If You Can't Join 'em... Beat 'em

DJ Format climbs back into the ring with 'If You Can't Join 'em... Beat 'em', which sees the British DJ stepping up a gear and tightening the loops further for a tougher, leaner sound. Like the Tarantino of beats, Format seeks out lost musical odds and ends, splicing and pasting favourite moments together to create future hip hop with a classic, old school feel.

His signature b-boy instrumentals, down-tempo sketches and body rocking backdrops are interwoven seamlessly throughout the album, hooking in both the casual initiate and the hardened crate-digging freak. This is soulful, funk-fuelled hip hop.

Format's regular lyrical sparring partner Abdominal permeates the album, his trademark flow matched blow for blow by Canadian rap wunderkind D-sisive's verbal dexterity. Also featured are Chali2na and Akil [Jurassic 5], replicating the success of their "We Know Something You Don't Know" collab from Format's debut 'Music For The Mature B-Boy' with devastating effect.

This is music with the hum and crackle of human contact, skull snapping drums and sharp guitar licks lurk in every stilted groove. So whilst most producers turn out product following the latest whims of fashion and trend, in 'If You Can't Join 'em... Beat 'em', Format has created a storming album that will resonate with the likeminded listener and deliver a knockout punch to the unbeliever.