Villian – Wa Lahla / S’tina (Virgin Child)

Another group from South Africa! As you should know by now, I tend to get heavily excited whenever I get a package in the post and the stamp is South African. There are people in this country putting in serious work to help build SA’s hip hop scene. 

Wa Lahla 

Pope – Love & Bullets (Phatstaxx)

This cd has been staring at me for a month begging for a review. I admit that due to my constant traveling I haven’t been able to do as many reviews as I’d like to. But hey, check it out, I’m sitting here doing it. Seems like that time management course worked.

Pope was born in Harlem, New York and has worked with Capitol, Rowdy Records and Sony.  He was won 4 times at the Apollo Theater and has performed with legends such as Ice Cube, Kid Capri, Scarface and Too Short.  So let’s see what this is all about.

Strongarm Steady – O Dog Series Vol 1 (Strong Arm Steady)

This mixtape is Hosted by Self Allah aka Will Blast and presented by Strong Arm Steady. There’s rumours that he (together with Xzibit) might be coming to South Africa this year (you heard that on AG first).

2FAST 2FURIOUS – The Soundtrack (Def Jam South/UMG/Universal)

So Vin Diesel is not in 2FAST 2FURIOUS, so what the hell! I got to see the movie and it does not need him! With all the regular fast cars all over the show it’s all car freaks need to get the adrenaline juices flowing. Ludacris makes his major movie debut in here and also pops up on the soundtrack. The soundtrack to the first one was aight, but it had a more Hip-Rock sound to cater for everybody. On this one it’s strictly deep dirty down south beats and rhymes that will make you love the south even more.

Solseekers – Halfway There (Syntax Records)

Capture the Elusive and DJ DNA are a duo who make up the group Solseekers. This group may not be well known to many, yet they still offer a significant contribution to this hip hop culture.

Hailing from California ,this is what the west coast offers on the underground scene. This ep is filled with funk samples that sticks to the basics of mc’ing and producing,”two turntables and a mic style”. 

Pigeon John – Clueless (Syntax Records)

Pigeon John, an artist off the Syntax Label offers us a refreshing approach to hip hop.  I’ve been listening to this for the past 4 weeks that I even forgot to review it.  My bad, but let’s get right into it.

Extended Fam -Happy Fuck You Songs (BP Distribution)

Who is Extended Fam? Well it’s Tonedeff, PackFM, Substantial and Session. This album is packed with retarded production by peoples like Tonedeff, Elite and Deacon the Villian.

Wonderland – Campaign (Koto Records)

If you’ve not checked out kotorecords.com yet then where have you been? They got a tight flash intro and if you into that you need to check that shit out. Koto Records is an independent label located in New York. One of the first artists on the label is Wonderland and he contributes this single which we are going to dig into right now.

The first thing that you notice about Wonderland is that he got that true African accent. He is actually from Nigeria and has been in the USA for over 12 years.

B-Legit – Watcha Talking (In The Paint/Koch)

B-Legit from the Sick Wid It Records family and potna of E-40 get’s loose on this funk filled Rick Rock produced track. The first thing I’m loving about this is the beat, coz it’s got some nice keyboard work and B-Legit comes correct as he keeps you hooked with his laid back flow. This will be most enjoyed in your ride. Not bad and can’t wait to hear the album.

The Dayton Family – Welcome To Flint 12

Major – Master and Juggernaut Of Rhymes (Indalab)

Once in a while you hear somebody with potential, and Major is just that person. There is

D.B.A. – Doing Business As.. (Jus Family Records)

DBA is Cool Nutz, Bosko and Poppa LQ. Cool Nutz and Bosko are both from Portland Oregan and Poppa LQ is from South Central LA. When you think of DBA think of the West Side Connection, think NWA. Production on this album is handled by Bosko, probably the most underated producer in Hip Hop today.

Tunnel Rats – Tunnelvision (Uprok Records)

You can always count on Uprok Records to release thought provoking albums. I believe there is a time for all styles of Hip Hop and I rely on Uprok to give me that stuff that will not only move your ass but make you think at the same time. Tunnelvision is just one of many releases from Uprok Records and I’d urge people to seek this stuff out.

S.M.P. & J.U.I.C.E. & DJ Rude 1 – Dumb Hot b/w It’s All About Me 12

First of all, you get Hip Hop and then you get what people call "Real Hip Hop". Well this is real Hip Hop. No doubt about that. On Dumb Hot it’s nothing but mad ill production. I’m playing this all day, I didn’t even put on another record. I already know all the words. J.U.I.C.E. is a talented lyricist and that is a fact. You need to listen to the words in order to understand where I’m coming from.

Andre Nickatina – These R The Tales

Andre Nickatina also known as Dre Dog brings another album with gangster tales.    As said in his previous review you’d need to like Bay Area rap in order to like this stuff.

Kleine Helly – De Wederkeer

When I hear stuff like this it makes me look forward to going to the Netherlands next year. Kleine Helly is an emcee who has a good flow and good rhyme constructs and you can hear this even if you don’t understand Dutch. The best track on this CD must be Wildvees which has a nice beat laced with a lekker guitar sample. We love this track so much that we play it often here in Africa’s Gateway headquarters. Other dope tracks are Tijdelijk Verdoofd and De Laatste Lach.