2010 is getting crazy now. Midrange in dubstep drove it out of from its dark origins and we’re seeing Garage make a come back. Early oo’s instrumental hip-hop which was largely bass-driven and menacing is heavily influenced by electro and dubstep. The IDM of our time should be a label for the likes of Mount Kimbie and Mike Slott. shit is intelligent. I can’t categorise bass driven music anymore without there being ambiguity.

Listen to Mike Slott – Sun Tan:

Mike Slott – Sun Tan

Buy Mike slott’s  music or visit his Myspace

Skillz wraps up another mad year.  ‘09 is soon to be no more, here comes 2010.

Happy New Year!!

I’m always on the lookout for new artists on the Hip Hop scene, so I was happy when I stumbled across Drake.  This Canadian actor/singer/rapper signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment label earlier this year.  He has already released three singles, with a full album, Thank Me Later due out sometime in 2010.

Forever is the second single to be taken from the upcoming soundtrack for Lebron James’ documentary More Than a Game. I think it’s such a great concept, and the preview received positive reviews.  This single features verses from Drake, Kanyeezy, Lil Wayne and  Eminem (who absolutely kills it, in true Mathers style).

Check it out:

Tanya Morgan is a rap group y’know. Fan of Little Brother, Cool Kids or Kidz in the Hall? Then take a listen and buy their recent release Brooklynati, the best Hip-Hop I have heard so far this year. Every track is fire – no fillers!

Tanya Morgan – So Damn Down:
Tanya Morgan – So Damn Down

Back in March I blogged two of Phaseone’s remixes one being of Burial’s Archangel.  Today we have his new full length album, which is a collection of great laid back beats. The album starts off with some crazy bleak, futuristic synth intro. But I’m already bumping at the bassline before the beat starts. Tim Gun is something Oh No or J-Dilla fans will enjoy, and sounds like big-beat hip-hop from the year 2051.  The album’s highlight in my opinion in the next track, Love Test (Only). Hot Mess / Metal Dub is a clash of IDM with instrumental hip-hop, and the final track Alladat is Phaseone demonstrating he can create excellent chopped-up hip-hop beats back in the present-day too. It’s good to see a variety of styles on a record, it keeps it interesting.

Phaseone – Thanks but No Thanks (download)

The first single from the highly anticipated Jay Z release Blueprint 3 has had it’s first airplay! The single is called D.O.A (Death of Autotune)

The Five One are a group like no other. Their sound is blessed with freedom, inventiveness, and true imagination. The quartet is rooted in Hip Hop but is never bound by conventional ideologies of hip hop or any other genre for that matter. They are like a cross between a pleasing Indie Pop/Rock band and the most innovative Hip Hop group you’ve ever heard.
Here are a few of tracks from their album The Five One – “5109: The Remix Album”. It’s worth checking out!

The Five One – Need You More (feat. Daft Punk)

The Five One Remix Lucifer – Jay Z

The Five One – Time Is Cheap (feat. Clipse & Nike Nando)

The Cool Kids upcoming release When Fish Ride Bicycles is one of the most anticipated albums of the year.  Prior to that major release, the duo have teamed up with Don Cannon to produce this brilliant 18-track mixtape.

Click here to download and get it now!

G.O.O.D. Music (Kanye West record label) is planning on releasing an independent compilation album called, ‘G.O.O.D. Morning, G.O.O.D. Night’.  Presented by Kanye West & Malik Yusef, the album will feature guest musicians and producers like, Pharrell WIlliams, Lupe Fiasco, KRS One, and John Legend.  The concept of the album will be Protagonist vs. Antagonist/Lower Self vs. Higher Self, exhibiting the poet’s struggle between his internal dualities.

The first single is right here, “Magic Man” features Kanye West, Common and John Legend.

Finally,  the first single to be taken from The Clipse’s new album Till The Casket Drops is a collabo with Kanye West on this beautifully put together track, produced by the great DJ Khalil, check it out:

The Clipse feat Kanye West – Kinda Like a Big Deal