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As the year draws to a close, here’s a little look back at our releases in 2023

BRELSTAFF – URBAN TESTIMONY [The Instrumentals]

In the Spring, we released “Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]”. Produced by Edinburgh’s Brelstaff, this was the pre-cursor to the full version of the album he recorded with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC which would follow later in the year.

Several from the album were used by “Focus Beats”, broadcast on both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 over the summer months, beginning with “Is She” in June.

A mix of lofi hip hop, chilled out electronica and downtempo soulful vibes which is available to stream on Spotify, with full visuals on the album’s Youtube playlist

ANTHONY KANNON & FROST GAMBLE – CAUTIONARY TALES

Following a series of singles over the summer, “Cautionary Tales” by award winning New York State rapper Anthony Kannon and producer Frost Gamble released on October 20th.

An outstanding piece of work documenting the remarkable story of the young MC’s life to date, Bandcamp chose to feature it on the store’s front page “New and Notable” section.

Available of course from Bandcamp, Spotify and all other digital platforms including Apple / iTunes, Amazon, Deezer and Tidal, with a full video playlist also on Youtube.

JUSTO THE MC & BRELSTAFF – URBAN TESTIMONY

Again after a series of singles spanning the summer and autumn, “Urban Testimony” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh producer Brelstaff was released on November 3rd.

Another to be afforded front page billing by Bandcamp on release, the entire album is themed around Justo’s time studying at Clark University Atlanta several years ago. A fascinating depiction of events leading up to, during and after his curtailed time spent there relayed in a brutally honest account of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route through academia straying rapidly on a path to hedonism, the regrets, lessons learned, and ultimately the strength to survive for better days.

In addition to Apple / iTunes, Deezer and Tidal, check it out for yourself on Bandcamp, Spotify andf the full video playlist on Youtube.

TRU TRILLA – XVI : RETURN OF THE GODS

Finally, earlier this month we announced we would be releasing the new album “XVI : Return of the Gods” by New Jersey rapper Tru Trilla on May 31st 2024, this being the follow up to his album “God of Barz” which we also released in 2020.

Over two years in the making, a magnificent mix of hard bars, highest quality lyricism, beats and turntablism includes a stellar cast of producers and guest featured artists including Reks, Lakim Shabazz, Ruste Juxx, Recognize Ali, Skyzoo, Guilty Simpson, NapsNdreds, N.B.S., Julius of Shoe Gang and many more.

A trailer video for the album has recently been published on Youtube, and you can check out its predecessor on Spotify.

We once again thank everyone for their support since we re-launched the label in 2019, and would also like to take this opportunity of wishing you and yours the very best for the holiday season and the best of good fortune for 2024.

Welcome to the real……

TEAM NDR

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We are pleased to announce the release today of the new single “Fine Line” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh lo fi hip hop producer Brelstaff.

Taken from the album ‘Urban Testimony’ which dropped on November 3rd and has also recently enjoyed a Bandcamp front page feature in their New & Notable section.

The entire album is superb, effectively a documentary covering Justo’s trials and tribulations before, during and after his curtailed time studying at Clark Atlanta University which resulted in his reaching a pivotal point in life.

We have chosen “Fine Line” for a further extra spotlight given its subject matter summarizes very well the mental conflicts he endured, and also because the instrumental version was one of several broadcast over the summer months by BBC Radio 1’s “Focus Beats” programme.

Available on APPLE / iTUNES, TIDAL, AMAZON and below on BANDCAMP and SPOTIFY

OFFICIAL VISUALS ON YOUTUBE

You can learn more about Justo and Brel on their specially designated ARTIST PAGE, and also get details of the instrumental and vocal versions of the album and affiliated singles on their specific RELEASES PAGE.

This also marks our final release for 2023, however we will be making an announcement very shortly about what we have lined up for next year, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, our thanks to everyone who have supported these fanstastic artists’ releases this year.

TEAM NDR

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New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release of the new single “Sunday” today by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh producer Brelstaff.

This is the third in a trilogy of singles ahead of their album “Urban Testimony” releasing on Friday November 3rd, and mapped the key points of the storyline contained within the entire theme which documents Justo’s curtailed and traumatic time spent studying at Clark Atlanta University some years ago.

