The New Scene - DJ Vadim

Like The Herbaliser, DJ Vadim's music bridges the gap between hip-hop and trip-hop. The Russian born producer's album is split between creative hip-hop, featuring innovative rappers from Company Flow to Dilated Peoples' Iriscience, and sample-based trip-hop. All the tracks are united with Vadim's own sound, bringing Soviet and Asian sounds into the mix. Each hip-hop track is superb, with lesser known artists like Blu Rum 13, off Vadim's own indy label, and MUD Family's Skinnyman stealing the show. In fact, Vadim is dedicated to the UK indy hip-hop scene, and Jazz Fudge, his record label, is a testiment to that. Vadim's trip-hop is interesting and hints at pushing the boundaries, but his real strength is in giving unknown rappers amazingly funky beats to drop their rhymes on.

Discography

Life From the Other Side
Ninjatune, 1999
1. Getting Friendly
2. Viagra (f. El-P, BMS & DJ Primecuts)
3. My Favourite Letter
4. Life from the Itchy Side (f. Skinnyman)
5. English Breakfast (f. Swollen Members)
6. Building Tension in 2 Dimensions
7. Dig Yourself Baby!
8. Are You Sure
9. The Pact (Super Rimes) (f. Starvin' Artists)
10. Outerschmoodles
11. Your Revolution (f. Sarah Jones)
12. It's Obvious (f. Blu Rum 13)
13. The Piano Song
14. Pauses for Repetition
15. Truly & Really (f. Toastie Taylor)
16. Cold Rock Def Box (f. Killer Kela)
17. The Terrorist (f. Moshun Man)
18. The Larry Chatsworth Theme Pt.2
19. From Russia with Love (f. Blade)
20. Shikko - the Affirmers of the New Art
21. Micro Course in Russian
22. Friction (f. Iriscience & DJ Primecuts)
23. A 110 DSP - Acquiring the Taste
24. How to Exercise the Turntable Record Player
25. A word from Your Ninja Record Dealer