Fat Gold Chain Live...Punning Clan, Mister P plus HLI and Sonny Jim goodness

Yes yes y'all its that time of the month again and a triple whammy of fresh hip hop is headed to Charlie Wrights (nr Old St Tube, London) this friday...make sure you get down to enjoy the vibes of the Punning Clan, HLI and Mister P and open mic hosted by me :)for more info check the Facebook Event ... in the meantime check the amazing HLI video for 'Vectors' hot off the press...I was lucky enough to join the crew on set and its definitely come out a treat; graf heads should especially dig the timelapse recorded piece being thrown up by another writing legend...heat!



Meanwhile Sonnyjim has been busy (when is he not?) working alongside the P.L.O to spit on a heavy guitar led track. The press release said it had Mudmowth on the track also, but I must have developed myopia; answers on a postcard to solocypher@gmail.com if you spot him please. The track has also been remixed Stateside with Has-Lo, Zilla Rocca and Curly Castro rocking the Mic in the style of the classic Smooth Da Hustla and Trigga Da Gambla's 'Broken Language' joint. The link to the remix is below Sonny's Joint, but I thought what the hell lets revisit the original as well...Enjoy!



Now Check the American Language Remix Here!

But dies it hold up to this!?

Chima Anya 'What Now'

The big man Chima is back with a very impressive video to the stomping track 'What Now'; something to meditate a little on for you all...

F-T - Deep Times

F-T is a name to be reckoned with. Producing and rhyming on this incredible track, its a deep song that deserves heavy rotation. I say no more; check it...

Rock the DELS!

Egg on my face right now as I have to apologise for fronting on DEL's mixtape a couple of years back, mainly as the download I had I couldnt work out so didnt listen to the effort properly, shame on me! Anyway the dudes at Big Dada did do their job properly and the boy from my hometown Ipswich is making some heavy moves with some inspired videos and very interesting rhymes of a sort of style the scene has been missing for a while....if you haven't already, check the video below then go youtube more tracks taken from forthcoming 'GOB' album....The London release party is at Hoxton Bar & Grill this Thursday, for more info check out the info Here. Word.

AKS, Cunninglinguists, Baron Samedi...Read this Now!

Sunday's a good day to discover South London's Aks, as today I've been engrossed in his EP 'The Bus Stop'; engaging in a lot of topics with energy, honesty and well formed perspectives over great production this cat is going places...although TfL might be dictating the speed just at the moment, Aks depiction of place and mind set is refreshing but holds down a lyrical swagger that should see him up there with the big names...'House Called Home' is for me the heaviest cut and according to the man himself one of his favourite songs he's ever written; great to hear this sort of energy in the game. At the moment this gem is available for free DL but you only have around 5 hours left to get it! Dont Sleep People! http://thebusstopep.com/

AKS - The Bus Stop EP
Some more dopeness, feeling the vibe of this one....
Cunninglinguists

and Finally we cant leave you without sharing this to the minute Banger celbrating and possibly bettering the antics of your favourite Hot Shots actor....
Baron Samedi 'Team Winning'....

Sonny Jim - Purple Patch 4

The Final Chapter! This 4 part series comes to a finale with more heavy braggadocious bars...

Fat Gold Chain presents Cappo....Don't Sleep People!

Pharoe Monch presents 'Clap' Short Film

Powerful stuff this, an entertaining but piece inlaid with pathos, tension, and fear, excellent camera work and dramatically inter woven lyrics from Monch. This War album/project is looking to turn out to be pretty incredible.

Probably better to check it full screen over on the tube...(anyone know how to allow my embedded videos to be played full screen!?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG_iDZbSZ3I

Welcome to the Arab Spring?

If this is to be the name given to the recent revolutions and popular uprisings accross Egypt, Libia, Bahrain,.... then welcome, the long overdue over throw of outmoded and oft despised leaders or despots by popular protest. The (largely) overwhemlingly peacefull nature of the demonstrations, protests and defiant actions

Masta Mimmz - Back down Muburak



Fat Gold Chain keeps rolling on London

Conrad the Scoundrel

This guy is heavy weight! Bars, Charisma, Jokes, Message...this man is the definition of proper emcee in 2011. Check the video but thia man has bucket load more of different flows and styles to slap you with in his live show!


Wisdom Band

From Brixton Ritzy to Brixton living; check out the smooth sounds of The Wisdom Band and there motherland ode to Africa...



From Brixton streets to America where Vado's banger 'Large on the Street Scene' shows a rapper with huge potential blazing hard. This guy is a serious mic ripper and evidently has a rep to protect; it will be good to hear more from him in the futureas his content diversifies.

so sitting around with Vado on repeat can get you hyped to a certain extent. However its only when a true blast from the past like this rolls through that you remember why the fuck you love hip hop music so much...

Ice Cube - Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It



Conspiracy World Wide

Re Up Re Up Info!....Menace and Montana have been providing the back bone of journalistic insight on hip hop for a while now (2006 I believe?) and the start of 2011 has seen the team getting into serious discussion with all manner of heavy swangers...make sure you get to know!

Liam Bailey - You Better Leave Me

Liam Bailey has been mentioned a few times across various press outlets as a future star...his recent work with Chase and Status and this latest song 'You Better Leave Me' is proving them right and I've got to say that great music like this just cant be held down!

