Bash Bros present Inglorious Bastards Mixtape Mixed by DJ OST

Props to Bash Bros. for this wicked treat I just recieved in the inbox...have been rocking all morning and the flat has been filled with dope boom bap beats and raw lyricism all mixed freshly by OSK...check the press release below and a quick look at the roster should get your mouse trigger finger itchin. Get ya download on and Happy New Year!

To commemorate a half a decade in the game the Bay Area duo BASH BROS. (Lefty & Piseas) team up with Switzerland representative DJ Osk to drop the Inglourious Basterds Mixtape. This piece celebrates the collabs with fellow indie superstars such as: Planet Asia, Chali 2na, Reef the lost cauze, & Big Pooh(Little Brother) to name a few. Inglourious Basterds: the Features spans throughout their 5 year catalog which represents 14 independent releases.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Soganic The Sum Up Free EP ft Solocypher

I'm proud to have worked this year with the prolific and hugely talented Scholarman this year, producing a track with him via the magic of the internet with a real positive message in 'Change thru the Rhyme'...I first heard the finished tune after he'd emailed it to me, standing on a balcony looking over Delhi in India...Biggie's 'I never the knew that hip hop would take it this far' line would have made a suitable soundtrack to the moment.

The track has made it onto the Soganic label's (Soulfully Organic goodness yo!) round up of 2009 EP and features along side some great tracks by excellent artists...

Soganic Music proudly present to you The Sum Up '09.

We gathered some of our favorite tracks out of our catalog from this year and compiled them into a free EP download for those who might have missed out when they were originally released.

This EP features Soganic artists ScholarMan, K-Mynez & Lagbara and special guests Jonesy, Kahli Abdu, SoloCypher, X3m & LabMatik. We also through a couple bonus tracks as well. Get it free right now, right here.

Tis the Season to be Raging!

Merry yuletide folks; its good to be celebrating the world domination of Coke a Cola safe in the knowledge that the great power of the internet has been used for the very worthy cause in which a little piece of Simon Cowells pride has been slightly dented. Plus some money went to charity and RATM are set to put on a concert in the UK to say thanks....not a bad victory in the fight against banality, cynical exploitation of morons and toilet brush hairdo's...now how about a UK hip hop tune for christmas number one 2010??

Mystro new ish

Thanks to a random run in with the Mighty Mys at a Chima party a while back (then wierdly at Carnival a few days later)I can attest that, as you may have imagined, Mystro is a proper good dude, mad love for hip hop and with an enthusiasm for doing it matched by few on the UK Scene. With a proper loyal global following Mys takes it a bit heavier than usual with great effect in this video. Props to Hip Hop Hype Dog for eyeing it. Word

Jester Jacobs 'Blap' New Video

As news reaches us that Tupac's classic joint 'Changes' has been selected by the Vatican's residential DJ to be pumped on the pontifs playlist (no shit, go google it!)I thought it would be good to point out that hip hop is not all nice, positive and happy. Things get real in the suburbs believe...just witness Jester Jacobs holding it down for the manner. Dont forgot to cop his wicked free LP too (reviewed earlier this year)

Reklews presents Red Tape Free Mixtape

Some days you just need your brain to be pounded with rediculously complicated, dark grimy lyrics over classic boom bap beats. No, don't start digging in your early 90's NY crates; The new Reklews presents Red Tape joint got that shit for you in buckets. Dark Star joins Antiheroes and over a beat that is just insane. (Disclaimer Vocalswords takes no responsibilities for spinal or neck injuries inflicted when rocking recommendatons)Liverpool's Bang On comes with some heat; I'd heard of this guy a while ago, think he had a CD on HHC which was pretty nice but this is stepped up a level into darkness, liking it!

Just Drink sees COTD fam linking cross continents with Aussie stalwart Brad Strutt, the syllables come slick and fast...if you drink as much as these guys recommend you may not be able to concentrate on this, but could probably stumble around a dance floor quite contendedly to it! Darkstar shines on his solo track Playtime is over...a rugged east coast sounding flow the emcee from Schenectady, New York has also got an LP in the pipeline so watch out for news on that.
Bevy talking sounded a bit too slow for my liking when I first heard it, but Hok Tu Down and Tony Broke sound pretty fiery over it, and some of the multisyllables drop work nicely after checkin a few times...'Oppertunity Relishin' and other nice couplets abound, and the Bill Hicks sketch at the end is always good to hear. Sonny Jim wreaks havoc on 'Nothing on me'...shit this kid gets better and better, good to see him getting the props he deserves on Sarah Love and all over; shouts to Eat Good fam. King Grubb and & Bill Shakes rip shop over a beat with a tasty fat bass vibe running althrough it on Cotton Mouth, whilst Teknical Developments rounds off the selection with a 101 in rhyming skills. Go get this now here

Brand New Shizzle KRS and Buckshot

Im getting Blogtastic at the moment! (Which basically means avoiding spam and hunting for dope content net heads - My shit be basic! Apparently this is mad exclusive...I wonder how quick I am on this shizzle!? Check Buck riding a futeristic bike on some Tron steez in this nice video featuring a back pack rap chick blasting into space with a jet pack...what more could you want!?


By the way don't forget to check the latest Friday Night Conspiracy Radio Show, dopeness ever and featuring an interview with Big Boi...go check the links to your right!

