‘Shoulda Known Better’ is a sonic masterpiece by two rising stars in the music industry, L DIZZY (pictured right) and SOVEREIGN TUGZ,that fuses aggressive flows and high-level punchlines over a dark and intense instrumental. L Dizzy’s razor-sharp delivery, combined with Sovereign Tugz’s in the pocket offering, as well as guidance in the form of executive production, results in a track that is set to captivate audiences and elevate the duo to new heights.
ErrorTheProducer’s innovative beat sets the stage for L Dizzy and Sovereign Tugz to deliver a powerful performance that pushes the boundaries of UK rap. The single serves as a testament to label See No Equal Entertainment’s commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and delivering unparalleled music experiences to fans.
“This song is not just a track; it’s an experience. It represents the evolution of our artists and the unique sound that See No Equal Entertainment is known for,” says Sovereign Tugz, Creator of See No Equal Entertainment. “Im gassed to kick off 2024 with such a powerful release and set the tone for an exciting year ahead.”
‘Shoulda Known Better’ is the first in a series of releases planned by See No Equal Entertainment for 2024. The label continues to be a driving force in the music industry, dedicated to providing a platform for emerging talent and delivering music that resonates with diverse audiences. Why not check out the blazing joint below…
UK Alt-Rap sensation SBK, renowned for his razor-sharp lyrics and raw emotion, has dropped his highly anticipated debut album, ‘Something Beyond Kindness’, earlier this month (8th March). This groundbreaking project marks a shift from sbk’s previous work, embracing a powerful blend of punk and alternative sounds.
The album is a deeply personal exploration of sbk’s journey, delving into his experiences of poverty, trauma, and mental health struggles. Raised in a difficult environment and grappling with his identity, ‘Something Beyond Kindness’ becomes more than an album title – it becomes the very essence of his identity.
‘Something Beyond Kindness’ is a call to action for the music industry and a message of hope for those struggling in the darkness. It challenges the status quo by being a truly independent project, deliberately avoiding initial release on streaming platforms.
Speaking on his debut album, the former collaborator of JME, Skepta, Wiley, and others shared, “This album is for the people who feel lost in the chaos. It’s for those who see the world’s problems and feel the weight of it all. I want people to find the beauty in the struggle and know they are not alone.”
‘Something Beyond Kindness’ promises an impactful listening experience, offering raw vulnerability and innovation in navigating through the music industry. Those supporting this debut effort will be remembered for fighting the fight on behalf of indie artists.
Born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, to a Jamaican and English family, lyrical MC sbk is a unique talent within the UK music scene. Not only facing a tumultuous childhood marked by poverty and navigating racial identity as one of the few Black students in his school, sbk found solace in music. His early struggles fueled a fire that ignited his creative spark, leading him to London at 17.
The city became his canvas, and his talent quickly garnered recognition. With countless radio plays and freestyles across major stations like BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, and Rinse FM, sbk established himself as a force to be reckoned with. Collaborations with grime legends like JME, Skepta, and Wiley solidified his place within the scene.
Beyond pure lyrical ability, sbk’s artistic reach extends to live performances. From sold-out headline shows across the UK to international collaborations with rock bands and appearances at fashion weeks in Paris and Milan, his versatility and stage presence are undeniable. His music has garnered millions of streams, garnering praise from publications like Complex, Clash Magazine, and DJ Mag.
With a career that transcends genres and boundaries, sbk is a true creative powerhouse. His story is an inspiration, and his music, a testament to the power of channeling adversity into artistic expression as an independent artist.
Have a listen to ‘Something Beyond Kindness’ below…
Must Listens: Thick Skin, Control,Prophet, All These Times, Demon
MARIE DAHLSTROM today releases the new Deluxe edition of her acclaimed 2023 album ‘A Good Life’ – out now via JFH Records. Alongside of the album release, Marie also shares a new video for album opener ‘Confide In Me’.
Fresh off the back of her landmark headline show at London’s famous Village Underground, Danish Londoner Marie Dahlstrom possesses a voice with the kind of divinity that could only be god-given. Braiding together sun-kissed R&B, Nordic jazz, and resonant neo-soul across ‘A Good Life’, Dahlstrom constantly pushes the parameters of what R&B is, and can be.
The newly released deluxe edition of ‘A Good Life’ includes new singles ‘Glass’ and her collaboration with Odeal ‘Nothing On You’, as well as two new remixes and reworks of album tracks ‘If I Belong’ – with drums courtesy of Samson Jatto (Dave, Dua Lipa, Nao) and bass from Jay Asafo, and ‘On My Own’ featuring new contributions from frequent collaborator – London rapper Aligo.
Featuring collaborations elsewhere on ‘A Good Life’ with acts including Jay Prince, Kofi Stone, Cory McKenzie Tribbett and Delleile Ankrah, and working with some of her closest musical allies across the album on its production, notably Young Poet/Ninja Tune signee Conor Albert and her partner Dan Diggas – on ‘A Good Life’ Dahlstrom strove to create a tapestry that presents life completely and truthfully, where leaning into moments of the dark and the light which make the days – and the music – all the richer.
