Saturday 7 October 2017

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Return to Manchester

PRCL


After the roadblock event at Mantra Warehouse in 2016, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth will be returning to Manchester in the more familiar surroundings of The 02 Ritz in the city centre on Saturday the 14th of October, 2017. The duo will be joined with support by fellow 90's breakthrough artist Jeru The Damaja. Warming up before the live acts will be Didjit of More Bounce who is also responsible for this major booking once more.

Full details and ticket links can be found here. A short run of physical tickets are also available from Eastern Bloc and Piccadilly Records. Additional tickets can be purchased on the door.



Monday 10 April 2017

Let It Play Radio Show

LetItPlay


I haven't been posting on this blog as regularly as I'd have liked recently so thought I'd take the opportunity to let you know about my new radio show "Let It Play".

Currently I have two shows under my belt and will continue on the first Thursday of each month from 7pm until 9pm. The new radio station MCR Live have generously given me two hours to play with monthly.

I'll be playing a mix of new music, old classics and favourites of mine, mainly in the scope of Hip Hop, R'n'B and soul. I'm sure there'll be plenty of other genres squeezed in there too though.

The first two episodes are up on Mixcloud to listen to at your leisure on demand. They can be found here on my MCR Live resident page. I've also embedded them below for your convenience. Hope you enjoy the music!




Evidence - Throw It All Away (Video)

EV
Evidence

A little under a week ago, Evidence of Dilated Peoples released a new video for the track "Throw It All Away". Over a stripped back beat from Alchemist, EV ponders on how money comes and goes. 

Although no album has been announced as yet, Rhymesayers have apparently confirmed there will be a new LP from Evidence this year. 2017 also marks the ten year anniversary since his first solo outing, The Weatherman LP.

Watch the video for "Throw It All Away" below and get your coy of the single here.

Wednesday 8 February 2017

Ghostface Killah 's Supreme Clientele Classic Samples (Video)

GFK


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.

Check the video below.

Sunday 5 February 2017

Jay Smooth on Shock Radio, Salford (Audio)

Jay Smooth
Jay Smooth

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.

Follow Jay Smooth @jsmooth995
Follow Benedict Jones @benedictjones94
Follow Shock Radio @ShockrRadio

Monday 30 January 2017

Apollo Brown & Skyzoo - Nodding Off (Video)

APS
Skyzoo and Apollo Brown

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.


Dave East - It Was Written (Video)

DE
Dave East

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.

Saturday 28 January 2017

Happy Birthday Rakim

Ra
Rakim

Happy Birthday to the God MC Rakim Allah, who turns 49 years old today.

A selection of his music videos follow below as well as his interview at RedBull Music academy in 2013.






Friday 27 January 2017

25th Anniversary of Juice: Classic Samples

Vin


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.

Jamiroquai - Automaton (Video)

Jamiroquai
Jay Kay

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.



Thursday 26 January 2017

Papoose - Back On My Bullshit ft. Fat Joe & Jaquae (Video)

Papoose
Fat Joe and Papoose

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.

Check the Eif Rivera visual below.

  

Children Of Zeus - Crown (Video)

Coz
Konny Kon and Tyler Daley


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.



Friday 20 January 2017

Unsung: Jon B. (Video)

JB
Jon B.



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.


Saturday 19 November 2016

Mobb Deep's Hell On Earth 20 Year Anniversary - The Samples (Video)

MD

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.

Friday 18 November 2016

Ka - Red Bull Music Academy Lecture

Ka
Ka with Jeff Mao

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".

Eminem - Infinite (Remastered Remix) & Partners In Rhyme: The True Story Of Infinite (Video)

Em
Eminem

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 Tribe Called Quest - We The People (Video)

ATCQ

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".

RIP Phife.

Saturday 12 November 2016

Alicia Keys - Blended Family (What You Do For Love) feat. A$AP Rocky (Video)

AK
Alicia Keys

A week after the release of her latest album "Here", Alicia Keys drops the video to her single "Blended Family". After the messy to 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.

Monday 31 October 2016

More Bounce presents Diamond D vs. Large Professor

DLP

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.





Anderson .Paak - Come Down (Video)

AP
Anderson .Paak

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.