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Hip Hop

  1. Juggaknots - Clear Blue Skies

    2. It's not every day you hear lyricism like this. The emcees take a)the personae of a white youth involved with a black woman, and b)his bigoted father. Sure to become one of my all-time classic hip-hop tunes, the astonishing wordplay never interferes with the song's emotional impact.

  2. GZA - Liquid Swords

    3. It's Wu Week for me as me mate lent me some albums, old ones 'cos the new ones are shite. Not only does this have a great intro (sampled from "Shogun Assassin", a crazy enough experience in itself) but a beat which is destined for classic status. When the emcees came...

  3. DJ Z-trip - Downtime

    4. A great slice of downtempo instrumental hip-hop. Think DJ Shadow in contemplative mood, and you wouldn't be far off.

  4. Raekwon - Ice Cream

    5. Super-mysoginist rhymes! Creaky but awesome beat that made a cameo in Ghost Dog! Only good tune on his first LP! It's another wu-banger!

  5. Lootpack ftg Defari + the Alkoholics - Likwit Fusion

    6. "...hotter than a sa(u)na/ full of piranha/ I make your grandmama wanna hit the marijuana..." To me, this is the epitome of hip-hop music... badass.

Funk

  1. Herman Kelly & Life - Dance To The Drummer's Beat

    2. I made someone sing along to this on the radio for a prize today. That was pretty funny. Anyhoo, this has just been rereleased on 12", better pick up a copy before I buy them all...

  2. Betty Davis - Anti-Love Song

    3. Available on that "Good Women" compilation that came out a while ago (on Strut?). Anyhow, Ms Davis gets all sexually empowered and sings about not wanting to love someone over an amazing bass-heavy blues-influenced backing. She was married to Miles, I don't blame her in the least...

  3. Blackbyrds - I Need You

    4. The Blackbyrds were proteges of jazz-funk masta Donald Byrd. This is from the BB's second album "Flying Start". Juicy bass synths, fat horn stabs, and cheesy vox combine for a guaranteed good time.

  4. Horace Silver - Song For My Father

    5. OK, strictly speaking this is a jazz tune, but Horace Silver was an important figure in soul jazz, the heavier, funkier side of things, so must catch props here. This is a choice horn/piano tune underpinned by shuffling bossa rhythms. From the LP of the same name.

  5. William DeVaughan - Be Thankful For What You've Got

    6. You can get this on single or on the very-nice Super Breaks Vol 2. It's more soulful than funky but has a great laid-back feel. Perfect for cruisin the ave' in your cadillac with the gangsta lean.

Drum'n'Bass

  1. Total Science - Breakfast Club

    2. I'd almost forgotten about this one as it's the B-side to "Dubplate". But me mate Paul made me play it out on the weekend, and it's a savagely bouncy Digital-style banger. Has beats sampled from NWA's "Express Yourself".

  2. DJ Patife feat Max de Castro - Pra Voce Lembrar (Carnaval mix)

    3. Ruling the roost as top future-soul tune this week. It is baaad.

  3. DJ Ink vs. Dylan - Need You Now

    4. Word on the street is that this blew up the place when Grooverider played it out. Just the right mix of vox and hardness make this a memorable tune.

  4. Neurosis - Escape Route

    5. Industry number 2 kicks off with moody ambient sounds before building to a nice tech grind. Smoove.

  5. DJ Patife - Sambassim

    6. Another tune from the wicked Brazil EP out soon on V Recs. Manages to combine a smooth guitar-driven samba with d'n'b without much effort at all. Loses a couple points by mentioning drum'n'bass in the vocal, but that's just me.