'Remixtape' - Soulbrother Simon (free download)

You know when remixes don't really sound like remixes because the remixer has just substituted the original beat for a similar one? Well that's just what Soulbrother Simon doesn't do.

He doesn't do himself justice either: "Just a whole load of US Hip-Hop acapellas over UK Hip-Hop beats by me."

He takes on Hip Hop artists as diverse as Lil' Wayne and Beastie Boys and he even remixes a Britney Spears track! Erykah Badu, Swizz Beats, M.I.A., Jay-Z and Aaliyah all get a makeover too, many of the tracks being better than the originals.

www.myspace.com/soulbrothersimon
www.reverbnation.com/soulbrothersimon

More Chops

Here are a few more Chops produced tracks:

'We Breakin' Up' - Chamillionaire (from 'Ultimate Victory', 2007)

'I Get It In' ft. Bra Hef & San Quinn - Keak Da Sneak (from 'Deified', 2008)

'Damn I'm Cold' ft. Lil' Wayne - Bun B (from 'II Trill', 2008)

Chops and Mountain Brothers

This holiday I checked out 'Triple Crown' by Mountain Brothers. It's a pretty good album from a group considered to be "cultural pioneers, being one of the first Asian American hip-hop groups, and also for the lack of sampling of other music in construction of their own."

Since 2003 the producer of the group, Chops, has gone on to make a name for himself in the Hip Hop scene. He produced three tracks on ODB's posthumous release 'Osirus' and has produced for Hiero, Grand Agent, Princess Superstar (!), Panda One, Bun B (which featured Lil' Wayne), Young Jeezy, Chamillionaire and Keak Da Sneak. Forthcoming production work will feature E-40 and Paul Wall.

Those who have been keeping up with the British Hip Hop scene (ie those who buy CDs and read the liner notes) will have noticed that Chops also produced 'Stereo', a track on Sway's 'The Signature LP'. His current sound is that typical dirty south sound whereas the Mountain Brothers stuff is more straight up Hip Hop.

Check these Chops productions out:

Mountain Brothers - 'Microphone Phenomenal'

Mountain Brothers - 'I'm Talkin' 'Bout YOU!'

Mountain Brothers - 'The Roli Rho Show'

Sway - 'Stereo'

ODB - 'Go Go Go' ft. Blahzay Blahzay

ODB - 'Down South'

ODB - 'If Y'all Want War'

And if you want more (as opposed to war), check back soon, I'll up some more Chops productions.

On The Radar Artist Profile: LATE

Name: LATE

Age: Old Skool

From: Wolftown

Track on 'On The Radar': ‘The Villain Man’

Tell us the story behind the track: freestyle over Lil Wayne beat - taken from LATE’s mixtape ‘two thousand and late’

Record label: Wolftown Recordings

Who you roll with: Tricksta

Favourite album: Too many to list

Describe your style in three words: UK Reality Rap

Past/Present/Future projects:

Villains – Welcome to Wolftown 2000
Wolftown Committee – Legendary Status 2002
LATE – International Rhyme Spittin 2003
LATE – The Villainous One 2005
LATE & GEOLANI ‘Ceo’s Edition’ - 2006
LATE – An English Man in New York - 2007
LATE – 2 Thousand & LATE - 2008
LATE – Below Street Level – 2008

Plus 100's of mixtapes & mixtape appearances

'Ma Money EP' - Dap-C & Lil' Wayne (EP review)

Now this is a strange one; Newcastle’s Dap-C and New Orleans’ Lil’ Wayne on a track together. Lil’ Wayne isn’t usually to my taste and the jury’s out on Dap-C but this release may change my mind.

‘Ma Money’, produced by The Elementz, is a good track. I even prefer Lil’ Wayne’s verse over Dap-C’s, in fact Wayne’s is just straight fire whereas Dap’s is a bit shouty and high pitched. The production is on a big dirty south tip and it stands up to some of the biggest tracks outta the south.

‘Ma Money part 2’, produced by Quincey Tones, is even better, it features Royce da 5’9 and a song-long guitar solo; the instrumental is entirely different and it suits Dap-C, Lil’ Wayne and Royce a whole lot better. ‘Ma Money part 3’consists of a brassy production and a handful of UK MC’s and it’s not as good as the other two parts. The ‘Nasty Boi Remix’ has a nice rock edge to it – worth checking.

‘Bang Bang Bang’ isn’t bad but it’s nothing special and it’s made worse by the presence of Geejay. ‘I’m Still Here’, the US MC heavy track, is OK too but it doesn’t really compare to an actual American track – it comes off a bit weak.

‘Ma Money’ parts 1 and 2 are really worth a listen, get your hands on this to hear those tracks and who knows, some of the others may take your fancy too. Dap-C gets respect for linking with one of the hottest artists in the Hip Hop world. UK/US link-ups are still thin on the ground and they’re certainly a way to make some fresh and diverse Hip Hop so right now, I can’t hate.