Diversity of Hip hop and RIP Derek B

First up RIP to Derek B, a pioneer in the UK rap scene who has sadly passed at the age of 44, a definite loss to the game Derek made history repping UK as the third rapper to grace stage of Top of the Pops! I've got a copy of his classic 'Bad Young Brother' in the crates and hopefully will spin it if I manage to get the next VS podcast on the go.

Recently I have been enjoying a variety of new ish recently, all of which shows the diversity of the hip hop artform. Videos below but first be sure to check the my man Vice's most recent Basement Sessions Podcast, featuring a great article on the Brick City Boutique (wicked hip hop market/night) and also a little interview with yours truely. http://basementsessions.podomatic.com Go check it, some great tunes also! Anyways....

Genesis Elijah has long been bubbling around the scene, I've been loving his bars for time... his rugged and gritty flow belies a sense of justice and struggle for equality that underpins the body of his work. Enjoy this new video

Next up, King Grubb has stepped it up a notch with the first big budget video from the Blah Records camp...check King Grubb - Ritalin Adventures, produced by Lee Scott
Taken from C.O.T.D - Brick Pelican (The Greatest Mystery of All)
Bootleg style... Shot on location in Oswaldtwistle...

Last but by no means least is the big homie Scholarman's new video, another ill slice of boombap...the video is a of nice parody/story intriguing type, apparently the first one of a 2 part set so stay tuned folks!

Krate Krusaders - Free Download

If top notch production, gritty heart felt lyrics and mad concepts is your thing get your media players tuned into the Krate Krusadas 'Volume 1' selection, a great showcase of their considerable talents proving a sound board for some of the cream of UK talent.

Nowadays feat Ahmas reflects on the dismal situations of many of the UKs youth, viewing situations as he's "been there 24/7 like kids in care." A beautiful beat with slick piano and subtle background vocals complement the emcee for a very enjoyable tune despite the raw, bleak verses.

Pscience ft Clarity, Farma G and Cappo features a great academic intro that puts us in the mindframe for the oncoming verbal assault. All 3 emcees smash the track but when Cappo says his flow is developed in a hyperbolic time chamber in a pitch black cell, you can't help but believe him. On 'Life's a grind' Fenetik informs us he stays high like a giraffs sternum, and the hip hop loving metaphores keep coming over a nice floppy piano loop interspersed with some wicked cuts.

Concept tunes don't always float my boat but Saga Sphinks's dive into insanity is well worth analysis...taking pictures of tourists, I'm a figment of my own imagination, my mind's got a mind of it's own...give you a taste of the nicely documented of the mania over a simple piano driven track reminiscent of classic Marly Marl.

The whole set is packed with gems that need to be chewed on and digested, so I won't go on, form your own opinions although gotta particularly big up the monumentally ironic greatness of 'Respect your Elders'with Remus and of course The Krusaders themselves truly show their mettle with a wicked wicked MPC set. Check it and enjoy.

Also check www.tkkhiphop.blogspot.com for the Krate Krusader's blog, including info on Akil the emcees world tour dates that they are managing...big tings I can testify to the show in Ipswich was heeaaavvyy!

Whole Heap Of Madness

First up - Raekwon oh gosh welcome back sir! Just picked up the Cuban Links 2 jid-oint whilst on an ill-advised drunken market trip and yeah it was worth it, Wu Banger in full effect, go check it!
London Town has been buzzing with hip hop lately, check the pics for some of the latest happenings, including a wicked hip hop kareoke night with an incredible impression of Tim Dog doing Fcuk Compton...also Chima's album preview party was heavy as hell, where I ran into the ever hardworking Mystro and also Skandal who played me some unreleased bars on an Ipod; the kid is coming hard! Props to all the crew partying hard for Juice Aleem's party!

Not only London moving, also good ol' I.P. Town been reppin with the man Truth and the Rapsploitation crew holding strong with a sell out heavy Akil (of J5) show. Hip Hop feels to be in a good place at the moment, I got a review of Krate Krusaders dope album coming soon. Not many dope videos in the inbox lately so holla if you know of some dopeness!

Hip Hop Kemp 2009!

Hip Hop Kemp! Hip Hop Kemp! Was the battle cry to be heard until 4,5,6 in the morning accross an ex military base in the remote centre of the Czech Republic. Hundreds of different languages, nationalities, styles and skills were repped to the fullest in this insane global hip hop gathering. I love hip hop but I think I met people out there who properly LOVED hip hop. It was dope as hell and I gotta big up my wingman Conweezy for rocking through it with me (plus the lovely London girls we were camping with...holla!)

So many good artists I cant really begin to do a review of it all;p just some honourable mentions to those who tore the place down rediculously; Reks (We crowd surfed the dude), Reef the Lost Cause, Termanology, Devin the Dude (insane) Camp Lo (beyond immense)and J-Live who stepped the plate up with an ill set of live spitting plus DJ'in similtaneously. The whole event was cool, the local town has some marvelous arcitecture...there is even a lake into which Jimmy the most hip hop Scot ran in fully clothed and ruined his digital camera (It was 1o in the morning and we had been up drinking since 7 after 2 hours kip!) Anyway enjoy the photos, holla if you're in any anf big up to Fallacy who also ripped the place up and kindly posed for photos with us! (Respect to Black Twang also, I'm pissed off cos he was the only artist I missed like a dumbass)

