Ugly Heroes European Tour

Following the success of their debut album last year, Apollo Brown, Verbal Kent and Red Pill aka Ugly Heroes are set to embark on their first European tour. The tour includes a couple of UK dates, notably at Band On The Wall in Manchester on Thursday the 6th March.

This is a group I've been following for some time and Apollo Brown's production for even longer, so I'm definitely looking forward to this live show. If you want to experience some great Hip-Hop from the Mid-West of The States, get yourself down.

Full list of appearance dates below. Also, have a listen to "Long Drive Home" from the album after the date list.

Eric Roberson - Anymore (Live Video)

It's a busy week for Eric Roberson. Not only is it the week he starts a run of UK shows (including Manchester's Band On The Wall on Saturday the 8th February), but today also sees the release of the first of two new albums this year. The album is named "B-sides, Features and Heartaches". The second brand new project is expected later this year.

Erro dropped this video from a rehearsal yesterday performing the track "Anymore" from the new album. Check the video below and get yourself a copy of the LP here.

The Mouse Outfit - Never Get Enough ('FD' Acoustic Session Video)

While on tour in Dijon, France, The Mouse Outfit took time out to record an acoustic version of "Never Get Enough". This time sans Dubbul-O but mic duties held down by Sparkz and Dr. Syntax. Enjoy.

Recently voted as Wordplay magazine's album of the year, The Mouse Outfit's "Escape Music" is still available, so make sure you pick that up.

  

Melo-X - Drunk In Lust (Video) and Yoncé-X EP

Brooklyn producer Melo-X recently dropped an EP of a handful of Beyonce tracks named "Yoncé-X". Revolt TV captured Melo-X performing "Drunk In Lust" from the project.

Watch the video below and download the EP.

The Incomparable Shakespeare on Showoff Radio (Video)

On his promotional run for "By Any Dreams Necessary", The Incomparable Shakespeare recently appeared on Statik Selektah's Showoff Radio to kick a few rhymes. You need to watch this. There's only so much I can say.

Check the video below and pick up his album for free here.

Shouts to Al Lindstrom, Rob Markman and Statik Selektah.

TJ Mizell & DJ Scratch - Jam Master Jay Tribute (Video)

Yesterday, on what would have been Jam Master Jay's 49th birthday, his son TJ Mizell and the turntable whisperer himself, DJ Scratch, paid tribute to Jay in appropriate fashion. A tag team turntable display in front of the JMJ memorial in Hollis, Queens.

The LOX on Sway's In-Studio Concert Series (Video)

The LOX recently appeared on Sway's In-Studio Concert Series on Shade45. They performed  tracks and talked with Sway and Heather B about their hiatus as a group and their subsequent return.

Mr. Thing Boiler Room DJ Set (Video)

With a funk and soul heavy set, Mr. Thing has it covered in this 40 minute mix he did for the Boiler Room at the beginning of November. Enjoy.

Find other performances over at Boiler Room TV.

DJ Rasp Performing At IDA World DJ Finals (Video)

During this years IDA World DJ Finals in Poland, in the Show Category, DJ Rasp treated the Krakow audience to another stunning routine. Check the video below and be on the look out for official footage from the competition soon.

Juicy 4th Birthday

Friday the 13th may be unlucky for some but not for the guys at Juicy who will be celebrating their 4th birthday down at Gorilla. After four years of sold out Wednesdays, monthly Friday events, extending their nights to London and Liverpool, hosting some big names in Hip Hop and being part of festivals up and down the country, Juicy goes in to its fourth year busier than ever.

If last year's party was anything to go by, this will be a roadblock!

Get your advance tickets for this as it will likely sell out. Tickets available on Skiddle.

Bodega Brovas Live on "Wake Up Show Unplugged" (Video)

Major props to the Bodega Brovas on their recent appearance on Sway & Tech's "Wake Up Show Unplugged" series! Travii, Headkrack and Keynote share a few thoughts before going off on the mic with the help of a live band. Believe in Bodega.

Check the video below.

