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Fresh out of Bristol, the Ambush Family Tree are back. Always staying fiercely independent, AFT have been smashing it with the D&B recently & has found some of the hottest underground music to surface in recent months gaining a steady reputation for quality output ‘The Moment’ showcases another Branch of the tree, Hip-Hop, as they go back to their roots with some sharp vocally driven boom bap that drops us straight back in the 90’s. AFT004 sees Carasel effortlessly ride the Ded Tebiase production ably assisted by the razor sharp flows of Blacksmith & Jman. The track comes with not only an instrumental and an acapella, but also with a clean radio edit to make sure all your DJ needs are covered.
Carasel who is well known in D&B circles for hosting major festivals and club nights with the likes of TC & Sigma released his debut Hip-Hop project in 2012 ‘Progression’ and went on to tour the music across Europe under the ‘Carasel Live’ guise, since that debut he has had a steady stream of releases on a varied soundscape of BPM’s and Tempos on a variety of labels including Hospital, Formation & Audioclone. The Moment returns him to the essence of classic sounding Hip-Hop, scratched hooks and sharp rhymes that show how he hasn’t forgotten his influences & show the power, strength & versatility of Carasel as a writer and emcee.
The way Ded Tebiase flips up the sample and adds the cuts is crazy and we dare you to try and not nod your head to the solid production and rhyme patterns as Blacksmith kicks of the track with a solid 16 and Jman one of UK Hip Hops most celebrated MCs shuts down the tune and shows why his 2014 album Auronography has led him to touring the world this year. This is music from the soul, expressed as it should be, with passion and integrity.
The acapella on the flip is a rare and welcome addition these days & works just as well in the mix as the full version, giving the possibility of dropping the vocals in any mix you like, to quote Carasel ‘Different flows for different shows different tempos of drums’. The Family tree is growing the roots are going deeper than ever before, every new branch seems to come with something fresh and exciting and we can’t wait for the next ‘Moment’.
Carasel Ft. Jman & Blacksmith – The Moment (Prod. by Ded Tebiase)
Purchase links:
http://www.beatport.com/release/the-moment/1393438
http://www.junodownload.com/products/carasel-jman-blacksmith-the-moment/2593044-02/
AFT Records & Recreo Present ‘False Promise’ Release Party…
AFT release party arrives on the 14th November. Stanza’s upcoming EP titled ‘False Promise’ is eagerly anticipated so we have arranged a line up sure to satisfy the hardest ravers. This month, Hybrid Minds and Stanza will be headlining the event, and we have the best of local Bristol based talent in Range & Kable, Phantom, Karmein & Dubbz. Hosting the party will be Carasel, Texas, Akespeare & Kaydan.
Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/731948726875641/
Connect with AFT Records:
aftrecords@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/AftRecords
http://instagram.com/aftrecords
https://soundcloud.com/aftrecords
Simon Cowell is a prick. He’s taken an abstract concept to define an immeasurable talent and personality, and watered down the impact of it. What am I going on about I hear you ask? The X factor. That thing that you can’t buy or sell, that you can’t explain you just feel, is now associated with drivel. But let me tell you Flo has the X factor in droves, and she defines it. I am lucky enough to have been aware of this talented woman for a little while now and even in a short space of time she has cemented many a new fan, and has herself grown as both a singer and more so a writer.
So here we have her debut solo release ‘Lazy Days’, a 9 track blissful journey of charisma and confidence. At a blue print level its a brave project. to have a female singer involved heavily in the underground Hip Hop scene that is characteristically male led could lead to one of two things: either we get songs about shaking your ass and how broke men are, or we get a strong positive character and role model, it rarely ever seems to be anything other than those polar ends of the scale in my opinion.
Thankfully to those of us blessed with IQ points it’s the latter, Flo is such a fine example of how to have class and creativity as a female songwriter. It bothered me to bring gender into it but it is a pertinent topic I think we all know that and it’s refreshing to have such a genuine artist come through.
Now back to the music, because it’s an absolute delight of a listen. The layers and levels are obvious from the choice of classic Hip Hop instrumentals, to the vocal gymnastics and harmonies. With a vocal range to shame any famous pop singer she oozes ability and most importantly fun when she sings.
