Category: New Albums

J Baby x Ne$$ drop gripping album, ‘The Price Of Bread’

Following up their critically acclaimed 2020 collaborative project ‘21st Century Blues’, RBG rapper NE$$ (previously featured in The Source’s ‘Unsigned Hype’) and UK producer baby J (known for collaborations with Skinny Man, Mark Ronson, dead prez, Iman Thug, and Shabazz The Disciple of Wu-Tang) return with ‘The Price of Bread’, a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.

Housing previous support from Earmilk, Notion, Kiss FM UK (MK), Viper magazine, Wordplay magazine, ‘The Price of Bread’ serves as a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.

The term “the price of bread”, often referring to the state of inflation at any given time, is an ideal title for an album exploring these themes in a time when inflation is at the highest rate it’s been in decades. In true hip hop form the word “bread”, slang for money, transforms the title into a paradoxical double entendre ‘The Price of Money’. In this context, the album fearlessly poses a poignant question: “What is the cost of money, or to put it plainly, what does it cost us to make money, to navigate capitalism?” Doubling down on this concept, the album’s tracklist is a veritable anthology of money-themed titles (Sell Our Pain, Human Capital, Stripper Money, etc.), each serving as a chapter in a larger narrative.

Baby J weaves a broken, lo-fi, and slightly out-of-tune dystopian soundscape that resonates like the echoes of dusty, long-forgotten 60’s records, but what’s astounding is that no samples were used in creating this haunting and mesmerizing atmosphere. This unique auditory canvas allows the listener to immerse themselves fully in the stories and emotions presented in this album and sets the stage for NE$$’s storytelling and lyricism to paint vivid pictures of lumpenproletariat life.

Known for his work with Brooklyn duo Weekend Money and Dead Prez affiliated rap group A-Alikes, the seasoned hip-hop veteran takes centre stage as a modern-day griot on this opus. His lyrics peel back layers to reveal a world where every dollar counts and every decision can be a matter of life and death.

The album flaunts an impressive tracklist, graced by a carefully curated roster of guest appearances, with standout songs ‘Sell Our Pain’, the aforementioned ‘Stripper Money’ feat. Conway the Machine, ‘Illegal Business’ feat. RBG comrade Coach NYM & Rukus “Vice Grip” feat. Houston rapper Fat Tony, among other gems.

NE$$ and Baby J invite you to join them on this evocative journey, offering a unique perspective on the world we live in, the price we pay and the hope we hold.

Must Listens: Sell our pain, Stripper money, Get rich quick, Dollar 2 the fire

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Liv East shares debut EP, ‘LVE1’ + single ‘LVE Unlimited’

East London producer & songwriter LIV EAST releases her debut EP ‘LVE1’ on EMK, Kartel Music Group’s electronic imprint. Produced by longtime collaborator LOKES LDN alongside Liv herself, the release nods towards classic soul & disco, channelling the likes of Chic and Adina Howard, yet shimmers with future, capturing influences from the likes of Jungle, SAULT and Cleo Sol.

To celebrate the release, Liv East shares single ‘LVE UNLIMITED’, the EPs most raw and bittersweet track. Liv comments on the single, “I wrote it upon reflection of how I’d been denied and cast aside in my last relationship. It was a painful and confusing time but my inner strength pushed me forwards and I knew I wouldn’t be waiting around for this person. It’s a story of self love even in the face of heartbreak. I wrote and recorded the vocals in one sitting with all the final vocals being from the demo recording. The lyrics give nods to classic love songs ‘killing me softly’ and ‘wicked games’, adding to that timeless feel I wanted to create with the whole project”.

2023 so far has seen Liv East release singles ‘You Got Me’, ‘So Badly’ and ‘Love Frequency’, which landed support from BBC Radio London, Rinse FM, The Independent, Dummy, Noctis, Vogue France, Earmilk, whilst also landing playlist support from New Music Friday UK. She’s also collaborated with a wealth of artists in recent months, including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Kid Fonque and Yarni.

Have a listen to ‘LVE1’ EP below…

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Rain to Dust returns with a harsher and murkier sound in latest album, ‘Martyrdom: Eight Exercises’

Turkish Post-Punk duo RAIN TO RUST entered the scene in 2019 with critically acclaimed debut album ‘Flowers Of Doubt’. 2020 saw the release of its companion piece, ‘Stillborn Flowers’. Both albums showcased well-crafted Gothic Rock filled with chorus-laden, orchestrated guitars, atmospheric keyboards and deeply melancholic lyrics. After a period of lockdowns, isolation and death, Rain To Rust return with a new album–their darkest and most punishing yet. ‘Martyrdom: Eight Exercises’ takes Rain To Rust back to the intellectual and experimental roots of Post-Punk with a much harsher and murkier sound. It is not meant to be a pleasant listen; on the contrary, its aim is to take the listener for a mental stroll in rat infested, crumbling squats where young people shoot up and die.

Each song is related and dedicated to an artist who died by suicide: Adrian Borland (The Sound), Richey James Edwards (Manic Street Preachers), Ian Curtis (Joy Division), Per Yngve Ohlin (Mayhem), Yukio Mishima, Peter Tyrrell, Osamu Dazai, Robert Ervin Howard – artists who have been providing inspiration to the band for long years.

