Miguel - How Many Drinks ft. Kendrick Lamar

Miguel goes down in the book with the likes of Bobby Valentino in the chapter of borderline offensive lines that still weirdly sound romantic. I'd say Bobby Valention's: "Slow down, I just wanna get to know you, but don't turn around 'cos that pretty round thing is good to me" makes you feel at least a bit more 'worth it' than "you look good, and yeah I got money but I don't wanna waste my time" from Miguel. But, albeit his dodgy lines, Mr Miguel has mastered sounding like an a** yet making you think "Miguelo Miguelo, where for art thou Miguelo?" at the same time. A good slow jam needs that va-va-voom passion, which Miguel formulates perfectly with his sweet tenderness balanced with blunt sourness. A TRUE slowjam though, is defined by peppermint-spray-in-the-eyes-worthy-chat-up-lines actually sounding like Shakespeare's finest sonnet. And that's exactly what How Many Drinks does.

After 'Adorn', 'How Many Drinks' was my FAVOURITE song off Kaleidoscope Dream, so when I found out it was being released I was happy happy happy. When I heard Kendrick was featuring though, I was a bit wary. I love Mr Lamar but I didn't think the song needed to be or should be tampered with. However, Kendrick pulled it off managing to match the boyish/cheeky side to the song, laying his verse over what was originally Miguel's half-rap. I like that the verse was really Kendrick-ish, even adding in a few "Swimming Pool" references but still actually relevant to the song. God knows how many remixes I've heard when an artist has jumped on a track with lyrics that don't fit with any part of the track except the rhyme scheme. Good job Kendrick, you didn't kill the vibe (harhar).

When I imagined the video to this song, I imagined there would be some sort of story set in a club with a few slick slides across the dance floor over to the bar where the pretty girl is standing. Instead they opted for the whole performance visual, which I think is a missed opportunity and a lazy lick of the envelope to seal a damn-good-package. I will be positive though, and say I like the way Kendrick throws the mic at the end of his verse and Miguel catches it - yeah, I'm amused by the little things... (and NO, that "little things" was not in reference to Kendrick - although he does look like an ikkle cutie in this video).

But yes, although the video isn't "extraordinary" and I think a lot more could have been done with it, it's the closest we'll get to being serenaded by Miguel... *sigh*

Read More

Goodbye JLS :'(

I'M EMOTIONAL YOU KNOW.

WHO SAID YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR IPOD ON SHUFFLE AND BE LISTENING TO RUFF SQWAD - XTRA ONE MINUTE AND JLS - BEAT AGAIN THE NEXT? 

12:05 am and I'm sitting just watching the Homes Under The Hammer I recorded (you ain't about the Homes Under The Hammer on series link life and what... say suttin...I'm not a weirdo - just versatile) and I have a look on twitter and someone has RT'd Ronan Keating "JUST HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT @JLSOfficial. WISH THE BOYS THE BEST IN WHATEVER IT IS THEY ROLL ON TOO. THEY HAD A GREAT FUN". I sat there thinking how can a member of Boyzone just write off my teenage years in a tweet like that though yo?

The split doesn't come as a shock to me. I know exactly why they did it. They came on to the scene through X-Factor, where their first audition was Shai - If I Ever then they went on to release tracks like The Club Is Alive. How can a boyband go from singing 90's pure RnB to autotuned pop? When they were making songs before X-Factor they had those hot, urban, original, R&B flavours - their true sound. None of their albums reflected this. But the point was the albums sold. Then on their latest album 'Evolution', when the boys put in everything and attempted to bring out music more true to them - it didn't sell. I think they accepted the fact that if they wanted to carry on being a successful band selling units after units, they wouldn't be able to be true artists selling the music from their heart, but music purpose built only for the chart. Their current position, other talents and genuine personalities, allowed them to move on to other projects and set them up for a life where they have options for different lives that they can put their heart into - something music didn't quite let them do in the end. 

