'Designer Girl' - 10Shott (free download)

Probably not to the taste of some of my readers but here's the new free EP from 10Shott. 10Shott has brought himself up to date with the latest trends in British urban music with the whole autotune, housey beats thing and 'Designer Girl' is the result. Lyrically Tenny is way ahead of anyone currently making it big in the radio-friendly rap world - this deserves to go far, just as long as he keeps making music to keep the real heads happy too! There must be hundreds of women out there who'll love this!

'Sleeping in my Bed' is still very radio friendly but it has that noughties R'n'B vibe to it.

'Ghost Town' - 10Shott (video)

A fan-made video of 10Shott's version of 'Ghost Town' by The Specials - top stuff, really loving this - more rappers should get a hold of this guy and get him to do some official vids!

'Blood Diamonds' - 10Shott (video)

'Flying the Flag' - VA - Tricksta & Lunatrix (album review)

When Tricksta and Lunatrix are ‘Flying the Flag’ you’re guaranteed that your tastes will be catered for. Whether you like Hip Hop flavoured Grime, Boom Bap flavoured Hip Hop or Rap flavoured Ragga it’s all here – providing its origins are in the UK. This does mean that probably not every track will be to your liking – some of the Grime tracks I still can’t get with, mainly based on the daft lyrics (Spitta raps about Slimline PS’s and DS Lites).

On the Hip Hop side of things there are loads of artists on here to make this more than worth a purchase: Wordsmith, Kashmere, Jehst, 10Shott, Sir Smurf Lil, Ramson Badbonez, Dr. Syntax, SkinnyMan… I could go on but instead, go check the tracklist. Some of the tracks are little dated but it’s still great to have them alongside newer and more exclusive material.

This is a significant release – it’s the first time Grime and Hip Hop have been mixed together on one release - a good sign of some unity between the two scenes. The music from both sides is of high quality and Tricksta and Lunatrix do nice job of mixing it and making it flow.

‘Flying the Flag’ is out now on RGS Entertainment on 2xCD or mp3 download. UK Record Shop have it in stock now.

'Digital Revolution Vol. 2' - VA - Tricksta (free download)

On the second installment of 'Digital Revolution Tricksta has got together a great line up for his new internet-age-embracing free download. One of last years heroes M9 of Triple Darkness hosts and Ironbraydz, Stylah, Skandal, Kyza, Grit Grammar, Joker Starr, SonnyJim, 10Shott amongst others feature.

Interesting, and relieving (for me, because Tricksta is big in the game and knows what he's talking about whereas I'm guessing and hoping that I'm right) to see, a whole host of artists who I've featured on 'On The Radar' on there! These are the next men in this UK Rap thing - look out for them 'cause Tricksta says so (and for what it's worth, I do too)!

'Talking the Hardest Remix' - 10Shott

Here's 10Shott's 'Talking the Hardest' - awesome as usual, not many could touch his rhymes.

'Flying The Flag' Coming Soon!

Here's something I'm looking forward to: Tricksta of UK Runnings and Lunatrix of HHB Radio have teamed up to put together a double disc compilation/mix CD.

Now the UK Runnings series have always hit the spot with me - up-to-date tracks from UK Hip Hop's overground and underground - so my expectations are justifiably high. ‘Flying The Flag’ features underground anthems, exclusive tracks, unreleased tracks and remixes.

The double CD features the following artists; WILEY, SKEPTA, LATE, SUPAR NOVAR, RELOAD, IRON BRAYDZ, DJ SNIPS, TB, PYRELLI, SHAMELESS, RUKUS, SKINNYMAN, DEADLY HUNTA , TINCHY STRYDER, WRETCH 32, TINIE TEMPAH, SCORCHER, BASHY, SWAY, CHIPMUNK, MILLION DAN, MC DYNAMITE, MCD, K.NERS, SKREINTAX, STIG OF THE DUMP, GIGGS, DUBBELEDGE, KYZA, BIG CAKES, M9, CHEMO, THUNDERCLAPS, GHETTO, ORIFICE VULGATRON, REGGIIMENTAL, UNFRIENDLY NEIGHBOURS, LOWKEY, SONNYJIM, MALIK, YOGI, SHADE1, 10SHOTT, SMILER, STYLAH, LETHAL & DESTRUCTION, TOR, SI PHILI, WORDSMITH, KASHMERE, JEHST, CHARLIE SLOTH, JOKER STARR, GENESIS ELIJAH, LOUDMOUTH, BABY J, RANSOM BADBONEZ, DR. SYNTAX, THE LAST SKEPTIK, TRICKSTA, JABBA THA KUT, MANNY MOSCOW and CONMAN amongst many more!

