'Soldier' ft. Wretch 32, Kyza & Orifice Vulgatron - DJ Vadim

Check out this remix of DJ Vadim's 'Soldier' (the original is on his 'You Can't Lurn Imaginashun' LP). This remix features big in the game MCs Wretch 32, Kyza and Orifice Vulgatron of Foreign Beggars. The original was a banger and so's this UK version. Remember, this is the track that The Last Skeptik remixed which you can download for free here.

'17 Samurai Vol. 1' - VA - Kidkanevil (album review)

Featuring enough boundary blurring styles to please the real music fan as well as names to attract a disparate listenership the lastest release from the excellent First Word Records is '17 Samurai', an album of remixes of Kidkanevil tracks. True to Kidk's original design this selection of reworks will take you on a rollercoaster of emotion through unchartered soundscapes.

'17 Samurai Vol. 1' is too distracting as background music - the only thing to do is to don some Kidkanevil-esque headphones (preferably over a beanie and a hoody), find a darkened room and actually listen to this hour long audio spectacle.

This LP sees UK Hip Hop star Jehst take on the non-rap track 'Stomp' featuring Justin Percival's dulcet tones whereas Mr. Thing walks more familiar laid back Hip Hop territory on 'Def Certificate' featuring Jehst and Sir Smurf Lil' on vocals. DJ Vadim tackles 'When I Dig' featuring US rapper Blu with a handful of synths and a fresh outlook making the once percussion heavy 'Back Off Man, I'm a Scientist' album cut a new entity. TM Juke also offers his version of 'When I Dig'.

First Word's Andy H, genius live beatmaker Red and newcomers Airhead and Narrow P all tackle 'Tokyorkshire' each adding their own touches to great effect - in Andy H's case it's converted to jump up dubstep. 'Black Bug' is also a popular choice as base track with Leeds Hip Hop producer Eliphino, Natural Self and Michael Fakes all pitching in with their interpretation.

With most areas of modern electronic music utilised here this LP is noit limited in its appeal, OK, so the pop chart botherers won't get it but, secretly, that;s what we all want isn't it?

'17 Samurai Vol. 1' is out now on First Word Records and can be bought as a download or on CD.

And now for the US...

Some US Hip Hop I'm feeling now:

Blaq Poet is currently your favourite rapper's rapper and this track, 'Stretch Marks And Cigarette Burns' is representative of why. It's quite reminiscent of some Method Man material, mainly because of the beat but the expletive bleeps contribute also. Not sure I'd like to lick burns and stretch marks but, each to their own.

One of my own favourite rappers chasing dollar right now is Pugs Atomz. He featured on DJ Vadim's latest album and now he's hooked up with Wes Restless and Ill Legit to form The Gent$. Here's a track from them which seems to be called 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' - it's some pretty fun stuff and it's produced by DJ Vadim! If you do feel the boy Pugs then download solo track 'Duwayne and Whitley' too. If you liked The Gent$ collectively then I've just discovered a free album from them boys here. Big up to HHC for still knowing what's what.

Cymarshall Law is doing some nice music right now and this is his latest track with Mr. Joeker: 'King With 4 Wives'. A pretty serious message is taught here and although it could apply to women it actually goes much deeper than that - listen carefully.

On a very different note, here's Royce Da 5'9's new track 'Gun Harmonizing'. It features really big production from Emile and Royce is just so ridiculously hungry on the first leak from 'The Revival EP' which will be out on 7th July. It will include new tracks from Royce’s 'Street Hop' LP along with a new Slaughterhouse track and will be available at all major digital retailers.

'17 Samurai' - Kidkanevil (free Jehst and DJ Vadim Remix downloads)

Not another Kidkanevil post?! Yup. This time about his forthcoming project '17 Samurai' which is out on First Word on June 29th. It's a remix album of Kidkanevil's past work which features work by Jehst, DJ Vadim, Mr. Thing, Red, TM Juke, Natural Self and Eliphino. Check Transatlantic Sound's website for the full tracklist and more info.

Kidkanevil's third album proper, 'Basho Basho', is set to be released this autumn and we've been told to keep our eyes on www.myspace.com/kidkanevil this summer for exclusive tracks from the forthcoming album as well as more mind-blowing DJ mixes.