A Tribe Called Quest Reflect On Their Legacy (Video)

Revolt TV caught up with Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammed and Phife at their recent performance as part of Kanye's Yeezus tour. With clips from the show, they reflect on their legacy in the music industry. Q-Tip was obviously busy elsewhere.

The Authentic Series with Jon B

Next month sees the return of Jon B to London's Jazz Cafe with two live shows and an exclusive Q&A brought to you by ill Will. Check the official press release below.

The Authentic Series #001 ill Will Interviews Jon B
19 December 2013
Doors - 4:30pm
Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, London, NW1 7PG

Interviewing legendary R&B artist Jon B in front of an intimate live audience at London’s famous Jazz Cafe, Hip Hop music and lifestyle specialist Will “ill Will” Lavin offers fans the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane with one of California’s favourite sons.
Often regarded as the original blue-eyed soul singer, Jon B entered the music scene long before the likes of Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, and Daley, and quite evidently influenced them all. Himself inspired by names such as Duran Duran, Inxs, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, and Prince, it was as a student of Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds that Jon earned his stripes, writing and producing alongside the iconic singer until it was time to step in to the spotlight himself.

With an array of platinum and gold albums, as well as various award nominations (including a Grammy nod for “Someone To Love”, his 1995 collaboration with Babyface), eight albums on and the singer is stronger than ever before. Having this year released his new B-Sides Collection LP, an album featuring unreleased material recorded between the years of 2001 and 2012, this past month also saw Jon take to the stage at the 2013 Soul Train Awards.

Sitting down with ill Will as the first guest on the newly created The Authentic Series, Jon will be discussing everything from his move in to music performance, his time spent working with Babyface, and being the last artist to record with the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. Jon will also tell the story of the time he met Michael Jackson and go through the tragedy of losing his home studio to a fire. There will also be time allocated for audience questions.
A Hip Hop Actors Studio, The Authentic Series is a live Q&A show hosted by journalist ill Will. Interviewing various musicians and industry folk in front of a live audience, the show's recording takes place in various venues across the globe. Filmed exclusively for illwill.co.uk (which launches January 1st 2014) in association with Noel Mack Films, each episode of The Authentic Series will offer an in-depth look in to the life and times of the featured guest.
Tickets are available at mamaco.com and ticketmaster.co.uk priced at £15. Jon B will also be performing a live show with full band on the same evening (tickets can be found as above).

For more information please contact: theauthenticseries@illwill.co.uk

Please follow: @officialjonb @333illwill333 @illwillMIL @authenticseries @noelmack_

More Bounce Presents Smif N Wessun

Manchester's More Bounce has done it again. Not content with bringing Large Professor, Cormega, Blu & Exile, Tanya Morgan and many more to Manchester for the first time in their careers, they're set to welcome Bucktown's own Smif N Wessun next Saturday (23rd November). The term "real hip hop" get thrown around too casually these days and are played out for the most part but this act embodies the description.

More Bounce -

"WE HAD TO DO IT… WE HAD TO!!! … IT'S ABOUT TO BE A SOUNDBWOY BURIAL!!!
AFTER BRINGING SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS THROUGH TO MANCHESTER THIS PAST YEAR (THE PHARCYDE, SLUM VILLAGE, LORD FINESSE, LARGE PROFESSOR, CORMEGA, BLU & EXILE, MASTA ACE, CAMP LO…) OUR EXCITEMENT TO ANNOUNCE YET ANOTHER ACT THAT HAS IMPACTED SO HEAVILY IN THE RAP WORLD… AND OUR WORLD… SMIF N WESSUN… IT'S FUCKIN TOP RANKIN!!!

TEK & STEELE EMERGED FROM THE GRIMY NEW YORK STREETS TO BLOW UP BLACK MOON'S CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM 'ENTA DA STAGE' AND SOON FOLLOWED UP WITH A CLASSIC OF THEIR OWN IN 'DAH SHININ'… FEATURING THE ANTHEMS 'BUCKTOWN', 'WONTIME', 'LET'S GIT IT ON' AND WHOLE HEAP MORE ON THEIR FLAWLESS DEBUT SET…

BOOMBAP RAP LACED WITH THE SOUND OF REGGAE COURTESY OF DA BEATMINERZ… SMIF N WESSUN CONTINUED TO CARVE OUT A LEGACY FOR YEEEAAARS WITH THEIR LATEST ALBUM PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY PETE ROCK AND A FORTHCOMING EP FEATURING JAMAICAN MUSIC LEGEND JUNIOR REID.