Logic MC...Fire in the Booth with Charlie Sloth

Hidden gem - Kyza freestyle

From the Associated Minds archive...madness!

New Talib Kwali - 'I'm On One' from Gutter Rainbows new album

Taken from his new album 'Gutter Rainbow's' this new track 'I'm on One' has Kwali looking nicely hyped in the video in a classic looking sweatbox of a hip hop club. I like the sentiment of the backing track vocals but not sure if it comes off all that well...Talib's flow is trademarkedly wordy but sounds dope in context of the current era where lyracism in rap music seems to have flown completely out the window. Having said that I didnt hear any quotables jumping straight at me, maybe I need to check it a few more times! By the way his album drops 25th of this month; a hip hop day for all as it is also the date when Homeboy Sandman will be blessing the marvelous Fat Gold Chain! (smoooth plug segue there or what!?)

Promo Business!

Get tickets here

Akala - Yours and My Children

Akala........

What can you say!?
I wonder how much media cover this track got? Enjoy, as I go investigate!!

Launch of 'Equality' movement....Lowkey, Logic, Jody McIntyre & Tariq Ali

The inaugral meeting of the 'Equality' movement spearheaded by Lowkey, Logic and Jody McIntyre proved immediatly impressive as due to demand the venue had to be moved to a larger lecture theatre, which itself was packed to capacity of around 500 people.

Speakers included Seamus Milne Guardian columnist and author of ‘The Enemy Within’,Lizzie Cocker political activist, Tariq Ali, a political commentator and campaigner who recently wrote ‘The Obama Syndrome’,Jody McIntyre writer for the Independent and author of ‘Life on Wheels’ and Dr. Hanan Chehata, commentator on Palestine and Middle Eastern affairs.

The lead question of 'What is Imperialism' was not debated as such, rather each speaker gave an empassioned overview of various elements of the anti-war, anti-imperiallist mosvement that has grown since the invasions of Iraq and Afgahnistan after the 9/11 attacks. There were some excllent points raised, especially in regards to the illegal Israeli imposed blockade of Gaza,the victimisation of protesters espcially young Muslim men by the policed, and examples of imperialistic aggression against civilians and children by Britian and America.

Unfortunatley, a debate it was not and the question and answer section after the initial speeches was hijacked by a lot of enthusiasic comments agreeing with all the previous speakers. Although encouraging to see such enegry it was a shame that there was no little internal criticism or debate, especially in regard to the initial question - What is Imperialism? Preaching to the converted is one thing, however the nature of imperialist capitalist hegemony means that levels of apathy in the general population must be addressed before a popular movement can really prove to be successfull. Although Lowkey was only present via a video speech, his presence was most definitely felt, and some of his views I have later found encapsualted in this important and provocating video for his track 'Terrorist?' below.

Regardless of lack of debate, the meeting showcased a lot of common sentiment against violent oppression everywhere, and was very inspiring. The next meeting is set to be even larger, I just hope the next one will begin to solidify some ideas for raising awareness, especially over the situation in Gaza, and direct action. For the time being I'm writing to my MP (probably not the most revolutionary of actions but its a start!)so watch this space...

Unforgivng World - Wyld Bunch

Pretty impressed by this, raw soulful stuff over a great beat. From upcoming "RICH BLOOD.BROKE POCKETS" album by James (WYLDBUNCH) Bunch. Produced by TWOMANICS...as someone as commented, "Real Hip Hop, at last!'

http://soundcloud.com/twomanics
http://wyldbunch.bandcamp.com

Sonny Jim - The Purple Patch part 3

My favourite of the four part series so far! Plus the Eatgood team have kindly put this banger up for free download here! Heavy

Homeboy Sandman

Dont Sleep Peoples!

Joel Ortiz, Rass Kass and Dubbledge new fire...plus Economics, Sexual Politics and randomness

First up Shouts to Mayor out of Associated Minds for sending over this quick 16 from UK rising legend Dubbledge...always got bars for days 'Edge is on some next tip with this one!

JM Keynes vs Friedrich Heyek? Slightly heavier weight than certain current rap battles being staged?...those crazy yanks lampooning hip hop videos is not normally my cup of tea; despite the stereotypical bafoonary the intrisic ideas of the economist's portrayed in the video hold so much credence (and to be fair the 'rappers' had done an admirible job of putting over some of the most persuasive and influential ideas)Wish my half hearted attempts at doing this sort of subject matter while at Uni had been more coherent! Shame neither rapper attempts a 'Slick Rick' British flow for Keynes, and Hayek certainly wasnt sounding like...er, Promoe!?? Anyway now have fun reading about these two dude's philosophies! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hayek

Rob One's infamous 2020 podcast keeps life pumpin through the body hip hop politic with Wedesday's show we saw Joell Ortiz murdering 100 bars with rediculousness and then Rass Kass spitting smooth fire from his latest, fan funded album A.D.I.D.A.S (All Day I Dream About Spittin) A dope podcast, but if you need your sick lyric fix mad quick check 12.14 Ortiz is going in super hard! http://2020.mypodcast.com/

and finally...http://www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk/article/feature-power-vagina-almighty-penis-portbello-film-festival