"I'm The Best Street Fighter Since Ken"

Big Rem passed through Logan's show last night, but I was nearly distracted by the rambunctious 'Street Fighter 4' talk. Hadoukens and all sorts. I feel shamefully out of the loop, so I've just consoled myself with the fact that if the game isn't a cartridge, which you sometimes have to blow air into to make it work, then it isn't real Street Fighter.

You're lucky that there was no 'SNES Live' or what not back in the day because I would have whacked you up with Blanka still.

Big Rem could well have been out of the loop as well, given the pronounced silence on, for instance, Zangief actually having some damaging moves now, and Rem blustered in demanding Rude Kid and Nocturnal beats. Silencer's too, which wasn't so much Street Fighter as more Killer Instinct.

Download the set here. I missed some beats, but I couldn't be arsed to listen back so any help would be appreciated.

TRACKLIST

RUDE KID // ??????
DAVINCHE // WHAT IS MINE
NOCTURNAL // DON'T PHONE ME
SILENCER // WIZARD??
DOT ROTTEN // TORPEDO
MANIAC // HEADSHOT
RUDE KID // ??????
PLASTICIAN // CHA
SILENCER // KILLER INSTINCT
RAPID // LICENSE
WILEY // CLUB 5
DOK // PHONE BOOTH
DAVINCHE // BRASSTOOTH
SILENCER // WORLD WAR 4
NOCTURNAL // ??????
WILEY // WREATH
NOCTURNAL // VET
DARQ E FREAKER // NEXT HYPE


There was new music from Skepta, and Sticks and Stones should feature on 'Microphone Champion', as well as on a double a-side release with Sunglasses At Night.

Skepta - Sticks and Stones (Radio Rip)


There was also new music from Trim, and his anticipated Soulfood Volume 4 is released on 2 March. In terms of content, 'Trousers' seems to be a scraping of the barrel but I still expect big things from the CD.

Trim - Da Phone Call (Radio Rip)


Trim - Trousers? (Radio Rip)


And some Scorcher to finish.

Scorcher - Pay Per View (Radio Rip)

"I'm Doing The Damn Thing Not Ramping Trust I'm A Champion"

The growing bulk of instrumental CDs has put on a couple more pounds in the last week and the latest title, 'Nocstrumentals', makes it clear which producer is the latest to tip the scales.

Despite the omissions of In A Corner Remix, Back In A Big Way and Best Music, Nocturnal's CD is a very solid release. The opening My People sets the tone and the OGs' vocal, which will feature on Nocturnal's debut album 'The Sleepless Knight', suggests a union with further promise.

OGs - My People (Radio Rip)


Davinche's 'Dirty Canvas: The Legacy' still stands imperious above the rest, yet the Nocstrumentals hold their own against the fair height of D.O.K's 'Document' and Low Deep's 'The Instrumentals'. Despite a nod to Ripperman's Rubble on Bun Man, and an even bigger nod to Maniac's Star In Da Making Remix on Who You Talking To?, Nocstrumentals is a bold collection which is tied by the producer's signature sound; a unity that is so strongly adhered to that it lacks the versatility of Dot's 'Rotten Riddims' or the variety of Terror Danjah's 'Zip Files'.

The Nocstrumentals' ties to the present is its main advantage over the rest. Dot's, D.O.K's and Terror's releases came out of nowhere and, while digital releases of Bassline Massacre, Big Bang and Frontline Remix gave a retrospective satisfaction, Nocturnal's CD sees the light of day as he continues to ride his rising wave of progress and standing within the scene; a journey that was jump-started when Ghetts was Ghetto, spitting in front of admirable double-glazing.

Ghetto Over Nocturnal's Back In A Big Way - Risky Roadz Clip


Furthermore, the recent Wiley/Goodz and Rinse/Jeeday Jawz spats, as well as Goodz's 'Ultrasound' release, have provided additional promotion and current clout: Rinse's reply to Jeeday was over Stop, and Panties, Bras, Coke and Cameras on Don't Phone Me; a beat which has been repeatedly spun by Logan Sama over the last three months, and the vocal of the same name, featuring Ghetto and Griminal, is currently receiving wide airplay.

In this context, the instrumental CD is changing. 'Tinchy Stryder Vs Maniac' had an innovative concept, ushering forward the producer and promoting recent beats. Swindle's forthcoming instrumental CD should do the same, highlighting a trend of looking forwards as opposed to trawling the archives. The next Rotten Riddims should also have recent beats, yet the unique slinging-out of six, rapid-fire installments, complete with standard filler, goes against the final, polished products of Zip Files, Document and Nocstrumentals.

Now, it's almost obligatory for upcoming MCs to release a mixtape to prove themselves and their credentials. But, in a few years, will the same emphasis by placed on the producer? Probably not quite, but now a firm precedent has been established for instrumental releases. Just as well really, because I really enjoy these CDs.