I could break it down in a million ways but that would take away from just how good it is to just listen to, be it early morning chilling vibes through to wavey skanking, it’s sure to become some peoples mainstay feel good groove to listen to. Strongly written lyrics and airy melodies are what set Flo apart from pretty much any other female singer/songwriter you care to compare her to, which some are foolishly prone to do.
You really have to ask yourself, what It is you want from your music? Now if it’s genuine craft and talent you are after then this is definitely something you must check out. When you play this loud it seems to nullify any worries you have while you nod your head and vibe along with it. Again given that this released most prominently into the Hip Hop scene (as far as I see it anyway) it’s a welcome change to the over serious and ego heavy world of rappers, whilst still having that classic style production we can all get on board with to bridge the taste gap.
Top, top notch stuff from a very promising artist that I hope to hear a lot more from in the future. Side note, I can’t see how she’d have many lazy days writing something this good haha. ‘Lazy Days’, get it in you life.
Words; Adam
Available for FREE from
The video for first single Lazy Day is now out
Flo’s EP with heavyweight rapper Dotz is available for free download here
‘Make sure you go and grab this now!’ TheHipHopMafia.com
‘Quality from the off this is a must’ TalkingAllThatRap.com
‘Tracks that UK Hip-Hop fans will love & adore’ HipHopSavedUs.com
Sketchamus is a solo artist from Winchester, UK that is also one half of rap duo 2LostSouls with his partner in rhyme Dubside. Starting out writing lyrics at the age of fifteen he got into the sounds of drum & bass before moving into the Hip-Hop scene. Now in 2014 Sketchamus releases ‘Scrumpy Rap’, a collection of solid tracks that are already getting championed by some of the UK’s leading blogs and DJ’s. Things are really hotting up for this intricate, diverse and lyrical emcee.
‘Scrumpy Rap’ is a collection of eleven tracks with a bonus track that is thirty minute studio mix which has been mastered by Untapped Talent Studios. This mixtape features Matty C, Stan Doubt, DK, Verbal Skillz, Mr.E, Dubside and Yozi Mac with production from Nuttkase, The Passion Hi-Fi, Blanka, NEUS, Astrum, AZ Productions, Asi-C, Thesecession and Neptix. If you love UK Hip-Hop then make sure you check out this up and coming talented rapper, you won’t be disappointed.
Sketchamus – Scrumpy Rap (Track-list):
01. House Of Mystery (Produced by Nuttkase)
02. Intellect’s Dialect feat. Matty C & Rapulsive (Produced by The Passion Hi-Fi)
03. No Escape (Produced by Blanka)
04. Subconscious (2012) (Produced by NEUS)
05. Wake Up! (Produced by Astrum)
06. Phantom (Produced by AZ Productions)
07. The Steel Finger (Produced by Asi-C)
08. Subconscious II (Produced by thesecession)
09. Betrayal feat. Stan Doubt, DK, Verbal Skillz, Mr.E, Dubside & Yozi Mac (Produced by The Passion Hi-Fi)
10. I Don’t Know (Produced by Neptix)
11. The Flow Definition (Entry for R.A. The Rugged Man’s Definition Of A Rap Flow Contest)
12. BONUS TRACK – The ‘Bar’barian Mix
Download link:
https://sketchamus.bandcamp.com/releases
Connect with Sketchamus:
https://www.sketchamus.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/sketchamus1
https://www.facebook.com/dan.s.walker.5
https://www.facebook.com/Sketchamus
https://www.soundcloud.com/mc-sketchamus
“I’m logged in – every other post is crazy drama – issues gettin’ aired out between the father and the baby mama”
“My verbals scold ya like a harsh mother’s words – you mark suckers heard – hit up promoters – now they got Phace Booked like Mark Zuckerberg”
Off the EP: “Sick Leave”: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sick-leave/id886643031
September 26, 2006 – The Day That Facebook Ruined All of Our Lives
Eight years ago today, Facebook was opened to the world at large (to everyone at least 13 years old with a valid email address), having previously limited registration to universities and corporations. It used to be cool to have a “Facebook” page like binge drinking in some random secluded wooded area, making a playlist of 420 songs about weed, rolling onto campus in a Ford Mustang GT blastin’ Sublime’s “What I Got” or smoking Chronic in your dorm room while freestyling over MF DOOM beats. All of our lives were ruined by Facebook on September 26, 2006.
