A stunning debut EP dropped from Toronto producer Zodiac on Jacques Greene‘s label Vase last week. It sees the man behind game changers ‘What You Need’ ‘Loft Music’ and ‘The Morning’ overseen for The Weeknd, pull out these giant instrumentals needing serious new pipes to hold them down. Jesse Boykins III feature on ‘Come’ has already been an exquisite certifier for both, and may only be the beginning.

The producer, real name Jeremy Rose, recently signed to do some work under Paul Epworth‘s new label Wolf Tone. Now I’m just wondering what it’ll be like mixing the high class pop of one of the biggest super-producers this 21st century, with Zodiac’s mysterious R&B, shapeshifting hip-hop and aerial-scapes from the next…

One of my favourite and most consistent beatmakers doing his thing over in Cali is giving away a bonus track off the album to thank everyone for copping ‘Waiting’. Having produced beats for the likes of Badu, Q- Tip, Joey Bada$$ and remixing for everyone under the sun he is always in high demand and listening to ‘When You Sleep’ it’s evident why. A Ronny Jordan-esque guitar complimenting a knocking downtempo beat with a summer vibe. This is one for those late night/early morn sessions. Enjoy and download here

A brief rip of an unreleased Hud-Mo jaunt named ‘Tingle’ from Benji B’s Radio 1 show. At some point, the Scot beatsmith will probably reach that status of British Hip-Hop production royalty. If you can’t wait till the big rollers start officially vocal’ing his tracks, check out features on recent G.O.O.D. Music comp Cruel Summer with Teyana Taylor and John Legend: ‘Bliss’ gets very Butter. But charging forward into rider territory where TNGHT left off, is ‘Tingle’, crushing low freak-quency and skitters. Subs on as they say and mind out for the nutty turntable…

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.

It may have taken a while, but here’s Kilo‘s debut video for The Internet produced single ‘Navy’ from Homeschool EP, and it sees a rising tumblrite phenom embracing her DIY trippy. Between the sexy brat pack flow and that Syd the Kid/Matt Martian funk, it’s just too cool for college really.

Debates debates, but Missy Misdemeanour and Timbaland go positively ham on their latest single drops this week. The first of two, ‘Triple Threat’ is a little like Under Construction-era Missy and Tim employing trappy bass ‘relentlessness’, turning over a benchpress-ready update of ‘Bounce’ from Shock Value Vol. 1. Riding a solid platter of latter day Timmy ingredients thrown into a usual high-def blender, Elliot pretty much shuts the lady-rap game down. Sure, there’s no “Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta” going on here, but after fifteen years we’re still dealing with one of the most successful, iconic and purely dynamic female emcees of all time. Her most 31st century creative outpouring? Maybe not. Weatherproof? Definitely. Let’s look forward to the video…

Make sure you check out also ’9th Inning’ here. Probably the more canny of the two cuts, deadly on all counts & album track-worthy. Both are available on iTunes now as seventh album Block Party is expected soon.

“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.

‘Lightbulbs’ comes courtesy of London based creatives Cronos and Lander Khadel. Like alot of good music being made this doesn’t fall neatly into one genre, but intelligently borrows and blends. Cronos’ ear for arrangement and production’s apparent when the intro comes on all laid back, yet intense, mirrored in the video by a figure carrying a rug he’s about to ‘cut up’. It sets the scene as a skilfully worked Angie Stone sample grabs attention for the screwed down Lander verse. The track draws on a lot of what’s potent now, codeine vocals and hydro beats, but they manage a fresh britified balance with it.

The snippet offered just enough for us to assuredly know that ‘Clique’ was going to be a banger. No surprise then that the full version of the Cruel Summer lifted track doesn’t disappoint. Featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean, all on fine form and produced by Hit-Boy, it’s a braggadocious homage to the G.O.O.D Music posse. Crew love naturally. Question is though, who went in the hardest?

Cruel Summer drops September 18th.

Nobody likes snippets, but when Kanye says sh*t like “break records at Louis / ate breakfast at Gucci / My girl a superstar all from a home movie” and has Jay & Big Sean featuring, posting up a clip is a bit of a no brainer. Well, that’s my justification anyways. ‘Clique’ will feature on G.O.O.D Music’s upcoming Cruel Summer album (Sept 18th) – which as I’m sure you’re aware will probably smack the sh*t out of most album releases this year. It’s Yeezy baby.

Full version please! Full version available here.