I'm upset about the fact the fact that JLS had potential to bring so much more to the music scene (even though I feel they made massive movements in making boy bands cool again), but I'm MORE upset that I feel like a big part of my teen years has finished. You may be thinking this is pure mature cheddar cheese, but I've met so many people, made such good memories and had so much fun being a *cringe* "JLS'ter" *cringe*. They will always be my NOT-so-guilty-pleasure and I will miss being able to become that little girl again and giggle foolishly at the TV screen when ever they were on it, because they were a great escape from the big bad world. I'm not the hyper little fan girl I was a few years ago, but during the years that I was, they had such an impact on my life - they made me unique atleast...I never did meet anyone else that had BBK and JLS sharing a playlist on their iTunes...

The end of the year is going to bring the 4 brothers' last ever performance, where they will leave in separate cars, and drive off on separate paths after saying goodbye to eachother and to the thousands of fans they built a connection with. They won't be seeing eachother 2 weeks later in the studio. 

Goodbye JLS x

Read More

GFrsh - Legoman II Mixtape

FIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

On terms of consistency, range and overall mad vibes - Legoman II has hit the spot. The sun has finally decided to show itself and this mixtape couldn't have come at a better time because mateeeee - these tracks + summer vibes = yes.
 So far, it's the UK mixtape of 2013 (yeah, it's only April, but if there are going to be any UK releases this year that will rob GFrsh of this title then they have got be be fiyaaaaaaaa x2)

Full of braggish bars on hoodish tracks, he gets away with making you get to the end of the track thinking "lol woteva ya little priiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii...". Maybe it's the fact that he does actually practice half of what he preaches or the fact that some of these tracks gas you to such a level, you get caught in the energy he delivers and feel you have no reason to envy GFrsh's "20 on his wrist" and the "license for his kicks" ...not that material possessions determine a happy life, ofcourse ;)

The choice of features reflects the true "L.O.N.D-Boy" in GFrsh, with him choosing some of the finest talents floating about the scene at the moment without the man himself being overshadowed. The vaunting verses, matched with the heavy beats add a little American flavour to the tracks. That doesn't mean he hasn't kept it grounded and goes in with that pirate radio flow on a couple of these tracks though - he took it thurrrrr! He manages to go in without forcing himself. Everything on Legoman II is well within his comfort zone - and considering the standard of the tape, it shows the level of talent GFrsh is working with. To be honest, I didn't expect anything less from him, but you may find he's slightly exceeding expectation when you remind yourself this is only a FREE MIXTAPE... muadddddd.

GFrsh has released 3 visuals for Legoman tracks.

Check out the latest visual for my favourite track on the mixtape: #IMBALLLLLLLINNNNNNNNNNN (don't expect to be able to say that normally once you hear it) 

AND if you haven't already - DOWNLOAD THE TAPE HOSTED BY GRM DAILY http://wp.grmdaily.com/gfrsh-legoman-2/

Read More

Angel - About Time

If this album is your first experience of Angel, you'll think of him covered in tats, rocking the Trapstar hoodie and sporting the Nike Air Max - then you'll ready yourself to nod your head to a few gully beats underneath his stories of the struggle. Press play on his debut album and you will hear the sultry sounds of Angel's vocal pouring out your speakers and coating your eardrums.

Not to say he hasn't seen the mean side of the streets, but with this being a more commercial catalouge of his talents he had to replace the slight grittier, not-so-clean-cut side of his music with songs more focused on the struggles...of love, that is. That doesn't mean he didn't keep it real but About Time really is an album to show off Angel's musical capabilities (which are high) as well as appeal to a wider audience.

My favourite aspect of the album in general is the choice of collabs. Personally, this is one of the ways I feel he kept this body of work real. He has used artists that have helped nurture/maintain the originality and rawness of his music - the collaboration with H.I.M (his breddaaa from EARLY) is a display of the strength of the grip Angel has maintained on his roots - despite stretching to the heights of writing with Frank Ocean on the album. I love the link up with George the Poet because I love George the Poet. I think we could have done with a bit more George the Poet because I felt this was the only structure we really got on the album. After listening to Angel's commentary I realised I hadn't clocked the story hidden in this album. But then again this is Angel's body of work, not George's. Plus, as I said, this album wasn't primarily made to tell a story but to get his music out there. If people are interested enough, the commentary tells the story just fine.