To help celebrate this day, Ciphurphace presents his brand new video “phacebook”. The Social Media anthem has the “Phaced God” addressing various cliche posts that clutter up the pages of Facebook as well as displaying the legendary lyricism contained within his rhyme book.
Links:
http://www.ciphurphace.com
https://www.facebook.com/phacethemusic
http://murkcity.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/ciphurphace
https://www.facebook.com/e3southfreshrecords
Fliptrix is a man that should need no introduction, but for the uninitiated he is the founder of powerhouse UK label High Focus Records, and 1/4 of the group ‘The Four Owls’ (along with label mates Verb-T, Leaf Dog and BVA) and one he is one of the most unique and inspiring rappers to come out of the scene in a long time.
‘Polyhymnia’ is Flipper’s 5th album and the title is based around the subject of Muses, the 9 ancient Greek goddesses of inspiration. Of the nine masked spirit women adorning the cover which all represent specific sources of inspiration, ‘Polyhymnia’ is the muse of sacred poetry, geometry, meditation and eloquence, which are themes which pertain heavily to Fliptrix as an artist.
The other muses surrounding the Ouroboros (snake eating its tail, representing eternity/life/death & rebirth) represent everything from tragedy, history, comedy, astrology, music, poetry and more which are all themes that are also touched upon on the album.
As you can see by this deep and highly meaningful title and artwork Fliptrix is an artist who is not afraid to delve in to the very essence of what makes us human, and this is explored throughout the album, most obviously on ‘Praise The Sun’ featuring a blusey, feel good chorus from man of the moment Rag N Bone Man, ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow‘ and ‘Reflections’, which features the Four Owls.
Throughout the album Fliptrix remains positive and philosophical, dropping words of wisdom and personal thoughts that many will be able to relate to. However this is not to say that there isn’t a feast of razor sharp bars, witty wordplay and consistently excellent beats, provided by Molotov to keep everyone happy.
All in all this is an album that will leave you with no need for the skip button.
Personal highlights include the afore mentioned ‘Praise The Sun’, the effortless skippy flows on ‘Polyhymnia’, an ode to the many quality’s of music, and also the track featuring Chester P ‘Alchemical Vessel’, but really the whole album is a triumph and could well be a contender for album of the year in my humble opinion.
Words; Chris
Pre order ‘Polyhymnia’ on CD: http://bit.ly/WVS9qe
Pre order ‘Polyhymnia’ on Limited Edition Vinyl: http://bit.ly/1kytYc1
Pre order ‘Polyhymnia’ on iTunes: http://bit.ly/1qKN1Oh
Fliptrix – ‘Vultures’ Video/single
Buy ‘Vultures’: http://bit.ly/1uedeHa
Fliptrix – ‘Praise The Sun’ Feat. Rag N Bone Man Video/Single
Buy ‘Praise The Sun’: http://bit.ly/1tBbtEc
Fliptrix – ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’ Video/single
Buy ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’: http://bit.ly/1qaTik9
The album launch tour kicks off in London tomorrow, check the flyer below to see if Fliptrix and the High Focus crew are coming to a City/Town near you
High Focus FB page https://www.facebook.com/highfocus
Treach of Naughty by Nature sat down with VladTV and discussed the breakup of the legendary crew, saying that him and Vin Rock needed a break from each other, but that Naughty by Nature as a brand still exists and will still do shows performing their classic material. However, Naughty Nation is just him and DJ Kay Gee, without Vin Roc, who create and perform new material.
The Naughty by Nature frontman reveals that Vin Rock was originally a part of the group as a beat boxer, and when that aspect of Hip-Hop began to become less popular, he was kept in the group out of loyalty and was often given writing credits he didn’t necessarily earn. Hear Treach break it all down above.
hiphoplifeandtimes 