Footage from Chrome & Blacks Leake Street takeover back in August – the Summers biggest graff jam!
Chrome & Black would like to send “A massive thank you to the thousands that came from far and wide to enjoy the Battle Of Waterloo 2015. The turnout was huge! Also, big thanks to all of our sponsors- Molotow, Flame Paint, Crooks & Castles and Sprayground.
A special thanks to House Of Vans, Mama’s Jerk, DJ Philly, DJ Thor and the judges. And of course, a huge shout out to all the artists this year who did a spectacular job!”
Shabaam Sahdeeq drops “GMR” his lead single produced by J57 cuts by DJ Eclipse off “Timeless of The Collection” which will include hand painted covers by Shabaam for each track. Limited Edition “GMR” Prints and T shirts ( 50 each ) are now available on his bandcamp.
Nearly 30,000 of you have watched the wacked-out ‘Official Video’ – directed by Jehst and based on the stoopid-dope artwork by Matt Littler – and the loudest among you even featured in the chuckle-inducing ‘Strange U respond to comments…’ video follow-up.
Those of you who made it to the UK tour dates last year had the privilege of copping one of just 100 ultra-rare white-label first editions. While the rest of you were sadly limited to just the digital download still available from iTunes and Bandcamp.
But fret no longer, this Saturday 18th April it’s Record Store Day 2015 – and that means that as long as you drag your lazy-ass out of bed before it’s too late, you can cop one of these little beauties to add to your wax collection…
This double-sided 7″ Picture-Disc contains both vocal and instrumental versions of the tune, with full artwork on both sides and presented in a stickered clear-plastic wallet – and is strictly available ONLY IN STORES!!
The Regiment have teamed up with graphic designer RF3RD to create a new project which merges 2 of the 5 elements of Hip Hop: MCing and Graffiti. The new project, S.O.U.L. (Sound Of Us Living) , is one of the first to utilize the new platform — HiPNOTT Certified , an outlet of HiPNOTT which allows them to showcase specific brands represented or sponsored by the label. HiPNOTT Certified , over the coming months, will bond with and promote individuals/brands within the industry such as graphic artists, DJs, videographers, and clothing designers. It allows us to focus on other aspects of the industry and push the HiPNOTT brand even further.
Every Friday at the beginning of each month, The Regiment will release a track from S.O.U.L. along with original artwork from RF3RD . Here’s the fifth cut, “Final Bout” , produced by Sinitus Tempo. Look out for physical copies of the first 5 tracks along with their instrumentals to drop next month with posters of RF3RD’s artwork!
UK producer Configa is back with a bang as he teams up with NYC emcee HaStyle for this dope EP to kick the year off! On this early offering from the duo I’m sure this EP will prove to be a stepping stone to further success in 2015.
Now neither Configa nor HaStyle are new to the game, Configa is 14 years deep in the industry with his head nodding signature boom bap sound and NYC’s HaStyle (Rhymes) being a former mic sparring partner with Apani B Fly MC & Lifelong, both Configa and HaS are a product of the Golden Era which is a vibe apparent throughout this EP. With their time spent grinding both have endured unscrupulous times and have been stung by the industry. With Configa himself currently going through a battle at the moment after having a beat jacked and openly jacked too might I add, and to everyone in the know and people I’ve spoken to its obviously been jacked!! Find out more here in Configa’s An Open Letter to Epic Records re: TeeFlii “Change Your World”
Also, Check out a recent radio interview Configa gave on the matter here
However, (Getting back on topic!!) since a chance meeting Between Configa and HaS a few years ago things clicked for the duo and for our musical pleasure a match was made in heaven! I was lucky enough to hear the opening joint of the EP near to a year ago, so you can appreciate I’ve been waiting a while for this release and man it doesn’t disappoint!
Configa lays down the dope soundscape of soul filled samples, head nodding, neck snapping beats as HaStyle laces the musical canvas with his lyricism. HaS is not an emcee to be slept on, he has a great delivery and flow accompanied by the ability to deliver gritty rhymes and unlike a lot of emcees he is able to tell a story with his narrative driven raps.
Straight from pressing play this EP bumps, with the opening track ‘CB4H’ with HaStyle stating “We’re attacking the mainstream from the underground” before going on a lyrical onslaught. Followed quickly by the heavy track ‘Ghetto USA’, featuring Rashan, which tells the gritty truths of growing up in the ghetto without glorifying it over Configa’s dope production and well chosen sample for the hook.
The EP moves swiftly on with HaStyle displaying his storytelling abilities over Configa’s smooth production for the joint ‘Love Lost’ another track that I really dig. There really is not a joint on this 9 track EP worth skipping. Whether it be the track ‘R.I.P’ paying homage to all the greats, or HaStyle calling out fellow Barbers from his other profession with the track ‘Razor Bumps’ which anyone who’s had a fade can relate to over a reggae inspired beat from Configa.
‘7MCs’ is another favourite and the conceptial track ‘Lost in Space’ reminds me a little of something Kool Keith may have come up with which is a huge compliment to HaStyle. Let’s be real here there just isn’t a weak joint on this EP!
What I love most about this project is the time and love that has obviously gone in to it. To many submissions we receive here at HHLAT, are various emcees working with numerous producers dropping material week after week, while I applaud their workrate, for me you can’t beat a producer/emcee collaboration where they work closely together to produce a piece of art, which is what we have with Configa and HaStyle Present The Calm Before Hastility.
As an example of the love put into the project, HaStyle (with yet more creativity on display) has been putting together a comic series depicting the adventures of the duo in the build up to the EP release, I’ve collected a few for you to view below.
This is just a taste of the comic series for earlier episodes search on FB or Twitter #ConfigHaS
SO, If it’s that real underground Hip Hop that sound you are after then Configa and HaStyle Present The Calm Before Hastility EP is just for you! Yeah YOU!!! The EP is now available for pre order and will be available to download from 5th January 2015!
Remember this is just the beginning, with a full LP already recorded and expected for release later in the year expect BIG things from Configa and HaStyle in the coming months. With the artwork from HaS and the quality of the music I hope this will come with some kind of physical release either CD or Limited Edition Vinyl run or even Retro Cassettes are proving popular again. Let’s hope so!
Anyway enough gas from me, don’t take my word for it on how dope it is, here is a taste of what to expect from the EP check out the promo mix here and don’t forget to Pre Order your copy of the EP below
Configa & HaStyle Present: “The Calm Before HaStility EP” (DJ RuKisS Promo Mix)
Promo Video for the Welsh Beatbox Championships featuring Spray Art by Baz Hammond aka Squid.
The First Welsh Beatbox Championships are to be held January 17th at the Moon Club, Womanby Street, Cardiff as part of the venues month long ‘Free For All’ Festival.
If you would like to compete the deadline for submissions is 15th December.
