uk runnings

Well in the ever constant struggle for home-grown hip hop to get the recognition it deserves, we find yet more quality produced gems coming from all over the UK bubbling underneath in the underground. Kicking off with all things good, London rapper B Sharp is about to unleash a three tracker well worth checking. 'Friday 13th' is my personal favourite as it tells of life in Brixton and the attitude of the police. His flow is solid, the beats are banging and the whole vibe is bang on. Cashino from Rugged Style Records is putting together a compilation at the moment and is looking for people to get involved. His album to 'Subterranean' is still out there doing the rounds and getting some nice airplay. Check www.cashino4ever.com for more details.

In the West Midlands Wolftown Recordings are pumping out more good stuff with 'Legendary Status' by Wolftown Committee. The ten strong army made up of Villains, Vicious Circle, High Timez, Conman and female rapper Jai Boo, impress as the 21 track long player weighs in proper heavy. Check for LATE on the title track 'Legendary Status', Size8 on 'Dangerous Place', Conman on 'They Call Me...' and Jai Boo's anthem 'A So It Go'. All good stuff, well produced and very original. Watch out for the video of 'Boxed' hitting around July 2002. As well as this, Wolverhampton's Wolftown Recordings have their underground publication 'RAGO Magazine' (Issue 5) about to hit the streets real soon, and with LATE's 'International Rhyme Spittin EP' in the pipeline and EP's by acts like Dass and Pique it's all gravy! Check www.wolftown.co.uk for all the latest developments.

Ironridge Records unleash Jibbarish, Dirty Verbals and Pager's anthem 'U Can't Wait'. Quality stuff with more tracks included like the superb 'Little Sinner'. LATE from VILLAINS and WOLFTOWN COMMITTEE is to feature on two heavy UK hip-hop joints; a track with DOYEN D where OUT DA VILLE, JNR DISPROL and CAPPO also feature. This track will be available in the near future on DOYEN D's album. For more info contact 07760 450 361 or doyen@hiphop.co.uk. Also peep the hefty new Abduction Entertainment release where LATE features on DADDY ASH's track 'Spaghetti Junction' alongside SKEME, SKINNYMAN, CLASS A and Scotland's finest EASTBOURNE. RITUAL from Lincoln drop 'The Crusade of the Lyrical Avenger' an eight tracker that features C-MONE and Son Records rapper CAPPO. It's all good stuff so for more info contact 07812 483 560. Also peep PNEUMATIC whose track 'Desperate feat. UT DIALECT' is doing big things. Wicked music all produced by NOZ - contact 07989 803 339. Female rapper PARIZ ONE drops 'No Long Ting' real soon; she's down with the Darkness Records crew who are also putting out XCONS and RNDP.

Also watch out for OSHIN & PARADISE (from 57th DYNASTY) with the 'Independent Hype' VHS video and compilation album. Apparently it is going to be real heavy with some proper underground footage for the mans dem! Also 57th DYNASTY have a new single called 'Break Free' which has been getting a real good response too. Watch out for the forthcoming album, we reckon it will be the bomb. For information contact +44 (0) 7977 795 930. Gran Kru Records, home of MSI & ASYLUM, have dropped the much talked about compilation album 'Wireless Nation’ - A letter to Tony Blair Campaign. Yes UK mans don't get any airplay, so back it and send your thoughts NOW to gran.kru@virgin.net. The album is out now and features OUT DA VILLE, MSI & ASYLUM, ROOTS MANUVA, KRISPY, TY and 57th DYNASTY, amongst others. Don't forget to hear the cream of UK Hip-Hop peep for the 'UK RUNNINGS' mixed CD which is available now. It features exclusives, freestyles and very upfront tracks by Cafe Recordings, Late, PQ, Size8, Dass, Skinnyman, Yogi, MD7 and much, much more... It’s available for a fiver on www.wolftown.co.uk/ukrunnings or call +44 (0) 7974 977 376.

Don’t forget to send in ya hip-hop... TRICKSTA, UK Runnings, PO Box 1668, Wolverhampton, WV3 0AE, England, E-Mail: tricksta@wolftown.co.uk