Bonafide Issue 04 UK Special - Out Now!

Check out Bonafide's latest issue, it's a UK special so y'all should be into it. It features my interviews with the one and only Ghengis aka Cappo. Order your copy here.

'Sticksman' - Skitz (review)

Well it’s been a while, but he’s definitely back. ‘Sticksman’ is the return of the signature Skitz sound – reggae-inspired Hip Hop productions featuring the best of the best UK MCs. Sounds like an easy formula, right? But can anyone else do it like this? Simply, no.

The intro to this album is what all intros should be – a thing so full of hype that you’ll be fired up to hear the rest of the LP. Then the album’s first single ‘Struggla’ bubbles in, encapsulating the entire sound of the album as Rodney P, Kardinal Offishal and Skibbadee hit up the booth for this transatlantic banger. Harry Shotta, Iron Braydz and Brotherman ride a chipmunked Joan Baez sample (‘Slaves’) and the socio-political theme continues – one of my favourites here.

‘Rumble’ is different yet again with its pounding percussion and club-orientated vocals from Dynamite MC. Skitz dares to be different with this one as the result is a very memorable track. ‘Rebel Stands’ features another Joan Baez sample – who’d’ve thunk it eh? It follows in the veins of ‘Slaves’ but this time Mr. Ti2bs provides the raps. Rodney P mans the glitchy ‘Left’ – the chorus on this one will have you shouting along for sure.

‘Rainy Day Science’ featuring Taskforce and Juni is another stand-out track. This one samples yet more folky music (Kathy Mattea) and Farma G and Chester P come correct over the slow-paced beat. This album’s ‘Requiem of the Gods’ features Foreign Beggars main man Orifice Vulgatron, Mr. Ti2bs, Dynamite MC and Harry Shotta – watch the beat switch up for each MC.

Skitz even had the balls to throw in some autotune on ‘Never’ featuring Rodney P and Solo Banton alongside probably the best bassline on the album. Darrison rides different vibes on the piano-led intro of ‘Music Is My Life’ before it pops off into a jaunty orchestral reggae tinged party track.

Overall this album is about two things: how hard everyday life can be but how much fun you can have despite that. It’s a perfect mix of subject matter and Skitz’s production is just unrivalled in this scene. A big album, and one that you should own and will enjoy immensely! Buy it now from Suspect Packages and anywhere else that comes up when you search on google.

'Struggla' ft. Rodney P/'Born Inna System' ft. Buggsy - Skitz (video)

Skitz ft. Rodney P & Buggsy from Studio JK:AK on Vimeo.

'Struggla' ft. Rodney P, Kardinal Offishal & Skibadee - Skitz (free download)

A couple of weeks ago we dropped the info on the new Skitz album. Well, now there are leaks so you can actually check out some of the big tracks yourself:

'Born Inna System' featuring Buggsy has been knocking around for a few days (and has been officially leaked now) and there's also a Prime Cuts Remix that you can get too.

The latest to drop (and I might just be the first to leak it) is 'Struggla' featuring Rodney P, Kardinal Offishal and Skibadee. Along with that there is an Engine-Earz remix. I'm a big fan of anything Rodney P's on and this one doesn't disappoint as he gets back with his old partner in crime and two fellow patois-spitting MCs. Nice up.

'Sticksman' - Skitz Coming Soon!

Scant details but enough for the salivating - May 3rd is the release date for the long-awaited Skitz album 'Sticksman'. Here's the tracklist:

1. 'Intro' ft. IYE 95 Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

2. 'Struggla' ft. Rodney P, Kardinal Offishal, Skibbadee. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

3. 'Slaves' ft. Harry Shotta, Iron Braydz, Brotherman. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

4. 'Born Inna System' ft. Buggsy. Cuts by DJ Skully. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

5. 'Don’t Cry' ft. Deadly Hunta. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea and Prashant Engine-Earz Mistry

6. 'Rumble' ft. Dynamite MC. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by Prashant Engine-Earz Mistry.

