THE PIT LONDON PRESENTS: PROJECTS OF 2021
With the enforced idleness of 2020, it is hardly a surprise that 2021 has delivered some of the most thorough, thoughtful and explorative bodies of work in recent times. UK and US rap, R&B and soul have had an incredibly fruitful year, with many artists pushing boundaries and generic expectations, elevating their craft and creativity to new-found heights. The Pit London team have whittled our favourite albums and EPs of the year down to three choices each. Here is what we opted for!
James’ picks (@jamsandwij)
Jam Baxter x Sumgii - Obscure Liqueurs
Heralded as the gonzo lyricist of High Focus, Jam Baxter’s steady move to Blah Records was met with dropped jaws when Obscure Liqueurs landed. Fully produced by the legendary Sumgii, the album is like opening a mysterious drinks cabinet in an abandoned house to find all the broken bottles instead talking back at you.
Vivid, ruthless and uncomfortably relatable, the ten-track album pairs Baxter’s lyricism with harrowing electronic production. It also features outstanding verses from Jehst and Lee Scott as well as contributions from Blah mainstays Stinkin Slumrok and Milkavelli.
The whole album will have you questioning the mirror, but some standout tracks include: ‘Red Wine Lips’, ‘Salsa Valentina’, ‘Feek’ and ‘Knee In Face’.
For Those I Love - For Those I Love
Opening with the momentous ‘I Have A Love’, the debut full-length album from Dublin’s David Balfe is unmissable. Under the moniker For Those I Love, his self-titled project presents a personal expression of grief, while blending Burial with The Streets.
Balfe shines a flickering light on life in working class Ireland via surging electronic tracks and Skinner-inspired spoken word. Hopeful but nihilistic, the album is a collage of samples, songs and conversations, often returning to the “I have a love and it never fades” motif.
For an experimental eulogy your best bet is For Those I Love. RIP Paul Curran.
There’s no mistaking Wiki’s nasal, New York snarl or the quality of his most recent offering Half God. The MC continues his streak of consistent solo albums after the disbanding of Ratking, with these tracks legging listeners up over the fences of NYC’s underbelly.
East Coast alternative hip hop has had an exceptional year but Half God certainly deserves it’s dues. Wiki runs the show for most of the 14 tracks, but brings on board his peers Navy Blue, Earl Sweatshirt, Remy Banks, MIKE, duendita and the UK’s own Jesse James Soloman.
Navy Blue is also the sole producer of Half God, following Wiki’s Telephonebooth produced by NAH in full. Wiki’s witty charm remains but this LP comes with a further sense of wisdom we haven't seen before. This might be Wiki at his most wicked.
Ben’s picks (@tibbitsben)
In 2021, the Irish alternative scene has continued to developed into a lavish melting pot for the nonconformist and sui generis. No one epitomises this more so than rap maverick Kojaque who challenges musical and social convention in an incredibly articulate and emotional fashion.
His 2021 album Town’s Dead, the follow up to his painstakingly bittersweet debut LP Deli Daydreams, shows Kojaque artistry in all its glory. Constantly towing the line between cynicism and hope, the body of work is a vivid portrait of Kojaque’s childhood anguish, a stinging criticism of toxic masculinity and romanticism, and a poignant reflection of depression and addiction. The soundscapes are left-field and striking, and the rapper’s razor sharp delivery and explorative wit ensure that the album is an entertaining as it is affecting.
Sometimes music is more than just a collection of notes and rhythm. It is an emotion, a picture, a memory. Joy Crookes’ ‘Skin’ is a subtly jaw-dropping exemplar of such.
There have been countless grandiose, gorgeous and assured projects from UK soulstress’ this year - big up Cleo Soul, Arlo Parks and Pip Millett - but the manner in which Joy depicts her community, relationships and womanhood in such a nostalgic, empowering and celebratory manner transcends ‘Skin’ into a wholly different artistic stratosphere. Her effortlessly stunning tones guide the album through its bittersweet lyrical canvas’; treating us to a trackless full of cinematic experiences (see ‘19th Floor’), feel-good tapestries of neo-soul (see ‘Trouble’), and heartrending piano ballads (see ‘Unlearn You’). Joy’s indulgent tones are for the early mornings, the sunny afternoons, and the lonely nights.
A who’s who of UK soul and rap talent, for THE NEW WORLD Swindle recruited a assortment of the strongest artists in the scene right now. I mean, how is it even fair to have Ghetts, Loyle Carner, Knucks, Akala(!!!), Kojey Radical, Joy Crookes, Greentea Peng, Poppy Ajudha, Joel Culpepper and Maverick Sabre on the same album?! Come on Swindle mate, give everyone else a chance.
The renowned beat-maker’s production is some of the sharpest and most vibrant you are likely to ever hear, and each feature is as profound, compelling and dazzling as the last. From the devastatingly soulful ‘NO BLACK, NO IRISH’ to the charismatic, entertaining ‘LOST’, each track is a jazz-infused fragment of experimental musical excellence, rocketing Swindle to the summit of the UK’s spiralling ladder of superb producers.
