K Koke enlists his Roc Nation label mate Bridget Kelly to handle the hook in his new single My Time.
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!
October 23, 2012
K.Koke – Turn Back [Music Video]
K Koke releases the video to his first official single Turn Back featuring Maverick Sabre.
October 17, 2012
K Koke – An Insight [Documentary]
The heat on K Koke is growing in the UK and worldwide, making him the first UK rapper to land a deal with Jay Z‘s label Roc Nation. His latest offering Turn Back features vocalist Maverick Sabre and is set to be released November 25th, with his debut album I Ain’t Perfect out early next year. In this documentary Koke talks to video director Emil Nava for an 18 min deep insight through his journey and his career, the highs the lows, his family & much more.
July 10, 2012
K Koke – Roc For Life ft. Wale
K Koke releases his warm up record Roc For Life featuring MMG’s Wale. USG member Koke tweeted last night..
‘This ain’t no music video. It’s my journey from streets up!’
July 9, 2012
MTV Wrap Up – THE UK RAP RUNDOWN
This is my first UK Rap Rundown column; here I will be bringing you the week’s highlights in the UK urban scene – I hope you enjoy it! I haven’t even been back from the BET Awards in L.A a week yet and have already attended a festival – Hyde Park’s Wireless. I was pleased to see underground rappers Political Peak, Sho Shallow and Ard Adz get a packed out tent and an amazing crowd reaction – it proved how well UK rap is doing…
Of course, Sneakbo smashed his set too. Sway did an old school hip-hop style set, with verses from Wu Tang, Tupac and Mobb Deep. Roc Nation signee USG member K Koke also performed on the Sunday supported by his fellow crew members.
In other news, Scorcher has replied to Dappy’s ‘Tarzan 2’ diss which hears him say: “I still roll for my hood and I wear my chain, f**k a Top Boy Scorcher he can’t do the same. Real recognise real, how many albums have you sold to date?”
Scorcher wasn’t too happy with Dappy and replied via an SB.TV video called ‘Rockstar’. The MC dropped punchline after punchline, saying that he is an “underground king, you could never be my equal” and “you could have a mill still look like a tramp.” He also mentions Tulisa and the now infamous tape that her ex-boyfriend leaked to the world.
Personally I liked Dappy’s ‘Tarzan 2’ video; unfortunately he had to re-shoot and re-release the video due to the heavy controversy it received. Props to Scorcher; he went in on the diss track and I feel he is the better man in this situation.
The video that caught my attention last week came from Donae’o. I was at the video shoot for the track ‘YDKAM’ and know there’s going to be a lot more to come from the ‘Party Hard’ singer on his album. He told me: “It’s going to have a lot more hip-hop and R&B, there’s a want for it, so I can put it out.”
The song ‘You Don’t Know About Me’ features some of UK rap’s hardest lyricists, such as Joe Black, Squeeks, Dru Blu, Ratlin and Lethal B.
Another interesting one was the Labrinth produced ‘Watchtower’ by Devlin featuring Ed Sheeran. It is the first single from his forthcoming album ‘A Moving Picture’.
Leicester based R&B singer Luke Bingham was also recently joined by Play Dirty’s Krept & Konan for the track ‘Shut It Down’. I really like the beat to this track and Krept & Konan really give the song that hip-hop edge it needed. I predict big things for Mr Bingham; he has the voice, the style and looks to match.
April 18, 2012
RITA ORA – How We Do (Party)
Rita Ora drops the video to her newest single How We Do.
April 12, 2012
J Cole – Sideline Story
J Cole takes us around the world for his Sideline Story video taken off Cole World: The Sideline Story album.
Read my interview with J Cole here
April 4, 2012
Rita Ora ft. Tinie Tempah – R.I.P.
The Albanian, London raised Roc Nation signee Rita Ora releases the video to R.I.P., the lead single off her debut LP which will be out this summer. Set in an abandoned warehouse with colourful vintage cars where Tinie joins Rita for his verse.
March 18, 2012
Charles Hamilton Releases Diss Track Towards J. Cole
Charles Hamilton disses his previous ally in this track, claiming it was him who set up J Cole’s deal with Roc Nation, and how he used to badmouth Jay Z.
“I remember when I met you, you was dissin’ Jay / Shit bothered me anyway / It’s not that I didn’t like him, I just heard rumors / And I heard you was my junior / Throwin’ up the Roc sign / I assumed that you knew what it meant / Apparently, you didn’t / Nigga you was fishin, barely was livin’ / And I’m the one who put you in your new position / Just remember, nigga.”
He also claims that Cole didn’t write his original rhymes..
“Every residual check belongs to me / Nigga this is a check, do a song with me / And this time, write it / You ain’t the nicest, nigga I was just excited.”
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