New visual from Amsterdam’s MC Melodee and Spanish production duo Cookin Soul’s joint ‘Up & Down’ the 4th video single of Melodees new album “Passport Pimpin”. Hitting you with that soulful 90s flavour with Cookin Soul on production and Melodees rhymes, “Up & Down” makes your head bounce and makes you crack a smile as you reminisce about them good old days.
Video directed and recorded in Valencia, Spain by Assen Petrov
Get the MC Melodee album “Passport Pimpin” on all digital platforms here
‘LEGENDARY’ is taken from ILA’s debut mixtape dropping very soon.
Produced by Phocus Beats
Cinematography by Kevin Chan and Mutahar Hussain
Video Edited by ILA QUEST
New York City is widely known & respected as the birth place of Hip Hop culture. “New York Gangsters” brings 10 NYC rappers together on one track repping all 5 boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx & Staten Island).
“I think this track & video is incredible, it’s the reason I got involved so deeply, to make sure it reached the masses in the way I always release my solo material. I feel this project is an amazing spectrum of seasoned vets rapping their styles over a really hot beat, with everyone hailing from New York. It’s important for the world to see this kind of Hip Hop now in 2016”, Necro
In order of appearance:
Tragedy Khadafi of Queensbridge Projects
Hec Teck from Jamaica, Queens
Necro of PLR(Psycho+Logical-Records) from Brooklyn
Capone of Capone-N-Noreaga from QB
Dom Pachino of Killarmy/Wu-Tang fam from Shaolin(Staten Island)
Thirstin Howl The 3rd of The Lo-Lifes from Brownsville BK
Raze The Ratchet of Ghetto Inmates from Lower East Side, Manhattan
Willie Stubz of Beatnuts fam from QU
Chris Rivers (Big Pun’s son) from The Bronx
Kurious Jorge of CM Fam from Uptown, NYC
Dope track as Conscious Route brings you this raw edgy truth of his life experience over haunting reflective melody, produced by UK producer Micall Parknsun.
Conscious Route has been steadily building a solid repertoire over the last five years since his return to hip hop. This new release lays testament to his lyrical ability, as well as being reflective of his own life journey. The song takes you through layers of struggle and personal change as the chorus reflects the hope and purpose gained from struggle alongside a willingness to support the community towards progression and change. The hauntingly reflective lyrics ride on a tough instrumental back drop courtesy of Micall Parknsun, and this track isn’t to be taken lightly, as both lyrics and melody take you on a focused journey, showing that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
True Hold Records bring exclusive B side “Played slaves” ft Zenga The Titan also produced by Micall Parknsun and heavy Monosapiens “On Da Up” (Remix) to boot!
From its origins in the block parties of the Bronx in the 1970s to its status today as a global multi-billion dollar industry, from the voice of disaffected urban America to a President-electing powerbase, from Grandmaster Flash to Jay-Z, Hip Hop is nothing less than a phenomenon. Not just the most important musical genre of the past four decades, Hip Hop has transcended its origins to impact on every aspect of 21st-century culture. Today Dr Dre is at the vanguard of the music industry’s digital revolution, Kanye West is courted by the fashion industry and makes front page news, while Kendrick Lamar maintains Hip Hop’s legacy as a voice for the voiceless—for the Ferguson riots generation—in the seething socio-political commentary contained within his lyrics.
Written by DJ Semtex, host of the UK’s premier Hip Hop show on BBC Radio 1Xtra, ‘HIP HOP RAISED ME’ is the definitive illustrated book on the essence, experience and energy of Hip Hop. This unique volume traces the characteristics and influence of Hip Hop, from its very beginnings to its breakthrough into the mainstream and the advent of gangsta rap in the late 80s, to the impact of contemporary artists and the global industry that is Hip Hop today. With his encyclopedic knowledge of the genre and his personal relationships with many of the most significant names in Hip Hop, DJ Semtex provides readers with the ultimate insider’s perspective.
Organized thematically, ‘HIP HOP RAISED ME’ features the many extensive interviews DJ Semtex has conducted from the 1990s to today, conveying the authentic voices of a huge roster of artists including Eminem, the Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z, Public Enemy, Kanye West, Nas, 50 Cent, Nicky Minaj, Pharrell, Odd Future, Drake and many more.
Numerous infographic treatments track the four pillars of Hip Hop culture as well as the genre’s many fashion trends. These supplement specially commissioned photography of Hip Hop memorabilia and vinyl, as well as contact sheets, outtakes, and glory shots from key photographers in the movement. The depth and breadth of ‘HIP HOP RAISED ME’ is visually matched by the rich and plentiful illustrations that make this the complete Hip Hop survey.
The publication of ‘HIP HOP RAISED ME’ coincides with multiple key dates in Hip Hop history – 40 years since Grandmaster Flash broke out of the Bronx; 30 years since the release of the Beastie Boys’ “Licensed to Ill”; and 20 years since the release of Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt.” Demonstrating the continued power and cultural relevance of Hip Hop culture, ‘HIP HOP RAISED ME’ is essential reading for Hip Hop heads, music lovers, and anyone with an interest in pop culture, and social and economic history of the past forty years.
“Hip Hop Raised Me” by DJ Semtex and Foreword by Chuck D is out now on Thames & Hudson and available in Hardcover ,448 pp, 800 illustrations, including 600 in colour!
One for our classics section, Legendary freestyle from A Tribe Called Quest featuring Consequence back in 1996 with Funk Flex on the decks, Westwood recently uploaded this never heard before audio.
Check out the dope first single ‘Bang’, produced By Hinesy, taken from Brighton, UK artist Bobbie Johnson’s New EP entitled ‘You & I.’
I’ve always been a big fan of Bobbie’s work from my days writing for StandUpUK when she was releasing music under the name Stanza. ‘You & I’ perfectly illustrates why I am such a fan of this multi talented artist and the progression she has made. The EP showcases Bobbie’s lyricism, songwriting and vocal talents, her ability to tear up a beat as good as anyone out there and now production skills added to her list of talents.
Bobbie is about to embark on a tour supporting Rag N Bone Man, don’t sleep on this outstanding release, cop it here on Bandcamp….
Two of our favourite emcees from the North East Jister and Leddie MC collaborate for the first time with the track ‘InBetween’ as they drop knowledge and intellect with style and skill over a brooding, dark SVNTY6 produced beat.
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