Tag: associated minds

The last few years have proven to be some of the finest in the history of British hip-hop, with the ever increasing number of solid emcees emerging, and with them some premier independent record labels that continue to flourish with every passing day. The sheer volume of commendable releases from last year alone was a sure sign that things only continue to get bigger and better for UK hip-hop enthusiasts, and that someday soon hopefully the mainstream industry will catch up and wise up to what they've been missing out on.

The UK is strong if you look at the moment. There is stuff out there to check behind all the fluff available as well. Associated Minds are one of the labels that consistently come up with the goods. Today they drop a brand new mix from UK DMC finalist Killer Tomato and Mayor featuring some of the UK's finest hip-hop producers and emcees. These should all be names you are aware of and all are artists who know how to smash their sector and never compromise their commitment to the craft and style.

Blaktrix is back with this bass stomping banger from the forthcoming album Some People Never Go Crazy. With Exeter's First Aid (producer of Devon Cream ft Million Dan, MC D and Rodney P) on production dropping a wobble that shakes like Queen Latifah's ass Blaktrix reminds the listener why he leads the field when flipping the mic while everyone else is drinking dry wine, sucking bitter lemons and chomping on sour grapes.

The Heat is the P.L.O. produced banger featuring the reunited rhyming might of Sonnyjim and Mudmowth. Sonny and Mud get down with strength on a dirty drum and guitar sound that returns the hip-hop to hip-hop.

Cardiff based wordsmith Blaktrix is back with a brand new single full of summery vibes to warm up those cold winter nights. Taken from the forthcoming album 'Some People Never Go Crazy', 'No Drama' is a head nod inducing mixture of warbling rhodes, crisp snares and perfectly delivered vocals.

Whilst everyone else is preoccupied with producing spaced out elevator music to stay on the right side of the cool, the Associated Minds crew straight out of Cardiff continue to take it back to fresh spitting emcees and that banging boom bap. To concisely quote A.M themselves: Fuck a trend.

You have to chuckle - Associated Minds are hilarious. They're just edging into the scene, loudly mind you, bringing Welsh Hip Hop to the ears of the still London-centric UK Hip Hop listeners. It's just pure comedy value, given that the Hip Hop plus Wales thing that most people think of is Goldie Lookin' Chain's idiotic banter, that their releases are all so RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME!

Fozzy (Associated Minds) is undoubtedly special - he can walk into any room anywhere and entertain people. From huddled street ciphers to 25,000+ festivals, he's smashes each and every appearance he makes and he hasn't even reached the age of 20. From fans in the clubs to the likes of Kool Keith to Duran Duran, the highest praise keeps pouring in for one of the most talented live performers in the world.