Chief - The Bald EP (Free Download)

New 8 track debut solo-EP available to download for free from Chief, of the JVF Clique. West Midlands vibes...

Tracklist:

1. The Future

2. Life

3. True Story

4. For The Family

5. In The Studio

6. It's Gonna Happen

7. Music

8. Could I feat. Nipper

Free Download

The Nextmen, Joker Starr, Tempa, Steg G, Organix & JVF Clique free downloads

A few beats and pieces for you here:

Joker Starr is clearing out his unreleased back catalogue and giving it away for free. Check out 'Punchlines' with Dark Angel and then keep your eye on his blog for more.

More from Notz - Tempa's done a version of 'Run This Town' and has dropped it for free to build anticipation for her forthcoming 12".

Steg G has done a Baltimore style remix of 'Can You Feel It' in celebration of the late great MJ's birthday. I know nothing about B-more and have no idea whether this is it but I'd sure jump around to it on a night out.

For an exclusive mixtape from The Nextmen head over to their site and sign up to recieve their mailouts. The mix is awesome and features tracks from their new album 'Join.The.Dots' and a whole load of dope tracks and mashups from the spectrum of music.

There is an Organix mixtape up for free download. It's the '5 A Day Mixtape Vol. 1' and it features tracks from Mal, Jay Madden, Tai, Wizard, Scizzahz, Antidote, Stickman, Naive and Simple Samples.

JVF Clique have just dropped a rather rudely titled track concerning a particular racist party leader - check it, I'm with them on the sentiment.

That's all for now but I've got some more free-to-download mixtapes to vet for ya, so keep your ears peeled.

Suspect Packages Radio Show September

More Suspect Packages news - I'm currently locked onto Disorda's latest podcast - September's Suspect Packages Radio Show. It features newness from Tactical Thinking, Contact Play, Phoenix Da Icefire, Krate Krusaders, Crucifix, The Thunderclaps, Shameless, Wizard, Unfriendly Neighbours, JVF Clique, Foreign Beggars, Yosh, Danny Spice, Rapskallions, Alphabetix, Joe Blow, Orphans Of Cush, Redbeard, SonnyJim, Delusionists, MCM, Sigher The Gutter Snype and Monkey Sons. It's great to know that Disorda is constantly ahead of the game and that he'll always be supporting up-and-coming artists to the maximum.

Anyway, visit his blog for the tracklisting, visit his mail order site to buy some of these records and visit Sensei to download and listen to the show.

'Alternative Income' - JVF Clique (free download)

'On The Radar' mainstays JVF Clique want you to have this exclusive version of the title track from their 'Alternative Income' LP. The album is still available in exchange for money over at the ever-faithful Suspect Packages and if you like the things they do and say then check out 'Those Dudes' on 'OTR Vol. 1', their Certified Banger Exclusive on 'OTR Vol. 2', 'Drugs Need Kids' on 'OTR Vol. 3' and 'Loose The Chains' on 'OTR Vol.3'!

JVF Clique Live On Suspect Packages Radio (video)

'On The Radar' Series - 60+ Free UK Hip Hop Tunes

Haven't bigged up these for a while, neither have I done a post with all three:

Click the images to download over 60 tracks of free and exclusive UK Hip Hop featuring music from: JVF Clique, Jay Madden, Chris L, Assa, Jut, Dan Bull, Mrs. Pez, Jimmy Crack, Skrimshank, Remus, Krate Krusaders, Antidote, Pro P, TLG, Chima Anya, The Three Amigos, Naive, Grit Grammar, Dan Bull, Joker Starr, MasterSystem, Asaviour, Apa-Tight, Dabbla, Miss Tofelees, Gouki P, Antiheroes, Reklews, Lowercase, Chattabox, Sober, Simple Samples, Circle Makerz, King David, Cipher Jewels, Reggiimental, Reain, Ramson Badbonez, Yosh, Vee Kay, Joe Blow, Metabeats, Dialect, Delegates of Culture, Stylah, Jon Phonics, Kasha, Jee4ce, Profisee, Capitol 1212, Mr. ShaoDow, Cheif Wigz, Brutal Artistry, Cyclonius, Baron Samedi 15. Judgement Day ft. SonnyJim, Kosyne, R.C. & LKC _ JC, Ozmosis, Miss Tofelees, Stoney, Pockets, Pro P, Zoo Mark, Slippa, Mr. Loop, Bane, Jonny Alpha, E Hustle, Jehst, Kyza, Queens English, Klashnekoff, Skandal, Loudmouth, Jay Large, Grimlok, Reps, Late, Size8, Spee 69, Beit Nun, Truth, B'Tol and more:

'Alternative Income' - JVF Clique (album review)

Kicking off with a ‘Shook Ones Pt 2’ vocal clip can’t be a bad thing, can it? Add to that a beat that’s only just a bit too light hearted for the official Queensbridge murderers to flow over and you’ve got the perfect way to begin an album. By the time the lyrics enter the fray of title track ‘Alternative Income’ you know that this is Hip Hop that you can get with.