HHBRADIO & UK RUNNINGS Present ‘FLYING THE FLAG’ is out on RGS Entertainment March 2009.

For more information check these website links…

http://www.hhbradio.com/
www.myspace.com/lunatrix
http://www.oymmedia.com/
www.myspace.com/butchershousestudios
www.myspace.com/oymmedia
www.myspace.com/occupyyourmindrecords
http://www.ukrunnings.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/trickstawolftown
www.myspace.com/ukrunnings
http://www.wolftownrecordings.com/
http://www.parkstreetpr.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/parkstreetpromotions

Wolftown Wednesdays #3

Two tracks for you this week, both taken from 'UK Runnings Volume 4' as hosted by 10Shott and compiled and mixed by Tricksta.

The first track is by producer Juttla and is called 'London Underground' and it features Creamo, Foreign Beggars and P.A.C. - this one might just be eligible for 'Certified Bhangra' status!

The second track is a freestyle by Reload called 'Uphill Struggle' - gotta love this guys tone.

'100% Exclusive' - VA - Tricksta (compilation/mix CD review)

Back once again for the very third time; UK Runnings and The Urban Shop drop a bigger and better CD. This time every track is new and never heard before, hence the name: '100% Exclusive'. Now who else could do that? No-one, only Tricksta. To add to the largeness there’s a DVD that almost deserves a review of it own.

Not only has Tricksta orchestrated the whole thing, he’s also produced exactly half of the tracks on here, recorded most of it and then released it on his own label: the famous, 50+ release deep, Wolftown Recordings. Anyone who’s ever listened to any of the UK Runnings releases knows what to expect from ‘100% Exclusive’ and they wont be disappointed.

Featuring UK wide artists as well as the home grown Wolftown talents this CD is chock full of bangers. I’m not going to list the artists involved but you can click this link to see the full track listing. If you’re into discovering new music then listening to this wouldn’t be a bad thing, many of the acts here are of a high quality but as yet are not too well known – once more, Tricksta is one step ahead.

The DVD features videos from Million Dan, Supar Novar, 10Shott, Conman and more. It features interviews with Late, 10Shott, Kid Rad, Jai Boo and more. You also get a tour of the HHB.com radio headquarters and Tricksta’s crib. It’s an entertaining documentary about the UK’s hardest working; it had me hooked. It also features some art and some snowboarding. Here’s to more DVD’s like this.

All in all: buy this and you’ll get your money’s worth. 30 great tracks that you won’t find anywhere else and an hour’s worth of visual entertainment. Can’t say fairer than that.

Check out some of the tracks from this CD in the player to the right.

10Shott at the MOBO Awards

In other MOBO news, whilst not nominated (hopefully next year), 10Shott will be performing at the VIP drinks reception for all industry and VIP guests. His performance wont be televised unfortunately but should never the less get press and the interest of a load of industry insiders.

'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"

'The Bigg Hitter' - 10Shott (mixtape review)

The long awaited ‘The Bigg Hitter’ is here. If you copped ‘The Ghetto Brick Road’ then you know what to expect…but with fewer jacked beats. 10Shott has created a relative masterpiece (when compared to most other mixtapes of this kind) and if this doesn’t whet your appetite for a full album nothing will.

