Words by Justin Turford
Who doesn’t need some positivity right now? North London’’s Subculture Sage AKA producer Subculture and MC Hypeman Sage have a brand new release out today and it is a tasty double-header of ‘golden era’ flavoured Hip Hop glimpsed through their own personal prism. The lads have supported Dead Prez, Foreign Beggars, Pharoah Monch and Jurassic 5 in the past and racked up tens of millions of streams and it’s plain to see why. Confident multi-cadenced flows, smooth beats and a sumptuous use of soul-inflected samples make this an essential addition to the flourishing UK scene.
‘Hackers’ is an ode to growing up backed up with the gentlest of grooves, jazzed up guitar and warm and washy horn sounds, it’s not even Spring yet but this is definitely blowing those sunshine notes. ‘I Am The Ghost’ gives a serious nod to the 90’s beats scene by using the classic drum break from Al Green’s ‘I’m Glad You’re Mine’, sampled most famously by Massive Attack on ‘Five Man Army’ and they do it with panache. Slowed down even further, I’m getting that Aesop Rock vibe, that Bay Area backpack feeling, and it’s all good. Whirling high-pitched harmonics, watery G-Funk synths and a wandering submerged bass line, lovely mate.
The duo are also announcing the arrival of their forthcoming album ‘Subculture Sage’ to be released on June 11th 2021. Seven years in the making, much of their life and growth as people and artists will be presented and we are honestly looking forward to it!
Follow them on IG: https://instagram.com/subculture_sage?igshid=rwdin9lpx3a8