3 UK Based Independent Hip Hop Producers You Should Know
Always Know…
SciFi Stu: Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, SciFi Stu has steadily built up a body of work warranting the praise he’s received from mostly overseas audiences. Having worked with the likes of John Robinson and Moka Only his music has been instrumental in shedding light on the production skills of Hip Hop artists native to Scotland, alongside Bunty Beats and the Jazz Spastiks etc.
I first became familiar with his music through the song “The Recipe” featuring Hus (of Tha Connection) Nebz and Count Bass D; the beat itself utilizing an awesome piano loop familiar to crate diggers and Jazz music aficionados. His sound can often vary in tone, with songs like “Funktions” veering into darker territory.
Jazz Spastiks: The Jazz Spastiks are an Edinburgh, Scotland based producer/DJ duo, with several beat tapes and solid production credits under their belt. “The Product” (2014) was their recently released album with features from several renowned US based MC’s and artists, such as Count Bass D, Ladybug Mecca and Apani B Fly.
Influences in their sound seem to be drawn from the likes of The Beatnuts to Large Professor, catering to listeners that enjoy Underground Hip Hop. Their chopped up drum loops, bass rich samples and neat vocal scratches often carry the majority of songs. A great instance of this is “Unkut Dope” off the 2013 release “Time To React”.
Mecca:83 aka Rise: Manchester based producer, Mecca:83 is the founder of the Expansions Collective and a member of the newly formed group REdefinition, alongside producer Buscrates and rapper Distantarr. While his production credits include the likes of Von Pea to Deborah Jordan, Its his fellow producer collaborations (e.g. Kan Sano and Jneiro Jarel) that have solidified his name in the global beat scene.
Fans of producers like Elaquent will love his back catalogue both independently released and on the Groovement label/collective/radio show. On instrumentals like “Chapter Two (For Lucie)” his drums channel the essence of J Dilla circa “Another Batch”, while his keys and flute float around the arrangement beautifully.