Michael Franti - Don't Give Up On Me

As the front man for The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy I always had a lot of time for Michael Franti as an uber concious lyricist, but his more melodic efforts I think suit him well. This was a nice accompanyment to the trailer to the new Micheal Moore film "Capitalism : A Love Story" that you can check here. A super blog post is coming soon on Hip Hop Kemp so make sure you check that! Sorry bout a lack of posts lately; have been overwhelmed by Summer in London and getting a job as a Bibliotherapist! Go google it! :)

Poaching as Usual

I'm sure Certified Banger are going to start yelling 'Get Off Moi Laaaand' if I keep robbing all the stuff posted there, but stuff it I'm a raven and CB keeps throwing up gems. As such check these two videos showcasing the ends of the hip hop spectrum represented in the UK...not as different as they might first appear, I reckon they demonstrate how our scene is embracing all the elements of reality, fun, lyricism and self motivation that hip hop was based in. Enjoy.

I wish this happened on my tube journeys!

Props to Oh Word! for reminding me of this slice of fun!

Dr Dre Detox Ludacris OG's Theme

Although this blog is generally on a real liberal/positive hip hop steez I can never really get away from the fact that I got into this ish through the gangsta shizzle of Snoop, Eazy E and the whole NWA movement...I mean who really didn't? So in light of that fact I get hyped over any info about Detox (which after reading a Dre bio in 2006 that was still speculating over release dates I had consigned to the dream bin) so hearing this Ludacris tune apparently chalked to be for Dre I was excited. Even though its leaked (dont blame me, this shit is public domain!) I reckon Dre would still sound dope as hell even though Luda kills it. The fact Dre didn't write it is a moot point; everyone knows Ice Cube wrote all the dope verses for NWA so why continue the debate? Either do your history or just enjoy suckahs!

New Dopeness! Chima and Certified Banger

Mad props to Aidan from the ever ready heavy Certified Banger blog coming back with yet another rediculous free compilation of quality tunes from the UK shores. Under the Rader Volume 4 is available for free download as usual, and this one is in my opinion the freshest and most consistant yet. Having only listened through a couple of times, the whole project struck me with the high quality high temp beats that proved a wicked accompanment to a high octane workout. The lyricism was well above UK par and really showcased how UK emcees are embracing their own identities and putting in verses of a calbre worthy of international recognition. The fact that most of them are still 'Under the Rader' is fairly rediculous but proves how needed this sort of compilation is. There are enough quality bars in this release to literally bury the mainstram 'hip hop/grime/pop/autotune' garbage currently being bandied about by mainstream outlets. Go cop it now, its free so no excuses, and then go support the artists involved.

In other news every mothers favourite rapping Doctor Mr Chima Anya is back on the scene with an exceptionally well produced and flavoursome tune alongside big sax dog Soweto Kinch. Get with the movement folks!

New Scholarman

Much love to the big homie Scholarman hooking up once again with the ill K-Mynez for a dope celebration of hip hop music on the streets of Maryland. Loving the old folks getting down with the love vibe haha.

Black Superman Music

Props to Str8 Business for dropping this tune on me; its a dope diatribe on the industry clowns insisting on getting paid before putting music on their shows/blogs/magazines or whatever. The fact that this dude is nice definitely makes the point clear. Enjoy, and go check more from Str8 Business (don't be put off by the rediculous cash flashing haha!)


Got to shout out my man Pev from Comabeat for the hook up on the streaming MP3s...expect lots more to come!

Rapscallions Society

Props to Kala Phool for the heads up on this event, looks quality!
Think the most creative modern day social club with an old school friendly vibe!

The Rapscallions Society Monthly Hip-Hop music and market event. A day for designers, Graffiti artists and illustrators to network amongst themselves and present and sell their work to the public.

Starting at 1pm at Cargo in Shoreditch (East London). Market stalls will operate both within the venue and in the beautiful outside yard. The vendors will be creative with their own set up; what reflects them and their brand, vendors will include T- shirt designers, custom graffiti sneaker artist, a barber, nail technician and a rep stall for any DJs, MCs / Artists who would like to come down and sell / promote CDs / Mixtapes.

Patrons will be able to shop around, eat from the bbq and drink from the bar while listening to DJs on rotation and our resident live band. There will be live art shows from graffiti artists and illustrators and every month an artist will produce a canvas to be a part of an exhibition at the end of the year, with the work being donated to children’s hospitals and hospices or auctioned to raise money for a children’s charity of the artist’s choice.

At 7pm the live show commences and finishes at 12am. The Rapscallions Society will also host album / mixtape launch parties and will give the opportunity for up and coming artists to perform on the same stage and billing as UK Hip-Hop legends and each month will include a showcase from an artist between the age of 14- 21.

For more info email rapscallionsociety@gmail.com. Web: http://www.myspace.com/rapscallionsociety.

Field View Festival 2009

This looks to be the perfect vibe event of the summer, if you can make the journey I'm sure this is going to be worth the rediculous £12.50 ticket price! Having worked with the irrepressible Oz many times before and have witnessed the awsome presence of Old School Tie and Lord High Owl, the eclectic line up will definitely bring something special to the summer. Check the Field View Website for more details, but just to let you know their will be a cheeky cameo from yours truly Solocypher alongside the wickedness of the Dial-A-Rave crew.

