LOWKEY FT. KLASHNEKOFF - BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Lowkey is back with a banger from the highly anticipated Soundtrack to the Struggle. Produced by Nutty P and featurimg Klashnekoff.
Video by Global Faction

Akala, Lowkey, Saul Williams In Conversation - Inspiration Season

Akala, Lowkey and Saul Williams discuss the current state of hip-hop

'Obamanation' - Lowkey (video)

"Is it Obama's nation? Or an abomination? Doesn't make a difference when they bomb your nation"

Whilst I don't agree with all Lowkey's politics, and often am just unsure on what I do think, he writes great lyrics that get people thinking. Check this.

And Now For Something A Little Different...

It might surprise you to know that I don't always listen to Hip Hop. Some people even send me some different kinds of music so I thought I'd give some of it some shine:

I've been noticing Nneka's name for a few months now and I got the chance to check her track 'Walking'. DJ Farhot, the track's producer, has taken a Curtis Mayfield composition ('Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um (Curious Mind)' as sung by Major Lance) and made it into fat slice of headnod Neo Soul with a hint of the old Negro spirituals. Nneka's voice is sweet and her message is positive, also with a hint of the old Negro spirituals. Lovely stuff.

I've also got possibly the strangest thing Stones Throw will ever release. 'The Minimal Wave Tapes: Vol. 1' is a compilation of Minimal Wave - an 80s genre of "underground DIY electronic music". Some tracks are more minimal than others, some sound like the soundtrack old school computer games (but with real singing voices) and some really remind me of the old school cinema infomercials. Whatever your preferred genre, this will certainly expand your mind! Personal favourites are Linear Movement's 'Way Out Of Living' and 'Blurred' by Turquoise Days. It's out on 15th March.

Next up is The Last Skeptik's latest project. It's a remix album on which he does nothing like he's ever done before. There are no dusty samples only original electrofied compositions. Some of the tracks he tackles are unfamiliar to me so I can't comment on whether he's done them justice or not - Marina and the Diamonds, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Daniel Merriweather, Hong Kong in the 60s, and David's Lyre all get unconventionally remixed in a way that requires loud playback. These particular remixes made me wonder whether I would keep listening if they came on the radio or whether I only like them because of a knowledge of the artist behind them - hmmm, thought provoking. The rest of the remixes are more in the Hip Hop vein with Loudmouth Melvin, Joe Budden, The Streets, Brad Strut, Lowkey, Mudmowth and Eslam Jawaad all getting reworked with varying degrees of electro-funk. That's going to be available for free on 5th April but you can go here to check out many of the tracks.

Finally, Distiller Records sent me an interesting thing: 'Flush' by Losers. It features feisty female MC Envy alongside Riz MC on a dance floor shaker all about falling out with ones other half. It won't be to everyone's taste (including mine) but Skism's dubstep remix is exceedingly heavy as is Sukh Knight's meaning that it might just appeal to those into that kind of thing. 'Flush' is out on 5th April.

'Something Wonderful' - Lowkey (video)

The new single 'Something Wonderful' taken from Lowkey's forthcoming album 'Soundtrack To The Struggle'. This will be available for purchase from iTunes and Amazon from Monday the 1st of March onwards. Lowkey leaves the politicking alone with this one and raps about women and his mum - just in time for Mother's Day. If you want some more mother-respecting, then Lowkey's mate Stylah has his 'Gaberlunzie' project available for free download. Don't ask me what the whole concept is but he does mention his ma a few times on there.

'The Cradle Of Civilization' ft. Mai Khalil - Lowkey (video)

'Voices of the Voiceless' - Lowkey & Immortal Technique (Review)

Check out the new single from Lowkey and Immortal Technique. 'Voices of the Voiceless' sees the two politicking in the way they are both famed for whilst they trade bars over a dope but melancholy beat. Aside from the fact that this is a great example of a UK/US hookup it's just straight up, heart felt lyricism from two MCs who really believe in what they are saying.

