Akala is well and truly back with a bang people! Today sees the release of his latest mixtape, "Knowledge Is Power Vol.1". It's everything and more that you would expect from one of the most honest and thought provoking lyricists around at the moment. Deep as ever, tracks like "Absolute Power", "A Message", "Insert Truth Here" and the title track showcase his incredible narrative skills and require several listens in order to really absorb everything Akala's trying to say.
This is more than definitely worth a listen so make sure you head to iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/knowledge-is-power-mixtape/id523452121 or if you want a physical copy, visit http://www.akalamusic.com/. For some reason, the iTunes version doesn't come with the 4 bonus tracks but when you receive your receipt, forward it to helen@mamstore.co.uk, you'll recieve a link to the the extra tracks. Additionally, however you purchase a copy, you'll also get a link for Volume 2 free of charge! Surely an added incentive to invest..?
Prepare yourself for a sore neck folks. The latest release from the BBP camp comes with surefire guarantee that you'll be nodding your head from start to finish. Steady & Efeks (aka Prose) have teamed up with West London wordsmith Crusada to form Kill The Noise; a collective that seemingly offer nothing but the realness.
Their eponymous debut EP is everything you would expect from the trio; clever, intricate wordplay combined with pure, raw, boom bap beats. I've been lucky enough to have had this for just over the week and it's rapidly become the perfect aid for kicking back on these surprisingly decent summer evenings!
It's a dope listen from the kick off, with Efeks and Crusada delivering nothing but verbal gems; highlighted perfectly on "Fire" and their ode to getting their well deserved props, "Respect Me". The Oliver Sudden assisted "Let's Get Deep" and the Kingpin collabo "The Harder I Rock" add further depth to the soundscape and more weight to Steady's heavy productions. If this isn't enough, the EP also offers up the complete EP in instrumental form; an added gift for all you aspiring MCs/ DJs/ obsessive collectors!
If you know your stuff, then by now you should be aware of the quality that BBP never fails to deliver and their latest venture is no exception. The piece de resistance however is that, if you choose, the "Kill The Noise EP" is available as a free download! Needless to say, head over to http://boombap.bandcamp.com/ now and indulge you ears. KTN, KIM. Kill The Noise, Keep It Moving...
I'm pretty sure 2012 is gonna be the year that Split Prophets get the recognition they deserve. We've already had Upfront's brilliant "Sound Of Evolution", DatKid's debut is due fairly shortly and now a remix album of the collectives' epic "Scribbled Thoughts". Available as a FREE download, it puts a completely different spin on proceedings and offers an alternative perspective to the group's sound. Have a listen and see what you think...
More freeness for you people! Doc Synners has blessed us with his new mixtape, "Still At Large". Mixed by DJ Woody, with features from Kyza, BVA, Leaf Dog, Enlish, Deeflux, Jabba The Kut to name a few; Syntax's lyrical skills are on fine form as ever. This guy's been around for ages and I rate him massively. Make sure you download this straight away. If you know the scene, you don't even need to listen to it first; Dr. Syntax never fails to deliver! Head to http://drsyntax.bandcamp.com/ and get involved...
Bang! Again! Verb T's now dropped his latest EP, "More Dynamite". Weighing in at 5 tracks, produced by JJ Malone, it's the type of fire that you would expect from one of the best lyricists around. It's dope from start to finish but my highlight is definitely the Sonnyjim and Joker Starr assisted title track. Draw your own conclusions. Listen to it below and head to http://verbt.bandcamp.com/ if you're wanting your own fix...
This has got me more than a little bit excited! Taken from the forthcoming "FTLT" (which can't come soon enough), "Cause & Effect" is yet another flawless track from Mr. K-Lash. Apparently, the proper video is in the pipeline so keep it locked for that. There's really little else to say. Crank up the volume and recognise realness...