7. 'Rebel Stand' ft. Mr Ti2bs. Cuts by DJ First Aid. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

8. 'Left' ft. Rodney P. Cuts by DJ Manipulate. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

9. 'Rainy Day Science' ft. Taskforce and Juni. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

10. 'Requiem of the Gods' ft. Orifice Vulgatron, Mr Ti2bs, Dynamite MC, Harry Shotta. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

11. 'Diamonds and Gold' ft. L Dot Man. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

12. 'Never' ft. Rodney P. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by Prashant Engine-Earz Mistry

13. 'Music is my Life' ft. Darrison. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by Prashant Engine-Earz Mistry and The Sea

14. 'Set you free' ft. Masta Ace and Wordsworth and Nathan Flutebox Lee. Produced by Skitz. Co produced by The Sea.

15. 'Plain Oats' ft. Deadly Hunta and My Sis. Produced by Skitz. Co-produced by The Sea

Skitz Album Launch and Birthday Party!

That's right Skitz's album 'Sticksman' will son be out and to celebrate he's having a party! It's at Cargo on 13th July and he's got loadsa musical friends to come to bring some goodness, look at the flyer above and if you can't read it, click to enlarge! You can rest assured that I'll be reviewing the album so come back here for that!

Have you heard? Old Estelle

With Estelle's 'American Boy' at number one on the itunes download chart and with goodness only knows how many radio stations playing it every hour I thought I'd better just dig back a few tracks and make sure peeps know where she's come from.

Estelle worked with UK group 57th Dynasty (Whose name apparently inspired Jay-Z to name the Roc La Familia album 'The Dynasty' after a meeting with them). On 'Break Free' Estelle sings "Well we're moving along in our lifetimes//From the good to the bad..." and she certainly has moved along.

She featured on 'Countryman', the classic UK album by Skitz on female posse cut 'Domestic Science' alongside Wildflower, Tempa and Harry Love. Unsurprisingly, this isn't a tune about how women should do chores around the house.

Her first solo album '18th Day' contained the brilliantly uplifting rap track '1980'; Estelle's reminiscatory tune.

She spits fire (Yes, Estelle is a rapper) AND sings sweet harmonies on her track 'Too Long' on 'The National Anthem Mixtape' from the 'UK Runnings' series - check 10Shott get his name in on the end of this!

Last year she featured on Hi-Tek's latest offering (imaginatively entitled 'Hi-Teknology 3) on the chilled out 'Life To Me'.

And now here she is making huge moves with Kanye and Will.i.am; pop's two biggest Hip Hop imports at the moment - 'American Boy'.

Download all tracks, plus 2 more here, brought to you in association with Zshare!

and here's Mr Gaspar's electro pumping remix

2008

Wow! February 2008 came fast! I don't know what your view on Hip Hop in 2007 was; mine was on the whole a good one. If you were looking to the world of mainstream, big record label Hip Hop then you probably entered 2008 slightly jaded. The major releases of 2007 were dissapointing: 50 Cent pretty much proved he hasn't got 'it' any more, Kanye West still thinks he is 'it'; his ego spoilt his release which wasn't as good as his previous efforts anyway and Jay-Z, despite genius marketing moves and use/abuse of his position still didn't provide us with an album anywhere near as classic as The Black Album. If you looked just under the surface then there were plenty of good releases and most of you probably heard and bought at least one album that you will always listen to.

Many people will be looking to 2008 as some sort of saviour for Hip Hop. 2007 seemed to be a lost cause right from the very beginning but it needn't have been if hopes had not been set on the major releases. If the focus of anticipation had been directed to the more minor, underground releases then last year would have been more fulfilling for more people.

This year I suggest you look to music more local to you. The internet is great for hearing everything that's out there but it cannot provide the sense of belonging that music that is more relevant to you can. Yes, the US created Hip Hop, it is Hip Hop's homeland but there is very little I can relate to at the moment. The beats are not to my taste although I guess if I resided in the Bay Area I would 'get' the whole hyphy thing or if I was from Miami then I would like bass music, but I'm not so I don't. The lyrical content of much US rap has worn thin but what I do still relate to are skills and this is why there is still US rap that I listen to.

In contradiction to the last paragraph's opening sentence, if you are not local to the UK then you should be looking to the UK. Just as people can relocate, musical genres can too. Hip Hop lives on in the UK. So what can you expect from us in the coming year?

