son records - the last word
label defining compilation housing the last 6 or so years of vinyl releases into a superb all encompassing package. the compilation is split into two sets, the label history, '1998-2003', and the more current state of affairs disc, '2004'.
in case you weren't aware, son records is a uk hip hop label. no crossover pop rap, no r-n-b bling bling rubbish, no major label guest appearances, this is live and direct from the thriving underground, providing a full set of tight beats, jumping lyrical action and all round excellence.
prior to the recent surge in uk based beats and rhymes activity i wasn't to keen on the uk side of the genre. but recently, (ie last 2 years), i have been getting into kid acne, skinnyman, roots manuva, akira the don, evil ed, yungun, to name but a few. it seems that the game has been raised both lyrically and production wise. i could go into a track by track rundown, but that would then mean i'd leave out some class tracks and piss some folks off. so instead check the guest list that is spread over these 29 sonix :
mad doctor, the brotherhood, blak twang, cappo, scorzayzee, dj plus one, def tex, wordsmith, c-mone, dpf, lost island, midnyte, uk kartel, quakes.
admittedly, there are bound to be a few names who are fresh to me, but damn if i aint feeling the urge to discover more of this ever expanding family. i mean, wordsmith has it going on, each of his appearances was met by me checking out who it was, same goes for all the c-mone tracks, who sounds far too young to be hanging out with these rough diamonds.
future stars, both of them, once the world moves on from mia.
oh, and i should say that the spread of production on show, from the old school type loops, to future beat heavy funk (the fucked up dubscape of hkb finn's 'in the stillness' is quite literally a jaw dropping mess of noise and beats), via some fine turntablism from styly cee, there is even a drop of ragtime jazz, and dancehall in there somewhere. showing that these folks know their hip hop shit of all flavours. previously, the lack in production experimentation has often been the downfall of uk hip hop, too many tracks relied upon a simple beat and a few easy samples looped, but thankfully here things are much more interesting sonically.
bonus beats indeed.
so, all in all, this beautifully packaged set (premium cardboard sleeves dontcha know!) is a quality starter pack, and, having heard the forthcoming wordsmith album i can easily say that son records are on an upward motion in every aspect in 2005.
is this the uk hip hop equivalent of the superb headz compilation that put mo'wax (and the trip hop genre) on the map ? damn right it is, now crack on and get yourself on board.
now.
that's my last word.