New music from Mister Green, Suspect, Jorja Smith, Karma Kid, Chontane and plenty more.
It feels almost surreal as to how quickly 2020 is going, despite the days feeling all so repetitive. We are already HALFWAY through the year somehow, 6 WHOLE MONTHS into what we sense will be a particularly memorable annum.
Our picks from this month come via the likes of Kasien, Kam-BU and IAMDDB - all of whom are finding their way onto our platform religiously at the moment, but like with everyone featured in this article, we rate them very highly.
808INK ft Jesse James - Riddick Bowe
Named after the ex-American pro boxer, 808INK and JJ’s titanic collaboration feels like a sonic celebration of the successes they’ve achieved thus far. Triumphant trumpets and rumbling bass whir around the rapper’s potent lyricism, creating an infectious tone to the track.
Kasien - All I See
Since we saw Bakar last year, our obsession with Kasien’s musical output has hit new heights. We’ve been waiting a while for new material, and finally All I See is out in the open with stellar visuals. The tune's sinister trap tendencies are more of what we have come to expect from Kas, and we are hoping he brings this flavour to Mike Skinner's fourthcoming album.
Kam-Bu - Touch
We love a loyal producer and emcee partnership; Kam-bu and Pullen have this in abundance and their inherent chemistry is very audible in Touch. Kam-Bu is one of the hardest rappers going right now, and arguably this single personifies some of his most savvy rhymes to date. You can view up the clever, quarantine adhering visuals below.
MISTER GREEN - Turtle Sandpit
Premiered over on Offie Mag’s website, Turtle Sandpit is one of the more visceral cuts on our picks for this month. As soon as the distinctive “ITS MISTER GREEEEEN” adlib interrupts Karma Kid’s production, you can’t help but bop your head with a grimacing face of bass appreciation. BIG tune.
Suspect - No Gimmicks
Flyo and Suspect’s latest collaboration sounds like London’s answer to a West Coast G-Funk tune, especially on the hook. Haunting melodies, devilish adlibs and chilling synths, elements we have all come to expect from such a partnership, combine for a beautifully harrowing listen.
Knucks ft Sam Wise - Fxcked Up
Knucks is killing it at the moment. Previous single ‘Home’ has hit different in lockdown, and the no Days Off member’s latest single features House Of Pharaohs kingpin Sam Wise. ‘Fxcked Up’ is certainly a grower so run the track a couple times.
NoName - Song 33
In response to “Snow On Tha Bluff”, NoName has again called out J. Cole for his silence on the death of George Floyd. ‘Song 33’ addresses Cole’s subtle shots at the Douglas artist, “He really ‘bout to write about me when the world is in smokes” she questions with her intrinsic, nuanced tones. Give the song a listen, and understand the beef below.
Backroad Gee - Mad About Bars
Gee’s delivery is completely unrivalled in the London scene, and his Mad About Bars elicits this more than any previous singles. The Congolese native’s frantic energy matches the equally combustible drill beats Kenny Allstar lays down for him. Definitely one of our favourite MABs of recent times.
IAMDDB - Quarantine
Every aspect of this track is brilliant… bar the Manchester United shirt IAMDDB wears in the video. She is, of course, Manny born and bread, so we will let her off - especially as this tune is so amazing. Like a lot of B’s music, you’ll be craving a zoot after hearing this.
Downtown Kayoto - Feels Like
This is the first of a string of single releases from Downtown Kayoto, who we are tipping for greatness in the near future. Blending muted synth melodies with dexterous lyricism and sharp hooks, Feels Like transcends genre and still manages to sound commercial. There are some great visuals to coincide with the tune, which you can watch below.
Jorja Smith - Rose Rouge
Covering St. Germain’s Rose Rouge, Jorja Smith’s latest single comes from an upcoming jazz compilation featuring the likes of Skinny Pelembe and Yazmin Lacey. The original track was itself based on Molena Shaw’s “Woman Of The Ghetto”, which came out in 1973.
REPEAT RAVES REPEAT RAVES REPEAT RAVES
Karma Kid - Love Makes You Feel Good
This soulful deep house heater is all you need to get grooving in July. Karma Kid is kindly donating all proceedings raised off the Bandcamp release to BLAM projects, and we feel anyone who considers themselves a DJ should have this stored ready for use on their USB.
Bish and Gray - Rudeboy remix
If Boomtown was on this year, this remix would have won the festival. Although Bish and Gray were not announced to play themselves, the likes of ShyFX would have shown no hesitation to drop such a summer roller, and now you can too at your local rec, with your mates, on a portable speaker.
Josey In Space - Andrés - Café Con Léché
BBC Essential Mix of the Year winner and Rinse FM resident Josey Rebelle has a new compilation out, and there isn’t a bad tune on there. Our personal pick is this one by Andrés - a cosmic afro-jazz slammer with an outrageous rhythm.
Chontane - Nam
German DJ and Producer Chontane has just released an EP courtesy of Rekids Records, and this cut is a right ear worm. As with the nature of Berlin tech, the intricate rhythms and raging bass sound straight out of the post-brutalist, industrial settings the city gives off.
Dart - Plugged Outro
Dart's latest offering is an intergalactic breakbeat banger. The Irishman has had a pretty mad year of it, touring with Denis Sulta, playing Manchester's Warehouse Project and winning the emerging producer award at AVA Festival. This is all of little surprise when you listen to Plugged Outro.
WRITTEN BY LIAM CATTERMOLE