I really don’t know where these leaks are coming from but I’m happy for you they’re surfacing. It hurts me to have Born Like This sitting pon my desk and not being able to share it with yoooou! Ergh! But don’t matter, here goes another fresh DOOM track where he goes in (haaaaard) over a Dilla beat…

DOOM – “Lightworks”

Previous: DOOM  – “That’s That” / “Ballskin”

Honestly, the album is phenominal – no two ways about it. I’m hella excited about this project – DOOM is one of the dopest artists around – fact.

Peace, Love & DOOM

Speeakz

ESSO does his thing to Lupe’s “Hip Hop Saved My Life”…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18tTXPuXREY&eurl=http://2dopeboyz.com/&feature=player_embedded]

You know what ESSO do. Kills it yet again. This has actually prompted me to re-check The Cool…Ya dig?

Peace, Love & ESSO

Speeakz

Shouts to Jacques & 2dbz

Don’t get the munchies now…

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.787245&w=425&h=350&fv=]

Peace, Love & CunninLynguists

Speeakz

Beyonce is inviting her fans to create their own version of her now iconic “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” video for her official “Single Ladies” dance video contest.

Entrants will need to adhere precisely to the iconic “Single Ladies” dance routine performed by Bey and her two dances in her original video – no new chorography should be added

The winner of the “Single Ladies” competition will receive $2,500 and will have their winning video shown during Beyonce’s “I Am…” world tour 2009!

The contest is open to all Beyonce fans 18+ in the US, UK and Japan as well as Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore and Switerzland.

Beyonce - ”Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g&eurl=http://www.thehiphopchronicle.com/&feature=player_embedded]

All submissions should be shot in either QuickTime (.mov) or AVI format in either HD or standard definition in a standard frame rate on a data DVD-ROM (not a playable DVD). Entrants must include their full name(s), address and phone number to:

 Single Ladies”, 8033 Sunset Blvd. #948, Los Angeles, CA 90046

For all rules/regulations visit: www.beyonceonline.com

It’s a slow news day today, so I thought I’d share with you what I’m listening to today…

While the rest of the world slept and before the crack, tattoos, controversy, Back to Black and the Grammy’s, Amy Winehouse was an artist many of us music heads in London fell in love with. Her first album Frank remains as good today as when I first brought it (ironically in Camden/Kentish Town (college days init))…

While Back to Black gave Winehouse (now Wino) worldwide recognition, Frank gave her a cult following. When I first heard her debut, to say I was blown away is an understatement – in fact, I clearly remember making everyone I knew buy it after I did. Her honesty, her vulnerability, and her abilty to connect with listeners by being totally ‘frank’ through her music was both exciting and refreshing. The way she mixed Jazz and Hip Hop was crazy and her voice! Her voice is mental on this record! It was a brilliant debut and while it didnt’ hot up the charts, it did earn her a lot of critical acclaim…

I used to go college in Hampsted (those who know, know) and used to see Amy around town quite a bit (I particularly remember bumping into her in our ‘local’ pool house where a conversation about Nas Vs Jay-Z erupted into a fun debate between everyone – she was defending Nas). Anyways, this is just one of many brilliant tracks off Frank which as I said I was listening to today, so thought I’d share it with ya’ll…

[dailymotion id=x7canf]

Mad right, you can’t help but ask “what the hell went wrong”? A totally different person to the Amy Winehouse the world knows now init? Shame really. But on a level, if you don’t have Amy’s debut, I implore you to go buy it – infact, I say bootleg it – that chick don’t need any more drug money.

Peace, Love & Classic Moments

Speeakz

I DO love a good dose of R&B! Melanie Fiona is amazing, her voice is crazy. Those of you who saw KanYe West live in London last year would have been lucky enough to see this lady perform live. I’ve been aware of her for a while (shouts to Naz for putting me onto her!) and now she’s signed to Universal, she’s destined to blow up. “It Kills Me” just surfaced, but another joint “Give It To Me Right” dropped last year – both of which you can download right now…

Melanie Fiona – “It Kills Me”

Bonus: Melanie Fiona – “Give It To Me Right”

Her voice is dope, right? I’m really feelin’ both these tracks! ”It Kills Me” has been on loop since I got my hands on it last night. It reminds me of the ol’ skool R&B I used to love – Lord knows the sh*t that’s been dropping over the past few years (with the exception of a few) has been lackluster at best. But this, this is cool – keep your eyes on Melanie Fiona.

Peace, Love & Melanie Fiona

Speeakz

I woke up like 20 mins ago, why? Coz Speeakz went to bed at 5am watching the Oscars. It was worth it. I really enjoyed this years show. The scaled down, more ‘intimate’ feel worked brilliantly in my opinion. Not to mention, the Brits killed it. Literally every other award (even the more less known awards) weregoing to a Brits! “Slumdog Millionaire” took near nuff’ every bloody award! Awesome night.

