[Album] SOUNDSCI - "Walk The Earth"

The quintet of Oxygen, Audessey, U-George, Jonny Cuba and Ollie Teeba had me hooked with their modern boom bap as displayed on their official debut "Formula 99" back in 2012 and has been a dedicated fan since. Since then they have released several EP:s, side projects and their concept album "Soundsational" where the group found inspiration from the underrated catalouge of James Kirkland. Now the group is back with their third official album and it's just as fierce as their previous work, with the emcees bouncing off eachother over raw, yet often soulful production from The Process (Cuba and Teeba). Check it out for yourself as you can stream the project below. I doubt you'll be dissapointed and make sure to visit the official Bandcamp Page for Merch, info and purchase of the project.

SOUNDSCI - "Ronin"

Soundsci always gets love over at The Lost Tapes since they broke their first full-lenght album "Formula 99" and since then the quality has been continuing to flourish. Their next upcoming album is called "Walk The Earth" which should drop sometime during 2016 but already now we get to hear the first single "Ronin" b/w "All Hands On Deck". Very interesting to note is that Supastition is now a full-time official member of Soundsci making the group a full-fledged sextet by joining the two producer team of Ollie Teeba and Jonny Cuba and the three original vocalists of Audessey, U-George and Oxygen. This was released on a 7" single about a month ago but as I've been out of the loop I totally missed out on it and now it's sold out, you can still strem and purchase the digital version of both songs while you wait for the album so BANG YOUR HEAD to this!

UGEORGE - "The Many Faces Of UGeorge"

UGeorge of the Soundsci crew just quietly dropped what sounds like one of the illest and most consistant LP:s of the year. "The Many Faces of UGeorge" celebrates the diversity of the Atlanta based emcees musical influences while painting a picture of where he's been, where he's at and where he's going. With 15 years as a recording artist (dating back to his 2001 debut as one half of The Hemisphere) it's about time UGeorge steps into the limelight as a solo artist, and as such he does not dissapoint in the least. The album packs a smooth, soul infected vibe with a lot of funky grooves that fans of that classic Golden Age sound are sure to endorse to the fullest. This is one that is great to throw on in your headphones, crank up the volume and just zone out to. I stay impressed by Soundsci who steadily is building up with an impressive catalouge of really strong projects under their collective belt and "The Many Faces of UGeorge" is another fine addition.

The album is available on vinyl and in digital format via World Expo Records now, DON'T SLEEP and support this project y'all!There's a lot to decipher on here, watch out for more detailed review to come... "When We Were Young", damn what an outro!

[Mixtape] A CAT CALLED FRITZ - "Nowadays"

Spectacular jazz and boom bap fanatic A Cat Called Fritz finally unveils his mixtape "Nowadays", something at least I've been eagerly anticipating. Fritz first came on my radar with his absolutely excellent production work with Soundsci / MassInfluence emcee Audessey on their collaborative LP "Rounds Per Minute" (one of last years ten best projects). His build up for this new mixtape has included some pretty mindblowing remixes, including Fritz' take on Bahamadia's "I Confess" which literally had me screaming for a Bahamadia/A Cat original full-length, or at least a remix project. Mainly made up of remixes (for the likes of Nas, Little Brother, Beatnuts, De La Soul, Mos Def, Show & A, etc.) but there's also some brand new Audessey joints and some dope instrumentals to enjoy! (If you can't see the embeded player up top, click here where you'll also find the tracklist).

SOUNDSCI - "Hunger Pains"

In 2014 WhoSampled gathered a team of hardcore UK digger to put together an album  that would blend the positivies of the analog and digital (for the record, I'm still not happy about sites like that). They invited these diggers, producers and music conisseours inside the vaults of library music specalist Imagem. Well there these guys, which included at leasst two of the Soundsci mebers (the UK producers The Process), The mission with the process (no pun intended) was to locate some really rare, originl recordings of Boosey & Hawkes, In case that name don't ring a bell, these hustlers are considered to be the largest specialists in publishing classical music in the entire world. The duo were also big on the scene of brass, string, and woodwind musical instruments. Pre-order and read more here.

