[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ozxctQkXos&feature=player_embedded]

Adventures of Bobby Ray is out April 26th.

Peace, Love & B.o.B

Speeakz

According to various (credible) sources Prince will heading over to Europe this Summer to play a number of festivals and (hopefully) some gigs too. So far it’s been confirmed that the Purple One will play at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark (July 1st-4th) as well as a concert at the Citadel of Arras in France on July 9th 2010. It’s also being reported he’ll play Werchter in Belgium.

First up, it’s great to hear that Prince is heading back out on the road, but you know we’re all thinking it – he’s got to play London?! Prince hasn’t played here since his 21 Nights residency in 2007 (I went twice, standard) – so surely it’s now time for him to make a return to these shores? We live in hope.

I’ll make sure to keep you up-to-date with any new info that emerges about any of this.

Peace, Love & Prince

Speeakz

Due to that stupid Volcano (I actually thought it was pretty cool until now), the Nas & Damian Marley gig scheduled for tomorrow at the Electric Ballroom in London has been cancelled. Those with tickets for this date can exchange their tickets for the recently announced show on July 20th at Hammersmith Apollo or obtain a refund from the point of purchase. The gig on July 20th will also feature a live band – tickets for that show are priced at £25 standing & £30 seated and are available via www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.ticketweb.co.uk

I’m pissed. I heard the gig got cancelled and saw a couple stories online but wanted to wait for official confirmation. The main reason I wanted to go to the show tomorrow was because it was the Electric Ballroom – a small (400 capacity) venue, as opposed to the less intimate Hammersmith Apollo.

Peace, Love, Nas & Damian Marley

Speeakz

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/10856519]

This is a great concept – Yours Truly and The Smoking Section have teamed up to collaborate on a new feature called “3:16″. The series will see emcee’s recite a few of their favourite verses and discuss how and why it inspired them. Here, J.Cole goes through Canibus’ “Buckingham Palace” and then, after the jump, Nas’ “Undying Love” – as well as his own song “Lights Please”.

Sidenote: “Buckingham Palace” is my tuuune growing up. Shieeet. Takes me back, need to reload that quickly.

Peace, Love & J.Cole

Speeakz

Continue reading this post…

BUG just handed this new track over to me – “Sativa” is the counterpart to “Indica” which you would have heard on the Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break Presents: “Oscillations” compilation we posted up…

[bandcamp track=2333602500 size=venti bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=2509f6]

Real nice, right?? Damn, this just got me all kinds of zoned out – and don’t think I haven’t noticed that green in the artwork up there lol! Hopefully we hear more soon. Listen and download (for free) via the bandcamp above.

Previous: Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break Presents: “Oscillations” Part 1 / Part 2

Peace, Love & BUG

Speeakz

Brave. That’s the first thing I thought upon hearing Akala’s new album DoubleThink. The second was – brilliant.

Now on his third album, Akala really has nothing to prove, but the fact is – he’s proving a lot here. He’s proving that not only is he one of the most articulate, intelligent and talented emcee’s, but that he’s also one of the most experimental and forward thinking. The concept and lyricism on this album is something to behold and the musicology behind it, captivates.

Inspired by three classic novels of dystopian fiction: George Orwell’s “1984″, Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s “We”, DoubleThink is as sonically pleasing as it is mentally stimulating.

It’s rare for a British rapper to delve and experiment so deeply into other genre’s as Akala has on DoubleThink. Heavy influences from Rock and Punk can be heard throughout. You’d be forgiven for assuming that “Psycho” is off a Prodigy album or that “Thick Skin” comes from rock group Korn. Akala commits fully. The experiments don’t end there though – Classical, Dub-Step and 80′s Hip Hop groove are also infused within this masterpiece.

