Inner Peace Records are certainly ones to watch in 2018. The Oxford hip-hop collective come together to forge one of the strongest hip-hop releases of the year in terms of sheer lyrical skill. The beats are subtle, atmospheric and are the perfect counterpart to the razor sharp lyricism of the 7 MC’s. Fans of underground & old school hip-hop have to hear this!
For those who don’t know, Kool Keith’s infamous Dr Octagon crew released one of the most pioneering experimental hip-hop albums of all time in 1996. 22 years later, he’s back and darker than ever. This album is more than just a 90’s throwback, it sounds as if they never went away. The beats are gritty and the lyricism is dark. A greatly satisfying experimental hip-hop release!
If you’ve been following underground & experimental hip-hop in the last 15 years or so, MF DOOM will need no introduction. He teams up here with Wu-Tang member Inspectah Deck and his affiliates for Czarface Meets Metal Face. This album is just as raw and quirky as you’d expect, riddled with comic book style skits, rugged beats and in-depth lyricism. Leftfield hip-hop fans don’t sleep on this!
Black Panther has been one of the biggest blockbuster films of the year, and it has an incredible soundtrack to match! Curated by the living rap legend Kendrick Lamar, these collection of songs are just as off the chain as you’d expect. SZA, Jorja Smith, The Weeknd, James Blake + more contribute to this heavy hitting soundtrack.
Rapture 