For me there aren't tracks to top his previous works Ride Out and Forget About It. Circles In Squares and More Fire are probably my favourite tracks.  More Fire has got that energy - goooooood energy and the stronger and more powerful vocals deliver it well. Shakka was the perfect collab for this track helping build that organicity. Circles in Squares, is a different story - so calm. The subtlety and softness in his voice that plays with the ear is perfect. These two tracks come one after the other and not only show that Mr Charles can not only sing but sannnng, but also show his versatility in what he can create as a songwriter/producer too - a true musican.

I was anticipating this album to make movements in the progression of the UK urban music scene. R&B has never really broken into the commercial scene. I wouldn't describe Angel as a typical sweet-boy R&B artist. He's always had a little edgy vibe to him and his sound has always had that street influence. This vibe still vibrates through the album with that fusion of pop. He is not only helping the R&B genre break through the chart, but he has made his own mark by switching it up. He's complied a group of fresh, quality tracks. Some tracks are worthy of a sly shoulder shimmy on the bus while you vibes through your headphones and some are perfect to serenade me with (that's a demand not a hint, Angel).

Read More

Etta Bond - Inside My Head

ETTA OH ETTA.

Listening to someone vent at stupid o'clock in the morning doesn't usually get me vibsing but Miss Bond just has that honesty leaking out her voice, that I feel like I'm floating around her brain. It's funny because I actually wrote that "I'm floating around her brain" line before I even registered the fact the song is called 'Inside My Head'. I guess it pretty much shows the song does exactly what it says on the tin and I needed nothing else but my ears to catch what Etta was throwing out to us with this track - I didn't even need the title. That makes me happy because it's refreshing to see artists mastering the talent of chanelling their exact vision through purely their sound. It takes skill to write in such a way that the audience feel that vibe the artist was on right there in the studio. If I bumped into Etta tomorrow in Asda she'd know me merely as the little clutz with smart price baked beans in one hand and toilet paper in the other (remember you can pay for school but you can't buy class like me yo!), however she still managed to wrap up that stream of consciousness, shove an instrumental on top and pass on that vibe.

And let's also take a moment to appreciate that instrumental - courtesy of Balistiq. They got it on point with helping deliver what Etta was trying to do here. Never under estimate the power of an instrumental - especially with production like that - it's simple, nothing too complex, but if I close my eyes and let my ears do the work I'm somewhere else - certainly not in my front room, with the TV on mute while these women on the Teleshopping show preach about how this mop changed their life. I'm thankful for this track as it lead to me discovering Balistiq - each track on their Soundcloud is a gateway to a different dimension. Don't deprive yourself: https://soundcloud.com/balistiqofficial

Etta has always had the perfect mix of being so blunt and blatant but delivers it in a way that is gentle, but still strong enough to slap you round the face with uncensored reality. I lav it.

   

Read More

Wiley - The Ascent

It's been a long time coming for this album to finally drop, and I don't think anyone has been anticipating it more than the man himself; Wiley. After years of grinding, beefing, controversial tweeting and spitting it seems like Wiley's recent chart success came from nowhere and blew up as fast as you can say Dizzee Rascal (ha ha)

"But he has sold out though blah blah blah blah"

In a perfect world, I would be living in a penthouse flat in London, working part time between BBC 1 Xtra and SBTV, have a body like Maya Jama, face like Jessica Alba, engaged to Aston Merrygold and Wiley would have got that number 1 with 'Where's My Brother'. 

Sadly this isn't reality. 

Unfortunately the UK music industry isn't grown enough to accept music in any form that doesn't resemble Pop. Wiley for a long, LONG, time stuck to his principles and refused to make any other music than the genre he fathered. He has been in the game long enough to adapt that "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" approach...but being so in love with Grime he hasn't strayed too far from his true sound - his Step freestyles and The Ascent show this. The rest of the album is a contrast to the tracks he has released for the charts. He used the singles to build platform and introduce Eskiboy to his increasing audience.

My 5 tracks with that vibe & are definitely worth a listen: Lights On, Skillzone, Ninja, Tomorrow and My Heart. 

My Heart, bearing in mind it features Emeli Sande, isn't even the slowest song on the album *gasp* - for me this shows that the album isn't what your expecting. You probably doubted the album and thought it would follow the same pattern as his singles but after listening to the album, you feel like a tool for doubting his loyalty to his roots. My favourite track Skillzone backs up my point nicely; a load of underground's finest (Ghetts, Double S, Frisco and Griminal to name a few) taking in turn to spit a bit of heaaaat ona the high tempo beaaaat - a formula that can produce nothing but a pure example of a Grime track.

don't watch the paint skills b!

