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

Hungry? Rtkal shows how to Eat Good!

Rtkal is the future! If you're not already aware of the calibre of Eat Good artists you need to head over to the site to check out quality from the Birmingham powerhouse, in the meantime recognise the rediculous skills of Mud Fam endorsed Rtkal aka R Tillery. I had the privilidge of rockin mics alongside the man a few times in Brum and was always blown away by the insane delivery, passion and intelligence of his flows so am hyped about hsi forthcoming Kelakovski produced 'Genuine Rtkal' EP.

In the meantime 'The Prefix' mixtape is blowing up my system right now with ultra hype beats and spitfire flows. Go get it now for free and while its on the DL check the sick shit below...especially from 1.10 where the 'Bars' bars are just too ill!

That UK business... New Stylah,Task Force and Skinny Man plus new Mowgli video

After listening to Westwood on 1xtra (I was doing the washing up) reading out the BET list of greatest Hip Hop stars of the last decade I was left with a dissapointing feeling of hollowness in my guts....the list read like some sort of blinged out thuggy autotune crooning jizz fest; even Jay Z wasnt included. However after racking my brains I realised that the list was actually a reasonably fair representation of 'Mainstream' hip hop. Goddamn shame but there it is...and have now just found out that the Canibus man has pulled out of doing his London show due to visa issues....Shiiiiiiit!!

Anyway to cheer myself up I did a bit of Youtube surfing and was rewarded with the UK Hip Hop documentary posted below (Check the first one, then find the consecutive ones up to 10, worth checking all out) Chester P and Farma G dropping some serious science, insights and important reflections on the state of the game, including a break down of their own respective acronyms for you hip hop factophiles.


After watching this I have been re-motivated on my hip hop grizzly and so present some of the other little gems that have found their way to Vocalswords Towers...

Mowgli's incredible '93' album has been rightly lauded by critics and is indeed a fine epic of cerebral, intricate hip hop for those with a pallete inclined to enjoy in depth lyracism. An unknown US fan has created the following video which sets off the tunes ambiguously warped storyline perfectly. Various claims as to the origin of the visuals but its for promo use only and works a treat; more info at www.mowglihiphop.com...enjoy!


For a slightly different perspective, check Charlie Sloth getting upset by people shouting 'Par' at him on the golf course on his 1xtra hip hop show...joker with some banging tunes on rotation. Some pretty raw stuff keeps the show pumpin; Sloth's shouty style and constant glass smash sounds might get a bit too hectic at times, some of the tunes are just that little bit too retardedly gangsta and a couple o' shots of more uplifting ish wouldn't go amiss, however the boy knows and loves his stuff so its worth checking as the BBC's last bastion of some form of underground lyracism....

Nuff Beeb talk anyway, until they put some words in for this man and this first single off his latest project 'Treading Water"; incredible video! Big up www.grimedaily.com for this one!


Extra treats and leaks...Soul Khan ft Akie Bermiss tearing it up http://usershare.net/q66y3b9jh01k look out for video coming soon...

Canibus coming soon! Plus Chima, Sonny Jim, Mooka Jerz and more....

In preperation for the next installment of 'Fat Gold Chain' our homies at Raw Blue Cheese present...Chima Anya's Hip Hop Moment...check it out!

Catch Chima this Saturday alongside myself Solocypher tearing down mics and basically bringing the freshest live hip hop to London @The Cavendish Arms near Stockwell....check flyer below for more info!

In other news, just heard the legendary mic ripper Canibus is set to rock a set here in London towards the end of October. As one of my all time favourite emcees and massive source of inspiration I thought it only right to share a track from his new 'C of Tranquility' Album he's out here to promote....enjoy, and if you want more just youtube that shit, some excellent return to form dopeness, plus a raw Eminem diss you may not of heard before...
Canibus
Lunar Deluge


And if you still want more heavy bars!? Ok....

