Kyza - Freestyle Season mixed by No Special

Kyza aka B.L.A.C.K A.D.A.M Freestyle Season mixed and engineered by No One Special by No One Special

Freestyle Season aka B.L.A.C.K.A.D.A.M is a free d/l of fire from former TF member Kyza whos on form on practically every beat. Theres a good selection of beats on the mixtape allowing Kyza to show off his range; double-time to crooning and everything inbetween. The content is equally as versatile love, hate, road, family its all there. Cop the full mixtape HERE or individual tracks on the above player.

Ramson Badbonez ft Kyza Smirnoff - Paperhunt

the latest song from Ramson Badbones "Give Badbonez A Break" featuring Kyza Smirnoff. You can get it here and its chopped and looped by DJ GONE and DJ IQ.

'Life Is' ft. Kyza & Dani Appadoo - Grit Grammar (video)

'Life Music' - Grit Grammar (review)

Watch out for Grit Grammar's album 'Life Music' - it's a professionally finished and very solid selection of tracks from the MC and his go-to producer Baron Samedi.

Grit bucks all current radio fodder trends without just sounding like another UK MC with another UK Hip Hop album - this LP has memorable moments.

'Hard Times' is an obvious choice - one most of you will have heard with its Genesis Elijah feature but picking out others is fairly difficult - but only because of the high quality of each track.

'Sound of the City' is a funky ode to Grit's London which showcases his ability to really rhyme and flow. Strangely, the last three tracks are all ones that really stick in my mind: 'Trapped From The Beginning' (an exploration of love, life and attitudes to both, 'Going Under' (an honest diatribe on drug struggles) and 'Rich & Famous' featuring Baron Samedi on the mic as well as the optimistic production are some of the best tracks on the album.

Elsewhere Grit finds perfect rhyme partners in Kyza, Iron Braydz and Verb T (in thoughtful, serious mode).

The album drops on 27th September and everyone is invited to the album launch on Tuesday 28th Sept 2010, The Social, 5 Little Portland Place, London. The event is free and features full live performances from Grit Grammar, Verb-t & Fliptrix, Genesis Elijah, Iron Braydz, Baron Samedi and Lixx with a special guest appearance from Kyza Smirnoff and DJ CWD holding down the decks all evening. Check out: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=154728551206519&ref=mf for more.

'Scratches' - DJ Slademan & Skriblah Dangogh (free download)

Not sure what the deal is with this but the Bandcamp release date is two days away?!

DJ Slademan has put together a mix of all Terra Firma's most underrated best verses and tracks. Skriblah Dangogh's verses from tracks by M9, Micall Parknsun, Triple Darkness and Terra Firma are brought together to prove that this MC has more than just a few skills. Solo tracks also crop up - mainly ones which have not seen a full release.

Go here to download it now for free.

Orphans of Cush Interview with DJ Gone

Kyza, Ramson Badbonez, DJ MK and Sarah Love live at Scenario this weekend!

Don't forget this is happening this Saturday - Soundcrash presents...Scenario featuring a whole host of UK Hip Hop goodness including Kyza and his live band Focused Few, DJs Sarah Love, Gone,MK and Charlee Brown, Ramson Badbonez, D Gritty, Danny Spice and Dysu. Big ups to Chris who won two tickets for this event - hope he enjoys it!

'One Inch Punch' - Dubbledge (mixtape review)

Are you a fan of 90s beats such as those crafted by RZA and DJ Premier? Are you a fan of charismatic, funny but intelligent rappers? Then the ‘One Inch Punch’ mixtape fresh from Dubbledge is for you.

Hurtling through productions jacked from classics from Snoop and Dre, ATCQ, Raekwon, Souls of Mischief, Rakim and more, Dubbledge brings a brief 26 minutes of madness and memories. Kyza joins Dubbledge to destroy ‘Juice aka The Duppy Tamer’ (not the Puppy Trainer as I thought at first glance) and TB brings his aggy delivery to the table on ‘Glaciers of Ice’.

This release is a prequel to his forthcoming album ‘Is Wot It Is…But It Ain’t Wot It Woz’ and it’s proof that Edge is still on top form lyrically. ‘One Inch Punch’ is what a mixtape should be – not a listening marathon, quality loveable beats and well chosen verses (as opposed to every bar the MC ever wrote).

‘One Inch Punch’ will be released on 7th December on Hidden Agenda.

