Certified Banger

'Forever LuvLee' - Dres of Black Sheep

2009-11-21T13:18:00.003+04:00

Loving this new track from Dres - the video goes really well with the lyrics as Dres parodies all these flossy, jiggy rappers. This is the first single from From 'The Black Pool Of Genius: The Prelude', available December 1st.

Mystro Investigates: The Circus Space

2009-11-21T01:36:00.001+04:00

DJ Yoda Christmas Fun!

2009-11-20T20:09:00.000+04:00

Diversion Tactics, Krate Krusaders, Tactical Thinking and 3 Amigos Live At Top Billin!

2009-11-20T19:55:00.003+04:00

Featuring the hefty line up of Diversion Tactics, Krate Krusaders, Tactical Thinking and 3 Amigos this is defo not one to miss for you south coasters. 9th December is the date, White Rabbit is the place - I only wish I could be there.

SkinnyMan, SonnyJim, D.Gritty & DJ First Aid Live at Top Billin!

2009-11-20T19:51:00.002+04:00

Top Billin must put on the best Hip Hop nights in the UK right now judging by their latest two line ups. On the 27th November be at the White Rabbit in Plymouth for SkinnyMan, SonnyJim, the release of a Sika Studios Mixtape and D.Gritty and DJ First Aid.

UK Graffer Kev Munday's Solo Show!

2009-11-20T19:46:00.003+04:00

UK artist Kev Munday has a new exhibtion which is running 'til January. 'Making It Up As I Go Along' (could be the title of my autobiography) is on at 37 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London and his work will be available to buy with limited edition giclee prints starting at only £45. check his website for more info and examples of his work.

Certified Banger Presents 'On The Radar Vol. 5' Coming Soon!

2009-11-20T18:56:00.000+04:00

Suspect Packages Radio Show with SonnyJim & Kosyne

2009-11-19T22:11:00.003+04:00

Head over to Disorda's blog for the latest Suspect Packages Radio Show featuring SonnyJim, Kosyne and R.Tillery live in the studio and brand new tracks from the likes of Verbal Contact, Foreign Beggars, Skuff & Inja, Endemic & Cappo and more.

Also check out the Suspect Packages shop for Barbie Analogue's EP (that's C-Mone's alter ego by the way), Pre-orders of the Verbal Contact EP, the limited edition Ramson Badbonez mixtape and Skandal's mixtape - all big in their own way.

'Rockin With The Best' - Precise Da Analyzer (free download)

2009-11-18T21:52:00.005+04:00

Precise Da Analyzer (an MC who impressed me on the Rapsploitation Sessions compilation CD) is readying himself (and us) for the release of his LP by dropping this free to download single.

'Rockin With The Best' is the title track - some good solid Hip Hop with name drops ranging from Pete Docherty to KRS One to a range of history's best (or worse) dicatators - turns out Precise is rockin' with all of them!

'Analyze' be the B-side and Mr. Da Analyzer analyzes how good he is over the eastern-sounding beat. He also drops some more similies that refer to famous people.

LDNU Records are letting you have this for free so head to their website and say thank you in some way.

'Seven Figure Swagger' - Foreign Beggars (single review)

2009-11-18T21:00:00.002+04:00

You may think ‘Contact’ is a hard act to follow... unless you’ve heard ‘United Colours of Beggattron’. If you have heard the latest Foreign Beggars LP then you’ll know of their follow-up single – ‘Seven Figure Swagger’ featuring Dubbledge and Badness.

‘Seven Figure Swagger’ is a healthy serving of sparse, futuristic Electro-Hop courtesy of Holland’s Rednaz. Dubbledge comes as charismatic as he did on his ‘Lips To The Floor’ remix and Badness represents the more mature end of the Grime scene as they cheekily lambaste Rap’s obsession with material wealth and the like.

