Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 6:16PM 
Everyone loves sticking their headphones whilst walking around town, including me, to escape from all the troubles and noise that the world brings. However, there could be some fatal side effects...
Death Toll, Headphone, Music, Research Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 4:28PM I feel it’s time for me to write about an issue that seems to be all over the News again and something that affects me and millions of other people on a Daily basis. File Sharing, Illegal Downloading, Stealing or whatever else you want to call it, is a problem that has been around for 10 or so years now. We all know what it is, how it works and that it’s wrong; however it’s a force that in the past few years has now become unstoppable.
From a personal perspective I cannot see the problem with ME ‘illegally’ downloading certain files. Out of all the people I have ever met in my life, I am still yet to come across someone that loves Music more than me, which is why I think I can make a valid point on this issue. From the start of 2010 I have acquired 784 songs and we are not even out of March yet - crazy right? Well………not really.
As a Student I have a lot of spare time on my hands and a very unhealthy bank balance, so I need to carefully choose what Music I buy and support. Throughout the past 3 months I have bought a lot of Music: Emancipator - Safe In The Steep Cliffs, Example - Won’t Go Quietly, Ty - Emotions, Gorillaz - Plastic Beach, Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea, Strong Arm Steady - In Search Of Stoney Jackson, Wiley - Never Be Your Woman and M-Trey & Drew Beat - Immaculate Dopeness (Unsigned Hip-Hop duo from Chicago) & More. My point is; I illegally downloaded each of those Singles/Albums before I bought them, just so I knew that my money was going to a project I thoroughly enjoyed. After spending this £40-£50 within 3 months, there is a lot of other Music out there, which I can’t afford to buy; but does that really mean I don’t have the right to listen to it? I don’t think so. I have listened to their work and made an educated choice on where the money I have earned should go.
Today I downloaded Dan Le Sac & Scroobius Pip’s new album ‘Logic of Choice’, which is an album I have been anticipating greatly since hearing Angles in 2008. My Bank Balance currently stands at -£1,397.39, which means I have £1.03 available and am unable to buy anything; so I shall be purchasing the album on Friday when I get paid. I am also going to see them at Cockpit in Leeds on Thursday to support them as I feel they are a revolutionary pair that have created a whole new genre of Music. Now can anyone say there is anything wrong with that? I doubt it.
I can understand that there are people illegally downloading their whole libraries and not putting ANY money back into the Music Industry, but that’s not everyone is it. A lot of people download Music to increase their knowledge and widen their perspective when it comes to certain genre’s and I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I would never usually buy an Indie/Rock album, and neither would I expect an Indie fan to buy a Hip-Hop album out of the blue, so if it wasn’t for illegal downloading then I would have never listened to the Temper Trap album in 2009, which I bought and it ended up becoming one of my favourite albums of the year (same with Miike Snow).
It’s a never ending argument, but it is something that is never going to be stopped unfortunately.
SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC!
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 Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 2:29AM Remix of Stylo; featuring man of the moment, Tinie Tempah.
Monday, February 15, 2010 at 5:33PM With the release of his F64 for SBTV and the new mixtape hosted by the mixtape master DJ Ames; what better time to write about a man who has started 2010 stronger than any other.
After many years of Underground appreciation both alone and as 1/2 of the Natural Born Spittaz, it seems as though Mystro is popping up here, there and everywhere these days. I personally have been following him for years; however I know people that have only just recently discovered one of the best MC’s this country has ever seen.
When I make a statement like that, it’s not something that should be taken lightly either, because there are some incredible lyricists out there right now. However; this man is pretty special in so many different aspects. His flow is second to none and I would go as far in saying that his lyrics are some of the best I’ve ever heard. He can do anything - from serious stuff (Rock This World) to 7 minute yearly reviews (UK Rap Up 2009) with time to throw in the odd spoof for good measure (Mess I Ever Had). Pretty unique, hey?
Now for the two things I mentioned earlier in the post; his F64 and the new mixtape. Honestly, amazing. Considering the lack of quality and thought that have gone into the majority of the recent F64’s, I was ecstatic to find that Example and Pro Green both have one in the works and that Mystro has gone and done the best yet: WATCH.
The mixtape is brilliant; treating us to old tracks, new tracks and a couple of exclusives - a must for any Mystro fan and perfect for anyone trying to get into this man’s music. DJ Ames provides the perfect host and it comes with some of my favourite Diggi tracks, including ‘Come Fly With Me’, ‘U Live & U Learn’ and the incredible re-working of my favourite Luda track, ‘Like Dat Potion’. Not much else needs to be said apart from, educate yourself by watching the F64 and downloading the mixtape (link below). Also; if you wanna support him, get onto iTunes and pur-chase the E.D.T. EP and look out for the Digmund Freud EP later on in the year, which is part of the lead up to the highly anticipated debut LP; Mystrogen.
“That’s why it’s time for Mys to really hit the Earth now!”
The Rest Of: DOWNLOAD
F.D.T. EP is now available on iTunes: BUY
Twitter: FOLLOW
Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 8:01PM Electro, Essential Mix, House, Image, Music, Riva Starr, Tech Friday, February 12, 2010 at 1:04AM First part of a 3 part Documentary by Stussy on Jay Dee, interviewing different people he worked with throughout his career.
One word; amazing.
Dilla, Documentary, Hip-Hop, Music, Video Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 9:10PM New Janelle is always nice, but new Janelle with Big Boi is even nicer.
Top track.
Big Boi, Hip-Hop, Janelle Monaé, Music, Video Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 1:41AM So it’s that time of the year again; Dilla day, Dilla week, Dilla month. However, it’s those all year round for me. Out of all the artists/producers in the world, I think this man still remains to be the biggest musical influence in my life. Hip-Hop misses him. Music misses him. I miss him.
On the 7th of February 1974, Maureen Yancey brought a special man into the world. A man that would change the world of Hip-Hop and change my general outlook and appreciation for music. When I look at my favourite artists, such as Tip, Common & Mos, they all relate back to one man that influenced their careers more than any other; J Dilla.
As well as the uniqueness of his kicks and snares; Dilla’s sampling method was second to none and he did things that I didn’t think were possible. The best example being the slowing down of Thomas Bangalter’s ‘Extra Dry’, which took frenetic techno and made it into wheezing Hip-Hop for Slum’s ‘Raise It Up’. Astonishing production that makes you wonder why more people don’t appreciate work like this and somewhat overlook it. To me, he is the closest you will find to perfection in Hip-Hop. You cannot find me a Dilla beat that I don’t like or isn’t a work of art - it’s an impossible task.
And even though he was gone far too soon, I guess it just shows the power of music and the impact it can still have, after death. Although I personally have been following his work for a long time, I know some people that only discovered him post 2006, which I find truly beautiful. I could talk all day about Jay Dee and what he means to me, but that’s pointless. It’s best to just let the music do the talking and remember the best to ever do it.
R.I.P. James Yancey;
Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:40PM This album could be something really special.
Alternative, Gorrilaz, Music, Plastic Beach, Stylo, Video 