Marie Dahlstrom is supported and praised widely at press by the likes of Billboard, NPR, Complex, The Line Of Best Fit, Mixtape Madness, NYLON, New Wave Magazine, Wonderland Magazine and more, as well as being listed as a ‘Sleeper Pick’ by Joe Budden (three times) on The Joe Budden Podcast (the most influential podcast in R&B and hip-hop globally). Marie Dahlstrom has also received substantial radio airplay from BBC 1Xtra DJ’s Jamz Supernova, DJ Target, Toddla T and Rinse FM’s Jyoty.
The deluxe edition of Marie Dahlstrom’s album ‘A Good Life’ is out now, released 13th March via JFH Records. Why not check out the album and video for ‘Confide In Me’ below…
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Leeds, LEI HOPE is the project of Manchester based musician Hope Chiguvo. He recently announced his new EP ‘Matrices’ which will be released 10th May via Heist or Hit and shares the project’s second single and opener ’21’.
On his ambitious new 7 track EP ‘Matrices’, Hope’s textured, wide-ranging songs skip between sacred melodies and secular sentiment, all wrapped in a sound that jitters somewhere between the deluxe-digital-age psychedelics of indie and R&B.
Latest single and EP opener ’21’ at once feels familiar, nostalgic, yet distinctly singular. Written as a reminder to himself of his own growth as a person and artist, the song’s woozy, soulful ascending guitar chords and jazzy instrumental inflections provide a warming base for Lei’s musings on personal progression.
Speaking more on the release of new single ’21’, Lei Hope said: “The title of the EP ‘Matrices’ came around as the plural of ‘matrix’. It’s a bit of a nerdy explanation but in Maths, a matrix is used to communicate transformation, movement, or change (similar to coordinates). Throughout the making of this project, I underwent multiple layers of change. I like starting projects with an update on my state of mind – and on ’21’ I was looking back at times when my mental health was a lot worse and appreciating the growth I’ve made in terms of overcoming a lot of struggles. This was the first song Will Levison and I co-produced in December 2022, and it features vocals from Manchester R&B singer Mxzvita.”
Having already impressed with his self-released debut EP ‘Autonomous Affection’ and on the live stage – with buzzy showcases at Beyond The Music and Manchester Psych Fest, Lei Hope’s music arrives at a fascinating intersection between indie-pop, psychedelia, bedroom-pop, R&B and soul.
The hallmarks of his sound – layered vocal harmonies, vibrant synthesisers and smouldering hooks are all there, dappled in sunshine and in full plain sight. A guitarist first and foremost by his own admission, Lei’s musical genesis was in the church. “Whilst I was living with my family in Leeds, we would go to church maybe two or three times a week. It was non-denominational, but I guess you could say it was most similar to a Pentecostal service, with live musicians every service.” he states.
Following a period of father-son osmosis whereby he soaked up every chord shape his dad could show him, the church musicians rallied to fill in the gaps. “Once I got better at guitar, I joined the church band and was playing live every week. Now, my guitar is like my musical calculator and compass.”
And there is a navigational intelligence to the way in which he uses the various shorelines of genre as jumping off points for his own compositions. From making beats at home around the age of 15, Lei discovered and immersed himself in the material of Omar Apollo, Clairo, Yeek, Blood Orange and Spencer.
However, it wasn’t until the enforced cocoon of the pandemic that Lei began the process of recording. Isolation proved to be a creative chrysalis from which he emerged fully formed: “I didn’t know anyone in the industry or any musicians in Manchester but I knew that Steve Lacy had recorded his first EP on his phone. I took inspiration from that. Quickly, I wrote, produced, recorded and engineered my first project and people reacted.”
Lei Hope is a man making whatever music that comes into his head with the power to dismantle and reassemble genres. A pallet cleansing, no filter aesthetic; not just indie for the sake of it, but affectingly human. When you factor in that he’s capable of wringing soulfulness out of any bar of music seemingly at will, it sets him apart as one of the most exciting prospects on the Manchester indie scene.
Lei Hope’s new EP ‘Matrices’ will be released on 10th May via Heist or Hit. Why not watch the visualiser for ’21’ below…
Elite Music Group artist QUAILZ P. releases the video for his smooth hip-hop and R&B single, On You.’ The track is from Quailz P.‘s critically acclaimed EP, ‘One Play Away,’ streaming now on all platforms.
To close out 2023, Quailz P. would release his latest project ‘One Play Away’, an 8-track EP with production from Ceezneck Beats, B~Wee, and platinum South Carolina producer Big Hurt. The project was mostly handled by the head engineer at 400 studios, ABandz.
“It was so many highs in my life in 2023, it felt like I was a step away from fulfilling my dreams, and that is how I feel now. I felt like I owed it to myself and the people that supported me to put this project out. I wanted to wait a while because the songs on there are great songs and I just wanted things to be perfect. I could not wait though, I had to put it out,” Quailz P. says. Not only did he release a solid EP, QP released a documentary entitled Making A Play showing the making of the EP One Play Away.
“I have been doing music for a while, and most people usually give up when they do not get the results, they feel they deserve. I honestly feel I am getting better so I cannot think that way. Do I want to rap forever? Of course not, but I will be involved in music/media until I leave this Earth because that’s what I love to do. Right now, I feel closer than ever, so I am one play away from achieving my goals and helping others attain theirs.”
New Lease Music 