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22 (perhaps more) of Neil Kulkarni’s favourite songs of 2012 so far

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“Gotta get some quality control in here … Not enough producers, too many rappers becoming like actors” – DAMN straight-talk from Joker Starr on this track. Pertinent, incisive verbals from JS and a great sunkissed minimal production from Appa Tight seal one of the highlights from Starr’s soon-come debut LP Blood Ren, Appa propelling the vocals into a multi-tapped delay firestorm in all the right places. A seething, angry yet somehow deeply satisfying track from one of 2012’s most exciting new names.

Between UK & US, something transatlantic, Lewis Parker’s ‘Walking On A Razor’ is the second single to be lifted off LP’s forthcoming album The Glass Ceiling, and features the inimitable verbals of the mighty Sadat X, a gorgeous meld of heavy drone funk slathered with all kinds of demented detail. Smear of easy-listening vocals, sudden ruptures of jazzed-out menace and some of the sexiest flute you’ve ever heard in your life. Like Vince Guaraldi hooked up with Pete Rock. Seek and keep close.

Firmly back over the pond, Oh No’s ‘Whoopass’ on the ever-fresh Brick Records has been tickling my tastebuds Pavlov style. Fantastic to hear legendary Onyx figurehead Sticky Fingaz spitting again, Oh No giving him the perfect backdrop to reclaim what’s his. Spooky bass and keyboards and a rock-solid hi-hat-heavy beat that just slides up in your day like some kinda titanic funky gastropod. Great sense of locked-groove insanity going on here and as the heat starts rising the perfect soundtrack to your own moments of summery strangeness. Essential (and on a similarly unplaceable tip seek out Homeboy Sandman’s ‘They Can’t Hang (Word To The Mother)’ on Stones Throw).

Old fart at play with some pure gold from 1993 only now finding the light of day. The Legion (Chucky Smash, Molecules and Cee-Low) were signed to Black Sheep’s One Love imprint, and they debuted in 1993 with the brilliant underground classic, ‘Jingle Jangle’. ‘The Lost Tapes’ EP is coming out soon on Ill Adrenaline and ‘Straight Flow’ is one of the previously unheard highlights from it – absolutely not dated and sounding as fresh and fearless and fantastic as if it was recorded yesterday. Timeless futurism.

And yeah, old fart at play STILL addicted to swell, swish, sumptuous Premier productions, and hats off to Torae for actually stamping his personality on the track ‘For The Record’ when he can. Truth be told, though, you’ll keep coming back for the amazing lace-up of scratches and loops that starts unfolding on the chorus, a gorgeous collage that reminds you of exactly what hip-hop production can unlock, exactly what CARE about the music can still uncover. Superb (and if you’re as hooked as me by Premo check out the LP he’s done with Bumpy Knuckles called The Kollexxion – yes it’s old stuff but mahgawd it’s a doozie).

From big beats to a track without a drum-beat, or at least a track wherein the bass becomes the beat to a point wherein Freddie Gibbs‘ typically compelling street-visions seem to be floating in an oceanic vista of low-end bliss. “Feels so good, feels so right” – damn straight. Ease yourself into the last summer of planet Earth with this doozie.

(continues overleaf)

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