Lewis Parker and John Robinson Live Shows

No matter where you are, you need to make it across to Leeds on 14th of August for this. Apart from the UK legend Lewis Parker being in full effect with John Robinson (and if you've not checked out the 'International Summers' LP yet, then do) you get a whole host of top notch artists from the thriving West Yorkshire Hip Hop scene including DMC 2010 set from Mike L, live shows from J Bravo, Defenders of Style, Verbal Contact and Brutal Artistry. There will be live Art from The Beat Inspection Scribblers and the whole thing will be hosted with much energy by Mr Ris of Alphabetix. DJ Prolific with Kockee K and Sir Snaff (How We Do) will also be holding things down. Tickets are only £5 from www.ticketweb.co.uk, Crash Records, Jumbo Records or The Elbow Room.

The tour also takes in Ipswich on 11th of August, London on the 12th and Milton Keynes on the 13th.

30 Tonne Slug's New Website

Check out 30 Tonne Slug's new website. Having been lauded by myself, Disorda at Suspect Packages and now Basement Sessions and Hip Hop Hype Dog it's about time that you sat up and took notice. The label's two groups are Verbal Contact and Alphabetix - two quality crews from Leeds. If you missed them, then why not check out the reviews of their EPs - Verbal Contact's 'Literary Vices' and Alphabetix's 'Alphabetix Anonymous'. Once you've read them and realised how good they are head over to http://www.30tonneslug.com/ to buy the releases in their own shop and to read more about them. Quality Hip Hop.

If you want to hear both crews head to head then check out the track 'Slug Life' on the Headspace Mixtape from Hip Hop Hype Dog and Basement Sessions.

'Literary Vices' - Verbal Contact (EP review)

Don’t know about life in Leeds? Well, Matter and Prys are willing to be your tour guides for half an hour. Their debut EP is entitled ‘Literary Vices’ - a clue to the type of intelligence behind the lyrics of Verbal Contact.

Opener ‘First Impressions’ pulls no punches as the MCs introduce themselves over a seriously heavy beat. ‘Wasteland’ is a day in the life of and ‘Tourist Information’ follows – this is Leeds. ‘Likad 2nite’ features Mr. Ris (of label mates Alphabetix) and details the highs and lows of a typical night out (as does ‘Misadventures’) whereas ‘David’s Struggle’ takes a more serious tack – a cautionary tale about the life and times of a drug dealer.

Most of the EP is on a real boom bap Hip Hop tip but the final track ‘Mind The Gap’ showcases their doubletime flows and features Grime MC Devalish aka Dialect (who recently featured on Westwood TV alongside Asher Don) – proof that this crew aren’t close minded and do whatever it take to make good music.

‘Literary Vices’ is out on 30 Tonne Slug on 30th November.

Masta Ace & Edo G Live in Leeds!

Get across to this - not to be missed! Masta Ace and Edo G live in Leeds with support from Verbal Contact (who're making this their 'Literary Vices' EP launch), Alphabetix, J Bravo, Defenders of Style plus DJs Sinical an Prolific. If you get there at 9pm there will be breakdancing battles too - and all for £5 - bargain!

'Rising Styles The Album 2009' - VA (review)

The fellas in charge of Brighton's Rising Styles Festival have put together yet another dope compilation of tracks by up-and-coming UK Hip Hop artists and it's out today just in time for the actual festival.

There's the awesome future-hop of Asaviour and Apa-Tight's 'Gully', the fire of Tactical Thinking's 'TT Onslaught' and the madcap adventures of Elemental and Tom Caruana on 'Blind Bob's Vengeance'.

There's also a good representation of the UK's 'real' countrywide Hip Hop scene - watch out for a nice range of accents with London's Grit Grammar (& other Southern types), Leeds group Verbal Contact and Birmingham's Jimmy Davis.

Check out the Rising Styles website for news of the events that kick off on Thursday 1st October. Download the sampler here then get to Suspect Packages to download your copy of the Rising Styles compilation.

Rising Styles 09 Album Tracklist

Listed below are the artists and tracks that made it onto this years festival album. It's good to see that here at Certified Banger we haven't been off the mark with some of the underground artists who we consider to be on the way up - Queens English, Asaviour, Apa-Tight, Kasha and Grit Grammar have all been on 'On The Radar' and Skilf, Elemental, Tom Caruana, Verbal Contact (Leeds stand up) and Tactical Thinking are all firm favourites here. Well done to all involved:

01 Jimmy Davis - Brits Are Coming - www.myspace.com/littlejimmydavis
02 JackL & Timmay - Turn It Up
 - www.myspace.com/timsbeats
03 Queens English - Full Limit featuring Mr Chips & Embee of Looptroop
 - www.myspace.com/queensenglish
04 Asaviour & Apatight - Gully
 - http://www.saving-grace.co.uk/
05 Kasha - Rats & Roaches
 - http://www.kashamusic.co.uk/
06 Skilf - Let Loose
 - http://www.skilf.co.uk/
07 Theory 77 - Who’s He? - 
http://www.nofrillsrecords.co.uk/
08 Mr Tubz - Take Me Away featuring Katarina - 
www.myspace.com/tubzta
09 Elemental & Tom Caruana - Blind Bob’s Vengeance - http://www.teasearecords.net/ www.myspace.com/mcelemental
10 Grit Grammar - Musical Life - www.myspace.com/gritgrammar
11 Verbal Contact - Trifling Times - www.myspace.com/verbalcontactleeds
12 Tactical Thinking - TT Onslaught - http://www.tacticalthinking.co.uk/

An official announcement regarding the release date will be made early September. The album will be available as a digital download from Suspect Packages

'Wasteland'/'Tourist Information' - Verbal Contact (free downloads)

Check out these two dope tracks from new Leeds crew Verbal Contact. The group consists of three core members of the Northern Hostility crew - MCs Matter and Prys are backed up by beats and cuts by Mike D of Subterrania Studios (who produced Instance's 'Can't Get Down' on 'On The Radar Volume 4').

If you've never visited Leeds then take a listen to the vivid pictures being painted here to find out what's beneath the surface of the northern city. 'Wasteland' is more of a straight-up UK Hip Hop joint, whereas 'Tourist Information' features double-time flows and a stunning sung chorus by Chenai and brutally truthful lyrics such as "The filthy pigeons sit and drink the twisted city in, with s**t on their wings but I think they understand more than the citizens" - probably.

Grab these two downloads and sit tight for news on their forthcoming debut release, which also includes spots by Dialect (Senseless Records) and Mr Ris of Alphabetix.

Verbal Contact - 'Wasteland'
Verbal Contact - 'Tourist Information' ft. Chenai