'No Days Off' ft. Sir Smurf Lil' & TB - Asaviour & DJ IQ (video)

Classy but comedy video from Savvy and IQ with their friend Verb T - niceness! West Yorks doin' it a bit.

'The Digital Revolution Vol. 4' - VA (free download)

I'm criminally late with this one and most of you will probably already have heard this but I've gotta show support for this so will post it up.

As usual Tricksta does his thing and features artists Skandal, LATE, TB, Iron Braydz, Mr. Drastick, Scorzayzee, Big Cakes, Reload, Deadly and more.

Big Cakes hosts and you should also know that he has a free to download mixtape out right now too called 'Money Talks... So Listen'. It features production from the likes of Rainmayqah, Morfius, Kilinikal, Grade, VLM, K Nite, Asaviour, Micall Parknsun, Tricksta and Del Boy as well as collaborations with Dalmighty Ego, Raggo Zulu Rebel, Cocotone and TB.

(for 'Digital Revolution Vol. 4')

'One Inch Punch' - Dubbledge (mixtape review)

Are you a fan of 90s beats such as those crafted by RZA and DJ Premier? Are you a fan of charismatic, funny but intelligent rappers? Then the ‘One Inch Punch’ mixtape fresh from Dubbledge is for you.

Hurtling through productions jacked from classics from Snoop and Dre, ATCQ, Raekwon, Souls of Mischief, Rakim and more, Dubbledge brings a brief 26 minutes of madness and memories. Kyza joins Dubbledge to destroy ‘Juice aka The Duppy Tamer’ (not the Puppy Trainer as I thought at first glance) and TB brings his aggy delivery to the table on ‘Glaciers of Ice’.

This release is a prequel to his forthcoming album ‘Is Wot It Is…But It Ain’t Wot It Woz’ and it’s proof that Edge is still on top form lyrically. ‘One Inch Punch’ is what a mixtape should be – not a listening marathon, quality loveable beats and well chosen verses (as opposed to every bar the MC ever wrote).

‘One Inch Punch’ will be released on 7th December on Hidden Agenda.

'No Days Off' ft. Sir Smurf Lil & TB - Asaviour & DJ IQ (video preview)

'The Digital Revolution Vol. 3' - VA - Tricksta (free download)

Tricksta's back with his third volume of 'The Digital Revolution'. This time it's hosted by the beast from the east, TB aka Tuberculosis and it features a whole host of Hip Hop from the UK streets. TB, Manny Moscow, Skandal, LATE, Tricksta, Jay Full Stop V, Stylah, Yogi, Suparnovar, Wordsmith, Mr Drastick, Lowkey, London Zoo, S.A.S, Streetz, Kyza Smirnoff, The Last Skeptik, Tricksta, Show N Prove and Mr. Ti2bs all feature.

This is a great chance to get your hands on tracks like The Last Skeptik and Lowkey's latest BNP protest track 'We Don't Want Them' and Mr. Drastick's latest mixtape taster 'So Many Devils'. The track selection once again reflects the new age of UK music that is still Hip Hop.

A-Loop Theory Southern Album Launch This Saturday

Want to have a good time this Saturday? You in London? Like the future sounds of UK Hip Hop? Then check this flyer and get yourself there! All those guys on one night? Quality! If you haven't picked up a copy of the album yet then do - it's all nicely gatefolded with a bonus CD of tracks.

'The A Loop Theory' - Asaviour & DJ IQ (album review)

‘The A Loop Theory’ is the Yin to ‘The Borrowed Ladder’s Yang. Asaviour’s earlier album almost saw him ‘do’ the UK Hip Hop thing and that’s out of his system he’s freed himself from the constraints of expectation and tradition. And let’s not forget DJ IQ, they’ve both spurred each other on to create something that doesn’t sound exactly like Hip Hop but that is outrageously Hip Hop – y’ know, how Roots Manuva does.

Synth basses and soaring violins sit side by side as the drums swing merrily with perilously little amount of quantization. With production styles like this IQ and Savvy have pretty much created something new in Hip Hop. Tracks like ‘Scientists of Sound’, ‘Uber Groovement’, ‘De Ja Vu’ and ‘Golden’ are more along the jazz line of things – akin to some of IQ’s older work. ‘Hustle and Hope’ which features Pride, Kyza and TB will please the grime fans whereas ‘Complicity’ featuring Kashmere is probably as close as this LP comes to traditional Hip Hop, despite its screaming guitar licks. This is next level stuff.

Lyrically Asaviour comes ridiculously correct and in his laid back manner he lays out visions of grandeur and authority. It’s all in his confidence: “S.A.V.V.Y? ‘Cause I have t’/ Fools can’t beat me now or thereafter/ Numerous master plans this bredder thinks faster” is how he opens ‘No Days Off’. Elsewhere certified spitters Sir Smurf Lil, Dubbledge and Verb T feature as well as the ones previously mentioned. Graziella and Thabo also lend their dulcet tones.

