UNWIND REVIEWS
REVIEWS KOZZIE
UKG / GRIME / DUBSTEP CHART BY DJ CHEWY 01 D DOUBLE E
The Problem’s Started No Hats No Hoods
HUDSON MOHAWKE Satin Panthers Warp Records
Things have gotten a little darker for the experimental Scottish producer this time around; even, dare we say, a little grimy when it comes to tracks like Thunder Bay. Just when you think music was becoming too lazy and formulaic, in come producers like Hudson shining brightly amongst the drab soundscape. If you’re into atmospheric but up-tempo beats with a heavy hip hop/ R&B influence, this is the one for you. Track To Check: Cbat (NS)
Although just 39 minutes in length, south London’s Kozzie causes all kinds of problems over 12 of the grimiest, face-distorting beats we’ve heard in recent months. With production from Spooky, Mensah, SX, Cotti, Royal-T and Darq E Freaker you’re treated to a host of untamed ear-pleasing energy. The immense, reload worthy Spartan Remix and the bass-heavy Riding Out are great but it’s on insightful My Life in which he excels. Almost a 4/5. Track to Check: My Life Ft. Cylena Cymone (DW)
Bluku Bluku (Dirty Stank) A killer track alongside the E3 African self-titled Dizzee Raskit. 02 CRAZY COUSINS
CYHI THY PRYNCE Royal Flush 2 G.O.O.D Music
The raspy vocals of ATL’s CyHi make this a soothing mixtape for the summer. With appearances from Pusha T, Yelawolf, Big Sean, Trey Songz and tracks courtesy of J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, No ID and Kanye, it’s exactly the type of free download we appreciate. Tracks for the club, the night after the club and covering about before Thy Prynce could make it into clubs, this is a solid mixtape from the royal rapper. Track To Check: Thousand Poundz Ft. Pill & Pusha T (NS)
VYBZ KARTEL
NERO
CSS
Kingston Story
Welcome Reality
La Liberación
Mixpak Records
Mercury/ MTO
V2
It’s impossible to put aside the cake soap and the weave when you think about this album because despite the talent of Adidjah Palmer he’s definitely created the most amount of hype around this release. For the newcomers which this build-up has attracted, I’m sure they’ll be more than impressed by Kingston Story. There are a couple of tracks on here too, don’t get it twisted Breathless, Freestyle, Go Go Wine, but there’s a lot of wetness in between them and I hate skipping through albums. Track To Check: Freestyle
Nero make the sort of music that were the world ending, and their music was being played through some kind of intergalactic sound system, you’d kind of feel euphoric rather than sh*t-scared. It’s defo music to die to. In a really, really good way (if dying in a fiery ball of flames can ever be good). The production is so epic, so uplifting, so massively, hugely massively huge that even the most ardent anti D&B/ dubber will have to coincide that this album is seriously, seriously sick. Track To Check: My Eyes (HC)
Lovefoxxx and her Sao Paulo bandmates return with more genre-dodging, festival-infused frivolities flavoured with the sound of Brazil, Dalston, and thanks to Ratatat and Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream, lots of odd bleeps and big guitars. Upbeat in the most part, besides her ode to former Klaxons boyfriend Simon You Could Have It All, the fivepiece have nearly perfected the art of patchwork sounds from the underground with a mainstream twist, though inevitably this might be too ‘edgy’ for some. Track To Check: City Girl (HC)
80 / RWDMAG.COM
Arch Your Back Ft. Omarion (Disturbing London) This could be the contender for the hottest jam of this summer. 03 RAS KWAME
Dan Man Ft. Junior Tubby (Orange Hill Productions) This is is the electrobashy tune of the summer. 04 MONIQUE LAWRENCE
Casanova (White) The Fuzzy mix gets you all funky, this is an excellent tune. 05 ARTFUL DODGER
Could Just Be The One (Workhouse) Respect to a founder of UKG Spoony with this killer remix. 06 JOKER
The Vision (Bad Records) Still holding firm with this overinfectious vocal monster. 07 PETER JORDAN
Step Out Dub Ft. Joe B (Westway Records) A house banger getting support from the garage/funky scene. 08 SKREAM
Thoughts Of You (Soundcloud) There’s no stopping this Croydon composer. 09 STRAGO + SNOOKS
Kuru/ Infect (Niteshade Inc) Getting mad support from Rinse FM DJs, Kuru is the lead track. 10 DJ MADD
The Battle/ Secrets (Wheel & Deal) Pounding with stinking bassline throughout, this is a gem.