To our raw, live international counterparts on the other side of the clock- one of London’s finest upcoming Brit-Hop revivalists K-Nite 13 has dropped his brand new LP over on Bandcamp featuring an all-star cast of the sharpest rhymers round ‘ere.
“My aim with The Drawing Board is to make an uncompromising hip hop record” tweeted Mr. 13 recently and like the back-to-basics sleeve above it reads as if he’s pretty much saying, ‘Look at my face, does it look like I’m effing with you?’.
From the anthem of a hook on ‘Salute’ to the thump n’ soar of Soul strings over snare plates with ‘Truest Game’, Nite has managed to stand by his declarations and bring along a small army of no-fraff-please-mate lyricists to ride his hardbody beatmaking.
Fret not gyal dem, though it may be an undiluted affair it’s not necessarily all vexations and hundred yard stares when the attentions shift on gorgeously chopped ‘Angel’ and the cheeky ‘Ello Darlin’, two of my personal favourites.
A couple less feature artist cuts in sacrifice for a couple more K-Nite solos would have done the trick as he too displays a fantastic dry wit spit on ‘Shut It Down’, but rest assured of his dropping a solo sophmore later this year.
Bob Marley’s birthday couple days ago so a well-timed drop from his offspring. “It’s cold outside…” sings a smitten Stephen, suggesting antidotes for the February chill.
Real laidback one for the late night skankers. Cotch next to your heaters and enjoy.
Melo-X continues his series of UK remixes, this time taking on MJ Cole & Wiley’s mammoth ‘From the Drop’. This was first played on Semtex’s show on Friday, Melo’s now passing it to the masses for us all to enjoy. He says to expect more UK excursions in the coming weeks.
As we celebrate the creation of the great Jay Dee, let us press pause on the beats that our ears love so dear and watch this just released documentary. Comprised of interviews, never before seen footage and photographs, “Still Shining” pays homage to one of our most important and beloved heroes.
“This is a piece designed for his fans and supporters who knew of his accomplishments before February 2006 and those who have grown to appreciate his genius. Here, we gain a greater insight and understanding about our musical son.”
Tokyo Dawn Records is without question one of my favourite music labels around. Their roster is full of interesting artists making some really creative and exciting music. Last night they sent me Amalia’s (their “first lady”) new album Art Slave, along side the promo video up top.
I’ve been listening to her 80′s / 90′s inspired sound since then and I must say, I like what I’m hearing. If you’re into your synth-throwbacks, this album is definitely one for your ears. Amalia shamelessly evokes Prince-like influences throughout, some Janet Jackson (by way of Control) in there too – please direct your ears to track number 5 (‘Luxurious’) below.
Amalia cities Chaka Khan, Sheila E, Eartha Kitt & Betty Davis as some of her biggest influences, that should give you an idea of what she’s bringing. It’s pretty cool stuff, and unlike many others who attempt this ‘sound’, it sounds authentic – a credit to Swedish funk producer Opolopo.
Peep the promo video up top and have a listen to this…
Art Slave is available now via Tokyo Dawn Records, buy it here.
Brand new visuals for Nas & Damian Marley’s latest single off their joint Distant Relatives album. Love this song, think the video is brilliant too. Reminds me of Kanye’s ‘Power’ video.
I can’t lie, I haven’t heard a single record off this mixtape despite seeing a few scattered all over the blogosphere. But I thought I’d give this a download to check out what Dawn Richards is offering up. We know her from Danity Kane, we now know her from Diddy-Dirty Money but we don’t know her as solo artist, so I thought I’d be interesting to check it out. She says the mixtape is a “compilation of emotions and feelings that you if you were to fall into my heard, this is what my would sould like”.
Congratulations are in order for our very own Jessie J who has scored her first ever UK #1 record with ‘Price Tag’! The Essex born singer, who’s debut album Who You Are was recently pushed forward due to high demand, beat of all the competition and headed straight for the top spot this week.
The singer’s debut single ‘Do It Like a Dude’, which you can see her performing acoustically, exclusive for our Rehearsal Rooms series, remains in the top 10 – weeks after it’s initial release.
Just spent 35 minutes going through an entire back catalogue of vintage Yancey on my hard drives trying to suss out which joint I would post in honour tonight. #DillaWeek
Tough decision as so many of these have been rinsed to high heaven, in Jay Dee (and Dilla-convert) circles this past half-a-decade since his departure there. Rarities are no longer rarities it appears and yet I’ve no criticism- large numbers of us are saturated in remembrance, unified like cults and beautifully brainwashed under the control of this man’s body of work. Face it, few necks fail to snap at his snares even upon first hearing them as few neck-hairs do fail to raise at his minor chord progressions. An untouchable sound that’s bred many obsessives.
Uplifting it’s been though to observe this hypnosis, this bow-down influence, still felt now especially when seeing countless people on Twitter/Facebook & other networks this week holding their binary code candles up worldwide. Five years on and he’s still very much here; arguably one of the greatest musical martyrs to pass during the internet era (MJ aside) who’s legacy has been kept alive by the digital multitude, from bloggers to laptop composers.
