NEW RELEASES
The UK’s hip-hop scene continues to thrive but one artist who has paid his dues and undoubtedly deserves all of the flowers is Avelino. The Tottenham-based MC has spent the past decade applying pressure. In recent years, he’s finally begun to gain his rightful recognition with a string of excellent bodies of work. 2023 was a particularly busy stretch with the release of his album, God Save The Streets, and the plethora of records he dropped afterward including a number of loose freestyles.
It appears that the momentum will remain high throughout 2024, as the MC just released a new freestyle to commemorate the new year. Aptly titled, “2024 Freestyle,” Avelino takes on the hypnotic production of Hit-Boy’s “Composure” for his latest offering (the two previously worked together on Hit-Boy’s “2 Certified”). The meditative beat provides plenty of room for Avelino to showcase his lyrical aptitude and effortless flows where he reflects on the wins of 2023 and the moves he plans to make this year. It’s another incredible showing of Avelino’s strengths as an MC; the versatility with which he approaches his craft that finds him smoothly transitioning from high-octane grime production to eloquent soulful sounds.
At the end of “2024 Freestyle,” Avelino reflects on the release of God Save The Streets, which he describes as being 10 years in the making. The rapper’s latest project boasted 12 songs in total with several high-profile features from the grime and drill scene. He linked up with Wretch 32, who he worked alongside on Young Fire, Old Flame, as well as RA, Backroad Gee, Tiggs The Author, and more.
Avelino might not be a household name just yet but his prolific output indicates that he won’t stop until he is. With the release of “2024 Freestyle,” we could imagine that he has a lot more in store for the remainder of the year. The North London native previously unveiled “50 Years Of Hip-Hop Freestyle” to honor the genre’s year-long celebrations. Check his new freestyle above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.
Quotable Lyrics
I got sick and tired of being ill-advised
Flew straight, now I'm migrating for the winter time
Bro's in the wing for flying birds, now he can't even fly
NEW RELEASES
An expanded edition of The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ is set to arrive with a previously unheard John Lennon demo included in the collection.
Read More: Paul McCartney: “Writing a song is still a magic feeling for me, and hopefully always will be”
The refreshed editions of the celebrated 1965 record will be released on October 2 through UMG and Apple Corps Ltd. Producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell handled the new mixes.
More than 60 years after its original release, the influential album will be available in updated stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes for the first time. The box set will also contain the initial mono mix and the original Capitol US Album edition.
In addition to the familiar tracklist, which includes popular songs such as ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Michelle’, and ‘In My Life’, the collection features the double A side single ‘Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out’. Fans will also receive several previously unavailable studio recordings and home demos.
Different versions of the release include the 14 song Special Edition Standard, the 30 track Special Edition Deluxe, and a Blu ray Edition containing 16 tracks and four videos.
The largest package is the Special Edition Super Deluxe, which will be offered as either a five LP box set or a four CD box set containing 68 tracks. Its contents include the new stereo version of ‘Rubber Soul’, two Sessions and Demos discs, the album’s original mono master, the original Capitol US edition, and the seven inch A side single.
Among the demos is ‘Little Girl’, a track written and recorded by Lennon that has never been officially released since it was originally created.
The Super Deluxe packages also feature an 88 page hardcover book with a newly written introduction from Paul McCartney and a foreword assembled using Lennon’s own words.
‘Rubber Soul’ was completed across four weeks in October and November 1965. The sessions took place shortly after the Fab Four played their record setting show for over 55,000 people at Shea Stadium in New York.
Every new edition includes the updated stereo mix of the album, created directly from the original four track master tapes. The team used separation technology developed at Peter Jackson’s WingNut Films Productions Ltd.
Visit here to place a preorder and see the complete tracklist for the “Special Edition Super Deluxe” package below.
The ‘Rubber Soul Special Edition Super Deluxe Box Set’ tracklist is:
LP1: New stereo mix
Side A
Side B
LP2: Sessions, Demos and The Single, Disc 1
Side A
Side B
LP3: Sessions, Demos and The Single, Disc 2
Side A
Side B
LP4: Mono
Side A
Side B
LP5: US Album
Side A
Side B
Seven inch single
Side A
Side AA
Elsewhere in Beatles news, the group will be explored through a collection of four films directed by Sam Mendes. All four movies are currently scheduled to reach cinemas at the same time in April 2028.
Paul Mescal will portray Paul McCartney, while Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Joseph Quinn will appear as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will take on the role of Ringo Starr. Each movie will present the band’s journey through the eyes of a different member.
It has also been announced that 3 Savile Row, the famous London location closely connected to the group, will welcome visitors for the first time next year as part of the first official Beatles fan experience.
Earlier this year, Paul McCartney released his latest album, ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’. It marks his first solo project since 2020’s ‘McCartney III’ and includes his first duet with former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr.
Before the record arrived, McCartney spoke with NME about both the past and future of his remarkable career. He discussed his “excitement” about appearing on the upcoming The Rolling Stones album and addressed whether retirement is part of his plans.
