Double hit of brand new dubstep from pioneering producer / dj geez Benga. Both full of tough staccato and a healthy amount of cheeky swagger. Looking forward to the Magnetic Man project with him, Skream and Artwork as well.

The much anticipated new collaboration between NAS & Damian Marley is here, Entitled 'Distant Relatives' It's given us tonight's HR, as we enter. Not exactly what you'd except on first listen, but a slinky, jump up rare groove that has both artists bouncing off each other in classic rap tradition. Stream it.

A little independence goes a long way. It seems as soon as Hadouken lost their ball and chain record deal, things started looking up. Sucessful album session with hot producers Noisia resulted in a second album 'For The Masses' and a quick run round the UK supporting The Prodigy has alligned the stars for Hadouken. Tonight's Hottest Record 'Mic Check' is old school garage destroyed and updated. More riot music.

Whispers of a new Pendulum dublate were true. From the record boxes of D'n'B DJs like Fab and Groove, we get the latest heat rock from Perth's foremost drum and bass producers. 'Salt in the Wounds' is that riff heavy Pendulum sound in a nutshell, the big difference being a cheeky dubstep breakdown a few minutes in. Not the official single, but certainly enough to get you excited. Beaudy.

Brand new music from the Brooklyn mob known as Yeayasear.. Somehow, they walk the fine line between free-wheeling and focus perfectly. 'O.N.E' is the most direct dancefloor -friendly tune they've released to date, Sam's from the show is freaking out right now. It will see him shuffling in his vegan café for weeks to come.. Luckily, it has broader appeal than that. We're into it.

Yeah...so it got leaked, so what? Sooner rather than later as far as I'm concerned, gives everyone a chance to observe this deep disco direction the Gorillaz have gone in. Mos Def and the honourable Bobby Womack. On this ride to 'Plastic Beach'. Another genius concept from a genius concept of which we can live through vicariously (or not as it happens) through March 8th, 'Stylo' is a grower, if by a grower you mean AWESOME.

This, 'executed with absolute lucidity' brand new single called 'Thumper' from Enter Shikari features on a forthcoming new companion album to previous LP 'Common Dreads'
Full of new music, B-side, rarities, remixes; it will keep fans happy and keep the band moving until festival season. Musically, 'Thumper' is another driving, appargiated, heatrock. Stream it.

Hi everyone. First blog of the year and I'm still attached to my album of 2009, Jamie T's 'Kings And Queens'. Tonight's Hottest Record is a thoughtfully arranged re-working of album cornerstone, 'Emily's Heart'. Fairly faultless in its original stripped down form but embellished with some drums and a nice string arrangement, this goes from album fave to a standout. Dude sounds happy and with it so expect great music and great shows from JT this year.

Thanks for having us! We've had a fantastic time taking over Zane Lowe's show. We (James and Simon) would like to apologise for his (Joe's) song choices. We didn't know. We wish we had. We would have done anything necessary to stop it. Peace out. We love you.
This is Joe. Thanks for having me and sorry if it was a tad over-indulgent.
Bye then!

You can also check out all this other stuff!

Check out the pictures
Watch the highlights video
Find out more about the takeovers

Message from the boys... The Beach is wonderful, weather fantastic, wish you were here! Lots of love, Ian. P.S. Bustin' makes me feel good. Ian.
we need Zane to go away on holidays more often, Lovin' it xxx

You can also check out all this other stuff!

See the pictures
Watch the highlights video
Find out more about the takeovers
Find out more about Lostprophets at BBC Music

Florence says... absolutely loved it! would have loved to done a 3 hour show! if it goes horribly wrong with my music, hopefully i can become a radio 1 presenter!

Plus other stuff!

Check out the pictures
Find out more about the takeovers
Watch the highlights video
Find out more about Florence at BBC Music

Dizzee here, taking over Zane. I feel pretty happy right now, just sending out good vibes, don't be afraid to dance!!!! Excited about Australia, can't wait to get out there....

And there's more!

Take a look at the photos of Dizzee in the studio
Watch the highlights video
Find out more about the takeovers
Find out more about Dizzee at BBC Music

It's 6.25pm...and still waiting for Dizzee! He's also sorting out his trip for Oz and leaving tomorrow...that man is BUSY!!! Should be good show though...Huw is going thru his tunes now!

Make sure you listen to the show at this link! (either live from 7pm or for 7 days afterwards)

Huw here in for Zane. Tonights Hottest Record comes from a band tipped in the BBC Sound of 2010 Poll at number 4. They're a duo from Manchester who haven't played a single gig. Their black and white video on their myspace got people talking when it appeared in late 2009. And with a major label deal and four gigs planned in February, here's a band taking control of their destiny and doing things their own way. You might have heard Wonderful Life on Zane's show, their session for me on a Wednesday or ina cool and trendy dark and dingy German club during a lost weekend. There's cold beats, there's a definite 80's vibe throughout their music, and there's some straight from the heart deep and beautiful lyrics here. Expect big things. And have a bop to this.

Hello, Huw here in for Zane this week on the radio and on the blog. So you've got four of the hottest rappers in the world together on one record, with Drake leading the guard and Lil Wayne, Eminem and Kanye on there too. You want to up the ante. You need some 'heat' for the 'clubs'. The dancey ones, not the hip hop ones. What do you do? you ask Nero, one of the hottest Drum and Bass producers in the world to work his magic on making this banger into an even BANGER. Winner.

Huw here again in for Zane. Tonight's Hottest Record was by The Courteeners, brand new single from the Manchester band who are ready and fighting to take on 2010 with all their might. 'Falcon' is the second album, out in February, which will please the fans and might quieten down the haters who were ready to have a moan when their debut came out. Forget all of that, this is the sound of a band ready to storm the stage, storm your stereo, win you over. Let us know what you think below, and enjoy...

As we look towards the new year with hope and joy and optimism in our collective hearts, let's listen to some miserable Chapel Club! Only joking! Here's a band who know how to craft a gloom-rock number with conviction, as we heard on 'Surfacing' at the end of 2009. With a lot of people getting excited about what they can do in 2010, this decade's first Hottest Record in the World accolade goes to this promising London band...
Huw.