The track is available from itunes and has been shooting up their charts - go download and support the cause. At this rate Lowkey will have a whole album, or at least a mixtape, full of singles to drop on us all.

UK Hip Hop Artists Win BBC Funding

Congratulations to Tom Sweetman aka 1 Step (one half of Krate Krusaders) who has just won the BBC Performing Arts Fund. He's just bagged himself £10,000 to further his Hip Hop career. We all know him to be a worthy winner after bringing us bangers with Ramson Badbonez, Remus and others (check 'On The Radar' for those tracks).

Also big congratulations go to Kof, the MC from Liverpool, Illum Sphere of Manchester, battler Kulez, politcal activist Lowkey and Sensei FM's DJ Fabia for winning their bucks for the sake of Hip Hop.

'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.

'Voices of the Voiceless' - Lowkey & Immortal Technique (snippet video)

'We Don't Want Them' - Lowkey, The Last Skeptik, Eslaam Jawaad & Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly (live video)

Suspect Packages Radio Show August

Suspect Packages Radio. August. Free Download/Stream. Features Tactical Thinking, Micall Parknsun, Orphans of Cush, Karl Hinds, Lowkey, Koaste, Elemental & Tom Caruana, Juice Aleem, Contact Play, Big Cakes, Double D Dagger, Foreign Beggars and loads more new stuff that even I've not heard yet - lucky I'm on holiday and can just blast it then.

As Disorda says "No special guests though due to shear amount of tunage to get through (which gives me more time to vent my anger at bootlegging blogs), but wait 'till next month on the guest tip". I'm not a bootlegging blog so I'm in the clear.

'The Digital Revolution Vol. 3' - VA - Tricksta (free download)

Tricksta's back with his third volume of 'The Digital Revolution'. This time it's hosted by the beast from the east, TB aka Tuberculosis and it features a whole host of Hip Hop from the UK streets. TB, Manny Moscow, Skandal, LATE, Tricksta, Jay Full Stop V, Stylah, Yogi, Suparnovar, Wordsmith, Mr Drastick, Lowkey, London Zoo, S.A.S, Streetz, Kyza Smirnoff, The Last Skeptik, Tricksta, Show N Prove and Mr. Ti2bs all feature.

This is a great chance to get your hands on tracks like The Last Skeptik and Lowkey's latest BNP protest track 'We Don't Want Them' and Mr. Drastick's latest mixtape taster 'So Many Devils'. The track selection once again reflects the new age of UK music that is still Hip Hop.

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.

'We Don't Want Them' - Lowkey (single review)

"Can't blame immigrants for the state of the economy, some come here from former British Colonies/ Some come here to escape British foreign policy/ You make a mockery of democracy and equality" - no guesses who Lowkey is talking about on his latest single, 'We Don't Want Them'.

Yup, it's the BNP and he gets it pretty spot on - apart from the name of the track and this: "They scream freedom of speech but I won't let these cowards..." - if we want freedom of speech then they must have it too, it's just sad that people like the British 'Nazi' Party exist in the first place.

The track is awesome, The Last Skeptik's production is menacingly funky and futuristic, and Lowkey's brand of politics is accessible to all. The track is being released in association with Love Music Hate Racism and Lowkey will be donating all profits from the single to LMHR. The track is out on Monday 6th July and LMHR is a very worthy cause - people of the same mind of Lowkey need to make their voice heard and LMHR really does that in a positive way. Get involved - there's power in numbers - something the BNP does not have. Download it now from itunes.

'License To Kill' - Lowkey (video)

Video for political raptivist Lowkey's latest track 'License to Kill' which addresses the police brutality at the G20 protests and the death of Ian Tomlinson. The track is produced by Stylaz Fuego:

And the video for 'In My Lifetime' featuring Wretch 32, produced by Quincey Tones and taken from his album 'Dear Listener' which is out now and excellent!

