Drum & bass · Release review
Return of the Dubplate Killa - Vol. 2
Various Artists & DJ Hype
Playaz Recordings returns with Return of the Dubplate Killa - Vol. 2, featuring new music from DJ Hype & Jappa, DJ Hazard, Taxman, and Tyke & Prestige. A heavyweight four-tracker built for sound system warriors.
Playaz Recordings returns with another weighty addition to its revitalised dubplate series, and Vol. 2 does not hold back. Return of the Dubplate Killa - Vol. 2 sees DJ Hype and the Playaz camp delivering four distinctly flavoured weapons, each tuned for serious sound system pressure.
Kicking things off is Kill Something, a bruising link-up between Hype and Jappa. Jappa makes his label debut in style, bringing cavernous bass and a host of ragga vocal stabs that nod to the classic dubplate era without sounding stuck in it. It is no surprise this one has been getting wheel-ups on the regular.
DJ Hazard's Fallen Soldiers hits different. A heartfelt tribute to those the scene has lost, the track leans into orchestral textures and sweeping cinematic tones, all arranged by Hazard himself. It is a powerful and personal cut, yet it still bangs hard enough to find a place in peak-time sets.
Next up is Excalibur, marking Taxman's first Playaz outing since 2022. Built on classic jungle foundations, the track sets the mood with atmospheric pads and dusty breaks before plunging into a snarling, analogue-driven bassline. Vintage Taxman, sharpened for 2025.
Closing the release is Darkness, a no-nonsense roller from Tyke and Prestige. Haunting and heavy, it pairs a stark spoken-word sample with low-end menace and stripped-back groove. It is tailor-made for the late-night selectors who keep things murky and moody.
Return of the Dubplate Killa - Vol. 2 proves that Playaz is not just reminiscing. It is rewriting the rules with the same fire that made the label iconic in the first place.
