On Wednesday 17th September Hip Hop lost a truly great man, I’ve struggled to write this post for a number of days. Although being from the UK I chatted on the regular with my American homie. He truly was a selfless, giving person always appreciative of peoples efforts and love for Hip Hop. He was always there to offer advice and give you credit.
If you are a rapper or a publicist trying to make your name, you have probably stumbled upon his many lists of contacts: International Blogs, Radio Shows, etc. If you were on social media, you probably read one of his Twitter interviews or one of his motivational or instructional comments (he made Hip-Hop Wired’s #BlackTwitter100 list for his advice and wisdom).
As a member of the Hip-Hop Bloggers United Collective, he was a dot connector, staying in touch with everybody. The sincerity was apparent in every word he ever spoke, as he gave his support and encouragement to all.
I felt honoured when he mentioned our site in his lists and he laid down a platform for aspiring artists around the world to get their music heard. I write this with a heavy heart, but also with a determination to carry on the good work and faith Earl Patrick McNease aka Praverb has given us all.
With this being said Praverb leaves behind a young son and wife. Please donate if you can and spread this message to anyone you can. Hip Hop is about community and looking after our own, Praverb was one of the good guys and his family need our help. Please donate whatever you can. http://www.gofundme.com/enr64o RIP Brother!
“Think about success, That’s what knowledge does, Saving bills put directly in a college fund, No booze or weed, I want an honest buzz” – Praverb
While the rap game is left anorexic, Has-Lo & Castle are still hungry. Their new video for Famished follows the distorted duo through Philadelphia, stopping only to let the lines land. The premortum album, Live Like You’re Dead, is out now everywhere.
Straight from the Emerald Isle ,by way of Boston, US, based label CommonWealth Records, comes the debut album from Bobby Bars aka Rob Kelly.
A name that I have come across via various guest appearances with an impressive number of the UK’s heavy hitters, Kelly has recently joined the afore mentioned CommonWealth Records to release this collection of rugged tracks.
The content throughout the album is gritty and rowdy and the production (provided by Mike Donnelly, Anarkist, Scooby, Mathman, Jee4ce and Tony Mahoney ) consistently banging, and the overall vibe brings to mind the braggadocio of the mid 90’s, whilst still maintaing a strong grounding in Kelly’s life and surroundings.
Production throughout the album is consistent and all tracks seem to have been carefully assembled to match the beats with the content of the lyrics, not something that is always evident in some releases.
Another constant throughout the album is the quality of the guest verses (provided by Geddes, Da Villins, Robyn Kavanagh, illderberg (Terawrizt, Redzer, Jonnie Darko) .
Personal standouts include the first single ‘What I need’ with its rapid fire lyrics and heavy metal guitars, courtesy of Mike Donnelly, along with a strong hook from Robyn Kavanagh ,and the rowdy neck snapper ‘More Fire’.
For fans of crispy, banging and well crafted beats, rowdy hooks, versatile flows and a cheeky dose of humour this is something you need in your collection.
The New Single from Sean Strange & Mighty Fuzz Young featuring underground legend Saigon titled “Hear You Calling” This is the 2nd leak from Sean & Fuzz’s new album “Return From Rejection” Coming Soon. You can purchase the song right here on the link below from BandCamp.
Sony Music have announced the release of the legendary “lost” debut Blak Twang album ‘Dettwork SouthEast’ on Monday 22nd September. An un-released British masterpiece that has reached almost mythical status, and undoubtedly the holy grail of UK hip-hop, the album has been re-mastered and includes a brand new 2014 bonus track, ‘Dettwork London Revisited (Dettwork SouthEast Remix)’. The revisited version now features Jehst, Rodney P and Samson AKA Black The Ripper – each repping their corner of the city over a new Harry Love production.
Considered an all-time classic of the genre, ‘Dettwork SouthEast’ (a pun on the rail company Network SouthEast) was ranked at No.3 in the Hip-Hop Connection list of the Top 50 UK hip-hop LPs, even though it never got past an initial test press and small promotional-only (not for sale) run on cassette for journalists in advance of what should have been its official release in 1996. For what later became an album of scarce availability amongst music aficionados, its influence upon the UK hip-hop scene is undoubted. Both singles from the album, ‘Real Estate’, and the title track, ‘Dettwork SouthEast’, gained widespread recognition upon release, which served to only further fuel the cult-like status the album is now known for; an absolute lost gem.
However, at last ‘Dettwork SouthEast’ is finally set to be given a full UK release with its original track listing and packaging, including collaborations with Roots Manuva, Seanie T and Fallacy plus the aforementioned bonus 2014 track ‘Dettwork London Revisited (Dettwork SouthEast Remix)’. The album will be available on CD, 2LP vinyl and digital download.
“For the ‘Dettwork SouthEast’ album to finally get a release now, as it deserved when it was first recorded in 1996, is quite incredible. The reason this has been possible is really due to the fans, who have been the never-ending fuel that have kept the fire blazing and the engines running. It was the genesis of my career and really defined what I’ve gone on to achieve since then, so for everyone to get behind this project and truly believe in it has been amazing!” – Blak Twang
The Blak Twang Dettwork SouthEast Album Launch Party will take place on Monday 22nd September at the London Jazz Café. Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 9am at www.gigsandtours.com
As rap takes new forms with its various players and influencers, it’s important to pay dues to those who’ve paved the way. While some will disregard this rule in favour of ignorant ideals, those who make it aware that they stand on the shoulders of giants will more often than not last longer than the one hit wonders and trend followers. If you rep the East Coast and can relate to the hustle and struggle of cats like Diabolic, then allow ‘Fightin Words’ to be the soundtrack to get you to where you’re headed. Part razor sharp rhymes and part sinister sounding beats, this album will speak volumes to underground heads both old and new, as Diabolic speaks his story, even if the Long Island emcee has to make some enemies in the process.