'Hip Hop Hype Dog Compilation Vol. 1' - VA (free download)

Hip Hop Hype Dog have just dropped their first compilation. The free download features 28 tracks of Hip Hop from the UK but with a few US representatives thrown in for good measure.

The thing that gets me going about this compilation is that, nestled inbetween tracks and artists I'm familiar with already, there are a few new bits. Vice and Mister D's 'On My Mind', Capital R's 'I Represent (for Hip Hop)' and Sicnis's 'Get Better' all fall into this catergory - dope, fresh and new.

The tracks that you may have heard before are all quality too - if you didn't pick up the LPs they belong to then you'll be wanting to after this. Kyza's 'Murderman' (from 'S.O.S'), Micall Parknsun's 'Bang' (featuring Jehst), Asaviour and IQ's 'Complicity' featuring Kashmere and loads more are examples of tunes taken from brilliant releases.

MC Life's 'Hard 2 Spit' produced by DJ Nappa is not a track I remember from elsewhere and it's a really dope and excellent inclusion. The Americans are represented by Elzhi, Raekwon (and some of his famous mates) and MF Doom - only quality MCs. With other tracks from Ty, LDZ, Kelakovski, Farma G, Chester P, Orphans of Cush, Truth, SonnyJim, Kosyne, M9, Delusionists and more you'd be foolish not to get this for free.

'Juice' ft. Kyza - Dubbledge (video)

Check out this new rowdy tune from Dubbledge and Kyza - it's take from Dubbledge's forthcoming ting 'One Inch Punch' - now I'm to try make sure I get a copy. Oh yeah, read the posters in the video and if you're in Wales then get yourself to the show!

'Seize The Moment' - VA - DJ Thor (free download)

Hit up the download link for DJ Thor's latest mixtape narrated by Mystro. It features a right ol' mix up of US and UK artists such as Ramson Badbonez, Kyza, Nathan 'Flutebox' Lee, Recordkingz, Skandal, Mystro, Endemic, Mr. Scruff, SonnyJim and Roots Manuva. On the American side of things you get Slaughterhouse, Red and Meth, 50 Cent, Ghostface and MF Doom. For the full tracklisting clickedy here. If you didn't catch volume one then you can download that here and now.

The Basement Sessions Podcast

Check out the Basement Sessions podcast featuring these most excellent tracks and artists:

1. J.Rawls & John Robinson f. Rashad - She's So Brilliant
2. Son Of A Queen - King
3. Krate Krusaders f. Kasha & Logic - Stronger
4. Percy Filth f. J.Sands & K.Skills - That's Why
5. Amanda Diva - Heart Strings (UK EXCLUSIVE!)
6. Sonny Jim - CrazyIllMadRowdy (Produced by Jon Phonics)
7. Wio-K f. Ty & Serocee - An Ting
8. Alphabetix - What's The Name
9. d. C. & Pennbannekar - The Come Up (UK EXCLUSIVE!)
10. Marco Polo & Torae f. Masta Ace & Sean Price - Hold Up
11. Akrobatik - AK B Nimble
12. Roots Manuva - 2 Much 2 Soon
13. Big Cakes - Soul
14. yU - Marvelous (O.G. Mix) (Produced by Kev Brown)
15. Amor Jones - Nothing Good Comes Easy
16. Art Of Fresh - Come N' Get Some
17. Kyza - Wild Orchid
18. Sleaze - Success
19. Nova Infinite - All Of My Life (UK EXCLUSIVE!)
20. IV f. Junclassic - Please Don't Go Away (UK EXCLUSIVE!)
21. FS Green - Rusty Beat

Check out The Basement Sessions on their website and on Sensei FM and stay tuned for more podcastage with the first official CErtified Banger podcast.

'White Noize' - Orphans Of Cush (review)

So whilst everyone who cares (apart from me) is out at the launch party for ‘White Noize’ I thought I’d join them in spirit by rocking the promo again and writing my review:

With the MCs’ words wrapping so snugly round the beats you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for an album proper. In fact ‘White Noize’ is a mixtape, or as M9 says, it’s a “project”. With beats from the likes of RZA, The Creators, Lord Finesse, Havoc and Mathematics you already know what sound to expect.

The combination of Kyza, M9, Cyrus Malachi and Masikah is successful with Kyza displaying diversity when compared to his recent ‘S.O.S.’ mixtape. An unexplainable pull is built in to the styles of the crew and if this release anything like the Triple Darkness LP, that magnetism will draw you to play the CD again and again.

