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.

Dabbla x alllone: Bad Tuesday (Stream)

After a particularly strong introduction to the Potent Funk roster, Austrian production team, alllone, return to the fore with their full debut, Bad Tuesday. The EP features five tracks that veer into the more alternative areas of rap, with Dabbla’s meticulous flows helping to keep the vibe alive, as well as a very welcome injection from Illaman on Mountain Goat. You can check out the full EP below, with downloads available direct from Potent Funk.

Dabbla x alllone: Adept

Fresh music from the Potent Funk family, with the arrival of new additions, alllone. The Austrian production duo make their label debut with the assistance of PF veteran, Dabbla, who is the main collaborator on their upcoming EP. Adept is the first single and is the perfect fit for a label that has championed the hybrid rap sound over the years. Looking forward to hearing what the remainder of the EP has in store. Bad Tuesday is out in full on 22 November.

Dabbla x Illaman x GEAR x Benofficial: Main Man Syndrome

From UK to US as Potent Funk flex their collective talent on this latest single. Main Man Syndrome features spoken bullets from Dabbla, Illaman, GEAR and Benofficial, as well as some perfectly matched musical accompaniment from Forest DLG. It’s an illuminating collaboration and the video also gives you the opportunity to see Dabbla getting tattooed on a bus. Say no more.

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.

Snowy x Sumgii: Impulse

New heat from the Potent Funk family, as Snowy makes his official debut on the label with a tight Sumgii produced track. It’s the first of two singles, which are going to be available on limited edition 10″ AA vinyl. Check Bandcamp for order details, but be quick as there were only eight copies left at the time of writing this.

Dolenz ft. Dabbla: Blak Helicopters

Following on from the arrival of the new Dolenz EP, the Potent Funk producer has just unveiled the next video to be taken from it, featuring label-head, Dabbla. The video was made by Daisy Chain Video. Electric Fence is out now on both digital and physical.

Dolenz: Howzer + EP Stream

Fresh out of the Potent Funk stable, comes this new EP from London-based producer, Dolenz. You can check out an instrumental cut from the project above, and then below you can explore the remaining tracks, which include features from Dabbla and Black Josh. The cuts come courtesy of Matt Frost. Downloads and physicals are available via Potent Funk.

Gear: Ghost Tears

Brand new music from across the water, as Gear releases his second single on Potent Funk. Introspective lyrics and rolling basslines make up the foundation of Ghost Tears, which was produced by Gear himself. The track is available to stream now. Stay tuned for more from PF coming soon.

Sumgii x Illaman x Chunky: Lost in Space

New movements from the Potent Funk family, as they unveil a new collab between Sumgii, Illaman and Chunky. Their first track, Lost in Space, surfaced last week and set the pace for whatever else they have in store. Not even sure if there is more to come, but let’s hope so. Lost in Space is available to stream now on all the usual platforms. The video was made by Max Motion.