And WhoSampled inviting artists to Imagem is resulting is o one-of-a-kind remix album were the artists have the actual DAT Tapes, much in the same vein Madlib had when he made his best record yet "Shades Of Bue" on Blue Note. The tracklisting could and should look more interesting on such an unique project, but I'm not gonna rate the book by it's cover because I love the idea. And my homie in Soundsci is on it so of course at least one track going to be the BOMB as they used to say. It's a lmited 10" vinyl featuring Soundsci, Illastrate, Mr. Thing, Phill Most Chill and then some. The proect drops on March 30- but already know you can hear the song at last I am here for: the excellent Soundsci contribution "Hunger Pains". TURN IT UP!!

[EP/Video] AUDESSEY as JACK JONES - "Motivate & Move"

Audessey really keeps impressing me with his releases, both as part of Soundsci and his solo releases (including the excellent side project with producer A Cat Called Fritz). His latest project is a spanking hot 7" single on WorldExpo Records under the name of Jack Jones, which should lead the way to a brand new album from the Atlanta-based emcee. Be sure to support the single via A's Bandcamp (also available with a T-shirt) and peep the single for "Motivate & Move" up top.

[Sampler] MAC McRAW Ft. OXYGEN & AUDESSEY - "B-Boy Bionics" / "Dust" EP

Golden age loving producer Mac McRaw's new 12" EP "B-Boy Bionics" / "Dust" is finally available and is a real treat for long time Soundsci fans like we hear @ The Lost Tapes. Mac McRaw comes through with some gritty MPC-60 and SP1200 vintage sounding boom bap, which perfectly sets off Oxygen and Audessey to bring their A-game on "B-Boy Bionics" and "Dust" respectively. Both from a lyrical and production standpoint this is nothing but pure hip-hop brilliance and should be something any true conniseour would want in his or her collection. Besides the main tracks which you can peep above you can also the EP brings an even stronger Soundsci connection as it includes a The Process remix of "Dust", wherein Ollie Teeba and Jonny Cuba gets busy on the programming and turntable side. As if that wasn't enough the EP also boosts instrumentals of both songs, as well as two additional remixes of "Dust", including the original Mac McRaw version entitled the OG SP1200 Demo Version. Limited to only 250 commercial copies, be sure to grab your copy for only £9.99 @ ColdRockStuff.com.

[Album] DANNY SPICE - "Live @ The Throwback"

Danny Spice & The Wildstyle Crew is coming with a vintage NYC hip-hop sounding EP on limited 12" and digital on Crate Escape Records, and this will definitely be a crazy fucking project. We previously heard the thumping single with my man Oxygen, "Code Red", and now the entire "Live @ The Throwback" EP has been unleashed on Crate Escape Records. There's sure no shortage of dope cuts on here, fellow Soundsci member Audessey pops up for the soulful boom bap tinged "Night Stalkers", the mighty Sadat X joins Finsta, Cappo, and Emskee on the heavy posse cut "Art Of War", just to name a few. This is one of the best projects recently, right up my alley - it got that retro feel, like it could have been made in the '80s, '90s or 2000's but what people don't get is that that sound is TIMELESS so it's not dated music just cuz you're taking it back. Big up to Danny Spice and all the artists on the projects. Purchase your copy on limited 12" EP or cop the digital @ Crate Escape Records while you still can. You can stream the entire project below.

DANNY SPICE & THE WILDSTYLE TRIBUTE BAND ft. OXYGEN - "Code Red"

The Soundsci crew keeps the sound of East Coast old school hip-hop alive, and although they haven't released a full-length in their own name since last year's "Soundsational", Audessey just released the physical copies of his collaboration with French producer A Kat Called Fritz - in fact one of the strongest albums of 2014. At the same time Ox the Architect, or Oxygen as he is perhaps more commonly known these days, has released a plethora of limited 7" singles. This new solo single "Code Red" with Oxygen is lifted from DannySpice & TheWildstyleTributeBand "Live At The Throwdown" EP - a love for classic old school wildstyle New York bop. The EP also features fellow Soundsci member Audessey, Emskee, Finsta & Cappo, and Mr. Sadat X himself.  The project is available in both digital and a limited physical vinyl copy, that also features two exclusive instrumentals. So be sure to pre-order your copy while you still can! Head over to Crate Escaepe Record's Bandcamp.

