Thursday, July 14, 2011

Mister P 'The Unheard' EP Review





Mista P's 'The Unheard' is an intense project combining psychedelic spiritual reflections with a socio political commentary sadly lacking in the apparant mainstream of popular and hip hop music. The title track drops highly involved subject matter over a mellow, haunting instrumentals that has a sinister backdrop of a snare giving an ominous military tatoo.

Cardboard Culture drops on the hyper vibe that P is known for at his numerous live performances, a mighty swift head nodder of a track with a wild west feel complete with whirl wind sound effect, this ends far too quickly and the need for a re-up really draws you into the multifaceted mind of this emcee. His pessimistic conclusions and observations often leaves him "trapped in a hum drum oddessy" but he presents the journey with a great style.

Carousel puts P squarly into the grinding rat race of everyday life, again presented with a lyrical imagination that paints bleak pictures in such an intruiging way you need to hear more. As P says 'I aint scared to say my tastes highbrow'...and I'm glad it is because this is a thinking persons record. Recognise.

P's highly textures rhymes sometimes can cloud over the real points he presents, however this trait is absent in the banging 'Moments'. Sleepy Time Ghost lays down a hypnotic boom bap beat as Mista P gets straight into his natural cynicism via the chicane of "Surrounded by dumbfounded products of capital, astoundingly poor sounding views are rational" as he casually sticks "a middle digit to the names and the branding, alone in the dark a sweets Brandy, trying to block out the Bill Boards and Eye Candy. True that...

The EP raps up with an up beat cheery production featuring the dulcet tones of Punning Clan shaker and mover BennyDiction who's blackberry and apple metaphores must be heard to be appreciated. The cheeriness of the beat is interestingly juxtaposed with observations on anorexia, alcohol and the corruption of young minds; expect nothing less and ask for your hip hop with a damn brain!

Check the EP out now at Bandcamp by clicking the album art work above, and then come and get a copy from the man in person at Fat Gold Chain (Charlie Wrights Jazz Bar, Old Street, London) this Friday or Love Music Hate Racism Saturday at Brixton Jamm.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Onyx, Sonny Jima and Soul Kahn goodness

Sonny Jim - The Psychonaut EP
The Birmingham spitter ramps up his output in anticipation of the Psychonaught LP (apparently only available in Australia) to present a selection of tracks he recorded whilst travelling down under. I'm a big fan of Sonny's highly complex and humour stuffed verses but for me enjoy his style best when he's in reflective mode, and Lotek's remix of his 'Mission Statement' at the end of this EP is my favourite joint. Its a good showcase for the other spitters from various corners of the globe; but go get it quick as I think it's only available till the end of the month....Get it Now


Hip hop accross the pond is still lurking around if you care to dive into the grimy underground. Vocalswords favourite Soul Khan recently shot a video (at last) for my personal favourite 'Soul Like Kahn' tune from his free to download album. I think a few people have used this sort of edit before but love the way it's done here.


Meanwhile at the grimier end of the spectrum its good to hear of Onyx making a bit of a comeback with their 'Classic Terror'....if your gonna do thug music, do that shit properly!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

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!?

Monday, May 02, 2011

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...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

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...

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

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.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

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'....

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Sonny Jim - Purple Patch 4

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

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

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

Sunday, February 20, 2011

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!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

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!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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!?)