TNGHT - Higher Ground

What do I hear when I hear "trap music"? I hear an offshoot of dubstep. It has that same type of energy, and the emphasis on the 3rd beat that is found in dubstep. In TNGHT's track "Higher Ground" you can hear the Miami Bass influence in the low frequency 808 kick, the hip-hop influence in the brass sample, which really reminds me of "Simon Says" by Pharoahe Monch and the rave influence in the repeated vocal "Reaching for higher ground". Music is always going to be an amalgamation of a wide range of disparate influences and it sounds like TNGHT are going to do that. I wonder what this genre is going to sound like when it comes back full circle and we have vocalists and rappers over the instrumentals? I guess at the moment it's an irrelevance, but let's wait and see shall we?

Rascals - Ape

I love the beat on this track! I first heard it on Zane Lowe's show. In the UK it feels like we have a hierachy on the progression to Tinie Tempah like mainstream acceptance. 1. Mixtapes/online 2. 1XTRA/YouTube/Channel AKA. 3. Zane Lowe. 4. Daytime.

So Rascals are on stage 3 now. Will they reach stage 4. The great thing about UK rap now is that the possibilities of them crossing over is a lot higher now. Even with a track that sounds quite underground. There is a bounce to this track that is really addictive and all 4 MC's have that youthful swagger and arrogance to their flow and delivery. It's going to be interesting to see if they will be the next UK rappers to cross over into the mainstream...

Wot Do U Call It? - Wiley

It's great that Wiley has achieved his first UK number 1 with "Heatwave". There's no illusion to the formula behind it. Wiley felt like he needed a hit. He got a hit. He has done it a few times in his career, with tracks such as "Wearing My Rolex" and "Never Be Your Woman", but for me I will always love "Wot Do U Call It" the most. It has a catchy hook, but it asks a question which I feel has been a critical one in Wiley's career; Wot Do U Call It?

He has never quite had Dizzee's mainstream acceptance, but you know the name. There have been many articles describing him as an enigma, and maybe he is but I have always believed he knows exactly what he's doing. He's still here and will still make hits... just when he feels like he needs to have a hit!

M-Beat feat. General Levy - Incredible

DJ Wizbit - Capacitor (Bustin and Skampy remix)

Drum and Bass was the first genre of music I truly fell in love with. I loved the Jungle Mania series of tapes. Love the mix of rave type piano combined with manic breakbeats. It's got that summer sound. It's gonna be a great London summer.

NType - September Sun

http://soundcloud.com/n-type/n-type-surge-september-sun?utm_campaign=share&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fn-type%2Fn-type-surge-september-sun&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=soundcloud

Bloc Party - Album Trailer

It is great news that Bloc Party have announced details of their forthcoming album and released an album video trailer to accompany the announcement. They are a group who have never been afraid to experiment with their sound and have always maintained a loyal following, whenever these musical experiments have taken place. Roll on August 20th, when "Four" will be released.

http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/64100