Beyonce also took the stage with Huge Jackman and some kids from High School Musical and performed a medley of songs from various musicals in history. The performance was directed by Baz Luhrmann…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PnvdbHzpw0&eurl=http://toyas-world.net/&feature=player_embedded]

I thought it was pretty cool? I liked the ol’ Hollywood stint (which was used throughout the entire show) and I personally thought Jackman did a great job of hosting. Beyonce mined, but as did they all – some type of requirement for the Oscars I guess. All-in-all, I still say: no one can touch Bey.

Peace, Love & Beyonce

Speeakz

I know right? How many times have we heard this story? But if reports are to be believed then this one could actually happen. According to various sources Michael Jackson is in “advanced negotiations” with 02 Arena/AEGLive to stage his pop revival with up to 30 dates at the world renowned arena.

Jackson could stand to secure up to £1.5 million per night to perform at the 20,000 capacity Greenwich venue. It is believed that an announcement confirming the deal will be made within weeks. AEGLive have pencilled in Jackson’s first performance for July.

Potentially, this type of show could draw in fans from all across the world and tickets could sell for as much as £1,000 for VIP packs. Fans of Prince traveled far and wide to see him perform at the 02.

However, as ever, rumours about the health of the King of Pop are currently swirling with some reports suggesting he is in no fit state to perform live, not least for 30 nights. Jacko’s camp has strenuously denied these claims and have said on multiple occasions he is more than ready to make a comeback.

If all goes to plan this 30 night venture would eclipse the longest run of 21 shows put on by Prince in 07.

I’m sure, like many of you, I remain sceptical about all this. I personally do not think Michael Jackson is able to perform live or moreover, if he is, is able to recapture the magic he once created on stage. His health, both mental and physical, doesn’t really seem to permit him to do much these days, least of all perform.

…But I can’t lie, while my admiration for him (as a person at least lol) has diminished somewhat over the years, I can tell you now, I will be first in line for these tickets! Put all the craziness aside, his music is still some of the best ever created. And as a performer, no one has ever come close to touching what he used to do. I was lucky enough to see Jackson live during his HIStory tour and I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing it was. It’s still something I look back on to this day in amazement.

Let’s see how this one pans out…

Peace, Love & Michael Jackson

Speeakz

This tune is tagged to fu*k, but it’s a pretty big deal, so I’ll post it up and replace when they untagged version drops…

KiD CuDi Feat Wale – “Look Up In Da Stars”

I’m diggin’ both these emcee’s at the moment, so havin’ them both on one track shouldn’t really be surprisingly bad and it’s not. It’s not amazing, it’s not the best track I’ve ever heard, but the beat is serious and I’m feelin’ it. Honestly, I can’t stress how much I hate tagged songs, so once the real version drops I’ll reevaluate lol!

Peace, Love & Look Up In Da Stars

Speeakz

I posted the trailer to their upcoming EP a while back, now The Kickdrums drop the official title track from it…

The Kickdrums – “Just A Game”

I think these guys are heavi, I really like what they’re doing. It’s a lil’ different, a lil’ off beat but it works man. This track is a big deal in my opinion. Have a listen and lemme know what YOU think…

Peace, Love & The Kickdrums

Speeakz

Check Outasight at the MTVU Woodies Awards and in the studio with 6th Sense…

[vimeo 3300436]

Peace, Love & Outasight

Speeakz

I was sent a new Leela James track today*, not sure how many of you know about her – I got to know her when she supported Common in London a few years back. She’s got an amazing voice and her debut album A Change Is Gonna Come was dope.

She’s back and got a new album on the way entitled Let’s Do It Again and here she puts her own spin of the James Brown classic “It’s a Man’s World”…

Leela James – “It’s a Man’s World”

Obviously when you cover a track as iconic as “It’s a Man’s World” you’ll always have those unavoidable comparisons. But I mean, she sounds great on it. I don’t think anyone can recapture the magic of the track as well as the God Father, but I like her take on it. If you haven’t check Leela James before, make sure you do – I think ya’ll will dig her.

Peace, Love & Leela James

Speeakz

* Whoever sent me this track, email me back coz I accidental deleted your message! Oooops!

…I see that smile on your face…

DOOM – “That’s That”

Haha! Yup, yup – brand muthafu*king DOOM (no MF) for yooooou! I cannot lie, Speeakz has had a 5 track Born Like This album sampler (you know wedo this!) for a minute now, but I’m overly happy I can now share my excitement with you good folks!  DOOM is…mind blowing! The album is sounding so, so amazing! Production credits include Jake One, Dilla and of course DOOM (who produced this track). I wish I could serve up some more dope sh*t but trust, heads will roll – straight up. Don’t worry though, the album is coming.

Peace, Love & DOOM

Speeakz

Some new, new Busta for your Saturday peeps! This is pretty serious…

Busta Rhymes – “Anthrax”

This is that crack you need, right?! Big tune. I’m feelin’ this in a big way. Bussa Buss does this.

Peace, Love & Busta Rhymes

Speeakz

Shouts to those dopeboyz