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New Dawn Records are proud to announce the upcoming release of the new album “Urban Testimony” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh producer Brelstaff on November 3rd 2023 distributed digitally by Ingrooves / Universal.

Justo first emerged in 2010 while working with his cousin and producer DJ Vic Black of Gangstarr Foundation.  The video for their joint “It’s Our Year” released in 2011 featured DJ Premier, and after several years of mixtape releases, the pair would hook up again in 2017 on Justo’s album “Black Ops” produced entirely by DITC’s Showbiz, executively produced and curated by Vic assisted by DJ Premier. 

Since then there has been prolific output through worldwide collaborations including Canadian production team The Lost Info, Brooklyn’s Maticulous, Italy’s Bboy Enea, Nova Scotian DK, the UK’s Remulak and for the first time in 2021 with Brelstaff on their joint “Swagu”.

In  2014 while performing under his born name Daryl Donald, Brel released his debut EP “Kept” and the collaborative album “The Clockwork” with south London emcee Cutta Chase.  The release of his instrumental album “Solitude” in 2017 followed in 2019 by “Behold the Spirit” and “Full Circle” built up his reputation as one of the most respected new emerging underground lo fi hip hop producers from these shores, attracting a total of 450,000 listeners and a million streams on Spotify.

Subsequently having adopted the new pseudonym, he released the self titled “Brelstaff” in 2020, and returned to the public arena in February 2023 with the new joint “Cursive” featuring the legendary Fashawn, followed in April by the release of the instrumental version of the “Urban Testimony” through New Dawn, securing play on the BBC Radio 1 & Radio 6 show “Focus Beats” in the process.

The new album documents what Justo  describes as the “arrival at a crossroads from a life defining year”.  A deeply personal narrative which provides a fascinating insight depicting events leading up to and during his curtailed stay at Clark Atlanta University, and he has again turned to Brelstaff to accompany him on his journey.    Beautifully crafted, fuelled by skilful lyricism addressing the core messages of mental health, hedonism, loss of faith, redemption and renewed focus all set to the perfect musical score. The perfect partnership.  

The album can be pre-ordered from various store with effect from September 8th HERE

     

A series of singles will precede the album release beginning on August 1st with “High”.  All will be available to download and stream from major digital platforms including Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon.  Videos for all tracks will appear on our official Youtube channel @newdawnrecords where you can now watch the video trailer.

All international press and DJ enquiries can be addressed to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE and the full official album press release can be read HERE

Again we’d encourage everyone to connect with the artists directly on their social media platforms. Just like everyone we work with, they always got a lot going on & they’ll holla back!

Justo on Twitter @MC_Justo IG @JustoTheMC FB @JustoTheMC

Brelstaff on Twitter @BrelstaffMusic IG @BrelstaffMusic FB @BrelstaffMusic

Thanks again to everyone for supporting not just what we do, but more importantly, what these talented artists do.

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TEAM NDR

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It will have appeared a little quiet over here at NDR towers recently, mainly because we’ve been busy behind the scenes assisting with the development of brand new projects, news of which will likely be published late 2022 / early 2023.

Meantime, we’ve also been re-connecting and catching up “post Covid” with some of our long time affiliated producer friends, the result being that we now have rare special releases to present, beginning today.

“Bismillah” originally appeared on the album “Lead by Example” we released last year, the phenomenal debut producer album by London’s Ramson Badbonez. This new remix by Qadir featuring Brooklyn’s Justo the MC, San Diego’s Johaz of Dag Savage and Deeprooted, and prolific Nebraskan Sleep Sinatra blends cool groove funk with soulful beats, fused together with a mix of heavy bass, guitar licks, brass and Arabian strings. A perfect joint to add to your heatwave summer 2022 soundtrack.

Available to stream & download on APPLE, AMAZON & TIDAL

SPOTIFY

BANDCAMP

OFFICIAL VISUALS ON YOUTUBE

Thanks also to Sezen of TwoBC for the cover artwork

Enjoy & be on the lookout for more from us in August

Peace

Team NDR

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Delighted to announce the release of the new single today by London duo Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown, the double A side “Dark Rainbow Light” b/w “Sins of Gaia”

Taken from the album “Panacea” out May 5th where the themes covered by The Triple Darkness member address the environment, mental health, knife crime, racism, well being and aspiration. The narrative is delivered with the highest caliber of lyricism and figurative wordplay over a soundtrack provided by Husky which skillfully blends a fresh fusion of hip hop, soul, r&b, electronica, dub and bass.

Following on from their first single “Cosmic Soul” b/w “Seasons of You” released earlier this month, Husky laces “Dark Rainbow Light” with some soulful traditional hip hop flavours as Phoenix reflects on the challenges of inner city life while searching a better path. Meanwhile, the lo fi beats of Sins of Gaia paints the backdrop for an attack on institutional racism with the remix provided by Kashmere (YNR Productions, Tru Thoughts, High Focus).

Distributed by Ingrooves / Universal, and available to stream and download from all major digital platforms and stores including Apple, Amazon, Deezer, Napster & Tidal. Also on Spotify and Soundcloud

Phoenix and Husky planned their album launch party at Brixton Jamm on May 8th. Obviously given the current situation worldwide with the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting interim restrictions implemented, the event may well have to be postponed until a later date. However the situation is still relatively fluid depending on the decisions made at each review interval, the first one being due at the Easter Weekend, April 10th.

We would advise you keep updated on this situation via the duo’s social media, Phoenix da Icefire on Twitter & Instagram, Husky Brown on Twitter & Instagram

New Dawn Records hope all our friends worldwide are safe and well at this time. As frustrating as the current situation will be for many, these are unique circumstances not witnessed since 1945. If everyone follows the basic principle of social distancing, the early indications at least suggest a direction of traffic leading to this being over sooner rather than later. Take care.

Team NDR