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July 15 The End of Hoods and High Notes
Well it's the end of the blog which has been a lot of fun so thank to all the people who have taken part in comments and given me stuff to cover. If you want to keep up with the world of R&B/Hip Hop and much more you can check me out and some good friends over at Thanks for reading KL aka Illsun Dizzee Done Did It
Dizzee Rascal is no. 1 in the UK charts - it has been a massive year for the UK with Estelle going to Number 1, T2 - Heartbroken and Wiley - Wearing My Rolex all smashing the charts. It's the Boy in the Corner who I am most proud of I have to say. He's produced three gold selling albums all of which are strong - I still feel he has a definitive album in him but to go from the rawness of I Love You to the charm and humour of Dance With Me is fantastic for any artist. Congratulations to Bow's Finest.
July 05 Cool Kids Free Download
Bit strange but Chicago's Cool Kids have come up with a really strange way to promote their new EP. Give away a free mixtape. Now I understand promotion but it seems strange when you are such a new band to give away load of music which seems more polished than stuff you are selling. Click the pic above to get it the mixtape. Let me know what you think
July 02 Rolex Sweep Video debuts
I posted about this a while back when Skepta first bust the move back in April. He has finally got around to a video although i was a bit surprised to see the single isn't out until Sept. Here it is let me know what you think
June 29 The obligatory post Glasto Jay-Z Post
The time arrived after a ramshackle performance by Amy Winehouse which strangely involved her 'sending' for Kanye West (click here to check that out). I sat on my couch in my house watching BBC 3's coverage. After an age of 'hype' the Jiggaman walks out on to the stage, with Noel Gallagher's now infamous rant about how Glastonbury didn't want hip hop playing on the screens, and performs Wonderwall.
OK so we can all agree he was pretty tone deaf but as a statement it was big and a great way to start. The set itself had some highlights but for me it was just average on the one hand it was very commercial (he performed Umbrella -eek) but it just felt like the crowd were just stood like zombies watching it rather than getting involved. Although the pace was great it didn't feel any more special than seeing Hova anywhere at anytime. I was also intrigued that there were no guests on stage bar Memphis Bleek (like anyone cares about Bleek). No Chris Martin, no Kanye, not even Beyonce who was on the side of the stage. If you are a hip hop fan - check the full gig on the BBC I Player here and let me know your thoughts - Did Hip Hop win? Soulja Boy to headline next year?
June 28 Straight Outta ClactonI shouldn't laugh at this but I can't help it It's clearly a parody but it's very funny (some strong language and images - but Cube wouldn't have it any other way McDonald's Men - Straight Outta Clacton
Technorati Tags: Hip Hop. NWA,Comedy
June 26 I don't love the 80's
OK that isn't a completely true statement I love some of the movies and some of the music but what I don't like is the ridiculous nostalgia which seems to creep into hip hop records. Embarrassing samples from the 80's do my head in. If the song sucked originally then why are you stealing clips from it. Phonte of Little Brother has decided for no explained reason to release an album of 80's covers. Late last year I met him and he chatted about it and at the time I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a terrible idea. Now that I have heard two tracks I wish I had - the first was a cover of Toto - Africa and now him and Zo! have a version of A-Ha's Take on Me. Shout to Nahright for putting me on to this, click here to listen. It is either the worst thing I have ever heard or the best the jury is totally out...
Technorati Tags: Hip Hop. Phonte,Covers
June 23 If You Don't Know Get to Know: Jazmine Sullivan
Hot of the Rox intro a few days ago I have to hail up another great female talent. Jazmine Sullivan is a brand new signing to J Records in the US, hailing from Philly she is all set to be massive worldwide. The songs are a mixture of straight modern R&B and some great soul sounding tracks as well. Her myspace is running 4 tunes at the moment which you can hear here. The lead single for the summer is Need U Bad. Lets start with the bad - it has an intro from Missy which seems a tad unnecessary and a terrible fake Jamaican accent near the end. On to the good - the song rocks!!! Proper summer vibes bassline driven and a big crescendo of a chorus that is mad catchy. Get on it before its on a Kiss compilation and you can't face listening to it every again!
June 22 A Milli A Milli A Mili
What did I tell you Lil Wayne as I predicted has sold over a million copies of the Carter 3 in one week in the US. Over here it has been a bit quiet for him with album scrapping into the charts with no real fanfare. The track that seems to have the biggest buzz in terms of other rappers jumping on it is definitely a Milli. There is about 700 versions so instead of listing them and talking about them I'm gonna take the lazy blogger route and throw you to the producer who made the beat; Bangladesh reviewing them for vibe - Click the image to see/hear the latest
June 20 If You Don't Know Get to Know: Rox
From here on in I will be referring to Rox a new young soul singer as AKA the Future. I had the privilege of being a guest at slightly too pouncy London club Yo Yo last night to watch the live show. First up UK hip hop courtesy of Sincere - who was good and his new single Once Upon a Time is excellent. Its on out on Monday so go cop it if you can. Any back to Rox AKA the Future. The room was buzzing with some serious heavyweights from the music industry and I have to say I expect her phone will be ringing off the hook today. She performed a 6 song set with a tight band on a cramped stage and the crowd loved every minute of it. Full of grace and a sort of sex kitten charm about her, she oozes talent and warmth. The voice which is of course the most important thing - absolutely untouchable. In the last few months she has sung for Ronson filling in the Amy Winehouse role and her own live gigs seem to be coming thick and fast. Mark my words '09 is her year and you heard it here first. Check out the myspace here.
