Grime CDs

Whatever happened to the Stereo MC’s? After winning a Brit award in 1993 for their fun and seminal “Connected” album, they seemed to disappear without trace. Seven years later, there’s still no sign of a new album, despite repeated assurances over the years to the contrary. Stereo MCs: DJ Kicks may not be the follow-up album we’re all waiting for, but it is the next best thing–a non-stop DJ mix from British hip-hop’s long-lost sons. As mix albums go, it’s a bit of a cracker. There’s a rough and ready, funked-up party feel to proceedings, thanks largely to the Stereos’ impeccable live mixing and ... Read Full Story

Although voted best newcomer at the 2004 MOBO awards, for some, Estelle’s debut, The 18th Day, has been a long time coming. One of the most respected female rappers in the UK, Estelle’s style effortlessly eschews the trappings of sounding like her US counterparts and gives her a really natural, British, flow. The album is almost split into two distinct styles: one half funky, UK R&B hip-hop whereas the other more downbeat and soulful. Opening track “1980″ sums up the early part–the backing a wall of sound and the catchy vocals reminiscing about growing up. “Dance Bitch” is slightly more US sounding where one ... Read Full Story

It’s common knowledge that hip-hop culture has sneaked its way into every nook and cranny in the universe–but Blackpool? Funky Fresh Few’s Stealing is proof that no place is safe from the genre’s ever-expanding tentacles. In fact the trio of Damon Savage, graf artist Timeone (who provided the cover art) and Glenn Reynolds (a recent replacement for departed member James Folks) have been living and breathing the music for around a decade, which explains why their debut long-player sounds so accomplished. There’s an undeniable confidence to the beats and rhymes that is enhanced by solid guest spots from a plethora of US and UK ... Read Full Story

The new kid on the block in British hip-hop, Malarchi’s Forgotten World is proof positive that effort does pay off. Malarchi has clearly taken influences in vocal style from Rodney P, and with DJ Dark Joint reminiscent of Skitz at his most strident, this album almost sounds like material you’ve heard before. However this isn’t just a facsimile of earlier and better music. From “UK Ground Zero” to the eponymous title track, this is head-nodding hip-hop at its most focused. Defining and refining a distinctive British style while still nodding to a wider appreciation of more traditional American styles, Malarchi even manages to get ... Read Full Story

It’s hard to believe that the Stereo MC’s were once the flag-bearers of British hip-hop, but that’s exactly how they were perceived way back in the late 80s. The best-of Retroactive comes 15 years on from their first basic beats and rhymes experiments. It seems strange to think of them as a true hip-hop outfit–sure, their baggy, slightly mystic records have always been built around Rob Birch’s typically English rap, but musically they’ve always been more funk-meets-breaks than straight-up hip-hop. Either way, they’ve been responsible for some fine records in their time–as this slightly over-long collection ably shows. Naturally, the best stuff here comes ... Read Full Story