AUDESSEY & A CAT CALLED FRITZ - "Beats Per Minute"

Audessey of Soundsci and (formerly) Mass Influence is a rapper I have loads of respect for, as he's constantly dropping quality material no matter who he is working on or with who. His most recent endevour is a project with French beat maestro A Cat Called Fritz whose love for funky jazz samples, hypnotic horns, deep bass grooves and boom bap drums makes for a perfect blend with Audessey's smooth voice, versatile flows and honest lyrics. "Beats Per Minute" is being released via Slice-Of-Spice, who continues their movement of releasing real hip-hop for the love of the culture, and is now finally available on 12" vinyl. Audessey was kind enough to shoot me over a copy of the digital version quite some time ago, and I immediatly fell in love with the sounds of Fritz and A's creativeness and the extraordinary sounds it resulted in. Needless to say I have been waiting for a physical copy to add to my collection since then, which is now finally available @ Slice-Of-Spice in various editions, including an instrumental LP, a limited picture disc, the regular 12" EP, and the collectors bundle which includes the album, the instrumental set, the picture disc and the "The Hop"/"By Design" 7". Without a doubt this is one of the absolute finest releases of the year, so HURRY UP AND BUY!

As if the news alone wasn't enough S-O-S has also put up the full album stream for both the regular and instrumental editions on their Soundcloud page, so peep them below. Only downside is that the vinyl omits the songs "By Design" and "Traveling Thoughts" which were the two album closers on the digital version A hooked me up with. Nontheless the eight tracks we are left with is enough to bop your head for 30 minutes straight, so I can't really front! Also check out the free prequel tape, "The Metronome Mixtape".

[Album] SILENT SOMEONE - "Change"

US producer Silent Someone has dropped a lot of impressive beats, joints and remixes over the last couple of years and now he's back with his latest album - "Change". The 10 tracks EP consists mostly of ill instrumentals from Silent's stash to kick back to but original Juice crew member Craig G bless the title track (click here to check out the official video) while Soundsci's Oxygen brings some heavy bars to the album closer "Retrogression (Late Nite Remix)". The digital is out now and can be purchased or streamed from Bandcamp while Good Felons will be releasing the vinyl eventually. If you stream below and wanna hear the whole thing (and you should), be sure to rewind back to track #1.

[Live Performance] SOUNDSCI @ O2ABC, Glasgow

It's not often that a group breaking their first album together in the 2010s are among the artists that embodies everything that I truly love about Hip Hop. One of those very rare crews are the US/UK quintet Soundsci who I of course have written about extensively on The Lost Tapes before. Armed with nothing but a catalouge of slamming boom bap sounds, Soundsci recently hit the road for several dates in the UK. Hopefully they will be getting a lot more dates in a near future as I really hope to be able to catch them live one day. For all of us who do not live in the United Kingdom, Soundsci and WorldExpo has however presented a beautiful little gift in the form of a high quality audio recording of the group's entire set over at O2ABC in Glasgow where they opened up for Big Daddy Kane on May 5. 

MC's Oxygen and Audessey with DJ Ollie Teeba took the stage and performed a ravishing, high powered set that set a perfect example of why Soundsci is seen by many as one of the absolutely most interesting things happening in Hip-Hop right now. And I stress the word Hip Hop because this is about as pure as it gets as the gang takes the crowd through tight live renditions of "Entrapment", "The Remedy", "Ill Dialect", "Soundsational", "In A Flash", "Formula 99", "Lyrical Beatdown" and a whole lot more. They even performed a few new tracks and freestyles (including verses over the timeless Preem/Jeru break "Come Clean" and Diamond/DITC's "Day One") as well as a couple of joints from recent side projects by Audessey and Ox. All in all this is a must hear, and maybe best of all this is far from some shady bootleg sounding recording either - every nuance of the beats and the verses comes across crystal clear and could easily have been presented on an official retail CD/LP. If you're not already hooked on this group the 19 track set heard here might very well make you a believer... TURN IT UP!!

SOUNDSCI - "S.O.S."