For those that don't know, get to know! After following up a Warm Up Session that's amassed and incredible 1.5 million views with an epic F64, Ian Llewellyn-Rowe AKA Elro dropped his debut single "Bad News" on Mike Skinner's now resurrected "The Beats" label. His elaborate wordplay and humorous metaphors have won him a whole host of fans throughout the scene. Now he's dropping a mixtape free of charge for your listening pleasure. Featuring production from the likes of Toddla T and Preditah and guest spots from JME, Manga and Coco Marie, it's a cracking listen. A blend of his trademark jokes with a couple of pretty deep tracks, it's a perfect taster for what can be expected from Elro in the not too distant future. Listen to the project in it's entirety below and if you're feeling it, download it from - http://bit.ly/elromixtape
"Red Bull Beat Suite is a homage to the last 25 years of urban beats and electronic music, performed by the Australian Youth Orchestra, premier beat makers, composer Tamil Rogeon and US crooner, Aloe Blacc. Expect nothing less than a unique combination of strings, beats and contemporary soul music."
Time to take a little trip Down Under folks. I guess a little like the grime heads did with the Urban Classic Project a couple of years back, Red Bull have decided to organise a musical mash-up of epic proportions. Taking place amongst the grandeur of the Melbourne Recital Centre, the worlds of classical composition and digital beats collide to create what I'm guessing is set to be a unique visual and aural experience. Check the video below for some brief background info...
Given the fact it's set to happen tomorrow, I realise hopping on plane bound for Melbourne just isn't going to happen! Luckily, the whole event is going to be streamed live tomorrow for your viewing pleasure. Head over to http://www.redbull.com/beatsuite for whole heap of videos and previews for the event as well as links to where and when you can watch the drama unfold. Aditionally for the Twitter wielding, you can keep up to date by following @redbullAUS and the hashtag #beatsuite
Bang! New Verb T people! "More Dynamite" is taken from his upcoming EP of the same name, due to drop next Monday (the 14th). Featuring Sonnyjim & Joker Starr, the trio take turns to deliver some heavy verbals over JJ Malone's head-nodder. Make sure this time next week you head to http://verbt.bandcamp.com and get yourselves a copy!
I really should have posted about this a few weeks back but better late than never! Whatever you're doing on the 14th-16th September, you need to cancel those plans immediately as pretty much the entire UK scene are descending on Peterborough for what's set to be 3 massive days of pure, unadulterated heaven for Hip Hop heads! Don't Flop have their own stage for a 32 man tournament over the weekend; screenings of Hip Hop docs and films, a whole host of paraphernalia and a line-up that boasts the likes of (deep breath) : MYSTRO, PHI LIFE CYPHER, THE FOUR OWLS, BUGGSY' KYZA SMIRNOFF, MC MELL'O', RAMSON BADBONEZ,FLIPTRIX, VERB T, SCRIBLAH DANGOGH , LONDON ZOO, DIRTY DIKE, JAM BAXTER, LEAF DOG, BVA MC, REVEAL, SONNYJIM, CAXTON PRESS, IRON BRAYDZ, DR SYNTAX, SKUFF, M.A.B, ED SCISSORTONGUE, RONNIE BOSH, MR KEY, RUM COMMITEE, SPLIT PROPHETS... I could go on. There's a whole heap of stuff to add to the mix but its just so much easier if you head to http://www.boombapuk.com and read it all there. The second set of earlybird tickets go on sale tomorrow (May 5th) for a measly £45 (that does include entry and camping for the entire weekend!) so unless you're stupid in the face, GET INVOLVED!!!!
Just a quick heads up about Plan B's directorial debut. Out 6th June, "iLL Manors" is looking like another worthy addition to Mr Drew's rapidly expanding repertoire. Check the trailer and come to your own conclusions...
I'm pretty sure Supar Novar is one of the most underrated and hard working artists around. He seems to be putting out mixtapes and albums left, right and centre. The latest of which "Forever" (to me some of the best stuff he's dropped recently), is offered up for your listening pleasure free of charge. Produced solely by long time collaborator Show N Prove, it features some sick production and dynamic lyricism alongside guest spots from the likes of Dappy, Genesis Elijah, Stylah, Logic & Neon Hitch. This is well worth a download people so have a listen below and if you're feeling it, head to http://www.mediafire.com/?ea562n5d5f87n2f
