Dabbla x JaySun: Not Quite Dead

Always good to see the arrival of new music from Dabbla and this latest solo escapade is a prime example of why. Linking up with fellow Potent Funk alchemist, JaySun, Not Quite Dead is the perfect Dabbla excursion – understated while still devastating with the wordplay. Is there more on the horizon? Let’s hope so.

Have A Word: An Interview With Kid Acne

Kid Acne has been a prominent figure on the UK art scene for almost as long as I’ve had an interest in art. On top of that, he’s been making rap records for over 20 years, including his most recent effort, Hauntology Codes, alongside blog favourite, Spectacular Diagnostics. We both live in the same city now and I’ve been fortunate enough to hang out with him a couple of times, so I thought it might be a good idea to turn one of our chats into an interview.
So in what is my most expansive interview to date, we spoke about a diverse range of topics, including the new album, his artistic origin story, his relationship with Lex Records, the perils of keeping art and music separate, and doing magic mushrooms while travelling through a hail storm in a car with Quelle Chris.

Hauntology Codes is out now via Lex.

Photos by Rob Searle.

Juga-Naut: Bem II (Stream)

Another celebration of DIY brilliance from Juga-Naut, as he releases Bem II. Following in the footsteps of it’s acclaimed predecessor back in 2020, this latest chapter is another showcase of Jugz’s raw talent, along with some suitably skilled guest spots from CRIMEAPPLE, Vandal Savage and Yumah. Stream it below.

Lord Apex ft. Mavi: Back Outside

Fresh video from Lord Apex, as he unveils the latest cut from his recent solo album. Back Outside is another top tier collaboration, as Apex is joined by North Carolina’s finest, Mavi. The track also features some stellar production from Black Noi$e and a slick video from the legendary AboveGround. It’s lifted from The Good Fight, which is out everywhere.

Juga-Naut: Sugarcane

Big fan of the latest video from the mighty Juga-Naut. The Nottingham artist brings his vision for new single, Sugarcane, to life, while paying homage to the likes of David Lynch and John Carpenter. The track is lifted from Jugz’s forthcoming album, Bem II, which is due for release later this month.

Black Josh ft. Sly Moon: Council Pop

New drop from Black Josh, as he kicks his year off with this Lee Scott produced jewel, featuring Sly Moon. The video was made by Honey JD. Streams available on all the usual platforms.

Lord Apex: God Put Love

A lesson in drumless perfection here, as Lord Apex releases a video for God Put Love. The track is produced by Argov and it’s lifted from Apex’s recent album, The Good Fight.

Lord Apex: The Good Fight (Stream)

Having already strolled into a lot of people’s favourite artist lists, thanks to a magnificent run of releases over the last few years, Lord Apex finally blesses the world with his official debut album. The Good Fight sees the UK artist uniting with a number of other talented souls, including Madlib, Greentea Peng, Freddie Gibbs and MAVI, resulting in arguably his most accomplished work to date. You can listen to the album in full above, with other streaming options available here.

Sonnyjim & Lee Scott: Ortolan & Armagnac

Just over a year after the release of his lauded White Girl Wasted LP, Sonnyjim returns to the fore with a new album. Ortolan & Armagnac is produced in full by Lee Scott, continuing the chemistry they had already established over the last few years. The album is released in full tomorrow but you can check out a couple of tracks below, including Tommy Lee Scott, which features CRIMEAPPLE and D-Styles. Other features include Heems, Your Old Droog, King Grubb and Lee Scott himself. Hit up Bandcamp to pre-order digital or vinyl.

Benaddict, Slim & Ella Mae Sueref: Seven Days + LP News

I’m very happy to be able to share new music from Benaddict, Slim and Ella Mae Sueref. The trio first collaborated back in 2017 when they released Teal – a personal favourite from the Village Live catalogue. Now they’re back with a new album on the horizon and it looks set to prove that their last union was no fluke. Seven Days is one of the tracks that has been released ahead of the full drop, so you can get a feel for the jazzy soulful blend of hip hop that the trio embraces. Pre-orders for Cerulean are available now via Bandcamp, where you can also hear three more tracks. The full album is due for release on 3 November.