Ahead of his forthcoming EP release Open Mic Mic Righteous was chosen to feature on the official Emeli Sande and Naughty Boy remix of Wonder
November 24, 2012
Ratlin – L’s Up ft. Scrufizzer, Youngs Teflon, No Lay & Rebler
Ratlin drops the first video from his forthcoming Crown Me mixtape with features from Scrufizzer, Youngs Teflon, No Lay and Rebler.
November 24, 2012
Giggs – Raw Bands [Music Video]
Giggs drops his latest video Raw Bands a freestyle over Juciy J‘s Bands A Make Her Dance.
November 23, 2012
MTV The Wrap Up: UK Rap Rundown
I hit Electric in Brixton on Wednesday night for the 2 Chainz show. Not really being into his music, I was pleasantly surprised to see him put on a good show to a packed crowd – but I was more interested in the supporting acts from the UK; J Spades and Mic Righteous. The long queue meant it was half full when J Spades was on, but by the time Mic got on the room was full and he was bursting with energy. He really won people over with ‘Sack City’…
Yesterday (Sunday) I went down to K Koke’s video shoot for his new track from his ‘I Ain’t Perfect’ album, which features fellow Roc Nation signee Rita Ora. The whole USG team were there and South London’s Ard Adz had a special role to play.
I talked to K Koke about the track and the video as he explained, “the single is called ‘Lay Down’, I’ve been working on this feature with Rita Ora. The video is based in prison and it’s just about prison life, talking to the youth and letting them know the roadside is not the way to go. It’s like a remix to ‘Listen Little Man.’”
We talk briefly about the chemistry between the two in the studio, with Koke saying, “Rita’s proper. She’s good stuff; she’s bubbly and easy going so we get along well.”
With the album out next spring, the lyricist talks about how he has progressed: “’I Ain’t Perfect’ is going to show growth, from ‘Pure Koke 1’ to ‘Pure Koke Vol 3’ there have been steps. ‘I Ain’t Perfect’ is going to be that big step that cements me in history.”
One of UK hip-hop’s rawest and realest MC’s released a video last week. We saw Genesis Elijah tell us why he is the ‘Underground King’ in his new track, explaining his views about the industry: “They don’t wanna put Elijah on lists that’s fine, I ain’t p***ed, but don’t act like the UK hip-hop scene ain’t mine when it is…”
Last week radio 1Xtra’s DJ Target premiered one of the leading tracks off Ratlin’s new ‘Crown Me’ EP, which is set to drop on December 10. The track entitled ‘Roley’ has a nice electronic, upbeat vibe and it’s going to be exciting to see what other tracks Ratlin has in store for us on the EP.
Bayoz Muzik dropped a street track ‘Soldiers’ featuring an impressive line up of J Spades,Blade Brown and Youngs Teflon. The track will be on his forthcoming ‘Death Of A Beatmaker’ EP.
Until next week!
November 23, 2012
K Koke Shows His Intentions Towards Dappy
Dappy has always shown his admiration towards K Koke bigging him up in songs like Tarzan, “The only mixtape I believe is K-Koke”, and from an outsiders perspective it looked like a possibility that the two might collaborate.
Dappy tweeted last night that he had just come off the phone to Roc Nation’s K Koke…
“Just come off the phone to @KokeUSG He had a bone to pick with me!!! Don’t worry we will make a Monsta together #BadIntentions out Now”.
Koke was obviously not happy with Dappy and tweeted him back
“NAH BRO I SAID WE WILLL TALK ABOUT IT#kokewillnotholla“.
Daps then asked him to holla when he was ready but clearly didn’t read the hastag above saying he wouldn’t holla…..
NAH SORRY BRO IM NOT INTERESTED U AINT CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH #iAintPerfect #TURNBACK OUT 25th #kokewillnotholla.
November 19, 2012
Ratlin ft Chrissy – Hood Testament [Music Video]
West London’s finest Ratlin releases the video to Hood Testament an inspirational track.
November 15, 2012
Busy Signal before he was arrested on extradition warrant [Interview]
Busy Signal is the famed dancehall artist from Jamaica. His exposure to music from a young age came from the church where he would go with his Mother a devout Christian. This is where he realised he possessed great vocal talent, singing hymns, and received his first encore from the church congregation. Moving to Kingston in his early teens, Busy would sneak out of the house at night to hear the sound systems of Bass Odyssey and Renaissance. He made several links in the hope of becoming a recording artist, voicing several dub plates. Busy Signal’s break through came in 2005 with ‘Not Going Down’, and the self produced ‘Step Out’, along with his debut album ‘Step Out’, in 2006. Fast forward to 2012 and Busy Signal releases his album ‘Reggae Reggae Again,’ a tribute to reggae music. (Please note the interview happened before his current legal issues.
How was it like being raised in Jamaica? What was your childhood like?
My childhood was very strict, and my mum was a Christian. I’d go with my mother, grandfather and grandmother to the church. I’d have a love for the music since I used to go to the church when I was a little kid. When I was growing up, it wasn’t easy but I loved music, and I was the most brilliant student at school.
How did you get into music, was it a progression or something you had always wanted to do?
I’ve always wanted to do music since I was little, something musical, I was always interested in having the microphone. I DJ’d at competitions after school. My first professional start was with a record label in Jamaica, I met DJ Kareem and Super Hype, and from there it was non-stop.