If I'm truly honest, some of his Step freestyles have excited me more than a couple of these album tracks which are a little boring, but you can't have your cake and eat it too (summer is coming and you have to keep that body on point yo!). HOWEVERRRRR the more I look at the tracklisting/features and of course the more I actually listen to the tracks, the more I appreciate what Wiley has produced. He balanced commercial with his roots without compromising too much at all. No one is saying Wiley is best lyrically or has the meanest flow but he essentially is grime. It's safe to say he has kept it as real as possible with this album, from the music, to the attributions in the booklet.

P.S If you're gonna get it, which you should, get the Deluxe iTunes version and watch the 8 minute documentary that comes with it because it's interesting and you may aswell:) https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-ascent-deluxe/id611380645

Read More

Blackout - Wretch 32 ft Shakka (prod. Knox Brown)

Friday night and all I see over twitter is the date 4/3/13. Now be being the cat the curiosity killed and a big fan of Mr Wretch 32 I was hype hype hype at the thought of new music especially from the new album he’s going to drop this year. So come 8pm I was sat with my laptop listening to Mista Jam’s show. I even missed the start of Eastenders for this so you know it got real.

Evolution is the key word. You’ll hear the intro and think “is this going to be another rapper spitting over a dance beat?”. Well if you thought that: 

1) shame on you

2) I bet your ears weren’t prepared for that.

 If I asked you to name 1 track that Blackout sounded like, even with the combined musical repertoire of every DJ in this whole wide world, you wouldn’t be able to. This is something different to any song that has graced our ears – and note I used the word “graced” implying that different isn’t just good but MAD good.

The beat for me is the most significant part of this track, and is the work of Knox Brown, part of the Renowned Collective. Often I feel producer’s input to a track is overlooked but with his work, it’s hard to ignore what he has created – not made, created. It’s pretty hard to describe what he has done with the beat, but I love that. It doesn’t stop surprising you and as well as keeping you intrigued to the track, it transports you somewhere else. Then we have Shakka. Now Shakka is an artist I hadn’t come across before but this is a perfect example of the hidden talent the UK has been hiding for a too too too long. His vocals are on point. Clean. Subtle. Powerful. I’ve known about him for 5 minutes but I am actually ecstatic (yeah that happy!) that Wretch has given him this platform because his voice breathes “gifted”. Wretch has been doing his thing for years now but never fades. The track just reminds you why you, and even gives you more reason to, love Wretch. He has kept it real and while taking a risk and going down a different lane he hasn’t strayed too far from the road on which he started – and this is why it works so beautifully. Evolved sound – Check. Lyrics that can’t be touched, just felt – Check. Mention of his beloved Disarano – Check. Heartist.

The 3 of them have done what music is made to do, but only few can actually carry out: produced a fresh, hot, new vibe that takes you somewhere – I don’t know where, but I don’t care. Now just wheel that yo!

Read More

Marvell - G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP

Marvell are always releasing mixtapes but their new G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP follows the trend of GOOD music. They're music has always been so simple - crazy beats, flows on point, and those big big big 1 liners - yet no one has been able to replicate it - and even if they tried, I don't think anyone could. They have got the perfect balance of it all to make every (and I actually mean every) track they've ever put out  be a b a n g e r. If you listen to their first tracks and compare it to the ones on the new EP, the sound hasn't changed because it doesn't need to. Their early tracks from years ago could be easily passed for a track made yesterday in a top US producer's studio. In a few years time, I'm sure you could say the same thing when listening to the G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP.

They have already released 2 of the tracks off the free EP: Weezy and London 2 Alanta and both were major tracks. New World, Killing All The Shows, Everything's on Me and G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S contribute to the 'wooooiiiiiiiii' section of the EP. The beats, especially on New World, are mad mad mad and if you don't even bop your head to the beat then I refuse to believe you're a human. Whether you're getting ready for a night out or work they will put you on a good vibe, and that to me is A* music.

