And when you thought it was about time we put out a dud issue… Think again.

The Quantic Y Su Combo Barbaro album is dropping soon, and photographer, filmmaker & all-round goood guy B+ generously offered a picture he took while visiting Quantic in Colombia to put on the cover. Check the rest of the photos & the full story inside the mag. In the new issue we speak to Raekwon from the Wu about an album more hotly awaited than the second coming – Only Born 4 Cuban Linx II. Know that the Chef is still on point. We do some ghetto-turismo in Moro de Providencia, the oldest favela in Rio, thanx to French artist JR. We capture the UK’s premier ‘house dance’ crew InDaHouse in full effect. There’s an intvw with one of our favourite producers 9^th Wonder and his True School crew. We spk to Rashad Smith (if you don’t know who that is, check the back of your ‘Woo Hah’ 12-inch or CD-single) . The eglo crew represent (Floating Points, Alex Nut & the whole 9 yards).There’s the story behind the 1974 concert in Kinshasa when James Brown, Bill Withers and Celia Cruz lined up alongside Miriam Makeba and Franco – it’s the subject of the new Soul Power film. Also check the story of Rahaan & the Chuck Brothers, the crate diggers outta Chi-city – and while you’re at it you need to download their mixes. Speaking of mixes, we speak to the one like Karizma who has a new album out via R2. We also have an in-depth story about the life and times of Freddie Hubbard, as remembered by Creed Taylor (of CTI and Impulse! fame). We publish a short story by Charlie Dark (‘The God of Road’), we remember French novelist Boris Vian and we speak to Bob James too. There’s also a revamped back section (big up M@ our art director) where we cover anything from Congolese sapeurs to boutique stores in the heart of Hoaxtown. What else? There’s a lot, and our fingers are getting tired so do yourself a favour and seek it out.

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