Certified Banger

Free Downloads from Mr. B, Kulez, Wizard and Sermstyle!

2009-11-03T20:53:00.003+04:00

I'm back with more!

Kulez has dropped this free download featuring the menacing 'Creeep' and the hyperactive 'Bo!' on which he flips some skateboarding vocabulary. Download it here.

Mr. B rips up an old skool beat on his free download 'Step Up To It (Mr. Brown)' which can be downloaded at Bandcamp. James Brown gets sampled one more time whilst Mr. B makes himself known. Check the video here.

Wizard dropped a new beat tape called 'Massage Parlour Music' which can be downloaded here.

North Easterly producer Sermstyle has also dropped a free download featuring his beats but this time some big name US MCs are riding the beats. Expect rhymes from Jadakiss, 50 Cent, Eminem, The Game and more. Download it now.

If it's video type stuff you're looking for then Doc Freud and Gadget have 'Lost', the Organix heads have them live in the centre of Bolton annoying the shopppers no doubt, Jaisu's got his sixth beat tape for you to watch (always entertaining and inspiring) and Jah Digga's got 'Black and Proud' up on youtube for you all to earpeep.

Free Downloads from JC & Nicky Taurus, Pete Cannon & Foreign Beggars, Tom Caruana & MF Doom and Joker Starr!

2009-11-03T20:20:00.004+04:00

Woah! Feel like I've not posted on here for a while and there's been nuff stuff happening in this UK Hip Hop world. In no particular order:

JC dropped a track from his forthcoming project. Nicky Taurus does the vocal duties and it's called 'Look At Me' - I'm liking the slap bass. Check the No Money Records website for me info.

Pete Cannon (once known as Mr. Dick) of the group Tactical Thinking got himself interviewed over at Rago magazine and if you didn't already, check out his remix of the Foreign Beggars track with Guilty Simpson - 'Prove It' - big.

One of my favourite artists right now Tom Caruana has gone and done a whole MF DOOM remix album and as you'd expect with Doom's rhymes and Caruana's productions it is a banger! Go get it for free here. Apparently there are more to come from Brand Nubian, J-Live, Wu-Tang and more!

Joker Starr posted up a free download called 'Clash of the Titans' which is Ex Machina's remix of a track by US MC Shadowstar (I think that's correct). Anyway, it's dope so download it.

That's enough for now but I'll be back with more yo.

Souls of Mischief Live In London!

2009-10-30T21:04:00.003+04:00

Are you mad? You don't wanna go to this? I do but probably won't be able too - so why don't you go for me? The legendary Souls of Mischief, lyrical beast Skandal, the much-hyped Charlie Sloth, ex-Scratch Pervert Mr. Thing and hostage by Mystro and more - sounds like a good do to me. Monday 9th November is the date (definitely can't make it!) and the Carhartt Store is the place - drinks on the house apparently. Click on the flyer to see the full thing.

'Literary Vices' - Verbal Contact (EP review)

2009-10-30T20:52:00.002+04:00

Don’t know about life in Leeds? Well, Matter and Prys are willing to be your tour guides for half an hour. Their debut EP is entitled ‘Literary Vices’ - a clue to the type of intelligence behind the lyrics of Verbal Contact.

Opener ‘First Impressions’ pulls no punches as the MCs introduce themselves over a seriously heavy beat. ‘Wasteland’ is a day in the life of and ‘Tourist Information’ follows – this is Leeds. ‘Likad 2nite’ features Mr. Ris (of label mates Alphabetix) and details the highs and lows of a typical night out (as does ‘Misadventures’) whereas ‘David’s Struggle’ takes a more serious tack – a cautionary tale about the life and times of a drug dealer.

Most of the EP is on a real boom bap Hip Hop tip but the final track ‘Mind The Gap’ showcases their doubletime flows and features Grime MC Devalish aka Dialect (who recently featured on Westwood TV alongside Asher Don) – proof that this crew aren’t close minded and do whatever it take to make good music.

‘Literary Vices’ is out on 30 Tonne Slug on 30th November.

'Sirens Comin' - DJ Shepdog (Busta vs. Dizzee Mashup)

2009-10-30T20:15:00.003+04:00

Check out DJ Shepdog's youtube channel for more mashups and DJ type jugglinz such as Dead Prez vs. Damien Marley and Gorillaz vs. Malente.

'Talk To Frank' - Virus Syndicate (video)

2009-10-30T15:38:00.001+04:00

Skandal & Faith SFX on DJ Gone TV (video)

2009-10-30T12:28:00.000+04:00

'Chop-Hop History' - Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer (video)

2009-10-30T12:08:00.000+04:00

'Engurland (City Shanties)' - Dizraeli (album review)

2009-10-29T16:16:00.003+04:00

Revitalizing, invigorating, stimulating – nope, not some soap-based beauty product but Dizraeli’s ‘Engurland (City Shanties)’. UK Hip Hop has not seen anything quite like this before.

