Sparkz: Overload

Very happy to see Sparkz back with a bang, as he makes his first moves with High Focus. One of many killer MCs from the LEVELZ bloodline, he adds another string to his bow thanks to the self-production on Overload. No word on an album yet, but I know he’s got a lot planned for this year, so be on the lookout for more bangers emerging soon.

Voodoo Black: Sitting At The Table (Stream)

Fresh out today is the debut album from Manchester crew, Voodoo Black. I say crew, but the supergroup argument could also be valid, as they are made up of four already well established artists from the city. Consisting of MCs Sparkz, Ellis Meade and Dubbul O, as well as Cutterz on production, Voodoo Black have been making music together for years now, but this is their first full-length and it stands as the debut they deserve. Jazz is the dominant influence on the album and from the riffs of the titular opening track, to the punchy Jehst-assisted, Abracadamting, it’s the perfect backdrop for the lyrical styles on display, from four MCs who all possess a competency that puts them up there with the best the UK has to offer. As well as Jehst, there are some other choice features, including fellow Manny artist, LayFullStop, RLD favourite, Leaf Dog and street soul revivalist, EVABEE. You can hear the album for yourself below and there is also a new video for the title track, courtesy of Ellis Meade. Sitting At The Table is out now on Village Live.

Voodoo Black: Know Broke

Manchester collective, Voodoo Black, continue to build the anticipation of their debut album, with another superb single. Know Broke is another ideal vehicle for the three MCs respective flows, thanks to Cutterz’s production which opens up with some piano-laced jazzy strains, before venturing into more trappy territory when the drop comes. The album, Sitting At The Table, is due for release on 27 March on Village Live.

Voodoo Black: Fizzy

Voodoo Black are due to release their debut album this month and yesterday they unveiled the lead single. The Manchester quartet – comprised of MCs Ellis Meade, Dubbul O and Sparkz, as well as producer, Cutterz – have been around for a while now, both as a crew and as individual artists, but this is the first full-length project they have put out. Fizzy is a smooth, jazzy introduction to the album, on which I can hear echoes of Green Light by Jonwayne. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing the rest of the album and I can confirm it is the debut they deserve. Stay tuned for more on that nearer the release date, which is due on 27 March via Village Live. The video for Fizzy was made by Ellis Meade on location in Sofia and Manchester.

Pitch 92: 3rd Culture (Stream)

Another blinding debut release right here, as Manchester-based producer, Pitch 92, drops his highly anticipated 3rd Culture album. It’s a debut for a producer who has long been a part of the UK scene, making a name for himself off the back of a string of solid collaborations alongside a number of artists including Verb T and more recently, DRS. He released his Lost in Space EP on High Focus last year to critical acclaim, but now he takes things up to new heights with this full-length project.

Pitch 92 ft. LayFullStop, Jehst & Sparkz: Kingdom

As you may have noticed if you follow me on socials, the forthcoming album from Pitch 92 has a ridiculously strong list of guest features. Not only that but the various combinations of MCs and vocalists that he’s chosen for each track are all pretty special.
The first single had MysDiggi, Verb T and Kashmere united on the same beat and for the latest video, we’ve got another killer combo. Kingdom sees UK vet, Jehst, teamed up with two Manchester favourites – Sparkz and LayFullStop. The whole thing is tied up with a nifty video from Jay Bannister.
Third Culture is set for release on 28 February on High Focus.

Voodoo Black: Gettin Dum

Great track from Manchester crew, Voodoo Black, as they kick off the year with Gettin Dum. Dubbul O, Ellis Meade and Sparkz take the tempo up to 140, demonstrating their shared dexterity in the booth, with Cutterz production hitting the right notes as standard. Lots more to come from Voodoo Black this year, so keep those eyes peeled.

LEVELZ: Rainy Day (LVL 50)

I took a break over the festive/festering season so I’ve got a hell of a lot to catch up on. Let’s start with the latest release from one of Manchester’s more boisterous collectives, LEVELZ, as they return with Rainy Day (LVL 50). The track features vocal work from Chimpo, Fox, Skittles and Sparkz, plus production from Metrodome and Bricks. Rainy Day is available to download now via Bandcamp.

LEVELZ: Warning Call (LVL 47)

New music from LEVELZ, as the Manchester collective return with the LVL 47 aka Warning Call. This time round mic duties are handled by Sparkz, Chimpo and Black Josh, with Metrodome and Sparkz on the beat. As usual you can grab a free download over on Bandcamp. The video was made by Tarnish Vision.

Pitch 92 ft. Sparkz, [K S R] & Doctor Outer: Dawn

The next video from the recently released Pitch 92 EP is doing the rounds, featuring more Manchester talent. On Dawn, the High Focus producer is accompanied by Sparkz, [ K S R ] and Doctor Outer. The track is lifted from Lost in Space, which is out now on all formats. The video was made by Craig Capone.