Best Of Us and Kings and Queens are definitely the heartfelt tracks on the EP. I think Kings And Queens deserves a special little mention though. It's one of those motivational, grateful and feel good songs. It's got me even more hyped for summer to come because it's a tune that will sound PERFECT cruising around on a calm one in the sun on a Saturday (and I don't even drive). They hooked up with old friend (from Shocka's Chain Gang days) Wretch 32, who was the perfect collab for this track as I think this is one of the songs in which the lyrics are what really stand and are the main component of the tracks, while their signature heavy beats have taken the back seat. That's not to say the instrumental isn't good - Max Richards cleverly crafted a beat that brought power to the track but in a beautifully subtle way - making it even stronger.

Marvell don't have the recognition they deserve. Like I said before, they have a sound that is consistently great and doesn't even need to evolve to STILL be relevant in many years to come. Moreover, if it wasn't for their accents, their tracks could easily be the works of art of an American chart topping rapper #noexaggeration.
They're the future of music but not enough people know it yet so don't get left behind innnnnnnnitttttttt...
GO GET THE G.R.E.A.T.N.E.S.S EP (you have no excuse not to because it's FREE!)

Click Here To Get It

Read More

55th Grammy Awards

One day, we in the UK need an award show to match Grammys. The awards and and performances are on a whole other level but the Grammys are actually ABOUT music and considers all music that is making a mark, which is something I don't think I can say for our award shows :(

One award I love that the Grammy's do is Song Of The Year (which FUN won for We Are Young). It's different to Record of The Year because Song of the Year is awarded rightly so to the composer/writers of the song rather than just the performer - something the BRITS need to take note of. Last year I remember when One Direction won a Brit Award for something along the lines of Best Song - bearing in mind they didn't have any input into the creation of it other than their vocals. Fair enough they made an impact on music, but in the UK I think we definitely need to pay a lot more recognition to the real artists we have in the UK - as in the ones that have more involvement in the music they actually put out.

Mumford and Son's won Album of the Year. Now I'm not even going attempt to try and wing a paragraph about this album because I haven't heard it but now I'm going to have to give it a listen ASAP. I've not really paid THAT much attention to them in the past but from their track's I have heard, I find it's easy listening and what I like most about their sound is; it is cultured. The four-piece need a massive congratulations without question. Being an English Act winning the top prize at America's biggest music award ceremony is definitely a power move.

Rap Album Of The Year went to Drake with 'Take Care'. If I'm real, I don't know if I'm happy about this or not. I think Drake has recently been overly hyped. Personally, there are albums that haven't even been nominated such as 'Cruel Summer' that, in my eyes/ears, were much better. Drake did have a some real good tracks on there, and with his carefully crafted lyricism he is definitely one of the best rap artists right now, but if I had to award best Rap Album, Drake wouldn't be the first name to pop into mind. Nevertheless let's all breath a sigh of relief 2 Chainz didn't win. I think the nominations for this award next year definitely need to be more carefully picked though - without a doubt Mr Kendrick Lamar is going to be a top contender for this.

 Contrastingly for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, no one can really deny Jigga and Yeezy this award - N*ggas In Paris was this year's anthem. I'll forever regret that I never got to witness this live at the Watch The Throne Tour or Hackney Weekend. Cry. The Watch The Throne album got them both another award, Best Rap/Sung Collab, along with Frank Ocean for No Church In The Wild. When you compare the power of every element of this song compared to that of fellow nominee Flo Rida with Wild Ones - they had no competition (once again).

Miguel won Best R&B Song for the ultimate slow jam: 'Adorn' - *Lethal Bizzle Voice* OBVIOUSLY. I don't think there are words to describe my love for Miguel, and in particular this one song. This song helped me come to the realisation that being serenaded by Miguel is something I must do before I die - I'm not even joking. Miguel's vocals are untouchable in R&B land right now and he has the sweetest way with words. Even Usher's latest album didn't have anything on Kaleidoscope Dream.