New Rakim - Holy Are You

The R, God emcee, one of the most influential emcees to ever bless the mic returns to us with this powerhouse of a track taken from his long awaited forth coming album. Rakim comes uber spiritual and metaphysical on this, just sit back, close your eyes and let Ra take you on a powerfull journey. Great to hear this sort of stuff still being made as I just returned to the UK and have been thoroughly pissed off by the state of lyricism round here, fair enough there's a lot of kids having fun making some reasonably positive party tunes but damn, no body can even come close to rhyming like this.

Queens English - Full Limit

Check this fresh tune "Full Limit" from extremely affable bunch of hip hop heads produced by Embee from Looptroop available for your ears completely free here. These guys are a tight crew doing their own very British, very polite thing, (a penchant for dressage!?) and deliver tunes that might get your gran busting out a Kangol. They are up for a Peoples Choice award, its worth checking out their page here and give em a vote if youre so inclined. Its good to see that these guys were part of the following event put on by Cowboy Tactics, a grassroots night promoting peace and debating social issues, check I.Ps own Pikey Esquire on the beatbox.

Cowboy Tactics: 101 - Night 1! from COWBOY TACTICS: 101 on Vimeo.

D Stroy and Q Unique with Rocksteady Good

Good to hear these fellas again, the first ever live hip hop show I saw was the Arsonists at Traders Nightclub in Ipswich around 2000, amazing show and huge talent. Track down the As the World Burns album to appreciate this classic crew.

New Phi Life Cipher plus Quality bizarre battle

Lutons legendary status crew PLC smash it with high haters...

And a bizarre comedy battle shows how love can somehow conquer all!

Gangsta Rap Made me do it

Hanging out in Mexico is definitely an experience to be enjoyed, and along the way along with learning about indigenous cultures, customs and architecture, have also picked up some more contemporary interesting works. Among these have been excellent recent Ice Cube album that manages to channel the venomous anger of a younger O´Shay Jackson into a darkly intelligent questioning of commonly accepted rules of gangsta hood life. Ice Cube holds weight in hip hop history second to none through the development of so called Gangsta Rap embodied in seminal group NWA, home also to a young Dr. Dre. The political element of O´Shays lyrics were often overlooked amid media hyperbole and interest from FBI elements.

This album lands a heavy slap in the face to those accusing Gangsta Rap of various crimes, retorting with
"I do Gangsta Rap
They want to blame the world problems on Gangsta Rap
It's our fault;
Coz motherfuckers are dieing in Iraq
It's our fault;
Coz motherfuckers is starving in Africa
It's Gangsta Raps fault;
That people are poor
Can't get enough to fucking eat or live their life
(That's bullshit)
That's rap musics fault.
It's rap musics fault;
we got all these god damn laws, and restrictions and shit we can't do
(That's bullshit)
They blame it all on us
I'm blamin' them motherfuckers for Gangsta Rap
Because if they didn't create these kind of conditions
I wouldn't have shit to rap about
You know what I mean!

Nuff said, go check for yourself!

What the hell is a Brick Pelican?

Having a hideous Mezca hangover in a strange Mexican hostel seems the appropriate time to get around to reviewing this little gem. Its been playing randomly on my MP3 for a while now, but this album is well worth a good sit down and listen as its bloody good. Those familiar with COTD fam (Macarbe Brothers are Lee Scott and Monster Under the Bed) will already be prepared, but if not you need to make sure you leave any sense of morality at the door as concepts, language and imagry are course to say the least. Having said that the skill evidenced on the mic and the board seem to fully justify everything.

A wickedly bizarre Muppets sampling intro just about gets you ready for the roulette wheel of fortune, a gamblers tale of woe laced with a great Biggie sample intertwined with our heroes blaggin betting tips from cretinous drunks. Critical Mass Hysteria moves into more authentic dope hip hop masterly treading the line between boom bap space cadet rap and genuine homegrown UK slice of niceness from the dirty drug addled brain side of life. Moron Tick had me grinning at the lesson in proper pronounciation and the hook with "f##k superman and batmans a b!tch" is quality. This is the Run DMC adidas endorsement equivelent. On crack. Phoneys Step Off brings more braggadocious goodness, dark and angry but still good stuff.

Bizzy Bodies bemoans cops wanting to shift me for a half spliff, laced up shoe size bigger than his IQ size...this track gives no benefit of doubt but then tricking plod into getting blazed with the lads and them filming it does make them seem a bit rediculous (in the world of the Brick Pelican anyways) Some Cold Shit comes heavy with claims to being raw come with boasts of drinking Capri Sun without a straw...now thats real! Loads of quality lines on a nicely downtempo but wickedly addictive beat, and the album has great production throughout. Great Grand is a nice concept track following the life of grizzly OAPs tying bandanas to respirators, pimping grannies, throwing bombs on bowling greens and loads more baddass gangsta ish. The finale Men who stare at Goats has a wicked piano laced track you can nod to all day, abuse the booze and refuse to use intelligence sets it off and somehow feels like a confessional even through standard brutality of lathargic, when I make your barnet part from your neck...everyones offended but dont give a f##k. Now this is the sort of stuff that needs a rewind. Go get the damn thing here. Anyone who knows what a Brick Pelican is please let me know!

Eminem back and rediculously heavy

Hey kids posting from Fiji after 5 days away from the internet which did me a lot of good but hey, gotta get back on it! Just heard this on 1xtra...I hadn't been fussed about this Relapse album after his dodgy recent work but goddamn this tune is absolutely bananas. I still haven't listened to it the whole way through, too many rewinds!

