Friday, June 4, 2010 at 3:02AM 
If you’re a Pete Rock fan in any way, shape or form, then this is a must have. Brilliant Mix.
P.S. DJ Mystery can’t spell.
DJ Mystery, Hip-Hop, Mix, Pete Rock in Aside Friday, June 4, 2010 at 2:45AM 
Wasn’t sure what to think of this feature when I first saw it, but for me it works.
Have a feeling this album is gonna be huge.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 1:07AM 
Slum Village are my favourite Hip-Hop group of all time (along with ATCQ) and new music from them is always a pleasant surprise. Colin Munroe on the feature and Young JR on the beat. Hope the rest of the album is up to this quality. Have no doubt it will be.
Dilla & Baatin live on, forever.
Colin Munroe, Hip-Hop, Slum Village, Villa Manifesto in Aside Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 2:49PM 
StonesThrow says that ‘Papermill’ will be the first release from the new Madvillain album, which they began recording in 2009.
Hit the jump for a new Estelle track featuring NaS, along with a Live Lounge performance from B.O.B.
NaS has jumped on the new Estelle track, ‘Fall In Love’, which came out earlier on this week. Has grown on me a lot.
B.O.B. has been over in the UK for a while now and here is the audio of him covering MGMT’s ‘Kids’. Shame his single is only gonna be at Number 1 for a week.
Hip-Hop, Madvillain in Aside Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 6:54PM 2 years ago, Daniel Stephens and David Meads (better known as Dan Le Sac & Scroobius Pip) burst onto the UK Hip-Hop scene with a refreshing new look, sound and message, which has since seen them acquire an army of fans that appreciate the Musical talent they both possess. Mr. Pip is an exceptional lyricist that has brilliant politics backing him up, with Le Sac complimenting his work beautifully by producing some of the most unique beats I have ever heard. I personally didn’t think they could better a seemingly flawless debut album. Well you know what - I was wrong.
When I arrived at the Manchester Apollo on February 16th 2008 to see Mark Ronson & Co; I knew of a man called Scroobius Pip who had a solo album to his name called ‘No Commercial Breaks’, but had no idea that he, and his partner Dan, would be the support act for what was going to be the most eye-opening gig I have ever experienced. At first I was astounded by the distinct lack of appreciation that was shown from a 3000+ capacity crowd; but then again, you’re average human being wouldn’t understand why an artist is standing on stage, ‘talking’, with a bible in his hand. However, I myself thought it was one of the most unique and thought provoking performances I have ever seen, and since that day I have been encapsulated by the phenomenon that is Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip.
Having heard ‘Get Better’ three months ago, I had a feeling that this album was going to be something special. It’s safe to say, I was right. Currently positioned at No.1 on the Hip-Hop Album Chart on iTunes; Logic of Chance is the perfect Hip-Hop/Electronic crossover album - providing messages and touching on issues that no-one else would dare to take on. This is the main reason why I rate Pip so highly as a recording artist. Dan has also widened his production style on this album, with influences from both Ambient and Dubstep being quite apparent on some of the tracks. However; it’s wrong and very difficult to put these two into any kind of bracket/genre, as they have created their own genre of Music throughout the course of the two albums.
In many ways it is a very similar album to ‘Angles’ - it shouldn’t work, it’s not commercially friendly and you need to listen to it with an open mind. But if you are a true Music fan, then it should tick every box you on your check-list. I don’t think anyone can argue when I say that Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip are the most forward-thinking group in the world and continue to break down barriers that once looked unmoveable. I would like to pick out some tracks that stood out for me, but that would mean telling you about 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11+12. It is a quite magnificent album that deserves all the success it gets.
“She walks in and walks straight to the guy at the desk and says - I’m loving De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest”
Album, Angles, Dan Le Sac, Hip-Hop, Logic Of Chance, Review, Scroobius Pip, UK in Aside Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 4:12AM This is a mixtape I have put together in memory of the legendary Japanese producer Nujabes, who unfortunately passed away after a car accident on February 26th. This is a celebration of his Music and my way of highlighting the impact he had on underground Hip-Hop. He was a legendary producer, who changed the game.
Gone but never forgotten.
Download HERE.
Tracklist after the Jump.
1. Intro (Movin)
2. Still Talking To You
3. Lady Brown
4. Reflection Eternal
5. The Space Between Two Worlds
6. Kiss Of Life
7. Winter Lane
8. The Sign
9. Set It Off
10. Letter From Heaven
11. Child’s Attraction
12. Silver Morning
13. Final Reflection
Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 5:38PM When people ask me the question: “who is your favourite rapper?”, I usually reel off the the obvious choices - Q-Tip, Common, Big, Phonte, Mos Def. However; I never forget to mention this man’s name, and having had Special Kind of Fool for a week now, I have every reason to believe he deserves to be spoke about in the same vein as those great artists.
