Skilf - Alter Egos Review

During 2010 Skilf has been polishing off Alter Egos, his latest mixtape plays on its title showcasing the London to Brighton MCs range. As you will discover Skilf began as a UKG MC moving on to DnB and finally Hip Hop via Bob Dylan. As the mixtape plays genres are switched up and torn up by a variety of guests including Genesis Ellijah, Deep Blak, Supar Novar, LJ, Baraka and more. Unfortunately his beat selection is a little dated and doesnt have the longevity it might have with more recent beats, Overnight, So Fuckin Lean and K-Hole Digger are easy on the ears but lack impact and become boring quite quickly, more imagination on the hooks would have kept me more entertained and felt less like hearing some one play on Def Jam Rapstar. Having said that England, Fire Starter, Current Affairs, Self-Perception and the nostalgic UKG are excellent examples of Skilfs extensive range and ear for a good beat. With the mixtape title in mind at all times Skilf has compiled a schitzophrenic selection of music, you might not like it all but he'll definitely suprise you with his versitile flow and eclectic taste. Alter Egos will be available from www.skilf.co.uk on boxing day.

Akala, Lowkey, Saul Williams In Conversation - Inspiration Season

Akala, Lowkey and Saul Williams discuss the current state of hip-hop

Gage-One (Click Animosity) Free Downloads

Download the song Blood Lust and the song Paint Pictures and theres some other downloads on the reverbnation page and you can get Dead Angel/The Gospel E.P. here featuring Holocaust,Ripshop,Rhetoric and more with production from DJ Extremidiz,Prophet-One and the UK's very own Aslan.

Q-Unique "Mr. Lopez" Official Video from Between Heaven and Hell

 
Q-Unique of legendary rap group The Arsonists with his latest video off Between Heaven and Hell. Get it on itunes

Avalanche The Architech - Let Me Show You Ft Bubba Sean & Swann

Exclusive track from the up and coming mixtape "Build Or Destroy"
Coming Soon 2011. First time ive heard Avalanche but Swann has been killing everything lately.

Tricksta & Deeze 'Big Tingz'

The brand new leak from the forthcoming 'Late Nights Early Mornings EP' from Wolftown Recordings producer Tricksta and talented Midland's emcee Deeze. You can keep up to date with everything right here

Soul Khan - Soul Like Khan (Free Download)

After Sensa's debut EP was posted up a couple of days back, here is the free album of his recent Don't Flop opponent, Soul Khan. This was released a couple of weeks ago, to little or no fanfare on this side of the pond. However, that shouldn't discourage you from checking this out, especially as it is free...

Soul Khan is clearly a pretty smart breh, that much is obvious from the thoughtful lyrics of his throughout this album. He also has a pretty passionate delivery, which reminded me a bit of Brother Ali, never a bad thing in my book. Don't think that this is the usual free release, with recycled beats, and tracks that sound unfinished. Soul refers to this as his debut solo album, and it has the quality to fit the description.

bit.ly/heWzI7

Also, if anyone is interested, here is the recent Soul Khan vs Sensa match up from Don't Flop:

Verb T - Serious Games (Album Review)

Consistent is probably the best word to describe Verb T. In a recording career now nearly 10 years old, he has certainly dropped new releases more consistently than your average UK artist. Whilst Serious Games is only his second truly solo, full length album, and first on the ever-impressive YNR records, there have been collaborative LPs with producers Juice, Harry Love and The Last Skeptik, and the 'double-EP' with Kashmere on Low Life that really launched his career. When you add to that the Invisible Inc project, the somewhat throwaway Spaar Zoot mixtape, a string of guest verses and a few (rather unsuccessful) Don't Flop battles, you get the picture that Verbs is one of the hardest working MCs in the country.

It's fair to say that the music has been of a consistent standard as well. With an instantly recognisable flow, albeit occasionally slightly monotone, you know you are rarely going to get a weak verse from Verbs. Production has never been an issue either. The beat on his first single, Showbitchness, was from Harry Love, and those on the first EP, Backhand Slap Talk, were handled by Braintax, and since then he has worked with virtully everyone who is anyone in terms of UK beatsmiths. As you would expect from an established artist, the production credits and guest list on 'Serious Games' is a similarly heavyweight lineup of the usual YNR suspects. On the beats, there is Chemo and Jon Phonics, whilst on the rhymes you have Kashmere, Jehst, Kyza and Fliptrix amongst others.

Lyrically, and musically, Verbs provides a healthy mix of styles throughout. On the beats, there is a greater use of synths than you might expect judging from the production that has featured on previous Verb T albums, however, in this case it is no bad thing. In fact, one of the albums highlights is the smoothed out back-to-back of Bounce With Me and Closer, where the beats seem the perfect backdrop for Verb's typically laidback delivery. That's not to say that he can't keep up over more energetic production though. In fact, the electronic snap of Life Is… provides the canvas for what is possibly Verb's best verse of the album:

"Some want the easy life, wanna cruise by,

Other want to take, take, take and abuse lives,

With hidden agendas, we gotta find them out,

And life is? Life is as deep as the mind allows"

This Kyza and Dubbledge featuring joint follows on from the equally energetic, Chemo produced Sound The Alarm, with Kashmere guesting this time. So whilst his strength may lie in drifting over smooth, chilled-out instrumentals, this vibe doesn't dominate, and it is a stronger, more-rounded album as a result. Other tracks that stand out from the others are the slightly 'emo' love song, Let Me Stay, that is becoming something of a trademark for Verb T (See Just Let Me, or Frozen In Time off Ghost's Freedom Of Thought Album) and Tearing The Sky Down, a trip into sci-fi. The latter inevitably features another guest verse from Kashmere, who in the liner notes is described as "The Best Rapper In The World".