The always super ill Soundsci is teaming up with Slice-Of-Spice and World Expo in preparation for several ill projects to come out from the crew this year. Having already released solo releases by Audessey and Oxygen, Slice-Of-Spice now presents us with a teaser from producer Ollie Teeba's upcoming solo album, properly entitled "S.O.S.". The song which can be downloaded for free recently appeared on Soundsci's most recent release; the 12" EP "World Expo". Bang this one LOUD!

SOUNDSCI - Silent Someone Remixes

Lost Tapes favorites Soundsci lets loose of two rugged remixes of cuts from their most recent vinyl release, the 10" EP "World Expo" which is highly recommended. Produced by Bronx based producer Silent Someone the tracks found here are the UGeorge joint "Blowin' Up" and the hardboiled "Entrapment". The original version of the latter also appears on the recent The Lost Tapes / Dice Academy album "The UPRISING" which is also up for free download/stream. Make sure to pick up "World Expo" and other releases from the crew @ WorldExpoRecords.com.

[Video] U-GEORGE x SOUNDSCI - "Blowing Up"

You all know how much love the Soundsci crew get up here, so the news that U-George is following Audessey (and his crazy "Beats Per Minute" project) with a solo LP is met with applause. The album is to be titled "The Many Faces of U-George" and will be released on WorldExpo Records sometime this year. First single out is called "Blowin' Up" and is a tight jam that works as a smooth transition from crew member to solo artist as it features U's fellow Soundsci crew. Sick!

New SOUNDSCI 7" Coming

To celebrate the new year, Soundsci and Ubiquity Records has geared up once again to release a very limited 7" single featuring two exclusive remixes of tracks originally Heard on the "Soundsational" LP. The two tracks in question that has gotten a touch-up is "Styles Dub" with "Coastin' Reblessed" on the flip side. While we're waiting for a prope release date, the label has uploaded a 3:30 minutes snippet reel of the two tracks, pretty much featuring half of each of the two songs. Check it out below, and order the 7" single straight from ubiquityrecords.com.

[EP] AUDESSEY & A CAT CALLED FRITZ - "Beats Per Minute"

Audessey and producer A Cat Called Fritz kicked off 2014 with the release of the second video from their excellent EP "Beats Per Minute". Just like the previous single "Frequencies" it's another laid back, real kicking jazz infused cut with an A performance by Audessey. "B.P.M." is out soon on Slice-Of-Spice and will be available here, a long with the limited 45:s collector's editions which can be purchased now. But even better, the digital version of the entire 11 track album which is truly exceptional is already available for digital purchase through Bandcamp, and can be streamed in its entirety below, so check it out ASAP as this one comes highly recommended (just remember to rewind two tracks on the embeded player below, as it start on track #3 for some reason)!

[Best of 2013] SOUNDSCI - "THE ULTIMATE" EP

SOUNDSCI - "THE ULTIMATE EP"

Soundsci is most likely my favorite new group to emerge on the scene during the last couple of years. In 2012 they released their excellent debut LP "Formula 99", which easily made my best of list that year. The group is a quartet consisting of three emcees and two producers, connecting from all over the world to create their unique sound; two producers are from the UK, one emcee is from New York, while two hailing from the ATL. This of course gives them a very unique sound where all of their influences are being fused a long with their own original vision. The recipe has proven to be a great approach to managing to appeal to a large number of true hip-hop heads worldwide; this is of course also due to their shared vision and common influences. Growing up on hip-hop's golden era, all members of the five man unit had had their separate experiences in the landscape of the hip-hop industry as soloists and in various shhort lived groups before forming Soundsci, slightly like the Gravediggaz saga. While all of them found some  success with previous projects, it was when they all came together as Soundsci that they really found their true nisch and became a crew to be reckoned with, and plenty more than that.

