New music

As far as Soca mixes go, the Home For Carnival series is the pinnacle. Double L and El Professor flawlessly fly through over fifty current heaters on number 3. If you're into Soca music or keen to check out some of the party setting off sounds emanating out of the Caribbean right now, make sure to look out for what Double L & El Professor of G13 Sound Int'l are doing. 'Home For Carnival 3' is an wonderful audio sample of what's going on in the heartland of Soca music right now. Keep your eyes open for number 4 in the series - dropping soon.

Another release that's had me glued to the speaker is London's Big Cakes aka Mr Kipling, who's just dropped his debut lp 'S.K.I.M'. The array of beats and range of topics addressed here is immense: on 'Summer Day' (a Styla produced jam made for dippin' through the streets), Cakes pays homage to the warmer season of the year, speaking on what he's seen and experienced throughout past Summers. It is refreshing to hear a track (the Iron Ryan produced 'Rhymes Speak') about the importance of letting music speak for itself, rather than labels and artists attempting to brainwash the public with gimmicks and careers built off a litany of releases that address the same old ad nauseum. Elsewhere on 'S.K.I.M' you'll find 'London' (a great up tempo tribute to the capital of the UK produced by Zeke, in which Cakes relays all LDN represents to him), the gritty 'Peace Life' ft. Double Trouble (a DJ Tactick produced cautionary track about the pitfalls and realities associated with the lifestyle of a criminal). These are just a couple of the fresh, eye opening, head-nodding tunes you'll find on Cakes full length release. 'S.K.I.M' is a powerful debut album that you need to hear.