Adele won Best Solo Performance of the Year. Some of the nominees more than know to how to put on a show *cough* Rihanna *cough*, but Adele can make a whole room silent with nothing but her voice. But forget that, I rated Adele more last night for shouting at Breezy for being the only one not clapping for Frank when he won Best Urban Contemporary Album. She's still got that Tottenham feist bwooooooooy!
Frank's win was so well deserved. He has brought such a simple and beautiful sound to the scene. It's an easy listening album but when you delve deeper into it and witness all the different levels to it and the story it tells, it becomes something much more than just sounds. Frank crafted a masterpiece but he also created the perfect shower tune in the shape of Thinking 'Bout You - there is nothing better then the feeling of accomplishment when you (almost) hit those high notes - and you cannot front and say you never tried.

In terms of performances, thankfully there was not a repeat of a performance like Nicki Minaj's last year. My favourite performance was definitely Mr Timberlake's come back with his classy, old school, 'Suit and Tie' performance. He went in and brought everything to his performance from Jay-Z to an orchestra when he performed some unheard new material. The best thing about JT is that he hasn't changed one bit (plus he is still hot), but his style still stands out from everything out there right now - timeless is the theme of his whole set.

Anyway, I'm done for now but I'll leave you with my favourite outfit of the night; Rihanna. She looked stunning in this classy (yeah, classy) floating red dress that actually made her look like a princess - proving when she tries and actually covers up, she's still got it yo...

Read More

Angel - The World

Angel is one of those artists that when he brings out a track I want more straight away. After yet another mixtape (because there have been that many) 'Inbetween Time', my iTunes was definitely refreshed. To think that the tracks he delivered on 'Inbetween Time' were just mixtape tracks, hopefully means his debut album is going to follow suit and have the same effect...that is when he actually decides to drop it, because he did say it was going to drop July 2012...erm, yeah safe.

The World has brought us one step close to About Time. Within the first few seconds of the instrumental to it you'll think: club banger. But match it to the visual and it makes it something totally different. I can't even front - I got emotional. Starring Zaraah Abrahams, the video tells a love story and trust me it gets deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! The fact the audio and the visual of the song contrast so much but compliment so well shows that Angel's edgy fusion of R&B and Pop is definitely going to have a positive influence on the scene. It's fresh and filling a gap that has been wide open for a while now. I have always been an Angel fan, but since meeting him (he is even prettier in real life - I swear) at SBTV-Xmas and watching him perform live, it hit me how talented he really is. He is got a good energy and he channels that through his music fo' sure.

So yeah, check out his new video here... p.s if you're a sap, you might want to grab a tissue

Read More

Still Sway & Kane - Sway, Kano and Trigger Da Author

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! YES YES YES!

When I first heard that Sway and Kano were dropping a new tune together happy wasn't even the word. For me no other British rapper's flow get's me as excited as Sway - he delivers EVERY time and you always know Kano will K.O with his punchlines. They have been in the centre of the scene for god knows how long but it still frustrates me to this day how underrated both of these artists are. This track re-enforces that frustration x100000000.

With the piano from the classic 'Still Dre' sampled, normally I'd be saying "why would they even go there?" but they went there and I can't even fault it - and I'm quite a critical person. They obviously added the UK flavour and made it their own and every lyric was worthy to be spat over that legendary choooooone. They proved that no matter what newbies come onto the scene they have STILL got the game in their hand. And what's even better it's an sound that I can see hitting the charts, as well as not straying too far from their roots - none of that rapping over a dubstep/dance beat.

This is the first we've heard from both of them from 2013, and they have raised the bar fo' sure. With Sway's recent chart success maybe it's Sway's turn to follow in the footsteps of Wretch (who makes a cameo in the video along with his bromanc-er Chip and Mr JME) and be added to the list of rappers who are making an impact on the industry.

If you've already listened then listen again anyway because you know you want to, and if you haven't heard it yet, LISTEN NOW and thank me later ;)

Read More

Etta Bond & Raf Riley - RESOLVE

Before I start: GET THEIR EMERGENCY ROOM EP. When it first dropped in July, it was free, but "ya snooze, ya loose", and now you'll have to pay iTunes 6.32 - which is still a bargain. But, if Christmas rinsed your wallet, then at least have a listen on Spotify here. Either way, when you hear it you'll feel the need to at least sent Etta and Raf a thank you card.

But anyway, they dropped their second visual from the EP, Resolve, which I guess, follows on from Boring Bitches as the kick-back-and-relax-track is all about nursing the hangover...probably one of the most relevant tracks to drop in the first mornings of 2013.

