A frequently updated site dedicated to music videos, interviews, artists features and general interest in and around, but not limited to, the Hip Hop and Soul culture.
VinRican chose an absolute monster of a classic for his latest #WaxOnly series with Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele from 2000. At a push, this is possibly my favourite record from the Wu-Tang Clan's extensive discography. Awesome.
Hip Hop radio personality Jay Smooth spoke to Shock Radio's Benedict Jones ahead of his recent talk at Salford University called Hip Hop, Race and Politics: The Way We Talk About Things.
Listen to the short interview below and be sure to check Jay's video blog at Ill Doctrine.
Apollo Brown and Skyzoo dropped one of the best albums released last year with "The Easy Truth". They continue to promote the LP with a video for the album's closing track "Nodding Off". Joining them in the video is Sean Taylor who provides the breezy trumpet throughout.
Watch the visual below and be sure to check the album on Mello Music Group.
Harlem's Dave East continues his roll out of visuals from his recent project "Kairi Chanel" with the video for "It Was Written".
I'm pretty confident that 2017 is the year Dave East catches more ears with his music. An obvious standout from last year's XXL Freshman Class, his already stacked back catalogue and his massive co-sign by Nas are just a few things weighing in his favour.
Check the video below and be sure to check his other music too. "Kairi Chanel" is available to buy and stream here.
Once again, Power 106 Los Angeles' VinRican continues his #WaxOnly series celebrating anniversaries of seminal records in Hip Hop. This time he takes a look at the Juice soundtrack which turned 25 years old last week. There are some classic records on here including Eric B. & Rakim's "Know The Ledge" and Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem" to name a couple.
The skit at the start of the video is a nice touch too. Check it below.
After a long hiatus, Jamiroquai return with a video for the title track off the upcoming album "Automaton". Despite the obvious futurism of the song (and visual), it thankfully isn't a massive departure from the band's usual sound that their fan base came to love and it's great to hear Jay Kay's unmistakable vocals again. It'll be interesting to hear what the rest of the project sounds like on its release March 31st.
Papoose's new project "Hoodie Season 3" is incoming so he drops the banger "Back On My Bullshit". Joined on the track by one time enemy Fat Joe with a verse and newcomer Jaquae on the hook, Papoose blacks out quite frankly. Definitely underrated despite the work he's put in since the 90's.
Following the drop of their free download of the single "Crown" at the end of last year, Children Of Zeus release a visual for the gospel draped track.
This can be found on the FirstWord Records compilation Two Syllables Vol. 13. Watch the Tarnish Vision produced video below.
TV One continues their popular series Unsung with an artist who truly is just that; Jon B. After over twenty years in to his music career, Jon B. tells his story of where he started, the obstacles he's had to overcome and more importantly, what he's up to these days. Definitely a great show to watch to celebrate someone who has paved the way for a few people that I'm sure you're familiar with.
Jon B. has been one of my favourite artists over the last twenty plus years whose music is still in rotation. Look out for his new album "Mr. Goodnight" which is due to be released this coming Valentine's Day.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Mobb Deep's seminal album "Hell On Earth". Many regard this as one of the best follow LP's in Hip Hop. When "The Infamous..." is the former, I'd have to agree. In fact, personally, this is my favourite of the two. I play "Hell On Earth" much more anyway.
To celebrate this release, as he does with many other albums, VinRican of Power 106FM plays through some of the classic samples beside the tracks they ended up on. This is the latest in a long line of videos he's put together. Well worth checking out.
Watch the video below and peace to Havoc and Prodigy.
The modest, unassuming and hugely talented Ka sat with Jeff Mao for an hour long discussion of his work and upbringing for the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal.
Speaking on his rise in Brownsville, the various crews he was a part of and his current situation in life and music, Ka brings a very poignant and enjoyable story to this particular lecture.
Watch the hour plus interview below and be sure to check out Ka's work on the usual platforms, including his latest album "Honor Killed The Samurai".
On the 20th anniversary of Eminem's first studio album "Infinite" being released, he drops a remixed and remastered version of the title track. The grittiness of the original is cleaned up and polished but it's still a great listen if you never heard the original.
To accompany the single, a short documentary has been put out with footage of Eminem with his first producers and early video of the emcee.
The single is available now and you can listen below and also watch the documentary.
A week on from the release of their hugely anticipated final album "We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service", A Tribe Called Quest drop the video to "We The People".
A week after the release of her latest album "Here", Alicia Keys drops the video to her single "Blended Family". After the messy start to her relationship with husband Swizz Beatz and the fallout with his previous partner Mashonda, it seems like they've all managed to co-exist for the sake of their kids.
Assisted with a verse from A$AP Rocky about his own upbringing within a busy household, Ms. Keys delivers a great video with a lovely sentiment.
Check the video below. The new album is available everywhere now.
More Bounce once again bring legends to the basement of The Whiskey Jar as they host Diamond D and Large Professor on the Manchester leg of their "45 Soundclash Tour".
Two of the best producers on the mic will be in the city on the 10th November, so make sure you get your tickets and be part of another historical night. Check the Facebook event page for more details.
Despite the relative success of his "Malibu" album, Anderson .Paak hasn't gone overboard with the visuals to accompany it. Here we have his second music video from the LP for "Come Down".
This Hi-Tek produced funk banger definitely delivers on the vision I had in my head, even if it's over before you know it. A great video for a personal standout from the album.
Check the video below and listen to "Malibu" in full if you haven't already.
After a massive turn out for Pete Rock & CL Smooth last month at Mantra Warehouse, More Bounce wastes no time in rolling out the red carpet for yet more Hip-Hop royalty. Slick Rick finally makes his return home for his first ever tour in the UK! The Ruler starts his 5 date run of shows here in Manchester.
Put Friday the 25th of November in your diaries and be sure to get your tickets when they drop this Friday (23rd September). Check the Facebook event page here for updates and more information.
September 13th 1996 was the day Tupac Shakur took his last breath in Las Vegas, six days after being shot multiple times in a still unsolved case. Today, in 2016, is the 20th anniversary of his passing and only seems like yesterday that it happened.
Tupac was genuinely one of my favourite artists growing up and it was a really sad day for me when he died. I never get involved in the debate of who was the greatest rapper to do it because ultimately it doesn't matter and it all comes down to opinion. He was much more than just a rapper. I prefer to call him an artist and activist.
He was often contradictory with what he put in his music but he was always memorable. That's why his music still resonates today. Other than music, he was a great actor with a number of movies under his belt including Above The Rim and Gridlock'd which are personal favourites of mine. And of course there is Juice, his debut in movies. That is a classic.
Anyway, just a few words from me to note the occasion. 20 years have passed by so fast and this is an unfortunate milestone to mark it with. I'll always be a fan.
After a busy summer on the festival circuit with The Mouse Outfit, Dr. Syntax returns with his partner in crime, Pete Cannon, with their new project "The Tonic EP". Their first single and video from the EP is "Downtime".
Synners walks the streets of Manchester pondering on the big wide world that's out there and how most of us are trapped in the system like caged animals. Everyone needs a break from the cycle!
Check the video below, shot and edited by Ellis Meade, and then be sure to cop the new EP which is available now over at Bandcamp. Also, the pair are on tour starting this month so be on the look out for a local date near you.
