Pabst

Your Old Droog's appearance on the 5 Fingers of Death is incredible.....

Love that Special Ed jam; all-time classic - though I always thought the Business-Like Version was even better. I once had an awesome tape of a WBLS radio show from New York with the DJ (presumably Marley Marl) cutting it up.

Those DJ Supreme tracks are great. Love that classic Britcore sound. Put me on a bit of an old school UK hip-hop binge this morning. 'The Horns Of Jericho' by Hijack is hands down the greatest UK hip-hop album of all time.

I like WestSide Gunn, and FlyGod is definitely one of my fave LPs of 2016, but I tend to think he works best when he's got someone else on the track with him, as that voice can grate a little when there's not another rapper to break things up a little. He's got great chemistry with Conway.

As far as I know it's not from any mixtape or album; just a loosie he dropped a couple of weeks back as a video. Might be on his next full-length release of course.

Classic Roc Marciano track:

I'd go with Reloaded as my favourite Roc Marciano LP, but Marcberg is definitely a must-listen. There's also guys like WestSide Gunn and Conway The Machine (two brothers from Buffalo, NY) and Hus Kingpin (also NY but lives out in LA now). All of 'em specialise in that sort of dark, understated grimy NY rap. Roc Marciano and Ka are the ones to start with though. Hus Kingpin's new song:

New Ka album, 'Honor Killed The Samurai' , is brilliant. Possible AOTY. This one, from his previous LP 'The Night's Gambit', will give you an idea of what he's about....

DJ Premier's original version of 'Memory Lane' is bananas.

Loved all the Hitler Wears Hermes albums, and his stuff with The Purist etc., but I tend to think WestSide Gunn works best alongside his bro Conway - vocally they've got a nice contrast. There's something about WestSide Gunn's voice that kinda grates if there's not another rapper alongside him for a bit of variety.

I never tire of rewatching the BBC hip-hop documentary 'Bad Meaning Good' every once in a while. It's still brilliant. Scary to think it's gonna be 30 years old next year! Amazing footage of Westwood at Kiss FM when it was still a pirate, as well as Run DMC, London Posse, Brixton Academy (those whistles!), Groove Records in Soho etc. Look out for a young Trevor Nelson!

Joey Bada$$ - 'Ready'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwVFZ8TGSFA