Wordplay Album of the Year Nominees

Yes yes it is that time of the year when the cream of the crop gets formally judged. Having been on another planet for the majority of 2016 it means there is special pleasure for me being able to jump in and out of a hefty batch of dope projects. Going to line them up all here with no bias part from to say a massive big up to my Ipswich homie Booda French and large ups to Truffle Barons for keeping everything lively as part of the extended Granville famalam. Sorry not to see Bennydiction's excellent "Button Up" LP on the list but what can you do!? Check out the official listing, artist info  and get your vote in ASAP at Wordplay.... in the meantime check some of the shortlisted music right here.

Jon Phonics 'Half Past Calm 2'

YNR Productions is proud to present the release of producer Jon Phonics' 'Half Past Calm 2' LP. It is a heavy project all over, my personal favourites are 'Dark Days' and 'Mind over matter'...the former has Jam Baxter and Fliptrix giving you some top notch braggadocio bars and the latter elevating yor mind into some next dimensions with Verb T and Kashmere knocking it out the park on another ill collaboration. 9 Planets and Kosyne also come particularly hard/clever on their respective tracks, loving Kos's way of switching up perspectives, great writing!

The following is taken from the press release but does a pretty good job at giving a flavour of the project...

"Jon is back with another snapshot of what the UK scene has to offer to the world of Hip Hop. Featuring highly acclaimed artists such as Jehst, Triple Darkness, Micall Parknsun, Sonnyjim, Kosyne, Obba Supa and more. This album is more than rapping over beats, Half Past Calm 2 is a statement of the current musical climate in the UK.

The album takes the listener on a journey from the coldest sword swiging boom bap on album opener 'Raw Ingredients' (Featuring Jehst & Cyrus Malachi) to the oscillating basslines and 8 bit blips of head nodder 'Pump', to the dusty soul of T-Bear & Yasine on 'Changes'. Too new school to be UK Hip Hop too Hip Hop to be, for want of a better word, wonky...

You can stream the album from Jon's bandcamp here. Where it is also available for free download for a limited time only.
Here!

The album is also available in the form of 300 x limited edition 4 ply covers available exclusively via the YNR shop here. Get yours!