Jay’s picks (@jaymfullarton)
Injury Reserve - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Injury Reserve’s latest offering is a devastatingly bleak, chaotic masterpiece that serves as their first release since Groggs’ unfortunate passing. It’s their most adventurous and experimental record to date, and despite being recorded before Groggs’ death, there are many clear parallels, as the album tackles the challenging themes of grief and loss. It’s an absolutely mind-bending album that completely transcends the Hip Hop label, crossing over into Post Rock, IDM, and Glitch Hop. This is truly a boundary pushing album unlike anything else, and will surely be remembered for years to come.
The debut album from Californian R&B songwriter, Dijon, is an excellent introduction to him for those who haven’t already heard of him. Whilst I previously only knew of him from singles like ‘Skin’, he’s truly come into his own as an artist. Whilst I initially wrote him off as a bit of a Frank Ocean biter, he’s taken those influences and made them into something unique. A lot of the songs on this album also seem to have quite a Bon Iver feel to them, and it’s no surprise he will be joining Justin Vernon on tour. It’s an emotional and near breathtaking LP, but if you need more convincing, give ‘Many Times’, ‘The Dress’, and ‘Talk Down’ a listen for some of the most beautiful alternative R&B of the year.
Rochelle Jordan - Play With The Changes
This one slipped through the cracks for me at first because it dropped on my birthday! Thank God I went back and found it, because it’s some of the catchiest and most creative UK Bass, Garage, and alternative R&B released this year. Full of infectious, bouncy tracks that have a Kaytranada-esque flair to them, and would sound fantastic at a Warehouse Project event. Her sultry vocals perfectly sit on top of each instrumental, and she is never outshone by the catchy production either. It’s a special LP full of songs that were made to be heard in clubs, with deep, infectious melodies that will get stuck in your head for days.
Lewis’ picks (@lxdoob)
Over ten years in the making, Lewis Roberts returns with a primordial celebration of the extra-terrestrial within electronic music. ‘Agor’ is a project that reinvents how technology is used within music, incorporating ethereal vocal chops and scattered synthesisers to make an impossibly refined sound. This is one of those special moments in music that is difficult to describe without spoiling the charm with it. A hideously underrated release.
Start with: ‘White Picket Fence’.
A completely immersive world of dystopian breaks and rave culture. CFCF is the project of Mike Silver, born in Montreal, Canada and has an extensive catalogue of releases across the electronic music sphere. Memoryland features a beautiful mismatch of spoken word, heavenly trance, and underground breakbeats to create a soundscape of what somewhere like Japan will sound like in 2089.
Start with: Life is Perfecto
My favourite album of the year. Through a blend of ambient texture and sweeping drones, neo-classical Maltese artist Robert Farrugia transports you to a realm of distant, undying hope. Collaborating with fellow ambient pioneers Benoît Pioulard and A Lily, the tracks morph into extreme versions of themselves, creating an album that is truly alive. This project left me stunned and will continue to do so for some time.
Start with: Dusty Octaves
Jimi’s picks (@jimidakilla)
Mach-Hommy - Pray for Haiti
The entire project was in my Spotify Wrapped. An artist finally getting the recognition he deserves, Mach-Hommy has been putting out some serious content for some time now. A strong hip-hop project that has quality throughout production, lyrics, and its overall message behind the music. Worth a listen if you are a rap fan!
One of my favourite British artists. Was anticipating the release for a minute and it didn't disappoint. A very musical project which highlights Lava's versatility and penship - they definitely knows how to make music with high replayability. Their choice for producers and collaborators makes for timeless music.
After being put on my radar by a friend, this quickly became a soundtrack for my mornings, afternoons and evenings. The underlying concept behind the music is great which always strenghtens my attention to something that I like the sound of. Yebba is a goat with one of the best voices around, and the project represents that!
Alfred’s picks (@alfredbk1)
Silk Sonic - An Evening with Silk Sonic
This was a link up of epic proportions and both artists delivered. I feel like all aspects of this project get an A++. Music, show performance/staging, artwork and music videos bring together this project as an unskippable masterpiece. Looking forward to seeing them perform this live! Whenever that is...
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
As a long time fan of Little Simz, this album is incredible. In terms of music alone, it is amazing and a complete joy to listen to. I would love to see this as a stage musical due to how grand it sounds. Little Simz has clearly learnt a lot from her time in the industry and it looks like she is just warming up, lit!
If you see my Spotify wrapped it is always topped by Skepta. I am admittedly a big Skepta fan so any new music will instantly gass me. This project was very enjoyable and gets better with every listen. Seeing the collaborations while retaining the Skepta essence is something the rapper continually surprises me with. I was happy to hear him link up with Jae5, that versus was one of my lockdown highlights.