Life MC of Phi-Life Cypher will be dropping an album on Zebra Traffic in March. I'm surprised at myself for not mentioning this before but Phi-Life Cypher's album, 'Higher Forces', is one of my top 2 UK Hip Hop albums; it's awesome. Look out here for a review of the new Life album and an inteview with the man himself. Also, I really should tell you some more about 'Higher Forces' so keep 'em peeled for that too.

Silent Soundz is probably the only UK label giving Low Life Records a run for it's money. Their roster of artists is incredible: Skitz, Kool G Rap, Yungun & Mr. Thing, Verb T & The Last Skeptic, Blind Alphabetz, First Man Productions and Brotherman. The 3rd of March should see the release of Brotherman’s debut single - a double A-side called Heart of Dem/Bollox. April should then see the release of a double EP project from which will be two EPs sold separately that can be joined together to form one plush package. Together it is called The Dark & The Light (stay tuned here for more on Brotherman). SS are also releasing Skitz’s second producer album, the follow up to 'Countryman' which will drop in Q2. This is entitled 'Sticksman' and features most of the big UK emcees plus Masta Ace, Wordsworth and Kardinal Offishall. The Kardi single will be released in Q1, probably end of March. It is called Struggla and also features Rodney P and Skibadee with D&B remixes by Ruff Cut. Not only are they releasing these big UK joints but they should also be releasing “Long Live G Rap” by Kool G Rap in Q2, an album which features Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep, Canibus, Saigon and Sean Price among others. Other than that they’ve got a digital only single from Blind Alphabetz, track TBC, which will feature a Jehst remix of Change as a bonus track. Phew...

Lex records are a label to watch too; last year they released one of my favourite albums 'Romance Ain't Dead' by Kid Acne and the much lauded 'Craft of the Lost Art' by Shape of Broad Minds. Previous releases include more of my very favourites - 'Ghetto Pop Life' by Dangermouse and Jemini, 'The Mouse and the Mask' by DangerDoom (now that's US Hip Hop I CAN listen to!). Although they don't have any UK Hip Hop releases slated for this year they are releasing a Khujo Goodie (of The Goodie Mob)/ Jneiro Jarel (of Shape of Broad Minds) collaboration. Guests on the album are the other big Dungeon Family members and it should be out September. A single, 'OPR8R' featuring Khujo Goodie is out this spring, with a UK tour getting sorted around the release time. Now that Ghostface has done his time with DefJam Lex may be able to finally release the Ghostface & Doom album and Indecision at Boombox Distribution tells me Dangermouse has a follow up album to 'Ghetto Pop Life' called 'Kill Your Heroes' which is apparantly a concept album about living a pimps lifestyle on a budget. Again I've contradicted myself but I totally trust Lex as tastemakers, if they release it and it's from the US then it's probably very relevant to the UK market. Also every bit of Lex artwork and packaging totally kicks bottom!

Other things to look forward to that I don't have as much information about are:

• 'The Signature LP', the new album from Sway, is supposedly to be released in May.
• Million Dan, the Demon Boyz UK legend, is working on an album release due for mid April (get the Suspect Packages re-issue of 'Recognition' now and check the Spektrum Ride/Mic Chek 12" for something a little more up to date.)
• 'Food For Da Brain Second Serving' - the last one featured the cream of UK's rap talent so the next one will be big too with a posse cut featuring Skinnyman, Harry Shotta, Shameless, Foreign Beggars & Deadly Hunta being the lead single.
• New Asaviour projects - check his newly released mixtape, buy 'Broken Ladder' if you don't have it and savour the great West Yorkshire accent.
• New albums from Dented - not sure who, could be Foreign Beggars, Dr. Syntax, Skrein (possible their collabo - Skreintax), Stig of the Dump...whoever it is, it'll be good.
• Bashy is releasing a DVD of all things 'Black Boys' related.
• Wretch 32 is releasing his album: Wretchrospective.

Whoa, well I never intended to write that much but I hope that if you're reading this bit you're looking forward with me to at least one of the above releases . Here's to 2008 and good Hip Hop.

Collabo Connections #3 - Rodney P

The links - Rodney P made Mark B & Blade’s ‘We stay rough’ his own in, you know the year; 2001. Rodney also featured alongside Skinnyman and others on ‘Twilight of the Gods’.