The lead track is backed with ‘Don’t Dhoow It’ (another electro production hailing from foreign shores, this time from Norway’s King Knut). The Foreign Beggars MCs get live on a mini-story telling tip.

Both these heavy productions are accompanied by remixes – Machinedrum reworks the B-side on an Electro-Disco vibe and Dubstep beast Bar9 transforms ‘Seven Figure Swagger’ into a banger bigger than most tracks in that genre – this one is the gem of the collection!

‘Seven Figure Swagger’ b/w ‘Don’t Dhoow It’ will be released via Dented Records/Essential Music on November 23rd.

'Careful On The Way Up' - Diversion Tactics (album review)

2009-11-18T02:25:00.002+04:00

Authentic Hip Hop from the UK – don’t believe that? OK – Percee P and Tim Dog, two pioneering Bronx rappers, feature on this LP. Believe me now? Thought so. Need proof from the UK? UK legend Blade endorses this by lending an out-of-retirement verse – dopeness and total awesomeness in my books.

‘No Collaborations’ features no collaborations – with lyrics like “if you think this is about you, then this is about you” Chubby holds his own over the banging beat shaming you for ever needing big names to recommend ‘Careful On The Way Up’ to you. As well as Blade ‘Three Card Blag’ features back-on-the-rise D.Gritty – top tune.

When top quality producers Jazz T and Zygote aren’t doing their dusty thing, Tommy Koi is flipping some 80s-sounding cheese on ‘Return of the Ladies Man’ and The Last Skeptik is doing the honours on the neck snapping ‘Where I’m From?’ (on which Chubby discusses the roots of Hip Hop).

Previously heard tracks ‘Can’t Swim’ and ‘Back To School’ (produced by J-Zone) still sound aces as part of this small (35 minutes – just how I like it) but perfectly formed LP with won’t be released until January 11th 2010 on the Boot label.

'Thoughts Of The Nameless' - Defenders of Style (mixtape review)

2009-11-18T02:04:00.005+04:00

With Big Band Swing samples, crunching and crashing drums and a crew of hungry Yorkshiremen on the mic ‘Thoughts of the Nameless’ is one of the properest releases you’ll hear this year.

With 100% original productions from Jack Danz, High Top, Prys and Mike D this hour long mixtape is as good as a full blown album. Prys, Jack Danz, Jay Snow aka Lip and Tongue Tied rap their way through the 15 full tracks with enough style and skill to remind even the biggest fan of N-Dubz what real Hip Hop is all about.

Title track ‘Thoughts of the Nameless’ stands out with it’s jaunty posturing and the laid back Jazz guitar of ‘Vision of Utopia’ combined with its lyricism make it a Northern classic. ‘Stronger’ is an ardent war cry influenced by the robbery of all their music making equipment complete with beats and lyrics – this set is a fine comeback from these setbacks. ‘Fight Club’ serves to prove they have not been left weakened. ‘Stealth Mission’ is a fine example of Jack Danz’s slight obsession with the aforementioned Big Band Swing samples.

Singer Chenai lends vocal beauty to the proceedings and associates Matter (who is one half of Verbal Contact with Prys) and Mr. Ris and Sir Plus (of Alphabetix) bring their verses to the table.

‘Thoughts Of The Nameless’ is out soon and will be available at the mighty Suspect Packages. Certified Banger says buy it. Disorda says buy it. So buy it.

'Tomorrow Never Comes' ft Doom Man & Aaron Norton - Sam Khan (video)

2009-11-18T00:55:00.002+04:00

New video from rising artist Sam Khan featuring rapper Doom Man and indie artists Aaron Norton. The video tells a little concept story and is done well - a compelling watch. Production comes from Hi-Rolla and you can find out more here.

Nirvana's 'Lithium' covered by Human Beatboxer thePETEBOX (video)

2009-11-18T00:48:00.002+04:00

Here's UK Human Beatboxer thePETEBOX putting his talents to what some may consider as controversial use - performing a cover of Nirvana's 'Lithium' with a guitar and a loop pedal - dopeness for you open-minded heads out there.