June 19 Festival Backlash
A million years’ ago I watched some random heavy metal band being bottled off the stage at the Reading Festival. As I watched the mayhem I thought about what a rough ride Ice-T who was on next was gonna get. Bizarrely and to this day I’m not sure how he got away with it – no-one throw anything during his set. He may have threatened everyone with an uzi I don’t recall.
June 17 The Return of John Legend/ The Genius of Andre 3000
John Legend has resurfaced with a new track called Green Light from his upcoming third album. John's first album I regard as an R&B classic full of warmth, honesty and humour. His second album sounded like the out takes from the first - the lacked the production and catchiness of the debut. Green Light feels more second album than first sadly. The beat sounds like a sub standard Kelis beat, a bit dancefloor but not enough to tear it up. The lyrics are standard with his delivery below his normal standard. Then the like the true legend he is Andre 3000 steps out of the mediocrity and unleashes another killer verse. He really is on fire at the moment everytime I hear him it reminds me that as much as people talk about Jay-Z/Nas/Lil Wayne blah blah blah I feel all conversations about the greatest rapper should include Andre. If you want to hear the record you can grab a listen here.
June 14 R Kelly in the clear
America is a strange old place, doom merchants were circling Robert Kelly's head last week with talk of a 15 year stretch for the happenings of a certain sex tape. Well after what appears to be a fairly short set of deliberation Kels has walked free. It has been a long time coming and has definitely restricted him as an artist. The question really is how will he bounce back - another terrible soap opera another album where every track sounds the same? Let me know what you think? Kels ready for a comeback or time to count the cash?
June 11 Dizzee Rascal new single
In my mind there is no debate Dizzee Rascal is one of the most talented Mcs in the UK and far and away the most consistent. His latest song is a pretty commercial dancefloor record but I have to stand up and applaud it. While Kano is giving us Yank freestyles and Lethal is making indie tunes - Dizzee has hooked up with a chart topper (Calvin Harris) and made a banger. There will undoubtedly be haters going it's not hard enough/it's not grime but probably none of those people bought the albums anyway! The tune is a smash and as summer rules watch the momentum.
If one Dizzee isn't enough check his 16 in this. Crap song great video and that's my four word review!
June 09 Nas - The Roundup
So the album now looks like it will be officially called Untitled which I think shows the mess this project is in. Meanwhile two new tracks have leaked from the album. Hero which is meant to be the first single is produced by Polow the Don and is the most radio friendly of his tunes so far. A lot of stations are playing it already so jump online and you'll catch it via Semtex, Westwood etc. The one that caught my ear was Fried Chicken ft Busta Rhymes. The leak on this comes via Mark Ronson's podcast which I have to say I do rate although it is hella long every time. This tune is hilarious for two reasons firstly the lyrics and secondly for Ronson's naughty schoolboy impression throughout - Hear it here. After you've stopped laughing pull up your serious face and watch the video for Be a N***** Too. Lyrically it's very hard so if you don't like that talk, don't watch it.
June 07 No it isn't JackoOver the last few days I have had loads of emails and seen a host of blogs talking about the brand Usher record featuring T-Pain and Michael Jackson. Let's get it straight - if there was an Usher and MJ collab it would be on the album. It would have been in every paper, every mag, every radio station. The track in question is an out take from the album Here I Stand. T-Pain shouts out Jackson because he was told that he would be on the track and it never happened, there appears to be a gap for a guest verse but surely the king of pop is above guest verses. So a note to every DJ and blogger trying to big it up - MJ is not on the record. Listen to the material you are hyping!!! If you want to hear it (it's kinda average in my book you can check it out here).
June 05 Wu Chess?!?!?!
In the strangest combination of mediums I have ever seen the RZA has developed his own social network. But the Wu Maestro has flipped it by forming it around the ancient art of Chess.
It opened on the 2nd June and allows you to play chess against fellow members which includes some Hip Hop royalty so you never know you may end up in a game with Method Man! Click the logo above to head over there - any one who joins let me know how it is - my chess game is weak... If you want to see how it works check this footage:
June 03 If you don't know get to know: Wale
Wale is a brand new rapper signed to Mark Ronson's Allido Records. His debt album is gonna be released later this year via Interscope records. Wale released a tape called 100 Miles and Running a while ago and I have to say I felt it was patchy. This new one entitled a Mixtape about Nothing establishes him firmly as one to watch. The tape is held together with some clever Seinfeld references and the cover matches the legendary show.
To get the tape click on the image above and it'll take you to the site. Check out and let me know what you're thinking...
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