2004 saw Low Life Records release Rodney’s album ‘The Future’ on his own Riddim Killa imprint. The two main MC collaborators on here are M.C.D. and Mystro but production comes from Joe Budha, Skitz, Pepper, Dobie, Stone and The Sea.

Before all of this Rodney made moves with Bionic (and Sipho and DJ Biznizz for a while) under the moniker ‘London Posse’ and had big UK tracks like ‘How’s life in London’, ‘Money Mad’, ‘Live like the Other Half do’ and ‘Pass the Rizla’. They also toured with Big Audio Dynamite (with Mick Jones from The Clash).

But all this pales into, well, not insignificance, but rather lighter shades of grey when compared to this list of collaborations:

1996
Bjork – I miss you (dobies rub)
1997
Us3 – I’m thinking about your body
The Brand new Heavies – Shelter remix
The London Allstars – London Convention ft. ESP, Fallacy, Funky DL, Kwestmann, MCD, Phoebe One, Q-Tee, Rodney P, Skinnyman, TY, Taipanic
1998
Dobie – Consider
Dobie – Luv n hate (can never be friends)
MSI & Asylum – Northernly winds ft. Rodney P, produced by Baby J
1999
Simply red – aint that a lot of love (desert eagle discs remix)
Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says Skitz remix ft. Rodney P & Roots Manuva
2000
Deckwrecka – Frontline ftr. Intenz, MCD & Rodney P
2001
Skitz – Dedication
Skitz – The Killing
2002
Deckwrecka – The Juks
Desert Eagle Discs – Bigger Better Deal (Big Deal mix)
Angie Stone – Brotha remix
Roots Manuva – Witness the swords ft. Big P, Blackitude & Skeme
DJ Die & Skitz – It’s on
Blak Twang – Dirty stop out uncovered
The Nextmen – I’ll try
Moorish Delta 7 – Where we from ft. Rodney P & Venom
Joni Rewind – Rude Boy Link ft. Rodney P & Cocoa Brovaz
2003
Nightmares on Wax – 70’s 80’s (upbringing mix) ft. Rodney P, Roots Manuva, Toz 180 & LSK
Roots Manuva – Swords in the dirt ft. Rodney P & Fallacy
Fallacy – Rap Folly
Freq Nasty – Come let me know
MJ Cole – Foot to the Floor
The Nextmen – Firewalking ft. Rodney P, Dynamite MC & Cutty Ranks
The Nextmen – Hear what I say
Various – Freestyle Frenzy ft. Canibus, Masta Ace, Maylay Sparks, Mr. 45, Rodney P, Scor-Zay-Zee, Scorpio, Skinnyman, Wordsworth
I Kamanchi – Sounds of the culture ft. Rodney P, Tali, Retna & MC Darrison
Gemma Fox – Messy
Nitin Sawhney – Rainfall
Joe Buhdha – The Big up (re-edit) ft. Estelle, Klashnekoff, Rodney P, Scor-Zay-Zee, Tempa & Wildflower
2004
Roni Size – No trouble
2005
Blacknificent 7 – ‘Ere comes the Black ft. Estelle, Jeff3, Karl Hinds, Roots Manuva, Seanie T, Skeme & Rodney P
David Banner – Ain’t got nothin’ (UK Remix) ft. Rodney P & Durrty Goodz
King Bicuit Time – C I Am 15 (C. Swing remix) ft. Braintax & Rodney P
K-Ners – I am K-Ners (remix) ft. Skeme & Rodney P
Timo Maas – Release
Keith Lawrence – Style & Fashion
2006
Stanton Warriors – Dip & get low
Braintax – What the Huh?
2007
Dub Pistols – Speakers and Tweeters (album)

Phew, I’m sure there’s more too. This is a busy man, if I was getting paid for this Collabo Connections series I’d be eating for a long long while. Just to point out a few collaborations that are a bit different: Bjork, Nithin Sawhney, Roni Size, Freq Nasty, Angie Stone, Simply Red & The Brand New Heavies. Rodney P certainly gets around.