Whether you’re content with Hip Hop how it is or tired with where it’s got you need to get a copy of this album. Wherever you are in the world you need to be in tune to Asaviour and DJ IQ – no one does it like this. The album is our now on Saving Grace Music and can be bought at a good variety of music outlets.

'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.

'Sin City' - DJ Gone (mix CD review)

The tracklist for DJ Gone's 'Sin City', out now on Kung Fu, kinda speaks for itself to any UKHH head. Featuring the cream of the scene and in the vein of Kung Fu's showcasing 'Sin City' is over an hour's worth of exclusive freestyles and tracks - it's basically a must for those fans who strive for more than an artist's album and single output. It's also pretty essential for anyone who just wants to bump quality Hip Hop for an hour.

Poisonous Poets, Mystro, TB, M9, Charlie Sloth, Million Dan, Mr Ti2bs, Sincere, Mr. Drastick, Task Force, Ramson Badbonez, Teef, Harry Love and Wretch 32 all pop up here.

Lesser known artists drop just as credibly - check Kulture's 'Whoops' or 'Big Deal's 'Sun Up To Sun Down' for perfect examples of my statement.

Check out DJ Gone at his myspace, go to his myspace blog for the full tracklisting and a link to buy it for only £6.99. Check out Kung Fu's myspace too.

Asaviour Interview

"When I hear the words UK Hip Hop I can’t lie; the thought of unfinished beats, raps about rapping come to mind…"

Asaviour has been on the rise for a few years now and his forthcoming LP 'The A Loop Theory' will surely cement him a place at the top of the UK Rap pile. Here he is talking about his past, Lowlife, who he's worked with and which tracks off his new album with DJ IQ are his favourites:

Certified Banger: Yo Asaviour! You’re gearing up for a new release but before we get into that, for those who have kept their ears closed over the last 3 or 4 years, can you give us a quick history of Asaviour?

Asaviour: First appeared on Jehst’s ‘Premonitions’ EP, worked with artists like Konny Kon and Strategy, featured on a track by Jehst called ‘People Under the Weather’, worked with a number of artists like Yungun, Kyza, DJ IQ, Dubbledge, Micall Parkinsun, Verb T, Ghost etc. Dropped an EP called ‘Savoir Faire’ on Lowlife Records. Then released the single ‘Money in the Bank’ REMIX backed with ‘The Homecoming’ on YNR Productions, followed that up with a debut LP on Lowlife records called ‘The Borrowed Ladder’, released a series of mixtapes called ‘Play 2 Win’ and I’m about to drop a new album alongside DJ IQ called ‘The A Loop Theory’. There’s a few different records in between all that but… you get the idea!

CB: So, what is it that you’ve got coming soon? Tell us a bit about that:

Click here to read on!

Asaviour - 'Lust Letters' (The remix) - Taken from the Play to Win 2 MixCD

Asaviour - 'Sucker or Savvy Revisited' - Featured on the Play to Win 2 MixCD - Taken from the forth coming Album 'The A Loop Theory'

Asaviour - 'The Aim' - Taken from the Play to Win 2 MixCD

'The A Loop Theory' Coming Soon!

Here's an album I'm truly looking forward to this year (hence the advert above): Asaviour & DJ IQ's 'The A Loop Theory'. The press stuff says lots of things including this:

"'The A Loop Theory' is a collaborative project between Asaviour & DJ IQ who has combined both their production skills with an album of epic proportions to create an eclectic sounds cape rooted in Hip Hop but incorporating Soul, Funk, Electronica, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Grime, Dubstep and R&B.

'The A Loop Theory' boasts a staggering list of guest vocals from, Kashmere, Kyza, Pride, TB, Dubbledge, Graziella, Thabo, Jehst and Verb T."

Look out for an exclusive interview coming soon to Certified Banger and visit the Saving Grace Music website to keep up to dat.

'Rapsploitation Sessions' - VA - Jimmy Green & Truth (compilation review)

Do not sleep on this release. One of a few compilation/mix CDs around this moment, this one won’t disappoint. Featuring tracks from artists who have performed at Ipswich’s only Hip Hop night Rapsploitation Sessions it’s clear that Truth and Jimmy Green have good taste in music.

The artist album tracks here are the cream of the crop: Mr. Drastick’s Chemo produced ‘Give it Up’, Def Tex’s ‘Bomber’, SonnyJim’s ‘Next Generation’, Reain’s ‘Rap Game’…the list goes on. It’s great to hear a load of good familiar tracks in sequence as chosen by someone else - saves me ripping and burning my own CD. From an album I’ve not yet heard; Precise Da Analyzer and Dubbledge get hilariously mean on ‘Neverland’ (“You’ll never be friends like Joey’s new sitcom”).

