'When The Sunshine Comes' - Kero One (video)

If you're looking for an uplift this weekend then it may come in the form of 'When The Sunshine Comes' by Kero One. The story is heartwarming stuff and if you're technically minded check the 'making of' video too. It features Dan Westbeach.

'Early Believers' - Kero One (album review)

Kero One’s new album ‘Early Believers’ is the perfect partner for the sun we’re beginning to experience. Bright and melodic production abounds from this American MC and producer evoking all kinds of sunshine related thoughts (beers, BBQs etc). Kero has a penchant for extended instrumental solo outros which go on a bit, but as background music that works.

If this is Kero’s stab at the charts then he may just get there. Will.i.am endorses the album; surely a sign of pop sensibility. As a fan of less pop Hip Hop I can actually listen to this although for some it may be too upbeat.

Brit Dan Westbeech lends sung vocals on two tracks as does Tuomo. Ohmega Watts features on ‘Stay On The Grind’, a cheerful take on the work ethic that Hip Hop has termed ‘grinding’.

‘Early Believers’ is out on 20th April on his own label Plug Music.

In which I have hope for mainstream Hip Hop

I had decided to do this post before I heard this track but when I heard it yesterday it really summed up my thinking:

Kero One - Check The Blueprints

To sum his song up he's urging the Hip Hop community, particularly the artists, to look at how Hip Hop should be. He sees importance in analysing what made Hip Hop great in the 80's and 90's, taking those findings and applying it to making new music. Obviously this could lead to music sounding the same and being stuck in the past but what I hope to prove in ten tracks is that this might not be the case but that it actually might be the way forward. Many of these tracks are examples of how cats from back in the day have had to step up to the plate again to show the world how it should be done. I hope artists take note.

Guilty Simpson - Man's World (Produced by J Dilla)

J Dilla was a producer who really took inspiration from the culture of sampling in the 90's.

Q-Tip - Work It Out.mp3

Everyones favourite Tribin' ear cleaner is back and I'd be happy hearing this on the radio.

WC - Voodoo ft. The Game

That West Coast sound still does it for me.

Termanology - So Amazing (Produced by DJ Premier)

Sounding like Premo always does is not actually a bad thing and Termanology entertains.

DJ Jazzy Jeff - The Garden ft. Big Daddy Kane

Two Old School cats bring the freshness.

Mr. J. Medeiros - Silent Earth

This sounds 90's-ish due to it's feel good vibes and sampling.

Marco Polo - Nostalgia ft. Masta Ace

(Old guy + New guy) x 90's influences = good Hip Hop

KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives

Old guy + Old guy - rivalry = good Hip Hop

Chamillionaire - Hip-Hop Police ft. Slick Rick

When I played this to my brother, he asked "Is this Chamillionaire?", I said "Yes, how can you tell?", he replied "Becasue it sounds like 50 Cent but without the mumbling" - or something like that. Slick Rick is funny. This is probably the most out of place choice here but I do like it.

One more to finish off with:

Jeru the Damaja - One Day

This is a nice short imaginary story personifying Hip Hop and telling of the day when it was kidnapped by the likes of Puff Daddy (or whatever ridiculous moniker he' going under today). Don't worry though, they get Hip Hop back safe and sound.

Download all the tracks here in a zippedy doo dah file.