With rumors of a new Jam Baxter release on the horizon we have been waiting impatiently for some new intricate word-smithin' and beats to make your neck hurt for weeks, so you can imagine how ecstatic we were to have been sent a new ep from Jam and Jon Phonics.
Our first taste of Jam Baxter and Jon Phonics came back in 2010 when Baxter teamed up with Fliptrix to feature on "Dark Days" taken from Phonics' highly anticipated sequel, "Half Past Calm 2". Featuring some of the biggest names and talent in UKHH at the time and fused with Phonics' electronic take on the genre this was a release that turned a lot of heads, and got everyone talking.... and waiting eagerly for more colabs from Baxter and Phonics.
Dark Days - Jon Phonics Ft Fliptrix and Jam Baxter
The ep is packed to the brim with Jam's signature complex lyrical repertoire, his flawless ability to switch up his flows mid bar, Phonics steppy electro funk fused with a jazz sensibility giving us the sonic canvas for this brutal banquet of meaty freshness. Opening with an short track full of vocal samples over a mellow beat with a retro brass synth like that on a Mario Bro's game from the 90's. Setting up the lyrical side of the ep's themes the intro is made all the more creepy by the distinct tonal difference between the beat and whats being said.... genius.
All three full length tunes that follow have very different vibes and help define the versatility that both artists are praised for. With a healthy mix of various different styles Phonics shows he is a force that's gonna make big waves in the UKHH scene, displaying a vast knowledge of his production capabilities in a limited number of tracks. Fresh Flesh, the second and titular track has a moody, trap influenced beat accompanied by the epic chorus chants and grumbling sub all fading in as Baxter drops his first verse. This track in particular helps solidify Baxter as a monster on the mic, switching tempo's in his delivery with way to much ease, his chilled out demeanor never slowing him down which is why his rise to being one of the UK's finest has looked almost effortless.
The next track, Rush, speaks for itself.
This blend of high plinky keys and low end sub is just pimpin'. The slightly unquantized snare drum and smokey vibe echos perfectly as Jam paints the vivid imagery that he's known for. Another tune that fully demonstrates how technically gifted Baxter and Phonics are when it comes to their craft. The contrast of the beat, stripped down and simple, yet full and complete giving that polished feel with Baxters lyrics, projecting intricate scenes of grimness, yet everything remains intriguing, never settling for anything less than the perfect word(s) to end the bar. You will be repeating that hook for weeks.... that I can assure you.
The forth and final track Eating is drenched in a gritty, low end bass that swallows the sound-scape in the best way. Whereas electronica was featured in the previous tracks, this one fully embraces a heavy sci-fi sonic range of noise along side Baxter who keeps up his high level of finesse with another effortless delivery and instantly chant-able hook.
Each track brings something different to the table to wet your appetite keeping the ep sounding fresh from start to finish. Another banger from Jam Baxter and the High Focus crew available for pre-order from the link bellow. This one comes highly recommended. Released 20th August 2014.
High Focus are back again with another duo new to their roster. This time its Cracker Jon and 2 Late dropping their first release for the record label "You Can Take The Cracker Out Of Croydon", a 19 track album with guest appearances from Leaf Dog, Lee Scott, Smellington Piff, Sly Moon, Dubble O, Eric Da Red, Dirty Dike, Fliptrix, Datkid, Strange Neighbour, Dj Al Mighty and Dj Sammy B-Side. Cracker has already featured on the HFTV youtube channel with his 2 exclusive bars videos and recently did a guest verse for the BVA solo album "Be Very Aware". All the videos can be found throughout the review.
Cracker and 2 Late are no strangers to the UK Hip Hop scene, for years now they have been smashing gigs and festivals all over the UK and have also performed at Outlook Festival and in Croatia. Cracker's dark, filthy flow and 2 Late's nostalgic stompers blend perfectly together and this is evident throughout the album as they take the listner on a journy through the many stylyes of Hip Hop.
Album Mini Mix
After starting with a short skit, we're thrown straight into "My Demands," a rowdy beat that somehow feels fresh on the scene and reminiscent of a more old school vibe all the while setting the pace and mood for this record. The caliber of rowdiness is matched by the opening few lines by Cracker who delivers with his unique blend of laid back delivery with a presence of raw energy. This is the way to open an album. Although 2 Late's beats have more of an old school sound, they stay fresh with his take on the more dark, dissonant, almost horror sounding effects. Unsettling but still has that stripped down groove borrowed from genres such as funk and jazz, pulled through a time machine and delivered to our ears with Cracker as the conductor narrating this drug fuelled musical journey.