Previously heard (and still sounding great) tracks like ‘Imagination’ and ‘In My Blood’ (still one of my favourite 10Shott tracks) are mixed in with new full tracks, concept verses, collaborations, re-workings and even a preview of the forthcoming album ‘Groundbreaker…A Di Real’ (‘Snizzle’ ft. Malik from MD7).

There are a whole bag full of standout tracks here: ‘Pimp Lord’ is Tenny at his story telling AND rhyming best, ‘Jokers’ incorporates an electro-house beat with integral choral laughs – seriously - and ‘Asking for Too Much’ featuring Nadia Pearson is a tongue-in-cheek trip inside a jealous and controlling mind. ‘The Boodah Man’ shows off 10Shott’s production skills and innate ability to write a simple but cachy hook.

From dramatic opener ‘The Bigg Hitter’ (if you think that’s a theatrical entrance, wait for track 1 on ‘Groundbreaker’) to the closing ode to Wolverhampton (‘Wolverhampton’!) this CD is nothing but, to quote 10Shott, “large”. This is better than most albums I’ve heard in a while and it’s certainly had the most plays on my stereo.

Vote for 10Shott on Channel U

Big things are happening for 10Shott and not just on our small island. He's been playing gigs all over the Roman empire...I mean places like Egypt and Latvia (where he's about to hit the charts with Latvian heartthrob and new ZY Record signing Elli U with their track 'Like a Disease').

I've heard his long awaited, soon-to-arrive CD 'The Bigg Hitter' mixtape and it's nothing but pure bigness from start to finish - check me out for a review of that soon. I've also heard the excellent album 'Ground Breaker...A Di Real', trust me it lives up to its name. It's the best album I've heard this year and is easily as innovative as albums such as 'Upwards' by Ty and 'The Unknown' by Mark B & Blade.

10Shott has already released two singles from the album - 'Memory Blank' and 'Tin Soldiers', both of which can be downloaded on itunes now (click the song names). These are both powerful tracks that display 10Shott's versatility as a lyricist and also his genius as a producer (working with Creative Productions and ZY Records).

Now you can have a helping hand in his inevitable success: Text '571' to '81700' on your mobile to get the 'Tin Soldiers' video (which can be seen here) on heavy rotation on Channel U. Looking at the current top videos on there it's clear that this track deserves to be in the top 5, if not at the number 1 spot (where I'd put it). 'Tin Soldiers' has already recieved support from politicians Tony Benn and George Galloway so powerful is its message.

So text '571' to '81700' now!

'Baby Food' - Baby J (album review)

From the opening out-of-tune bars of ‘If I Could Do It All Again’ through to the rambling ‘Midlands Anthem’ one can’t help feeling disappointed with ‘Baby Food’. Sure, the album has its good moments, but for someone considered a pro, it’s awfully amateurish.

The ‘100% Sample Free’ approach was an admirable idea but, you know, if it aint broke, don’t fix it. Some of Baby J’s usual vibe is captured on this new record; his ear for a catchy tune and his ability to attract good guests are the evident remainders of his past work.

Singles ‘Lies’ and ‘Wake Up’ have obvious crossover appeal and are the more polished fruits of Baby J’s labour. ‘Love and Peace’ featuring Task Force’s Farma G and some school kids suit the low level production whereas other tracks come off at best as sounding ‘homemade’. Belfast MC Jun Tzu provides a welcome stroke of genius madness with ‘Wee Jonny’.

Had Baby J stuck to sampling for this release, whilst refining his new formula for future ventures, I’m sure my words would have differed. As it stands, traditional ingredients are out of the window leaving not a sour taste, but one lacking in flavour.

Wolftown Update

As usual the Wolftown crew are on their grind. The latest offering from their midland camp is the '100% Exclusive Mixtape & DVD'. It features tracks from everyone you'd expect: 10Shott, Tricksta, Late, Size8, Conman and Jai Boo. It also features tracks from artists recently taken uner the Wolftown wing and other up and coming UK artists. This essentially is the latest in the 'UK Runnings' series and so far they've all been fire.

