July: 8 urban releases you need to hear this month

Katy Perry feat Migos 'Bon Appétit' (Capitol Records)

Say what you want, but this collaboration is fire – much like Katy Perry’s last single ‘Chained To The Rhythm’ with Skip Marley was, too. The topline here is definitely catchy as the beat builds into a sturdy track for the club. Continuing the mature pop strain of electro and r’n’b that works especially well for the slow winding and grinding, the addition of Migos makes this a certified summer anthem.

9/10

Sean Paul feat Migos 'Body' (Island Records)

There’s been no escaping Migos since the release of ‘Bad And Boujee’, and we all know that Sean Paul’s definitely not the kind of artist who’d ever ignore the potential for a big, chart-friendly collaboration (or the chance to drop a massive chorus, either). ‘Body’ comes with the kind of sexy talk you’d expect (yes, your body is hot), but the sound of Migos flowing over Don Corleone’s dancehall-injected beat makes for a decidedly better-than-average Sean Paul release.

8/10

Coco feat Scrufizzer 'Ingredients' (STEEZE)

This tongue-twister, which is released on Toddla T’s label Steeze, isn’t your standard grime track. The skippy flows and Yorkshire accent coupled with a bouncy beat reminiscent of Dizzee’s early work, making for a strong, ear-friendly collaboration. 7/10

Seramic 'Trying' (Parlophone)

With a new six-track EP out that features recent releases such as ‘I Got You’, ‘Greg’s Love’ (now feat Bootsy Collins) and ‘Same Mistakes’, Seramic now reaches falsetto heaven with new song ‘Trying’. Complete with those ever-worthy rich gospel backing vocals, it’ll take you to church and back, while Seramic and his friend Carassius Gold also come up trumps with their skilful production work.

9/10

XamVolo 'Old Soul' (Universal Music)

Hotly-tipped 23-year-old vocalist and producer XamVolo has already drawn favourable comparisons with artists such as John Legend and D’Angelo, but his new track ‘Old Soul’ even has a Prince-like feel to it, too. Expect to hear the floaty, catchy chorus of “I spend my days listening to old soul” to be remixed or sampled heavily in the coming months.

7/10

Kidepo 'Water' (Good Years)

Taken from his five-track ‘Reunion’ EP, 25-year-old Kidepo has the sound of the musical heavens about him. Mixing cinematic electronica with future-soul vibes, this is original meditative music that will make a real mark on the live circuit. Drawing influence from everything from the Congolese style of soukous to TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’, it’s well worth your stream.

7/10

Deadly & DJ Big Mikee 'Tell Me Something I Don’t Know' (Stay Fresh)

This is a long-overdue collaboration between two staple figures of the street scene in Birmingham, with DJ Big Mikee and Deadly (Stay Fresh) concocting a militant grime banger that will set raves alight. Released as a warm up for Deadly’s EP ‘Spring One Seven’, expect many a gun finger when this one officially drops.

8/10

Rainy Milo 'Swimming On Me' (Limey Records)

South Londoner Rainy Milo smooths out the loneliness and pain on the impressive ‘Swimming On Me’, which is taken from her new EP ‘I Knew I Had A Broken Heart (When I Felt It Breaking)’. It’s a good sign of growth from the artist, who was only 17 when she first made a name for herself with her jazz and hip hop-influenced r’n’b.

7/10