News
So I’m going to take full responsibility and say I should have posted this a LONG time ago. In fact I should’ve posted anything by Twizzy since we first started HHLAT. In my defense…I’m rubbish. So to make for my negligence here’s Bristol based (best city son!) rapper Twizzy featuring M.A.B and DJ Skint, produced by Bailey’s Brown and directed by Chris Lucas. Awesome flow, clever lyrics and a consistency that so many are lacking nowadays. Bonus points for the South West twang!
Look out for an interview with the man himself in the near future!
http://twizzy.bandcamp.com
http://abnoxshuz.bandcamp.com
http://arunproductions.co.uk
‘The Floor Model EP’ is a collection of six songs by the talented that vary in style, speed, theme, and delivery. This was done to give the listener an introduction to Esko’s range as a lyricist as well as showcasing his ability to work with producers of different styles. Raised in New Jersey, Esko is a talented emcee, dedicated to the culture of Hip-Hop. Since the age of fifteen Esko has been crafting his style and expressing his emotions through the lyrics of his songs. His heart, mind, and soul go into every letter of every verse he writes.
His music is a direct reflection of his life, the good times, the bad times, and everything in between. ESKO is a fan of true hip hop as a culture and discovered hip-hop when he heard KRS One’s ‘Step Into A World’ and Wu-Tangs ‘C.R.E.A.M’ back in the 90’s. Raised in a single parent household Esko took to the pad and pen at an early age to cope with his daily struggle of poverty and stress. Making a buzz first as a poet, Esko describes himself as a Biographical emcee, creating music that reflects the events and emotions of his life and the lives of the people close to him.
Esko is known for his unorthodox lyrics, delivery, creative themes, and energetic stage performances. Driven by a charismatic love of life, Hip-Hop culture, and art, Esko loves to make music that documents his life and improves the lives of people with the same struggles. Influenced by emcees such as Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Onyx, Eminem, and Andre 3000, Esko’s mission is to bring real hip hop back to the main stage. His latest release “The Floor Model EP” is an audio appetizer for fans awaiting his new album. “Fire Lyrics”, which is a no-holds-barred onslaught of rapid fire rhymes, to “The Prophecy”, which is a metaphoric representation of the battle between corporate record labels and the Underground rap scene.
The EP also includes “Sunny Afternoons”, a song that humorously documents the struggle of trying to stay afloat financially. This project has been released on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, Amazon MP3, and Myspace Music. The song “Why Do I” from the EP, has been featured on the #1 morning show in the region, G105.1FM’s Bob and The Showgram. Music from The Floor Model EP has also been featured on KRS ONE’s internet radio Shadesaradio.com, North Carolina State University’s 88.1FM, and University of North Carolina in Greensboro’s 103.1FM
Esko has performed in several cities in North Carolina, as well as Ft. Lauderdale Florida, and Long Beach California. He plans on using his current connections in the industry to work his way up to a level that will permit him to perform and tour over seas. Esko also manages The Tribe of 1100 Hunters, a collective of like-minded entrepreneurs and artists dedicated to uplifting the community and helping each other reach the common goal of making a living from their talents. The Tribe includes graphic designers, Independent clothing lines, producers, painters, musicians, and emcees, all operating as a family. There is a focus on self within every member, but ultimately, it is about unity, it is about The Tribe.
Esko – The Floor Model EP
01 – Fire Lyrics
02 – Still Be Me
03 – Why Do I
04 – Sunny Afternoons
05 – Solid As Steel
06 – The Prophecy
Download link:
http://esko.bandcamp.com/
http://www.eskobts.com/
Connect:
http://www.eskobts.com
http://www.twitter.com/#!/eskobts
http://www.youtube.com/user/Esko33
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Esko/335513820566
http://www.myspace.com/esko
High Focus Records is proud to present NATURE’S GREATEST MYSTERY, the first album from brand new collective THE FOUR OWLS…
Deep in the High Focus catacombs, Nature’s Greatest Mystery has been gathering in force. For years the underworld has been buzzing to the sound of a new band of lyricists, a feathered troop of strigiformes unlike anything the world has seen before. It is only now, one month before the apocalypse, that mankind is finally ready for the full force of Nature’s Greatest Mystery.