So, thank f*** for modern day broadband really and the kind soul on YouTube that’s uploaded this nice HQ video for the 1995 Jay Dee remix of ‘She Said’ by Leftcoast patriachs The Pharcyde. Perhaps also my favourite of his remixes, in a long list that would undeniably have to include his flip of Spacek’s ‘Eve’ and revision of Slum Village’s ‘Fall In Love’. With it’s filtered bass tones and refrigerated harmonics to swag out the smooth ass hook & cocksure verses, ‘She Said’ version 2.0 was a perfect reworking that in my opinion out-shined it’s original.
So, in this DSLR-flood age we’ve entered, equally sublime are the above 90′s, natural lit, no-budget visuals of four ill cats bonged out in (beloved) Amsterdam and one sexy window-peaking tease… complimenting this liquid Hip-Hop masterpiece that deserves to be cyber-inherited by the next generations of younger Yancey converts.
Live on brother. February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006.
Put your speakers up and your screwface on. This is dark, rugged and dirty and is not apologising for any of it. Spaced, tripped out lazer synths and quick time beats with gritty raw lyrics (when necessary) hold this debut EP down.
‘Used To Give A FK’ is something special, especially those futuristic whirrings…you hear them..yeah those! Definitely nominating that track as an anthem for all twenty somethings across the globe. For those that are not so aggressive, title track ‘If I Should Die’ has enough James Blake-esque vocal samples and repetitiveness that you will at least become fond of Unknown Shapes.
As for me, I am a fan. Download and get your face on. Trust me.
My bad, I have been keeping this 14 minute specialness to myself for a hot second. Sorry.
Well if you haven’t yet heard this, then get ready for a good dose of 70′s synth boogie, merged with some 80′s Hip Hop swagger cooked nicely until ready for 2011. This is Star Slinger in a nut-shell and… I do like.
Whilst listening, you come across sounds that conjure up images of the sunshine stained pavements of L.A (‘Like I Do’), to the Soul-ridden streets of Detroit (‘Do It Myself’). And you’d be forgiven for assuming the wizardry behind these compositions was a native to those shores, however – you’d be mistaken. In fact, these lush sounds were birthed from the mind of one Darren Williams of Nottinghmanshire. A true Brit at heart, he created this magic in the comfort of his house, in particular his bed – technology ey?!
Currently touring around the US of A and Canada, we might have to wait a minute for the next release, but will definitely keep you posted. Until then, you know what to do – Download.
After seeing these two alongside Foreign Exchange last month, you can see that talent rolls deep with talent. Sy Smith is amazing, but for me, Zo! alone is neeeeexxxxxttt. A great musician and his album Sunstorm still gets regular coverage on my iPod.
The pair are going to be performing, full sets with full bands at the Jazz Cafe on Sunday 6th March. There are still tickets priced at £19 in advance which I suggest you should cop as soon as. Essential listening for all.
Well, Dwele did mention to me when I interviewed him, he should be back on these shores in April and he didn’t lie.
Friday 1st April and Saturday 2nd April to be precise.
I saw him two, maybe three years ago at Jazz Cafe, UK songstress Tawiah opened on the brink of going on tour with Mr Mark Ronson and Dwele was truly amazing. He is one artist that is more than worth the 22.50 pound sterling you are parting with. You know you will see me there, so make sure you get your tickets now.
Extended playeration continues and this one’s been feelin’ a bit special.
First heard of soundbwoi scallywag Fantastic Mr. Fox when I was sent a curious little double-sider with fellow ‘hotly-tipped’ London producer Pariah’s dope flip of Erykah’s ‘On & On’ alongside Fox’s brilliant, twisted refix of Brandy’s ‘Angel In Disguise’ last year. Ethically speaking now, you’d think it was instant sacrilege the way these younglings are f**king with 90s Black music classics, primarily the vocal samples, but in fact it’s quite refreshing to see what they’ve (bunch of ‘em, Blake included) all managed to do with their Burial obsessions, lol (ooh nostalgic ‘Post-Dubsteppers’).
A whole new generation of these beatmakers like Fantastic Mr Fox are proof however that we really have crossed that 10-12 year borderline when everyone gets a bit teary into a mug of Stella pining for their childhood when some Aaliyah (or erm, Shanks and Bigfoot) comes on at the student union karaoke. Such is evident on ‘Evelyn’ which I can only describe in the region of a silly-sounding categorization like: Post-Dubstep-Future-Garage-UK-Funky-Rn’B-2-Step tings. Lazy but true, it’s got the borrowed hallmarks and wearing it’s pride on it’s sleeve is an utterly danceable joy with a bit more attitude than the standard bedroom moroseness of many Brit producers.
With some jumping, warmer basslines and supremely swagged out moments (the half-time breakdowns in ‘Over’ for example reminds of 90s Rn’B before launching into bouncy b-line UK Garage) wrapped in a thoroughly post-mod Mount Kimbie style taco, Fox is a more promising result of what the last decade’s done to the new school of skank.