New Wu Tang ft Havoc

Ghostface, RZA and Havoc rip up this beat in classic Wu style with supreme mathematics references and all, this one's a grower. In anticipation of the New Wu album (or compilation) out at the end of the month. Wu Tang

Bambu 'Quit' Video

There are quite a lot of tunes that deal with 'fakers' (wack rappers doing all the fake gun talk standard stuff) but this one I thought dropped a particularly heavy critique, taken from the 'Exact Change' album. Check one two.

Bambu - "Quit" Produced by iLLMind from LightWork Media on Vimeo.

Mudmowth tearing down beats

Big shout out to Welsh stalwarts Associated Minds for consistantly coming with rediculously complex flows, punchlines and imagery giving every day life a wickedly distorted spin. Watch out for Mudmowth & Metabeats ' Sledgehammer Kisses' coming soon. While I remember, go and buy Metabeats Metaphysics as it's heavy, and if your skint you can hear Ralph Rip Shit tearing up beats along side Dubbledge on the stupidly heavy Celtic Underground Session 3 for free. Also check the 'Holmes - Hip hoperation' track, well heavy have tried to track down the dude but can't find him, any ideas!?

Truth 'Procrastinat(k)ing' Free EP

Get the Truth now For Free Right Here The 'Procrastinat(k)ing is probably one of the hardest EP titles to spell but well worth it. A sparkling Roc-a-Fella worthy intro music allows Truth to introduce the listener to his skills in no uncertain terms that makes you pin your ears back ready for some quality. Flipping up flows with panache and delivering the sort of punchlines that you only get halfway into the next bar, this is straight up quality hip hop. 'Numbers' extends abilities with the best numerical track since 10 Crack commandments. 'Officer' is an unusually well balanced critique of tunnel visioned 5 oh, cleverly analysing the link with anti terror legislation and draconian enforcement, seargeants should pay attention to this track unless they want to be mistaken for 'cuntsables'. Heavyweight rhymers Sonnyjim, Conflix, Grimlok and Kosyne help out with more standardly dope bars over all round great production from a variety of beatmakers to round out the E.P, however the real gem for me was 'Take Time' produced incredibly by Sivey. This is well worth a good few listens to really get into the life of times of the young Reginald. Great artwork to from Kimbo!

Ghostface and what makes a great emcee?

I Was privileged to catch Ghostface Killah live in Auckland, New Zealand the other night and found out how unfit I am after a load of jumping; along with my girlfriend throwing up W's. It was a great show with a lot of love shown from both views of the stage. At one point it made me think as Ghost stated his confusion within rap at the ridiculous proliferation of substance less music from rappers swamping the market with garbage pop rap. Listening to the classic verses and tracks Ghost smashed through in a great show, and his explanation of how a story rhyme might be constructed intricately over a matter of weeks, made me wonder about the exact composition of artists who truly excel in the field of hip hop. Here is my plea for you, if you love hip hop, to help go someway towards answering this question.

What makes a great emcee?

Rappers, emcees and hip hop artists are constantly being judged, analyzed, scandalized, derided, despised and idolized respectively depending on who you speak to. So what makes 'good' hip hop music? For many the negative aspects of hip hop are a major talking point. Why are hip hop lyrics often overwhelmingly violent, misogynist and nihilistic; is this having such a negative impact on society as some claim, or is it, as is often stated in rebuttal, a reflection of a harsh street life and environment that is apparently created around a group or individual by forces out of their control. Either way, does your opinion over such matters then get taken into consideration of the artistic skill of narratives by artists such as Mobb Deep. How does the music and beats affect how a rapper is rated what about the arrangement of hooks, bars, singing, scratches? How do live instruments, a DJ, beat boxers etc influence how heavy an emcee is, live or recorded. And from other artistic perspectives, what sort of categories could be made for the skills involved in rapping and does the 'image' of the particular emcee affect how relevant or artistic the lyrics are? Does the ultra complexity and advanced subject matter of Canibus make him a more intelligent rapper than Rakim? How does KRS One match up to Cannibul Ox, or Roots Manuva to Lil Wayne, Bahamdia to Fiddy Cent, Immortal Technique to Jay Z, Aesop Rock to Scarface, Biggie to Killah Priest or Big L to Eminem. Is Location, Political, Gender, Race or Religion specific rap or sub genres such as 'geek core' rap more or less important when talk of 'keeping it real or true to yourself' in light of many stereotype fulfilling fabricated characters? The debate could go on infedinitely. Hopefully it will, please join the debate add your comments here or on the Vocalswords discussion boards. Cheers!

Tupac Cake

Mummy can I have a cake like this for my birthday!?

'Load' Heavy Artwork Display

Checking some of these images looks defo worth a peek if you're in the Big Smoke, this Monday 22nd "once in a lifetime opportunity to see the amazing artwork commissioned as a permanent feature" at the prestigious venue of none other than the Royal Albert Hall. Midday till 9pm.

Eat Good Records

It's about bloody time I stuck a post up about these fellas, reppin' Brum/West Mids I had the privilege of sharing a few stages and ciphers with these boys and its heavy to see them smacking the shit out of lyricists and beatmakers all over the shop. Check the cypher for a little taste (Taharka smacks it) then jump into the stupidly big online world of Eat Good Records.

