Edinburgh-based MC, Conscious Route is back with a new single, Portals, produced by legendary UK hip-hop producer Forest DLG (aka Chemo / Telemachus). The politically charged wordplay is counter-balanced by the airy and ethereal breaks, which bring more than a tint of Asian flavour. This is just a taste of what to expect when Conscious Route and Forest DLG’s collaborative ‘Deftly Golden’ album is released later this year.
Also included exclusively on this single release are two remixes. The Jamie Bostron Remix brings the type of dark, driving dub-inflected drum and bass that has seen him produce for Jungle Cakes, Totally Dubwise, Yardrock and Flex Up Crew, while Konchis (aka Jetsam), whose latest LP has been released by the 4NYC label, comes through with the ‘Portals Revisited (Konchis Remix)’, bringing a stuttering and brooding feel to the track that offers an edgier accompaniment to the lyrics.

Conscious Route is a rapper, MC, poet and singer-songwriter who was born in London before moving to Edinburgh over a decade ago. In 2020, he unleashed the collaborative ‘Lost Routes’ album, alongside producer True Note, which went on to receive a 4-star review in The Scotsman upon its release. In addition to this, two of his more recent releases, ‘Trojan’ and his feature on ‘Dragons Jaw’ by Post Coal Prom Queen, were named track of the week on BBC Introducing Scotland. The Sensory EP, a collaboration with producer Toni Smoke, also saw 2 tracks receive worldwide airplay on Rapstation 365 radio station, played by UK’s DJ Shorty on London Chip Shop show, then re-spun by the legendary Chuck D in the USA. His Lost Routes Flip tape & Pyramid EP was supported by Tom Robinson’s BBC 6 Music ‘Fresh On The Net BBC Introducing’ mixtape show and he has again seen his music named among the Herald’s top 100 Scottish tunes of the year. He also recently released the Pyramid EP with shortlisted Scottish Artist of the Year, Scott Bathgate. Conscious Route's release reached the international stage once again with airplay in USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe. BBC Introducing Scotland, presenters Phoebe I-H and Shreen Cutkelvin supported it on their show and calling it, “the ultimate collaboration."