For now, you are allowed to hear 2 tracks and another mix:

'Stomp' ft. Justin Percival (Jehst remix)

'When I Dig' ft. Kissey Asplund & Blu (DJ Vadim remix)

'18th Samurai' (Kidkanevil DJ Mix)

Tracklist for mix:

1.Tugboat – Dirt Off Your Shoulder 8bit remix 2.kidkanevil – Tokyorkshire (Airhead & Narow P remix) 3. Zomby – Aquafresh 4. Joker – Psychedelic Runway
5. Aardvark – Four 6. Akira Kiteshi – Pinball 7. kidkanevil – Real Wild (Illum Sphere remix) 8. Fulgeance – I Luv U 9. DJ Vadim - R3 Imaginashun 10. Natural Self – Ghost In The Machine 11. Erk Tha Jerk – Plane In The Air (instrumental) 12. The Cool Kids – Pennies 13. PANTyRAiD – Beba 14. Heralds of Change – Bopgunn (instrumental) 15. Dorian Concept – The F**king Formula 16. kidkanevil – The Profound Truth (Fulgeance remix) 17. kidkanevil – When I Dig ft Kissey Asplund & Blu (DJ Vadim remix) 18. 1000 Names – Roccin On Your Radio 19. kidkanevil – Gotta Be Fresh (1000 Names remix) 20. Nekklace – BUttERFLY (kidkanevil remix demo) EXCLUSIVE!!! 21. J Dilla – Expensive Whip 22. Jay Dee – Off Ya Chest (instrumental) 23. kidkanevil – The Profound Truth (Depeche Rhodes remix)

DJ Vadim, Speech Debelle & Kyza on Lucy Pink's Radio Show

If UK Hip Hop is your thing and you like listening to radio shows then Lucy Pink's show on Diesel U is the one for you:

"Lucy Pink presents the Hip Hop show on Diesel U Music Radio every Saturday lunchtime and Thursday evening, no rules, no playlists.

Expect live performances and interviews and exlcusive tracks from some of the best homegrown talent of the moment. Tune it at http://www.dieselumusicradio.com/ for liveness and banter as your favourite artists are locked in the Diesel radio shed and quizzed on the essential dos and don'ts of the Hip Hop world."

The next few shows will have these top quality guests:

Tuesday 2nd June 5pm - 7pm - DJ Vadim
Saturday 6th June 12pm - 2pm - Speakers Corner Quartet + DJ Red
Thursday 11th June 6pm - 8pm - Kyza and Speech Debelle (full live performances)

http://lucypink.podomatic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lucyadam
Lucy Pink's Facebook Page

'U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' - DJ Vadim (album review)

Every artists needs inspiration and if DJ Vadim’s source is globetrotting then we will allow him his carbon footprint. ‘U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun’ is the title of Vadim’s latest album, and it’s pretty fitting really. Without fitting into the pretty awful category of ‘World Music’ DJ Vadim has crafted an album representative of many genres and cultures.

You’ll be glad to know that overall there is a Hip Hop focus; it’s just that all the other elements make this fresh and different. The rappers list consists of the gorgeous Yarah Bravo, La Methode, Pugs Atomz, Juice Lee, Big Red and Chicagoan singer/rapper Wes Restless all of whom add their unique voices to great effect – these aren’t just your average rappers. The roll of singers drafted in for the soulful, R’n’B numbers is jam-packed and multi-cultural too.

Whatever style he tackles, be it Ska, Reggae, Electro, Soul, Folk or Rap, DJ Vadim comes up with rose-smelling Hip Hop every time. ‘U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun’ seems to be available now on BBE Records at all the usual places; itunes, Amazon… etc.

'Soldier' ft. Wretch 32, Kyza & Orifice Vulgatron (The Last Skeptik's Re-Re-Remix) (free download)

Basically a brand new track - It's Skeptik's new beat for the re-vocalled version of Vadim's 'Soldier' which was originally on a reggae vibe with a french guy and a russian guy rapping and singing respectively - check my review of the 12" it featured on for more.

HHC Digital 002 - Out Today!

Head over to the Hip Hop Connection place at 5pm today for the publication of their second digital issue. It's going to feature Raekwon (as you can see),Ghostface, Speech Debelle, P.O.S., General Steele, Superstar Quamallah, Paul White, DJ Vadim, Asher Roth, YNR and Dr Butcher. Oh, and an piece on Homecut written by a blogger you know well.

It's also coming with either 35 or 40 free mp3s from all the artists featured in the mag as well as a mix by The Last Skeptik (but not DJ Skeptik mind!).

'Hidden Treasure' - DJ Vadim (single review)

If pot pourri is indeed summer in a bowl, as Joey said, then DJ Vadim’s ‘Hidden Treasure’ single is August on wax. The title track bounces as much as any ska track produced by a Hip Hop DJ should – and that’s a lot. Sabira Jade throws in sweet vocals and Kwasi Asante adds in those necessary dubby Jamaican adlibs. The 12” also features Vadim’s own uptempo stomper of a re-rub.