Dom’s picks (@domtavlor)
Navy Blue - Song of Sage: Post Panic
It took me a while to really understand what Navy Blue - rapper, producer, model and professional skateboarder also known as Sage Elsesser - meant by ‘Post Panic’. The ‘Song of Sage’ bit made sense - this is his most personal, most comprehensive, well-produced record. So, if there’s a record to be noted as autobiographical, it’s this one.
But it wasn’t immediately obvious what emotion I was listening to. I knew it was simultaneously calm and calming. I knew lyrics like, ‘I made the path, not the bed’ and ‘I hate breaking in, I love breaking through’ had helped me unravel my own internal struggles. But I didn’t make the conclusion that what Navy had made was an album documenting the pensiveness and harsh self-assessment that comes after a period of feeling panicked by the environment around you.
Every song is a train of thought speaking on the warmth he finds in family and the feeling of being drained by societal pressures, alongside references to Jamie Vardy, Hakim Ziyech and Thierry Henry. The beats, many produced by Navy himself, are beautifully warped and vintage. Song of Sage: Post Panic is the product of an old soul with a new perspective.
Isaiah Rashad - The House is Burning
A lot of rappers say things, not because they need to, but to stay heard. If Isaiah Rashad has nothing to say, he won’t say anything. Since the amazing The Sun’s Tirade in 2016, fans overplayed new snippets and overanalysed Instagram captions, whilst Isaiah went to rehab. When he reemerged, he said only what he needed to, in the smoothest way possible.
Putting a pill inside a sweet to make it easier to swallow comes to mind. Songs are melodic and whispered, with simple, hard-hitting beats that are more mainstream than the previous two projects. The lyrics remain dark and angst-ridden, turns of phrase marinated in a fresh outlook on death, trust and relationships.
On ‘Don’t Shoot’, Isaiah brings genuine fear and anxiety into the comforting fold of an upbeat R&B instrumental, ‘smoking a killing, dodging a killing, making a killing’. On the title track, there’s an acceptance from Isaiah that there’s destructive people around him and that he himself is a facilitator - ‘Skydivers, loose cannons, cousins, Real addicts, full-timers, buzzin'. It’s simultaneously hard to hear and great to listen to, which is testament to Rashad’s talent.
The Alchemist - This Thing of Ours Vol 1 & 2
This Thing of Ours documents The Alchemist’s collaged collaborations within an underground hip-hop scene bursting with innovation. Artists like ZelooperZ and MIKE embody a DIY ethos that Al himself has said inspired his newfound approach to releasing music. Despite being separate EPs from different points in the year, the two volumes are more cohesive than almost any other album from this year.
Every artist featured is in and out - one verse, a minute-and-a-half max. No room is left for frills and no time is spent on unnecessary melodies. Lyrics are reflective and poignant, spoken with voices subconsciously aware of the importance of their fleeting appearance. The relentless nature to the projects leave you instinctively starting the whole thing again as the last song fades out. You’re convinced you missed something.
The Alchemist continues to prove himself as an incomparable chameleon - less of a player on the same team, but more of a coach sitting in his seat on the bench. Beats bleed into one another and ultimately make TTOO what it is, a self-assured experiment in collaboration, different coloured paints all splattered on the same canvas.
Dylan’s pick (@itsburntclout)
We have stumbled through another virus-ridden year, much the same as the last, with music providing a rare respite from the surreal reality that gate-keeps our goals.
That’s about as insightful as it gets from me.
There have been, thankfully, a lot of juicy drops to dilute my brutal concentration on the present- but the one which really stood, sat and jumped out was Datkid and Leaf Dog’s Wakmo.
It could be that having lived in Bristol for 3 excellent years, pre mask and sanitising times, the connection I have with the City and its dwellers perhaps exceeds others, or it could just be that Datkid has made an absolute classic here. I’m not disregarding Leaf’s exuberantly neck-snapping beats for even a blink, but it is definitely Datkid’s lairy lyricism that has me spitting on my own floor and hand-signalling your demise.
I’ll be honest, upon release I didn’t give this the time of day it deserved, disregarding it as another PG Highfocus release- how wrong could I be. You have an unbelievable selection of features available, but the one and only voice you want to hear more of his Datkids; each bar providing insight in to what lurks in the underbelly one of Britain’s most liberal city whilst ensuring you listen on.
And it really resonates.
Guessing you want song suggestions to stop you randomly selecting one of the 20 tracks that are on offer here- but just literally pick any and you will be served crud-cuisine. Although not usually that impressed by hooks, the two-hook heavy tracks ‘One Way or Another’ and ‘Thick Lip’ are perhaps the most bar-for-bar impressive, with absolutely zero saliva being wasted. Another I think that deserves a special mention is ‘Steve Harper’ with Smellington Piff bringing a very apt verse or two.
Teeth Ledger, as he likes to name himself, has outdone his fellow Split Prophet in recent times, with this and his 2019 entry Confessions of a Crud Lord confirming his cruddy status in our arguably ‘gone-soft’ scene. Well there is absolutely nothing soft about Datkid and his ‘Wakmo’, and I mean thank fuck- this is exciting, confession-box rap which may land those less acquitted behind bars or below waters.