Snakes & Ladders

This 11th mixtape from Tottenham MC Chip distills over a decade of hard-won UK rap wisdom into a sprawling, collaborative victory lap. It doesn’t just serve to unlock the secrets to his longevity, it points to fresh horizons for an artist who once declared he “can’t run out of bars.” The roster of guests energizes Chip—former nemesis Bugzy Malone sparks a highlight on “Grown Flex” (a bouncy flip of T2’s 2007 bassline classic “Heartbroken”) and “Ignite” with Jme and Dizzee Rascal feels like a heavyweight grime event, while his tribute to close friend and fellow North London rapper Black The Ripper (“0420”) is genuinely affecting. Everything, however, comes together with the dextrous current of Chip’s flow.