ALONG THEIR JOURNEY SMIF N WESSUN HAVE WORKED WITH EVERYONE FROM MARY J. BLIGE, 2PAC, AALIYAH... TO RAEKWON, TALIB KWELI, PHAROAHE MONCH, STYLES P, FREEWAY AND OF COURSE THE MIGHTY BOOT CAMP CLIK…

SMIF N WESSUN TIE UP THEIR TIMZ AND STEP ON STAGE AT THE ROADHOUSE FOR A HIP HOP & DANCEHALL SPECIAL COURTESY OF MORE BOUNCE WITH RESIDENT DJ'S DIDJIT & LEE MAJORS… AND SPECIAL GUEST SELECTORS TO BE ANNOUNCED…"

Check the event page on Facebook and Skiddle for more details and remind yourself of Tek and Steele below.

Black Sound Series Cyphers: Voodoo Black (Video)

As part of Contact's Black Sound Series, Manchester's Voodoo Black take the stage for the latest episode. With Cutterz on the 1's and 2's, listen to Sparkz, Dubbul O and Ellis Meade get busy on the mic.

Check the video below and be sure to check the Voodoo Black EP over on Bandcamp.

Bowski on 1Xtra's Fire In The Booth (Video)

 

After winning the 1Xtra rap battle at this years Leeds Festival, Bowski stepped up for the latest episode of Charlie Sloth's "Fire In The Booth". This was recorded a few weeks ago so everyone who knows him has been looking forward to seeing this. Nice one Bowskdog! Well deserved mate.

Eminem - Rap God (Live at YouTube Music Awards)

Last night saw the first ever YouTube Music Awards take place at NYC's Pier 36. To say the night didn't go without a few hiccups is an understatement but was still more interesting to watch than the stale MTV Video Music Awards.

Spike Jonze was the creative director behind the whole evening which saw 'live music videos' performed by artists including M.I.A., Earl Sweatshirt & Tyler, The Creator, Lady GaGa and others. The night was closed out with a performance from Eminem with "Rap God".

*Video is now embedded below*

DJ Jazzy Jeff Q&A with Spin Doctor (Video)

Spin Doctor of London's The Doctor's Orders recently caught up with the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff for a rare Q&A session. They discuss a number of topics including the Grammy's, artists he's worked with and life on the road to name a few.

Watch the 50 minute video below and make sure to check The Doctor's Orders website.

Eminem - Saturday Night Live Performances (Video)

Eminem was the music guest on this weekend's Saturday Night Live. He performed "Survival" and "Berzerk". The fact that he got Rick Rubin to appear alongside him is pretty impressive. I hear he doesn't leave his house that often.

Props to Yardie for the uploads.

Em SNL1 by YardieGoals

Em SNL2 by YardieGoals

Jon B. at Jazz Cafe Plus Q&A Presented by IllWill.co.uk

December sees the return of R'n'B/Soul star Jon B. to our shores, with two live shows at London's Jazz Cafe. He will have a full live band in tow and it's really not one to be missed if you grew up listening to him. I'm even hoping to venture to London for the first time in YEARS!

As an added bonus, on the second of the two dates (19th Dec), there will be a Q&A session before the main show. The interview is the first in a new venture named "The Authentic Series." This will be filmed exclusively for IllWill.co.uk

Please note that a ticket for the second Jon B. show on the 19th of December does not admit access to "The Authentic Series" before it. A separate ticket will be required. Ticket links below.

Jon B. With Full Live Band (18th December) Tickets

"The Authentic Series" #001 Presented by Ill Will (19th December) Tickets

Jon B. With Full Live Band (19th December) Tickets