Cracker Jon - Exclusive bars 1 - High Focus TV
"No Need" starts up with the smokey sounds of coughing and faint percussion followed by the naughtiest beat and funky bass-line to get your neck cracking. Before being able to fully adjust to the phatness of this beat, Cracker comes in to keep you on your toes...
"I don't need a starting punchline, cuz I could never be arsed. Its an idiots irrelevant task, something you do to develop your bars... "
Another banger and we've only just started. The strings that drop later in the track just add that element of menace to the beat, showing that as a duo, their individual dynamics give each other that extra weight that elevates this above the norm.
"What You Prefer" has an eerie, sci-fi vibe to the beat switching up what we have heard so far. Enter Cracker...
"I don't like responsibilities when I'm at work, To sit at home and get stoned is what I prefer,
I bet you all relate to this even if you haven't had a job it's probably because you're lazy and a slob,
I want a massive wad of cash so I can get on the lash pull a fat amount of slags to come back to my pad,
But at the moment in the future if I pull a lass, then I'll be taking her home to my cosy council flat..."
Throughout this one he is brutally honest about his feelings towards working for a living, the government and other aspects of every day life. Dj Sammy B-Side finishes this one off nicely with some precise cuts.
The Funk Off
"The Funk off" is the first track on the album to feature guest artists. Sly Moon, Dubble O, Smellington Piff and Eric Da Red all complement the funky style of the beat on this track and fit perfectly with Cracker's crazy style. We get a nice long intro of raw funky bass that would have fit perfectly in a smokey club somewhere long ago yet still sounds at home in modern Hip Hop today. Every one adds their own unique style to the track making this one stand out. Malice in Wonderland provides the visuals for the video, an animated trip best described as Alice in Wonderland on Acid. We wouldn't advise watching it under the influence of hallucinogens.
Dank
"Dank" was the first video to drop from the album and gave us a great first taste of what's to come. It opens with the beat quickly slowing to a halt like the sound of vinyl stopping on a turntable, and then bursting back into action with rolling percussion in the background and sub heavy bass. This tune displays clearly his ability to tell a story without having too prepare, being comfortable and confident in his ability all the while never succumbing to the various superficial pressures in the music industry. The trippy visuals on the video are provided by Tom Jarrett.
The opening to "Obnoxious" takes me back to my youth, a sound that has kept me listening to Hip Hop ever since. From the vocal and various instrument samples to the beat and bass, everything about this beat works. Dirty Dike is up first and as usual, makes the disgusting and disturbing sound both funny and clever at the same time. His last bar is next level and proves why he is one of the UK's best.
"Chuck my plumbs in the sky, and smack them with my penis, Jesus, the definition of what cheese is, Thick pusy wedged up compressed lump of genius.."
Lee Scott takes the second verse followed by Cracker in the third. This track is easily one of our favourites right now. But that will no doubt change as we listen to more.
Cracker Jon - Exclusive Bars 2 - High Focus TV
"Cant Sleep" has one of those bass lines that just zones you out with its awesomeness. 2 Late seems to be able to adapt to any situation and provides the perfect sound for every track featured on this release. Cracker has no problem taking this one solo proving he has the talent to make it on his own.
Big Owl makes his first appearance on "Got the Style". Another banging intro from 2 Late with that classic boom bap sound followed by Cracker and Fliptrix riding this one back to back, a nice way to switch up the format.
"All The Places" slams straight into a hypnotic beat from 2 Late who continues to impress and makes it real hard to chose a favourite. Cracker is slowly faded into the track and snaps you out of the trance caused by the intro. His hard and diverse lyrics fit the mood of the beat and show us why he has earned a place on the High Focus team.
"The way I deliver my script, makes it usually very difficult to predict so you can only imagine what other thoughts are going through my head when I spit, Aint got time to think of limericks or something quick for the rich..."
Cracker Jon - Exclusive Bars - Less Effort
The intro to "That Time" starts with a solo sax accompanied shortly after by Leaf Dog....
"The Beats banging like it should be, Is it that time well it could be, If you're willing start the Zugg billing while the ink pots spilling...."