Don't Flop Battles = Stupid funny

DISCLAIMER! The following video contains some pretty brutal swearing, imagery etc even by rap standards so please don't watch if easily offended (that means you Dad! :) Having said that, had to post it up as some great lines. Taken from a facebook battle group you can check more from here. In my opinion a pretty tight battle especially at the start...always tough as time goes passes to keep stuff fresh...see what you reckon, was it a unanimous win?

New Zealand Hip Hop - Scribe

Walked into 'Real Groovy' records here in Aukland, NZ and was stupidly impressed with the amount of proper hip hop they had stocked, putting UK record shops to shine as they stocked Killa Kella, Phi Life Cypher, Black Grape, Pyrelli, Dirty Diggers and loads more. Even more impressive was the backing of homegrown talent. I picked up a stack and will take some time before I can review 'em all but in the meantime check the vibe of Scribe; from the looks of the video he's got it locked with the kids, good to see!

O.C and Wu Tang

Kicking back in New Zealand is definitely the way forward. They love their hip hop judging from conversations I've had in "Groovy Tunes" record shop whilst searching for two hours through a rediculously cheap and well stocked sale section. Picked a up a good selection of Aotearao hip hop but need to find a CD player before listening to it. In the meanwhile this O.C. tune has been on constant rotation; the Wu Tang just because I'd forgotton how wicked they are

Terra Slim From the City EP

My inbox has been a bit empty of late but just got sent this scorcher from the Beeswax Entertainment outfit and is well worth a peep. If grime aint usually your thing don't let it put you off (unfortunately the missus couldn't be persuaded when I was blasting it on the highway) because the lyrics and style of Terra are quality and shows how progressive the too often dismissed grime scene can be. A street savvy author means this short EP goes a long way to presenting a graft fuelled view of urban UK from low level hustling, beefs with chiefs and police over various issues. Also took me back to jungle filled days with great use of the 'Police and Helicopter' sample.

Editors 'The End has a Start'

Chilling in Airlie Beach I was well chuffed to see this video for the first time being played in a bar. The blonde homie Wilkinz put me onto the tune way back and I pissed him off by having it on repeat all the time. Hopefully the band will become huge megastars...local props too because the drummer apparently went to my school. Not much hip hop coming my way at the moment but I'm sure even the head nodders can't front on this, catch it here and have a browse around the old website, some good stuff and nice to see Oxfam as a prominent partner.

Money Doesn't Own Thought

Rap music has a great tradition of innovative names; KRS One and Public Enemy coming straight to mind... M-Dot joins this league as the acronym stood out from the other artists in the mix tape melee. The mans lyrics live up to the type you might expect from the name but bang hard with great production, particularly the 'Wrote a letter' track. This mixtape is available for free download so you know the deal get involved right here.

Diversity bring breakin back

Nice to see Britain's got talent repping for a bit of a hip hop with the win of Diversity on the show. I normally have a bit of cynicism towards these sort of shows, but BGT has sparked my interest as it's not just a kareoke/wannabee fest and loads more random shit goes on (loving the dancing cleaners last year)! I'm sure there is still a load of devious manipulation going on behind the scenes a la Ben Elton's Chart Throb satire, but good old Byker Grove memories won't let me believe it! PJ getting shot in the eyes by paintballs was finally worth it. Greedy ITV won't let me embed the blighter but you can check it out hereOr if you would prefer, a rediculously cringe inducing flashback to the Grove with the lovable Geordie duo! Curtains anyone?!

Little Brother Live @ Jazz Cafe

Heads up for you chilled backpackers loving that Lil Bro smooth vibes...
Little Brother Live
Warm up set by Spin Doctor
WED 1st July @ JAZZ CAFÉ
5 Parkway, Camden, London, NW1 7PG
£15.oo In advance (exclusively from this link)
http://www.seetickets.com/see_multi/?c=395952&d=2

New GTA Video and Higher Ground Review

Chima and Ineff breaking it down smooth in this classic hip hop party video! Loving the vibes especially the sunglasses indoors look...shit I aint rocked that since primary school discos haha! .
Quality work fellas, and while you check this make sure you get Chima's Higher Ground Mixtape here I finally found a Vietnamese cyber lab that let me check it and it bangs, beats by Samiam and Hudson Mohawk come slamming out of nowhere as Chima brings his trademark swagger, humour and slanted view on life. Laugh out loud moments come thick and fast along with the satisfaction of hearing an already dope emcee having upped his game lyrically whilst gaining a very contemporary edge. Standouts for me where the classic remakes of Paid in Full (Laid 'em all...you can guess the theme) and Ill Street Blues, great homages to some classics. You've gotta love the catchy yet venom fuelled cut of "Your the biggest Cnt" where Chima lays into a foe who has obviously done a fair amount of shafting in the recent past. Lots more hotness as well but my hands down favourite has got to be Drunken Rant where C gets deep into his mentle life as a doctor and the expectations society has; a brutally honest track that shows the maturity lurking under the foul mouth of this dude

New Supergroup plus new Canibus and Termanology

Grapevine has it that the latest supergroup working on an album is 'Random Axe' made up of Sean Price, Guilty Simpson and Black Milk. Sounds like it will be heavy although I'm yet to subscribe to the hype surrounding Guilty Simpson...Milk got beats for days though! Either way its a good excuse to post up this dope joint from Sean featuring a tongue twisting chorus from his partner in rhyme Roc. Heltah Skeltah been ripping mics for years, I'm always suprised they didn't make it bigger...then again not too many people like it this raw!

