It’s been a bit quiet round here recently, for one reason or another, and realising that we’re nearly a quarter of the way through the year already, we figured we’d better pull our goddamn fingers out and get back on it before 2011 starts looming.

Luckily for us (and you) we’ve got some good stuff to come back with, kicking off with the new album from Fliptrix, “Theory of Rhyme”.

The South East Londoner has already built up a pretty expansive following since he dropped, “Force Fed Imagery”, in 2007, as well as smashing a number of guest spots and live shows, including the Maida Vale Sessions and the Electric Proms. And now he has created one of the most accomplished albums I have heard since last year’s “Encrypted Scriptures” and “Rádio Do Canibal”, from Jyager and BK-One respectively.Fliptrix’s rhymes range from the technical to the storytelling, and are always blessed with a consciousness and a high-powered delivery. For bangers we have the immense, “Turn of Phrase”, produced by 184 and “Monday to Sunday”, produced by Runone, who also backs up another four tracks on the album. They include the sublime jazziness of “Dream Coat”, and the laidback piano loops of “Head Held High”, both of which are helped along by the production flair of Mr Molotov.

Verb T is also banging them out on the boards, with an always welcome artists’ anthem, “Graffiti Won’t Die”. He also drops verses on a couple of joints, including “Life We Lead”, which is set to one of three lovely Jon Phonics beats. With seemingly no end to the guest list, Jehst gets involved with a guest verse and a sweet beat, on “Get Involved”, and Chemo does his thing on, “Madness”, which features some nice bars from Kashmere.

There are 16 tracks in all, with not a letdown among them. The PR info we got, claimed this LP is “a rich and diverse tapestry” and while that sounds like it was written by Dan Brown, it is not far from the truth. Lyrics reign supreme in Fliptrix’s world and those needing proof, need look no further.

The album drops officially on 22 March but you can already get your digi downloads and hard copies from Suspect Packages.

It seems like only yesterday that the mighty Souls of Mischief graced our shores with a dope in-store appearance at the Carhartt Store in Covent Garden. Well, we must have given them a good reception cos now they are back to do it all over again.

This Monday (15th) will see them hitting the store for a second time, to launch their new album, “Montezuma’s Revenge“. You may remember we put something up about the first single from the album, “Proper Aim“, and if that was a taster, then the full monty should be well into the upper echelons of what is considered ill. An album fully produced by Prince Paul is always going to be something special and now we can savour the goods, live and for free!

As well as performing, the Souls will also be doing a meet-and-greet, and there will be free booze for all you alcoholics out there. So get yourselves down to the Carhartt Store, on Monday 15th, from 7pm onwards.

It’s that time again, folks: Suspect Packages Live is looming and looks set to be another stormer. Not content with one launch party this month, Disorda has thrown two of them into the mix! Yes, the stage is set for Fliptrix and DJ Roast to come and peddle their wares, and if the former’s new album is anything to go by, this night will not disappoint.

Joining Fliptrix for his set will be Verb T, who makes a few appearances on the album, “Theory of Rhyme“, and they will be ably assisted by DJ Madnice. Plus we gather from the press release that “there’ll also be some surprise guest action from the album…”, so look forward to that.

DJ Roast’s album, “Cuttin It Fine“, is going to be the other element at play on the night and he is going be bringing amost the entire album guestlist to the stage with him, so expect appearances from Skandal, M9, Cyrus Malachi, Stig & Syntax, Brad Strut and Phoenix Da Icefire. BIG tings.

As usual, the damage on the doors is £4, however, you can get into the downstairs bar for free before 8pm.

Mini-mix number four is now available for your listening pleasure. Who doesn’t like a bit of New Jack swing? Let’s find out. Get your dose right here.

The dates are:

16/03 - Bristol @ The Croft

17/03 - London @ Cargo

18/03 - Brighton @ Freebutt

19/03 - Liverpool @ Korova

20/03 - Dublin @ Crawdaddy

21/03 - Nottingham @ Bodega

For tickets and more information, check out Rhymesayers.com

It’s interview season here at Style43 and the next luminary on our list is Nottingham hip hop legend, Cappo. Read on to hear the latest news and views from everyone’s favourite Midlander and keep your eyes peeled for more rap & chat coming to the site soon…

So what have you been up to since we last heard from you? 

I have been keeping busy working on the “Needle Drop“ EP with Endemic, it’s been almost a year in the making since me and Demic sat down and made plans for the EP and started to compile tracks towards it.

The process was picking up beats from Endemic, then taking them back and writing piece by piece until we had full tracks to pick from. After that we started work on the collaborations which came reasonably fast after a minor hitch. Lee (Ramsay) came first with the verse for “Eagles” then Scorz, Cyrus and Braydz followed suit soon after. It was a privilege to work with such professionals on this project and I feel each artist brought their own characteristics to the forefront. I remember hearing the finished versions of “Hacksaw” and “Eagles” and just bugging out knowing we had made a classic piece of material. It’s a testament to Endemic, how he perseveres through the industry, and when I got the finished vinyl in my hand I knew it was one of my most accomplished releases.

