One of Slondon’s finest, ItsNate, returns with a analogue heavy new video for his latest single ‘Windy’ taken off his kush-ready mixtape Never Average Talking Excellent. Featuring a customary laid back flow from Nate and smothered in witty dialogue ‘Windy’ is emblematic of the type of leftist approach he’s taken across the entire tape. Dope video.

via Noisey

UK beat producer Jon Phonics pairs up with Piff Gang affliate ItsNate on ‘FX With The Life’, the latest single lifted from his recently released RUGERS tape, available exclusively via bleep.com. Phonics serves up an enigmatically wavy production which contorts and bumps in all the right places. Part chopped, part screwed it also sees Nate unloading a barrage of typically smooth verses. A very dope and visually strong video accompanies and is offered here exclusively.

Never burnt always blunted, ItsNate’s latest eleven tracks sees the 23 year old doing things, that it could have been argued some time ago alot of other rappers in this field just weren’t. Injecting a missing ingredient: style, but it’s not comprised solely of that. ‘WSTLA’ alone may possibly be one of the more effervescent rap singles on these shores in recent memory (competing ironically with some of the cuts on Piff Gang’s ‘Plantlife’).

On NeverAverageTalkingExcellent Nate continues to usher in the new era of what “some of this man call swag rap”, albeit with a zest of waking-up-next-morning-with-work-at-9am world-weariness. When the clouds part, there’s some incredible production from new producers currently pushing a fresh feel and sound forward for the London scene. As when it goes beyond just the call of soulful kush, different dimensions of bassy, tripped hip-hop beds and flow cadences turn more dynamic, especially the second half with stand-outs like Weeknd sampling ‘Momentum’, ‘Schemin’ and ‘Above It’. It’s not grime, it’s not road rap, it’s not backpack, and the beats don’t bore. Broadened by the UKs evolving sense of intercontinental hybrid rap… whatever that is… may it continue. Free download here.

“Slocal” North London rapper ItsNate drops a treat ahead of new tape “Never Average Talking Excellent” which lands on 18th September. Directed by Henry Houdini, the suave emcee glides alongside a host of ladies displaying various talents whilst referencing Kanye West’s ‘Yeezy Taught Me’ skit over this bouncy JD Reid produced banger.

Whilst the UK has seen its own response to US trappers like Ace Hood and 2 Chainz in the form of J. Spade and Sneakbo, ItsNate is more the Mikey Rocks or Casey Veggies; his flows a little smarter, swag more refined, “Liteys with tumblrs, whiteys with bumpers”. Alongside upcomers such as Piff Gang and Ash Catch ‘Em, there’s a reminder here that a sense of borderless style is breathing new life into what was a tired indigenous arena.

“I lock it off, then I dun’ the dance”. ItsNate continues testing palettes with Jon Phonics on the industrially charged beat, siphoning a crazy combo of bravado and raps on raps on raps. The Piff Gang affiliate swerves between breathalyzed slang and double-time indicments as the track rolls hookless, and the Stayhungry directed video strips back to bare only the intense transmission. But it’s the kind of intensity that isn’t driven by angst, it’s driven by a ‘wavey’ nurtured aplomb; giving the rapper increasing prominence in the circle of new faces rising up during this needed revitalization period in Brit hip-hop. We’re looking forward to that NeverAverageTalkingExcellent tape on the way.

Certifying the tongue’s an extension of the heart, British rap riser and Piff Gang affliate ItsNate sounds at his most vigorous that we’ve heard him. Putting his feenin’ Suede Jones Smooth Material alter-ego to bed for a moment, he reinstates the common man commentaries of every day, young, London twenty-something life on new preview track ‘Stickers’. Using his gut to push certain phrases out like they’re the last, the emotional growth the emcee’s undergone since his first release NeverAskTakeEverything last Autumn can certainly be felt. Produced by newcomer Footsteps, booming bass, progressive shifts and introspective sampling indicates Nate hasn’t lost his ear for an intriguing beat. Let’s hope upcoming mixtape NeverAverageTalkingExcellent is set to continue the ‘wavy’ rejuvenation of the domestic scene here. All that was needed was for broader minds to begin taking over from the bygone UK backpack age… See also Piff Gang’s Plantlife for proof things have been brewing.

