The UK's leading group are back with their next addition on their ever-growing discography, in the form of “Stray Point Agenda”. After the success of “Slow Broiled Ilk”, and the recent “Best Single” award at the Lyric Pad Hip Hop Awads 2005, the pressure was on the multi-national crew to deliver the goods. With a list of guest appearances including the likes of “Graziella”, “Wildchild”, “Braintax” and the ever-present “Doubledge”, fans were right to get excited, and many hoped that “Stray Point Agenda” would match the expectations.

The album kicks in with tracks such as “Reelfire” and “Slo-Speed”, setting the very high standard for the rest of the album. MC's “Orifice Vulgatron” and “Metropolis” do what they do best, with the help of “DJ Nonames” and prodcuer “Dag Nabbit”. The general mood is a lot darker and moodier than the previous release of “Asylum Speakers”, which is supported by various tracks throughout the album.

The quality only gets better, “Orifice Vulgatron” and “Metropolis” deliver multi sylablle rhyming at a hardcore pace. With the abstract and unique lyrics, tracks such as “In It For a Minute” and “Confessions Of A..” the group meet all expectations that were set. And such tracks have been met with critique comments such as “Britains equivallent to the Wu Tang Clan”.

The rest of the album contains nothing but top-notch tracks. The likes of “On a Winters Day”, “To Be a Memory” and “Hot Plate” are few of many, and the collaberated artists contribute to the huge level of quality as well. Up and coming rapper “Dubbledge” features on “Hot Plate”, while “Dr. Syntax” features on “Reach Out”. All featured rappers deliver outstanding verses, showing an outside uk hip-hop fan the level of quality that circles the industry at the moment.

While “Stray Point Agenda” is set to blow in stores, the “Foreign Beggars” are set to tour throughout various cities in the UK to promote the new album. Here are the dates.

Ocean Rooms Brighton – 30th October
 
Northern Lights, Leeds - 2nd November
 
Roadhouse Manchester - 3rd November
 
Charlotte, Leicester - 10th November
 
Hausmania Oslo - 11th November
 
Album Launch SCALA LONDON – 15th November
 
The Caves Edinburgh - 17th November
 
tba Port Rush - 1st December

Hip-Hop Kings Rating: 4 out of 5 Crowns

Written Ryan Maxwell