As the name suggests, it also comes with a DVD featuring interviews and music videos by Blak Twang, Million Dan, Conman, Jabba Tha Kut, Late, Jai Boo, Size8 & 10Shott and more. Check back here to find out more about what I think of this CD once I hear it.

Meanwhile, you can be checking out the plethora of other recognisably presented Wolftown releases from this year:

'I'm a Saint, I'm a Sinner' - Late

Late's latest track 'I'm a Saint, I'm a Sinner' is a half grime, half dirty south Tricksta produced street heater. It features Houston MC's K-Rino and KB Da Kidnappa and has been licensed to appear on a Hip Hop Connection compilation CD to be released later this year. The video can be seen, well you know where...

For those who don't know, Late and Tricksta are the Godfathers of Wolverhampton Hip Hop, the main men behind Wolftown Recordings, repsonsible for the rise of next-to-blow MC 10Shott amongst many other UK underground rap stars.

'I'm a Saint, I'm a Sinner' is taken from Late's forthcoming long player 'Below Street Level' which will actually be his debut solo album. For his previous work check out his albums with Villains and Wolftown Committee and pretty much any Wolftown release ever! Go to Datpiff, type in 'Late' and check out some of the mixtapes he's been involved in, there are quite a few!

'The Bigg Hitter' is coming!

To add to my last post about 10Shott's 'Talking American' (from forthcoming album 'Groundbreaker... A Di Real') featuring on Ras Kwame's show and Homegrown podcast I have this news:

'The Bigg Hitter' is due to be finished this Friday! Choice FM DJ 279 (a massive tastemaker in the game) will be checking it out in the studio this week and I'll be getting an exclusive listen once it's finished.

I've already heard one track from this mixtape entitled 'Comic Book Thug' and compared to the tracks on 'Groundbreaker' (review coming sometime soon) it's much heavier, grimier and way more 'street'. On 'Comic Book Thug' Tenny effortlessly bridges gaps between the new UK sound and the old hardcore East Coast sounds of the late 80's and early 90's. With a huge crunching beat and 10Shott's ultra-entertaining wordplay this is sure to appeal to fans worldwide AND genre-wide.

I'm unsure as to the terms of the release of 'The Big Hitter'; it may be free for download, it may be purchase-able but you can count on me to let you know can't you?

It's about that time, if you haven't already to backtrack and listen to 10Shott's past work so you know where he's come from when 'Groundbreaker' explodes. I'd recommend getting Vicious Circle's album ('Bagged Out'), 10Shott's 'Ghetto Brick Road' mixtape and Wolftown Committee's album 'Legendary Status'. You could also go and download both 'Tin Soldiers' and 'Memory Blank' as well as taking a trip to his myspace page and downloading Ras Kwame's latest Homegrown podcast.

In other 10Shott news, Guy, 10Shott's manager and Zy Records owner, has just signed No.1 chart topper Elli from Latvia and Tenny has just co-written and recorded a collaboration with her due for release in Russia in 6 weeks. Elli's last 2 songs went to No.1 so no doubt with 10Shott on board it'll be big too.

10Shott's 'Talking American' Free Download From 1Xtra

Last night saw 10Shott get the Homegrown treatment from 1Xtra's Ras Kwame. As a result you get to download it for free!

10Shott on Ras Kwame's Homegrown download

Aggi Dukes - The Best Kept Secret Free Mixtape

On Friday I came across a new artist (well new to me), Aggi Dukes. He was playing at the preview for a new independent film called 'Deadly Whispers'. I was invited as 10Shott got a last minute slot to perform there of the back of another TV performance (but more about that later). As it happens, Aggi is treading the ever more popular path of releasing a free download mixtape and his is called 'The Best Kept Secret'. Aggi has great verve and a powerful quality to his voice and basically anything free is worth checking at least once.

Bow E3 resident, Aggi's greatest claim to fame so far is that he has a track featured on the oh so entertaining FIFA Street 2. On Friday he also performed the track 'Casper's Birthday' which samples The Specials' anti-Thatcher track, 'Ghost Town'.

10Shott - 'Tin Soldiers' video