The vibe continues with the awesome ‘Soldier’ – if this doesn’t get your crew singing at the BBQ then I’m not sure what will. Big Red and 5Nizza (from Russia) provide the French raps and reggae vocals. You get the instrumental too so a D’n’B remix is in order - that I’d love to hear.

‘Saturday’ is a subtly tongue in cheek poke at the auto-tune squad. At least I hope it’s not entirely serious, it makes me grin anyway. Pugz Atomz kicks some well worn lyrics over a Westcoast-style backing as the auto-tuner gets buck wild. One for the drop top – whilst you laugh, the girls will flock!

‘Hidden Treasure’ was released on April 27th on BBE. It comes as a 12” or a download.

More Forthcoming Reviews

As usual I've got a never ending pile of CDs and a hard drive full of mp3 awaiting review. Here's what I'll be covering soon, hopefully before each of their release dates:

JVF Clique - 'Alternative Income' (album)
Big Narstie - 'The Big Man Returns' (mixtape)
Elemental & Tom Caruana - 'Rebel Without Applause' (album)
Dialect - 'D.Day' (album due out April)
Delegates of Culture - 'Bad Guys' (album due out on 27th April)
DJ Vadim - 'Hidden Treaure' (single due out 27th April)
Wordsmith & I.N.C. The Poet - 'Take a Walk in My Shoes' (single due out 27th April)
The Score - 'Opus' (album due out 27th April)
Yung - 'Unconditional Hustle' (mixtape due out 4th May)
Mr. Lif - 'I Heard it Today' (album due out 4th May
Homecut - 'No Freedom Without Sacrifice' (album due out 18th May)
YNR Records - 'Feeding Time At The Zoo' (album due out 25th May)
Wordsmith & I.N.C. The Poet - 'A Baltimore Martini' (album due out 25th May)
Choong Family - 'Baptism of Fire' (pre-album due out 25th May)
The Early Man - 'Alpha' (single due out 25th May)
Resin Dogs - 'More' (album out 1st June)
DJ Vadim - 'U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' (album due out 8th June)

There are probably more too. I'll try get these done for y'all!

See Ghostface Live In Scotland!

If you can be in Scotland, Glasgow to be precise, on Thursday 7th May then you'd do well to get booking tickets for this do.

Until Monday 16th March you can pay £12 to get an early bird ticket for this awesome looking lineup. It's taking place at the O2 Academy at 7pm and joining the Wu-master are DJ Vadim and Yarah Bravo, Cheeba (Solid Steel - Kung Fu Hip Hop a/v set) and soon-to-be On The Radar artists Capitol 1212 & Profisee.

If you miss that deadline then it's still only £16 to see some Hip Hop greats of varying levels of stardom.

Get your tickets from the O2 Academy box office (08444 77 2000), Ticket Web or Tickets Scotland.

Awdio.com Broadcasts Worldwide Club Nights

Here's a cool idea: instead of listening to your local radio station broadcasting from the inside of some dirty cheese-fest club why not tune into some of the biggest venues with some of the worlds biggest DJs, live?!

Awdio, the people from the place, actually make this happen! This month you, my reader, may be interested to know that you can dance in your bedroom to these Disc Jockeys:

3/01/09, Yo Majesty (US) , Miss Libertine, Melbourne
4/01/09, Bonobo (Ninja Tunes, UK) , Sonotheque, Chicago
8/01/09, Chase and Status (UK), Sandwiches, Wellington
10/01/09, Flying Lotus(Warp, US), Ambar, Perth
23/01/09, DJ Vadim and Yara Bravo (UK/Sweden), Sandwiches, Wellington
31/01/09, Cut la Roc (UK), Dogstar, London

Here's their spiel:

"Co-founded in 2007 by Vittorio Strigari and the designer Ora-Ito, Awdio is now a young start-up employing fifteen people, all passionate about music.

With already more than 100 venues connected all over the world, Awdio broadcasts live 24/7 quality DJ-sets and live concerts covering many genres. Young talent and international artists on tour can now share this unique and privileged experience with their fans Worldwide. Awdio is the biggest concert venue in the world. It is a cultural discovery tool centred on today’s and tomorrow’s musical trends. The sources and artists involved can benefit from a brand new way of broadcasting and promoting themselves, and enjoy a significant part of the revenue generated by their audience.

Already 100+ clubs and 1000+ events a month.

Registration is free and allows you to listen to a wide collection of programs, all live! You have the ability to geo-locate the broadcasting sources, browse per style, per artist, calendar and schedule the events of your preference.

Beyond the performance of its web architecture, the technological secret of Awdio lies in its AwdioBox. These 19 inch racks enable the audio streams encoded directly from the sources to be relayed back in real time across 5 continents."