Sam Krats delivers "Culture," the title track from the limited album *Culture* (Revorg Records) previously covered in an earlier batch via "Emcees Recognise" featuring Artifacts. This time the lineup is a transatlantic summit: Craig G (Juice Crew legend, who also appeared in this coverage series with "Brawndo" x Jake Palumbo), joined by UK boom bap institutions Mysdiggi, Ramson Badbonez, Gee Bag, and Phoenix Da Icefire. Jazz T handles the cuts, graffiti legend Inkie provides the visual art. Available as a 12" single with a Beatminerz remix on the B-side DJ Evil Dee and Da Beatminerz' fingerprints have already carried weight multiple times across this coverage series (H&L Associates, Bass & Bars/Buckshot). Directed by Dfacer for UKHH.com. This is a track that fuses US Juice Crew DNA with UK boom bap elite a genuine culture statement that lives up to its title.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Aztech from Hybrid Thoughts feat. Edo. G "The Foundation" [SINGLE]
Aztech from Hybrid Thoughts brings a genuine Boston legend to the mic with Edo. G. Since *Life of a Kid in the Ghetto* (1991), Edo. G has been one of the most formative names in Boston's golden-era rap history his connection to the city's underground legacy stretches back to the early 90s and thematically links to other Boston acts across this coverage series (Gasoline Monk, M-Dot, Chyna Baejing). Produced by Relentless The Tangible. The title "The Foundation" fits the pairing perfectly: an underground act consciously reaching back to their city's roots. This is Boston rap continuity in its purest form the new generation extends a hand to the old guard, and the old guard answers the call.
M-Dot "A Notebook With No Light" [ALBUM]
M-Dot is a Boston mainstay who has spent over a decade-plus building one of the most quietly consistent independent catalogs on the East Coast, and *A Notebook With No Light* stands as his seventh official full-length album the number seven symbolic for spiritual awakenings, wisdom, and inner truth, and the longtime Boston artist's latest project provides those exact undertones. The concept: set in a film noir gumshoe aesthetic, the project showcases a notebook of lyrics that speak to independent musicians whose music may never get the proper light shone on their pages. The guest list carries real weight: 38 Spesh, Method Man, Big Shug (Gangstarr), Che Noir, ElCamino, and EMS (M-Dot's crew) among others appear across rhymes and production. "More Than You Know" featuring Big Shug particularly stands out: the original Gang Starr member teams up with his longtime Boston cohort for another gritty offering, delivering exactly what its title affirms—raw lyricism and unfiltered bravado, the familiar soul sample sharply chopped by DJ/producer DSTRUCT. The album arrives via Austrian label SoulChain Records with support from Own Lane Music. 'A Notebook With No Light' once again highlights grit and vulnerability from an MC who shines in a world of facades in a time of microwave attention spans, M-Dot offers one of his most powerful projects, reflecting a care to detail for an entire album rather than a 15-second flash in the pan. This project will resonate long after.
Nam Nitty "BENNY BLANKO" [VIDEO]
Nam Nitty, the Long Island MC/producer who appeared in an earlier batch as the producer behind Duck City Music's "Beautiful Intro," delivers a new visual for "BENNY BLANKO" from the album *BANDIT2*. Self-produced, directed by Spike Tarantino (apparently both a directorial alias of Nam Nitty himself and tied to the Mxnxpxly Family). The title "Benny Blanko" plays on the name of well-known pop producer Benny Blanco likely an ironic contrast against the street-rap context. Secret Sosiety Entertainment serves as the label-boss position, with Mxnxpxly Family as the overarching collective the same network that housed John Jigg$ and EZ ELPEE in an earlier batch. Nam Nitty continues building himself as a versatile player in the Long Island/NYC underground: a producer for others, but also a standalone artist running his own album cycle.
Pen Lords "The PRT Tape" [EP]
Pen Lords deliver *The PRT Tape* nine tracks. The name "Pen Lords" is a mission statement in itself: the pen, the craft of writing, sits at the center rather than trap aesthetics or melodic rap. No further production or feature credits are available, but the group name alone sets an expectation dense rhyme schemes, wordplay as core competency. Nine tracks in tape format suggest a compact, consistently executed approach rather than a bloated album a focused session built on craft over spectacle.