What do you feel is the biggest adversity you’ve had to overcome in your career, to get to where you are today?  

I’d say it’s using myself as a musical catalyst as opposed to any other medium. It took a long time to find my true formula to producing and writing and I feel like I’m right at the peak now, I’m more educated now and I have grown a lot since the days of “Spaz the World” and “Resilience“. I feel I’m now able to be the complete package and this time around I know the pitfalls and the ups and downs and I’m able to stay on point much earlier. Music has been my life for so long now it’s become part of my blood; nobody can tell me about my music unless I have the uppermost respect for them.

What was your biggest record of 2009 and what are you going to be keeping an eye on next year?  

It’s got to be Raekwon’s “Cuban Linx 2“; I remember getting it and listening through on a Sunday morning and being brought back to a mentality and mind frame I hadn’t been in for a long time. After listening to half I had enough to last me months. Some of the beats on there are amazing but it is the lyricism that kills me. Rae is one of the greats up there with G Rap and Rakim, that’s how I see him now.

As for next year, the Dre album? By the roster of producers he has working for him full time it has to be heavy weight and evolutionary beat wise. I’m secretly hoping that Dre is developing a plan to beat internet piracy, that’s why his album has took longer than expected, so when his album drops he will bring the future again.

The Midlands has produced some of the best hip hop in the UK over the past few years. Do you feel there is anything unique about the area that helps that creativity occur?  

I don’t know about anywhere but Notts city, and I feel the reason why the music is right here is because the city is real, meaning that the producers, MC’s and musicians etc. want to be as authentic as possible. There is a high bar here and if your music is not right, you are on your own. There is a lot of competition here and to be first is important. Considering the size of this city it is astounding how far ahead of time we are. I have always felt that we look to the Mecca and that’s why the music made here is not diluted in any way.

Where do you think UK hip hop is headed in 2010?  

Judging by the music that I’m making I feel Hip Hop is going to be a whole lot better next year. I have been patiently building a pyramid of material that will last for a long time; the music I have prepared is the best I have ever done without exception. My album is coming soon and is protected by trust and allegiance. The Needle Drop has landed and marks a new standard that should be heeded. Me and Styly have been working on what can only be known as brain tar music and I have no intention of stopping. Rappers have been getting off lightly for too long living off a reputation that has never existed. Twenty ten marks the return of real lyricism.   

We know you started off back in the day as a graffiti artist; do you still try to keep up with your painting?  

I haven’t been working on anything but my music for over five years, but I would definitely be interested in getting back to writing one day. I passed an old piece I did over ten years ago, the other day, and it brought back the old memories. If I got back to it I would have to do it wholeheartedly and try to excel at it. I used to have the Pantone Tria markers in all the colours and I wish I still had those pens. It’s definitely a career option for me when the time comes to ease back like Picasso.

You had a real nice track on YNR’s “Feeding Time at the Zoo” album back in May last year; are we going to hear anymore collaborations between you and Jehst & co.?  

There are a couple of tracks floating around somewhere so be on the lookout you might catch some new material in the next year.

And following on from that, are there any international collaborations you’d like to hook up, like we’re seeing more and more UK artists involved in nowadays?  

If I were to be given the bidding war dream contract by the majors, I would be on the plane tomorrow. I would pay big money for the Dilla secret vault beats and go find the secret Paul Mckasty and Jam Master Jay vault beats. Then I would go find Kool G Rap and the Clipse, the Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin, and bring in Brian Wilson and a bag of cheese burgers.     

What are we going to see from you next, any big projects lined up?  

The “Needle Drop“ EP is out now featuring Cyrus Malachi, Scorzayzee, Iron Braydz and Lee Ramsay and is exclusively produced by Endemic.

Next to drop is the second installment of the “Directors Commentary” compilation, featuring tracks from the past, future and present and mixed by Styly Cee.

After that I will release the unicron of all albums, my sophomore effort that will spaz the universe.

There are rumours that both scientists who were involved in the making of the H bomb are in the laboratory as we speak, creating audio accompaniment that will begin the new dance phenomenon called the ‘Swag and ski’.

myspace.com/capponotts

Some Bristol beats for your Saturday afternoon. This is one of the most recent videos from co-creative supremos, Twizzy and Mr Lucas, and it is taken from their album, “Dirty Nun Talk“.

You may remember we posted one of their videos last year and now they’re back with another number, “What You Looking For?“. As well as featuring the vocal skills of Twizzy and the production force of Mr Lucas, there are also some guest bars from another Bristol hip hop stalwart, Jinxsta JX. Keep your ears and eyes peeled this year, for more of the good stuff from this dastardly duo.