Where does the name Busy Signal come from?
My friends at the time, I always used to go out with people older than me. Almost every time we went out to a Dancehall or something I’m always all over the place, trying to go over there, or look at this, see this or whatever, they were like ‘Yo your too busy, your all over the place,’ and that’s how it really came about. So I’ve always been busy, I added signal to it when I started out professionally.
What reggae artists did you look up to when you were growing up?
A lot of them I looked up to, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Bob Marley, a lot of them, there’s even reggae artists that aren’t from Jamaica like UB40, they do music really well. I had a lot of reggae artists to look up too when I was growing up.
How did Bounty Killer aid your career?
When I started out doing Dancehall, he was there to guide me, and taught me how to deliver my lyrics on stage, and how to have that presence that people recognise as soon as I stepped in a room. How to get that commanding voice performing in front of the fans I learnt a lot of that from him. He really delivers and commands the crowd when he is performing. You feel like you’re a part of it and you’re the one on the stage. I learnt a lot of that from him.
What was the best advice that he gave to you?
Not to give up, never to give up. The dancehall crowd is Jamaica is a tough crowd, and to get past the level in Jamaica where people recognise you and that you’re an artist and they accept you, to get to that level is not easy to do. Jamaica is like a tug of war, in terms of when you’re trying to rise, there’s always someone trying to track you down. The best advice he gave me was to continue doing what I’m doing and focus.
You are considered as one of the leading artists in the dancehall movement. This is quite an achievement. What do you think about this statement?
That seems like a very good statement. In terms of a deserved statement I give thanks for it. I just feel honoured to be in Dancehall and be able to represent the real music. It’s definitely a good thing to me personally.
What do you think about the dancehall scene in the UK?
The UK Dancehall scene I definitely enjoyed and love it. I came here about a month ago and hooked up with a couple of artists out there as well and did some tracks. The UK style of Dancehall is really different to here in Jamaica, even the way they talk. The UK has the biggest connection to Jamaica to me, and the Jamaican culture a lot. I love the broken English type of flow and everything, I event tried it sometimes in different styles when I do different flows.
What has been your biggest hit to date?
‘One more night’, ‘Step Up’, I never perform anywhere where I can’t do these songs. Those songs really stand out. These songs keep going and that’s the good thing about it.
You’ve recently released your album ‘Reggae Music Again.’ Why did you decide on this name?
Reggae music is one of our biggest exports out of Jamaica and one of our biggest genres of music. We have like 4 or 5 genres of music here in Jamaica and reggae is one of the biggest and the best. I do Dancehall and I love Dancehall it’s my first love, but I just paid respect to reggae music. We even had the leading track the title track as ‘Reggae Music Again’ as well. It’s just meant to represent reggae music, it’s been a long time and people haven’t really got the real authentic reggae music like this. It was showing respect to reggae music, and as an artist to play my part in terms of doing great reggae music. It’s my first reggae album, but its real authentic reggae music.
The themes for some of the singles discuss quite powerful issues. Tell us more about this and where the inspiration came from?
Where I get the inspirations from is definitely everyday life. Everyday life and the things that I read about, and things that I see on the news all over the world. I listen to the news a lot and I read a lot, I try to be knowledge about life. That is my inspiration everyday life, things that are around me, and things that I see on the TV on the news. I put in in musical form.
If people around me try to sell their race out or are ashamed of their skin tone I can’t be around or associate myself with them types of people.
What is your opinion on the whole bleaching skin issue?
Its just people selling out their race basically, and they can’t really do that. You can’t sell out your race like that. I accept myself, I love myself, I love my kids I love the people around me, my whole team. If people around me try to sell their race out or are ashamed of their skin tone I can’t be around or associate myself with them types of people. Its never going to last because its not real, you don’t just put something away and try to hide from yourself. Are you ashamed of yourself? Or are you trying to rub away yourself? The real you is still here coming out in person in personality not just skin. You got to be proud of yourself and what God made.
Can we see something different from you in this album…how have you matured as an artist?
The way I meditate and come through with different wordplay and metaphor. Just the whole musically what I’m doing. Just to come up with the concept and everything and putting it into music form with my team. ‘Reggae Music Again’ is a different album for me, not really expected, some fans didn’t really expect this one. It’s always a challenge to do more and do something that you haven’t yet done. I don’t think I should just do dancehall music, or just one music, I think I should just do what I want to do in music as long as I’m doing it the right way.
What’s going to be next for you?
A whole bunch of tours and promotional stuff, getting this thing out there, giving it the proper promotion and exposure that it really needs. In this time real, authentic reggae music is really missing, that real authentic vibe. There’s me and other artists doing it now, and we’re doing something special, but we definitely need help like with this interview right now. We need exposure and more promotion with delivering the music there. I got tours coming out and different things coming up.
November 14, 2012
Terrorsum ft Double S & Noeva – Calling Me Home [Music Video]
Calling Me Home is the emotionally driven track shows Terrorsum finding himself as he continues to battle his demons in the quest to strive for his end goal within music. Terrorsum is joined by Marvell member, Double S and Noeva.
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 Sabre, Katy B, Ms 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.
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 Example, P Money, Lethal B, Chip 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.
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