Etta and Raf are definitely ones to watch. Under Labrinth's Odd Child label, they both have the raw and edgy talent that music is missing right now. Etta's vocals are stunning and gentle but with her naughty girl image and gritty lyrics she manages to intrigue you further - she's like Rihanna meets...I don't yet have a name to finish this sentence, but this is what I mean - she's different (which is good). Then we have Raf's beats. Raf also brings something new to the table, he definitely is a producer set to make waves. The Emergency Room EP demonstrates he isn't just a one trick pony and can produce a range of different beats, but still have that signature hint of Raf in them. I can't yet put my finger on what it is he does, that pleases my ears so much.

With a great song comes great visuals, Reuben Dangoor, who is also responsible for the Emergency Room artwork, directed the video and did a great job on matching the video to the vibe of the song.

ps. while your here, you might as well find out more about Odd Child and check out there 'Oddumentry' (I promise that you'll giggle)

Read More

The Music Scene So Far

Remember back in 2010 when JLS and Tinie Tempah release Eyes Wide Shut? They were probably the 2 biggest Urban music acts we had out there with mainstream success... and JLS weren’t didn’t even make urban music.

 But now when I switch on Capital FM (which I admit isn't often) I’m hearing Wiley, Wretch and Sway. Now to be fair, we’ve always had people in the Urban music charts - think So Solid Crew. But who else from them days had chart success and made a big enough impression for us to remember their names?

…Stop trying to think of names. Very few is the answer. Now just read on...

Recently the urban music scene has achieved a new type success, in which we don't just have one hit wonders, but artists that are creating history and are here to stay. I’d say we have to go back to the start of 2010 to find where this started...‘Pass Out’. 

Now this has been a progression, and it wasn't just this one song that changed the whole scene. Without the success of artists from way back such as Craig David, Dizzee or Tinchy from not long before, I don’t think it would have been as easy for Tinie Tempah to make such an sudden impact. But ‘Pass Out’ certainly gave the game a boost and opened the ears of the music industry.  

The success of Tinie and Labrinth with that track did many things. It connected mainstream music to the latest of underground urban music scene. Tinie was a grime artist before his chart success, and with Pass Out, he opened the music industry to the genre and made it accessible and available on a mainstream level. People who hadn’t even heard of grime or brushed it off with that same old guns, gangs and drugs stereotype, now saw a different side to the whole genre and culture... and actually enjoyed it! Not only that, but it inspired other artists on the underground that it was possible to break through the charts. Wiley has even said when talking about his recent success, that seeing people like Tinie Tempah having their success inspired him and made him believe it was possible. It does seem exaggerated, but it’s true. A year ago, did you ever think you’d see Wiley on a Now 83 CD?

After Tinie broke through, we got a whole bunch of artists hitting the charts with songs influenced from the bars they spit on Tottenham streets and beats they produced in their bedroom. Plan B, Wretch 32, Skepta all have had chart success and are now names that even your mum will recognise. 

Now I realise I’ve mainly just been talking about Grime, but I feel this is the one genre under the urban branch that has grown, evolved and made the most progress recently. It has been the dominant UK urban genre which has developed from some of our most prominent genres: bassline, dancehall, garage, drum and bass with, ofcourse, the influence of Hip Hop. 

But what is better, we’ve had other genres breaking through to, with the likes of Angel, Delilah and Katy B (to name JUST a few) and introducing not only a UK take on some of the USA's most popular genres, but they are even creating sounds so fresh and different it is hard to label them.

Giggs - one of the underground's finest is should be releasing
an album soon... it'll be interesting to see if anything he puts
out will make chart impact.

Like I said before, we’ve always had people from the Urban music scene in and out of the charts but I feel like urban music as a whole is being taken more seriously as a genre and a culture. SBTV, a company that began with Jamal Edwards filming MC’s spraying in the middle of the estate, is now a renowned and respected brand. People are beginning to understand more about the whole culture, and with that they understand the music and are more willing to listen to it. With this shift in the behaviour, the artists born out of urban music and culture are not only making an impact, but one that is lasting and they are staying there.

