well-executed release. With the Rotten Apple rhymer’s “gold sceptre rap” conjuring up images of subways and street-c0rner ciphers, this EP delivered further proof that there’s always quality Hip-Hop being made in the underground for those who’re prepared to take the time to search for it.

Arablak – “Fresh Heir – Chapters 1-3” (Arablak.BandCamp.Com) – Released as three separate EPs but intended to be listened to as a complete project, Atlanta-based Arablak’s “Fresh Heir” series found the self-proclaimed “cross between KRS, Common Sense and Fresh Prince” utilising his authoritative flow and drawing on personal experience to deliver a striking collection of intelligent, introspective blue-collar Hip-Hop.

Cazal Organism – “On My Grown S**t” (Ultra Slump! Records) – With this young LA resident having already gained a cult following for his production, Cazal decided to up the ante by also handling microphone duties on this debut vocal project, dropping charismatic rhymes over an eclectic selection of beats that ranged from space-age boom-bap to dusty-fingered soul loops.

The BoothBoxers – “The Enigma Code” (BoothBoxers.BandCamp.Com) – Burnley, England trio Seekz, Morgz and DJ Trauma created an uncompromising masterpiece in the form of their “Enigma Code” project. Carrying on tradition by blending vintage Britcore attitude and 90s boom-bap flavour with a now-school perspective, the crew succeeded in crafting an album which simultaneously paid homage to the heritage of UK Hip-Hop whilst still bringing something unique to the table.

Part Three coming soon.

New Joint – The Mouse Outfit / Verb T

The Mouse Outfit ft. Verb T – “Greatest Story” (@TheMouseOutfit / 2015)

Taken from the multi-talented Manchester-based band’s brilliant new album “Step Steadier”.

New Joint – The Mouse Outfit / Sparkz / Truthos Mufasa

The Mouse Outfit ft. Sparkz & Truthos Mufasa – “No Stoppin’ This” (@TheMouseOutfit / 2015)

Upbeat jazzy vibes from the Manchester-based band’s new album “Step Steadier” featuring Verb T, Dr. Syntax and Dubbul O.

New Joint – The Mouse Outfit / Verb T

The Mouse Outfit ft. Verb T – “Credits Roll” (@TheMouseOutfit / 2015)

Manchester’s multi-talented Mouse Outfit supply the mighty Verb T with some organic, horn-laced boom-bap for this lead single off their forthcoming album “Step Steadier”.