Diggin' In The Digits

Our UKBHM series throughout the month of October continues with rapper, producer and DJ Overlord X who used his background in the latter to fully produce and rap on two studio albums with inventive sample usage and energetic Hackney-based (tinged with American) delivery. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:54) Charlie: Kaia Laurielle - Transcending Labrinth - You&I GAÊ - FAÍSCA Master Peace...

Continuing our UK Black History Month retrospectives: Outlaw Posse were yet another UK Hip-Hop outfit that went down the American accent route, albeit on very comparable early 90s production. Whilst they sounded better than other examples we've covered in previous years, it really takes away from their potential USP of sounding British on comparable-to-US Hip-Hop production! TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Mus...

We kick off our 2026 edition of UK Black History Month retrospectives on an artist that recently left us. Derek "Sway" Dasafo was making waves in the UK in the early/mid 00s, winning awards before he even dropped his debut album. Staunchly independent from start to finish, Sway was deft in flow and mixed deep subject matter with humorous concepts within his works. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup...

Hip-Hop was not just built by Black people, there was also a Latin contingent that had a hand in the foundations of Hip-Hop. Enter Mellow Man Ace, Cuban-American pioneer of Latin Rap with a bilingual USP, wearing his inspirations on his sleeve and being an inspiration to many others, even the entire genre of Reggaeton. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:46) Ben: Nemzzz - LOCKED IN Headie One -...

With a fresh aesthetic and all the support you could want, Busta Rhymes took his solo opportunity and ran with it, becoming one of the most in-demand Hip-Hop voices of the late 90s/early 00s along with a visual track record that holds up to this day. However, being in-demand as a feature meant his albums followed the trend of the day, for better or worse. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)...

Leaders of the New School - the group that now historically serves as the proving ground for a future Busta Rhymes solo career - was a peppy bunch of rappers with great chemistry. Surprising considering the creative differences that would eventually cut their existence short. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42) Ben: E-40 - Turning my Money Over The Game - The Documentary III Mick Jenkins &am...

A foundational member of the Native Tongues collective - releasing two of the first three albums under that collective umbrella - Jungle Brothers were sonically ahead of their time and have kept steady up until this decade. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:10) Charlie: Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - ii John Wells - F*CK The ALGORITHM threetwenty - separate from the noise (side b) Adanna Dur...

The duo of Dres & Mr. Lawnge nailed a balance of ATCQ's production language with De La Soul's lyrical humour with their debut album. But after creative differences, the name was carried by Dres into the 21st Century, to mixed results. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:03) Ben: Hit-Boy - HITStory Charlie: DC - All Things Can Be True Treasure Bloom - Bloomin' Tavaras Jordan - 72 Hours In Hou...

The story of Chi-Ali is one containing a few but ultimately pivotal highlights: Brought up as a talented teenage rapper - within the most notable collectives in Hip-Hop history - dropping one album before his career was derailed by label BS. One can wonder, what if he was better treated after his one & only release, would he still end up on the America's Most Wanted List? (Twice!) TIMESTAMPS:...

There's certain names in music that bridge the gap between one era and the next. Greg Nice & Smooth Bee were one of those. Taking fun-natured Hip-Hop of the old and mixing it with new production practices: heavy on sampling and occasionally fusing R&B into their work. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:15) Charlie: DAMEDAME* - DREAMS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT Kota The Friend - JUST HAPPY TO...

Before Jaz-O's legacy was watered down to "the guy who put Jay-Z on", Jaz-O had a career of his own and highlights of his own that deserved be looked at with a fresh lens. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:21) Charlie: Chenayder - Outdated  Yard Act - You're Gonna Need A Little Music  Captains of the Imagination - You Owe Me Tears Namesbliss - where's bliss?  Mad Skillz - A Hero And A Villain...

It's our 15th edition of Neighbours where we talk about records that aren't technically Hip-Hop but either share elements or are influential in Hip-Hop circles. This edition, we go full British, getting into a Trip-Hop essential and a Downbeat classic.  TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59) Ben: Rome Streetz - Sock it 2 My Pocket Rick Ross - Set in Stone Syd - Beard Steve Lacy - Oh yeah? Charl...

Initially under the wing of KRS-ONE, the duo Channel Live made minor waves in the mid-90s but due to lack of sonic identity, their three albums all feel drastically different, even if their lyrical content contained a healthy amount of substance & social commentary. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42) Charlie: Olympia Vitalis - Lady Luck Jaz Karis - Twenty Something GUINEVERE - Kiss The...