With clear folk influences the album begins with ‘Homeward Bound (On The Overground)’ which lays out all the essentials of what’s to come, only the rapping is missing; seamen’s harmonics, beats, guitars and fiddles and scratched samples will get you stoked for the rest of the album.

The album flows perfectly, each song seems to share elements with the last. ‘Engurland’ is a gloriously sarcastic anthem and a faultless analysis of our society – I defy you not to sing along. Then, before you know it Dizraeli is imagining the staff of a supermarket making sweet music using everyday objects on the comical ‘Bomb Tesco’. ‘Take Me Dancing’ has the most beautiful melodies, ‘Pen Tangle’, ‘It Won’t Be Long’ and ‘Reach In’ provide a few minutes respite from Hip Hop then ‘Maria’ sees Dizraeli skilfully tell the sad story of love gone bad.

‘Reach Out’ proves itself to be the perfect track – one that stands alone as well as something that contributes so much to the structure of an album. It sounds just as great on the LP.

‘Engurland (City Shanties)’ was released on Monday 12th October, can be heard here and is a must for your collection if you are fan of plain good music. Look out for ‘Bomb Tesco’ – coming soon as a single with video and D&B remix.

'Remixes From The Edge' by Ghost Coming Soon

2009-10-29T14:46:00.005+04:00

Heaviness from UK producer Ghost soon come:

"This album is compilation of remixes I decided to give away for free. All tracks remixed by Ghost, a big thanks to all the artists for letting me remix their great work, support the artists and buy their official releases."

Go listen to the snippet mixes now - they're terrific! Whilst you're at the marvelous bandcamp why not stream his other albums and then buy them if you haven't already. Support good music!

The release of 'Remixes From The Edge' will coincide with the launch of Ghost's new website and will feature Foreign Beggars, The Heavy, Coldcut, Dabrye and Doom, Photek, Anti Pop Consortium and Bonobo.

Masta Ace & Edo G Live in Leeds!

2009-10-29T12:52:00.004+04:00

Get across to this - not to be missed! Masta Ace and Edo G live in Leeds with support from Verbal Contact (who're making this their 'Literary Vices' EP launch), Alphabetix, J Bravo, Defenders of Style plus DJs Sinical an Prolific. If you get there at 9pm there will be breakdancing battles too - and all for £5 - bargain!

'On My Jais: The Prelude' - Jai (review)

2009-10-28T21:22:00.002+04:00

Dopest female MC right now? Jai. Easy. It’s been out for a little while now but Jai’s ‘On My Jais:The Prelude’ is a great release from a true wordsmith. 14 tracks of Jai all on her own is hardly necessary – one verse on one track is enough for her to prove herself. But, since she’s so skilled you’ll be thankful there are 14 tracks.

The beats are real Hip Hop proving that Jai is a real head – not some Grime upstart jumping on the latest craze. The lyrics are cleverly put together with plenty of sense-making multis. Her flow is immaculate, her voice is anything but annoying and her subject matter is varied enough to keep things interesting although this release would benefit from some more original concepts and topics.

As I said, ‘On My Jais: The Prelude’ is already available and Suspect Packages have it in stock.

'It's My City' ft. Ricky Blaze/'Just Say Yes' ft. Darren B - Jelluzz (single review)

2009-10-28T20:12:00.004+04:00

Jelluzz is back with more of his sugary urban pop this time roping in NYC's Ricky Blaze for chorus duties on 'It's My City' and Darren B for 'Just Say Yes'.

Strictly made for fans of anyone like Chipmunk (i.e. Grime artists from London who are now on Radio 1, T4 etc) these two tracks are synthy, upbeat and about inane stuff like partying with champagne and getting girls into double beds.

Jelluzz is about as Americanised as someone who still has a North London accent (and a pretty likeable flow) can be and there are plenty of teenagers who ride buses whilst playing music through tinny phone speaks who would love to bump this in a similar way.

'It's My City' is out on 3oth November on Big Deal Management.

'Everything' - Jaycee Payaso (single review)

2009-10-28T19:59:00.003+04:00

Sermstyle's poppy/urban current production style suits Jaycee's R'n'B type singing and with the right push I can imagine Jaycee Payaso having a reasonable go at the pop charts. Apparently Cheryl Cole has already invited him to work with her so who knows?

'Everything' is a typical smooshy love song about trying to be the best you can be in a relationship and in its own little way it's quite catchy. Silvar provides a rapped verse and proves to be easier to take in a small dose and whilst his lyrics remain simplistic he does flip some nice flows.

