Various
Gangster Music Vol​.​2

‘Acrylic Snail’ is the fifth album from Dirty Dike. Following a three-year hiatus since his last solo outing ‘Sucking On Prawns In The Moonlight’ and after a ream of production work for the likes of Rag ’n’ Bone Man (‘Put That Soul On Me’), Ocean Wisdom (‘Chaos 93’) and Lee Scott (‘Butter Fly’) during that time, Dike is back with a brand new 14-track album; his most personal release to date and a body of work that shines a full-beam-floodlight on his formative years, but moreover, the dreamlike transition between then and now.Firmly anchored in a chapter of the UK underground before everything went to shit, situated a couple behind this current grizzly chapter, the songs bounce off the walls of abandoned industrial estates and whoosh by at breakneck speeds like trains through tunnels. The album embodies the freezing cold concrete pours, twilight toe slaps and irregularly shaped ballast banks of the network. In short, ‘Acrylic Snail’ pays homage to the things Dike saw in the very farthest reaches of night that made him who he is today.Featuring a roster of guests vocalists (Rag ’n’ Bone Man, Jam Baxter, Lee Scott, Dabbla, Leaf Dog, Eva Lazarus, J Man, Ronnie Bosh, Inja, Killa P, Foreign Beggars) and production from a team of music makers (including Dike himself) ‘Acrylic Snail’ is an AAA invitation to Dirty Dike’s playground and further cements his hard-earned status as one of UKHH's greatest torchbearers.

“Da Qween can rap and sing with the best of them,” says Seattle radio station KEXP, while adding that “one listen to this music and you’ll experience freedom, rebellion, ingenuity, and unabashed self-love.” This album slaps hard and shows off Seattle’s vibrant rap scene. Northwest underground hip-hop label Crane City Music has released Da Qween’s acclaimed “Renaissance Bitch” album on limited-edition, purple vinyl. The self-described reefer-smoking, black, queer, non-binary, hard-femme delivers quick-wit bars that will bury your favorite rapper. Look no further than the second track, “When Worst Comes To Worst”—three-and-a-half minutes of unrelenting, baller versus with nary a breath. You’ll also find new anthems for playing Nintendo and for celebrating 420, too. Da Qween’s undefinable “Renaissance Bitch” is an expansive, ambitious, and theatrical listen that will easily be one of your new favorites. Only 500 individually numbered copies have been pressed.

EM Records: ...The second of two EM Records 12-inch vinyl-only "tribute releases" in support of the Kuzoku film "Bangkok Nites", this time by rap group stillichimiya, local heroes in their Yamanashi homeland. Based on samples from Dao Bandon's biggest hit, the classic luk thung Isan tune "Man on a Water Buffalo" [EM1131CD/LP], the tracks here, including a remix by Compuma, are a grittier, real-world counterpart to the dreamy first release in the series.