Knew Jeru'slum - 'LOVE ME!' Official Video & 'The Samson Lok Files' Mini Album Free Download!

Here is the Video for 'Love Me!' the Free Dowlnload Single taken from the forthcoming 'The Samson Lok Files' Mini Album, also Free to Download from 28th February 2011!

This video is Directed by Kieran Malko, and features production from Paris based Keor Meteor. Mixed and mastered by The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Download 'The Samson Lok Files' from 28/02/11 Here- http://www.knew-jeruslum.bandcamp.com/

Mury Poppinz 'Bruce Banner Movement' (Promo Video)

Mury Poppinz (of No Pretense) has been in a dark, dark place exorcising some demons to bring us the promo video for his track 'Bruce Banner Movement'. Produced by The Scarlet Pimpernel , 'Bruce Banner Movement' is the first leak from his forthcoming Free Download & CD album 'Corporal Mortification'.

With a strong concept running throughout the LP, Mury P is creating some seriously intense, hardcore Hip Hop! with further production coming courtesy of Brutal Artistry, Pheend Supreme, Melph, Junior Disprol, Cyber Ninja, Jack Danz, Megamouth & Jig-One. 'Corporal Mortification' will be darkening the airwaves very soon.

3 CDs or Vinyls for a Tenner!

Some news from the DTTS camp:

For a limited time only, buy any 3 CDs or Vinyl Records from The Dark City Store for just £10 shipped worldwide! Just add the first 2 items you want to the cart and state the name of the 3rd item you want in the notes field at checkout, simple as that!

(The offer excludes Chief Wigz 'Never Speak Ill Of The Dead Vol 1 as only 2 copies remain)

http://www.thedarkcityblog.com/2010/05/any-3-cds-or-vinyl-records-for-10.html
http://www.dtts.bigcartel.com/

also last few White Tee's with Orange Paisley WY logo now only £5 shipped! All sizes but SMALL in VERY limited numbers...http://www.dtts.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-orange-paisley-on-white-wy-t-shirt-limited-to-50

This offer includes the No Pretense album 'Music & Mouthwords' (which features Cage and Prince Po), the self titled Chief Wigz LP, the orange Chief Wigz 'Sunday Service' 12" and the No Pretense 7" green vinyl 'Self Harmonic' (click on each title to read my reviews). It also includes the brand new Knew Jeru'slum LP 'Jerus and Gentiles' which I can't recommend enough - keep 'em peeled for a review here soon!

As if that's not enough, free up your diary for this:

'Chief Wigz' - Chief Wigz (review)

Those who know will recognise the relaxed but passionate, Yorkshire-tinged flow of Chief Wigz – those who don’t will soon realise that he’s something a little different.

Lyrically Chief Wigz has gone from strength to strength and on his self-titled opus a matured, measured wordsmith is on show. Whether playing on root words, penning poetry or speaking from the heart to loved ones Wigz is in no way painful on the ears – many MCs could learn a lesson by simply absorbing this material.

From the fuzzy warmth of ‘Real’ to the 90s Jazz Rap-esque ‘Movements’, the mellow but heavy ‘Write Rhymes’ to the positive electronic vibes of ‘Don’t Want Much’ this album is immaculately produced by Brutal Artistry with crackle in abundance and not a hint of anything plastic. This LP is definitely one to kick back with – the nonchalant feelings ooze from its every fibre.

Chief’s tracks with fellow 9 Livez MC Proptic prove that years of on-stage chemistry makes for great music – the two bubble and bounce off each other and their conversational style choruses just sound so cool. Other guests include Bane (of No Pretense), Spida Lee, Jack Flash, J Simple (of Jack Flash’s Groundwurq Crew) and beatboxer Megamouth.

‘Chief Wigz’ by Chief Wigz is out now on DTTS and is available to order on CD from the Dark City Store or can be downloaded digitally from places such as itunes. Get it.

Stig and Syntax Show, Bradford Tonight!

who's around the West Yorkshire area tonight? You are? Well get to the Polish club (bare Poles there for real) for some real Hip Hop from the likes of Stig of the Dump and Dr. Syntax - yup, Fatty and Specky are coming up for a cuppa Yorkshire Tea and some mic mangling. Lunar C, Wydeboi, Chief Wigz and Spida Lee will also be representing - big ups to Brutal Artistry and Don't Talk To Strangers for making this happen for us WY heads!

