Tag Archives: Hip-Hop

Jul 21 2025
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Skippa Da Flippa – Red Tag

As the label Quality Control music emerged out of Atlanta with a whole new sound and vibe, introducing the world to the likes of the Migos, Rich Da Kid and Lil Yachty, one of the pioneers of that era is none other than fellow artist Skippa Da Flippa, his choice of production and unique flow, laid the foundations for what they went on to achieve. Unfortunately, as the label focused more so on the meteoric rise of their other acts, Skippa didn’t see the mainstream success that his contribution deserved, however, after parting ways to forge his own Havin’ Entertainment, he’s carved an underground legacy and a core audience. Whilst QC went onto partner with powerhouses Capitol and later Mowtown records, continuing their streak with Lil’ Baby and City Girls, Skippa has pursued the independent grind, consistently dropping a host of projects including the fan favourite Up To Something, $H2 and the 2023 release Havin’ Motion Not Emotions. Last year he dropped a series of singles, kicking off with the ambient For Better Or Worse, continuing to display that original style, witty wordplay and sprinkle of substance, cutting through with tracks like Pay Me and a personal favourite Strategize,

a more introspective, spiritually strong, motivational anthem. Showing no signs of slowing down, he released even more singles, offering a broader range of his abilities, including the captivating Doormat,

leading up to this year’s latest release thus far, Red Tag

Red Tag is classic Flippa, his strong personality expressed through his distinct tone, it follows suit of his ability to effortlessly craft these catchy concepts. Though I initially was going to review Strategize, and was waiting for a full length project before doing so, as he re-establishes himself with these singles, I felt it made sense to focus not only on the more recent drop, but more so, him as an artist, highlighting his creativity and ingenuity, as the creator of the dab, he’s definitely contributed to the culture and as he maintains these quality efforts will undoubtedly reap the rewards, not just as an originator and individual, but a relevant musician, away from the gimmicks and payola praises. As many of his peers attempt catch their moment again through the safety of budgets and industry support, Skippa Da Flippa has inspirationally stood his ground, with his unreplicable ethos, persona and spiritual drive, you can expect more bangers on the way and hopefully a new album sooner than later. Either way, you can expect Flippa to be Havin’.

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Jun 10 2025
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Clue – Tenacious

South London’s Clue has close to two decades in the game (since his street classic Get Away featuring legendary So Solid crew’s Mega Man), with a host of projects and features, through the industry’s transition and Grime’s spotlight, he’s been one of the notables of UK’s street Rap foundations. So as the genre continues to dominate, it’s only right for the tenacious talent to return with an aptly titled new album.

Tenacious is a concise project, consisting of 8 tracks (highlighting his integrity as an artist), starting with the Intro,

setting the scene of his trials and determination, “live everyday as it comes, never give in or stop”, a concurrent theme of the album. No Disrespect, with K Koke on the hook, doubles down on the notion, it’s less glorification of gangsterism and more portrayal of the morals as a man. Clue could always rap, however, only two songs in and there’s a clear improvement, from lyricism to the delivery, accentuated by the quality mix. With Young Soul at the helm of production on this project, they switch things up on Rap or Drill (a double entendre if you like), featuring man of the moment Scorcher, both comfortable in their element with a grown take on a modern sound. Continued on Motion, the lighter of tracks, before the retrospective Outside, linking up with Manchester’s Ross The Boss (If you know, you know), with the two detailing their perspectives and lessons learned through a harsh lens of consequences and maintaining. A lot of street-centric music today tends to be fabricated or glamorised, so to get a view from some of the most authentic really offers the duality, the ups and the downs, further emphasised with P&A featuring another UK Rap staple, Joe Black, with the two offering a darker view of staying afloat amidst repercussions and the correctional system. Southside featuring up and comer Tee Tenny,

adds to the motivational elements of the album, a mix of desire and hardships, “I was broke, but I never broke down”, as he looks back how far he’s come, followed by the final and possibly the realest song, Myla,

an ode to his daughter. A heartfelt letter to his greatest achievement, complimented further by the road travelled (and the tracks leading up to this), sharing the lessons learnt and passing his wisdom, more valuable than any material, displaying a greater level of vulnerability and strength, as an artist yet first and foremost as the man he is today.

Tenacious is a quality and evident effort created out of the love for the art, built upon a base of street life and real stories, holding up principles and inspiration for those in need, an aspect I appreciate most from this album. A great re-introduction for the South London veteran to build upon (with a range of previous projects for new fans to catch up to), defining a new direction to develop on.

