a load of emcees passed through Logan's show on the 7th to celebrate the PMoney mixtape release. there are 3videos worth courtesy of sbtv, but the highlight for me, is nottingham newcomer fangol's bars at the start of the above. multiple pull ups. until Skepta removes him from the mic.
please also look at Manga giggling throughout. need to make a .gif
My new favourite Wiley album - some of the best things he's done in a long time. . - 'Eyes Of The Lord', 'Out Of The Game', 'Zip It Up' and that Danny Weed production 'Hummer Activity'. 'Music I Like' is real real nice too. They are all on youtube. And have been for about six months.
But what is 'Olly' - I can't imagine any audience, or anyone with an ounce of self respect listening to this out of choice. Means I can't just run the album in its entirety. But still putting together a Wiley Greatest Hits would own my CD collection.
But a seriously tight album bar the blip, and one that is certainly worth 11£ -
Yet to check Skepta's but heard that its pretty weak - nothing surprising seeing as all I've heard from him in the last year is the same bars about dry ankles and Ed Hardy Party's. Funny the first time.
I didn't check our favourite street commentator'S release yet either. Bashy. Did get sent some seriously poor videos though.
Instrumental wise - Butterz deejays have got you covered - serious serious selection. including Low Deep - Get Set Instrumental. . woaaah. D/l the show + tracklisting @butterz
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The new Soul Motive 12" split between Rossi B Luca and El-B is also worthy of a mention. I went nuts over the Joker 'snake eater' track on the same label a while back, mainly because it brought back memories of the Low Deep instrumentals I used to run together. . and this is worthy of the same amount of praise. Both sides predictably bass heavy but more echoing through the club walls than shattering your Kenwood stereo. Check samples at Boomkat. or on the Soul Motive Myspace.
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The anticipated Cooly G 12" on Hyperdub also finally appeared this week. Boomkat. She also let me know that there are a couple of brand new bits on her myspace. . . & for any in London area. . . Kode 9, Cooly G, Brackles, Lil' Silva line up at the Producers House in early August. . Details.
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FaltyDL is a name that has become popular pretty quickly, 2 months or so ago no-one had truly heard of him. Now with a slew of releases on Ramp Recordings and Planet Mu - including a remix package (U'ziQ, boxcutter and Vibert) from heaven and an album out yesterday - people are talking about him like he's been around for years. 'To London' is the track!
And there are new bits on his myspace player - He isn't hanging about. .
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Funky wise. have been listening a lot to the Emvee 12" on the Wireblock label. 'Glitch Dub' and 'Nocturnal' - ones hard, the other not so. Boomkat. People are talking about future Wireblock releases sitting on the funky side too - finally spreading from London.
Set's wise - haven't really caught anything too new that has been consistently exciting like the Mak ten sets of April. . With funky in its infancy, there is still the chance that you will be left unsatisfied or bored if the selections aren't right.
And i want a lot of emcees to step away from the genre completely. Grime is your vehicle, and if you can't ride that then you should career change.
One set that hinted at greatness was by the Fantastic Four (DVA, Roska, D Malice and Ill Blu) - which I'm sure is actually 5, seeing as there are two members of Ill Blu. They collectively have an EP out too. Ill Blu's 'Time To Get Nasty' is the choice cut. Hear at HTFR. I'll upload the set again if anyone should need.
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My eyes are still stinging. So i'll call this roll call off. & go find the coffee -
but, finally. . .
Martin Clark (Blackdown) did a proper round up of what's happening in London urban music here.
&
Dan Hancox featured some of the Bristol talents (Joker, Guido, Gemmy etc) in an article for the Guardian.
Really love these, Frisco needs a bit of work but Skepta and JME are on top form. Never tire of hearing those two. . Go get Skepta's album if you haven't done so already. Boy Better Know.
First ALBUM from the Boy Better Know camp.. Out Today.
Review to follow sometime after a few more listens. However, so far sounding to be exactly what we've come to expect - as well as sticking to the grime. Look out for ' I Spy ', potentially huge. Can here the album on his myspace.
Pitchfork has (had) a nice interview with Skepta regarding his up coming "Greatest Hits" project, due to drop at the start of next week. Skepta @ Pitchfork.
Over at Stones Throw, Madlibs interview with this weeks Newsweek issue is available here. Truly unbelievable talent.
Brownswood held the "Sunset Sessions" at QEH London, with Portico Quartet, Elan Mehler and Marcina Arnold.. Getting brilliant reviews. . One year anniversary celebrations will take place at "The End" (London), with sets from Westbeech, Peterson, Moodymann among others.. Not to be missed, of course i'l keep you posted.. It's not until October time.
Two new Westbeech remixes have also appeared for digital download - Aaron Ross and Frost/Wagner. See them here
Lastly on the Brownswood front - crooner Jose James highly anticipated album "The Dreamer" is pencilled in for a January release.
BBC Electric Proms is upon us again and the lineup is shaping up pretty nicely.. Post on that later.
Easy to have missed Kano's, 'London Town'.. which came out yesterday. Certainly my pick at the moment, and yes that is including Kanye and 50. Honest, the guy reminds me of a young Jay-z..
Soundtrack to the morning... Jay's Library. Completely and utterly timeless.
Seeing as there aint too much exciting me from the States, i thought i'd bring you a little bit of UK's finest. Completely slept on at the moment by the majority, and while it's a bit patchy in quality at times, the rate of production means there are always some big tracks flying about. Heres some brand new, some classics, just to school you a little bit. Lets support as well.
MP3: Kano - Mr Me Too Freestyle One of the industries pioneers, along with Dizzee and the recently retired Wiley. Can't wait for the new album.
MP3: Wong - Gudthing (Ft. Thuy) Not a personal favourite of mine, although doing the rounds at the moment and loooks to be one of the bigger tracks of the year.
MP3: Roll Deep - Floating Thru Da Sky Commercially viable grime. Something Roll Deep seem to have mastered since the departure of Dizzee. 2nd album picks up where the 1st left us.
MP3: SkinnyMan - No Big Ting Not really grime, but brilliant nonetheless. Off the quality album "Council Estate Of Mind". ***
MP3: Sway - Month In The Summer For me, the hottest Britist Artist out there. While album flopped slightly.. talent can't be denied, and following visits to the states where he recorded tracks with Lupe Fiasco and 2 with Chamillionaire, mainstream success should eventually reach him. ***
Support The Artists. . .
Sway - Future collaborations with Pharrell, Akon, Madness and Small World lined up. New EP due on May 14th. Free Downloads available on his myspace. .
Grab Skinnymans Album " Council Estate of Mind" Here.
