J HUS Vinyl & CDs

Review: .Three years on from the release of his hugely successful third album, Big Conspiracy, J Hus continues to make all the right moves. Now a genuine superstar of British music, the London MC has aimed even higher on Beautiful & Brutal Yard, enlisting the vocal talents of none other than Drake on 'Who Told You' (a Latin-tinged chunk of r&b slinkiness), as well as an impressive array of fellow MCs and beat-makers across an album that consciously pulls grime in a variety of accessible, radio-friendly directions. Lyrically, there are naturally some hard-hitting moments, but for every reflection on inner-city life and wider social issues there's a dose of loved-up sweetness and weary reflections on relationships. As a result, it's an impressively balanced and impeccably produced collection.