Rapstars by Lexicon: A Gritty UK Hip-Hop Gem That Still Hits Hard
If you’re lookin’ for an album that slaps harder than most of what’s out there today, Rapstars by Lexicon is it. Released back in 2010 on Module Records and Laitdbac, this UK-born banger doesn’t mess around. It’s raw, unfiltered hip-hop with enough swagger to knock your socks off. Produced by the likes of Chris (C-Minus) Rivas and Edmund P. Monsef—yeah, those guys who clearly knew how to make beats slap—it’s a project that screams authenticity. No gimmicks here; just straight bars over basslines so thick they could choke a subwoofer.
Let’s get into some tracks, shall we? First up, “Bangyahead.” This one grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The drum programming from DJ C-Minus hits like a freight train, while Gideon Black spits rhymes sharp enough to cut glass. You can hear the grit in his voice, like he recorded this track after chugging coffee and surviving six rounds in the ring. And Erich Schneider’s lead guitar? Damn near steals the show. It’s chaotic but controlled—a perfect storm of rap and rock vibes. Every time I hear it, I’m ready to smash something—or at least crank the volume till my neighbors complain.
Then there’s “Big Money (Beat Torrent Remix).” If Bangyahead is the knockout punch, Big Money is the uppercut you didn’t see comin’. The remix flips the original into something darker, heavier, more relentless. Nick Black comes through with verses colder than London in December, and the production feels like it was built for underground raves or late-night drives where you're tryna lose yourself. That bassline from Alex T. Pauley rattles your chest cavity, and once Damien Bolo masters it all together? Forget about it. This track sticks to your brain like gum under a table.
What makes Rapstars stand out isn’t just its sound—it’s the attitude. These dudes weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they were too busy running over everyone else with it. Edmund P. Monsef pulls triple duty as engineer, mixer, AND multi-instrumentalist, which honestly should’ve earned him some kind of medal. Meanwhile, photographers Ben Lorph and Roberta Oglakhyan gave the whole thing visuals gritty enough to match the music.
But here’s the kicker: even though this album dropped over a decade ago, it still bangs harder than half the stuff getting streams today. Maybe that says something about modern music—or maybe it just proves Lexicon was ahead of their damn time. Either way, if you haven’t heard Rapstars, fix that ASAP. Because when people talk about underrated hip-hop projects, this one deserves to be shouted from the rooftops…or blasted outta car speakers till the cops show up.
And hey, fun fact: Junk Food might actually inspire you to order pizza. Not saying it happened to me, but...you know.
