Archive for November 13th, 2012

November 13, 2012

LIVE REVIEW: RED BULL CULTURE CLASH (LONDON)

It was the biggest music battle to hit London this year and only one sound system could win. The rules were simple; four rounds which are 15 minutes long, you have to save the special guests and the dubs until the last round, you can’t play a tune that’s been played already and the winner is crowned from the decibel reading at the end…

Even though the rules were simple, Major Lazer played as if the rules were there to be broken, playing dubs and bringing out special guests before the end round. Round one kicked off with Channel One bringing roots and culture to the clash, moving on to Annie Mac who kicked off with tunes like ‘Clique’ and ‘212’.

Major Lazer played a Bruno Mars dub on the first round and then dropped their hit ‘Pon De Floor’, starting the first round off with electricity. Diplo also got into a massive blow up see-through ball and tumbled across the crowd in it.

Boy Better Know’s first round was so hyped; playing the biggest and best bass instrumentals from Pay As You Cartel’s ‘Know We’, Faze Miyake’s ‘Take Off’ and Breakage’s ‘Hard’. Just from the first round alone, I thought it was going to be Annie Mac or BBK who was going to win.

The second round is where it got tense, with Major Lazer playing more dubs and also bringing out Stylo G. BBK weren’t happy, as Skepta said: ‘You’re not meant to bring out special guests till the end, Major Lazor better turn their lazors off!”

Wiley’s hits ‘Heatwave’ and ‘Can You Hear Me’ were played in round two and the man himself also jumped into the crowd, giving fans a special surprise. P Money also MC’d over some dubstep on Annie Mac’s set. BBK got more upset on round three, with JME warning his competitors, saying ‘I’m gonna slap someone!’ Channel One also stepped in saying, ‘Major Lazer don’t disrespect, have some respect for the artist dem.’ Round three was called ‘Sleeping With The Enemy’, which meant they all had to play the sounds of an opponent’s sound system.

Round four was the time to get serious, where contestants brought the disses, the dubs and the guests. Major Lazer brought out impressive guests Rita Ora and Usher, which saw Rita have a wardrobe malfunction and revealing a boob! Usher performed ‘Climax’ with Diplo remixing it to a reggae version.

Annie Mac presented us with remarkable guests, including Maverick SabreKaty BMs Dynamite and Example. BBK got came with a Giggs dubplate, also bringing out their guests Lethal B and Chip.

BBK were crowned as the winners, but I think Major Lazer’s screams were bigger and Annie Mac played more of a variety – but you can’t win when rules are broken so they had to go home empty handed. Congratulations to BBK who played fair and came with wicked tunes and entertainment.

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November 13, 2012

MTV The Wrap Up: UK Rap Rundown

This week was an extremely busy week as on Tuesday myself and The Wrap Up’s editor Maz went to Paris to review No Doubt’s private comeback show; it may not be rap, but it was quality! Look out for the review coming soon. As soon as I hit the U.K I dashed to Wembley Arena for the Red Bull Culture Clash. Although I was shattered, the music and the vibes of the night kept me dancing and hyped at the exciting clash of four sound systems. Shouts to ExampleP MoneyLethal BChip and Ms Dynamite, just some of the brilliant special guests – and of course a big congrats to Boy Better Know who won the clash…

Jump Off TV had a debate on Monday with the subject revolving around one question; ‘Have the MOBO Awards Lost Touch with its Origins’? Many topics were touched upon, such as why two different genres, grime and hip-hop, were placed under the same category. Being two different types of music, some found it quite offensive that they have been put together. What did you think of the 2012 MOBO’s? Let us know on our Twitter page.

The youngest member of USG, Geko, teamed up with Windy Music’s Ard Adz and Sho Shallow to bring us the visuals to street track ‘Hate On Me’. Sho Shallow also dropped his remix to Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Poetic Justice’, showing his lyrical skill as he discussed his background, his friends, his girl and the haters, adding; ‘rhyming without punchlines to me is just nothing.’

Mic Righteous showed us his light-hearted side when he dropped his ‘Hold It Down’ video which sees him dressed up as an elephant messing about around London – it also has a cameo from a cat as well. This will be on Mic’s new EP ‘Open Mic’.

Fresh out of prison, veteran Skinnyman dropped some fresh, hot bars in his ‘2013’ exclusive freestyle with UK Rap TV. This is the first we have seen of him all year, but in true Skinnyman style he is still on his A-game, spitting lyrics fresh out of his brain there and then.

Blade Brown showed us a life of luxury and how he ‘did it all myself no manager’ as he headed to Dubai for video ‘Life Of Mine’. The track is gearing us up for his new mixtape ‘Bags & Boxes 2’ which will be out on November 30. Blade Brown also featured on G FrSH’s ‘Tell Em’ recently – be sure to check it out.

November 13, 2012

Skooled By Melanin 9 (M9) [Bars] – S1.EP2

SBTV releases the second episode of the first in it’s series of the Skooled By Series. For the second one they bring you Melanin 9, check it out.