The second track 'My Girl's Blessed' employs autotune and appears to be pretty hard (in an R'n'B-ish way) until the chorus - then unfortunately, it flops.

'Everything' is out on 23rd November on Razeone.

'Searching' - Silvar (single review)

2009-10-28T19:46:00.003+04:00

I could write this review with one line: Silvar - not for fans of Hip Hop. I won't just leave it at that though; you need to know why. If I'm not mistaken 'Searching' is produced by Sermstyle who can produce decent Hip Hop beats. Instead for this release someone decided that synthy-dance-mulch based beats would do. It's obvious this is aimed at folk who listen to the radio and go to see X Factor winners in concert but I doubt this will even cut it with them - it's a bit too mundane.

The beat for 'Too Famous' panders a little less to the latest urban trends but it's clear from Silvar's simplistic lyrics that he has limited scope - he talks about a girl wearing his rolex in both tracks on this single.

'Searching' is probably out sometime soon (possibly November 2nd) on Razeone.

Markus The Sadist - West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, 27th October 2009 (review)

2009-10-28T15:49:00.000+04:00

Playing to a fairly diverse audience, including those who I suspect don’t frequent the theatre, Jonzi D’s cast of eight wowed the audience at the West Yorkshire Playhouse last night with their performance of his rap opera ‘Markus The Sadist’.

Using minimal props and scenery alongside music, dancing, video and of course rapping and acting, lead man Bashy and the crew document the rise and fall of a skilled, young and conscious MC lured by all the trappings of being a successful Hip Hop artist (click here to read more of the plot).

The exaggerated storyline which includes a UK rapper making it big in the states (albeit with a fake accent) and then later having a forced frontal lobotomy to make him conform to The Company’s desires (selling products and ideas to the masses) delivers a much-needed message to both rap fans and rap denouncers. Skills, friendship, family, respect, morals and responsibility are all explored through a highly comical, extremely clever and rhyming script.

Acting from the whole troupe is on point making for very believable characters and representations. Bashy plays both the “nice boy” Markus and the gangsta Markus The Sadist (a reference to Marquis De Sade) with ease – look out for more of his acting skills. Irish comedian and rapper Rob Broderick brings bags of humour to the proceedings whilst Colleen Joseph injects high octane dance routines.

Composed by the award-winning Soweto Kinch, the music (a most important aspect in a production about Hip Hop) perfectly suits each different scene making ‘Markus The Sadist’ into a genuine product of real rap fans.

If you thought visiting a theatre to see a play about a rapper would be corny, think again. These aren’t actors pretending to be, these are real people doing what they really do – people with real skills. By showing up what is false and immoral in the world of platinum rap Jonzi D has produced a dazzling piece of theatre that will remind you of why you loved Hip Hop in the first place. A must see.

'Champion Fraff' - Contact Play (album review)

2009-10-28T15:36:00.002+04:00

Look past the dopely presented CD and the well executed tracks (great production, talented MCs) and ‘Champion Fraff’ is an hour’s worth of schoolboy humour, tales of drunkness and unsubstantiated sex stories brought to you by a group of lads who are proud of their wasteman personas.

If Mr. Key, Dirty Dyke, Ronnie Bosh, Ed Scissor Tongue and Jamm Baxter were actually funny then their funky and technical rhyme styles, sing-along choruses and bouncy production would be put to good use. ‘Fingers In Your Nose’ is a song about snot, now Dead Residents proved on Vee Kay’s ‘Bogey Homicide’ that that concept can be funny, but when Contact Play do it, it’s just not.

‘Death of a Prick’ is proof that this crew have what it takes as they tell the story of a man wastes his life away. Now I don’t know for sure but it seems that a lot of the lyrics are just a front and that if you met them, these guys would actually be quite nice – who knows though. This LP is not for me but I can think of heads who would love it.

Production comes from TwoManySteps, Adrian, Cire, Karem Fraiche, Mr. Constant, Andy Dextrous, Medison and Jimmy Wahgwan – no names that I know but each certainly knows how to build dope beats – my favourite part of the album.

‘Champion Fraff’ is out now on School Bully Records and can be bought at Suspect Packages.

'Revenge of the Blowfish' - Squid Ninjaz (album review)

2009-10-28T15:16:00.003+04:00

Drawing comparisons between Squid Ninjaz and Wu-Tang would be easy, lazy journalism – but I’ll do it anyway because it seems so apt: there are lots of them, they’re dirty and grimey and there’s the whole martial arts thing too.

The production comes from Metabeats mainly although Dogruffbeats, Lousain Hekla and Imakemadbeats all pitch in too with beats. Sparse, crunchy and dusty and ultimately very heavy backdrops back up the Squids – the LP’s strength.