There is something incredibly unique about the music Ty makes - infectious, forward thinking and from the heart. You can never be too sure of what you’re going to get, but you can always count on it being better than anything you have ever heard before. He is a real man with real values that makes real music, which is very rare in this day and age; and I think this is reason why I admire him so much as a person and have so much respect for him as an artist. I remember him telling me last year that he would be baring his soul and giving everything he had to this album, and I can tell you now, he wasn’t lying.
From the outset this album gives you an overwhelming sense of happiness and helps you “leave your troubles behind you”. His flow is unquestionably one of the best out there and that runs true throughout the whole album, however I believe the lyrical content and the quality of beats are on a completely different level to anything he has done previously. Another aspect of his work which is special is the features on his albums - in the past he has drafted in the likes of De La Soul, Speech, Bahamadia and Zion I, which is a mind-blowing achievement for an artist from the UK. However, being a huge Soul fan, I personally think Special Kind of Fool has got his best features to date - one of my favourite male vocalists, Shaun Escoffery, even took some time out from being Mufasa to do his bit.
I would love to go into great depth and break down each and every song on the album, but sometimes I just feel it necessary to let the Music do the talking. There are three tracks which quite simply amazed me though and they are: ‘ME’, ‘Heart is Breaking’ and ‘Happiness’. ‘ME’ is genuinely one of the best songs I have heard in years - it has such a beautiful message and Erik Rico’s voice brings the track to life. ‘Heart is Breaking’ is pure genius - so happy to finally hear Ty and Sway on a track together proving why they are two of the best out there. ‘Happiness’ is the most beautiful song on the album - it really touched me and I have to say; Vula’s voice is sounding purer than ever. Although I would say that these are my 3 favourite tracks off the album; it’s very hard to pick out any song that didn’t blow me away.
2010 has been a brilliant year for Music so far and before hearing this album I thought I had heard two candidates for album of the year in ‘The Sea’ and ‘Plastic Beach’, but this album is absolutely perfect and is everything that a Hip-Hop album should be. I could talk all day about it, but I will leave you all to make your own judgement on it when it comes out on the 19th April.
He is one of the most genuine and honest people I have come into contact with and I wish him every success when the album drops. He deserves it.
“I just want to get to the sky and get far away from this madness”
Emotions: BUY
Special Kind of Fool: PRE-ORDER
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 12:45PM AKA M-Trey; is an unsigned rapper from Chicago, who thanks to the internet has become one of my favourite current artists and a good friend of mine throughout the past year. With countless mixtapes under his belt, and now TWO spectacular albums; it was only a matter of time until this man started getting the recognition he truly deserves.
Back in January of last year, he went by the name of Master 3 and released a free EP called Light Up The Darkness, which was based around the classic Will Smith film ‘I Am Legend’. It was well received on numerous internet sites and forums; however it never quite had that creative edge which was required to go the extra mile, and as Delbert himself stated: “I honestly look back at it as a stepping stone; I feel that I’m always getting better and always progressing”. As any good rapper should, he is forever working on perfecting his craft and trying to become a more well-rounded artist, which is clear for all to see in the material he has released since LUTD.
Talking of becoming a more well rounded artist - singing is one thing that has become a lot more frequent and has dramatically improved over the past 6 months. The reason being; he is now singing as M-Trey, and not trying to sing as someone else in order for a hook or chorus to sound like a particular artist. This is very prominent on my favourite track from ‘Immaculate Dopeness’, called ‘Forbidden’, which you can listen to: HERE.
Regarding ‘Immaculate Dopeness’ - it was a project that started out as just an EP. There weren’t going to be very many songs, but fellow Chicagoan, Drew Beat, kept sending top quality beats through, until there were enough for a full album. This was the first time he’s had the opportunity to work with just one producer for a whole album and his take on it was: “I really enjoy working with one producer, because it gives the material as a whole a more cohesive sound, which is something that’s really important to me. Allows us to put our stamp on it so you KNOW you’re listening to M-Trey and Drew Beat after the first bar”. There is not much else to say than to give the album a listen, because it genuinely is one of the best albums of the year. Beautiful Hip-Hop, straight from the soul. Worth every penny to support good music.
COMING SOON:
1. 3AM - an album with Producer Ishaq Fahim.
2. Remix of Tinie Tempah’s - Pass Out.
3. New Mix from myself.
Immaculate Dopeness
iTunes: BUY
Amazon: BUY
Light Up The Darkness:
Free: DOWNLOAD
Chicago, Drew Beat, Hip-Hop, Immaculate Dopeness, M-Trey, Music, Pass Out, Review, Tinie Tempah in Aside 