But of course, it’s the words that can be found within Akala’s music that makes this album so significant and so important. From agitated, to angry; Hurt, to optimistic – Akala utilises every breathe by spitting insightful and meaningful vocable. On the spoken word track “I Don’t Need“, Akala explains to his girl that the way she is, is just fine – “I don’t need you to wear red lipstick, gloss or face dust, I like your face just fine as it is” / “I don’t need to see your cleavage or your thighs, I’m still getting over your eyes and smile”. On “Welcome To Dystopia” he confronts conformity – astutely dissecting the bondages of society and human nature. Questions about religion and faith are tackled on track 16 entitled “God“, where as “Find No Enemy” addresses the issue of self identity and race. Using words as though they are weapons Akala challenges a diverse array of topics and while many may presume an 18 track album to be too long (admittedly, I like 10 track albums), I found listening to DoubleThink remarkably engaging – he is brutally honest, abundantly clear and extremely passionate.

A brilliant concept, exploratory musical vision and eloquent lyricism makes DoubleThink one of the most engrossing long players of recent times. I truly believe this. Akala need be proud of what he has achieved here. Sidenote: I really hope a lot of young people get to hear and be inspired by this album.

DoubleThink is released May 3rd. The new single “XXL” featuring Bashy is out now via iTunes

Peace, Love & Akala

Speeakz

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/10992291]

Blu stopped by the RECroom not too long ago to drop this verse for the Dag Savage (Johaz & Exile) album. this song also features Fashawn & Exile on it… but you’ll have to wait for the album to drop to hear that goodness. I tried to be incognito with the vid recording as to not kill the vibe….cameras do that sometimes. – RECroom

Peace, Love & Blu

Speeak

Shouts to 2dbz

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.935851&w=425&h=350&fv=] 

Yesterday we posted the preview, now the full video drops. LeftBack is out now.

Peace, Love & Little Brother

Speeakz

Very sad news to report first thing in the morning, but DJ Premier has confirmed that rapper Guru passed away last night (Monday 19th April) after a long and brave battle with cancer – he was 43 years old. As you would imagine there are loads of things being said online about this  at the moment – I’m not about to report on any of that. We need respect Guru’s family and friends at this time. I recommend you head over to DJ Premier’s website if any.

Peace & Love

PinBoard Team

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fypz6xC1cTI&feature=player_embedded]

Hip Hop’s saviour sits down with HardKnock TV to discuss a range of things including Erykah Badu and her recent controversial video, he also promises a full album *we pray* and more…!

Peace, Love & Jay Electronica

Speeakz

N*E*R*D just announced on their official website that their new album Nothing will drop June 15th 2010.

I’m pretty excited to hear the new material, their last album was massive (I know some disagreed) – but do we know officially/concretely whether or not they’ll have that new girl member involved? Last I heard she was kicked out.

Peace, Love & N*E*R*D

Speeakz

P.s I put that picture together, so if you snag it – I’ll know lol

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBnWdTmJr4&feature=player_embedded]

Something about this interview I really like. Love the track they chose, love the style of it, love that it feels quite intimate. In 97 seconds Erykah talks about music being like therapy, what she likes to see in other artists and her influences.

New Amerykah, Part 2: Return of the Ankh is out now.

Peace, Love & Erykah Badu

Speeakz

All I can say is: it’s about bloody time!!!

If you’ve been with us from day one, you’ll know we’ve been supporting Buff1 since we first started PinBoard. His album There’s Only One has been brutally rinsed (still gets played!). We’ve wanted him over on these shores for the longest time (right Steph?) but until now, he kept missing London. Well, the time has come – on May 21st, Buff1 and DJ Rhettmatic (together Crown Royale) will be rocking Brixton’s Plan B. Just tried to check the venue’s site, but I think it’s down – I will update with ticket information ASAP.

This is great news, we’ll be there – will you be? If you haven’t heard There’s Only One yet, I beg you – do so! It’s a dope, dope, dope album!

Peace, Love & Buff1

Speeakz

Shouts to Zayns

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFti_CAdtFs&feature=player_embedded]

This is so dope! Marsha just put this video on her facebook group and I had to quickly post it up! Check a young(er) Marsha Ambrosius performing in an indoor gym in Brixton back in 1997!

…We all remember that Mary J Blige hair style and that 9o’s swag, right?! Looking and sounding fresh Miss Ambrosius!!!

Peace, Love & Marsha Ambrosius

Speeakz

Don’t know what this is (lol), but I kinda like it! I’ll be damned, Ciara is coming back right this time round.

Peace, Love & Ciara

Speeakz