It is easier than ever for DJs, artists and producers to tease music online, and keep fans agonisingly waiting for tracks that may never be released. They can be bastards. The anticipation is often so intense it brings fanatics to breaking point; months, and in the case of Skream fans still waiting for Lemon, years of trawling through Reddit may end with little reward.
We are currently experiencing this issue from a range of our favourite rappers and producers, so to put our minds at ease, we have rounded up all the tunes that have been the subject of our craving in one handy article. Hopefully, one day, they will surface online.
Disclosure & Fatoumata Diawara - Mali Mali
Dropped in Guy Lawrence's Boileroom, Mali Mali is another afro infused techno roller loaded in Disclosure's hard drive. Fatoumata Diawara is known mainly as an Actress, but she has performed on Colours Berlin and released LPs since 2011. An ode to Diawara's Malian origins, this track epitomises euphoria; we desperately need its release for the summer.
Headie One & Kenny Beats - Kodak
Kenny Beats has been showing a lot of love for our shores over the past week. Collaborations with Slowthai and SL have accentuated his appreciation for U.K. music, but the track we are really waiting for is Kodak - with Headie One. Tagging a quintessentially British drill beat with his signature 'oh kill it' adlib, the 40 second clip, which you can find on Twitter, shows the producer bringing out the best in OFB's finest.
Slowthai - Man Went Cray
If you tuned into Thai's Twitch stream a couple days ago, you may have been as surprised as us to hear him play a drill song. Man Went Cray was just one of many unreleased tracks teased on the stream: JPEGMAFIA and Skepta collabs also featured. This tune took us off guard more than any, and luckily enough, one of us had the impulsion to screen record it. Watch below.
Björk - Crying (Four Tet/Palms Trax remix?)
The mastermind behind this remix is still yet to be named, but we have heard both Four Tet and Palms Trax unleash it in their sets. If we were to hazard a guess, this is the work of Kieran Hebden. Mixing it with Never Come Back, by Caribou, the DJ and Producer dropped the track in his most recent Boileroom, whilst Jay Donaldson (Palms Trax) nearly blew the speakers off Mint Warehouse with it back in March.
Frank Ocean ft Skepta - Little Demon
We are really craving a switch up from the ambient cuts Frank Ocean has been releasing recently. Little Demon, if it ever surfaces beyond the Blonded radio show, may just be what we are after. Credited as Arca’s remix, the track sees Ocean playing with a staccato flow, whilst Skepta hops on and bodies the Venezuelan's arrangement with his inherently greazy delivery. STOP PLAYING WITH US FRANK.
Novelist - Benji B dub
This will probably never come to fruition. However, you can catch it in Benji B’s last two radio 1 shows. Novelist devised the beat on his Instagram live, which the DJ was watching, and decided to name it after him as he rated it so much. Covid-19 has provoked a greater sense of interconnectivity, with everyone resorting to social media for entertainment: artists, DJs and fans have been hooking up daily to stream each other’s content. Hopefully this set up can create some more bangers. Listen here.
Congo Natty - Junglist (S.P.Y Remix)
The S.P.Y Remix of Junglist, originally by Congo Natty, is a textbook rework of the old school banger. Confirmed to never be seeing a release, this track is a golden dub within the rave. Selectors such as Randall, Kelvin 373 and Aries have all given it a spin, and there's good reason to why they have. Certified BANGER..
Trinity VIP - Alix Perez
Alix Perez’s Trinity was without a doubt one of the biggest tracks of 2019; my mates and I would rinse the shit out of it when messing around on the decks in our uni halls. At Bristol's Trinity Centre, we went to a 1985 event last year - we definitely weren't expecting to hear this monstrous VIP. If you thought the track couldn't give more, you were wrong. I will let the video do the talking...
T>I & Upgrade - Shot Down
Now I'm sure, if you attended Boomtown 2018, this next dub will be no stranger to you. Being played at what felt like every set, Shot Down is a heavy hitting reggae roller which will have the blood in your veins wobbling. This one was produced by DnB titans T>I & Upgrade, top track boys!
Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers (Kotu Remix)
Kotus' remix of Everybody Loves the Sunshine is probably one of the most well known dub plates in the dnb/jungle scene. The track's feel good, summer vibe makes you want to do nothing more than crack a cheeky gunfinger, whilst taking in some glorious rays of sunshine. As the track is not widely available to the public, many other producers have attempted a remix of their own, however none quite compare to Kotus' euphoric ragga break banger!