'Soulscapes & Jazz Breaks' - Pat D & Lady Paradox (album review)

2009-11-17T22:20:00.004+04:00

Pat D and Lady Paradox have returned with a brilliant LP by all accounts. Any one of this album’s elements on its own would have me championing the record but the fact is that everything I look at – beats, rhymes, content, guests etc – is all of such a high quality. It’s the album’s positivity that binds its essentials into a super-cohesive body of work.

Pat D’s ear for an accessible Jazz sample combined with his coordination of real life musicians makes for evocative, laid back yet heavy productions – and that goes for each of the 12 tracks – it’s all first-rate.

Lady P’s rhymes are insightful, thoughtful and thought provoking and in no way does she resort to clichés. ‘Dear Negativity’ paints negativity and positivity as people who appear in our lives and ‘Juicy Grub’ and ‘What’s It Worth’ celebrate music of all genres, displaying a real love and knowledge of music from Hi-Dialect, US MC Melodiq and Lady Paradox. Her flow is simple and clear and her voice is different to that of your average femcee. Her thoughts and way of expressing herself are in the same vein as Jehst and Lewis Parker.

The featured artists complement the overall feel and sound of the album with the standout guest being poetry/spoken word hero Benjamin Zephaniah on ‘New Dawn’, a story of love on which Zephaniah translates his poetry well over the trumpet-led production. Elsewhere Efeks, Izzy G, Shaheen, Praverb, Selone and Eva Lazarus feature.

‘Soulscapes & Jazz Breaks’, probably one of the most aptly-named albums ever, will be out soon and is sure to be album of whichever month it drops in (December 8th)! It’s being released on A Bridge Too Far Recordings. There will be a 12" EP version and a CD version of the full LP. The album can be streamed here and now.

On The Radar Artist Interview: Vee Kay

2009-11-17T18:13:00.005+04:00

"Sometimes I use a mic to record vocals, but most of the time I rock some headphones through the input so I can keep it grimey."

Sometime around the time when 'On The Radar Vol. 4' dropped, UK Hip Hop producer Vee Kay let himself loose on the Certified Banger stock questions. It is only now that I have come to terms with his lack of respect and decided to blow the dust off the Word Doc for your public eyes to see:

Certified Banger: Can you tell us your necessary background details so we can build on basics for the rest of the interview? For example: who you are, where you are from, projects you have worked on, people you have worked with.

Vee Kay: I'm Vee Kay, I make Hip Hop and trans-atlantic-speed-bhangra. It's a fairly new genre, but it's coming on with quite a following - so far there's about 14 people into it!

CB: How would you describe your sound? Is there any one track that would best define your style?

VK: My sound is a mixture of Rice Krispies and chocolate. Oh, sorry, that’s Krispy Cakes. Well then my style is just whatever it comes out like at the time of creation - sometimes I'll make a beat with an artist in mind and we'll go from there, otherwise it's whatever sound I find that inspires me first.

Click here to continue with the madness.

Phoenix Da Icefire Interview

2009-11-17T17:45:00.002+04:00

"Have you ever used the term vibe? ...what I do is listen to the vibe or vibration of the track and try to align myself with what I hear."

Having recently dropped his 'Baptism Under Fire' mixtape it was time that Certified Banger dusted off the old interviewing flex in order to get a few words from the man known only as Phoenix Da Icefire:

Certified Banger: Tell us about Phoenix Da Icefire - who is he?

Phoenix Da Icefire: The character I have created goes by the name of Phoenix Da Icefire, he is my alter ego, much more fierce and stronger than I show in my day to day life, I feel like I can do almost anything when I slip into the character of Phoenix.

I am also the other half of Higher Heights and was responsible for bringing out the ‘Anathema’ LP by Triple Darkness, I first featured on ‘High Fidelity’ (by M9) on a track called ‘Holy Water’ and a track that I have got for my album called ‘Mental Prisoners’. I put it on there so I could test the waters with the UK scene.