The latest single represents his reflections on surviving the experience, regrets, but also a sense of optimism for the future with lessons learned, mirrored by Brelstaff’s soulful cool groove production.

Justo will be performing several tracks from the album when he appears as a special guest of Anthony Kannon and Frost Gamble at their “Cautionary Tales” album launch event taking place on Saturday November 18th at Deep Dive in Ithaca.

“Sunday” is available to stream and download at Apple / iTunes, Tidal, Amazon and below on Bandcamp and Spotify

The official video is also playing on our Youtube channel

Details about Justo and Brelstaff, including all their social media platforms can be found at their specially designated ARTIST PAGE on this site.

All press, media and radio DJ inquiries regarding any of our releases can sent to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR

We very much appreciate the support as always

TEAM NDR

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New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of the single “High” by prolific Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh hip hop producer Brelstaff.

This is the first to be taken from their new album “Urban Testimony” out on November 3rd 2023, the entire theme of which is centred around events leading up to and including Justo’s curtailed time studying at Clark Atlanta University. It represents a fascinating insight depicted in a deeply personal narrative documenting the trials and tribulations he encountered there which ultimately led him to a turning point in life.

The instrumental version of the album was released earlier in the year, with tracks having featured recently on “Focus Beats”, broadcast by the world renowned BBC Radio 1 and Radio 6.

You can stream and download “High” on all digital platforms including APPLE, AMAZON, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY

OFFICIAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

You can connect with Justo and Brelstaff directly on social media, all their details are included in their specially designated artist page HERE

All press, radio DJ and multimedia enquiries regarding any of our releases can be addressed to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE

Thanks to everyone for your continued support

TEAM NDR

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Focus Beats, produced by Reform Radio, broadcasts weekly through the night, initially on Saturdays aired on BBC Radio 6 and repeated on BBC Radio 1 every Wednesday.

The world renowned station has recently scheduled various programmes of a similar nature, mirroring the phenomenon which has grown exponentially in recent years on Youtube and Spotify playlists. Typically playing a mix of instrumental lo-fi hip hop, chill, and ambient electronica, all designed to assist with relaxation, stress relief, meditation and in particular there is extensive usage by students using these sounds to help with focusing on stud. It is the musical extension of ASMR.

This week’s programme can be streamed for the next six weeks on BBC Sounds and you can listen back HERE

It includes tracks affiliated to New Dawn Records’ releases by three different artists

Brelstaff – “Fine Line (instrumental)” Taken from Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]” released earlier this year, the original version appears on the vocal version of the album, a collaboration with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC which drops on November 3rd. The first single “High” will be made available on August 1st.

Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals] on Spotify

Urban Testimony – Official Album Video Trailer on Youtube

Frost Gamble “Long Ride (instrumental)”. This is the instrumental of the track appearing on the album “Cautionary Tales”, another collaborative project this time between the producer originally from Binghamton NY and now resident in Canada, and award winning upstate NY rapper Anthony Kannon

Releasing on October 20th, the first single “Pitfalls” dropped in June with the new single “Make It Rain” ready to make its appearance next week on Tuesday July 18th.

Pitfalls is available on all digital platforms including Bandcamp, Apple, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon and here on Spotify

Cautionary Tales – Official Album Video Trailer on Youtube

Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown “Veganite (instrumental)”. The instrumental of the track which appeared on “Panacea”, released by us in 2020 and which was nominated for “Best Independent Album” at the AIM Awards that year.

It remains an immense piece of work by the London duo, with Husky fusing hip hop, funk, soul, dub, electronic and lo-fi sounds as a soundtrack to a narrative by Phoenix addressing prominent issues such as institutional racism, mental health, physical well being, spirituality, climate change, knife crime and aspirations, all delivered with the underlying message of empathy and hope for the future.

A remarkable album that will continue to stand the test of time which you can hear on all digital platforms including Bandcamp, Apple, Tidal and here on Spotify

All the artists we work with have their own page designated for them on this website which includes background information and all of their social media links, so simply go to the ARTISTS section in the Menu for further details.

All international media and DJ enquries about any of our releases can be sent to our in house promotional division, UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE

Our thanks again to Reform Radio for the support

TEAM NDR