So, Hinckley Town, Leicester may not strike you as a hotbed of Hip Hop but this art form is everywhere and JVF Clique are purveyors of a particularly fine version of it. Just like Havoc and Prodigy they rap about their environment (no, not the Midland's comprehensive rail and motorway network (apart from on ‘Where We’re From’!) or the fact that they live in the “Cradle of the Hosiery Industry”) taking in subject matter such as bored kids turning to drugs, earning pounds and pence and our Government. The realness continues as they chat about frustrating drivers on ‘On The Road’ (check the last verse for the cheeky ending) before substance abuse talk gets well abstract on ‘Brown Horses’.

The production is nicely varied with loads of plundered sound including a few plucked strings - something not heard all that often in Hip Hop. The LP does have a certain mood – one that’s not all that bright – and the lyrics contribute to that as much as the instrumentals. If you’re after happy times then buy something else but be sure to have this to hand when you need some UK real talk and original beats. It’s only £6.99 over at Suspect Packages - trust JVF to do their bit to make up for the countries financial cock-ups.

To check out tracks for free download the whole ‘On The Radar’ series for ‘Those Dudes’, ‘Drugs Need Kids’ and a Certified Banger exclusive!

More Forthcoming Reviews

As usual I've got a never ending pile of CDs and a hard drive full of mp3 awaiting review. Here's what I'll be covering soon, hopefully before each of their release dates:

JVF Clique - 'Alternative Income' (album)
Big Narstie - 'The Big Man Returns' (mixtape)
Elemental & Tom Caruana - 'Rebel Without Applause' (album)
Dialect - 'D.Day' (album due out April)
Delegates of Culture - 'Bad Guys' (album due out on 27th April)
DJ Vadim - 'Hidden Treaure' (single due out 27th April)
Wordsmith & I.N.C. The Poet - 'Take a Walk in My Shoes' (single due out 27th April)
The Score - 'Opus' (album due out 27th April)
Yung - 'Unconditional Hustle' (mixtape due out 4th May)
Mr. Lif - 'I Heard it Today' (album due out 4th May
Homecut - 'No Freedom Without Sacrifice' (album due out 18th May)
YNR Records - 'Feeding Time At The Zoo' (album due out 25th May)
Wordsmith & I.N.C. The Poet - 'A Baltimore Martini' (album due out 25th May)
Choong Family - 'Baptism of Fire' (pre-album due out 25th May)
The Early Man - 'Alpha' (single due out 25th May)
Resin Dogs - 'More' (album out 1st June)
DJ Vadim - 'U Can't Lurn Imaginashun' (album due out 8th June)

There are probably more too. I'll try get these done for y'all!

JVF Clique on Suspect Packages Radio

Check Suspect Packages latest radio show. It features 'On The Radar' mainstays JVF Clique with exclusive tracks and interviews from them boys.

It also features a whole host of artists who I've been generally been getting excited about recently - these are the next layer of talent from our country. It also features certified legends in our scene.

He's got Stylah, Skandal, Asaviour & DJ IQ, Delegates of Culture, Karl Hinds, Kyza, Jyager and loads more!

Here's the back cover and full listing for 'On The Radar Volume 2' (click on it to see it large!) and here are some tracks from it:

JVF Clique - 'Certified Banger Exclusive'

Asaviour & Apa-Tight - 'Gully'

Krate Krusaders - 'Respect Your Elders' ft. Remus

Download the whole thing!

And here's the link for Volume 1 in case you missed that.

Certified Banger Presents: 'On The Radar Volume 2' - VA (free download)

It's here! The second installment! 20 tracks of UK Hip Hop for your lug'oles.

Download now!

Check back daliy for updates on more music from the artists involved. Be sure to check myspaces,
leave comments for me and them - all feedback is welcome.

Feel free to use these tracks, re-post them on your blog, burn them - whatever y'all do with mp3's these days. Just be sure to let us know what you do with them so artists can keep track!