This parliament of owls hover in cypher circles gripping microphones with their iron talons, leaving humans in the wake of their earthly knowledge. Led by the merciless BIG OWL (FLIPTRIX), guided by the teachings of BIRD T (VERB T), entertained by the do-or-die spirit of RUSTY TAKE-OFF (BVA MC) & inspired by the inventions of DEFORMED WING (LEAF DOG), The Four Owls have played in the shadows for long enough and are ready to take flight with their debut single Lights Off, a head-nodding classic that BIRD T accurately describes as “true hip hop”. Produced entirely by High Focus artist Leaf Dog and joined in the woods by an all-star list of collaborators including High Focus label mates Dirty Dike on Much Too Much and Jam Baxter on The Balance Of Life, plus the phenomenal Q-Unique on the epic across the pond club banger Champion, THE OWLS are unlike anything you have heard before.
Nature’s Greatest Mystery is High Focus Records most ambitious release to date. The label has quickly gained a reputation for pushing boundaries in a scene that has grown desperate for a new type of binocular vision. The FOUR OWLS are responsible for a modern day classic, fourteen tracks of straight up-and-down head banging rhythms, undiluted lyricism and conceptual brilliance. Who said UK hip hop was dead? Just look to the skies.
The time has come for The Four Owls to descend silently from their colony in the highest mountain peaks and unleash a wave of hip hop unlike anything you mere humans have heard before.
THIS IS THE AGE OF THE OWL.
Cancer has become so prevalent these days that we all know at least one person, if not more, battling the disease. Recognizing this fact, Brooklyn Indie hip-hop label, Coalmine Records seeks to help spread awareness of the disease and raise funds to go toward the American Cancer Society’s ongoing fight to find a cure.
Coalmine sought out some of the genre’s best talents to record a song that emphasizes celebrating life. Backed by uplifting, piano-led production from M-Phazes, the appropriately titled “Beautiful” features verses from hip-hop heavyweight Talib Kweli, burgeoning star Big K.R.I.T., and up-and-coming rapper-singer Outasight.
Together, the MCs provide the inspirational rhymes that build into Mela Machinko’s spirit-raising hook that stresses that “life is beautiful.” Further driving that message home are four cancer survivors — CeeCee, Shawn Tesser, Salman Qadar and Wilmer Wise — who speak on the intro and outro of the track.
You can stream the track below and purchase it on iTunes or Amazon. One hundred percent of the net revenue will be donated by Coalmine Records to the American Cancer Society. Click here to learn more of the backstory regarding this campaign – thank you for your support.
DOWNLOAD: “Beautiful” now from iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-feat.-big-k.r.i.t./id468580718
South London rapper and label CEO Jesse James finally releases his brand new mixtape entitled ‘Unleashed Renegade Season’ with the long running and well respected mixtape giants UK Runnings. This twenty-eight track mixtape is hosted and mixed by Tricksta, who has released official mixtape with the likes of Papoose, D-Block, 40Glocc, Red Café, Chamillionaire, The Jacka, Dipset’s Freekey Zeekey and many more.
This blazing new mixtape see Jesse James goes in over a selection of killer beats including production from Uz man, Leezy from Noizee House, Grizzy from Rebellious Empire, Fuse from O.D.G, Mikey Page from L.M.S, J. Brown from Step-In-Deep Myklos, and even Jesse James himself! Collaborations come from talented vocalists Lock & Load, Mad Max, and Kruga, as well as including three freestyles recorded live from prison.
As a younger Jesse’s life was one of unpredictability and instability, leading him to a life of street crime. He found peace with music and was often told buy friends that he had a real talent for rapping. So with the past in the past and the future looking bright, Jesse James is now ‘unleashed’ with this slice of hard-hitting UK Rap. When asked about the release of his new project, this is what Jesse James had to say.
“Please accept this mixtape/street album as the unleashing of my burden, my blessing, my gift. I can rest assure knowing it was the best I could do at the time, with the resources I had! Its who I am, what I’m about, where I’m from, my beliefs, my way of life and a voice for those who relate, plus one to enlighten those with no idea what a young man can experience living in London city, welcome to renegade season, a mixtape that is dedicated to all those (free & in prison) who have at some point “begged” me to do this over the last decade! R.I.P. BEANO aka Carl Smalls.”
