That Babyshambles song that Stats produced is out on October 30th.
Ghostface Killah & Lady Sovereign
Sov is actually pretty famous in America now. Very strange.
I don't think I'll ever tire of these grime spoof videos (maybe).
I spotted Frisco (who was too busy to get me a drop for my mixtape) has laid down a verse on a song by this girl called GoldieLocks. The track's rather aptly named "Wasteman" (JU-OKE). Listen here.
A lesson in how to do a great PA at a club by Young Jeezy.
Me and my friend Luca have got a column in Vice where we recommend videos that you can watch online. The latest copy is below:
First up is "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" by Birdman & Lil' Wayne, taken from their joint album Like Father, Like Son. The video is nothing special, with the usual stuff like paper stacking, and Birdman Jr. with his shirt off most of the time, but the tune is a heater for sure. These two seem to be really taking the whole father and son thing to its ultimate fulfilment. I'm sure you've heard all the rumours propagated by Philly's Gilly Da Kid (an ex-Cash Money member who also claims to have ghostwritten for Weezy) that poppa Birdman and Wayne could regularly be spotted kissing each other on the lips. Hey Gilly, just because you dreamt something doesn't make it real (NO HOMO). Young Jeezy and Blood Raw from the Snowman's own Corporate Thugs Entertainment clique have recently vocalled this beat as well; the track's called "Stuntin' Like My Homies" and it's straight fire as you'd expect. By the way, fellow CTE member Slick Pulla has gotta be one of our favourite cats right now. If you heard his spots on the Can't Ban The Snowman tape earlier this year you'll know what we're talking about. If, on the other hand, you've been sleeping check out a tune by Slick called "Birds Fly".
Rick Ross, is back with another one about moving yayo. "Push It", produced by Cool & Dre even samples the Giorgio Moroder-produced theme tune from Scarface for that extra "rolled-up-mauve-blazer-sleeve" frisson. The video features Ross and some guys throwing money around and playing toy cars on a map of Miami. Did we mention how fat this guy is? Check out his bingo wings jiggling as he raises his arms in the dock scene. Eww... (NO HOMO). Ricky's Port Of Miami LP is a bit patchy, so if you need more Florida love in your life check Slip-N-Slide affiliate Plies, who is gooned out to the fullest and will be moving in 2007, trust us. Plies and a whole bag of other up-and-coming Sunshine State MCs are featured on DJ Smallz's excellent Fear Factor Florida mixtape, which has been getting regular rotations around these parts.
If all that gooned out stuff isn't your thing then maybe you'll like "Chain Hang Low" which is some real candy-ass shit from Jibbs out of St. Louis. This one takes that nursery rhyme: "do your ears hang low duh duh duh de duh de duh" and oh-so cleverly interpolates it into a tune about the length of Jibbs' chain (which he shows off for most of the video). It looks set to overtake "Laffy Taffy" as the tune that NY hip-hop purists point to as evidence of rap's continuing decline into gross materialism and idiocy. If you like the original you'll wanna check out the remix featuring Yung Joc, Lil' Wayne, Rich Boy and Lil' Mont. Another huge St. Louis banger to check right now is "Pop Lock & Drop It" by recent Jive records signee Huey.
Few rap troupes have stood the test of time as well as the sneaker homage. Berkley's The Pack would have you believe that it's all about Vans; they're pictured in their "Vans" video tossing pristine coke whites into a garbage can (the sacrilege!). The song has been about for a minute but the 12" has just been released, and we only like to fuck with vinyl, so we're back on it. A cursory examination of internet hip-hop message boards (this is what we do all day, btw) will reveal that The Pack are taking a controversial stand with their choice of footwear. The best comment we've seen on this life-or-death issue thus far went something like (sic): "IM FROM THE BAY AND ALL BUT FAREAL... VANS? DAMN DOG U MAKIN US LOOK LIKE SKATER PUNKS... 'FUCK YO VANS' REMIX GOES HARD". The "Fuck Yo Vans" remix mentioned is by San Francisco's Drino Man, and has now pretty much eclipsed the original in terms of popularity. Also on the hyphy tip we're feeling Oakland's The A'z. Their "Yadadamean" cut (which we first heard on DJ Heat's The New Bay Vol. 4 back when it came out) is definitely one of the best tracks out of the Bay this year.
Despite seeing the video over in the US last year, us Brits are only getting a release of the Scott 'I look like I've had plastic surgery on my face' Storch-produced "Turn It Up" by Chamillionaire on November 13th. It's a double a-side with "Grown And Sexy". Staying in Texas, our number one sure shot tape out of there right now has to be DJ Rapid Ric's All Flows From Da Garage. It's straight fire from start to finish - the whole Whut It Dew family spitting right off the dome over some nice cutting and chopping from the Mixtape Mechanic.
Oh shit, we nearly forgot to mention that we're putting on our own club night at the Old Blue Last soon and you'll get a chance to hear all the stuff we're talking about here. Look out for it.
PRANCEHALL & EASYCHORD
Lethal Bizzle has just put out his own version of Cribs on Youtube. I can honestly say I've never seen someone so enthusiastic about their clock or kettle before.
Faction G was on the Richie Vibe Vee show last night previewing tracks from his forthcoming mixtape Fact Remains. Listen back here. He's made a video for "3 Options" which I've already seen and will be previewing on here next week.