Tone Chop & Frost Gamble feat. The Bad Seed & Pa Pa Fresh "Don't Need Gimmicks" [Single Edition] [VIDEO]
Few rapper-producer duos can look back on a history this long and this thoroughly documented. Tone Chop and Frost Gamble celebrate three decades of working together with the release of the album "Beautiful Foundations" on May 15th 2026 through New Dawn Records from the early days of recording demos in their Binghamton basement to this point. "Don't Need Gimmicks" originally appeared on the album and now gets its own single edition with video featuring Brooklyn's The Bad Seed and turntablist Pa Pa Fresh on the cuts. The reflective and celebratory nature of the album represents Chop and Frost's steadfast passion for all aspects of the culture through the years underscored by a new short documentary premiering shortly after the album release: a fascinating autobiographical account of their story which also provides a historical narrative of hip hop's own development through the decades. The single itself: Chop's trademark bullish bars and the effortless flows of his fellow marksmen ride Frost's customary slick production seasoned campaigners shelling rhymes with ease over a luscious beat immersed in soulful flavor and exquisite turntablism. Frost Gamble himself carries real international weight: a respected producer in underground hip hop who has impacted mixshows globally for over a decade, achieving international distribution and charting in several countries his efforts earned him a Juno nomination, and his music was selected for inclusion in the official Archives & Library of Canada. This isn't a casual collaboration it's a legacy statement from two veterans who grew up together in the game.
545 (D-Styles, Excess, Mike Boo & Pryvet Peepsho) "EPILOGUE" [ALBUM]
This is a significant moment for anyone who takes turntablism seriously as its own art form. 545 comprised of D-Styles (Invisibl Skratch Piklz alumnus and one of the most influential scratch musicians in the game), Excess, Mike Boo, and Pryvet Peepsho deliver *EPILOGUE*, their fifth and, as the title unambiguously states, final album as a group. Our final transmission as 545 ends here with the full length album EPILOGUE. This is our 5th LP and closing scene in our sonic story. The quartet has built a reputation since their first 2019 sessions in Las Vegas as one of the most technically accomplished and conceptually playful turntablism crews working today their earlier releases (*545*, *545 808*, *545 WFH*) were celebrated within the scene as genuine masterworks. Community reactions frame this as a worthy closer to an era, asking how you follow up supreme beat junkies and answering: you drop a 545 album. Recorded in February 2024 at Penguin Studios in San Diego, mixed and mastered by Johnny Morgan, with artwork and obi strip by Nadeneco. Twelve tracks including a bonus cut not featured on the vinyl edition. For anyone who understands turntablism as a discipline standing alongside MC rap rather than beneath it, this is mandatory listening.
P-Ro x Crack Sizzlack "Organic Crack" [ALBUM]
P-Ro and Crack Sizzlack deliver *Organic Crack* a fourteen-track album with one of the funniest Bandcamp write-ups you'll find, framing the release as ethically sourced, pesticide-free "organic crack." That kind of humor signals a project that doesn't treat wit as an afterthought. Crack Sizzlack handles all production, while P-Ro writes, performs, records, mixes, masters, and creates the artwork entirely himself a one-man-studio approach that earns respect on craft alone. Features from Mad1ne, Kingdom Kome (who also appeared in an earlier batch with "813 to 305"), and G Fam Black add extra weight. Titles like "A Sniff x A Hit," "35 to 50," and "Eat the Pin" stay locked into the drug-wordplay universe the album title already announces. A release that cleverly balances absurdist packaging with genuine bar-for-bar craft.
