US emcee Harn SOLO performing the song, “Name & Fame” in London. Traveling the United Kingdom during 2012 Olympic Games, Harn SOLO finds himself at the London Bridge delivering fan favourite vocals, “Solo-lo-lo”.
Name & Fame closes off a great year of music and visuals from Harn SOLO. Look forward to his new album “Journey To The Sky” coming January — 2013.
Harn SOLO – “Shooting Star” album produced by Pro Prospek
East London rapper and spoken-word artist The Ruby Kid (hands up who likes me saying exactly where the artists are from?) has recently released his second EP ‘Strange Lively & Commonplace’, teaming up once again with producer and DJ Dan Angell. The EP is only 4 tracks long, and serves as a bridge between his first EP ‘Maps’, and his much lengthier record ‘Maps II’ which will be out next year (12 months eh? Well that sure narrows it down).
As I mentioned previously, this is only 4 tracks long, which immediately felt too short for me. Not only did it not outstay its welcome, I was actually annoyed it wasn’t longer. Not a big feat considering its length you might stay? Well trust me, I’ve heard 4 minute songs that outstayed their welcome after the first 90 seconds-so yes a feat, a considerable one.
From the very outset of the title track the change in pace, style and even flow of this record in relation to The Ruby Kid’s earlier material is obvious. I don’t want to say it’s more ‘poppy’ or ‘melodic’, because that doesn’t really mean anything, and would do a disservice to Dan Angell’s production skills. Which by the way; really shines through on this release. However it does sound like The Ruby Kid has cut away with some unnecessary elements within his songwriting, and style. What those elements are, I can’t quite explain to you; but hey man it’s art yeah. You try to describe what a circle looks like to someone who’s never seen shapes…Yeah deep. You’ll just have to listen to it won’t you? Back to the change of pace, style and flow. It’s not to say the dude isn’t still extremely abstract, and surreal because he is, and quite frankly he wouldn’t be the same rapper if he wasn’t. There’s just a significant change in style that will only notice when played next to his previous releases.
It sadly took me two listens to realise that the characters ‘Amanda’ and ‘Benny’ in ‘Benny & The Crow’ were about actually drugs (An East London spoken-word artist talking about drugs, who’d have thought it?) Unless, they are people and not drugs? Maybe they are people and aren’t, all at the same time! ZOMGZ MY BRAIN! NOTHING IS REAL ANYMORE! But I doubt it. Aside from having my mind blown, the lyrical imagery is fantastic in this song and perfectly pinpoints the feeling of being high on naughty things you shouldn’t be. Although this isn’t a one time occurrence (the imagery I mean, not the drugs. A boom, boom schh). Each track on the EP is its own little vignette in its own right, and fits perfectly next to the other. Ruby Kid’s storytelling, and his use of descriptive language have really upped a level on this EP, and I hope he can mix in this new progression with his previous work, for ‘Maps II’.
I was also really excited to see that Sensei C from H.L.I makes a guest appearance on the EP, and the two rappers, along with Angell’s production make ‘August’ one of the best songs on the EP. Such a good pairing. I’ve only known of H.L.I for a few months, and I was really happy to hear more verses from him. We’ll be interviewing the H.L.I boys in the next few weeks as it happens, so look out for that one.
Now, now it’s 1:30am (well when I post this it’ll be probably be in the afternoon) and I am on a rolllllllll tonight, but as I have kept reminding you this is only a 4 song EP so to over-critique and analyse it any more might run the risk of, dare I say it? Boring you. I will then end this review here saying: this is a really well thought out, interesting and extremely memorable release. This is an obvious continuation to ‘Maps’, but a stand alone piece in its own right as well. There’s nothing worse, and sadder than when one of your favourite rappers disappoints you. Well he didn’t, he gave me more reason to listen; so now it’s your turn.
(Seriously though, how could I not realise the whole song is about doing drugs? There are skits about buying drugs at the end and the beginning of the song ffs.)
