'License To Kill' - Lowkey (video)

Video for political raptivist Lowkey's latest track 'License to Kill' which addresses the police brutality at the G20 protests and the death of Ian Tomlinson. The track is produced by Stylaz Fuego:

And the video for 'In My Lifetime' featuring Wretch 32, produced by Quincey Tones and taken from his album 'Dear Listener' which is out now and excellent!

Certified Banger - 'The Number One Blog for UK Hip Hop'

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Some free flava for ya ear:

Joker Starr - 'All I Want' featuring Micall Parknsun and produced by Ghost Town. Joker Starr is gearing up for the release of his pre-album release which will be called 'Northborough Estate Project'. Look out for that, it's gonna feature Beat Butcha, Keith Lawrence, Genesis Elijah, Micall Parknsun, Jehst and some other on-their-way-up artists.

Recordkingz - 'Heat' featuring Mobb Deep. Recordkingz is producer Juliano Creator (formerly of The Creators) and his album 'Heavyweight' is about to drop. Download this excellent track and get ready for a big release featuring some massive artists.

Lowkey - 'Tell Me Why'. This Quincey Tones produced track is taken from his end of 2008 album 'Dear Listener'. It's available to you for free and if you've not yet picked up that album, you must be nuts - go get it. Lowkey's myspace.

Xrabit & DMG$ - 'Damaged Goods (Photomachine Dubplate Remix)'. This is something a little different for CB but is the norm for new Big Dada signing Xrabit. Best described by the folk who sent me this as "1980's Dancehall x Afro Rave banger". Not sure what all these x's are about nowadays but it kinda makes sense!

Thabo - 'Crossroads'. This UK dwelling US crooner is all mixed up with the Hip Hop heads from Huddersfield and Saving Grace Music were giving this laid back, squidgyly beautiful R'n'B track showcases Thabo's considerable skills considerably. It's got rap at the end too, which I'm guessing is by Jack Flash.

'Dear Listener' - Lowkey (album review)

One of the best albums this year (see my newly amended list – I underestimated this one). Lowkey’s years of hard work, although lamented somewhat on document ‘Rise and Fall’, have really paid off – ‘Dear Listener’ is a complete and comprehensive release.

Observations and musings on subjects such as the motivation behind infidelity, the contrasting realities of life in Britain and Iraq, an interesting take on Hip Hop’s mortality and man’s morality are the order of the day here. But just in case you can’t see past the contents to the bare rhyme skills ‘Alphabet Assassin’ is thrown in to remind you that Lowkey is linguistically ahead of many of today’s MCs. In fact it’s the lyricism that makes the topics he explores impact so heavily.

‘Relatives’ produced by Sivey and featuring Logic is a cleverly interwoven tale of two men - one Iraqi, one British. It would have helped if the rappers had very different voices but it’s not too hard to follow who’s saying what. ‘Revolution’ is a beatbox production by Faith SFX and features a taste of things to come with Jon McClure on chorus duties. ‘I’m Back’ is a full on Quincey Tones produced banger – a tongue twisting exercise over a harpsichord-laced beat.

There are plenty more tracks that I could mention but instead, I’m just going to recommend a purchase – let the music speak for itself. It’s out now on So Empire/Hip Hop Village although its official release date is 26th January 2009.

'Pimp Lord' & 'Jokers' - 10Shott (free downloads)

Here's two of my favourite tracks from 10Shott's 'The Bigg Hitter'. You can download these for free and if you like what you hear then enter the competition just above this post.

10Shott - Pimp Lord
10Shott - Jokers

Here's a few bits of tasty info from Guy at ZY:

"We will also send you the video when finished which will be really good.....it is 'Earth Calling' featuring TwissMan and a third verse and new ending.....storyboard by Lisa who has excelled herself in the intricate simplicity........Just when you thought it was finished....also there are more tracks going on 'Groundbreaker' including tracks from Quincey Tones and more collabs"