Sorry not sorry for posting songs by Nine & Dex and their rapping granddads Pete & Bas in the space of 4 days. Never did I expect I would unapologetically enjoy Rap music by white English blokes, but I can't get enough of both duos at the moment. I have one slight problem of Nine & Dex tho - their use of the word FEDS. Lads, you've been Yankbrained when we have enough of our own great slanguage for the police.
Call it poultry in motion or a misandry of sound, here's my favourite Rap songs by Da Ladeez from 2020 to 2025. There's a couple of guest verses and a chorus by Da Ladz, but otherwise this is pure X chromosome gas from the queens of the yakety yak yard. Fair play, the sisters have been knockin' out killer singles for the last half decade.
Pete & Bas - Whirlybird
(From Whirlybird single; 2025)
Can't even consider Pete & Bas a comedy act who happen to make legit jams anymore. They're now one of the best duos in U.K Rap history who have more good songs than most of yer credible faves. Deal with it ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
G. Dep - Reflections
(From unreleased; 1997/Head Over Wheels album; 2025)
This is the only song on the CD collection of G. Dep's 1990s recordings I'd never heard before. Which is a pity because "you're outta luck like a dead leprechaun" would have been part of my daily lexicon. Reflections is that good ol' late 90s wistful N.Y Rap which sounds of its time, but what a time it was. Timeless music is all fine & dandy, but songs should also sound like messages in bottles from the era they were recorded.
Another reason why the G. Dep CD is essential: it features the no-DJ version of Dollar Bill which was previously unreleased. Great to hear even tho my brain is conditioned to hear D. Dot & DJ Ashknuckles yelling over it. YEA BOI!!! THE TEAM IS CRAZY, BOI!!!
A rap song about tryna get into a lasses' womb which sounds as ambient as the womb. Aphex Twin could never! First time I listened to this I thought it never quite took flight. But 20 seconds into the third listen I realised its restraint is its strength. Chill Guys yes indeed.
Highly recommended to all Martorialist readers comes this CD of all the songs G. Dep recorded in the late 90s before he signed to Bad Boy Records. You can cop the CD here and you can hear 6 of the 9 songs on my G-Dep deep cuts playlist. CDQ versions make me scream like a struck gold, that's cold. Addicted to CDs like I'm addicted to blue cheese and TV shows from overseas.
Hat tip to Gentleman's Relief Records for releasing this shit, and to the Martorialist reader who hipped me to this release a couple of weeks back. You are appreciated like 2Pac's mum. The great irony of Head Over Wheels is that it's an even better song to walk to than drive to.
Something I learned today: the Baby Powder lass Jenevieve recently dropped an R&B homage to Head Over Wheels. What THE f*ck!?! Is she my long lost twin-sister or am I her secret A&R?
Jenevieve - Head Over Heels
(From Head Over Heels single; 2025)
Oi Jenevieve - you ever listen to Mic Terror, baby?
If more modern Rap music took cues from Louisiana then modern Rap music would be way more fun. This Philly jam is some standard disrespectful booty-chatter about ur girlfriend that's been elevated to greater purpose by its whodyfication. Throw this in the mix alongside Shake Down by Sunnitharapper & OnlyHeaven.
**EDIT** I'm gonna use this other recent Sturdyyoungin single as the B-side to Respectfully. Very different vybz which is befitting of a song with the word Wars in its title. Okay, as wars go comparing bottles in da club is not exactly the 1223 Mongol Empire invasion of Volga Bulgari, but a battle is still a battle.
Duke Deuce - Run Up A Check
(From Rebirth album; 2025)
I never saw Duke Deuce without a hat or bandana before so I never even realised he had a Mekon noggin. Run Up A Check is a real slobberknocker of a song, so plz tell me it's not just a beatjack of some old Three 6 Mafia song?