Darko the Super & MF Grimm feat. doseone "Desktop Eternity" [VIDEO]
*Beware of Bob* is the already extensively covered concept album between Darko the Super and MF Grimm HHHeadz previously featured "Inside a Dream" (feat. Blu) from this same project. "Desktop Eternity" featuring doseone is another cut pulled from this fifteen-track, *Twin Peaks*-inspired work. The crucial twist: after Darko had previously produced MF Grimm's sequel "The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man 2: Get the Dough," the two are back with their roles reversed Grimm handles all production, Darko takes the mic. On "Desktop Eternity," a chilling and cryptic beat from Grimm carries Darko's haunting lyrics articulating the doom and gloom of the capitalistic work cycle we've been cursed to bear Grimm's production is simplistic yet so intricate, a perfect runway for Darko to launch the listener into the stratosphere. doseone's feature adds an extra layer of abstract texture when three this idiosyncratic (Anticon poetics meets UDDTBA absurdism meets Grimm's concept-album mastery) collide, the result is exactly the kind of track that resists easy categorization but refuses to let go once it's in your head.
Billy Hoyle & Joe Long "Golden" [SINGLE]
A lean release with a clear division of labor: Joe Long writes and performs, Billy Hoyle produces, and Big Jerm a name respected in soulful boom bap circles for clean mastering work brings the final polish. Two tracks, "Golden" and "Too Small," both sitting around three and a half minutes. No bloated rollout, no ten-feature spectacle just two producer-MC moments meant to stand on their own merit. The name Billy Hoyle nods to the white basketball hustler from *White Men Can't Jump* a stage name with self-aware humor baked in. When a release comes this stripped down, the music has to do all the talking, and there's enough space here for Joe Long's voice to carry the weight.
Lu Chin Chen "Height" EP [Album Stream]
Lu Chin Chen is back with a follow up to his acclaimed 2024 "Dangerous Solution" album, with a fresh new 8 song EP, "Height".
The album features production reminiscent of Golden Era boombap with 8 seasoned beatsmiths. Front Gamble, Sultan Mir, Conflikt of Hellzwind, Zam One, P-Ro and Tali Rodriguez of the Knuckle Dragguz collective, Skinny Bonez Tha Godfatha & Fuzzy Ed.
The only album feature is Dystrakted, a veteran turntablist hailing from Thunder Bay, Ontario who appears on 3 songs off of the album, cutting up hooks, bridges and outros with precision as usual. Lu Chin Chen handles all of the rhymes and vocals on this one and doesn't disappoint.
The first single, "Cheque It Out" features production by Zam One with the chorus and bridge cuts by Dystrakted. Lu hits you with some slick bars that blend humor in, similar to Beatnuts, Alkaholiks etc., over some cracking drums by Zam.
There is also an animated video for 'Call the Ambulance', produced by Fuzzy Ed, featuring Dystrakted, coming in late July, animated by Kaleb Bumboclap who did Lu's video for 23 Guinnesses from Lu's Weight Ep from 2023, also produced by Fuzzy Ed and featuring Dystrakted's prime time cuts.
Overall great body of work and a well put together blend of beats. The sound quality is top notch thanks to Mark Downie who handles all of Lu's mixing & mastering on all of his albums since 2004.
Apollo Brown "Stranger Things" [SINGLE]
Apollo Brown - Stranger Things
“When I finished making this beat, it sounded like my minimal interpretation of “The Upside Down”.
I pictured the Demogorgon nodding its head slowly, getting ready to spit a verse.
Hence, why I called it “Stranger Things”. Yeah, I can get weird too, lol.”
Stranger Things is out now - https://link.oldsoulmusic.com/strangerthings
Apollo Brown - No Pressure, No Diamond
There are certain truths in life that are simple enough to fit into a few words, but powerful enough to shape entire careers. "No Pressure, No Diamond" is one of those truths. Four words that carry the weight of struggle, perseverence, sacrifice, pain, discipline, and ultimately reward.
We live in a world that loves outcomes, but often ignores process. We admire the trophy, but forget the training. We celebrate success, but overlook the sleepless nights. We applaud the finished masterpieces while paying little attention to the countless imperfect drafts that came before it.
Everybody wants the shine of the diamond, but not everybody wants the uncomfortable pressure and time it takes to create this most precious gemstone.