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Jun 09 2025
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Youngs Teflon – Keep The Change

Youngs Teflon has been one of UK Rap’s most underrated, breaking through amidst the early Grime era, having since made a name for himself, he’s played a part in the emergence of some of our more notable acts of recent, with his versatile street style, storytelling and topical wordplay. If Giggs is considered the King of UK rap, Tef could be seen as the prince and with a prolific discography, this latest album could be seen as the coronation with this Atlantic Records UK debut, Keep The Change.

As acts like Nines and Potter Payper establish their lane of commercial street-centric rap, it’s only right for Youngs Teflon to be amongst those names and with this new Atlantic Records UK venture, he’s in position to do just that.

This album feels monumental, it’s 14 tracks of realness, setting things off with Crouching Tiger, an introductory to the overall theme of this album, poignant wordplay, weaving his experiences of street life and success as an artist, broken down further on Da Gutter,

a lyrically descriptive South London state of mind over the hypnotic loop. The story continues further with Motion, a more polished version of his upbeat sound, adding that major feel with a feature from Manchester’s Aitch. The level of quality is accentuated with the next track, Brownin’,

one of the singles from the album, with it’s Aaliyah sample and his take on a classic metaphor, offering a diverse feel as it can be appreciated by a variety of audiences, especially with him harmonising, using that Aaliyah flow, which caught me by surprise upon the first listen and provides a singalong vibe, highlighting his evolution as an artist. Another standout is the filmesque Tony’s Tub, featuring one of the current talents, Knucks, which before I even saw the title had remnants of Scarface, further established by the opening line, “The blimp told me the World Is Yours”, as the two trade verses of grandeur over the emphatic production. Favourite Poison, the more confidently vulnerable effort, providing some variety, as the theme continues with the contrasting Cologne featuring newcomer Clavish and Ain’t Right (ft. Blaqbonez),

before the introspective and mature songs Need You and Wrong Ones. As we draw closer to the end of the album, Tef gets into his Nas bag with a personal favourite, showcasing his storytelling abilities with the cinematic Unusual Suspects, a motion picture of a track, that would benefit a short movie (upon every listen I’m thinking of location, shots and casting). “Product of my environment, I grew up when they were firing, School next day but I got woke up by the sirens”, he shares a great detailing of a gritty London life on the next track, Product of My Environment, finding light amidst tribulations and systematic disadvantages, followed by the beautiful sounding Members Only, an introspective effort complimented with the unique tone of Frank Ekwa on the chorus, which brings us to the curtain closer, Sicily, a podium finish of a record, neatly concluding the theme, appreciating the fruits of his labour and the journey to it.

Having delivered an array of projects spanning generations, this album is a well crafted offering from one of South London’s finest wordsmiths that will satisfy old fans and serves as a great introduction to new ones, highlighting different sides of the come-up, accepting the highs and lows, lessons learned and wisdom gained, that not only can you can charge to the game, but let it Keep The Change.

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Jun 05 2025
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Daff – Free ft. Ay Em

As the UK’s current music scene thrives, beyond the pop-centric acceptance, now with a plethora of talent and sounds, sub-genres of Hip-Hop, Grime, Afrobeats and beyond, the country hosts a variety of established acts. More notably, UK Rap finds itself in a great space, with the likes of Giggs, Nines, Pak-Man and Potter Payper (to name a very small few), now household names, credit has to be given to the foundations on which it’s legacy stands, one of the unsung pillars is Ilford’s own, Daff. Responsible for the absolute street classic, Half. Unfortunately, as he broke through towards establishing himself in that early iteration of rap with his 2012 debut Only Just Begun, he found himself sentenced to sixteen years in prison, which whilst halted his progression, equally cemented his sound and style and that absence only grew the demand further. He’s since released a variety of Jail freestyles and actual tracks with the 2021 EP Rap Never Left, including a feature on fellow Illmade artist Potter Payper’s recent album, reigniting the interest. Building on that presence, despite limitations as we anticipate his return, he released the emphatic Free featuring Ay Em.

One of Daff’s qualities aside from storytelling, was the introspect and compassion in his music, the anthem Half hit the way it did because of it’s realism, there’s plenty of get money songs, but rarely has anyone spoke of giving their mother their earnings and that was just too real to be overlooked. With Free, Daff reignites that storytelling, able to vividly share gritty experiences, descriptive events intwined with heavy emotions and personal battles through a motivational lens, holding hope of his imminent return while displaying that empathy which has held him in such high regard, ending his first verse with, “Bout to have the game in a guillotine, before they free Daff, Free Philistine”. It’s this exact selflessness that highlights him as a man, his morals and principles before anything else. Ay Em has lowkey been a cheat-code on hooks and matches the feel of the track with his effort in both substance, tone and delivery. Daff’s second verse continues the theme and ultimately shows his level of faith and strength as he ends his second verse, “All the feelings that I really had to harbour, before you free Daff, free Gaza”.

