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We are very proud to announce the release today of yet another superb album, this time by Justo the MC and Edinburgh lofi hip hop producer Brelstaff.

In the true traditions of the art of storytelling, “Urban Testimony” depicts events before, during and after the Brooklyn rapper’s curtailed and troubled time studying at Clark Atlanta University some years ago. Documented in a deeply personal narrative, details unfold of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route to academia straying rapidly on a hedonistic path and the consequences incurred.

While regrets are clear, the spirit of resilience prevails. Emerging scathed but undaunted and emboldened by second chances, the final scenes present a renewed sense of optimism for the future with lessons duly learned.

A fascinating and brutally honest account is relayed through trademark slick rhymes and deft lyricism, the art of storytelling set to a suitably atmospheric soundtrack provided by Brelstaff’s blend of soulful chilled lofi hip hop beats and ambient electronica.

It is a remarkable piece of work by two masters of their craft which we are extremely pleased to share with you now on APPLE/iTunes, AMAZON, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY.

    There are also official videos for every track which you can watch on the album’s playlist published on our Youtube channel.

    Of course earlier this year we released the instrumental version of the album, and several tracks were broadcast by BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 on their Focus Beats programme.

    It also has a full video playlist on our Youtube Channel and can be streamed on Spotify

    Justo will be performing tracks from “Urban Testimony” when he travels to upstate New York on Saturday November 18th as a special guest of Anthony Kannon and Frost Gamble for their ‘Cautionary Tales’ album launch party at Deep Dive in Ithaca.

    For more information about Justo and Brelstaff including all their social media details, visit their ARTIST PAGE on this site.

    For all media, press, audio & video podcats and radio station DJ inquiries about the release, please contact the official publicist, our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR HERE  

    As ever, enjoy the music and as always we thank everyone for their support.

    TEAM NDR

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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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    New Dawn Records are proud to announce another addition to the label roster by way of NY State rapper Anthony Kannon and producer Frost Gamble with the release of their new album “Cautionary Tales” on October 20th 2023.

    Recipient of the title “Best Rapper” at the Ithaca Music Awards in 2019, the young lyricist draws on his own real life battles and traumatic episodes, conveying a wide range of subject matter represented throughout the aptly titled release.  It is a remarkable journey encapsulated in a series of biographical depictions, all with an underlying theme of survival, escape, progression and transformation.

    Authentically powerful, this is Storyville of a life less ordinary with a narrative packed full of dope rhymes and skilful wordplay set to the highest caliber soundtrack provided by Frost, originally from Binghamton NY and now resident in Canada.

    Particularly well known for his extensive catalogue with long time sparring partner Tone Chop, the prolific beatmaker has released further projects with Tragedy Khadafi, KXNG Crooked, Horseshoe Gang and Craig G while producing his “Sixteens” series of instrumentals.  Some of his earliest collaborative projects included productions for Young Bleed, Sadat X, J-Ro, Doc Ice and Tahmell, son of the legendary Rakim, while in 2013 he contributed to Fresh I.E.’s “Red Letterz 13” which duly won  “Album of the Year” at the Canadian Gospel Music Awards.

    The album, engineered by David Brown of D Brown Sounds, can be pre-ordered with effect from July 24th HERE

    A series of singles will precede the album release beginning on June 6th with “Pitfalls”.  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

    Meantime we’d encourage you to connect with the artists directly via their social media, they’ve always got interesting things going on, so drop by & wave…..they’ll wave back, all the artists we work with do ! lol

    Anthony on Twitter @AnthonyKannonn IG @AnthonyKannon FB @AnthonyKannon

    Frost on Twitter @FrostGamble IG @Frost.Gamble FB @FrostGamble

    As ever, we appreciate the support

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    TEAM NDR

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    New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of the new single “Lead by Example” by London producer Ramson Badbonez.

    The title track from his album out on August 27th, it’s the second following last month’s “Stay True” featuring Reks, Ruste Juxx and Blacastan.

    The new joint featuring Ghana’s finest Recognize Ali and Brooklyn’s acclaimed lyrical marksmen Skyzoo and Juxx Diamondz with cuts by the UK’s Jazz T has enjoyed phenomenal radio support in the UK, Europe and US for the past couple of weeks, and is another early representation of the highest quality hip hop present throughout the album. All the more remarkable given this is Ramson’s debut release as a producer, this is a premium cut by any standard.

    Available to stream and download from all major online stores and platforms including APPLE, TIDAL, AMAZON, BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY

    You can connect with Ramson on Instagram @oscarslouch his new official Twitter account @Ramson_Badbonez and on Facebook Ramson.Badbonez

    Any DJ’s who’d like a copy of the new single to play in their sets and on their shows can request it from our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE

    Thanks again to everyone for their support

    TEAM NDR

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    We are proud to announce the release today of the new single “Stay True” by London based producer Ramson Badbonez, the first to be taken from his album “Lead by Example” out on August 27th 2021.

    The new joint features east coast warriors Reks, Ruste Juxx and Blacastan, all delivering their renowned verbal artillery, savagely tearing apart a booming head nodder that pulls no punches. Rugged and raw, truly formidable business.

    Available to stream and download now everywhere including APPLE MUSIC, TIDAL MUSIC, AMAZON MUSIC, SPOTIFY & BANDCAMP

    Already enjoying airplay worldwide, any DJ’s not already serviced with an MP3 can request it from our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR. Contact them HERE

    Thanks again to everyone for your continued support & enjoy the sounds

    TEAM NDR