Flobots - No Handlebars

If you haven't heard this tune yet I strongly advise you to check the video below. One of the few times that mainstream media actually promote music that has some sort of relevence and political content. Mind you, my happiness of this was pissed on a bit after reading Youtube posts and hearing of listeners attitudes to the song..."ooh its so dark and political, I don't like it" "I liked the song before I watched the video and realized what it was about"...no wonder lyricists so often resort to chattin' about lolipops, money and biatches when this is the sort of response inteligence provokes! Even my friend wrote the song off with "ah I dont really like that sort of thing, you know it reminds me of beign young listening to Linkin Park"...mind you, he loves Mika.


This is the first video created for the song, I reckon its more powerfull than the subsequent one they made when they got signed to Universal, but that one is also good, go check it here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

Modulok & Bare Beats - Two Cities

One of the things I have always loved about hip hop is its ability to pull you into a parallel world that presents you with elements of your own with a distorted, edgy flavour. The visual and aural world created on Two Cities is a perfect example of what I'm on about. An array of beautifully produced music lays out a lush platform from which canadian emcee Modulok delivers intense flows that city dwellers around the world can relate to. The format of intricate yet alternatingly jazzy and punchy beats, accompanied by straight up visual, cerebral rapping is perfectly finished with some great scratching from Jabba the Kut. Standouts for me were the manifesto like 'Intro' over some dope beat boxing takes it back to what makes Hip Hop such a vital phenomenom. 'Trouble' is a lively posse cut, showing dope skills from Modulok and gritty british guests Perry Scaramanga, Karl Sereousz and Smokey with a great cut up of a Jehst sample on the hook. The album is full of dope quotables and observations, and its good to know your not the only one who likes drinking "A pint of Guiness with a shot of whiskey in it". The haunting 'City' provides great paranoid headphone fodder for those late night excursions along train tracks looking for dope pieces; however the standout track for me is 'Origin' a beautifully crafted piece of music documenting a poignoint biography of Modulok, I had that shit on repeat about 8 times when I first heard it. The cover art is intriguing and fascinating; the only real complaint would be a lack of detail in the liner notes, one of the side elements that bring an album to life. That aside, this album demonstrates an immense creativity, heart and dedication to hip hop, self expression and life. Go cop it! www.bare-records.co.uk www.redantsmusic.com www.myspace.com/modulokandbeats

P.S. If you want a taste of what's good these kind people present a free mini-album available to download from the myspace page, go support.

Q Bert @ Scratch Club

Check one two for all you Hip Hop fiends; if your anywhere near the Midlands on Saturday the 13th, make sure you get yo asses down to the Rainbow Warehouse in Digbeth, Brum to get down to the legendary sounds of the worlds greatest turntablist - Q Bert! Supported by a great selection of Scratch Club regulars, the night promises to be a proper treat! For tickets check 
https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/events/?id=10004602 and http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=18220983470&ref=ts for more information! 

Mr FX Bad Boy Show

Evening Ladies and Gents (or Nifty, my only known reader!) Just a note to give props to my man Mr FX bustin' out the tunes on his weekly broadcast every Monday from 10 till midnight on http://www.ruffradio.co.uk/, playing an eclectic mix of goodness, just heard the DnB remix of Adele's hometown so you know its BIG! Keep it locked to ruffradio also if your a junglist souljah cause they be streamin' that shit 24/7 - Word!

GTA the Oxford sure shots

I have to say props to Chima for inviting me down to Oxford to make a cameo appearence during the video shoot for the slamming single "The Way". It was a great evening showcasing some wicked production from a local outfit, dancers and of course the ever energetic and enigmatic duo of Chima and Ineff. Check the photo to see if you can spot yours truly looking thugged out then check the video for more GTA goodness.

Classic Material

If you think the state of hip hop is fairly poor at the moment, you could try digging around as there is some very dope stuff about, its just hard to find. I picked up Truth and Jimmy Green's "Rapsploitation Sessions" excellent mix cd the other day and trust me its been in constant rotation, a great example of high calibre UK spitters. There's loads of great stuff from Sonnyjim, Kosyne and Kashmere circulating so watch out for that. Broadsheet's favourite poster boy Roots Manuva is supposedly on usual top form with a new LP so keep ya head up and ya ears open.