Overall though, I feel that Verb T has really found his own style on this album, perhaps predictably considering that most of his previous LPs have been collaborative efforts. As fitting a solo project, the beats have been chosen to fit with Verbs' flow, and the result is an album that is entirely Verb T's. The one theme that is continued from his previous work is the consistency. Very few weak beats or rhymes to be found here, (although I wouldn't have bothered with yet another Dick Trusay skit) and another solid release to add to his ever growing catalogue.

8/10 (Score is not meant to be definitive, just for interest/fun/discussion. I reserve the right the change my mind whenever I want to, as the number I've just come up with was probably affected by my mood on the day, the weather, how Reading did at the weekend, etc, etc. You get the point...)

The album was released a couple of weeks ago, and is available on CD and download at most, if not all, of the usual spots.

The Ruby Kid - Maps EP

This is the new EP 'Maps' from London based, Nottingham born emcee The Ruby Kid

I thought this was worth a mention as it took me a little by surprise. At first listen I heard an almost Arctic Monkey style emcee over imperfectly produced Hip Hop beats. I continued to listen on and realised there was more to this EP than the imperfections.

Throughout the EP there is a clever use of samples from films that add depth to the tracks. Concepts vary from drug stories to Politics all put together with eloquence, which really show this artists versatility. Ruby possess a natural ability to come across as honest and real.

Not a body of work produced to industry standard but an EP that I believe could lead to such being created. Don't let my negative points deter you from purchasing this EP. I see 'Maps' as a learning curve for Ruby who shows great potential and I look forward to future releases.

Favourite track - Morning-After Snow

Maps is available for £5 from http://www.therubykid.bigcartel.com/product/maps

Melph 'BOOMBAP WARFARE' Free Download

Introducing ‘BOOMBAP WARFARE’ the most recent well seasoned release to come out of the Netherlands, fully produced by the man that is ‘Melph’ this 20 track deep collection of unreleased joints and remixes is 100% DOPE and 100% FREE to download right now. If you don’t know who Melph is yet then get to know by checking out some of  his earlier/current material/collaborations at www.myspace.com/melphbeats

Melph doesn’t hold back here and his production skills are fire as always. Featuring remixes of tracks the likes of ‘Kool G Rap - Fast Life Ft Nas’, ‘Bloodline - Inhale The Danger’, ‘Vinnie Paz – Drag You To Hell’ and ‘Redlight Boogie – Welcome Me In Ft Heltah Skeltah’ plus many, many more, this is a must have! Also packing some sick unreleased material from around the globe such as the UK’s ‘Falcon Burns - Hallway Of Lyrics’, South Africa’s ‘Logik Locksmith – ‘Money’ and ‘Rap Star’ and representing the Netherlands the man himself ‘Melph - Kermis In Da Hell’ Go get yourself a copy of this untamed, underground beast of a release FREE at the following link or go buy a hard copy of the CD for just €10 euros. You wont be disappointed!

Download BOOMBAP WARFARE for free here.

Buy a physical CD here.

Scotland Standup Radio (Live Thursday Night)

Will be goin live on Thursday night folks I'm gonna be playin a selection of music polluting the planet at the moment. Plus your music so get it sent in at to: scotlandstandupblog@gmail.com

but yes get on it it's gonna be good. from 7 til 10

Also Kid Robotik (Heartbeats//OneOfAKind/TongueAkrobats) will be on straight after me from 10 - 12 with some Dubstep to carry you through til Bedtime

http://scotlandstandupradio.listen2myradio.com

remember always to tune in just a bit earlier to hear some past podcasts and mixes.

Gonna be dope

Something Good feat. Ghettosocks Define Rap Quotable Video

Something Good give their 2009 LP Just Add Water the remix treatment with there latest release Just Add Water (and stir) the EP consists of 6 tracks from the Just Add Water album remixed by Tape Notes, Fresh Kils and Ritchcraft. Define Rap Quotable is probly the best track on the EP Ghettosocks steals the show with his guest verse landing a flurry of funny punchlines. I'm not a huge fan of the whole EP but its worth a listen if you like funky 'feel good' beats and rhymes its free too....that never hurts

Taiye aka Flo-Mega (N.Familia) -Trinity freestyle (Video)

Dope video filmed in Amsterdam, just a short freestyle track but still worth a check

Nity Gritz - Fall Back: The Domino Effect EP

GOD DAMN, this has got to be one of my facorite releases from Nity Gritz and have throughly enjoyed listening to this.

Infact fuck it ama go have a listen again right now. Below are the details, Check It Out.

Full Stream & download
 Fall Back: The Domino Effect EP by Nity Gritz

Free Download Here

Freepoint Crew - FIN (Video)

Something a bit different here... The Freepoint Crew are from Finland, and to be honest, that's just about all I know about them. That said, this track is a dope ode to their homeland. The Pharcyde inspired video is also pretty cool, well worth checking out.

Apparently this track is taken from the album Three Amigos, which is dropping on Dec 17th.