Track-listing:
01 – Tricksta Intro
02 – The Stickiest
03 – Yelafavela (Prod. by Uz man)
04 – Get Along Feat. Mad Max
05 – Traffic Light Up
06 – Prison Tape Freestyle #1
07 – Get The Money Out (Madness) (Prod. by Leezy fro Noizee House)
08 – F All Da BS (Prod. by Grizzy for Rebellious Empire)
09 – Prison Or The Grave (Prod. by Fuse for O.D.G)
10 – G.M.T (Prod. by Grizzy for Rebellious Empire)
11 – Blackberry Scriptures Part 1 (Prod. by Grizzy for Rebellious Empire)
12 – Prison Tape Freestyle #2
13 – How Real It Is (Prod. by Mikey Page for L.M.S)
14 – Big Belt (Prod. by Mikey Page for L.M.S)
15 – Renegade Freestyle
16 – Roll Up
17 – Reverse Cowgirl
18 – Prison Tape Freestyle #3
19 – Sutten 2 Say (Prod. by Fuse for O.D.G)
20 – Cocabutta Freestyle
21 – Blackberry Scriptures Part 2
22 – The System Feat Kruga (Prod. by Myklos & Jesse James)
23 – Realist Verse
24 – Nitelite (Prod. by Grizzy for Rebellious Empire)
25 – Underground King
26 – Triggaman
27 – New Wild West Feat. Lock & Load (Prod. by J. Brown for Step-In-Deep)
28 – Tricksta Outro
Download links:
www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/0jvc6l
www.hoodtapes.co.uk/jesse-james-unleashed-renegade-season-mixed-hosted-by-tricksta
www.downloadamixtape.com/?page_id=195&mixtape_id=2244
www.datpiff.com/Jesse-James-Jesse-James-Unleashed-Renegade-Season-mixed-H-mixtape.274434.html
Connect:
rebelliousmuzic@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/jjdarenegade
www.ukrapmusic.com/jessejames
www.ukrunnings.co.uk
UK Runnings is sponsored by Sturban Clothing www.sturbanclothing.com
Play Money Clothing is a brand new clothing line that began life back in April 2011 and since then has gone from strength to strength with an array of quality designs no for sale. They current have six different designs for T-Shirts and four designs for Hooded Tops, with loads more to come in the pipeline including the hugely popular ‘original PM logo’ and the ‘meek’ designs. This is urban street apparel that has a unique edge, as well as being limited edition, some are actually individually numbered and once lines run out, they are deleted. Play Money has arrived…
As part of their major launch Play Money has also announced that they will be releasing a FREE download mixtape full of Grime & Hip-Hop before Christmas. The mixtape will be mixed and hosted by leading UK mixtape deejay Tricksta, who has released mixtapes with the likes of Papoose, Sheek Louch & D-Block, 40Glocc (G-Unit), Red Café, Chamillionaire, The Jacka, Freekey Zeekey (Dipset), DJ Paul (Three Six Mafia) as well as UK acts such as M9, Iron Braydz, Supar Novar, LATE, Big Cakes, Deeze, TBear, Big Narstie and many more. If you an artist would like to be included on this mixtape submit your tracks to info@ukrunnings.co.uk
Play Money are currently on-line with a detailed blog and website/store for you to check out. If you a clothing store or website that would like to stock this line please contact them direct at the details below.
Connect:
playmoneyco@gmail.com
www.play-money.co
www.playmoney.bigcartel.com
www.twitter.com/playmoneyco
“This is fresh clothing for the urban market with a real nice look” www.RawRoots.com
“This brand has a real professional look and a nice diverse collection” www.100PerCentUK.com
“We love their stuff and we’re sure you will too!” www.DaRealBiz.com
“We are tipping Play Money Clothing as a name to look out” www.UrbanUndergrowth.com
“Play Money clothing rocks and with a good selection of designs” www.StrictlyFromTheStreets.com
Lowkey drops another track ‘Dear England’ from ‘The Soundtrack To The Struggle’ album. ‘Dear England’ features Mai Khalil and has a GlobalFaction shot video…
Soundtrack To The Struggle is available on iTunes from here :
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/soundtrack-to-struggle…/id460445624
Follow Lowkey on Twitter @LowkeyMusic1
Kierston Wareing (It’s A Free World) and Ashley Walters (Hustle, Small Island) join forces with major UK contemporary music stars Kane Robinson aka Kano and Scorcher in an ensemble cast of new four-part thriller Top Boy.