If that's not going to sate your appetite, I recommend heading to your local library and searching out "Classic Material - A guide to Hip Hop Albums" edited by Oliver Wang. It's a great guide to some timeless albums that will either have you pulling out dusty favourites or scrambling around amazon to find that dope shit to get your love of hip hop reinvigorated! Go cop dat.

Scratch Club Residence!

New Freshness every month! Props to Tom the big man for keeping it always superdope!

US Rap Blog with nice DLs

Just found this site, looks pretty gangsta for all you knuckleheads! Got a Jadakiss mixtape that looks intersting for DL...

http://beantothebay.blogspot.com/2008/04/jadakiss-al-qaeda-jada.html

Vocalswords A Reflective Review

So I don't forget in my old age, I'm using this page to document the origins and history of Vocalswords, and more specifically the role of Solocypher... not the most riviting of stories but someone might be interested!

1998-2001
Started rhyming with ADK (Now DJ Nifty), DJ Flare & Archer, founded the Vocalswords Collective. Made first EP/Demo 'First Daze' over commercial beats with a mixer and MiniDisc player! Took part in first emcee competition @ Ipswich Town Hall...lost to a bunch of Garage heads as it was starting to be the most influential style and would lead into the stomping movement that was to become known as Grime.

2002-2006

Studying in Birmingham joined Dominion Beats (Kid Anime, Chima, Swain, Ade the Mad African and Toshi) recording some crazy underground flavour joints! Featured on a couple of songs from Chima Anya's "Time Destroys All" E.P. Appeared on the Dominion Beats radio show on Burn FM. Helped with setting up the infamous 'Fat Gold Chain' hip hop and battle night as part of the Beatz and Pieces crew alongside Serious, Eliza, DJ Menthol and many hardworking others.


2005

Heard on 1xtra in an accapella competition to meet Common. Got through despite Rodney P not understanding a line about the River Seine! Went to London for an emcee masterclass with Rodney P, Skitz and Common

Released home produced debut album "Citizen Framed" featuring Chima Anya (GTA), Kid Anime (Dominion Beats), Serious, Concept, the vocals of Kaf & Eliza with beats from DJ Nifty, JBC, Nasty and Taharka

Performed at Cotswold Bamboo festival and Drop Beats Not Bombs in the Medicine Bar, Birmingham...can currently be founded ciphering at Fat Gold Chain, Soul Thump and the UK Rising around Birmingham City!

2006
A fairly quiet year in hip hop terms as real life has got in the way more than I would have liked! I am doing a PGCE training to be a primary school teacher which is knackering and has meant a lower rap profile.

I did manage to host the Festivale Fight against Aids Festival in the summer, hosted a couple of fat gold chains, freestyled at Fat Gold Chain and Soulthump, did a show @ Birmingham uni with Chima and appeared on Newstyle FM's DJ Cro Main Ingredient Show freestyling with the likes of Kosyne, Juice Aleem, GTA and I'm Hal....all great fun and an honour!

I havn't had a recording set up at all this year so output has been very low; Santa should be bringing me some gear soon though so watch out for some raw ish in the 07....Ive got bare rhymes backed up, a major collaboration set with DJ Nifty planned and should be also making an appearance on a track with Hedphoniks....Hustlin fo sho!! Laters

Mix Tapes and Band Battles

For all you mix and mash up fiends, check www.b00mb0x.org (use numerals!) for a huge catalogue of free mixes for your delight...I'm listening to some Mr Wyse stuff at the moment and need to check out what else is there but judging by titles there looks to be something to satisfy any mood!

Treasure Beckoning Cats update...unfortunately we came in as runners up in the Battle of the Bands down at Bar 41 to some thrash metallers who played the same song over and over for half an hour...a bit unfortunate but as is usual with most vocal related sets the microphones were pretty dodgy so people couldnt hear the lyrics...same old shit as usual! On the plus side though some members of The Anomolies liked our sound so we might be doing some support sets for them...watch this space!

