We original shared this video to our FB and Twitter page when this powerful song ‘Ahmed’ from Lowkey featuring Mai Khalil and produced by Agent of Change was released at the end of July, but its only right we rep it on the site too!
Lowkey’s music and social commentary has been missed, however with this new music and visual from GlobalFaction here is his first release in a few years and it’s as thought provoking as ever.
The long awaited debut album ‘Hastility (H1)’ from the UK/US duo consisting of producer Configa and Queens, NYC emcee HaStyle drops tomorrow (Mon 29th August) and boy it’s been worth the wait!
I’ve been a fan of Configa’s dope Boom Bap production style and repped his music in the past and knew of his love for the Golden Era sound that is evident in his music. Then he hooked up with the like minded creative NYC lyricist and storyteller HaStyle. They introduced themselves swiftly as a duo to watch out for with two well received EP’s during 2015, ‘The Calm Before HaStility’ and the aptly named ‘A Good Combination’
A year later we now have the full length debut album from this talented duo. After previously whetting our appetites with the fore mentioned EP’s, Configa and HaStyle come with deeper content and a darker, heavier vibe with this banger of an LP with features from El Da Sensei, Prince Po, Chino XL, Rashan and dope cuts from UK turntablist DJ Madhandz.
We are living in times of great social injustice, racism is still prevalent, Police act with impunity, the use of propaganda and media manipulation is rife, more and more areas of our world are engulfed in conflict and war and people like you and I are fed up, disillusioned and angry with our governments not just in the States or here in the UK it’s a global issue. ‘Hastility (H1)’ hits on and encompasses those thoughts and feelings as HaStyle draws on that anger and address the issues waxing lyrical with an effortless flow over the musical canvas Configa provides with his characteristic neck snapping beats that come with a grittier, moody edge to them.
There really isn’t a weak joint on this album all the guest features deliver to the standards you’d expect, but Configa and HaStyle are not over shadowed in the slightest and obviously the talent and creativity from the pair of them is what makes this such a DOPE album. Here’s a few joints that caught my attention.
The record starts with the Dr Configa Intro (Configa really is a Doctor on Hip Hop ya know, man has a PhD!) this concept sets the scene for the direction in which ‘Hastility (H1)’ is going to take us.
‘Mind Control’ sees HaStyle address how history can and HAS been manipulated and encourages the listener to seek knowledge for yourself whilst at the same time warning our governments can control, watch and invade citizens privacy at any given moment and features a dope verse from El Da Sensei.
With heavy boom bap drums from Configa ‘Channel Zero’ examines peoples dependency on TV and its ability to brainwash the masses with constant 24 hour news ramming negativity and fear in to our living rooms.
HaStyle examines his dreams in the joint ‘Nightmares’ whether they are his dreams or a reality, accompained by Configa’s head nodding beat and Madhandz dope cuts. The track comes with a newly released visual today, Shot by Peter Clark (Attic Studios) and the Video Edited by Nate Pommer. Check it out here
‘Hastility’ was the first single and title track taken from ‘Hastility (H1)’. Rather than me tell you how dope it is, check out the video directed by Nick Light here
The track ‘Substance Abuse’ speaks for itself there aren’t too many towns and cities across the globe that aren’t touched by the scourge of substance abuse, whether it be alcohol or drugs. I myself still have my own demons that I fight and have lost friends to both drink and drugs. HaStyle doesn’t come across all preachy however, just offering pearls of wisdom to those that may be in that spiral or advising family and friends to look for the signs, this track resonated with me.
‘This World’ featuring Rashan is a more laid back vibe with HaStyle exploring finding your way in life, trying to stay on the right path whilst acknowledging the traps, pitfalls, stereotypes and prejudices that we can encounter on our journeys through this often unpredictable life.
We then jump pace again with the sick joint ‘World War Rap (Remix)’ featuring the legendary Prince Po, i’ll let the music do the talking for itself……
As I previously mentioned there really isn’t a weak joint, if I haven’t mentioned a track it’s not that I didn’t like it, I just didn’t want to bore you with my ramblings! ‘Hastility (H1)’ flows seamlessly with cleverly worked samples and cuts that compliment the music without over powering.
There is also a clear chemistry between both Configa and HaStyle which shines throughout the album. A lot of time and effort of travelling between the UK and New York has gone on to create this great piece of music and I think it’s that personal interaction between the producer and emcee which makes this stand out above a lot of submissions we get.
I have said in the past it’s almost criminal the amount of UK rappers that sleep on Configa’s production, but its their loss, and where many rappers can rap, many can’t story tell like HaStyle so it’s a win win for the pair of them and also for us as fans of Hip Hop.
It’s far too easy these days to buy a selection of beats of a handful of producers and throw a project together, but the real craft and art is building something together from the bottom up and that is what Configa and HaStyle have accomplished with ‘Hastility (H1)’, a record that oozes the Golden Era Sound, whilst commenting on the issues that face us today.
Words; Stix
You can Pre-Order Configa and HaStyle’s debut album ‘Hastility (H1)’ digitally and on CD but it is released and available to purchase tomorrow (Mon 29th August)
Oooohhh Shit, yeah! Check out the DOPE long awaited first single and video from UK producer Configa and NYC emcee HaStyle with the title track from their highly anticipated album ‘Hastility (H1)’.