There’s even a AI-generated visual, though usually might be off-putting, makes sense in the current situation and the opening shot of him walking outside is deep, as we hold hope for that to be a reality soon enough.

The positive is that he’s served the majority of his bid, whilst finding himself able to continue his artistry inside, as fans alike hope and pray to live in a day with a free Daff and Palestine.

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Apr 17 2025
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Westside Gunn – 12

One of the more influential conductors within Hip-Hop of recent, Westside Gunn is probably someone I’ve listened to and just appreciated more so than review, however, with Wrestlemania 41 approaching, the timing couldn’t be more right to give my take on his latest release, 12.

Having broken ground (and ceiling) as part of the Griselda collective, his influence is visible throughout Hip-Hop and culture overall, an abstract artist, he’s able to construct projects that feel like audio Basquiat pieces, with raw textures, unconventional sounds and bringing unrefined talent like Stove God and Estee Nack to shine. With 12, you can expect that to highest degree, from the intro, a 50’s doo wop style singing “Who is the goat?”, going straight into the gritty Boswell, with it’s intense sample and his verse sat between Stove God and Nack, his distinct tone bridging the two’s abraded vocals. Track 2, the more sinister sounding Adam Page, proving he’s not lost a step nor looks to be doing so any time soon, complimented with it’s wavy hook. The beauty in his artistry is the next track, Veert, though a much more smooth and soulful sample, yet he’s able to orchestrate a just as menacing display, a theme continued with 055, Stove God further cementing his presence before West delivers another classic-sounding verse. He’s known to have an ear for production, but the sequencing is more proof of his attention to detail, introducing Brother Tom Sos on the more lo-fi Health Science and the contrasting Gumbo Yaya. Tracks like East Miami and the aptly titled Bury Me With A Stove, display Gunn’s ability to draw on the most unconventional canvases, with Estee Nack returning to revel. The rap game’s Sid Vicious continues to powerbomb on (another fan favourite) Outlander, a solo effort that emphasises his standing and position in the game today, before closing out on the Conductor produced Dump Out, another glimpse of Stove God Cooks’ unique flows and lyricism, before delivering an introspective and impactful verse of his own, honouring the incarcerated Donald ‘Sly’ Green, further dedicating the project with it’s documented outro. Including the cover art, the organic picture outside of Carbone’s in the big fur with the fitted, yet another solid effort from the Buffalo legend as he proceeds to dominate a field that he’s responsible for establishing.

Having carved a lane to now dictating the scene, Westside Gunn has continued to not only bring the art of hip-hop to the forefront, but elevate it’s authenticity through the mediums of music, fashion and now his Fourth Rope wrestling imprint (including the “the fly weight” python, gold and diamond encrusted championship belt), an impact that can be continuously seen today in various cultural facets from the music industry to high-end runways and even WWE broadcasts.

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Apr 17 2025
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Larry June, 2 Chainz & Alchemist – Life Is Beautiful

After last year’s release Doing It For Me, Larry June and Alchemist follow up The Great Escape, linking up with the underrated wordsmith and Atlanta legend 2 Chainz.

Though familiar territory for Larry and Al, this 11 track album celebrates the victory of that great escape, however, the addition of 2 Chainz adds a whole new and unexpected level of depth and texture, cementing that success. Kicking off with Munyon Canyon, an interesting listen as audiences may be accustomed to the sound and feel, then 2 Chainz enters and we get to hear him on a tempo that real fans have longed for (since his work with Statik Selektah). This combination is further emphasised with the second track, Colossal, where Alchemist gets to draw for the darker and grittier sound more complimentary to 2 Chainz, allowing Larry June to now follow suit. This is the overall theme, with the three weaving through their essences that seems to effortlessly intertwine, evident with tracks like I Been and LLC. As someone that has wanted an Alchemist & 2 Chainz project, this is quite the audio treat, leading up to Bad Choices, with the album thus far feeling more in vein of the previous Alchemist & Larry June collaboration and the title track Life is Beautiful providing a solid bridge to the next half of the album, where it feels more in style for 2 Chainz, another example of Alchemist’s versatility and attention to detail beyond great production. Track 6, Generation ushers in that more concrete element and Chainz hits the ground running, with Larry June just as comfortable gliding through. The luxurious sounding Any Day finds the perfect blend for all parties, allowing them to accentuate their raw lyricism freely, followed by Epiphany, where by now the unorthodox pairing of Larry June and 2 Chainz feels natural, with Tru Organics like the title, a great mix of the their respective brands. Despite some expectancy (with two of the three having collaborated recently), Life Is Beautiful manages to dispel any predictability whilst maintaining the level of quality, ending with the cinematic Jean Prouvé, smoothly closing out the album as Larry June and 2 Chainz establish their presences once more like a post-credit scene.