The hook sums up this tune. "The beats banging like it should be..", and Deformed Wing definitely knows what he is taking about when it comes to banging beats. Its full of floaty, jazzy samples giving a more chilled vibe than most of the beats on the album but at the same time doesn't sound out of place. Leaf Dog fits perfectly with this style and delivers the goods as always. Cracker's verse is equally as impressive making this another stand out track from the release.
In my opinion, Smellingon Piff seems to gel with Cracker better than any one else featured on the record and "Shut Ya Mouth" shows us why. Like "That Time", the beat is heavily jazz influenced with a real smooth chilled vibe for the emcees to tear up. Its a nice way to wind down the album, but its still as relentless as the rest of the tracks, never letting up for even a second and has a surprisingly dark twist at the end. Definitely a highlight of the album for both the beat and the bars.
BVA, FLIPTRIX and CRACKER JON - It's a Mad World
Capping off the album entirely is the second feature from Fliptrix. The High Focus don is always welcome on any feature as he is known for his high energy, consistently exemplary performance and unmatched dedication to his craft. Both emcees bring it to the table with the sharpest wit and make it look easy. The smooth keys, dissonant effects and up beat drums brings us back full circle to the opening track with the pacing and energy, intentional or not, this rounds off the album perfectly.
Throughout this album we found ourselves reminded of the producers we used to listen to when we were growing up. Its clear that 2 Late has done his homework and has some serious knowledge of the styles and genres that helped build hip hop and with Cracker's fresh approach to a non liners style of emcee-ing and controlling the vibe of each track with his own brand of hard lyrics that you will be chanting at the top of your voices throughout the summer. The album features a massive 19 tracks, plenty of heavy weight guest emcees and is a must have for fans of raw Hip Hop. It is available now on a variety of formats and you can get them from the links bellow. Both artists fully delivered and have cemented their place on the High Focus Team.
Every once in a while we receive something that blows us away... something that refuses to stick to what's current or popular, deviates from the mainstream, yet manages to sit comfortably with more cultures of musical audiences than the artist may or may not have intended to reach. This time it's Rag N Bone Man - Put That Soul On Me, a secret release from High Focus Records, that we were lucky enough to be sent. Rag N Bone Man has proved that his voice alone transcends genres with ease and has touched and effected so many people across the country since his debut on High Focus Records in early 2013. Bridging the smooth tones of blues, jazz and soul, accompanied by Leaf Dogs signature beats, he bought us Dog n Bone Man last year.
Since the release of the colab EP, the hype has continued to grow exponentially, getting plays on BBC Radio 1, touring the country with UKs Bastille and is even getting noticed overseas by the legendary DJ Premier, a testament to how many people his music is reaching.
Rag N Bone Man is someone who firmly believes in respecting the roots of hip hop and its many influences, the result is a blend of head noddin' anthems and music for the soul. Having caught him at Boom Bap 2013 and at this years HF Birthday Bash, we can tell you first hand that he is an artist that you should all take notice of. His live sets are amazing and a must if you ever get the opportunity.
Taking care of the beats on this EP is Dirty Dike, more known as an emcee with a ferocious mix of wit and wordplay, but always shines whenever featured on production. Earlier this year, we were lucky enough to hear Dirty Dike take the role of producer when he featured on Edward Scissortongue's The Theremin EP, so we were stoked to hear that Put That Soul On Me was going to be a Dirty Dike production. The full release includes 3 vocal tracks, 3 instrumentals and an acapella for all the DJs and producers that wanna get involved in their own way.
The EP starts off big from the get go, with the titular track Put That Soul On Me opening up with a slick flute lick that floats up and down to some acoustic chords before the beat drops, accompanied by that sick bass line and Rag N Bone Mans opening hook "Just gimme that neat, sweet soul.... and nothing else", a line which I think perfectly sums up the hole vibe of this EP. Within 30 seconds, it's fully apparent that this is going to be a massive tune that praises the rawness that came with genres such as soul, blues and even funk, whilst incorporating his own unique blend of these styles through his incredible vocal ability. Definitely one of the more upbeat tracks on the EP and is one of our favourites already.
Across The Sky brings the tempo down slightly, giving us a smokey blues and jazz feel throughout the track. It opens with a crunchy sax intro setting up Rag N Bone Man as he guides us through the side effects of various drugs. The minimalist beat is effective and also allows room for Rag N Bone Man to shine inbetween the far placed kick and snare.