After creating a buzz with their equally dope first two EP’s ‘The Calm Before HaStility’ and ‘A Good Combination’ in 2015. They are now set to drop their full length album on August 29th. On the previous two EP’s and with this first offering from the LP, ‘Hastility’ is gonna be one for your collections. You can Pre Order your copy now here
‘Randeer’, produced by Star.One is the second single taken from Dabbla’s highly anticipated album ‘Year of The Monkey’. Dabbla is one of the most consistent MC’s to ever emerge out of the UK, whether it be tearing it up as one third of the Dead Players, Problem Child or the infamous London Zoo, he has always impressed and left hordes of fans demanding more of his signature golden flow, trademark humour and unparalleled skill.
Finally the moment we have all been waiting for is here – Dabbla’s first solo album – ‘Year Of The Monkey’ featuring jaw dropping production from the likes of GhostTown, Tom Caruana, Star.One, Don Piper, Naive, Chemo & Sumgii as well as guest appearances from Dirty Dike, Ocean Wisdom, Jam Baxter, Dubbledge, Cobes & Graziella.
‘Year Of The Monkey’ will be released on the 9th of September 2016 on High Focus Records.
To say REKS took the underground rap scene by storm would be an understatement, as over the course of his first decade on the scene he was the definition of consistent, unleashing three consecutive albums that firmly established him as one of hip-hop’s most revered new artists: ‘Along Came The Chosen’, ‘Grey Hairs’ (primarily produced by Statik Selektah with additional production from DJ Premier & Large Professor), ‘Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme’ (which debuted on the Billboard charts and included production from Statik Selektah, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, Nottz, Sha Money XL & Sean C & LV).
While REKS’ ‘The Greatest X’ (pronounced as The Greatest Unknown) is not a comeback album, it is a return to force for the Boston wordsmith. As he did on his previous stand-out efforts, REKS is back working with the industries elite producers (Large Professor, The Alchemist, Evidence, Statik Selektah, Nottz, Apollo Brown, Black Milk, Buckwild, STREETRUNNER) as he sets out to take the next step in his progression with ‘The Greatest X’. “Over the past two and a half years I have been recording songs with the understanding this would be album number 10 for me and thus something monumental” REKS stated. “The Greatest X is a valuable addition to my catalogue; and an important album for hip hop period. I liked the idea (double-album) because it would represent something special for album number 10. The Greatest X is more of an experience than it is an album. It is one of my proudest accomplishments.”
With “Kites,” (The slang term “flying kites” refers to mail entering, or leaving the prison walls to maintain inmate contact with the outside world.)REKS bears his soul over an eerie, hypnotizing Alchemist production and pens two passionate letters to individuals who have captured the world’s attention. The first letter is addressed to Mumia Abu-Jamal, the activist and author who was imprisoned for the 1981 killing of police officer Daniel Faulkner.
The second letter is to Dylan Roof, the terrorist who executed nine people during a prayer service in South Carolina on June 17 2015. This song comes to us at a period of great division regarding lives that matter. The relationship between police officers and citizens will remain on rocky ground until we dig up the dirt and improve the foundation. Police officers have a profoundly difficult job and they are held to the highest of standards. This needs to be better understood by all. Officers also need to be held accountable for their actions when their actions have disastrous effects. The States has a history of incarcerating black men for both convenience and profit. Individuals like Dylan Roof will continue to exist so long as revisionist’s history repeatedly poisons youthful minds with ideas that claim black equality while still promoting white supremacy. 2016 y’all. ‘The Greatest Unknown.
REKS forthcoming new album, ‘The Greatest X’, (pronounced The Greatest Unknown) will be released on September 9th, 2016 via Brick Records.
DJ Woody Live
(Showcasing tracks from his forthcoming LP ‘The Point Of Contact’)
All Day Workshops:
Lyricism: Chester P + Farma G (Task Force)
Beatbox: 2015 World Champions The Beatbox Collective
Poppin and Lockin: POPMASTER FABEL (Rock Steady Crew NYC)
DJ: DJ FONG FONG and DJ Woody
‘Brick City’ produced by Erfman Beats and given a visual from director Jimmy Chiba for Chiba Visuals is the fifth single to be released from North London emcee Shay D’s well received debut album “A Figure of Speech” which further highlighted why she is an artist to continue to lookout for.
Shay D’s debut album “A Figure of Speech” is full of her positive personality, social commentary and honest storytelling.
Educating teens through her youth rap workshops, providing a platform for her fellow musical peers on her weekly live radio show, and running a two floor live hip hop and spoken word event specialising in Women in Hip Hop, Shay D embodies the graft of an independent artist to its fullest form. Charming, passionate and lyrically strong, the rapper and spoken word artist filled up urban clothing store Violated Lifestyle for her mixtape launch, collaborated with a live oil paint artist for EP launch at a West London art gallery and has propelled into bringing to life her new album.