No I know there will be some of you saying something along the lines of “*insert artist here* is a sell out now”, but no one said it was perfect. It is progression and we are getting there. We’re a long way from being like the USA, where some of the realest Hip Hop and sweetest slow jams hold the number 1 spot but we’re getting there. If turning a bit mainstream is what it takes to hold a spot in the charts right now, then so be it… we can “re-evolve” later. All I'm saying is, I'm excited to see what happens in 2013.

p.s apologies for saying Urban so much...I know..it was probably as annoying as Tulisa's "Urban roots" *bbm cover's face*

Read More

SBTV Apocalypse Cypher

So the Mayans predicted the world was ending and Jamal wanted to make sure it did in true SBTV style. 10 minutes of pure talent from some of 2012’s finest UK artists was brought to us in the Apocalypse Cypher and here is my (as brief as possible) break down:

Manchester’s very own BLIZZARD begins displaying just why it’s worth exploring outside of London for Grime’s finest. Not only does he have that young fresh lively flow but he has rhythm with it. This and his delivery instantly intrigue you - he is the perfect way to start to the cypher. Listen carefully and you’ll pick up on the creativity. I’m sure in 2013 he’ll be doing bigger things.

ENGLISH FRANK comes next and as it’s the apocalypse cypher, the worlds going to end soon...why not say it straight?

“why is my best friend best friends with his strap probably because he never got no love from the flats, why do I talk to my dog more than I talk to my own dad?”.
Now, for me, his verse was the weakest but he still G O E S  I N. One of the great things about his verse, is you can tell the bars ooze real, because as soon as you think his verse is coming to end, he goes in again. His punch lines will hit you no doubt.

Mr MIC RIGHTEOUS starts with the flow that makes you shake your head in time with it and then nod your head in approval. I was a little disappointed, but all good things come to an end. Despite a iffy little freestyle in the middle, he brings in back with lyrics that scream passion.  

“The end of the world is upon us, they can’t take the realness from us”

I’d say Logic is the UK’s answer to Common. Not only have they got the same look going on but they are both poets. His lyrics are educational. This is a verse you’ll definitely be replaying. Plus ladies, he one of those deep, smooth voices you wouldn’t mind hearing every now and again.

She’s “from Birmin’ammm not from London”.
She’s also a reason why we should be searching all over the country for fresh grime talent LADY LESHURR has been doing it for the girls this year and no doubt she’s going to be making tsunami waves in 2013. Leshurr wins prize for the most fun and light hearted verse. With her cheeky little vibe she didn’t just spit but she performed.

We haven’t heard much from AKALA recently, but he shows that there is nothing to worry about – he hasn’t lost any of his raw talent.  He goes in and as always educates and hits us with realness. He keeps it slick, street and smart. Akala is powerful.

BLACK THE RIPPER. His calm flow will trick you, because as soon as he starts, he goes in bigger than his hair. Listen close, he has some crazy lines in there. He kept it real, tight lyrics, tight flow, tight delivery. Not much more to say, his verse does all the talking.

DOT ROTTEN was all punch lines and passion here. He was reading off his phone which I always think dampens the energy in cyphers such as this, but nevertheless everything he spat was powerful. There is a reason why he is doing big things.

Ch-ch-cheeeeeeck it out here:

Read More

Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream *Album Review*

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/kaleidoscope-dream/id561709112

There is nothing better than coming home from a long day of waiting for buses, lugging around a heavy bag and having so much information poured into my ears my brain started to flood, than putting in my headphones and being mentally massaged by the sweet, smooth sound of the new addition to the R&B royal family: Mr Miguel.

The best thing about the album is that; it's s typically Miguel. Yes there is the dose of sweet R&B songs that will make you want to slow dance with the nearest human being ('Adorn' springs to mind), but Miguel also added his self described "eclec-tric" flavour on the majority of his tracks with a lot of electric guitar heavy tracks. Now don't worry, if you know Miguel, it's not urbany electronic music on the scale of artists such as Labrinth (although I love him too), but sweet and subtle.

You'll be glad to hear that every track is different. As a good album should be. It's not an album full of slow jams but a mixture. The only consistent thing is the brilliant vocals that Miguel never fails to deliver. With a voice that can tickle your heart, he hasn't let us down. 

If I had to some it up in one word, I couldn't. It's gentle; "let my love adorn you".. Yet fiercely seductive; "I'm going to do you like drugs tonight". 

Read More