Lay Her Down - Skepta ft. Kano

So Skepta decided to hook up with KKK-AAAA and make an extended version to the vibe that is 'Lay Her Down', from Blacklisted, which he is now putting on his new upcoming album (yay), Konnichiwa.

I've seen a few of the oh-so-typical "this ain't a grime track reh reh reh" comments ...well no one said it was so shhhhhhhhh and let the 80's flavours soak into your veins and feel the music. The vibe it creates and the whole relaxed aura of the song means it doesn't need all the technicalities of a crazy 'agdfayfagfigci' flow and mad metaphorical wordplay. It's not what the song was made for or aimed to achieve - it's just a song which gives you that good feeling. Simple. The 80s influence with a fresh twist have formulated a calm summer jaaaaaaay-yummmm and whether you're cutting the grass or cutting a slice of mango you know you have to stop and cut some shapes to this one. 

I like this. Yeah. I like it a lot. 

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Marvell - G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP

Marvell are always releasing mixtapes but their new G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP follows the trend of GOOD music. They're music has always been so simple - crazy beats, flows on point, and those big big big 1 liners - yet no one has been able to replicate it - and even if they tried, I don't think anyone could. They have got the perfect balance of it all to make every (and I actually mean every) track they've ever put out  be a b a n g e r. If you listen to their first tracks and compare it to the ones on the new EP, the sound hasn't changed because it doesn't need to. Their early tracks from years ago could be easily passed for a track made yesterday in a top US producer's studio. In a few years time, I'm sure you could say the same thing when listening to the G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP.

They have already released 2 of the tracks off the free EP: Weezy and London 2 Alanta and both were major tracks. New World, Killing All The Shows, Everything's on Me and G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S contribute to the 'wooooiiiiiiiii' section of the EP. The beats, especially on New World, are mad mad mad and if you don't even bop your head to the beat then I refuse to believe you're a human. Whether you're getting ready for a night out or work they will put you on a good vibe, and that to me is A* music.

Best Of Us and Kings and Queens are definitely the heartfelt tracks on the EP. I think Kings And Queens deserves a special little mention though. It's one of those motivational, grateful and feel good songs. It's got me even more hyped for summer to come because it's a tune that will sound PERFECT cruising around on a calm one in the sun on a Saturday (and I don't even drive). They hooked up with old friend (from Shocka's Chain Gang days) Wretch 32, who was the perfect collab for this track as I think this is one of the songs in which the lyrics are what really stand and are the main component of the tracks, while their signature heavy beats have taken the back seat. That's not to say the instrumental isn't good - Max Richards cleverly crafted a beat that brought power to the track but in a beautifully subtle way - making it even stronger.

Marvell don't have the recognition they deserve. Like I said before, they have a sound that is consistently great and doesn't even need to evolve to STILL be relevant in many years to come. Moreover, if it wasn't for their accents, their tracks could easily be the works of art of an American chart topping rapper #noexaggeration.
They're the future of music but not enough people know it yet so don't get left behind innnnnnnnitttttttt...
GO GET THE G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP (you have no excuse not to because it's FREE!)

Click Here To Get It

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Angel - The World

Angel is one of those artists that when he brings out a track I want more straight away. After yet another mixtape (because there have been that many) 'Inbetween Time', my iTunes was definitely refreshed. To think that the tracks he delivered on 'Inbetween Time' were just mixtape tracks, hopefully means his debut album is going to follow suit and have the same effect...that is when he actually decides to drop it, because he did say it was going to drop July 2012...erm, yeah safe.

The World has brought us one step close to About Time. Within the first few seconds of the instrumental to it you'll think: club banger. But match it to the visual and it makes it something totally different. I can't even front - I got emotional. Starring Zaraah Abrahams, the video tells a love story and trust me it gets deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! The fact the audio and the visual of the song contrast so much but compliment so well shows that Angel's edgy fusion of R&B and Pop is definitely going to have a positive influence on the scene. It's fresh and filling a gap that has been wide open for a while now. I have always been an Angel fan, but since meeting him (he is even prettier in real life - I swear) at SBTV-Xmas and watching him perform live, it hit me how talented he really is. He is got a good energy and he channels that through his music fo' sure.

So yeah, check out his new video here... p.s if you're a sap, you might want to grab a tissue

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Still Sway & Kane - Sway, Kano and Trigger Da Author

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! YES YES YES!

When I first heard that Sway and Kano were dropping a new tune together happy wasn't even the word. For me no other British rapper's flow get's me as excited as Sway - he delivers EVERY time and you always know Kano will K.O with his punchlines. They have been in the centre of the scene for god knows how long but it still frustrates me to this day how underrated both of these artists are. This track re-enforces that frustration x100000000.

With the piano from the classic 'Still Dre' sampled, normally I'd be saying "why would they even go there?" but they went there and I can't even fault it - and I'm quite a critical person. They obviously added the UK flavour and made it their own and every lyric was worthy to be spat over that legendary choooooone. They proved that no matter what newbies come onto the scene they have STILL got the game in their hand. And what's even better it's an sound that I can see hitting the charts, as well as not straying too far from their roots - none of that rapping over a dubstep/dance beat.

This is the first we've heard from both of them from 2013, and they have raised the bar fo' sure. With Sway's recent chart success maybe it's Sway's turn to follow in the footsteps of Wretch (who makes a cameo in the video along with his bromanc-er Chip and Mr JME) and be added to the list of rappers who are making an impact on the industry.

If you've already listened then listen again anyway because you know you want to, and if you haven't heard it yet, LISTEN NOW and thank me later ;)

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