What's Worth Hearing Today? Part 2 (free downloads and reviews)

Roots Manuva has met Wrongtom and made a tune called 'Jah Warrior'. It's really cool - I love a bit of Mr. Manuva and this Wrongtom fella seems pretty dope too. They've also done a couple of remixes; one of 'Buff Nuff' called 'Rebuff' and I think it's a greater than the original, especially in the chorus. 'Bashment Boogie' also gets tickled with the remix stick and 'Basement Bogle' is definitely rather bogling - good stuff. Buy.

UK Hip Hop artist QRED has joined up with US MC Brandeesh, looped up some apocalyptic beats and got busy with the darkness in a most admirable way. 'Raise The Levelz' has those big sonics that every Hip Hop fan really hankers after. You can download three tracks fro free - but only if you then keep your ear to the underground for more.

Leaf Dog has roped in the rest of 3 Amigos, Jimmy Raygun and Deadline on this Naive produced banger to tell us to do it 'Right Now'. Usual madness from these boys ensues.

Extra Curricular are the live Hip Hop band that Jack Flash fronts. They've put up a couple of free downloads on their blog. There's 'Don't Stop' and 'Where The Problem Lies' - both great tracks with totally different vibes but a recognisable sound. Check them out some more please.

Byron, a UK MC who really deserves more shine, has put out a free EP called 'Hard Worker'. these tracks are billed as covers, you and I might see them as Byron using well known instrumentals and taking cues from the subject matter. The most recognisable tune, B.O.B.'s 'Airplanes', gets done to begin with and then before you get comfortable Byron coes in over Maniac's 'Boiler' - wow, versatile! the further 3 tracks couldn't be more different either - whatever you do, don't pigeon hole or limit this guy - he can do it all. Give it a proper listen.

JC is gearing for a new assault of releases on his own No Money Records. He's hooked up with Oddisee for lead single 'Ayo' which is a double time rhythm with a relentless horn section accompanied by Oddisee's laid back delivery. Malik from Moorish Delta 7 provides the vocals on the flipside 'Soul Search' - a real headnodder. Told ya Yorkshire had the heat. Preview both tracks here. Buy it here.

Have no idea where this came from but it's an awesome bit of instrumental Hip Hop from Kwestro called 'I'm Blowing Up'.

Here's something new from a new artists too: LnC offers up 'Take You On A Journey' for your delectation. See what you think, I think he's pretty nice with his - feeling all aspects of this track. Solid.

To finish with, check Kaos' new track 'Traffic Lights' - got time for this.

Free Downloads from JC & Nicky Taurus, Pete Cannon & Foreign Beggars, Tom Caruana & MF Doom and Joker Starr!

Woah! Feel like I've not posted on here for a while and there's been nuff stuff happening in this UK Hip Hop world. In no particular order:

JC dropped a track from his forthcoming project. Nicky Taurus does the vocal duties and it's called 'Look At Me' - I'm liking the slap bass. Check the No Money Records website for me info.

Pete Cannon (once known as Mr. Dick) of the group Tactical Thinking got himself interviewed over at Rago magazine and if you didn't already, check out his remix of the Foreign Beggars track with Guilty Simpson - 'Prove It' - big.

One of my favourite artists right now Tom Caruana has gone and done a whole MF DOOM remix album and as you'd expect with Doom's rhymes and Caruana's productions it is a banger! Go get it for free here. Apparently there are more to come from Brand Nubian, J-Live, Wu-Tang and more!

Joker Starr posted up a free download called 'Clash of the Titans' which is Ex Machina's remix of a track by US MC Shadowstar (I think that's correct). Anyway, it's dope so download it.

That's enough for now but I'll be back with more yo.

'The Digital Revolution' - VA - Mixed by Tricksta (free download)

Tricksta is no stick in the mud. His latest venture is a free, download only series of UK Runnings mixtapes entitled 'The Digital Revolution'. He sprung this one on me on Wednesday night and I had no idea he was doing it. Now it's available for you to download.

The first installment is hosted by LATE and features plenty of Certified Banger favourites such as Kyza, Supar Novar, Jyager, Dabbla, Miss Tofelees, TB, JC, Skandal and more!

He also assures me volume 2 will be out very soon and that it is hosted by M9.

Get your free download now!

For those of you into US rap you need to check out LATE's other er, latest mixtape 'Undergound Exposure Volume 6'. It features JT Tha Bigga Figga, K-Rino, Rapper K, Jai Boo and loads more. It's also a free download, here's the link.

Hip Hop Producers - JC Interview

"I really just try to inject energy into my music. Music should stir up emotions, that's how I feel."

You know that here at Certified Banger we don't ignore great Hip Hop from the UK, especially when it's legitimately free. Earlier this month Sheffield producer JC dropped his 'The KHZ Project' and it most definitely fell into the category of great free UK Hip Hop! The man himself took time out of crafting the heaviest beats to answer some questions:

Certified Banger: Yo JC, how are you?

JC: Yes bruv, I'm good man. Everything is good, just taking a break from studio, trying to cook up some fresh bangers haha. Big up Certified Banger though, if I'm not making music that's where I'm at, reading all the latest hip-hop news brrappppp.

CB: Let's get right into talking about your latest release, the very heavy 'The KHz Project'. Give us the outline of it:

JC: Yes. Thank you for the props, I'm glad you like it. Well all this started back in 2003 about 3 years after I first started making beats. I had an idea and I guess that's just part of who I am; if I want to do something I see it through, and although it's taken nearly 6 years, it's done now, so better late than never. The concept is kinda comical with a serious theme, I basically break into the BBC and hijack the radio, in an attempt to stand up against the commercial garbage music that pours out daily across our airwaves. Funny, but since I started this they are playing loads more decent independent music now, but still not enough, so it's kinda relevant still.

Click here to read more!

Click here to go to JC's site and to download 'The KHZ project'!

'The KHZ Project' - JC (free download)

If you like your Hip Hop music to cause you to screw your face up and stamp your feet and if you like your Rap to be hard and gully then you really need to get your ears clamped onto JC's latest project 'The KHZ Project'.

Coming straight outta South Yorks, Sheffield to be precise, JC is the guy who produced most of the massively underrated 'Bringin' It Back' album by Steel City residents Hoodz Underground.

This project features MCs more than sympathetic to JC's crushing sound - they take the mic and truly mangle it. R.C., Nicky Taurus, Vendetta, Tef, LKC, Menace, Karizma and Joe Kobi are names you may not know but you're sure to have heard of (if you're into UKHH) of SonnyJim, Kosyne, Shade1, Yogi, Skandal, Kyza and Klashnekoff - all lend verses.

I keep saying this (free downloads are just getting and better) but this is unbelievably good to say it's free. You'd be a proper idiot to leave this one here, or even to leave it in your itunes - you need to burn it to CD or stick it on your ipod and prioritise 'The KHZ Project'. Awesome.

Download it here