Certified Banger - 'The Number One Blog for UK Hip Hop'

'Tears To Laughter' - Lowkey

Not content with releasing an album with his band Mongrel on Saturday, Lowkey also dropped the single 'Tears To Laughter' on Monday. The track, which he first performed as a poem at the London protests against the Gaza massacre earlier this year, will donate all its profits to charity. It's available on itunes now. You can download and listen to a sample of the track here.

'Better Than Heavy' - Mongrel (album review)

Mongrel’s ‘Better than Heavy’ made history today as it was the first debut album to be given away free by a national newspaper. I picked up a copy and whilst I browsed news of Mandelson’s green custard attack and the like my ears were entertained by the sounds of Mongrel.

At 11 tracks and 40 minutes long it’s not a daunting listen although opener ‘Barcode’ really throws the listener in at the deep end with it’s female raps (courtesy of Pariz1 and Tor Cesay), hectic instrumentation and conspiracy theory message. ‘Lies’ continues with the album’s overtly political message as mainstay rapper Lowkey articulately outlines his political beliefs. Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure provides his Northern vocals on the chorus, sounding not unlike Ian Brown, a sound continued on the Stone Roses-esque ‘Julian’.

The politics continue, after party time/love song ‘Hit From The Morning Sun’, on the catchy ‘The Menace’, a song that’s already a firm favourite of this reviewer. ‘Act Like That’ is a vitriol against everyone who’s peddling a rosy image of criminal lifestyles, the government, American rappers and films all come under the wrath of guests Purple, Kyza, No.Lay, Logic and Mic Righteous. ‘Alphabet Assassins’ sees the band drafting in a few more MCs, 16 to be precise, to rework Lowkey’s own version of this concept track – Wretch 32, Doc Brown, Deadly Hunta, Stylah, Kyza and SkinnyMan all feature. SkinnyMan also appears on ‘Better Them Than Us’.

Fans of the bands whose members are involved may be disappointed, there’s no Artic Monkeys, no Reverend and the Makers and no Babyshambles influences evident here. As Hip Hop goes, the instrumentals provided by the musicians are perfect, so for me it works.

‘Better Than Heavy’ will be released properly on the 23rd of March as a double CD (the other CD is called ‘Better Than Dub’) and is available to preorder on Wall Of Sound from HMV.com for the bargain price of £6.99.

Mongrel To Give Away Album With The Independent

This Saturday, Mongrel, the supergroup consisting of rapper Lowkey and members of the Arctic Monkeys, Babyshambles and Reverend and the Makers, will be making history and giving away their debut album, 'Better Than Heavy', for free with The Independent newspaper.

I, for one, will be jumping at this offer of free and very decent music. I'm a big fan of Lowkey (especially his debut album 'Dear Listener') and everything I've heard from the group so far is top notch.

As well as being a first, this is a huge step for UK Hip Hop - it remains to be seen if it is a good step or not but if one worthy representative is gaining such exposure then surely others will follow. Surely people's interests will be sparked, let's hope this shines light on our scene, brings more fans and also gains us respect from other British genres.

'Hits From The Morning Sun' - Mongrel (free remixes)

New music from Lowkey's newest, set to blow project: Mongrel. The band, if you don't know, consists of Jon McClure and Joe Moskow (Reverend and The Makers) Lowkey, Andy Nicholson (Ex Arctic Monkeys Bassist), Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys Drummer), Drew McConnell (Babyshambles Guitarist) and Jagz Kooner (proflific UK producer).

Here are three pretty different takes on their track 'Hit From The Morning Sun':

Hit From The Morning Sun - Hit From The Morning Dub (My favourite and the most Hip Hop)
Hit From The Morning Sun - DJ Beware And Motorpitch Remix (DJ Beware myspace, Motorpitch site)

Hit From The Morning Sun - Ocelot Remix (Ocelot myspace)