'On The Radar Vol. 4' Track Highlight: 'Dreamcatchers' ft. JND - Knew Jeru'slum

Name: Knew Jeru'slum - Watson G, Jonny Alpha & Belinda Hards
Age: – Collectively 79 years old, mostly in favour of Jonny Alpha, don’t be fooled by his Oil of Olay looks.

From: Hudds and Halifax

Track on ‘On The Radar’: ‘Dreamcatchers’ ft. JND

Tell us the story behind the track: The track’s produced by Eliphino (9 Livez), and features one of our extended fam, JND. He's dope and always comes with some freshness, so we asked him to jump on this as we’d been talkin collabos for a minute. I watched a film with the same title, and thought it’d be good just to write to a title, get three different perspectives on the word. We took too long from start to finish with gaps inbetween movements on it - a year must be a record!

Record label: Don’t Talk to Strangers fam.

Who you roll with: The main fam are Bane, Mury Poppinz (No Pretense) Chief Wigz, Optics, Spida Lee, Brutal Artistry, Mega Mouth, Ball-Z, Deadboy,TCB, Guvnor, Mikey 3D...We like to think were pretty tight with a certain Miss Tofelees (Biggin’ her up so we get more beats!)...couple of mans further afield like Iz-real, Naryckin, Turtle hands. We're working a bit with Whichcraft too(the artist, not the pastime!).

Favourite album: Jonny - Personally, I’d throw Gravediggaz '6ftDeep' up there, along with 'Illmatic' (Watson – “me too” and 'Baduism')

Describe your style in three words: Watson - “Completely – Mixed & Diverse,”..Jonny – “True – imaginative - Poetry!” Belinda – “Timeless – soulful – real”

Past/Present/Future projects: You can check the DTTS myspace for all previous releases and who's whos. As far as Knew Jerus goes, our album ‘Jerus & Gentiles’ will be the first project, out very early 2010, featuring production mostly from Miki B, and featuring beats from Guvnor and Eliphino, Our first single on Download only –‘Non-Apologetix’ came out a bit ago ft. Manchild from Mars Ill Available on i-tunes, next single is a Double A side 12” Hibernation ft. Pigeon John, and on the flip No Pretense ft. Prince Po – Elevation.

We got an album entirely over Guvnor beats in the pipe line for 2010, an EP called ‘Plastercine’ ft. Some very special guests, and we’re each working on solo material too, keep check on the DTTS myspace for schedules, and other interesting ish happening - we’re busy bees!

Watch out for a couple of guest spots from us here and there...watch out for WYdeboi’s EP!

Watch out for the DTTS releases in the next 12 months, it’s getting BIG!

Peace!

'Sunday Service' - Chief Wigz (12" review)

“Timing is of every importance” – Chief Wigz (previous 'On The Radar' artist) has used the elapsed time between his ‘Never Speak Ill of the Dead’ EP and this to sharpen and perfect his recognisable lyrical style. As a result ‘Sunday Service’ is a tight 12” consisting of three focused tracks on which Wigz showcases his maturing vocals. By way of content Wigz simply invites you inside his psyche to give you honest musings on real life wrapped in poetic language.

Brutal Artistry provide all three beats; title track ‘Sunday Service’ is a lovely wedge of boom-bap soul laced with their trademark old skool drums, ‘Don Style’ is a half-time, melancholy and minimalist composition whereas, in complete contrast, ‘DSB’ is a bass heavy, middle eastern menace.

‘Sunday Service’ will be out on Don’t Talk To Strangers on 14th September as a download and on 12” vinyl. It’ll be available at all the usual places. Listen to 'Sunday Service' on the Certified Banger Podcast now!

'Self Harmonic' ft. Cage - No Pretense (free download)

From the good good folk at Don't Talk To Strangers:

"To promote the release of No Pretense 'Self-Harmonic' ft Cage on 7" green vinyl, available at http://www.suspectpackages.com/ we are giving away a free download of the original version of the track! We're hoping that peeps who feel the joint will then consider buying the lovely zombie green vinyl version which features the dope Supreme Dust remix by Pheend Supreme"

Don't forget to buy the lovely 7" and whilst you're at that myspace page grab a free more decent mp3s for yourself.

Bradford Hip Hop Night - Disgracelands 2

The next Disgracelands, Bradford's newest and bestest Hip Hop night, looks to be a good do. Jack Flash is headlining and beatboxers Megamouth and BallZee, Sinoptic Records main men ExP and JND and Jason Ellis are all also on the bill! It's only £3 in and the beer's pretty cheap too. Be there.

