The Hip Hop Manifesto - December 2025
The newest wave of Conscious, Jazz Rap, Boom Bap & Alternative releases.
Featuring Ric Laurance, Bigredcap, Kahlee, Sam R I, Castle Money Beats, Tone Spliff, The Invisible Panchos, Nemy, Nino Amaru, Banish Habitual, Tom Scott, Jus Du, Shungu, Maxo, Kofi Stone, Mike Shabb, YUNGMORPHEUS, and Dirty Art Club.
Hip-hop keeps moving forward, reinventing itself without ever forgetting its roots. It's still the voice of real people, real stories, and raw emotion, shaped on pads, pens, and playlists instead of formal rules. What makes it timeless is how artists flip life into lyricism, turning beats into confessionals, conversations, and cultural snapshots.
This month, I'm focusing on Boom Bap for its rugged swing, Jazz rap for its warm harmonic soul, Alternative for its left-field experimentation, and Conscious rap for the emcees who still treat every verse like a message. Step in and see what's shaping the sound this November!
The Hip-Hop Manifesto - Boom Bap, Conscious, Jazz Rap, Alternative
Ric Laurance, Bigredcap - Run It
This track brings the boom bap with the kicks and snares. The rapper's flow is busy but still controlled. The synth and heavy bass sounds really help make this a party track. It shifts gears in the chorus with a four-on-the-floor beat that would ignite a crowd at any music festival.
Connect with Ric Laurance
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Bigredcap
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Kahlee, Sam R I, Castle Money Beats, Tone Spliff - Big Deal
This is a truly great hip-hop track. Conscious lyrics and jazz-sounding chords and melodies are present throughout. The drum groove is laid back, which almost creates a hypnotic feel. It sounds raw due to the instruments not being overproduced. The record scratches almost make it Sound school.
Connect with Kahlee
Facebook / Instagram / X / Spotify
Connect with Sam R I
X / Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Castle Money Beats
Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Tone Spliff
Facebook / Instagram / X / Spotify
The Invisible Panchos, Nemy - The One
This track mashes hip hop, boom bap and alternative together. The flow is definitive hip-hop, while the drum machine sound is Boom Bap. What makes this song interesting is the use of sounds and samples. There are times when there is a slight distortion on the drum beat, which also gives it a Rock feel.
Connect with The Invisible Panchos
Instagram / Spotify / Website
Connect with Nemy
Spotify
Nino Amaru, Banish Habitual - Radar
This song has all the classic staples of a good hip-hop track. Samples that are obscure but perfect when placed over a hip-hop beat. Both rappers have aggressive rhyming styles, which help the song's message resonate with listeners. Clever production makes this track seem current with vintage '90s hip-hop elements.
Connect with Nino Amaru
Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Banish Habitual
Facebook / X / Instagram / Spotify
Tom Scott - how to perform a lobotomy
This laid-back hip-hop track comes from New Zealand-based Tom Scott, adding a fresh voice to the genre's global landscape. The keyboard part and improvised guitar licks sound like they come from a jazz background. The lyrics invoke conscious hip hop, while the unusual drum groove with no hi-hats carries the song forward.
Connect with Tom Scott
Instagram / Spotify
Jus Du - Overdue
This song has elements of conscious and alternative Rap. There are a lot of elements going on, but the track is not overly busy. The drum loop has classic 808 sounds while the keyboard pads play a simple repetitive chord progression. There is a good use of range with the vocals in both the higher and lower registers.
Connect with Jus Du
Instagram / Spotify
Shungu, Maxo - Faith In The Unknown
This track has a cool fusion of jazz and hip hop. The chord progression is an arpeggio, which is a broken-up chord. The beat has elements of boom bap and classic hip hop. A string melody is continuously played throughout the verse and choruses to give the song continuity.
Connect with Shungu
Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Maxo
Instagram / Spotify
Kofi Stone - All The Flowers Have Bloomed
This is an interesting song for the use of its real instruments. Fitting into the alternative rap section easily. The clavinet and real bass guitar bring the funkiness to this track. The Fender Rhodes seems like a throwback to the 1970's but the rhymes and production make it sound very current.
Connect with Kofi Stone
Facebook / Instagram / X / Spotify
Mike Shabb - fight the power!
This track has a nice use of instrumentation. The horns are low in the mix but definable jazzy flavour. The drum beat is simple and stripped back, but it is the perfect accompaniment for the vocal. The flow of this rapper is super smooth in the same conversational style as hip-hop legend Common.
Connect with Mike Shabb
Facebook / Instagram / X / Spotify
YUNGMORPHEUS, Dirty Art Club - A Sword Among Lions
The samples on this song are unusual for a hip-hop track, but that is what makes it cool. It sounds like old school big band music run through a filter. Clever use of the pitch shifter makes this song feel like a classic hip hop jam. The rapper takes his time letting the song build and bringing it to a crescendo.
Connect with YUNGMORPHEUS
Instagram / Spotify / Website
Connect with Dirty Art Club
Facebook / Instagram / X / Spotify
Spotify Playlist
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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