Slim’s Pickings 2022 Pt. 2

Following on from last week’s continued roundup of some of my favourite releases from 2022, I’m back with what I thought was going to be my final selection. The original plan was to cover 30 EPs and albums, but as time has gone on my mind has decided to trigger more musical memories from the year. Add to that the fact that the last breaths of 2022 brought us a few more releases and I realise now that I could easily do a top 40 (shout out to 80’s Sunday evenings on Radio One). So without further ado, here are my next ten choices, and as usual they arrive in no particular order beyond the sequence my memory brought them to the surface. The third and final instalment will follow shortly.

Dubbledge & Forest DLG: Ten Toes Down (Stream)

Every time Dubbledge releases something fresh into the world, the UK rap scene quite rightly devours it because we are almost constantly fiendin’ for unheard material from one of the country’s most widely respected yet least prolific artists. So to be told that a whole Dubbledge album was en route, an album produced by the legendary Forest DLG, was enough to make me lose my shit.
Ten Toes Down was originally recorded a whopping 10 years ago, back when Forest was still Chemo, but for reasons unknown to this blog at least, it remained stashed away. But as the old saying goes, it’s better late than never, so please enjoy this 10 track assortment of beats and bars, which is at once as enlightening and entertaining as you would expect from an MC of Dubbledge’s standards. Ten Toes Down is out now on Potent Funk.

Problem Child: Me

A new drop for an old track here, as Potent Funk dust off one of their most cherished releases in the form of Problem Child’s 730 EP. The EP was recently given the remastering treatment and released back into a world very much in need of its anarchic energy and zero bullshit pedigree. For those unfamiliar, Problem Child was originally made up of Dabbla, Dubbledge and Sumgii, before Illaman joined their ranks not long after. They still exist under the updated moniker, Still A Problem, and I think we are due some new music soon, which would help explain the rejuvenated EP we’ve been blessed with. Check out the video for Me above and then head here to check the rest of the project.

Problem Child ft. Orifice Vulgatron: What You Want?

Fresh from the finest purveyors of that hybrid rap shit, comes a special new track and video. Problem Child have called on the mighty Foreign Beggars for What You Want?, with Orifice Vulgatron bringing his inimitable flow to Sumgii’s dirty production. Not only that, but the video features none other than comedian and rap fan, Romesh Ranganathan. The video was made by Slim Yearwood and the track is available to buy now over on the Potent Funk Bandcamp page.

Tha 4orce ft. Dubbledge: My Brothers Keeper

More dope from Tha 4orce, following on from his collaboration with Confucius MC on More To It. A switch up in style and sound as he brings in Dubbledge, who delivers his usual level of lyrical prowess, all finished off with another nicely shot video from Global Faction. You can cop the singles over at Bandcamp now.

Problem Child: Bars O’Clock

Bars everywhere in the latest Brapp HD video, with Problem Child bringing their trademark madness to the screen. Dabbla, Dubbeldge and Illaman go back to back over a strong, stripped back beat from Sumgii.

Illaman: Interview

For the past few years Illaman has been making waves in UK hip hop and beyond, largely thanks to his hype fuelled live shows and his involvement with Problem Child, alongside Dubbledge, Dabbla and Sumgii. I got the chance to speak with him at the UK Beatbox Championships last month and we chatted about his journey from metal to rap, his most memorable moments and the plans for his solo album, among many other things.

Problem Child: Creeper

My favourite group of lunatics making music right now, have just graced us with another video from their excellent 730 project. Get involved with Creeper and then head over to the Par Ex Bandcamp to cop the EP.

Problem Child: Bars O’Clock Cypher

The freshest cypher from those rap loonies, Problem Child, which literally dropped about an hour ago. Dabbla, Illaman and Dubbledge get suitably rowdy over a dirty mix from Sumgii. Rap hands everywhere. Watch out for more madness coming soon.

Problem Child: Me

Don’t call it a comeback, call it a fucking welcome return for the trio known as Problem Child. They have been threatening to release new material for a while and then things hotted up when they dropped a cypher video recently. They have now released the first official video from their new project, 730, which is due out later in the year on the Par Excellence label. The single is already available to buy over at Bandcamp.