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Review: Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, the Compton-based rapper's first album since 2012's major label debut, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, has been receiving rave reviews. In truth, it's not hard to see why. Imaginative, soulful, and blessed with the looseness of live performance (a result of the use of jazz-minded live players as much as anything else), it sounds like the kind of album that may one day be hailed as a hip-hop classic. Sure, there are big name guests - Dre, Snoop, George Clinton and Thundercat included - but the focus remains on Lamar's distinctive flow and almost cinematic tales of life on L.A's streets. Given the quality of his lyrics, that's no bad thing.

Review: Hip-hop heads love nothing more than classic Blue Note material getting a modern fix up. And that's what we have here as Kay Young and Venna and Marco Bernardis join forces to work their magic on Marlena Shaw's 'Feel Like Making Love' and Donald Byrd's 'Where Are We Going?' This limited 7" is a taster from the 16-track compilation Blue Note: Reimagined II. It's packed with the neo-soul, r&B and hip hop scenes finest contemporary talents adding new magic to the still standout original source material. Like volume one, it's an absolute must-have, as is this 45rpm.

Review: There isn't much info out there about Goto but on this evidence he is a well school artist with a love of contemporary R&B and classic hip-hop. He brings both together while rapping in Japanese about who knows what, but the end result reminds us of a classic MC Solar joint. 'Feelin' is all lo fi sounds and heart melting chords that are romantic and heartfelt, then 'My Summer Goes On' gets more crunchy in its beat work. Noodling sax leads bring the warmth, the piano are that bit more playful and once again the result is superb.

Review: Hillside & Matulah is a Helsinki based instrumental duo composed of Risto Kumpulainen (keys) and Janne Mathlin (drums & percussion) who mix various genres with their own unique style. Here they present their block rockin' jam titled 'Fo Yo Mind' featuring the lyrics of rapper Tykopaatti, who is part of the Finnish hip-hop collective Joku Roti Mafia. Over on the flip, they go for a completely different tempo on the psych-rock/acid jazz crossover of 'Knock Out'. As well as their usual project, Kumpulainen & Mathlin are known for collaborating with several homegrown blues, rock and soul artists.

Review: Parkside Records out of Las Vegas Nevada welcomes Seattle, Washington group True Loves, who have a nice and raw funk sound. Sunday Afternoon was their sophomore album and it came in 2021 following 2017's debut. This tidy 7" package features new Live On KEXP remix of the title track and it has sensuous saxes played in expressive fashion next to rousing horns and over the nice and lazy but dynamic funk drum work. 'On The Spot' closes down with a more lively percussive sounds vibrant stabs and plenty of big energy.