Think about that while you listen this album for the first time. The color isn't perfect. The cut is not close to symmetrical. The clarity might be a little cloudy. But, the process is tried and true.
No Pressure, No Diamond.
No Pressure, No Diamond is out Friday 24th July - https://link.oldsoulmusic.com/nopressurenodiamond
For more information on Apollo Brown:
Ultra Magnus "Golly" [SINGLE]
For “Golly”, the second single from And Nero Played, the upcoming fourth album from Ultra Magnus, the charismatic MC brings the joy and the braggadocio. He flips through his styles, a mix of old school and modern flows that comes together for his own unique sound. His bombastic delivery is always infectious, but especially on this upbeat groove. Brock Berrigan’s instrumental is just so much fun! Bound to get the dance floor grooving while also rocking the crowd live from the stage, “Golly” is sure to be the summer anthem for the underground in 2026!
Monday, July 6, 2026
Komo Sarcani & Le Chimiste feat. XP The Marxman "PLUG" [SINGLE]
Komo Sarcani and Le Chimiste deliver “PLUG” featuring XP The Marxman. Le Chimiste produces, Komo Sarcani raps, Soundsizer handles the mix, and Olivier Dax masters the track. Tomawack and Matière Grise provide the background infrastructure — French underground with a clean craft chain. XP The Marxman brings Los Angeles gravity and that calm, razor-sharp delivery that anchors his strongest work. “PLUG” stays short and focused: no big spectacle, just an international connection built on dusty production and precise bars.
RetcH "Martin Luther Six" [VIDEO]
RetcH drops “Martin Luther Six,” produced by Python P, from *FTW2*. The album has already been shared, but the clip stands as a strong individual moment. RetcH remains RetcH: dirty imagery, dry delivery, cynical humor, and street talk that never asks for sympathy. Python P gives him a beat that does not shine — it sticks. That is exactly the right texture for RetcH’s voice. The title plays with symbolism and slang without resolving the contradiction. This is not moral rap; it is a view from a corner that was never clean.
A-F-R-O & MotionPlus "Sleepwalkin’" [VIDEO]
“Sleepwalkin’” comes from *Frequencies*, the collaborative project by A-F-R-O and MotionPlus. The album has already been covered, but the video works as its own update. A-F-R-O produces most of the project, mixes and masters nearly all of it himself, and handles the cuts on most tracks — showing his current phase as a complete craftsman, not just the prodigy MC people first discovered. “Sleepwalkin’” sits in a classic boom bap corridor: clean drums, controlled delivery, no distractions. MotionPlus brings spiritual grounding while FRO keeps the technical bar high. A clean visual extension from an already strong project.
LEX "Everyday Music" [ALBUM]
LEX delivers *Everyday Music*, a full-length album that sounds exactly like its title: rap as daily practice. Thirteen tracks, with features from Homeboy Sandman, Finale, Harbor Kidz, Crotona P, OSVN, Cut Supreme, and Ailexa. The production roster is wide: J57, Spit Gemz, Eric G, Versatile Beats, Xplicit, SeasRA23, Seth Silensir, BMR Pro, Buck, LexZyne Productions, and LEX himself. Cuts come from Cut Supreme and Versatile Beats, with Chez Rocka handling mix and master. This is not a single-sound vanity project; it is a working MC’s album — grown-man themes, self-checking, authenticity, and everyday life used as raw material. Homeboy Sandman on “Where’s the Love” is the strongest quality stamp, but LEX carries the record himself.
Chato Vato "Still Here" [VIDEO]
Chato Vato delivers “Still Here,” a direct survival statement from *The Blue Hour*. The title says everything: still present, still standing, still moving despite whatever came before. Riot One handles the visual production, and the physical edition is part of the rollout. The vibe is rugged but not one-dimensional — West Coast street realism with personal weight. Chato Vato does not rap like he needs to reinvent himself; he raps like he needs to testify that he endured. The beat sits low enough to let that voice carry.