The final track on the ep has been highly anticipated since he dropped exclusive bars for High Focus TV back at the start of 2013. "My Business" is an extended version of this featuring Ronnie Bosh. Starting with that lovely vinyl crackle and piano, quickly bursting into life with a solo clap followed by the opening hook and bars featured in the video below.
The video caused a lot of buzz on the internet and was even re-tweeted by DJ Premier and 9th Wonder. Contact Plays Ronnie Bosh mixes perfectly into the track, delivering bars with flawless precision, complimenting Dirty Dikes body moving beat to a tee. Rag N Bone Man continues to impress with his voice as this song shows his range as well as his style, another reason why big names such as Premier re-tweet this gold.
As mentioned before, Rag N Bone Man is an artist who respects and explores his roots and this is constantly reflected throughout his music and helps show the deep culture that is involved in hip hop. Listening to the genres that built his style and always recognising it as a fundamental aspect of staying true to hip hop. He can also tear up a harmonica, as shown in the video below.
Put That Soul On Me is a must for the summer and I really hope we get to hear more colabs with Rag N Bone Man and Dirty Dike in the future. This is available now and you can purchase it from the links below. It will also be available to buy on 12" vinyl including the 3 bonus instrumentals and acapella. Strongly recommended.
It's hard to believe that only four years have passed since the birth of one of the fastest growing record labels in UK Hip Hop history. The past four years have seen the ever expanding crew release a variety of critically acclaimed albums and EP's and has also seen them find success outside of the UK including tours and festival appearances. This Friday (16th of May) the High Focus Records crew are celebrating their fourth birthday and they are doing it in style. The monster event will include live performances from all the High Focus gang and some very special guests. Artists on the night will include.....
As you can see this is set to be a massive event featuring Hip Hop artists from the past, present and future. The line up alone is evidence of the hard work that has gone into the record label and the high level of respect they have earned from some of the biggest UKHH stars of all time. The event will run from 10pm until 6am at Electric Brixton, a venue with a much bigger capacity and sound system than previous Birthday Party events. Tickets are available for only £12 from the link below. Unfortunately all of the early bird tickets have sold out so get your advance tickets while you still can!
On Valentines Day 2014, De La Soul shocked the world by giving away their entire back catalogue of music for FREE! Now once again they are showing us love by throwing more free music our way. The 11 track mixtape, named 'Smell The DA.I.S.Y. (Da Inner Soul of Yancy)', features classic De La vocals over unreleased J.Dilla production. Dilla, also known as Jay Dee passed away in 2006 and has been quoted by many as one of the most influential Hip Hop artists of all time. In April, 100 copies of Smell The DA.I.S.Y. instrumentals will be released on vinyl and they will be hidden in record stores across the US, UK and Canada. De La Soul are currently doing a 25th anniversary tour for 3 Feet High and Rising. You can find details for the tour, the Smell The D.A.I.S.Y. download link and clues to the whereabouts of the instrumental vinyl from the link below.
In 2013, the UK Hip Hop scene was completely dominated by the High Focus crew. Among many great releases, Verb T dropped I Remain, a 15 track album produced by himself showcasing his solid lyrical ability and production skills. Now he is back with a brand new remix album titled 'Reverb' available for free on Bandcamp. The 10 tracks are mostly taken from 'I Remain' and are remixed by Leaf Dog, Jehst, Ghosttown, Urban Click, Konchis and BMRN. It also contains a couple of tracks not featured on the original album and is definitely worth a download.
Jurassic 5 are a group that need no introduction to Hip Hop fans. With the full group now back together they are currently touring the world, making a new studio album, a live album and a DVD documentary whilst all working on solo projects. Marc 7 was the first to release his highly anticipated debut solo album ' Food, Clothing & Shelter' under his own label Marc7Music, LLC. The album is available to stream and download on Soundcloud. This truly is exciting times for fans of Jurassic 5.
For those that don't know, Spoze first made a name for himself as a DnB Mc. His thirst for music then progressed to Grime working with his Roadworks team, a local grime collective, all hailing from Peterborough. Troubled Mind is his latest solo project produced by local legend Klimeks. Expect hard hitting lyrics and wavey beats. Below is a link to the download and the official video for Ham Sandwich taken from the release.