'Sunday Service' - Chief Wigz Coming Soon

Leeds rapper Chief Wigz (or Chief Wiggum), who features on J-Simple's 'Breath Control', is about to release 'Sunday Service' on the Don't Talk To Strangers imprint.

Production will be by Brutal Artistry and it'll be out on a 12" vinyl and digital download sometime in July

It's his debut solo 12" on DTTS and is taken from the forthcoming self titled album produced entirely by Brutal Artistry.

On The Radar Artist Profile: Chief Wigz

Name: Chief Wigz

Age: 24

From: Leeds/Bradford

Track on ‘On The Radar’: 'Leafs'

Tell us the story behind the track: Fresh flex on battle rhyming.

Record Label: Don’t Talk To Strangers

Who you roll with: Brutal Artistry, Don’t Talk To Strangers & the 9 Lives Clik

Favourite album(s): Jay-Z 'La Roc Famila: The Dynasty'

Describe your style in three words: Confident, complext’d, context

Past/Present/Future projects: 'Sunday Service' 12” out end of June on Don’t Talk To Strangers. And the self titled Album ‘Chief Wigz’ end of the summer also available on Don’t Talk To Strangers. All musics produced by Brutal Artistry Productions. For anymore future releases check the DTTS web links 'cause there are too many to mention.

'Leafs' - Chief Wigz (On The Radar promo video)

Disgracelands

Those good folks from Don't Talk To Strangers are putting on a fine Hip Hop event in Boogie Down Bradford. All the info is above on the flyer. It features MCs, DJs and beat boxers so if you're in the West Yorks ends on April 17th at 9pm, get yourself there.

'Self Harmonic' ft. Cage - No Pretense Out Now!

'Self Harmonic', the new track from West Yorkshire's No Pretense and featuring Cage, is now out on Don't Talk To Strangers.

It can be bought, via download for now (look out for the green vinyl) at these places:

Amazon.com (if you pay with dollars)

Play.com (for the pound spenders)

Now go support independent music - it's 2009 and that's the way forward!

Self-Harmonic is also available from.....

www.musicload.de & www.roccatune.com/ (Germany)

www.mega-media.nl & www.stermusic.nl (Netherlands) and many more!

Full List of worldwide stockists coming soon to www.myspace.com/nopretensewy

Bane of Don't Talk To Strangers Interview

"There’s no one person who calls the shots, each artist is fully in control of their own creative process..."

Having been well impressed earlier this year with 'Disabled Blue' and it's accompanying blue 10" vinyl I knew that if things from Don't Talk To Strangers were to continue in a similar way, they would be big. Bane, from the group and newly-formed record label answered my questions and confirms my suspicions - things from this unstoppable force are going to be colossal in 2009! From releases with Cage, Pigeon John and Prince Po to more coloured vinyl Bane reveals all their secret-up-until-now plans!

Certified Banger: Yo man, how’s it going?

Bane: Good thanks, you?

CB: Yeah thanks! We’ve got loads to talk about because there’s so much going on with you right now. Begin by telling those who don’t know about DTTS, who are you, where are you from, what your mantra is:

Bane: Put simply, Don’t Talk To Strangers is an artist run independent record label and wider collective of creative individuals based in West Yorkshire and slowly working our way into Europe and the rest of the world! We’re basically three crews merged into one, the original DTTS heads, 9-Livez and Brutal Artistry, each keeping its own individual identity but releasing music through one label; strength in numbers as it were. Over the last couple of years the focus was on getting the DTTS name into people’s minds but now its time for the individual acts and artists to get recognition in their own right and shine!

Click here to find out just who is going to be featuring on their releases!

‘Self Harmonic’ ft. Cage - No Pretense (single review)

Mury Poppinz and Bane of West Yorkshire’s Don’t Talk To Strangers supergroup have hooked up with none other than controversial US MC Cage and Leeds producer Eliphino to bring you and I ‘Self Harmonic’.

Accompanied by some sick artwork the track is swimming with haunting flute loops, plodding drums and bass and eerie lyrics. Cage sounds at home beside the Yorkshire lads; this isn’t just a pointless collaboration. The vocals evoke imagery of moonlit nights crawling with all manner of evil creatures – it’s on a straight ill-out tip; a change from the norm and a sure sign of some active creativity.

The newly formed Don’t Talk To Strangers record label will be releasing ‘Self Harmonic’ late December as a download single. That will be followed by a limited edition zombie green 7" vinyl release in the New Year (and if that doesn’t get your blood flowing, I don’t know what will – I love exclusive coloured vinyl!)