London based producer D’Vo who announced on his personal blog, he was ready for a resurrection and that there “couldn’t be a better time than now” – he may have been right.

On first listen, the young unknown producer stylistically delves into the array of sounds that surround him in the city, but without a forceful ‘Look at me! I’m a cool hipster, who has an extensive array of influences ranging from Dolly Parton to Rick Ross’ attitude. Rather the stark transitioning between vocal mixes, glitchy crashes and experimental beats feel much more natural than most producers hailing from the big smoke that I’ve heard of late.

So be prepared for post-dubbed steppings, an essence of ‘alt-Grime’ and Soul vocal experimentation. There’s even a Ginuwine ‘Pony’ remix that suits the pick n’ mix variation of the whole project that was reworked by ItsNate recently. Immediate standout tracks include the subwoofed Hip-Hop of ‘Limbo’ and the modern fared ‘I Want You’.

Not sure what else is to come for D’Vo, but in the meantime, let’s run this back once more.

Second release from ‘Wave-Rap’ name and Piff Gang affiliate ItsNate following the video for tripped first single ‘Call Me A Cab’. He’s been clocking mad studio time since having last years dope joint ‘Slondon’ aired on Giles Peterson’s show.

These whoozy tracks bridge various strains of current West Coast boogie funk and left-field Euro-Detroit Hip-Hop aboard a rich, Soul-Bass heavy aesthetic. Known locally for his ear, he’s curated beats from one of the strongest production stables in London right now: fat, mid-tempo psychedelia from the likes of Piff in-house Budgie, Crankz, and also DVO Treats whose ‘A.L.Y.O. (Shady)’ is one of the EP’s slow gyration jam highlights for me.

Re-envisioning the sonic palette for new UK rap is a big part of the ‘game’ for this don juan’s alter-ego Suede Jones. The EP focuses around seduction and casual sex themes (the safe kind we hope) and it’s a window into a youthful man’s nights: drunk, lean wordplay – running rings round wavey ladies in EC. “You’re cute but you can’t parr dude…“

Smooth Material, read the label.

Download: ItsNate – Suede Jones Smooth Material

Continuing to bubble under the surface of our burgeoning new school Rap scene in London, and with a profile smokin’ off the mixtape Never Ask Take Everything, Piff Gang affiliate It’s Nate sends through his latest visuals to a highly vibes orientated cut (as per). It’s laced with plenty THC chemical and off-kilter groove courtesy of local don Budgie leaving a tripped, sexy beat and conversational flow. Shouts to the driver at the end with a blatant disregard for unimpaired, safe driving.

The new six track EP Suede Jones Smooth Material is set to drop mid-Feb and will display a more velvety, Lothario side to the artist’s work. Meanwhile, pass that doobie round and enjoy it to the above.

Not late on sh*t by the way; this young lyricist lives in our neighbourhood and he dropped his debut tape a few weeks ago so we’re gonna refresh heads for a minute, especially after it’s lead single ‘Slondon’ went on to be played via Giles Peterson’s show – monumental recognition right there.

What I’m hearing in Nate (and recently another affiliated group named Piff Gang) is a re-energized take on how a Brit-Hop underground rap entity walks, talks, self-packages and swags itself out. They appear to represent and are bore of the culturally savvy generation we’ve seen our US counterparts have their Cudi’s, Kendrick’s and Krit’s emerge from. Now slowly but surely, it’s happening on our shores.

Some wonderfully chill records on here, particularly ‘Slondon’ and ‘City Lights’ featuring lovely local Ms. Merrick and across the 17 tracks Nate veers between his smooth sh*t, scene sh*t, roadman sh*t and uni grad sh*t personas. There’s a candidness in the lyricism that’s always undeniably British but at the same time it’s unafraid to digress from the banality of cold, dark council estate-ism that’s often been the snooze-button downfall of UK underground. The tone here is often more forward-thinking and when underpinned with a succession of Jay Dee’esque currents you know it’s made to be more than just sermonic, but actual vibes.

Send that next tape up when it’s ready kid. We’re liking this one.