Whilst kickin' it on youtube I also uncovered this gem by (relatively) new spitsmith Termanology trading bars with one of my all time greats, Canibus...enjoy!

Respect ya elders

First up, get listening to the latest Cro show here cause just the first jam, Juice Aleem with Moorish Delta's Cipher and Blackitude "Straight Outta BC" bumps rediculous, big up Brum city for definite...swiftly followed by Jehst's feeding time at the zoo...nice!

As to the title topic, just found this rebuff aimed at loose tongued Joe Budden from the legendary Melle Mell...check the end, some funny shit!

Mr CRF chops it up for ya!

Gotta shout out my man Mr CRF who's just told me about his two most recent shows available for all those fiendin' for that head nod ish! Check the tracklisting, I'm sure you won't be able to resist! If this tickles your fancy make sure you check DJ Cro's show also (link on the Vocalsloggers list, right)

Critical Beatdown Hiphop Show 8 (2009)
Buckshot & Kardinal OIfficial ---- Got Cha Open 09
Dana Dane & Chubb Rock --- The summery
Brand Nubian --- Bran Nu Bein
K-Solo --- Name You Can Trust
Smith & Wesson --- Bucktown Baby
RekordKings & Guilty Simpson --- Hiphop Throwback
Mystro --- I Got This
Urban Legends --- Just Raw Skillz
Pro P & Mr CRF ---- CRF
Cee Rock The Fury ---- Dialect Rediculous
Asher Roth & Slick Rick --- You
Chubb Rock --- Treat Em Right
King Sun --- King Sun With The Sun
Public Enemy --- Your Gonna Get Yours
Ultramagnetic Mcs --- When I Burn
Paris --- Side Effects
Classified,Shad K,DL Incognito,Buck 65 --- Loonie
McM & C-Lone --- Rhymes Equal Actual Life
Nine --- Yes
Pro P & Andidote --- Best In The Biz
Rhymezwell,Ad-1,Urban Legends,Cashino.Mr CRf,Original One & Wordsmith--- Jakin 4 Beats

Critical Beatdown MASH-UP Show 2

More nicêness ưith a smoother flavour, includes the new Chubb Rock & Wordsmith Another Party Joint!

Jay Rock The Depression

"People used to own people, this the new era, now people tryna clone people...damn!" I'm glad at least the Source "Hip hop Quotable" column is still worth checking.

Kasha - Hustling

A bit of fresh UK sound for your ears, Kasha addresses the hustling theme with a real melodic guitar led track contemplating the struggles of making a life out of music rather than heading down a more nafarious route. The musicality of this release oozes quality and heralds a strong upcoming talent. Get 'Hustling' here, taken from his new album The Oracle.

Free Ice Cream presents Allmost Fameless

Featuring the star of my recent collaboration Scholarman, this free compilation from Kats and Domer with a slew of quality guests and producers, is available from the quality dudes Free Ice Creama discerning New York based promotions/party company...go get it!

Cambodian B Boys, K'Naan, Nas

After my dissapointment in Thailand its pretty cool to see some not bad throw ups on the wall of a local night club here in Siam Riep...also I have heard some definite rap type music blasting out of a few speakers round here. The vocab even seems to have influenced an author to write the worrying sounding "Pol Pot - Brother Number 1"

In international news its so encouraging to here that DMX will be setting up a Christian ministry after his release from prison...what a role model :)More encouraging musically is news (Allhiphop.com) that Nas is going to hook up with Pete Rock once again to rekindle some of the magic that resulted in classic Illmatic recordings. Whet your appetite for this by reminiscing with this.

On the home news front it's great to see our scandolous ass politician's expenses bullshit posted all over the globe, makes me proud to be British! More positive news is that the Love Music Hate Racism Festival looks cool; I can't make it but if you have 30th May free get down to Stoke on Trent for the event.Eddie Izzard is now confirmed to compere a line up of Reverand & the Makers - N-Dubz - Kano - The New Beautiful South - Get Cape Wear Cape Fly - Jerry Dammers - DJ Ironik - VV Brown - Helsinki (Drew McConnell Indie Supergroup) - The Beat - Beverly Knight - Bashy - Roll Deep - Kieron Leonard...apparantly tickets are selling fast get yours now at www.scfcdirect.com, www.seetickets.com or www.gigantic.com. New dude on my hip hop Radar K'Naan is appearing at Cargo on the 26th May so get involved if you feeling the dude, a definitive positive from an authentic African perspective.

Jadakiss goodness

Reading the Source in Singapore airport as the only available means to get connected I was annoyed to find half the magazine filled with non-hip hop stuff; fair enough in terms of the general culture but if I buy a music magazine I want at least 75% dedicated to bloody music! However, an interview with an emcee I have respected since my days of loving bullshit ignant gangsta rap and still respect today got me checking the vids and stumbled accross this braggadocious niceness...I will post the more anthemic and inspirational "Why" soon (word to Conwizzle) but for now just enjoy the swagger.

Canibus Interview on Conspiracy

Canibus emerges from an apparant 3 year interview silence for a lengthy discussion covering beef, working towards a positive hip hop community, the role of writers and other random issues...it does get a bit sprawling at some points but all Canibus fans will enjoy at least a cinfused glimpse into the mic legend. Check the interview here; big up Menace from Conspiracy for yet another rediculous exclusive.

