Community Roots is a British Hip Hop compilation album produced by the emerging production duo Shem Lawrence and Lukman Shoge better known as Blackmale Beats. The 14 track album contains a selection of topics relating to their community, with themes highlighting; youth crime, the life dynamics in London, political issues, absent fatherhood and the growing love for chicken shops, all major ingredients to embrace diversity that exists within the South London community.

Known for producing soulful Hip Hop sounds taking inspiration from 70s soul and revoking the original sounds of HipHop, Blackmale Beats invites the listener into the universe of 'South London'.
Community Roots exhibits the collaborative union between Blackmale Beats and other South London artists including Bar4Bar, The Manor, Art Daley, Randy Valentine, James Massiah, as well as a political contribution from George Galloway & Lee Jasper in track 'Showing Respect'.
Community Roots explores culture, status, environment, trends/ slangs and what community means to the artists.

The concept behind Community Roots is thought provoking and challenges attitudes to how people interpret their environment. With the help of catchy classic soul samples and other artistic sound references in the mix, Blackmale Beats have managed to introduce an alternative way of producing a compilation into the UK music scene.‘Ingland is a Bitch’ sampled from Linton Kwesi Johnson’s eye opening poem performed in 1980 on the cusp of the Brixton Riots, displays his views and struggles in England then, which are still relevant and current in today’s society.
'Born in the 80s, 70s state of mind, 90s sense of style; Blackmale Beats duo grew up in South London.

The influence behind Community Roots was based both on their upbringing in Brixton and Stockwell. The philosophy & style behind the Blackmale Beats machine is 'to keep the tradition of Hip Hop alive', with their primary musical influences ranging from Hip Hop musicians J Dilla to Jazz references of Gil Scott-Heron.
Love your Community.