In 2013 the group released one EP and one short LP - and I had real difficulties in picking which of those projects I truly felt represented the crew best and should be included in my best of 2013 countdown. "Soundsational" was a truly exceptional project but I realized that I had listened more to the earlier "The Ultimte EP" and therefore it's only right I'll use that one. "The Ultimate" is truly the spiritual successor to "Formula 99", and could rightfully be described as a sort of B-side to that LP (or rather E- and F- sides as it's ideal to put on right after "Thank You"). The EP's A-side begins with the funk-driven title track  which was recorded exclusively for this EP, showcasing the trio of spitters going hard over a breakbeat funk beat that evokes the classic mid-to-late '80s hip-hop. From here the first side of the vinyl features some touched up remixes of tracks found on the '12 debut; most noticeably the DJ Spinna remix of "Ill Dialect". Originally one of my favorites found on the original LP, Spinna's laid-back bass groove melody, low-key horns and superb cuts makes an even finer job of underlining Ox's and A's vocals here - a true masterpiece if I ever heard one. The "Rhyme For Rhyme" remix is again an updated and stronger version of the original song, with a funky breakbeat style beat with some ill cuts and a beautiful guitar sampe taking the center stage beneath the Soundsci teams impeccable rhyme schemes. The only song on the entire 8-track EP that didn't quite cut it for me is the DrillaKilla remix of the title track, which to me only comes off as a lesser version of the original, heard only 12 minutes or so earlier.

However, as I wrote in my original review the real treat of the EP comes with the B-side which is entirely made up of new material - and in my humble opinion these four tracks found here still stands as the finest from the Soundsci catalouge yet. You can tell that the group put a whole lot of emphasis on finding the right sequence for the EP as the songs flow seamessly to create the ultimate listening experience - and especially on Side B that is. As I put the needle on "The Vow" for the first time, I was absolutely flabbergasted from what I heard; The production is multi layered, the drums is head-nod inducing, there's sampled vocal chants throghout and various instruments creating a plethora of greatness that only makes Oxygen, Audessey and U-George's lyrical performances so much more powerful than usual. This continues on "Bon Appetit" and "Lyrical Beatdown", perhaps two more straightforwardly produced, yet they pack an equal punch. The EP ends with the knocking "P.T.U." where Oxygen starts off with one of his finest verses yet, reflecting on how he started to gain fame and recognition, while still struggling to pay the bills, and his desires to be able to get those two things to mesh; Audessey's verse isn't far off in quality, and together with a The Procees beat that knocks hard and incorporates elements like almost chant-like samples, stimulating piano chords, and a beautiful trumpet/trombone bridge with the repetition of A's last vocal into the song slowly closes is simply the work of genius. I own everything this group has put out as a unit so far, and I really love all of them. But with it's short and extremely focused running time, I find that "The Ultimate" is to me their finest release yet. However, I do strongly recommend to check out "Formula 99" and "Soundsational", as well as the EP that set it all off - "Dig For Victory". If you havenn't picked this up yet, there's are a chance that you might still be able to find a copy, so just like with any other of their drops so far I can only say "HURRY UP AND BUY"!

[Video] WYLD BUNCH Ft. H. STAX - "I Do Not Fail"

Wyld Bunch is an up-and-coming New York emcee who creates hard knocking music that's paying dues to the classic boom bap of his city while retaining his unique style both as a rhymer and in picking beats. Éarlier this year he released the 8 track EP "Unbreakable", entirely produced by DJ Brans; Another superior French beat maestro joining the likes of DJ Low Cut and Alterbeats in aiding American underground emcees to create fantastic hip hop music.

I'm not sure but I actually Believe that I forgot to post "Unbrekable" when it first dropped but better late than never, right; especially since a few days ago Wyld Bunch dropped the first video from the project. "I Do Not Fail" features Hannibal Stax, fresh off his dope LP collaboration with Marco Polo, and is one of many exciting guests to make an apperance throughout the eight original songs; other MC's include Guilty Simpson, Roc Marciano, Masta Ace, Soundsci's Oxygen, Raf Almighty, and H. Lloyd. Released on Effiscienz, you can stream the entire album and pick up the limited vinyl 12" EP @ Wyld Bunch's Bandcamp. The record is also available @ UGHH and HHV. The CD also features one remix each of every song of the LP; including alternative versions concocted by Kyo Itachi, DJ Low Cut, Confidence, Alterbeats, and more.

AUDESSEY & A CAT CALLED FRITZ - "Frequencies"

The always on point Audessey (Soundsci, Mass Influence) has teamed up with producer ACatCalledFritz for the EP "Beats Per Minute" to be released through Slice-Of-Spice very soon. If the smooth knock of the jazzy lead single "Frequencies" is pointing the way, you'd better watch out for this one. I know I will!