There is a distinct, almost chemical alchemy happening with Ryuichi Hayashi and Krokodile latest release, "Turning to Gold". It summons the specific, drowsy euphoria of staring at a ceiling fan spinning at medium speed on a Tuesday afternoon a suspension of time that feels necessary rather than lazy. https://open.spotify.com/track/65mMtHBtflaSpyQ55ssCnX?si=cb08a608b5784db8 Usually, Hayashi acts as the structural steel within the music industry. He is the guy bridging the...

DJ AB’s “YNS Cypher 2025” has swaggered into existence. Not a gentle arrival, mind you, but more the auditory equivalent of a conquering legion setting up a very loud, very confident camp. This isn't background hum for a Tuesday afternoon; it’s a full-colour, high-decibel assertion from the Northern Nigerian hip-hop vanguard, a yearly planting of the YNS flag. DJ AB, the central current, is...