I had some initial idea of how this project would sound and maybe was bias to wanting to hear just a 2 Chainz & Alchemist project (which still can happen), however I was pleasantly surprised with how this turned out, as there’s always been a level of opulence with Alchemist and Larry June, so who else better to rendezvous with, than the grandioso 2 Chainz Toni himself to remind us, Life Is Beautiful.

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Oct 28 2017
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XX17 Spotify Playlist

With us closer to the end of the year, I’ve curated another playlist, this time a selection of some of the best and underrated Hip-Hop, Grime, Alternative and R&B tracks of the year, thus far. The playlist hosts American, British and French tracks, that varies in tempo and style, featuring the likes of Giggs, PartyNextDoor, Post Malone, Wale, Sampha, Toro Y Moi & many more..

[Click the image]

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Aug 23 2010
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No Hats No Trainers Cypher 2

After the success of the first edition, No Hats No Trainers bring you the the 2nd Cypher, this time featuring Dot Rotten, Calibar, Black The Ripper & Mz Bratt.

Dot Rotten kicked it off flawlessly, portraying his mind through lyrics effortlessly,

Calibar, one of the most underrated rappers in the UK, made no mistakes with this effort, balancing reality and his style with a smooth delivery,

Black The Ripper, considered by many a “potential legend in the game”, delivers another reality check with the upmost of confidence.

Mz Bratt took a stride over a lot of the male emcees with this cypher, personally i expected it, this leading lady spun a few heads with the content easily.

What i like about this cypher is that i don’t believe this was anybody’s best, but then i know their potentials, but without a doubt a great effort from each artist.

UK Stand Up!

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Dec 04 2009
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M.I. – Hustle (Remix) ft. SAS

MTV Africa award winner M.I. reaches out to UK’s European representers, Eurogang’s SAS (Mega & Mayhem) for the remix to what is becoming an African classic, Hustle.

Mega & Mayhem have been consistant with the quality of their music, they were one of the earlier artists I tipped for success, this was back when I did not even write, I was just a fan, they went on to work with Dame Dash and there was talk regarding Dipset, but all that matters is that SAS are well respected both in the UK and in USA, that is a rare accomplishment, with this track the Flygerian brothers have now justified their reputation in Africa, a good look for the two, representing the United Kingdom with two honest and heartfelt verses, M.I. has a style of his own and you can tell why this song is such a hit, so combine the two and you have an even bigger record and another step forward in spreading unity through music.

Runway Fly ..UK Stand Up!!

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Oct 25 2009
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Clipse – Popular Demand (Popeye’s) ft. Pharrell & Cam’ron

CLIPSE2

The much hyped collaboration finally leaks, since some information regarding tracklisting for their upcoming album ‘Til The Casket Drops’ had surfaced on the internet, there was a lot of interest in this one (even though there was a Kanye West collabo too), after Kinda Like A Big Deal ft. Kanye West was released, Popeye’s was all that people could talk about.

Dipset general Cam’ron had turned down the chance to work with the Clipse before, when invited to feature on the remix for their anthem ‘Grindin’, however now seems to be the time, many may expect a lot more, but I think the real Hip-Hop (or general Clipse/Cam’ron) fan will appreciate this for it’s classic rap feel.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zwEfmJqoFo&NR=1]

Produced by The Neptunes and featuring a hook from Pharrell Williams, this track was created especially for this concept, The Neptunes have always known how to bring the best out of the Clipse, even though they are capable to shine just as well on a Justice League, Timbaland or Kanye West beat (I beleive Pusha T is one of the few emcees that could hold his own on a Dr Dre beat), there is a present chemistry between the two and this is obviously evident with this. So, once again the Clipse have not dissapointed, ‘fly-talk’, slick word-play, they possess it all and bring it to the table with this, an extra-dimension is offered with the feature provided by Cam’ron, “I’m Pharrell (for real) with the Clipse (clips)”, is one of the lines as he provides a classic Killa Cam flow, his presence is felt on the track and helps round this record up with the appeal of a classic song.

The Clipse’s third album ‘Til The Casket Drops’ is tipped to be another classic, with features from Keri Hilson, Kanye West & more, expect more anthems from Clipse and the whole Re-Up gang.

Malice & Pusha T aka The Clipse

Malice & Pusha T aka The Clipse

“VA..Stand Up!!”

clipsechain

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