Hip Hop Blogs

Just wanted to drop a link to http://www.hiphopmusic.com/ a nice blog linking site where I just saw a nice video about the Rza inventing the serrato scratch format...nice! Looking forward to hearing the new Wu album supposedly dropping soon...

Raw Fusion

Droppin in on all you blog heads! Just got a flyer on www.myspace.com/solocypherthevocalsword for "Raw Fusion" at The Bristol Pear this Tuesday. Didn't know about it but I'm on the flyer as an emcee so as standard gonna head their to rock the house! Had a wicked houseparty at Donny's last night, Happy Birthday to Foreman and props to all the people requesting freestyles...special big ups go to the drummers and the kitchen crew; rockin like this and like that yall..who said hip hop was dead!?

Knackered

The lack of posts recently is mainly due to a) Training and now practicing as a Teacher for the last 2 years and b) No one reads this! However I was listening to Radio 4 the other day and commenting on how influential the 'blogosphere' can be...so I'm on a wishfull thinking tip! I also feel a need to write and express myself as my other projects (new album, a novel!?) are progressing at a snails pace. My adventures in hip hop seem also to be declining, I did a show at Drop Beats Not Bombs again recently which was OK but unfortunatly only heard by about 8 people! I have been reinvigorated however as one of the emcees in the wicked new band 'Treasure Beckoning Cats', we will be hitting some sort of gig circuit in the near future! It's a strange new world for me but I think it's a good time to direct my energies into something more lively and experimental! Latest recommendations; www.myspace.com/firstandlastuk a heavy London based crew with a deep conscience, a lot to say and raw energy; reminds me a lot of Killa Priest/Sunz of Man type ish, go check it!

Dropping Beats Not Bombs Again...finished degree at last!

Am amazed at how long ago it was that I posted, but am back after a few hectic days of enjoying the end of exam period...seems quite a while since the Drop Beats show, props to Eliza who held it down perfectly and to G-Force for steppin up as hype man, gave the show a wicked flavour!! Me and Eliza also did a show at a charity nights in TC's, mainly a rock night but we still went down well despite the piss poor sound quality! Hasnt been a great deal else happening due to too much work, went down to Soulthump to rep on the open mics, and had a quality night at Hedz who were rockin that full fat hip hop! Few gigs coming up so if your reading this check www.myspace.com/solocypherthevocalsword for dates etc and a few photos from the DBNB set. Peace for now, will attempt to blog more often!

Fat Gold Chain and Drop Beats Not Bombs...Nuts!

Just recovering from the combined of effects of Fat Gold Chain on friday and Drop Beats Not Bombs yesterday (Saturday)...wow, what a heavy couple of nights...FGC was a great success that almost never happened (mainly due to me messing things up)..in the end mad love, a good turnout, some nice performances and the battle blazed by Chima who was spittin flames! Drop Beat not Boms was well heavy...mad props to Eliza for her crazy talant, we had a wicked set - I only messed up one verse outta five songs so all gravy! Heavy night especially due to the special return of Mr Serious traight outta Portugal...props to everyone who was there, mad live with all crews puttin on SHOWS!! Birmingham bigness, with Skinnyman turning up to do a lively set at 4 in the morning! Heavy tings!

Winter Blues saved by Hip Hop

Seems winter is in full effect right now, and a heavy workload is making the winter monthes seem even longer...no bother though as some great hip hop nights lately have provided relief! Props to Taharka who seems to be the hardest working man in Brum hip hop right now for doing some great shows lately, his gig with new band at The Rainbow was heavy...as was the live funk of Munch Break...props to the Guild for letting us as the Beats N Pieces society do a live slot last night, we all had mad fun, especially as I got some DnB emceeing going on at the end...shit was live!

Dates for diary....1st December DJ Cola with Rae (of Rae and Christian) at The Rainbow
2nd December Fat Gold Chain at TC's (SellyOak) with me and the usual crew
3rd December Drop Beats Not Bombs - 6 till 6 all nighter, with Skinnyman headlining the hip hop room, supported by yours truly, the mighty GTA, R edbeard, SK, Sonny Jim & Kosyne, Mr Klemmit, hosted by the man about town himself, Taharka....should be heavy as an acme weight, word!

