Crate Digging: Ricole Appleby, Bespoke Composition and Catalogue Manager

“It's a very intentionally and effortless blend of all of his knowledge and genres, making it sound very fluid.”

Black Radio III by Robert Glasper

I was a bit late getting into Robert Glasper, but it was Kendrick Lamar’s 'To Pimp A Butterfly' that put me onto him. The production on that album was 10/10, as was his take on fusing Jazz and Hip-Hop, but the keys and chord choices really caught my attention. When I found out Robert Glasper was behind so much of that sound, it all made sense. Since then, I’ve loved diving into his discography. As a huge R&B and Soul fan, I appreciate how this project leans into those roots, along with Jazz, of course. Even though it’s part of a series of albums, he still finds ways to keep it current but still connected. It’s vast, rich and full of collaborations that shows just how versatile and forward thinking he is. His cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” ft. Lalah Hathaway and Common is a good example. Reinterpreting a classic, that I feel reflects their observations of today’s world and how they move through it. Glasper ft Yebba on 'Over' is also amazing. I live for riffs and runs, so this was one of my favourites. I wish they collaborated even more together!

'Black Radio III' is soulful and experimental at the same time. You can tell he's a musicians musician but that doesn't make you feel isolated as a listener. It's a very intentionally and effortless blend of all of his knowledge and genres, making it sound very fluid. It's emotional at times, but also very current - musically and lyrical content wise too.

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde by The Pharcyde

'Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde' is such a great album. 'Passin’ Me By' instantly takes me back to secondary school. Me and my friend obviously thought we were super edgy and went through a “throwback” phase, diving deep into 90s Hip-Hop. Pharcyde was one of the artists we had on heavy rotation, and this album became a gateway for me into other artists like Gang Starr and Lords of the Underground. The artwork has always stood out to me too, one of the most distinctive covers from that era. The Cartoon style in comparison to the classic stairwell shot or close up, just shows how bold they were. What I like the most, though, is their delivery. It’s playful and expressive. The way they use their voices to tell stories gives every track so much character. It’s that perfect blend of humour and creativity that makes it timeless.

Pharcyde is playful, weird and full of personality. It's very colourful in the middle of the 90s Hip-Hop scene. They don't take themselves too seriously, and that made their storytelling stand out. Their production is bouncy and Jazzy, and their flows are expressive and animated.

If you’d like to know more, or you’re keen to discover more, please contact: labelsyncuk@concord.com.