CB: You’ve just released your mixtape ‘Baptism Under Fire’. What else is on the way?

PDI: I’ve got an album coming called ‘Right Timing the Quantum Leap’, it features Kyza Smirnoff, Triple Darkness, 9 Planets, Jah Miracle, Midas Touch, Yasine and El Crisis.

Click here to read more!

'Im Doing It' - Genesis Elijah (video)

2009-11-17T01:52:00.003+04:00

Genesis Elijah is all growed up and serious - check this gem - 'I'm Doing It'. The beat is by Rich West.

'ParaSeapamol' ft. SeapaDee and Mark Alvarado - Paradox

2009-11-16T21:21:00.001+04:00

Its Not Long - Pyro (video)

2009-11-16T21:16:00.002+04:00

"They're like "you can't quit, everytime your bars hit//You strike a chord like you were Korn with a guitar pick"" - nice lyrics and the beat is by Loudmouth Melvin, the video is directed By Nitevisions.

Remembering Derek B

2009-11-16T20:08:00.005+04:00

Today news that UK Hip Hop pioneer Derek B has died of a heart attack reached us. I'm not old enough (or that's my excuse) to be super-knowledgable on this legend but others are:

Check out DJ MK's tribute to him in which he lists why this DJ and MC was so great (such as "THE FIRST PERSON I EVER SAW IN UK HIP HOP TO HAVE A MOBILE PHONE AND A PORSCHE IN 1987".)

DJ Diablo pays his respect here, AllHipHop.com do their bit here and the football section of The Mirror remember him as being a co-writer of 'The Anfiled Rap'. In fact, search for 'RIP Derek B' and you'll find a whole host of heads sad to hear the news.

Thoughts and prayers go to his family.

Chali 2na, Teef & Lazy Habits Live at Cargo!

2009-11-16T19:30:00.002+04:00

Get your tickets here!

'Golden Legacy' - Iron Braydz (free download)

2009-11-16T16:57:00.002+04:00

Slotting right into the mould that M9 and pals have been carving out over the last 2 years is Iron Braydz' 'Golden Legacy' taken from the forthcoming 'Devil May Cry' project. This track takes a different and more serious and religious route to the one taken on the Blind Alphabetz album.

'I Gotta'/'Gladiator' - Prose (free download)

2009-11-16T16:50:00.004+04:00

Free soulful boom bap Hip Hop from the crew called Prose. 'I Gotta' is a track that we can all relate to (unless you're very rich for whatever reason) - we have to work for our living. 'Gladiator' is a more fast-paced affair about dedication to the art of Hip Hop. Both tracks are real, full flavour Hip Hop with crunchy drums and samples and both instrumentals come in the package

These two tracks are taken from the forthcoming 'The Boombap Bootleg Vol. 2'.

Whilst you're over at Bandcamp (click the 'download it now' link below') check out their other free to download releases.

'Jack Of None (snippet mix)' - Byron (free download)

2009-11-16T16:45:00.004+04:00

Download a free sampler from an MC who seems to have appeared from nowhere. Byron, from the sounds of this 20 minute snippet mix, is a very dope MC and is definitely worth checking for in the future - I'll be listening out for sure when he drops his album 'Jack Of None'. Here's the press gubbins:

"Hailing from the much-maligned town of Slough, Byron's penchant for witty wordplay and intricate intonation are sure to establish the 23 year old as one of the best in the UK to ever touch a microphone. With original production from Loco (Joe Budden, Ghetto, Emeli Sande), M-Phazes (Amerie, Pharoah Monch, Royce Da 5"9) and Ghosttown (Jehst, Foreign Beggars, Dubbledge) his debut mixtape "Jack of None" is bound to set both Hip Hop & Grime scenes alight. The dawning of a new era in British Urban music is imminent."