Jul 29, 2026
"Somewhere between unc and old head"
- Agu
We come to the end of a hot July with some equally hot selections, including new Children Of Zeus, a dancehall killer that'll stick in your head, and some tracks you'll never find on the streaming platforms! We begin with a tribute to classic gaming and end with a tribute to two classic records...
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Playlist/Notes
Mega Ran & Richie Branson : Super Nintendo Sega Genesis (Remix)
One for the gamers to start things off, with a newly-released remix of a 2012 track from the deluxe version of the Richie Branson release "The Ghouls 'n Ghosts EP". With he and Mega Ran in combination, there's no-one better to take that sample from Biggie Smalls' "Juicy" and spin it out into a whole track about the magic of the 16-bit era. You can play a lot of the games on emulators now, but it was truly special to live through that time! Playing NBA Live 95, listening to Wu-Tang...memories.
[Peanut Butter Wolf] Rasco : Hip-Hop Essentials (Instrumental)
That crusty sound isn't a sign that my vinyl isn't well cared-for - it's part of the record itself! Stones Throw label head and veteran crate digger PBW is on the boards here, keeping it pure boom-bap. For those looking to seek out the vocal version, Cali agent Rasco is similarly straight down the line, scolding MCs who front and sell out for commercial appeal - certainly not an accusation that could be levelled at this record!
Maka & Phlow : Lose My Mind
The release of the debut LP "Maka & Phlow: Hard Shell Soft Center" from the union of Maka (singing) and Phlow (rhyming) was a welcome surprise last month, with this ode to the mess of the modern dating game standing out as a great introduction. Both vocalists are Nigerians based in London, who are carving their own distinct paths away from the modern Afrobeats scene which has burst from its West African origins into mainstream popularity. They're very much in the space where Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul meet, and Teck-Zilla gives them a beat to match here, as well as taking the production reins for the rest of the album. Definitely one to check!
Children Of Zeus : Weed & Rum
Brand new Zeus 🎉 I was minding my own business when this suddenly popped up on IG and grabbed my attention immediately! Coming with an appropriately-summery anthem, they give us a single that has us all ready, once again, for them to come with a fire LP. Production is handled by Beat Butcha and Coop The Truth, while Tyler and Konny of course give us that magic on the mic - with Konny's verse being hilariously specific. Never ask if it's based on a true story, some things are best left for us to wonder!
213 : Mary Jane
Keeping it smoky on this selection, we have a track from a great album which isn't available on streaming platforms, "The Hard Way" by the Long Beach supergroup 213, made up of Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. Quazedelic give this a groove with a little wobble, a little sway - must be the ganja! No surprise on the lyrics, with Warren G referencing the Rick James classic almost immediately as part of 213's ode to their favourite plant :)
Above The Law : Pawns
It's been fourteen years this month since the passing of KMG, one of the MCs in the Pomona crew Above The Law, and we remember him with a cut from one of their later albums, 1999s "Forever: Rich Thugs, Book One". It's a track where the tonal contrast between KMG and Cold 187um is on full display, and despite the synthy beat (co-produced by 187 and Nick) being kind of busy, KMG is utterly unhurried throughout. RIP to a legend lost far too soon.
[Dr. Dre] Ice Cube : Hello (Instrumental)
I had to let this instrumental breathe just enough for you to hear that little pitch bend on the bass, which happens only that one time on the whole record! This comes from the era when the former members of NWA (of course, except for the late Eazy-E) were working with each other again and angling towards a reunion, and saw their most famed producer - because Yella got busy too - and the man who wrote for not just himself, but Dre and Eazy too. Very identifiably a Dre track from the era, with that uncluttered drum pattern and piano/keyboard work.
Konshens : Do Sumn!
I first heard this track when watching a video by OfficiallyAlfredo who is...unique! He's certainly introduced me to some great dancehall singles and I thought I'd pass on the favour here. I got this track as a single, but it's also on the 2012 "Mental Maintenance" LP. Ward 21's "Long Talking" riddim bangs, and Konshens' hook will definitely stick in your head!
