'Getting Older' - Untitled (video)

'Relatives Abroad' - Nas & Bob Marley (free download)

Nas and Bob Marley - a high-class mash-up to whet your whistle for Nas' forthcoming collaboration album with Damien Marley.

100 Akres has done the honours, sampling Bob's music, creating beats then matching them to Nas acapellas - a nice thing. The Reggae rhythms really switch up Nas' flows, transforming them into really bouncy, upbeat tracks a world away from the originals.

It's a free download and is available from Bandcamp now - something a little different.

'Living My Life' ft. Kaptin and Ree Ree - E.gle (video)

Souls Of Mischief UK Tour

The Souls of Mischief are back from across the pond for a string of UK & European Tour Dates and a brand new box set product both in collaboration with Carhartt!

This rare deluxe edition of the Montezuma's Revenge album, includes the full CD with special edition artwork, a special SOM/Carhartt designed collabo shirt, SOM/Carhartt sew on patches, stickers and more.

There will a special in-store launch at the Carhartt store [Neal Street London] on the 15th March 2010, where SOM will also be appearing for a meet & greet signing session of this fantastic new release as part of their official series of dates. This event will include FREE DRINKS provided by Meantime brewer and other great DJs like 279 and Mr Thing.

If you're around Leeds on Friday night then check SOM out at The Well.

'Black Rhyme' - Kasha (video)

3 (Years Old) Is The Magic Number!

It was on the 10th anniversary of Christopher Wallace's death that I first got cracking on the keyboard and created Certified Banger. That was coincidental and it probably bears no significance whatsoever.

I'd like this opportunity to say a big thank you to all who have read this blog and to all who saw potential in it and started sending me your music.

Certified Banger - 3 years old today!

'Normalized' - Vee Kay (free download)

Today I got the official go ahead to post Vee Kay's latest little project the 'Normalized' EP. It features remixes and a mashup and demonstrates what Vee Kay can do. The tracklist features Ghostface Killah, Daft Punk, Mos Def, Dizzee Rascal, Dialect, Copywrite, Jamie Lidell, Delusionists, Rapskallions and Yosh.

Grab this freshness from the Sweatbox studio and anticipate Mr Loop's forthcoming 'Music From The Tanhauser Gate'. You should also check their back catalogue for previous releases from Vee Kay, Yosh, Rapskallions and Mr. Loop - it's a real nice stable, yo.

If you would like a remix by Vee Kay, please contact info@sweatboxsounds.co.uk or call 07904128378
http://www.sweatboxsounds.co.uk
http://www.vee-kay.co.uk

'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

'Taurus' - Myke Forte (free download)

More than just another beat tape is Myke Forte's next instalment in the Zodiac series: 'Taurus'. OK, so it is a selection of just beats devoid of any vocals but that's all it needs to be. Mr. Forte creates beats so alluring and powerful that you'll be going into a trance over your washing-up.

Things kick off with 'Layers (Beautiful)' which in itself made me want to ensure that the whole lot was listened to. With his typical wonky new style sound blazing the way the challenge is: rap to this if you can. Although I love these compositions in their won right (and I may have said this before) I urge the UK's high calibre MCs to sit up, take notice and pay this guy to produce your next LP - yes, your whole album. Dopeness - serious.

'Dear Auntie' - Dan Bull

Dan Bull's latest letter - download it here.

'Solitary Confinement' - Rhyme Asylum Coming Soon

Check out Rhyme Asylum's myspace (remember that?) for tracks from their forthcoming LP 'Solitary Confinement'.

'Back To The Sagas' - Klashnekoff (Preview)

Head over to Juno to hear a fair chunk of Klashnekoff's new album 'Back To The Sagas'. Each of the 15 tracks has a two minute preview so you can get a pretty good idea of whether or not you want to invest in this (you will want to).

On 'Back To The Saga (intro)' Klash lays bare the goings on surrounding his last album 'Lionheart: Tussle With The Beast' (which, 3 years ago on 13th March was the first review I wrote on Certified Banger). Hopefully he'll be happy with this release, as I've already said, I'm sure his fans will be.

He's also been up early this morning spreading links to this and a new track that he only made yesterday. I'm not sure of the title of the track but it appears to feature K9 and Ric and it's over a really chilled beat. Download it for yourself now.

'Devil May Cry' - IronBraydz (review)

With legendary DJ Marley Marl getting really excited about this, ALL you fans of Hip Hop should be sitting up to listen. The 'this' I refer to is IronBraydz's debut solo LP 'Devil May Cry'.

It's fairly different in sound and style to his group Blind Alphabetz's 'Luvolution' which had a very summery, jazzy vibe to it. This release features darker, grittier production and the seriousness dial has been turned up a few notches. Religious ideas and socioeconomic concerns meld to provide subject matter perfect for fans of those who he rolls with - M9 and Cyrus Malachi, for example, who both feature on this release.

'Savin Artillery' features the mighty Guilty Simpson and Sav Killz over a suitably Detroit-ish wonky production from Proppa. 'Death Machine' utilises Lewis Parker's 'Rooftop Drama' (from his 'Sniper Beats' CD) and for that reason alone it's totally dope. The self-produced 'Feelings From The Heart' brings the dusty jazziness as Braydz reminisces about his father - a beautiful thing.

Buy it now from Suspect Packages for just £6.99.

'Land of the Lost' - No-Change (free download)

From its moving orchestral introduction to its positive advisory closing ‘Land of the Lost’ is worth every penny of the price of an LP. The only thing is, Crackhouse have made the surprising decision to let this one go for free for the purposes of profile building. I had to double check with the management on this shocking decision – this is absolute quality for absolutely nothing!

Don’t be fooled by No-Change’s laid back, sing song rap style – he’s not soft. He’s been through things many will never experience and his music is a heartfelt reflection of his life. The production (from Mike D – probably one of the UK’s most versatile and unrestrained producers) combines sparse electro drums with live piano and guitar licks and solos whereas elsewhere Rhodes organs, synths lean up against Dirty South-esque drum patterns.

'With Out You' is a deeply honest song on which No-Change raps about the mistakes of history and how they impact us now. 'Let's Go' featuring Aiwan is a lively pastiche of reggae, those old Neptunes-style guitar strums and percussive rhythms - hotness.

Despite the subject matter (drugs, mistakes, love, life) ‘Land of the Lost’ has a real good time vibe which is always reflected in a live No-Change show. He’s supporting Gift Of Gab in his native Leeds on Tuesday 9th March. Download this now and then get to the show if you can!

For an interview with the man head over to my man Analogue's blog Straight Out Leodis.

'Dream Coat' - Fliptrix (video)