Cotswold Bamboo

Have just about recovered from the hectic events of the Cotswold Bamboo...had an amazing time but was a pretty stressful day...had to unexpectedly hire a car whilst shattered, turned up late, and then realised that i'd recorded the backing tracks in .mp3 and not audio files, so they wouldnt work on the P.A. system...had to drive back to Cheltenham to get a laptop (cheers Jim!) -missing the homemade First World War bi-plane doing loop the loops of the site- and eventually made it on to the stage with Kaf, Eliza and Mr.Serious...massive thanks to y'all, made it a wicked show! A few mess ups wernt really noticed to the crowd (they were a bit perplexed having a hip hop act on, but showed us love-safe!), and the show was topped off by the audience singing "Happy Birthday" to me hahaha wicked! Cheers to Porno, Dave, Emma and Jube for comin along...was messy! :) Hopefully more live shows if we get round to organising em-watch this space! Peace!

Live from New Street!

Oh gosh, what the hell am I doing!? I can only just see the computer screen through mashed up squinty eyes, and am stuggling to type on the McDonalds prison style keyboards...I have spent the nightinBirmingham town centre as a result of the Beatties work party last night...Im not 100% sure what happened but I was supposed to be going to a Blak Twang gig after the party; I turned up at the Medicine Bar to find it completely baricaded and desolate so wandered the streets until I found a vacant bus which I entered using that usefull entry button they have by the door! Fell asleep on the back seat and was awoken by an understandably irate bus driver hahaha! Realising it was going to be too difficult to return to SellyOak, I decided to tuff the rest of the night out in town, and ended up getting almost an hours rest at New Street Station(on the floor, the waiting rooms arnt open that early in the morning!) then woke up and have spent the rest of the morning hanging around maccy dees which thankfully has this internet terminal! Its now 7.45, start work at 9-lovely hahaha! Looking forward to the Cotswold gig, trying to learn my lyrics off by heart and am attempting to rhyme over some DnB goodness from Mr Nifty! SIckness, catchyall later, hopefully writing from a more civilised location! Peace, Solo

John Christopher Perrins R.I.P

A mad last month-peace to my good ol' Grandad and thanks to all the family who came down to Ipswich for the service...especially Uncle Clive for the eulogy, your Dad would be chuckling! Grandad was a badman, I'll try and post up some of the crazy ish he did in his lifetime when I get a bit mo' time.....Been a family orientated month really...Mum and Dad came up to Brum was wicked to see em (and get some food! :) ) had a bit of a break from the City...working in Beatties selling sweeties and cards to granny's ain't no joke yo!...

On the hip hop side of things, not a whole lot goin on...Soul Thump has been holdin' it down luvly so me n Chima have been down to see the mans and keep our swords sharp, bare jokes...big up Kosyne, Mr Klemit, Cro and the girl who never txted me back!...also had a mad jam session with our boy louis on lead guitair, serious on bass and Taharka rockin the beatbox...props....Next big thing, come down to TC's for R2thaBeats and crew's new night....21st September, £3 in, looks Heavy, and check www.vocalswords.co.uk for details on the Make Poverty History Bamboo Festival I'm gonna be playin' on the 24th September...check that shit out!! Yo I'm being unsociable, signing out for the moment, Peace, Solocypher

Excalibahs gone, Heducation finished....

Lots of controversy at the moment cause Excalibahs been taken off air at 1xtra....pretty rediculous, Im pissed off - Blakeys replaced him, doesnt seen too bad but its a real shame Ex has gone out like this...what do I pay my liscence fee for? Actually, im not sure if i do! Another piece of hip hop has disapearred as well as Heducation is no longer going to be run every week...also a damn shame, but to be fair last time i went it was wack, mainly funk and brakes, no real hip hop...long!

Oh well, it aint all bad, hungova from a mad party in a wood where I should have pulled but was too drunk, just listened to Illmatic the whole way through and got a hip hop reinvigoration! They dont make em like they used to!