Written by screenwriter and novelist Ronan Bennett (Public Enemies, The Hamburg Cell) and produced by Cowboy Films (The Last King of Scotland, Poppy Shakespeare) for Channel 4, Top Boy is a 4 X 60’ original drama about young lives lived on the edge. The drama looks beyond the headlines about youth crime and delves into the personal stories of those involved.
Filming has begun in and around London this month with director by Yann Demange (Criminal Justice, Dead Set) at the helm. The drama will showcase a fresh and dynamic line up of first time actors, brought together through extensive talent searches across London; combining open auditions and youth workshops, with on-the-spot, street approaches everywhere from bus shelters to Burger Kings.
Meet drug dealer and gang leader Dushane (Ashley Walters). He is charming, sexy, clever, and at 26 years old has “already run out of things to be – except this”. When he gets the attention of ex-convict and drug dealer Bobby Raikes (Geoff Bell) he seizes an opportunity to be more, to have more. With his friend Sully (Kane Robinson) at his side, Dushane is on track to becoming Top Boy.
Dushane and Sully’s violent quest to take over the supply of drugs in the Summerhouse Estate impacts on the lives of a number of the residents. The emotional heart of the story lies with Ra’Nell (Malcolm Kamulete), a bright 13-year-old struggling to create a stable home environment for his mentally ill mother Lisa (Sharon Duncan Brewster). Ra’Nell’s best friend Gem (Giacomo Mancini) will do anything to be accepted into Dushane’s gang whilst Summerhouse resident Heather (Kierston Wareing), pregnant and penniless, is determined to give her baby the chances she never had – “even if it means doing one wrong thing to get to the right place”.
Top Boy is based on months of first hand research by writer and Hackney resident Ronan Bennett and story consultant Gerry Jackson. Jackson, a fitness coach, was born and raised in Hackney and has, over the years, worked with the kids there to motivate and encourage them to keep clear of the drug and gang culture. He was able to set up meetings and interviews with local kids who gave candid accounts of life on the estates. This extensive research forms the basis of Bennett’s scripts.
Writer Ronan Bennett says: “I knew that I wanted to write about this world from the bottom up, from the point of view, not of the police, but of the tinies and youngers I saw every day hanging around the supermarket forecourt. So I asked Gerry if he would introduce me to kids on the street. Although I was interested in hearing about the mechanics of drug dealing, I wanted to know about the lives these kids lived. What were their homes like? Did they go to school? What did they think about their parents and teachers? What music did they like? Clothes? What did they want from life? Some of their stories were brutal and frightening. Others were sad and some were unintentionally funny – “I didn’t get focused on making money until I was 13,” one younger said wistfully, “all them wasted years.” I came to realise that the lives I was glimpsing on the supermarket forecourt were a lot more complex, deep and rich than I’d imagined. I wanted Top Boy to look at the fabric of life in a world we hear a lot about, but about which we know a lot less than we think.”
Head of drama Camilla Campbell says: “Ronan’s script is not only honest and contemporary, due to the vast research with the kids and their extraordinary stories – it is also gripping, funny and entertaining. It will be a striking piece of drama that is perfect for Channel 4.”
Top Boy will be made by Cowboy Films and Easter Partisan for Channel 4. The four- part drama serial, due for transmission October 31st will be produced by Charles Steel, Alasdair Flind and Ronan Bennett.
Top Boy will be available on DVD after transmission courtesy of Warner Home Video.
Number 2 in our Wednesday afternoon of new musics courtesy of Black Budget Entertainment is Mr 13’s ‘Keep It Movin’ (Ibiza 2011). Shot on location in Ibiza so you know it’s probably not going to be a dude rapping in a skate park next to some graffiti for particular one. If you fancy finding out a little bit more about Mr 13 head over for a cheeky read of a recent interview we did with the man himself.
Twitter: @Firts
Facebook: facebook/mr13
Youtube: youtube.com/djbonesandmr13
Website: http://wearebang.com
http://mr13.bandcamp.com/