1) Certified Banger Exclusive - JVF Clique (produced by Pappa Doc)
2) Coming For The Game ft. Jay Madden, Chris L & Assa - Jut
3) Dr. Who ft. Dan Bull, Mrs. Pez & Jimmy Crack – Skrimshank (produced by Damo)
4) Respect Your Elders ft. Remus - Krate Krusaders
5) Life Is Real - Antidote (produced by Pro P)
6) Truth Or Lie – TLG (produced by Eyebs)
7) All I Wanna Do - Chima Anya
8) Real Life Drama - The Three Amigos (produced by Naive)
9) Final Frontier - Grit Grammar (produced by Baron Samedi)
10) After Life - Dan Bull
11) Drama - Joker Starr (produced by G Man)
12) See I Realise ft. Anneke – MasterSystem (produced by Whys)
13) Gully - Asaviour & Apa-Tight
14) The Title - Dabbla (produced by Miss Tofelees)
15) Mimsey Grove - Gouki P (produced by Ants & Jut)
16) Subhuman Nature ft. Darkstar - Antiheroes (produced by Reklews)
17) Rugged Bros ft. Lowercase - Chattabox (produced by Sober)
18) Dark Matter (Remix) - Simple Samples (produced by Dweller)
19) Crop Circles ft. Circle Makerz - King David (produced by Safron)
20) Family Life ft. Cipher Jewels – Reggiimental (produced by DJ Konn)

Suspect Packages Radio Show February

February's Suspect Packages radio show is up and ready for you to download. This month Disorda's guest didn't show so you get more music than usual.

Interestingly the show features many 'On The Radar' artists past (Skillet, Truth)and present (Joker Starr, Assa, Jay Madden, Dialect, JVF Clique, Dabbla, The Three Amigos, Antiheroes) and all the current favourites of Certified Banger (SonnyJim, Jyager, Sir Smurf Lil, Lowkey and more).

It also includes the usual old skool selection at the end with cuts from 3PM, Gunshot, Unanimous Decision and Pointblank amongst others - get schooled in the old skool.

Anyway, go here to see the tracklisting, click here to stream it and click here to download it.

Certified Banger Presents: 'On The Radar Volume 2' Coming Soon!

Unveiling - Certified Banger Presents: 'On The Radar Volume 2'.

The second installment in the series (Vol. 3 will be hot on its heels) continues the quest to expose UK Hip Hop artists, potentially, to people all over this green planet.

It will feature exclusives and never heard elsewhere tracks from JVF Clique, Jay Madden, Chris L, Assa, Jut, Dan Bull, Mrs. Pez, Jimmy Crack, Skrimshank, Remus, Krate Krusaders, Antidote, Pro P, TLG, Chima Anya, The Three Amigos, Naïve, Grit Grammar, Dan Bull, Joker Starr, MasterSystem, Asaviour, Apa-Tight, Dabbla, Miss Tofelees, Gouki P, Antiheroes, Reklews, Lowercase, Chattabox, Sober, Simple Samples, Circle Makerz, King David, Cipher Jewels and Reggiimental.

It will be available to download as of Monday 9th February so be sure to check back here!

JVF Clique Interview

"'Alternative Income' is a breath of fresh air; it's the arrival of the mothership on the music scene."

JVF Clique, the group soon to release their album 'Alternative Income', already heard on Certified Banger's 'On The Radar' mixtape and featuring on this months Suspect Packages radio show, got together to answer some of my questions about them. So try to ignore the slightly disturbing photo to the left and read this:

Certified Banger: So, where are you coming from? Part of the world? Tell us about it – in general and with regards to Hip Hop, and what mentality do you have when creating the rap music?

JVF: Well we’re from Hinckley town, Leicestershire, The Middlelands, UK. A-past-it’s-best market town where a lot can take place in efforts to stem boredom. Back in the 90's there was a Pirate radio scene but it the DTI squashed it, most of the town now is beer and poppy dance music but there are a few heads that keep a music scene alive. We try to keep our music non-stereotypical and original; we always try and experiment, push the boundaries and find new angles, aiming to give the listener a new viewpoint of reality, and not a load of bollocks about flash cars and jewellery. We have always been very self-critical which can create obstacles but does create a quality end product we are all happy with.

Click here to read more

On The Radar Artist Profile: JVF Clique

Name: JVF Clique

Age: Early thirties

From: Hinckley town, Leicestershire.

Track on ‘On The Radar’: 'Those Dudes'

Tell us the story behind the track: The arrival of the mothership in graphic detail.

Record label: Clique Recordings

Who you roll with: Nipper/Chief on vocals. Pappa Doc/Mugshot on beats.

