M9 - 'Silent Weapons'

M9's new EP recruits the production talents of Chemo, who has produced Kool G Rap among others, and Beat Butcha, seen recently on the fantastic album 'Panorama' by Braintax. He is vocally assisted by Skriblah and Kyza, both respected UK hip-hop names, but in all honesty he doesn't need any help. His granite-hard flows recall the best of UK underground hip-hop; the productions are carefully judged to offset his dark subject matter with wistful pianos and tight snares and kicks- the overall effect being like an upmarket, blood-spilling Lewis Parker. M9's rhymes are tight and intelligent, innovative because they follow a classic template, rather than despite this. His mixtape 'Hi Fidelity' drops early this year – seek it out. [Bram Gieben]