Skitz ft. Rodney P : Left
This one comes in like video game boss fight music, as Skitz goes electronic on this cut from the 2010 "Sticksman" album. While I personally wasn't as into this LP as I was the predecessor "Countryman", I've grown to enjoy it more over the years as the musical landscape has changed and adjusted my palate, as it does to all of us! While the digital texture of the musical backdrop might have been new, Rodney P's flow remained - in the best possible way - the same as it ever was, confident and distinct.
The Gang WGO and Erick Sermon : Chill
You know from the first note that this has to be a heavy tune. The Twist-produced beat leans on the classic Zapp "More Bounce To The Ounce" sample via EPMD's "You Gots To Chill" while adding some extra low-end hits, and is elevated by not just scratched-in samples from the EPMD track but bringing in E Double himself all the way from Long Island for a guest verse! On either side, Te Money and Eastside KBoy of The Gang WGO (We Govern Ourselves) get busy on their verses for a West Coast gangsta hit.
Terrace Martin ft. Hit-Boy : Circuitry
Ok, not everyone likes jazz. How about some jazz with some heavy bass? Still not convinced? What about if we throw in a kick drum that sounds like the police trying to pound someone's front door in? You get on all on this collaboration between modern jazz veteran Terrace Martin and the producer Hit-Boy from the "Perspective" album.
Nina Sky & Statik Selektah : I'm Hot
Great new single from the Nuyorican duo out of Astoria, with Statik Selektah on the boards. Not too much to say about this one other than even if it hadn't been perfectly fitting for our recent heatwaves, it'd still be an essential purchase. As it is - what are you waiting for?
Mary J. Blige : All My Love
There's always a Mary J track that can enhance your mix, and this one from the 2023 "Love & Life" album has the added bonus of being based on a Hip-Hop classic - "I Like It" by Grand Puba, which makes up the foundation of the instrumental here. Diddy and The Natural both have production credits here, and it probably doesn't take a musicologist to guess which of them decided to pretty much lift that beat wholesale! That said, it's very much in keeping with the style that made her famous, and which Diddy/Puffy was instrumental (no pun intended) in shaping - R&B over Hip-Hop beats.
N8E : Brainstorm
N8E is a Los Angeles artist with a lone album release ("One UniverSoul", from 2000), but this 2004 cut lurked on the B-side of his "Rock On" single before being given a second life on the "Galactic Soul (Cosmic Street Soul Classics)" compilation the next year. Relaxed flow from start to end talking about his love for and journey through Hip-Hop, with production from not one of the usual suspects, but R&B singer Jon B showing that he could tweak his sound to cater to an MC.
Natural Elements : Time Doesn't Exist
As N8E finished the last track exploring space-time, we blend straight into NYC's Natural Elements on the other side! Charlemagne's production gives off "Human Nature" energy and combines that with a classic, foundation breakbeat. Any Natural Elements apprearance promises high-level bars, and this selection from "AligNmEnt" doesn't disappoint!
[Eric Kirkland, Michael Angelo Saulsberry] Shanice : It's For You (Instrumental)
I played the vocal version of this great 90s R&B tune a few episodes back, but decided to play the instrumental here as it leans on the same classic drum break as the previous track - and besides that, I think it's just an excellent piece of production!
Ukokos and Jabco : Keep Rising All Night Long (Sunday Service Mix)
A great uplifting vibe to finish the episode! I bought the digital release of this a while back, and then after recording this episode I saw a rare vinyl press of it for sale in Manchester, so snatched it up for special gigs. Ukokos and Jabco are a production duo who've taken a performance of the Kanye-conducted Sunday Service Choir and laced it with some quality drum programming and additional instrumentation/production to make it a future classic. The choir transition from their cover of Keni Burke's "Risin' To The Top" to their take on "All Night Long" by the Mary Jane Girls and their vocal skills and power are a joy to behold - combined with the extra elements, this is immaculate.
Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!