Released through his own War Horse Records label, ‘Fightin Words’ is Diabolic’s attempt to claim the throne. With a history of battle rapping against underground favorites such as Immortal Technique and Rhymefest, Diabolic concocts a lethal dose of Hip-Hop on an LP that finds the LI native joined by Sean Price, R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Celph Titled, Locksmith, Nino Bless and Coast, amongst others, with production credits from the likes of DJ Premier, The Snowgoons, Brooklyn’s 5th Seal, and more. Fans of Wu Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) will appreciate the well-placed opening samples which are akin to The RZA’s method of production. Fightin Words is now available through iTunes via digital download, or through Fat Beats, on either CD or 2xLP.
Greetings again one and all, tis I Singerdread with another review. This time around it is Verb T’s newest offering, ‘Medicated Dreams’ EP.
I find it unlikely that anyone reading this doesn’t know who Verb T is, but if you don’t, I’ll just say he is a guy who has been in the game for a while and done more than paid his dues. This is why I think he has the position he has at the moment, as a kinda OG of high focus records (I’m sure Verbs won’t mind me referring to him as an OG! haha).
This EP is now the second release from Verbs that is completely produced by the man himself, and as anyone who has the previous Verb T produced album, ‘I Remain’, will tell you….he ain’t too shabby son!! Many rappers try at producing, some do Ok, aaaaaaand some do not. Verbs falls into another category of rappers who produce……he fucking smashes it!!
I dont think that myself and fellow HHLAT writer Adam will ever forget when we saw Verb T perform the title track from ‘I remain’ at Boom Bap festival last year and the crowd reaction when that beat switches!!! Jheeeez!! Haha anyways, moving on……
I really like Verbs style of production, as at times its hard to hear what he’s played and what is the sample….which is awesome!! and also a real testament to his skills as a producer. His beats remind me a lot of Madlibs beats (I’m sure Verbs won’t mind this comparison either), as he creates tracks that have their own type of vibe to them and sometimes may not strictly sound like ya average hip hop beat. That theme or style of beats match perfectly with the subject matter of the EP. ‘Medicated Dreams’ is a trippy and laid back 9 tracks in which Verb T tells tales of pain, insomnia, and basically insanity!! Don’t let the laid back sound fool you though, as Verbs is as complex as he can be with his rhymes and patterns, making the replay factor of this EP very strong.
I really think this EP is brilliant, and I couldn’t stop listening to it, as was the same with Verb T’s last album, ‘I Remain’. My final thought on this EP is one that I don’t want people to get misconstrued. The point I wanted to make was that I think Verbs age and music now is at a maturity level which gives him the freedom to do some things others may not be able to do with his sound and subjects. It is for this reason that I think the older hip hop head may well appreciate this EP more than a younger buck…BUT, as I said, I don’t want people to get this twisted, as I’m sure younger listeners too will appreciate what Verbs has done here.
There is only one verdict I could have come to when reviewing this EP……Go and buy it now!!…..its awesome and its out now!!!
Thank you for your time in reading this and thanks to HHLAT for the chance to do this again. that’s me, Singerdread, signing out. Peace Love Unity to all.
Verb T had this message “This is a good prelude to my new EP I guess. This video was filmed in December 2011 at St. Thomas’s hospital. I had been struggling for years with Crohn’s disease and all the different medication I had to take was affecting me badly as well. In that hospital bed I finished off writing the Morning Process album. I was there over Christmas when I should have been with my kids. My hair looked fucking sick really but I was at the lowest point I ever have been physically. When I came out I was on a huge dose of steroids which made me feel better at first only to feel a lot worse. This is around the time when the four owls album was new and we were doing shows all over. I would be sitting backstage looking half dead and have to jump up and go mental on stage. The traveling and not sleeping were hard, it had to be a case of mind over matter to get through it sometimes. I heard an endless list of “you look tired man” “you look well sad mate” “are you wasted?” “did some one shit in your ruck sack?” (ok not the last one). in the past few months I’ve tried other more natural remedies and tried taking better care of myself generally and it’s helped but it’s still a struggle sometimes. So my new EP is a wacked out journey through my experiences under the influence of different types of medication with side helpings of weird dreams, some depression and some optimism, it’s out on now, that’s good isn’t it? yes.”
From intestines to chitlins, from old dusty records to Hip Hop, necessity has always been the mother of invention. Nobody knows this better than hiphop stalwarts Apollo Brown & Ras Kass. Today they’re breaking down the mathematics of change on their new song, ‘Humble Pi’ that debuted yesterday at XXL.
As Ras Kass’ legacy has been written into the annals of Hip hop, he’s watched plenty of his compatriots stumble – something that reminds him of Momma reading Proverbs 16: Pride Comes Before A Fall. With that spirit Ras Kass & Apollo Brown take up the tools of their craft to reflect and recreate some ‘Humble Pi’.
Directed by Jay Brown, the new video is the first from Apollo Brown & Ras Kass’ eagerly anticipated upcoming album “Blasphemy ” out October 28th
hiphoplifeandtimes 