Favourite album: Too many quality albums out there.

Describe your style in three words: Fresh, Gritty, Honest.

Past/Present/Future projects:
Past: The 'Embryo' EP (2004) 'First Born' (2005) 'Submerged Language' mixtape (2006)
Present: 'Alternative Income' (due march 2009)
Future: 'Founders of the Feast' EP.(2009) unnamed Italian/russian film soundtrack project (2009/10)

'Certified Banger Presents On The Radar' - VA (free download)

Certified Banger, a blog (almost) dedicated to the art of Hip Hop in the UK proudly presents this 21 track compilation of some up-and-coming artists and their music. Taking in many different angles of UK Hip Hop 'On The Radar' attempts to bring some new music to your ears, all for the princely sum of nothing.

It features never heard befores, heard before but hard to get hold ofs and tracks already available on the respective artists own pieces of work. With 21 tracks, you're bound to find something you like, and for free, you can go much wrong by downloading it and giving it at least one virtual spin.

This compilation should appeal to Hip Hop fans and people of other persuasions alike, so if you fall into one of those categories (and I think you do), you should right click, left click, save target as with the quickness.

Once you have and you've heard it, be sure to keep coming back here for more features on, and free downloads from the artists involved. Check the 'comments' section in the song tags for the artists website addresses and give them a shout. Drop me a line at certifiedbanger@gmail.com and let them know how you feel about this (wonderful) release.

Download it now! (alternate link) - WinRAR files

Download a ZIP file

Tracklisting:

1. Queens English - Mind The Rap (produced by Skinnista aka Nu Balance)
2. Safron - Nightbreed remix ft. Kyza, Jehst & Klashnekoff
3. emceeKillah - The Guns of Britain (produced by Zoutr)
4. B'Tol & Jagos - Finish This (Rassclat Rappers) ft. Da Herbalis of FDB
5. JVF Clique - Those Dudes (produced by Pappa Doc)
6. Spee 69 - Lemonade (produced by Jay Large)
7. Grimlok - Magic (produced by Shears)
8. Revilo - Mr. No Names
9. TLG - Let Me Be ft. Reggiimental, Ras Supa, Biggaman,S.C, Joe Gutta & Rukus
10. Skillit - Talk of the Town (produced by Cable)
11. Conman - Streets Unsafe (freestyle)
12. Loudmouth - Real Talk (produced by Loudmouth)
13. Manny Moscow - You Can't Tempt Me ft. Shepherd
14. Size8 - Watchin Me (freestyle)
15. Skandal - Venom (produced by Chemo)
16. Truth - Been a Long Time (produced by Prolifik)
17. Late - The Villain Man (freestyle)
18. Antmysta - Taste of Ink (produced by Shadowville)
19. Beit Nun - The Music (produced by Illskilz)
20. Reps - Spit ft. Jid Sames (produced by OSTR)
Bonus Track: Uncle Dicky - Neighbourhood Star remix ft. Witchdoctor Wise

A big thanks goes to all the artists and label peeps who contributed to this, without you it couldn't be done - hope it's all helpful promo for you!

If you are an artist or PR or whoever and want your tracks on the next one, start emailing me!

'Certified Banger Presents On The Radar'

Download 'Certified Banger Presents On The Radar' here from Monday 1st December!

'Certified Banger Presents On The Radar' is a 20 track, free to download compilation of UK Hip Hop featuring JVF Clique, Revilo, Spee 69, Jay Large, Conman, Safron, Antmysta, Loudmouth, Manny Moscow, Queens English, Late, Skandal, Chemo, Truth and more!

'Certified Banger Presents On The Radar' - a collection of free Hip Hop tracks from UK artist.

Rusty Jukebox Free Downloads

There's a whale, over there! Not really, but if you do go over there (to Rusty Jukebox's website of course) then what you will find is something larger than an aquatic mammal.

What you'll discover is a vast vault of vibrantly vivacious (sorry, watched 'V for Vendetta' the other night) Hip Hop tunes one of which is one of my most favourite tunes this year: 'Let me Be' by T.L.G. (The Lost Generation) which features Reggiimental, Ras Supa, Biggaman, S.C, Joe Gutta and Rukus. That track comes from their album 'Everything So Clear' which was made available at the beginning of this year.

Other treats on offer here are JVF Clique's 'Alternative Income Sampler', T.L.G.'s 'Infinite Potential', Jimmy B-Boy's 'The Mixtape', Shady Rezidents' 'Unheard Word' and a few other things. All I can say is, go get your download on!