8 Tracks: Of Ragga Hip Hop With Swing Ting

Music

Manchester's Swing Ting label had a banner year in 2017, with new releases from Zed Bias, Equiknoxx and Epic B. Last month they capped it all off with Junction, a six-track EP produced entirely by label heads Samrai & Platt, and featuring vocalists such as Murlo collaborator Gemma Dunleavy, Equiknoxx singer Shanique Marie and Manchester MC Fox.

For their 8 Tracks playlist, Samrai & Platt have put together a list of their favourite ragga hip hop tracks – there's some absolute gems here, so get stuck in below!

Junction is out now on Swing Ting, cop it here.

LISTEN

Masters At Work Ft. Screechie Dan - Give It To Me (Troopers Jeep Remix)

SAMRAI: Normally known for their Soulful House records, Kenny Dope & Louie Vega occasionally flipped the style, and this link up with NY Dancehall deejay Screechie Dan is a ragga hip hop bomb! Love the combination of the soulful keys, tough drum breaks and Dan’s wicked vocals. Sweet euphoric breakdown too.

Masters At Work Ft. Screechie Dan - Give It To Me (Troopers Jeep Remix)

SAMRAI: Normally known for their Soulful House records, Kenny Dope & Louie Vega occasionally flipped the style, and this link up with NY Dancehall deejay Screechie Dan is a ragga hip hop bomb! Love the combination of the soulful keys, tough drum breaks and Dan’s wicked vocals. Sweet euphoric breakdown too.
Patra - Dip And Fall Back

PLATT: This one’s got that classic New York golden era feel, with Lady Patra’s vocals backed by cold Rhodes and a funky-as-hell bassline. One of those tracks that I wish I’d produced.
Mad Lion - Take It Easy

SAMRAI: A classic one from Mad Lion on Nervous Records sub-label Weeded. KRS-One on the produkky and Lion’s gravely patois are a weighty combo. Still sounds fresh!
Merciless - Gizzada (Stone Love Remix)

PLATT: Huge remix of a dancehall anthem by one of Jamaica’s finest soundsystems, Stone Love. Merciless rides the Mary J sample to perfection – proper ruff but sweet vibes on this.
Terror Fabulous - Woman Say So (Hey Mr Dj Remix)

SAMRAI: Love this one from Jamaican artiste Terror Fabulous, known for his works with Dave Kelly (including ‘Action’ with Nadine Sutherland). This bubbly hip hop soul remix reminds me of DJ Quik’s almost boogie-ish style productions – Terror Fab’s vocals flow so smoothly with the keys. Wheel!
Apache Indian - Movie Over India (Heavyweight Remix)

PLATT: Representing the UK, this bhangra/dancehall/hip hop combination bangs so hard. The combo of crashing tablas, that bassline and Apache’s down-a-megaphone style delivery works so well together.
Blackstreet Ft. Screwface - Tonight's The Night (Reggae Remix)

SAMRAI: This little gem is tucked away on the 12” for this Blackstreet classic (fun fact – the original mix was one of the first tunes Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams had writing credits on back in 1995). Teddy Riley enlists Screwface on the “Reggae Remix” for a one-of a kind new jack swing tune.
Lady Apache - Rock And Comeen (Daytime Vocal With Rap)

PLATT: Another Weeded gem, this list wouldn’t feel right without some kind of Da Beatminerz influence – in this case it’s Evil Dee’s remix of Lady Apache, alongside NY crew Finsta Bundy. I’ll always be a fan of a tune with a self-reload written into it, and the way this drops into the verse is huge.