Dusk + Blackdown - Margins Music

Abelardo request. One of the top dubstep/grime releases in 08. From Boomkat:

"It's been a long time coming, but dubstep hack Martin 'Blackdown' Clarke and co-producer Dusk have finally completed their A-Z of London's sonic landscape in the form of 'Margins Music'. Blackdown's writings on his hallowed blogpsot have long been hinting and suggesting at a music that encompasses the rich diversity of London's myriad of multi ethnic communities and their inherent territorialism. So alongside his trusty sidekick, the pair invite us for a mooch round their end. From the opener 'Darker than East' we set out with sirens blazing and a running commentary from Target for company, but it's 'Con/Fusion' featuring the first of many lush vocal contributions from Farrah that will really hold your attention, before moving through predominantly south Asian ends on the run of 'Lata VIP' to the string led bollywood pomp of 'Kuri Pataka'. The album takes a swerve into sweaty grime territory at the halfway point with 'Concrete streets' feat Durrty Goodz and the massive 12" cut 'The bits' feat Trim on furious form, making the breezy respite of the album highlight 'Dis/east' all the more welcome for it's rich tapestry of cooling textures shaped from swirling strings and tripping piano lines. This prepares you sweetly for the final tracks running on a steppers vibe til the album's closure, with 'The Drumz of Nagano' rolling out some Oriental rhythm mysticism before killer recent single 'Focus' comes to the end of the line with that epic crescendo. As a package it's quite an accomplishment as a sonic charting of LDNs urban life in this decade and if you've been following his blogspot or consider yourself to be a connoisseur of the finer end of the grime/dubstep spectrum this comes very highly recommended."

Rican dubsteppas

Diplo & Santogold - Top Ranking

Forget the original Santogold album. This is a million times better. Diplo continues the tradition of turning everything he touches to fucking gold. On this jamaican music inspired 75 minute, massive mixtape he blazes through everything you can imagine. Dub, r&b, new wave, rocksteady, reggae, dancehall, grime, indie, hip hop, reggaeton, electronic, miami bass, soul, even punk with a barrage of samples ranging from Dead Kennedys, Kraftwerk, Dead Boys to Street Fighter sounds and mashups ala Hollertronix.

Highlights include the track where Cutty Ranks rhymes like a madman with the bass riff from Black Flag's "Six Pack" over a reggaeton beat. There's also the Mumdance remix of Creator where Jammer and friends turn Switch's beat(one of the best of 08') into a grime-fest complete with a Soulja Boy sample in between. The track with Warrior Queen destroying The Clash's Ghetto Defendant over grimy beats and the Santogold/Panda Bear mashup are also highlights.

Diplo throws in songs from Aretha Franklin, Devo, and classic tracks from Desmond Dekker, Barrington Levy, and Tony Matterhorn into the mix as well. If all that weren't enough there are also covers of The Clash's Guns of Brixton (renamed Guns of Brooklyn) and Bad Brains'  Right Brigade.

How can you like music that plays with no bass man?

The Bug - London Zoo

Who says weed always makes you happy?

War, poverty, crime, corruption, economic issues, ext... These reggae rappers/singers don't seem too optimistic. They're angry and what's happening around them seems hopeless. It's a testament to our times and social climate. Who better than Kevin Martin to provide them an apocalyptic backdrop of grime, hip hop, dancehall, ragga, and dubstep with abrasive touches of industrial.

"To all dem fucking people who hold de keys but continue to close doors".

One of the best albums of the year.

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Dizzee Rascal - Boy in the Corner

This album came out when Dizzee was 18 ("I Luv U" was recorded when he was 16). Think about what the fuck you had accomplished by 18 and be ashamed. Still the best grime album ever and a modern classic.

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