DHHY (Do Hip Hop Yourself) and Icebergs

Once you scratch beneath the surface of what the media calls Hip Hop and Rap you begin to realise that the Soulja Boys and the Flo Ridas are only the tip of the iceberg. Scrap that, they aren’t even part of the same lump of frozen water. There’s a rap iceberg that floats into warmer climes, steadily melting and diminishing as it leaves the colder temperatures. These are today’s ‘hot’ rappers who after their five minutes of fame are in the bargain bin. Then there’s the iceberg that stays at its pole, it doesn’t leave its place of origin and as a result, it’s still an iceberg. These are rappers and crews who stay true to the roots. Unless we see a global warming effect in the Hip Hop world, a sudden mass interest in the real Hip Hop, then things will stay this way, and for the better.

Leaving behind our chilly metaphor now, one way rappers stay cool is by keeping busy. The D.I.Y ethic that was there at the beginning (the block parties, the luminary moves of Sylvia Robinson etc) is present more than ever in local Hip Hop scenes. Every true fan in any given place will be somehow involved in the music their area is making, it’s the real heads that make things happen against all odds. 3 projects have recently come to my attention that I would like to use as evidence for my case.

GTA are a two man crew from Oxford. I don’t know much about the scene there but I keep hearing snippets of information regarding it and it’s beginning to make me curious. Chima Anya of GTA contacted me himself to promote their latest track ‘Wanna Be Myself’. This independent release is accompanied by an independently made video that is entertaining despite it’s simplicity. With it’s sing-a-long hook and carefully crafted but jocular lyrics about individuality, this will go in my itunes playlist called ‘Favourite music of 2008’. Check the part of the video where Chima is rapping to the traffic off a motorway bridge; brilliant!

Beit Nun is a rapper from Macclesfield, who, with a D.I.Y attitude, has produced a very fine end product. He, like Chima, contacted me himself (putting in work, utilising the internet as a promotional tool) and offered to send me a copy of his latest CD which chronicles his best work from 2006 and 2007. The first thing that struck me was the excellent cover art; contemporary and professional. The production and recording is expertly done and Beit Nun and his myriad of guests are competent on the mic, both in delivery and content. This CD is a very polished creation and at only £5, you’d be silly to miss out on an opportunity to hear Hip Hop done North West style (check the accents). Go to his myspace and purchase.

My last piece of proof comes in the form of a many man crew from Dewsbury; Don’t Talk To Strangers. You’ll have heard mention of them before if you’re a regular here and that proves that they are not just one hit wonders when it comes to making an impression. At the latest instalment of Brutal Artistry’s ‘Get Cained (check them for more of that ‘want something doing right, do it yourself’ attitude) I got myself a copy of DTTS’s West Yorkshire mix CD AND their blue 10” vinyl release of their track ‘Disabled Blue’. The most impressive thing is that this independent release is on blue 10” vinyl; it instantly gives it that special something, it makes you want to own it. If this crew had been signed to a label this would never be the case, it would have been a 12” in a generic sleeve, or, just an mp3 download. It’s all about the presentation and the pleasure of ownership of something so beautiful and seemingly unique. The music is good too; excellent wordplay and clear delivery over soulful beats is the order of the day here.

I expected the mix CD to be slightly lacklustre; in my opinion it takes an exceptional artist to make a mix CD listenable. Thankfully, DTTS are a collective who know how not to overdo things and the CD is just excellent, I really mean it, it’s truly proof that the local scene with a D.I.Y. attitude can truly stand up to any big label music. Another positive is that it isn’t actually a mix CD, it’s just a compliation; track after track, no whack interludes and shout outs. With music from Eliphino (Leeds finest beat maestro), Spida Lee, J-Simple, Northern Property (Max from Dirty Diggers and another Yorkshireman) as well as various members and associates of the strong crew that is Don’t Talk To Strangers. Some of the tracks are slightly amateurish but the main dissapointment here is Asaviour's 'This Planet remix'; it's very badly mixed and for a rapper with a foot firmly in the door of UKHH it just doesn't have that quality aspect that most of the other tracks on the CD have. Despite that, wherever you represent, wherever your local scene is, check how we do. This is music to the ears of any rap fan.

So, if you are involved in Hip Hop, keep doing it for yourself sisters, if you aren't involved, get involved! Even being a fan is involvement!