Tiye Phoenix, Kil Ripkin, Killah Priest & Ka Zodiak "Crownloads PriestMix" [VIDEO]
“Crownloads PriestMix” brings Tiye Phoenix, Kil Ripkin, Killah Priest, and Ka Zodiak into one spiritual cipher. The language around the record is intentionally elevated: Royal Priesthood, Godly Elixirs, divine cosmic alliance. Killah Priest is the gravitational center — an MC who has spent decades translating biblical, esoteric, and cosmic imagery into rap form. Kil Ripkin and Ka Zodiak fit the knowledge-heavy structure, while Tiye Phoenix frames the track as an expansion of the *Crownloads* EP. This is not lightweight listening. It is dense, symbolic rap for heads who read Priest verses like scrolls.
Emerg_Da_Mc "The One" [EP]
Emerg_Da_Mc delivers *The One*, entirely produced by Dark Summers. Five tracks, all short, raw, and direct. King Bobo appears on the first two cuts, then Emerg stands alone. Titles like “Slaughtered By Fate,” “Butchered,” and “A Narcissist Death” establish a harsh, nihilistic atmosphere. The project plays like a compressed burst of anger — no comfort hooks, no extended arrangements. Dark Summers keeps the beats dark and minimal, letting the blunt force of the verses do the work.
King Kaiju "Life & Times" [VIDEO]
Richmond, Virginia emcee King Kaiju delivers “Life & Times” from the album of the same name. Produced, mixed, and mastered by King Kaiju himself, the record carries full control over sound and mood. The track is dark, moody, and personal — more interior space than exterior posturing. Ansel Scudder shoots, directs, and edits the visual, framing the heaviness instead of softening it. King Kaiju does not turn the name into a monster gimmick; he uses it as scale, pressure, and shadow.
REKS & DJ Mickey Knox "Declaration of Independence" [VIDEO]
REKS and DJ Mickey Knox deliver “Declaration of Independence,” a hard piece of political rap produced by Mickey Knox and directed by Queen Philosophical. The record confronts the United States as a power structure: founding father myths, white supremacy, enslaved labor, mass incarceration, attacks on DEI, and historical terms like drapetomania. REKS does not gesture vaguely toward politics — he attacks the subject directly, with data, anger, and control. Crucially, the track is kept away from major algorithmic channels by design. Independence is not just a slogan here; it is a distribution decision. The beat stays rugged enough to keep the message from becoming a lecture. This is protest rap with infrastructure awareness.
Son of Tony feat. Pounds448 "Circles" [SINGLE]
Son of Tony links with Pounds448 on “Circles.” Both names sit comfortably in the rugged Upstate and Buffalo-adjacent underground aesthetic: dark loops, sober street imagery, and bars without theatrics. “Circles” suggests repetition, patterns, and the urge to break out — the same routes, the same mistakes, the same faces returning. Pounds448 brings his weight as a feature, but Son of Tony remains the center. A single built more on atmosphere and code than on a big hook.
Santa Mafia "Vuelo de Halcón" [VIDEO]
Santa Mafia deliver “Vuelo de Halcón” from *The Last Tape*. Lyrics come from Heliano Santoro and Utman, the chorus from Kanox Bta, production from Utman Beatz, and scratches from DJ Manos. The track carries classic Spanish-language boom bap energy: crew chemistry, hard kicks, and cuts that anchor it firmly in hip-hop culture. “Vuelo de Halcón” — flight of the falcon — gives the record an image of vision, hunting instinct, and elevation. No plastic gloss here, just organic rap from a scene that understands the Golden Era code.
Benny Holiday & Snowgoons "Can’t Rain Forever" [VIDEO]
Benny Holiday and Snowgoons deliver “Can’t Rain Forever,” produced by Chubeats. The title carries the message: storms do not last forever — but the record does not reduce that idea to easy motivation. The production stays dark and heavy, giving the hopeful theme resistance rather than softness. Benny Holiday raps with pressure, but not blind aggression; he sounds like someone who has moved through bad weather and learned how to stand in it. In the Snowgoons orbit, the drums hit hard, the edge stays intact, and there is no pop shortcut.
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