Dirty Canvas is back this Saturday at the ICA. Details below: The Movement (Scorcher, Ghetto, Wretch 32) L.Man Logan Sama (Kiss FM) Kode 9 (Hyperdub) DJ Magic (Soul 2 Streets) Zezi (Super Super)
Saturday Oct 14, 2006 8:00 PM - 2.00AM ICA, The Mall, London, UK, SW1
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Logan Sama's October chart:
Ghetto - Top 3 Selected Wiley - Pump Up Tone Up President T - Heard What I Said Chronik - Bumbahclart Badman Doctor & South Agents - Gotta Man remix Kano & Vybz Kartel - Buss It Up Scorcher - Chance Us JME - Understand Me Ny ft Purple - Fire Remix Donaeo - Ravin
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There's a Dizzee Rascal remix on Chamillionaire's new UK single "Turn It Up". I got sent the CD today - it's pretty good, nothing special.
I've been reliably informed that Chronik's Blaze More Dan U mixtape will be out next week. Expect to see it out in about a month or two then. Only joking - hopefully it'll be out next week.
This is the new Babyshambles single, "Janie Jones", which Statik produced. Look out for Stats in the video with Mick Jones. There's a remix featuring Lethal B and JME.
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DJ Mak 10's October chart:
Garna - Boxed Chunkie B - Don't U Know (Remix) Karnak - Honey J Mixer - Jordan Riddim Caos - Magician Caos - My My My D.O.K. - Alien Ganjaman - Beetlejuice Spyro - Beatage Blackjack - Wartime
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Wiley has made a dub for Newham Generals, which Logan played on his show on Monday. Download here.
The kids are all saying MC Narstie won the clash, but I'm not sure. Scorcher didn't put any effort in and Narstie's big and fat and annoying.
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Before I go, I might as well let you know about a recent embarassing incident. I thought I spotted Manga in Eastenders playing the character Squiggle and so I excitedly wrote in last week requesting an autograph only to find out when I received the signed photo in the post that it was infact a female cast member. Bummerville.
There is no way I am paying for Lord Of The Mic 2, so unless I get a free copy I'm just gonna wait for all the best clashes to be uploaded on Youtube. Above is Skepta vs. Devilman. Skepta wins, which is no big surprise. Part 2 here.
I've spent all weekend saying Derkhead over and over. Skepta likes the JME song so much that he has a fit when it comes on in the above video.
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Really good Roll Deep show on Rinse FM last night. Download here
Just came across this video of Tempa T on some Ego 6 tracks. The beats are pretty swag but Tempz rescues the video by going crazy with a baseball bat.
I got forwarded info about the "Coulibaly" single by Amadou & Mariam the other day. I've never heard of them before, but their whole thing is that they're blind. Also, they've sold like 700,000 copies of their latest album, which is a lot. The 12" has a Mikey J remix featuring Kano that I want to hear. I'll let you know what it sounds like if I can get someone to send me a copy.
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I've set up a new Myspace page to preview tracks from my mixtape. Check it out here. (I won't be adding people unless they feature in some way on the mixtape - I know that's gonna disappoint a lot of people, but I'm afraid life can be cruel sometimes).
I'm trying to get the mixtape recorded (with hosts) and put out within the next 2 weeks, so keep an eye out.
I did an interview with Chamillionaire a while back. You can read it here.
No doubt if you bother to read that article, it will come as no surprise that not only am I the number one expert in the world on grime, I am also a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to US hip hop. Using my vast expertise I have managed to discover probably the best new rapper in the states. Right now he's completely unknown, but trust me by this time next year he'll be getting more love over there than anyone. He's hencher than 50 Cent, has got more street authenticity than Young Jeezy and sounds a lot like Keak Da Sneak (but obviously he's got his own unique style). Anyway, check him out:
He's pretty special, no?
Ok, just got one last thing to show you before I go. Who remembers that video of Danny Walker from earlier this year which showed him dancing to "Pow" at home? Well, he's up to his old antics again. I'm not going to say a word, just check out the footage for yourself:
I met Slix from Ruff Sqwad earlier today and he gave me a copy of his new mixtape, Down Vol. 1. He told me he's putting it out at the same time as the new Ruff Sqwad mixtape so people will hopefully pick up his tape when they go to get Guns N Roses 2. Good thinking there. I see what he's trying to do - I like it, I like it. One thing though: there's 22 tracks on his mixtape, which is great and everything, but maybe a bit excessive for one CD. Wouldn't it make more sense if these guys cut the track count down a little bit, got one or two more guest features on there and put them out a bit more regularly? Then if they released them more frequently, they could afford to cut the price a little. (At the moment grime mixtapes cost 2 or 3 times more than US Hip Hop tapes). Just a suggestion.
Oh yeah, Slix did a quick freestyle too:
For some reason he couldn't get over his dangerous my area was - taxis whizzing by, guys on bicycles meandering along the road, old dudes skulking by. It was quite a lot for him.
OMG, nearly forgot to mention what the mixtape is like. It's great. Honestly I was a little shocked at how good it is. I rate Slix a lot but not many people in grime have managed to make a good mixtape, so I wasn't expecting that much. (Although, as with every mixtape, all of the hip hop ones are simply a waste of disc space. People need to stop making token hip hop tracks).
Slix's new tattoo.
Here is the CD posing with my friend's signed Jay-Z record. Did I mention I got offered free tickets for Jay-Z at Wembley and seats three rows from the front at the Royal Albery Hall but turned them down? Once you've seen Jammer freestyling live over Britney records, the prospect of seeing an ugly 30-something-year-old American guy rapping doesn't really appeal. OK, I'm not being totally serious but honestly I'm not a big Jay-Z fan.
Jay-Z freestyled over "Pow" at the Royal Albert Hall show, which would've been nice to see, but I also would've had to sit through a performance by Chris Martin. I think I made the right choice.
I got the DJ Wonder LP a few weeks back. It's pretty good; haven't listened to it properly yet, though. I really hate Bruza so it's a shame he's on there, but on the whole it's a decent album. I guess it's just nice to see people getting stuff out there.
