Various artists: Rough Trade Shops Hip Hop 15 | Album Review

2015 is proving to be a bumper year for hip-hop from all quarters with landmark, groundbreaking releases left, right and centre.

As they’ve shown in the past, the staff at the Rough Trade record shops have good ears and instincts when it comes to the art of the compilation and this set focuses on recent hip-hop tracks from independent labels which pass muster with those behind the counter.

There are strong selections from known knowns like Ghostface Killah (in cahoots with Toronto jazzers BadBadNotGood), Pharoahe Monch, Run the Jewels (Lie, Cheat, Steal purrs with serious intent), Young Fathers, Earl Sweatshirt and THEEsatisfaction.

Others who come up trumps include Golden Rules (a collaboration with Yasiin Bey/Mos Def on Never Die). Kaytranada (the meaty Drive Me Crazy with Vic Mensa) and Your Old Droog (the lanky New Yorker spits bombs on Freeway Fire).

[ roughtrade.com ]