The Blacknificent 7 - Ere comes the Black!.mp3
The Blacknificent 7 - Stay Black.mp3
Rodney P - The Nice Up.mp3
London Posse - Pass the Rizla.mp3
Rodney P - Big Tings (Mark B Remix).mp3
Rodney P - I believe.mp3
Rodney P - Can you see me.mp3

Right, now I'm off to post that list onto wikipedia.

Here are a few extras to fill some gaps in Collabo connections #1 & #2.

DJ Mentat - When I give my heart to you ft. Skinnyman.mp3
Omni - The Hot ft. Blade.mp3
Sway - Up Your Speed remix ft. Skinnyman & More

Collabo Connections #2 - Skinnyman

Skinnyman featured on Mark B & Blade’s ‘The Unknown’ in ’01 on the track ‘The long awaited’, a banger for sure. Skinnyman, considered by many to be a UK Hip Hop veteran, spent his childhood in Chapeltown, Leeds, moving to Stoke Newington when he was 10. These two locations schooled him in the art of toasting lyrics at reggae sound system clashes and after Malcolm Mclarens ‘Buffalo Girls’ introduced him to Hip Hop it was inevitable that the two styles intertwined.

The year before Baby J dropped ‘F.T.P.’ he produced 3 tracks on Skinnyman’s long awaited debut album. The two big tracks were ‘I’ll be surprised’ and the Bobby Byrd sampling ‘No big Ting’. This led to Skinnyman having the first track on F.T.P. – ‘None of them (ft. Laurissa)’. Also producing on ‘Council estate of mind’ were DJ Flip (producing the title track), DJ Noize, Stone and Adam M. ‘Council estate of mind’ was released on the number 1 UK Hip Hop label – Low Life Records (owned by Braintax whos Biro Funk set featured Skinnyman on ‘Opening Titles’).

Taking it back Skinnyman was, and still is, a member of Mud Family who released, most famously, ‘Itchy Town’. Mud Family at the time comprised of Skinny himself, Chester P (Now of Taskforce) and (Blak Twang hater) Mongo. The changing line up of Mud Fam meant that Skinny also worked with SupaNovar, Mr. Ti2bbs, Farma G (Chester P’s Brother/other half of Taskforce) and others. Before Mud Family, in the mid 80’s, Skinny was a member of the Bury Crew also with Chester P and Mongo as well as Intenz, Mike Skilla, Keith and Sparks.

In 2000 Skinny appeared on ‘Twilight of the Gods’, a Skitz track which also featured Rodney P, Wildflower, Riddla and Prime Cuts. Skinnyman was on Westwood’s second compilation (2002) holding up the UK’s tiny section (2 tracks) at the end of the 2nd CD was ‘Straight Outta Jail’, a song probably written straight after Skinny got out of jail (“I ain’t sayin’ what I do//I ain’t gettin’ catched”). Skinnyman also featured on a track with Mystro and Jargon called ‘Put the word out’.

2003 brought a teaming up with Foreign Beggars on ‘Asylum Speakers’ and 2004 saw a couple of collaborations with Karl Hinds; ‘Have Patience’ and ‘Let’s av it’.

In ’05 Skinnyman (along with Blade) featured on First Rate’s album ‘Walky Talkyz’. His track Barfight is a song all about…well you know…over a wobbly piano led beat. In the same year he featured on a remix of Sway’s ‘Up your speed’ with Pyrelli, Triple Threat, Bruza and Bigz. Skinny also worked with Life (of Phi-Life Cypher) and Sway on ‘The whole nine’ in this year.

Skinny’s latest track is ‘Live Right’ featuring Monkane, an ex-label mate at Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud records before it folded.

There are plenty more leads to take here as well as the ones from the post on Blade, this is just gonna get bigger peeps!

(There are so many collabos, for a full list of appearances check out Wikipedia)

Skinnyman - Ill be surprised.mp3
Mark B & Blade - The long awaited ft. Lewis Parker &.mp3
Mud Family - Itchy Town.mp3
Skinnyman - Straight Outta Jail.mp3
Skinnyman & Baby J - none of them ft. Laurissa.mp3
Skinnyman - No big ting.mp3
First Rate - Barfight ft. Skinnyman.mp3
Skinnyman - Council Estate of Mind.mp3