Inspired by Adrian Borland’s death by jumping in front of a train, the lead single, ‘Tonight I Will Meet My Friends Who Died Untimely ’is a melancholic yet driving tune with a beat that is supposed to give the feeling of a railway ride. In second effort, ‘Cutting Moments’ the band tries to connect to Richey Edwards’ psyche as he jumped down Severn Bridge (it is still unclear whether he did it or not–he is officially declared deadbutabody was never found).

‘The Killing Room’, a Darkwave requiem, sees Ian Curtis speaking to his demons as he is at his wit’s end. ‘Sleep And Death Are Brothers’ connects to Per Yngve Ohlin’s obsession with death and his constant desire to leave his physical self. ‘The Patriot’, taking its title from Yukio Mishima’s story “Patriotism”, is about thinking of self-sacrifice as the purest form of beauty. The samples used in the song show the two conflicting sides of Mishima: his interest in hara-kiri as an extension of samurai code versus his interest in hara-kiri as something erotic.

‘Letterfrack Penal Colony’, the harshest track on the album, relates to Irish author Peter Tyrrell’s traumatic childhood memories spent in a Christian Brothers Industrial School in Letterfrack, Ireland. ‘Penal Colony’ is a homage to Franz Kafka’s short story, in which the convict is punished by getting tied up to a machine that carves his conviction onto his body in a loop, going deeper and deeper as it works. This is reflected in the music through a repetitive drum and bass pattern.

‘The Big Dive’ is based on Osamu Dazai’s suicide (along with his girlfriend Tomie) by jumping into the flooded Tamagawa Canal. His death was already foreshadowed by his novel ‘No Longer Human’ which was posthumously published (and was the inspiration for a song on the first Rain To Rust album, ‘Flowers Of Doubt’).‘The Big Dive’ turns the story into an innocent love song, inspired equally by Suicide and Angelo Badalamenti.

‘And The Ravens Left The Tower (Howard’s Dream)’is the album’s most experimental track. Based around a piano motive that eventually disintegrates into layers of reverb as the song goes along, it sees H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard’s friend and colleague, having a dream where Howard reads him poems and tells him that he will join him in death very soon. The song then disappears in sounds of hyperventilation and coals burning in a furnace.

‘Martyrdom: Eight Exercises’ is out now for your pleasure across various music platforms. Why not have a listen below…

Must Listens: Tonight I Will Meet My Friends Who Died Untimely, Sleep And Death Are Brothers, The Big Dive

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Anonymous EDM artist Handshake In Space returns with EP ‘LOVE’

HANDSHAKE IN SPACE, the mysterious and emerging EDM artist who has enchanted listeners with his pulsating beats and evocative melodies, has made a swift return with his latest EP ‘LOVE.’

This anonymous music creator has for a long time remained an enigma, but ‘LOVE’ promises to shed a new light on Handshake In Space’s electronic music. The EP will features a collection of tracks, including previously released singles, ‘I Need You Right Now’, ‘Lost Without You’ and ‘Rise Up’, all offering a wide variety of soundscapes, from euphoric uplifting to deeply hypnotic.

Handshake In Space’s music has previously received praise from critics and electronic music enthusiasts for its unique ability to take listeners on a musical journey through space and time. ‘LOVE’ will be no exception and will offer a sonic experience that is hard to forget. Why not check it out below…

Must Listens: I Need You Right Now, Lost Without You, Rise Up

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R&B Soultress Tai Mistyque unveils new EP, ‘Head Over Heart’

Rising singer-songwriter TAI MISTYQUE has unveiled her brand new album, ‘Head Over Heart,’ a powerful and emotive collection of songs that highlight the profound process of growing up and seeing the world through the lens of emotional sensitivity.

‘Head Over Heart’ presents a heartfelt narrative of Tai’s personal journey, a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns that challenged everything she knew of the world. The album not only delves into the impact of heartbreak but also explores the complexities of why cherished friendships may fall apart.

Through her music, Tai Mistyque invites listeners to shed their rose-colored glasses and confront the world with love, as it truly is. The album encourages the mind and heart to work in harmony, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricacies of life. The music and lyrics explore the essence of vulnerability, the significance of establishing boundaries, and the beauty of personal epiphanies that can shape one’s journey.

This album speaks directly to a specific audience: young women who are in the process of discovering their self-worth. Serving as a handbook for life, ‘Head Over Heart’ provides invaluable insights into the trials and tribulations that women may face as they navigate the world. Tai steps into a “big sis” role, offering guidance and reassurance. ‘Head Over Heart’ captures that pivotal moment in life when individuals learn to collaborate with their hearts while wearing the armor of self-protection. It underscores the possibility of finding happiness, maintaining loving relationships, and safeguarding oneself in a world that can be both beautiful and challenging.

‘Head Over Heart’ addresses the trigger words “naive” and “gullible” while celebrating the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, even in the face of adversity. It is Mistyque’s hope that her audience walks away from this project feeling “deeply understood.”

Must Listens: Go Crazy

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