Skandal & Faith SFX on DJ Gone TV (video)

'Alphabet Assassin' ft. Faith SFX - Lowkey (video)

I hear all the youtubers saying this concept is played out but peep it pea poles - Faith SFX does the whole beatboxed beat and Lowkey resurrects his ol' 'Alphabet Assassin' lyrics - now it's his. The track is out on itunes on October 26th.

'Da Real Sho' - Nemesis and Arrogance (album review)

Inspired by their radio show on Itch FM, Nemesis and Arrogance bring you ‘Da Real Sho’, their follow-up to 2007’s excellent ‘Lend Me Your Ears’.

On only 4 of the tracks here do N & A go it alone, many guests from the UK Hip Hop and Grime scenes grace the other tracks. F.L.I.P (Supar Novar, Big Ben and Rapper Ragz) crowd the booth on the urgent ‘Spit Something’, ‘Don’t Shoot Me’ features Wretch 32 (although this track is a little limp) and Mr. Ti2bs appears on ‘Listen To Your Heart’ - one of the stand out tracks here. Mr. Drastick rocks up on the synthy (but heavy) ‘Let Go’ and star of their last album, SkinnyMan, does his thing on the stripped back ‘North London Pt. 2’ – another top tune from Nemesis, Arrogance and SkinnyMan. Faith SFX also does his best impression of drums and basses as the boys go in with some braggadocio bars.

At 20 full tracks long, a little whittling would have been useful here - together, at 1 hour and 20 minutes long and segmented with radio style shout outs and dialogue, the impact of the great tracks is lost somewhat.

‘Da Real Sho’ will be released on 15th June on Real Records. Get it now from their myspace page for a fiver!

Nemesis and Arrogance Launch 'Da Real Sho'

Nemesis & Arrogance, whose latest project is ‘Da Real Sho’, are holding a launch party at the Carhartt Warehouse in Hackney (18 Ellingfort Rd, Hackney, E8 3PA) this Thursday 11th June between 18:00pm – 21:30pm.

The night will showcase music from the mixtape with performances from some of those featured alongside the boys: Mr Ti2bs, Jelluzz, F.L.I.P [Supar Novar / Big Ben / Rapper Ragz] and live Hip Hop band Lazy Habits! Form and Charlee Brown will be DJing and there will be free drinks courtesy of Meantime Brewery.

Da Real Show mixtape is out now and features: Sincere / Wretch 32 / Faith SFX / Bashy / Mr Drastick / Skinnyman & others...

'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.

Tor - Beatz in the Capital

More free music! This is really catching on innit? This is a promotional tool for Tor's forthcoming long player, and by golly, I must just buy it so impressive is this mixdownload (it aint or tape or CD). 'Beats International: Journey To The Album' is apparently due to drop in June so we can all save our pennies and bump this until then.

'Beatz...' is nice introduction to the East London born MC. There are some 'freestyles' (read 'verses over other beats') and some remixes and together these make for a showcase of her skills.

Beats are chosen well; my favourite has to be her wonderful take on Wu-Tang's 'M.E.T.H.O.D. Man' and tracks from Lupe, Baby J and TI also get blessed. The remix of 'Strivin' by DJ Mentat is top class stuff and it features a pretty chilled out Klashnekoff. Faith SFX also busts some beatboxing as Tor raps quite jawdroppingly on 'Faith SFX Jam'. Following Bashy's success with 'Black Boy's' Tor has recorded, yes you guessed it, 'Black Girls' and its proper.

If you're in Japan you get to pick up the album next month but this mix should be enough for you now. And please don't be put off by the fact she's a female. I know there aren't many good ones but there are a few and Tor is one of them. Take notice of this girl because she out-raps most of your favourite MC's. Respect.

Download the mix here and see her myspace here.

Tor - Black Girls
Tor - Method Man Freestyle
Tor - Time of Reflect vs. Baby J
Tor - Superstar.mp3
Tor - Faith SFX Jam
Tor - Strivin' Harder ft. Klashnekoff (DJ Mentat remix)

Make Music with my Mouth

Beatboxing - it's great and probably the only element of hip hop left that actually amazes the casual passer-by. DJing; everyone knows a DJ, MCing; everyone has written a comedy rap at primary school, Breaking; see every pop video ever made in the last 5 years and Grafitti, well it's just downright vandalism isn't it? So...Beatboxing, what do I have for you?

The UK Beatbox Championships:

North East Heat - Bigg Tajj
Leeds Heat - The Petebox
London Heat - Faith SFX vs. Beardyman
UK Quarter Final - desebel vs. badfunk
UK Final - Faith SFX

I heard Beardyman on Rob Da Bank's Radio 1 show and he is def my favourite at the mo. Check out his 'Recipe' on Youtube for some fresh beatboxing, that's next level because he's being so creative. I also heard Faith SFX on there a different time with L.Man (watch out for him). Faith provides a perfect backing beat for an MC to rhyme over, there's a vid of him somewhere with Terra Firma too.

Also check out Greg Patillo; man is playing his flute at the same time as beatboxing! Say Wha?!