Opener ‘8 Bars’ features fifteen MCs who all come in full on ill lyrical mode. However, as the album goes on the allusions to violence and misogyny wear pretty thin – if you can stomach it to begin with. I appreciate their quest to bring “raw raps” but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t necessitate so much sordid imagery. For some heads – this is just what you’re looking for. For me, it’s not. Having said that, all these MCs have skills – they all rhyme the rhyme well – it’s just the relentless content that’s the problem.

Single ‘Luna Disco’ is a dope track and I can’t front on that!

‘Revenge Of The Blowfish’ will be out on December 7th on Squid Ninja Records.

'Mind Of A Tehranist' - emceeKilla (album review)

2009-10-28T15:01:00.002+04:00

An album almost based solely on one man’s deep mistrust of all authority might sound daunting but emceeKilla’s ‘Mind Of A Tehranist’ lightens the blow with upbeat headnod productions and likeable flows.

For just under 50 minutes emceeKilla “speak[s] a tough message but keep[s] it fun”. The message in question nears on conspiracy theory but challenges how the listener thinks about government and media. Whilst you may not agree with his thoughts, it’s certainly good to question the status quo and how much you might be ignoring. Towards the end of the album subject matter lightens and changes a little with ‘More British’ and ‘Jah Guide’.

'Brick Wall' features Australian MCs Frenic, Koziosko and Plarks and 'Web Of Deceit' features Manage.

‘Mind of a Tehranist’ will be out soon on Dealmaker Records and can be bought digitally at Amazon.

London Posse Biography

2009-10-28T12:26:00.004+04:00

The multi-talented DJ Jimmy Green aka Jimbo Jones has written some essential reading for fans of UK Hip Hop. He's done a concise history of London Posse, or a biography if you like. It's really worth a read and there's a chance you'll learn a few new things:

"London Posse were one of the most influential groups in British hip hop, and one of the first to sound authentically British. Pretty much everyone who MCs now in the UK owes them a debt, from Roots Manuva to Jehst to Wiley to Ghetto to...well, you name your favourite UK rapper, or anyone who raps in his or her own accent about things that are local to them, and it'll be pretty much down to the London Posse's trailblazing series of classic (but sporadic) releases in the 80s and 90s."

You can read the article here on his blog.

Mystro Investigate #1 - Horse Riding

2009-10-27T20:50:00.001+04:00

I kid you not - here is a video of UK rapper Mystro learning to ride a horse, asking why people don't ride zebras and then finding that his balls have "gone all up inside" him! Quality TV.

The Line Up ft. SonnyJim & Jack Flash - This Friday in Leeds

2009-10-27T15:58:00.004+04:00

Since Friday is on its way and Friday 30th October means The Line Up in Leeds I thought I'd post this to remind you and to give yourself something to do in preparation.

On Friday I'll be grabbing an interview with SonnyJim. It's been over a year since my last interview with him and things have changed up in the Eat Good Records camp so it'll be good to catch up. If you weren't with me a year ago you should check out that interview. For everything else I've posted about him, including free tunes, click here.

You may not have heard the name Extra Curricular but you will know Jack Flash - the MC of the live band. If it's an interview with Mr. Flash you want then look no further than here - also from about a year ago.

Defenders of Style (aka DS Fam) are a dope underground act from Leeds who will be releasing a mixtape ('Thoughts of the Nameless') very soon - keep your ears pricked and your browsers pointing towards http://www.certifiedbanger.blogspot.com/ for more news.

Farma G Joins Rock Band The Invasion Of...

2009-10-27T15:48:00.004+04:00

Here are some photos of Task Force's Farma G performing with his new band The Invasion Of...

In an interview I did recently with Farma G for the next issue of Bonafide Magazine he had this to say about his new project:

"I have joined a band called The Invasion Of. It is a straight up Rock band in which I perform the lead vocals (no rap). Our drummer is the world famous Gary Powell ex Libertines/Dirty Pretty Things. Watch this space!"

'RIP Life' - G-Range (video)

2009-10-27T12:31:00.000+04:00

Markus The Sadist in Leeds and Ipswich

2009-10-26T18:29:00.005+04:00

Markus The Sadist - A Hip Hop Opera featuring the acting talent of Bashy, the musical input of Soweto Kinch and the overall mastermindery of Jonzi D is coming to the end of its UK tour. The remaining dates are:

Mon 26th October - Tue 27 October
LEEDS West Yorkshire Playhouse
7.45pm

Fri 30 October - Sat 31 October
IPSWICH New Wolsey Theatre
7.45pm

Go see it, who knows, it may get a permanent residency in the West End if it continues to proves popular.