Eminem 3am Official Video

Keeping a loose eye on Eminem hoping for a return to his original form; I've found this and although not super impressed yet I think it's a grower...still can't really get used to his new sing song high pitch sort of flow but i can't deny the lyrical dexterity of this and the twisted video shows some glimpse of that original twisted imagination that lit fires all those years ago! What ya reckon?

Chima Anya - Higher Ground Mixtape

The big homie Chima has just dropped his mixtape Higher Ground for your delight and entertainment! I cant wait to get bumping this; apparantly Mary Ann Hobbs on Radio 1 has already been giving this some spins...big tings agwaan!

Shed a tear for these poor rappers

Despite the wealth, glamour and prestige associated with being a rap superstar it would appear that live aint all chicken and beer. Nas and Kelis have just announced they are to divorce which is sad news...however I had to smirk at a different story; the trial of DMX who is being prosecuted for impersonating an FBI Officer after he pulled some dude over on the highway and tried to arrest him, apparantly he has a 'spare' flashing light in his care for when he feels like making a citizens arrest!

On a completely different note having some time out to read and experience different media has lead me to the incredible "Tokyo Cancelled" by Rana Dasgupta a sort of updated Canterbury Tales that incorporates mindbending displays of awesome narrative and magical realism. I also wanted to remind myself to read Soul Mountain by exiled Chinese Nobel winner Gao Xingjian. I leave this post with a picture of Ganesha, a Hindu deity a keep stumbling across in India...as a lover of learning and a hero of the common person I thought he'd make a great talisman for Vocalswords!

Solocypher featuring Scholarman 'Change Thru the Rhyme'

Get the latest hotness Here, a collaboration spanning the atlantic; Solocypher (myself) has hooked up with dope Maryland emcee Scholarman to produce a raw but smooth track over a superb beat by D'Logic. Titled 'Change Thru the Rhyme' the track demonstrates a hip hop aesthetic embracing creativity and positivity through fierce flows. Props to Scholarman for reaching out on this project, I'm sure you'll agree its a quality pairing.
http://www.mediafire.com/?ggmzmz5hnkn

TLG Lost Property

Now thats what I call cover art! I haven't heard this yet as I'm in an audio deficient cyber cafe in Delhi but as everything TLG has released so far has been banging I have no qualms whole heartedly recommending you download this here right now. While you wait check the interview I did with the lads last winter.

Scholarman & Jonesy Distant Voices EP

Another slice of quality hip hop from Scholarman who has joined forces with a very talented UK producer, Jonesy to release this excellent free EP. The beats are in a classic zone some real nice mellow head nodders such as "Well Suited" with great arrangements complimenting Scholars laid back yet intricate and positive flow. The great "Got Love" track is a prime example of some positive hip hop done properly, whilst K-Mynez makes a reality packed cameo appearance on "So Vital". Get your download on here and support some quality product.

Dr Suess

I'm surfing the net from India at the moment; almost zero hip hop from what I've seen so far although there was a small story in the paper about rapper "Dr Seuss" because of his street style of having an eybrow shaved...he said he was influenced by "International Rappers"...oh dear! Anyway have been enjoying some lootpack on the old MP3 so chill to this suckahs!

The Narcicist P.H.A.T.W.A

Musically dope and properly passionately political this video needs exposure. Never heard of the Narcicist before so props to DJ Sotusura for promoting this.

Number One Chief Rocker

Props to Kid Anime for reminding me of this gem...Crazy Legs bustin' mad ish reppin the B-boys in this Lords of the Underground classic video, loving it!

Education for Leisure

Today I am going to kill something. Anything.
I have had enough of being ignored and today
I am going to play God. It is an ordinary day,
a sort of grey with boredom stirring in the streets
I squash a fly against the window with my thumb.
We did that at school. Shakespeare. It was in
another language and now the fly is in another language.
I breathe out talent on the glass to write my name.
I am a genius. I could be anything at all, with half
the chance. But today I am going to change the world.
Something's world. The cat avoids me. The cat
knows I am a genius, and has hidden itself.
I pour the goldfish down the bog. I pull the chain.
I see that it is good. The budgie is panicking.
Once a fortnight, I walk the two miles into town
For signing on. They don't appreciate my autograph.
There is nothing left to kill. I dial the radio
and tell the man he's talking to a superstar.
He cuts me off. I get our bread-knife and go out.
The pavements glitter suddenly. I touch your arm.

Carol Ann Duffy

This poem has been banned from a GCSE poetry anthology due to the knife references, as apparently it is not sensitive in the current climate. I think its a pretty good piece of work, the first person narrative would be a great focus for personal responses, and I'm sure many classes would benefit from studying it; thought I'd stick it up! Read the ins-and-outs of the bullshit argument here if you want!

Gangsta Rap by Benjamin Zephaniah

If you fancy an interesting read, or know someone from the younger generation interested in hip hop/rap this is worth checking out. Written in a fairly basic style to appeal to younger readers, it is nevertheless a compelling tale of 3 dissaffected London youths who decide to form a hip hop group, and charts their turbulent rise to fame and notoriety. Zephaniah has cleverly weaved his tale amid a social backdrop of a London filled with rebellious gangs, but unlike tabloid images he creates realistic characters whose moral indescretions are depicted in a realistic and thought provoking manner. A couple of references and innacuracies to rap/hip hop culture were a bit wince inducing but should not put readers off taking the work seriously and reflecting on it as a representation of elements of black and urban youth experience.