EP Review: Abyssopelagic – Oloff

When Oloff Johnson – or simply known as OLOFF– slipped me his EP ‘Abyssopelagic’ earlier last month, he mentioned that the latest body of work was a mixture of genres – from straight up hip-hop to the ambient and the experimental. Boy, he’s definitely not wrong there.

As the mini set kicks off with an upbeat, 808 state inspired number, ‘Doing It Stealthy’ – featured on NEW LEASE MUSIC last month – it suddenly flips, going through floaty/spaced out soundscapes which, no doubt, puts you in a hypnotic state within seconds. The young wordsmith’s contrasting wayward flow punches through the atmospheric arrangements, adding a unique vibrancy.

I have to say ‘Abyssopelagic’ EP is an acquired taste. Test it out below:

Must Listens: Doing It Stealthy, Fucking Wet

New Track: Always Been This Way (Operator S Remix) – Kit Rice

KIT RICE‘s latest single, ‘Always Been This Way’, is back with a full-on UKG dance makeover from London DJ and producer Operator S.

Operator S has become a fast rising star in the UK Garage & House scene in recently years, receiving a seal of approval from BBC 1Xtra, Rinse FM and Beat London.

Coming from KIT RICE‘s forthcoming ‘Konfidence’ album, the new remix follows a string of massive remixes from UK Garage & House legend DJ Fen and Brazilian Future Bass newcomer DJIMON.

Your weekend begins right here…check out Operator S’ remix to ‘Always Been This Way.’

New Music Video: Groove – Shaka Shams (ft. Olivier William)

Currently residing  Belgium, 18-year old rapper and poet SHAKA SHAMS drops the video to his hip-hop/funk number, suitably entitled ‘Groove.’

The latest release comes from his new EP, Elements: Crystal Clear, which sees SHAKA SHAMS – who took the name from his South African/Zulu roots – demonstrating his versatility as a performer, marrying his naturalistic rhymes with lyrics inspired by everything from street scenes to films to anime. It is these borderless sonic journeys that drag you into this teenager’s world, a place with no boundaries. Crystal Clear is the first in a series of releases under the Elements banner which will see Shaka exploring different themes – with this EP it’s the sometimes murky world of late night club life.

Having picked up the hip-hop bug from his cousin at the age of 11, he started recording his own track at their house. Though it would have been easy to keep music as just a hobby, Shaka was determined to get to the next level and to get his music heard by as many people as possible. Taking influence from hip-hop both old and new, as well as keeping a close eye/ear on subgenres such as hip house, trap and boom-bap.

So it’s time to get a little taste of Shaka’s work; check out ‘Groove’…

New Track: Better Things – Hudson East

Fresh off his first track of the year ‘Give Me Loving’, released back in March, HUDSON EAST wastes no time and dropped his offering, ‘Better Things’ last Friday.

Sporting sporadically wavy overtones, the smooth R&B number sees the North-West Londoner expressing his intentions of moving into a more positive space in life and finding love.

Before his recent releases, Hudson was featured on Nine’s ‘One Foot Out Album’ and Krept & Konan’s ‘7 nights’  mixtape (both top 10 albums).

So if you heard of this guy before, then you know what’s coming your way – if not, rest assured you’re in great company here. Check Hudson’s ‘Better Things’ below:

New Track: Not There – Zoey Lily (ft. Indigo Svn)

ZOEY LILY‘s previous single ‘Last Goodbye’ was only released in mid April 2018 but has already gathered over 40,000 streams on Spotify within the first few weeks after release. Now the London pop songbird steps out and offers up another pop stunner in the shape of ‘Not There’, released last Friday.

Supported by the likes of BBC Introducing London, TMRW magazine, The Line Of Best Fit and BuzzFeed in the past, Zoey embarks on a virtual trip to Brooklyn, New York (USA), introducing the American rapper Indigo Svn as a featured artist on her latest offering. The two were first brought together when Zoey attended Indigo SVN’s live show at North London’s Nambucca venue earlier this year. Being located in separate parts of the world and without physically meeting again, the track was recorded within a day with Indigo SVN’s contributions being sent from his Brooklyn bedroom studio to Leeds, England.

Now here’s your chance to check out the final production…have a listen to ‘Not There’.