Tag: yungun

First Word Records is incredibly proud to bring you new music from Essa, accompanied by Pitch 92. 'Heavyweight' is the first track taken from a new full-length project from the duo, to be released in 2024.

Step back in time to the heart of London's vibrant Hip Hop scene with a legendary throwback performance! Its March 2002 and two of the most talented and charismatic UK Hip Hop artists, Doc Brown and Essa (FKA Yungun) take to the stage.

Soon to drop on First Word Records is the long awaited 'The Misadventures Of A Middle Man', the new album from Essa. Despite being a firm fixture in UK rap for over a decade, this will be Essa's first full-length since 2006's 'Grown Man Business' with DJ Mr Thing. Early releases 'Liquid Love', 'City Breaks' and 'Dancing Shoes' (under former name Yungun) established him as one of the UK's most insightful MCs. Collabs with Guru (Gang Starr/Jazzmatazz) and praise from Nas and Mark Ronson followed. All of this whilst pursuing a parallel career as an entertainment lawyer.

The World Belongs To You is the first single from Essa's hotly anticipated new album 'The Misadventures Of A Middle Man'. Produced by Australian sensation Ta-Ku, the track is an up- tempo call for positivity, inspired by Essa's global travels. Accompanied by a sun-kissed video (shot on tour in China, Australia and Soundwave Croatia Festival) it's the perfect way to usher in the summer months. The single includes another Ta-Ku-produced banger, the self- explanatory 'Call Me Essa', a non-album bonus track only available on this single.

First Word are proud to present Time For Something New, the FW debut from Essa. He's no newbie though - under his former name, Yungun, he rose through the UK Hip Hop ranks to reach a worldwide audience winning praise from Nas, Mark Ronson and Cody ChesnuTT. Loyal fans have waited patiently for this, his first commercial release since 2006's Grown Man Business album with long-time collaborator DJ Mr Thing.

The festival season is in full swing both at home and abroad, with The Big Chill (4-7 August) and Sziget (8-15 August) creating the ultimate start to the eighth month. One man who is certainly making the most of his air miles, with an imminent mini tour of Australia, and having recently returned from what Time Out has described as “perhaps the summer’s most beautiful festival”, Soundwave Festival (July 21-24, Petrcane, Croatia), is of course Mr Thing.

8 out of 10 cats prefer Harry Love’s beats. Fact! Having blessed everyone from Blak Twang to Verb T with his brooding boom bap masterpieces, not to mention his infamous skills on the decks, he’s certainly cemented his legendary status among those in the know. We caught up with the man ahead of his headlining spot at The Doctors Orders Dilla Tribute Special (20th February @ Jam  9 -12 Middle St Brighton).

Inimitable music machine DJ Mr Thing usually speaks with his hands. So for a change we got him to speak with his mouth so we could get the lowdown on his famed record collection, the rise of Serato and the battling scene. This guy wasn’t asked to compile and mix the ‘Kings of Hip Hop’ LP with DJ Premier for no reason.

Asaviour has been on the rise for a few years now and his forthcoming LP 'The A Loop Theory' will surely cement him a place at the top of the UK Rap pile. Here he is talking about his past, Lowlife, who he's worked with and which tracks off his new album with DJ IQ are his favourites:

If it's beats you're looking for then look no further than Evil Ed's 'Edstrumentals Vol. 1'. It's 20 tracks of Evil Ed's best known instrumentals used by Yungun ('The Art of Celebration' and 'Nico Suave'), Task Force ('The Tournament'), Tommy Evans ('Alright/OK'), The Colony ('Back Up'), Asaviour ('Field Of Dreams') Conspicuous & Shameless ('Write A Song For Me'), Ricochet aka Ric Branson ('A New Way of Thinking' & 'No Pressure') and Jehst ('Alien').