9 Lives Clik in Leeds this week + more

If you're in Leeds, in need of Hip Hop and have a free night tomorrow (just free the night up) then get down to Trash (ex Mixing Tin next to Virgin (or whatever that freaky name is they've called it now) and JJB). Co-Exist, Dont Talk To Strangers and 9 Lives Clik are all performing and an irish band called Olympic Lifts (Indie Pop Hop) are headlining. It begins at 9 and finishes at 1, not too late for a Tuesday night is it? I can guarantee you a good show from 9 Lives and from what I hear DTTS put on a nice set on Friday night whilst I was outside interviewing The IRS (Stay tuned for that). Be ready to part with £2-£5 depending on how beautiful you are (not really, I guess it's child/student/adult/OAP prices).

If you can't make that one then be sure you make this one:

December the 13th, that's Thursday, Dr. Wu's is hosting it's last ever Hip Hop show. Back in 2000-2003 this night was regularly on there but it is unfortunately closing down. The first time I ever heard Cheif Wigz (of 9 Lives Clik) was there...I remembered that name. Sinical, Eliphino, Ephigy, Nine Lives, Double D Dagger are all on the bill and Chief Wigz is hosting too. There will be an open mic, 16 bar cypher for all other MC's. Be there cos it's free and it's nostalgic.

I'll also be bringing you a review of Cheif Wigz' new album/mixtape in the not too distant future!

Task Force/Broke 'N' £nglish review

Last week, Tuesday night, 10.00 pm; yes, I should have been in bed on account of the fact that I am a working man whose day begins at 7.00 am. Alas, I was just queuing up outside the Stylus venue in the bowels of Leeds University’s student union waiting to see some Hip Hop heroes. Here is a brief recount of the happenings down there that night in the form of a top 5 of things that happened:

5. Local Hip Hoppers Dot to Dot’s (couldn’t really hear if that was their name, you know hip hop sound systems are rubbish), Chief Wiggum, awesome beat boxers Mega Mouth and Balls Deep and crew Don’t Talk to Strangers repped the city. DTTS were blighted by numerous problems; they had forgotten a backing track and only had the vocal track (they should have lip synched) and then the power on the stage went off leaving them to rhyme freestyle for a hot minute. Sadly the girl they had brought along to sing was drowned out by the beat due to the lack of experienced rap gig sound engineers.

4. Sinical of DMC fame gave us the pleasure of a pleasantly technical DJ set.

3. Broke ‘N’ £nglish played their game where they freestyle about 3 topics suggested by the crowd. One guy who seemed to have paid his entire ticket price to make this happen lunged to the stage and made sure they heard him shouting ‘orange, orange’. Now orange, as we all know, is a word that doesn’t have any proper rhyming words. Yes Eminem did rhyme it with ‘syringes’ but that didn’t really work and it was annoying to boot. Basically B’N’E obviously have encountered this guy’s counterparts before as after ending a line with ‘lozenge’ Strategy totally berated the ‘t**t [who] asked me to rhyme orange’! Backed up by DJ/MC Konny Kon they gave a good, energetic show. Check out their myspace and their radio 1 podcast (that was the first time I heard them).

2. Task Force slightly annoyed the security by announcing ‘the rowdy part of their set’ (after a pretty rowdy first half) and encouraging people to do all sorts of unruly things such as starting a mosh pit, pogo jumping (a la the punks) and stage diving. Heads took them up on their offer and the big ol’ bouncers begun to bounce very angrily. The show was stopped after they dragged one guy outside and Chester P announced that he was getting stomped outside, this notice concluded in half of the gig-goers and half of the artists and their entourages rushing the security out the back. Task Force were accompanied onstage by Inja (and his big grin) and DJ Louis Slipperz and they basically rocked in a truly rock ‘n’ roll style.

1. Fallacy was there (and he shook my hand)! Pretty much all night UK legend Fallacy was stood at the back of the stage admiring the energy of Broke ‘N’ £nglish and Task Force. Task Force passed the mic for a guest verse at the end of their set.

Big up to New Bohemia who know how to throw a party and how to book a good handful of artists. Check out their myspace to see the other events they have organised in Leeds. It was a shame I had to go at 2.00 am because DJ Format had just kicked off his set in fine style with ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, maybe next time eh?

Here a couple of tracks so you can get a flavour of the music if you've never heard it before. The Task Force track is actually my favourite tune at the moment:

Broke 'N' £nglish - Manchester Sh__
Task Force - The Last Tune