Saturday Six continues with a reflection on, and celebration of, factors that put the jumper cables to hip-hop in the 10s: namely, the breakdown of geographical barriers and easing up of taste and convention that followed.

In the wake of A$AP Yams’ untimely passing, and this excellent Pitchfork piece reflecting on the long shadow he leaves, it seems a relevant topic. Not even fully four years ago, adopting the cadences and swagger of different regions was regarded as ambitious cherrypicking at best, and lame appropriation at worst. Now, the lines have smudged beyond recognition. It was a healthy and necessary shakedown.

Our very own Rap Life series is testament to that revitalisation. From LA to Florida, Houston to Detroit, under to overground, cypher to big-name stars rolling out the hits: it was a lot. And all within a hot, sticky, extended 2013 summer.

There were some killer Rap Life performances at the tail-end of last year–PRhyme and Freddie Gibbs, especially–and with our blueprints mapped out, 2015 is looking stronger than ever.

Sometimes, though, you’ve got to go back to roots. Revel in the early chaos and creation.

Rap Life: Los Angeles (Jun 10, 2013)
Mndsgn, Jonwayne, Azizi Gibson, Jeremiah Jae, Oliver the 2nd, The Koreatown Oddity

Boiler Room: New York (Oct 9, 2013)
Danny Brown (Detroit)

Rap Life: New York (Jun 10, 2013)
Prodigy, Sean Prince

Rap Life: Miami (May 6, 2013)
Denzel Curry, Rob Banks

Rap Life: Houston (Jul 23, 2013)
ESG, Dat Boy Bryson, KAB, Doughbeezy, Lyric Michelle, Mookie Jones, Demo, DeLorean, Youngin, Karma Jonze, G.R.I.T Boys, Propain, O.N.E, Young G, Maxo Kream, Phanchyze, Cory Kendrix, NoSaprise, Hoodstar Chantz, Easy Yves Saint, D-Ology, King Kyle Lee, LE$, Synato Watts, UZOY, Worldwide210, Killa Kyleon, A.Dd+, Rob Gullate, Lone Star Kapone, Shostoppa

Rap Life: Los Angeles – Raider Klan (May 20, 2013)
Dough Dough, Young Simmie, Eddy Baker, Grandmilly, Key Nyata, Ethelwulf, Dxrty Rxxd, Amber London, Spaceghostpurrp, Knxwledge