The non-album tracks stand up to the already released tunes and there are a couple of proper stand outs. Kosyne’s ‘A Tale of a Tenner’ proves that he’s one to watch as he spins a sordid yarn of crime concerning one ten pound note. Ghost, Verb T and Kashmere debut as Invisible Inc on the lovely end-of-night chill-out vibes of ‘Invisible Inc Theme’. Even host Truth steps up with ‘Body of Work’, produced by Jimmy Green, the CD’s DJ. The new Vinyl Dialect cut ‘Spray’ proves they’ve truly refined their sound whilst preserving the curveball rhymes.

I could go on describing the merits of each of the track on here, I’ve not even mentioned the tunes by Sir Smurf Lil’, Verb T, Stylah, Conspicuous and all the other heads on this release. ‘Rapsploitation Sessions’ is a varied but perfectly sequenced collection of some of the newer stars of UK rap. This one I really will bump repeatedly.

It’s out now on P.Found Music and can be gotten over at their myspace for a barge-in £5 plus p&p. I’d buy it so you should too man.

'The Beast From The East' - TB (mix CD review)

For all who may have been suspicious or confused - T. Bear is TB and Tuberculosis. His new mix CD ‘Beast from the East’, mixed by DJ MK, is out now on Ottomanelf Music and this is what I think of it:

There is one thing you must do on inserting this CD into your player – turn it up. This CD does not work quietly. Despite the cuddly name, T. Bear may be one of the UK’s gulliest MCs – overall the 29 tracks are face contorting although he does take time out on some more chilled tracks. The instrumentals add their contribution to the audio assault with production from Farma G, P*Nut and Chemo as well as others.

Lyrically TB is pretty dope: ‘I imagine I’ma die like John Lennon, but believe, I’ma leave a prettier widow than Yoko Ono’, you get the impression that he’ll say anything. Flow-wise he doesn’t miss a beat, he’s tight with the snares. Tuberculosis credibly walks the Hip Hop/Grime line, ‘Bang this Out’ demonstrating his double time flow well. This CD contains concept tracks like ‘Off 2 Work’, a topic touched on by a few rappers recently but Mr. Ti2bs and TB contribute a catchy hook and some good lyrics to the collection. On the funky ‘Freestlye’ you get a glimpse of TB’s sense of humour as he sings ‘La-di-da-di-da’ – sing along.

TB must be hard working; more than an hour’s worth of music spread over 29 tracks is impressive although it’s probably best listened to in two halves. Skills and charisma are evident but I’m more a fan of proper albums, I’d like to see him focus on say, 10 tracks, that contain everything he is capable of. As it stands though, the mix CD format serves it purpose.

Get yourself a taster of this CD here.

Reviews Coming Up @ Certified Banger

Yo! My postie has been a busy man over the last week or so (and so has my virtual postie) and I've got millions of CD's and tracks and things to review. Let me give you a list so you know what to look forward to:

Sway - 'The Signature LP'

Skreintax - 'Scene Stealers'

Illustrate - 'The Stuff'

Rhyme Asylum - 'State of Lunacy'

TB - 'The Beast From The East'

M9 - '144,000'

Chronic Redeye - 'Knowledge is King'

Geejay - 'I Came To Represent'

Dap-C - 'Street Karma'

Pyroradio.com Presents 'Top Selectors'

Occupy Your Mind Records Presents 'Grime'

Evil Ed & Conspicuous - 'The Get Together'

Jazz T - 'All City Kings'

Wordsmith - 'They Don't Seem To Care' EP

The Mantis Chapter - 'Graveyard Poets' EP

So check back regularly, add me to your reader feeder or whatever to find out what's going to be worth listening to out of this little lot!

'The A Loop Theory Mix Tape' - Asaviour & DJ IQ (free download)

New hotness from the Hudd's Asaviour: 'The A Loop Theory Mix Tape'. It's mixed by UK Hip Hop wonderboy DJ IQ (who Asaviour is collaborating with on the forthcoming 'The A Loop Theory' album) and 'up and coming Brighton based super producer Hal 1200'.

They've messed around with a whole host of sounds ranging from dubstep (Benga and Skream) to Southern US rap ('Swagger Like Us'). It also includes one of my favourite tunes of this year; 'Beefy' and other tasters of the album.

Go here to see the tracklisting (it features Kyza, TB, Jehst and Apa-Tight) and is totally free. Get yours by clicking here.

for more Saving Grace gratuities check these beasts:

Asaviour - 'The Aim'

Tranquill - 'Deadly Winters' (Produced by DJ IQ)

Ebony Bones- 'We Know All About You' (T-Bear Remix)