Domineko, Chima Anya and Nas Mixtape

Chima Anya is a creative beast and you can never quite tell what he's going to hit you up with next. Seeing the title of a track "Smoke it, Drink it" I was looking forward to a bit of a mindless banger (Chima is occaisionally capable of these) but had my mind seriously challenged with a hard hitting reflection on the perils of hardcore drug addiction; a topic Chima is well qualified to discuss after working closely with addicts. Well worth a watch, a cartoon sterotype this aint.



Domeniko comes correct with a great mini video for an uplifting and lyrically concious track. This is taken from his new album "Wood Floors" about which he writes "It’s the audio summary of the lessons and bits of inspirations that helped me achieve the long fight of getting back to who I know I want to become as an artist.  I've realized the only person you have to beat is yourself."




And finally, if you happen to be feeling a little nostalgic or just fancy a good blast of Nasty Nas, DJ Reminise has put together a great overview of the legend's progression through life....possibly could have done with a few more early bangers but overall this is well worth a listen....love the intro track as Nas waxes lyrical about going full circle through the medium of Cognac!

Bump Casts, Videos, and New tracks from Associated Minds, 7even Thirty, Oddisee, Dag Sav

The crew at Associated Minds have been exceptionally busy as ever, thier latest newsletter is packed with illness including Ralph Ripshit Lemonface's Album release and this excellent 'Bump Cast' featuring some of raps current hardest hitters such as Action Bronsen on a Metabeats production, Kendrick Lamar, Reks, Nas, Homeboy Sandman, EL-P and many more. Very tasty and packaged with some mind bending artwork    from Hopfences (check the eyeball above!). DagSav has released a free mixtape for ya to download, and judging by the flows on this video should be worth checking out here.

7even Thirty has had album track 'Nightmare' remixed by Oddisee and has put the track up for free download. To be honest its a bit to glitchy sounding for me but the lyrics are pretty interesting, check the Mello Music Group pages for more.

Havent really got to grips with Soundcloud yet but DMH certainly has; his solid Westcoast sounds has got gangs of people commenting on the tracks he's uploaded.....anyways all pretty rugged and 'Who takes the Blame' is pretty soulful with some thoughtful lines....though not much other information; go make up your own minds at Here. 

Hip Hop "Summer" 2012! .....Mr Bang On, Nas, Defisis & Klumzy Tung

Bang On comes across as an honest, thoughtful dude in this Bonafide Magazine interview where he discusses his signing to infamously heavy UK imprint Big Dada, and along the way compares Nas to Jesus....only in hip hop! I remember checking Bang On when he featured on one of the now well missed HHC cover CD's and remember him being very promising so will be looking forward to checking the forthcoming project. Check the video for the passing Frank Zappa heckler, if you can hack the dodgy audio!!

Got a heads up from Birmingham "Heducation" stalwart Mylz on this little gem, a fresh summer sounding track with great lyrics and vocals from Klumzy Tongue embellishing a story very well told in this video.

Nas ft Cocaine 80's - Where's the Love? 
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.21145/title.nas-f-cocaine-80-s--where-s-the-love-prod-no-id


The legendary Nas has been storming the live scene recently, and with the strength of some of his recent release the latest album should bedeservedyl successful. The lasted I've heard was this banger "Where's the Love" and as well as being produced by super producer No I.D Nas comes crazy with it! 
"You 16 you could do 20,come home young - catch 20 years at 40 homieyoure done"A man who can make an FBI agent chewing a pencil eraser sound cool should not only be making tracks but getting Oscars writing for the Silver Screen......sorry Im biased but Vocalswords repping Nas for life!

Now, last but not least on the UK shores........Twitter be a wondefull thing, just copped this classic from Defisis; "Inside Knowing" , put out  way back in 2001....Big ups @Redbeard etc for the hook up!!

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.

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!