After recently featuring on Blizzards Testing the Water EP and working alongside many local Mcs, Klimeks refuses to stay quiet and gives us another freebie. Depths is a 4 track EP and is further testament to the development of his style. Underwaterhearts is a personal favourite but doesn't overshadow the other 3 tracks. His now signature WAVEY style is loved by many and we'll look forward to hearing more from him soon.
Not long after the wrestling legend passed away, Xidus Pain dropped The Ultimate Warrior mixtape on Rhymepad records. Xidus had been working on the project before the tragic death of one of his childhood heroes. His lyrical delivery and content is as always flawless and is accompanied by tight production from Chris IPOP, KnoWon, Ducka, Barry Blaq and Dj Kriptonite.
Instant has been a massive player in the Peterborough DnB scene for many years now. He went on from winning the Cafe En Seine DJKO in his younger days, to becoming one of the co founders of the infamous Hijack and Strictly Soulful nights. Instant continues to be a personal favourite when it comes to his liquid Drum and Bass style on production and in his Dj sets. He has given away a few free tracks in recent history including this gem 'Funk it Up', given away as an Easter gift. The track is an absolute banger and stays true to his liquid roots.
Edward Scissortongue is quickly rising through the UKHH ranks, bringing his unique blend of oddball behaviour and visceral, fantastical story telling to the masses and after critically acclaimed success for his 2012 debut "BETTER.LUCK.NEXT.LIFE", he returns with a story driven EP which is set to make its mark on the scene in a big way. High Focus is extremely reputable for its ever expanding, yet massively impressive label and this EP has been highly anticipated since it was first mentioned to us back at Boom Bap festival in 2013, where we were lucky enough to catch up with him in the early hours of the morning. Even back then, he knew this would be a proud achievement quoting it as his best work to date. After a couple of listens it's obvious to see the high level of hard work that has gone into the EP.
The Theremin EP is a 7 track conceptual epic featuring massive sci-fi sound scapes and a dark, man-vs-machines themed narrative that grips the listener as it guides you through a twisted, thought provoking vision of an apocalyptic future. The intro begins with big sweeping pads and a haunting melody, building slowly. This sets the scene and foreshadows the mood for the upcoming tracks and also gives the listener a few minutes to prepare for the journey ahead. The music on the whole EP compliments the sci-fi and dark themes perfectly giving an overall epic feel to the finished product.
The EP reunites Scissortongue with Lamplighter who featured heavily on his last album and helped shape the sonic landscapes on both records with his dark, ominous synths, tones and minimalistic syncopated beats. Also featured on production is New York based Eon Ra, LDZ and Problem Child's producer Sumgii, Konchis, Miles Courtney and Dirty Dike.
A clever mix of slow churning strings, eerie vocals and melodies, droning ambient synths and hypnotic beats encompass the atmosphere of Scissortongues twisted visions of mans metaphorical and possible future. Each artist on the EP helps mould the canvas for this dark dystopian
fable-esque story, designed to make you listen attentively to the many
layers the narrative has to offer.
As to not spoil the story for anyone, we will only give brief clues as to our own interpretations of it. Trust us, its definitely worth sitting down and listening to this with a fresh perspective. Throw aside preconceived notions, for both music and story telling because Scissortongue and his boys don't mind stepping outside the box and straying away from the unconventional.
Reoccurring themes of androids and end-of-the-world scenarios, a land rife in despair, dealing with the aftermath of war amongst a civilization under constant threat. With ever diminishing humility all against the backdrop of the profound question; what is it to exist?
It is deep but that doesn't stop it from being a hugely enjoyable release, in fact, his story telling ability has raised the bar in our opinion. Its tightly woven intricate language and atmospherically drenched beats make this a stand out record and another milestone for Scissortongue and the High Focus crew. The Theremin EP kind of caught me off guard, I knew it would be good, but had no idea HOW good! This is definitely his best work to date and seems to get better the more you listen to it.
For those of you that need a little more than owning a copy of this masterpiece, the launch party takes place on the 3rd of May at Westminster Reference Library, London. The night will feature an MPC set from Lamplighter, a spoken word set from Jam Baxter, Mr Key and Greenwood Sharps, Lee Scott, Dj Sammy B Side, Mowgli performing an audio visual set and Edward Scissortongue showcasing the full Theremin EP live. Advance tickets only £8, a bargain considering the line up and are available from the link bellow.