Lyricism is rife, rendering the usual UK street commentary gleaming and ultimately very listenable. I’m unsure of some of the racial references and inferences, for example the title track seems to solely blame a white government for the struggles in black communities. Whilst I’m sure they play a part, and I know that it’s important for these issues to be discussed, I’m not sure this kind of attitude helps to solve problems. Whether you agree with all their viewpoints or not, there’s no denying this is dope Hip Hop that deserves the anticipation it has reaped.

‘White Noize’ is pre-orderable now at Suspect Packages and is released on October 2nd – go get yours now.

Kyza, Dubbledge, Beatbox Fozzy and Metabeats Show, Oct 17th

Higher Learning, Associated Minds, Mutty Wango Party presents Kyza, Dubbledge, Metabeats, Beatbox Fozzy and Chrome Kids on Saturday 17th October @ The Globe, Cardiff - big!

Bang on over to the Chrome Kids blogspot for loads of free downloads from all the artists on the bill.

Also checkout Beatbox Fozzy and Metabeats who have been included in the BBC's A-Z of Welsh music!

Kyza Show Saturday 14th November

Get to this show if you can: Kyza, J2K, Ramson Badbones, Rahel, D Gritty, Sarah Love, DJ MK at The Rhthym Factory on 14th November. Also be aware that Dead Prez, Klashnekoff and DJ MK are playing at KOKO on 6th November.

Sarah Love Hip Hop M1x Show

Tune into Sarah Love's latest show 'Hip Hop M1x' on iplayer. It features a couple ton of hot Hip Hop from both the UK and the US. Representing these shows are Orphans of Cush (who have the highlight this week), Micall Parknsun, Professor Green, Kyza, Kosyne, MCM, Skandal (who drops exclusive '9 2 5' with Brad Strut), Jyager, Ben Grymm and SonnyJim.

Go on and support someone who is supporting our scene on a major level - big up to Sarah Love.

'Soldier' ft. Wretch 32, Kyza & Orifice Vulgatron - DJ Vadim

Check out this remix of DJ Vadim's 'Soldier' (the original is on his 'You Can't Lurn Imaginashun' LP). This remix features big in the game MCs Wretch 32, Kyza and Orifice Vulgatron of Foreign Beggars. The original was a banger and so's this UK version. Remember, this is the track that The Last Skeptik remixed which you can download for free here.

Free New Orphans of Cush Tracks

Couple of free tracks for all you salivating Cushites out there: M9 just dropped these on his blog to whet your appetites for Orphans of Cush (pictured left in a very 90s rap group pose - think Onyx or Naughty By Nature).

'Rain Blood' and 'Reflections' can be yours - they're just a click or two away so do the download thing and get some of that hardcore British realness.

'White Noize', the group's first LP, will be out on October 5th. You can expect every track to tackle "particular issues" and the album as a whole "aims at raising awareness of what is really happening with our youth, particularly black youth as statistics show that they are the most affected in an environment which is not only void of support but almost void of any spiritual, moral guidance." - deep stuff as usual.

'White Noize' - Orphans of Cush (video)

Check this - a genuine rap video to remind the youtube generation what's what! Orphans of Cush are Kyza, M9 and Cyrus Malachi and also possibly Masikah so beware of words you'll have to look up in the dictionary!

Current UK Hip Hop itunes Releases

So what can you guys and girls get for yourself this week on itunes? Well, there's a whole host of stuff:

Micall Parknsun - 'All 4 Hip Hop' (also at Amazon and HMV)

Roots Manuva - 'Do Nah Bodda Mi' (Preview at Ninja Tune and buy the 12")

Elemental & Tom Caruana - 'Rebel Without Applause' (read my review here or pop over to the Tea Sea website to buy the actual CD)

Million Dan - 'Acceleration' (it includes remixes from Baby J and versions of 'Hip Hop U Don't Stop' from Jay Large and DJ Firstaid)

Killa Kela - 'Built Like An Amplifier' (Not Hip Hop really but it does feature a Sway remix. Watch the official video here)

Kyza - 'Sin City'/'Go' & 'Love & Music'/'Dirty' (His two singles from the forthcoming 'Shots Of Smirnoff')

YNR Productions - 'Feeding Time At The Zoo' (or here on CD)

Lowkey - 'We Don't Want Them' (produced by The Last Skeptik and all for a good cause)

Sleaze - Theolovision (or here on CD)

Homecut - No Freedom Without Sacrifice (go to First Word for the CD)

That should do ya for now...let me know if this is a worthwhile thing to do, whether I post up what's available on itunes or elsewhere.