We're officially halfway through 2026, so it's time for our Mid-Year report where we take stock of the year so far - from the music dropped to some of the stories that transpired - and look forward to the rest of the year!  TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02) Ben: Future - The Real Me Lance Skiiiwalker - #invite,sessions,only!! Charlie: The Deli - Kaleidoscope Alewya - Zero Naomi Sharon - No...

In our Geto Boys double bill, we now get into the most notable artist in the group: Scarface. One of the least talked about legends in Hip-Hop history where Scarface acolytes can make a case for him being the GOAT. So, does the discography warrant such praise? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59) Ben: NappyHigh - REDaze Charlie: Gwen Bunn - The Interim, Vol. 1 Ryder - RYDERHOOD 3 Nia Smith -...

Hailing from 5th Ward, Geto Boys went through a few line-ups before settling on the three we consider the full cast: Willie D, Bushwick Bill and Scarface. But a whole lot of music happened in the nearly 20 year run and a whole lot of movement between them and a supporting cast happened as well. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup -(0:50) Ben: Benny the Butcher- The Plugs I Met 2.5 Hard-Fi - Sweating...

What began as a Grammy Award-winning group out of the gate, Arrested Development - led by rapper/producer Speech - are still the same in their ethos even though many members have come & gone and the mainstream binned them after their sophomore album. Nearly 40 years later, they're still creating accessible Hip-Hop with positive and incisive commentary. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:33)...

Goodie Mob is one of those interesting entities that make you ask yourself: Do I like [artist] evolving their sound & style? When it comes to Goodie Mob, for Ben it's yes, for Charlie, it's no. Who's right?* TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:57) Ben: Vince Staples - Cry Baby Genesis Owusu - RESDTAR WU Broken Social Scene - Remember the Humans Modest Mouse - An Eraser and a Maze Skrillex -...

The duo of Blu & Exile came together out of orbiting similar circles in an 00s Underground that didn't have a 1 MC, 1 Producer duo of note. They in turn created a cult classic out the gates. Now - after an eight year hiatus in the middle - they're creating what could be considered their best work. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:00) Ben: JPEGMAFIA - Experimental Rap Neurosis - An Undying...

For our 19th edition of Contemporary Cool, we get into the third instalment of Kid Cudi's "Man On The Moon" series and the most Bomb Squad sounding album from Chuck D in decades. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:51) Ben: Drake: ICEMAN, MAID OF HONOUR & HABIBTI Charlie: A-F-R-O - Blood Rain Valtteri Laurell & Ricky-Tick Big Band - Visions of Dilla Sonedo - From Here On Out Solene - Fem...

In a DITD/WG double up, I talk to DJ & author Amani Roberts off the back of his book The Quiet Storm . In this talk, we get to know his background, his roots in DJing; how the book originated from a thesis, R&B and Hip-Hop groups; African-American Media and we finish off with a Lighter Note and a Top 5!  Don't say I don't spoil you! Weekly Music Roundup: Charlie: Vic Spencer - Inspire Your...

After covering Organized Konfusion last week & Pharoahe Monch the week before , we finish our OK explorations with the other half of the duo: The unsung Prince Po.  TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59) Ben: Action Bronson - Planet Frog Kneecap - FENIAN Cookin soul x Estee nack - AL-ANDALUS Tiga - Hot Life Little Simz- Sugar Girl Foo Fighters - Your Favourite Toy Charlie: Blue Lab Beats -...

After exploring Pharoahe Monch last week , we now get into his pre-solo life with Prince Po as the duo Organized Konfusion. Three albums with unfaltering production, dexterous lyrics and flows that need to be heard to truly understand how good these two were as a rap duo. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:01) Ben: Isaiah Rashad - IT'S BEEN AWFUL Billy Danze - The Answer NEMS - I Should Boom Yo...

If you're like most people and only familiar with Pharoahe Monch when "Simon Says" is played, you're actually missing one of the clearest paths of evolution from a rapper in terms of subject matter and maturity as an artist. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20) Ben: Blu & Exile - Time Heals Everything Kehlani - Kehlani Akon - BEAUTIFUL DAY REASON - Moving Towards Love_PINK Charlie: Joya M...

RZA has always been a busy man and it was no different in the 90s where he featured in supergroup Gravediggaz - birthed by at-the-time veteran of the industry Prince Paul - unleashing a Horrorcore group with an essential debut, only for the 2nd & 3rd albums to change up in subject matter and in the end only containing Poetic & Frukwan that kept the group alive. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Rou...