“Hip hop is a community and we got to work together to uplift the culture.” Since inception, these words have rung true with the beat collective known as Legacy Echo out of Manchester. The independent label may be focused on a sound of the past with a ’90s flavor, but it’s their international reach of artists spanning the globe that brings a modern touch that really spices things up. It started as passion, a mission of Chilla to “focus on something productive, something where there might be something to show for my time and efforts.” Today, Chilla’s work is paying dividends at Legacy Echo, delivering some of the most dope sounds in instrumental hip hop.
Legacy Echo Volume 3 is the 4th vinyl release, and 17th in the last three years since the label began. The compilation reaches far and wide showcasing 18 tracks from artists calling home in the UK, France, Switzerland, Finland, Japan, Australia, USA, Sweden, Netherlands, and Germany.
At the start, Sturks introduces us to the Great Bear in the sky with his interpretation of this astrological symbol. Maybe it’s a tip of the hat to the head nodding going on up in the north? Alaska’s flag does indeed carry this important star alignment! This Pittsburg native’s sound is raw and precise on Ursa Major. He is “flipping one musical life into a new one” here, reviving the past while creating the new.
Next, Mr Brown delivers his own take of what hip hop means to him on Can’t Leave It. His contribution here fits the vibe of this Legacy Echo compilation with its rich scratches laid against a guitar riff in reverb and an improv session on the piano. Brilliant. But his back catalog on his own label, We Stay True, of space age beats like Galactophasic prove he doesn’t “want to be labelled as a strictly ‘boom bap’ guy.” Even so, this beat on Can’t Leave It is choice and fits well here on the release.
Later, Chilla Ninja brings us futuristic jazzy beats on Self Expression. He kicks it up up with a beautiful piano loop filled with layers of nightclub horns and words of wisdom. To Chilla, hip hop is about “(e)xpression. It’s a vibrant culture with a long history to reflect on now.” As the driving force behind the Legacy Echo label, he has done a great job pulling together a cohesive sound on this release, including his own. On Self Expression, you have no doubt that hip hop to him carries a link to the past where jazz is a mainstay in the genre. It’s classy, solid, and flows well.
The tracks just keep on coming on Volume 3. On Represent, Golfhead proves that his “sound is definitely rooted in that classic East Coast 90s vibe.” This slow roll is methodical in delivery. It’s a late night jam for those getting strict with their mood control. Soii is the man from the Blue Mountains of Australia. Just like so many on this release, he pumps out impeccable drums on Admiration that are no doubt something to focus on. The production is top notch with his sampling of keys and Spanish words of wisdom. The atmospherics on Kista’s pART is something to behold with its futuristic sounds. Clearly, his love of “watching old sci fi films” must have had some influence on this track. It comes just after the landing of his August full LP cosmic release, Diggin in Outer Space. Here on pART, the pace of the keys in echo amongst a warped horn with sonic textures is surreal. Every track on this release is worthy of a repeat.
For those lucky enough to secure the vinyl release of Volume 3, it gets accompanied by Global Underground, a 37 page booklet filled with history of the producers including interviews with many on this release and others that are not. The love of sharing the beauty of instrumental hip hop runs deep within the pages. And you get the sense that is all its about. “It would be good to connect to the radio stations and the people also promoting hip hop…” At Slackline, that’s exactly what we do.
Track Listing:
1. Sturks – Ursa Major 02:36
2. Rich Brown – Can’t Leave It 02:47
3. Carlskee – In The Right Place 02:37
4. Chilla Ninja – Self Expression 02:52
5. Chalk – Right On Q 03:09
6. Funkychild – VX1000 02:43
7. Golfhead – Represent 02:14
8. Youl Briner – Game of Chess 02:34
9. J Digga – What Is This 01:59
10. Raky Mcfly – Cold World 02:35
11. Jazzroom – Everyday All Day 03:00
12. Soii – Admiration 02:42
13. Kuartz – Devilish 03:06
14. Kista – pART 02:13
15. 90vo x M1mo – Kellis Anthem 02:44
16. Ripes – Flow So Properly 02:59
17. Dylan Sykes – McCoy 02:07
18. Deadchannel9000 – Still In Time 02:10
Buy here.
Quotes from Global Underground, October 2025.