Shay D headlined the Southbank Festival, featured in BBC3 Fresh and a Channel 4 documentary on the event she co runs all within a year. The recognition for her work with words landed her a BBC 1xtra Radio Live Lounge this year with Hip Hop blogs naming her one to watch.
Loving to be involved in her productions, from music to her videos, Shay D’s “A Figure of Speech” is different parts of her personality and a soundscape of her London living, collaborating with a range of producers and filmmakers. Songs tells stories of her life “Daddy Diaries”, the world around her “The Who, What, Why” and “Get Money”, motivating her listeners positively “keep Your Head Up High” and her feistiness in tongue in cheek songs like “F The Radio” and “I Love It”.
Winning people’s vote “Best UK Female Hip Hop Artist” and “Best UK Hip Hop Collective” at UK Unsigned Hype, Top 5 Female Rapper on Hip Hop Connection, Shay Ds debut album is set to bring a new fresh energy to the Hip Hop game.
Problem Child aka Dubbledge, illaman, Dabbla and Sumgii on the beats are back with a visual for the track ‘Creeper’ which is lifted off their sick ‘730’ EP out now on Par Exellence. Get your download here
Veteran UK emcee Wordsmiff FLIP and the highly respected Portsmouth, UK underground emcee Spitfire link together to become The Otha Guys in this dope album from the duo released on Sika Records.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Wordsmiff FLIP drop a fresh release. In the past couple of years we’ve been treated to brief glimpses of this talented emcee with guest features for various artists and this is how the relationship first struck up with Spitfire. The South Coast emcee is a big fan of Wordzy like a lot of us and managed to get him to feature on a couple of his solo projects and once the two of them linked the creation of The Otha Guys began.
A lot of love and hard work went into creating this release they came up with most of the concepts just by trading ideas and selecting beats that suited the mood. The album features dope production from Hozay, Ns1, Towa and the don that is DJ Jabbathakut laying down the cuts.
Spitfire brought most of the recording equipment to Wordsmiff’s house and would stay for a few days at a time, so it was written and recorded in Wordzy’s everyday surroundings, which is something I really respect, it’s not verses flying backwards and forwards via emails. This working relationship adds to the chemistry of the two emcees evident in the hooks and gives the album a natural vibe.
The record begins with an intro of Spitfire pestering Wordsmiff FLIP with the many names/nicknames he’s been known as, with Spitfire finally asking the question which many people have asked “Bout time you put something out bruv innit?” to which Wordzy replies “Alright Fuck it!”……..
The album then slides into one of my favourite joints on the album Wordsmiff FLIP’s solo effort ‘Acid Test’ as he declares from the jump off “Don’t need no introduction” and goes in to the killer flow and lyricism we’ve come to expect with a dope hook over Hozay’s soulful boom bap banger.
Then we jump into the title track ‘T.O.G’ with Spitfire’s opening verse with a message for other emcees “They couldn’t rock a crowd, if we gave them a bag of bricks” as the two trade flawless verses that demonstrate their pencraft and delivery. The track is accompanied by a dope visual directed by Oliver Whitehouse for Sektion Red.
‘Classic Days’ is another Hozay produced banger as Spitfire opens up paying homage to the golden era boom bap sound and reminicising coming up through the scene, again like the other tracks yet another dope hook. Then we get to Wordzy’s verse where he addresses the naming rights issues he had with the US rapper Wordsmith (Fuck that dude), and deals with it with a perfect response. I’m not going into the specifics, but listen to the verse carefully and all is revealed.
The bangers keep coming with the Ns1 produced joint ‘When The Penny Drops’ rather than me writing about how dope it is it take it in for yourselves here with another video again from Sektion Red http://www.SektionRed.com
Moving swiftly on as the pace of the album continues to the track ‘My World Is’, Wordsmiff addresses all the people chatting gas, or people who have said things about him in the past, the Hip Hop rumour mill of beef and general haters that seem common for a lot of artists, but Wordzy soon puts those doubters in their place. Spitfire’s verse comes at a different angle as he talks about trying to juggle music and a 9-5, trying to do things independently and getting himself heard.
‘Self Made Serenade’ is yet another banger this time produced by Spitfire’s Portsmouth homie Towa and yet more dope cuts as featured throughout the album from Jabbathakut and the final track ‘The Last Request’ is Spitfire’s solo effort where he speaks about the battle to be heard and to those that think they are owed something without putting in the work, again with killer cuts from Jabbathakut the album then completes with the Outro, a live audio of these two talented emcees closing out a show.
The Otha Guys was released back in March, so if you’ve slept on this you have no excuse now, as many of you know the site has been out of action for some time, but this has always been one release I’ve fully wanted to rep on the site once we were up and running again. Apologies to Spitfire, Wordsmiff FLIP and the team at Sika Records for the time it’s taken to get this great release up on the site.
The CD has been rinsed in the car since Spitfire hooked me up with it. The only criticism i have and it’s a selfish one, I wish it was longer with more tracks! I cant stress how much I like this whole project. As solo artists I’m a big fan of them both and this is such a dope collaboration. From artwork, production, cuts, graf and videos this album is bursting full of Hip Hop.
hiphoplifeandtimes 