Motor City brothers Apollo Brown and Guilty Simpson have wasted no time pounding the pavement for Dice Game. In the past few weeks Apollo has toured Australia and New Zealand while Guilty did a lean and mean west coast run that spanned LosAngeles to Seattle before hitting the NBC/Universal lot to be on Carson Daly‘s show.
Today, while our road dogs get a breather, they release the all new, non-album, bonus track “Parkour” to announce the release of their new limited edition wax (ivory vinyl w/ bonus 45 featuring two non-album cuts). This first bonus, named after the military training parkour where practitioners need to burst through an obstacle course using the terrain to gain advantage. In similar fashion, Guilty takes the terrain laid out by Apollo Brown and powers through it like a linebacker with a vengeance. The sound has a bit of an electronic tinge, something not so present on the official LP but very much welcome here.
Itch FM caught up with Melanin9 aka M9, a North London based British rapper that has a style more of the ’90’s era of hip hop.
Drawing his influence from Nas, Wu-Tang and others from that era, Melanin9’s style could be described as being social conscious with a jazzy feel. Melanin 9 has just dropped the sick debut album ‘Magna Carta’ check out the snippets below and click on ‘BUY’!!!!…..
J Dilla fans are gonna love this, coz we do….DOPE! This is the first visual/single of off the late, great J Dilla’s (RIP) ‘The Lost Scrolls’. Yancey Boys – “The Throwaway” feat. Frank Nitt Produced by J Dilla
Directed by: Josh Polon
Concept by: Frank Nitt and Illa J
Produced by: Rick Ross, Josh Polon, Ryan Maxey
Edited by: Peter Dean
Director of Photography: Ryan Maxey
B-Camera: Josh Polon
Titles: Ryan Maxey
Giggs, Joe Grind and Gunna D drop two sessions for Tim Westwoods Crib Sessions, we have both here for you and the audio of the Freestyles are both available to download for FREE.
Philadelphia emcee Aquil gives away another freeby off his album “Land Of Synth”. Find the track “Integrity” below for free download
“Land of Synth” plays on several themes of synthetic sounds, to the synthetic roles played by artist in the “music industry to every day life. Influences run the gamut Sun Ra, Wutang to Nas, Tupac, The Roots, Mos Def, Common, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharaoh Monch, and Outkast to name a few. “Land of Synth” reveals heavy themes of political corruption, illegal wars, to lighter topics of appreciating life and the use of imagination. From the very first verse Aquil takes you on a journey of the mind and heart of major over arching themes of life, imagination and perception. The ability to take the esoteric, and imaginative elements then making them blend to melodies is Aquil’s strongest talent. The diversity of topics, flows, and overall refreshing production ranging from electronic influence to acid jazz and 90s hip hop will be sure to keep your ears interested. It is a journey inside ones self via introversion to those places few dare to look and even more refuse to contemplate. Land of Synth tackles heavy issues with a tenacity yet overall light heartiness and positive outlook on the other side.
Featuring production from several producers, Knxwledge, Astronote, Arcka, O Da Beatgoon, The Jazzment, Abjo and others the diversity in sound does not take away form the cohesiveness of the album. This 46 minute album flows easily between songs, and skits of social commentary, or comedic outburst. Land of Synth is the debut Release of Philadelphia, PA 2012 Coldest MC Aquil. While this album harps on the lack of imagination used by several artist, it clearly displays that creativity the commentary craves and imagination said to be lacking from song titles, to concepts and content. Land of Synth is certainly an album where imagination does exist!
UK emcee Jam Baxter has released these 5 Refixes ‘The Rearranged Features ‘ for FREE download with remixes from the likes of Telemachus and Pete Cannon. The tracks are lifted from ‘The Gruesome Features’ by Jam Baxter, which is available from www.High-Focus.com on CD and vinyl and digitally on iTunes and all other good download sites.
As I said the tracks are available for FREE download but there is an option to throw some cash the artists way and as always here at HHL&T we urge you to do that and support Independant music.
Get Jam Baxter’s ‘The Rearranged Features’ from here….