Check this new Sonny Jim banger with his classic punchlaced bars produced by the big savvy badman Asaviour...
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3v9l92
Yeah thats what you wanted innit! Peace to 2 UK Legends! And finally, to switch it up to rep the ladies to the fullest degree check the latest offering resulting from stumbling around You Tube to find dope shit!...

Mooka Jerz

Fat Gold Chain presents 'F**k Your Blog!

Back at it again for you fiends!!!

FOLLOWING THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF FAT GOLD CHAIN'S DEBUT IN LONDON, THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THE SERIES WILL BE IN COLLABORATION WITH NEW NIGHT "F***K YO BLOG" AND "RAW BLUE CHEESE"

CHIMA ANYA (FAT GOLD CHAIN CHAMP 2X) WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY AT THE EVENT WITH A SPECIAL SET WITH ACCOMPLISHED DRUMMER J MILLY.

SOLO CYPHER (FAT GOLD CHAIN HEAD HONCHO) WILL BE RAPPING INFINITELY AS WELL AS HOSTING THE OPEN MIC CYPHER ...WHICH WILL BE OPEN TO RAPPERS, SINGERS, BEAT BOXERS AND VENTRILOQUISTS.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST PA FROM BENNY DICTION AS WELL AWESOME DJ SETS LINED UP FROM SAMMY B SIDE AND RP-1.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMER (POSSIBLY TIMMY MALLET!!!)

ALL THIS IS FREEEEEEEE!!!
ON THE DOOR WE WILL HAVE AN OPTIONAL DONATION... ALL OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO HELP SUPPORT THE CASUALTIES OF THE PAKISTAN QUAKE.

SO TELL A FRIEND TELL AN ENEMY (JUST DON'T FIGHT IN THE VENUE) OCTOBER 2ND FAM

PUT IT IN THE DIARY!

Also if you havent already, make sure you join the facebook group! (Top Left button)

Fat Gold Chain Returns!

Mayhem Morearty

Some gritty grimy Toronto rap with a beautiful hook from Obie...if you're gonna do street shit make it sound good I reckon, and this does the trick, produced by Pro Logic.

Vinnie Paz, Brown Bag All Stars and How Stories Can Save the World!

Since first hearing those 'old school' Jedi Mind Tricks recordings I've had a lot of respect for Vinny Paz and crew. Lately I've not really been enjoying some of the super hype gun music that I've been hearing but was checking Conspiracy Radio and heard Vinny breaking down this track. Sample issues mean it's not going to be available in this form on the album proper which is a real shame, so sit and reflect on this for the moment. Some deep reflections...by the way if you want more go google the documentary on the progress of JMT, some good watching!


Quick Jump to latest realease from the Brown Bag All Stars, a tidy collective of emcees spitting bars very nicely over a boom bap beat...check it out for free download right HERE

Finally on a more eclectic note, check this video about how fiction can bring the world together, a great talk by an interesting author, Elif Shafak, whose ideas I think should resonate with the essence and philosophies central to the world of hip hop...

No Swag Needed

Am loving this fresh new slice of dopeness...middle verse is a smasher (not sure who's spittin?)...I want my eulogy to be rhymed too!



UK based hip hop producer SciFi Stu releases his second single No Swag Needed!

SciFi's debut single The Will feat Vast Aire, 4th Place & Jonwayne has been broadcast on radio shows worldwide, from BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix to the classic DJ Ready Cee show in New York and has appeared on mixtapes across the globe.

Looking to follow on from this success SciFi has recruited hip hop mainstay John Robinson (aka Lil Sci from Scienz of Life) & ultra-fresh Jersey group Remarkable Mayor to provide raps for this new energetic 'golden era' inspired track. The track also features turntable skills from SciFi's friend and collaborator Twelvebit.

Tracklisting:
1. No Swag Needed feat. Remarkable Mayor & John Robinson
2. What Yall Waiting For feat. Ill Poetix

SciFi Stu "No Swag Needed" Digi-12 is now available at:

iTunes
Emusic
Amazon.com
JunoDownload.com

Domination Recordings
Website: DominationRec.com
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