HOW FRESH CAN YOU GET?

G FRSH, TINIE TEMPAH and DENIRO (not pictured) have come together for this outstanding new UK track 'Afar'. Riding on a Sleepz beat and coupled with the handy film work of Jak Frsh, the whole package has come together very nicely.

Basically, they spit like they mean it and it's dark and moody like sex...

"The DJ's playing funky but she's got me in a trance"

* Oh, and to make matters worse for other artists who have half hearted beats and cameo's, they are giving this track out for free, which I'm also giving you the link to, BRAPP!

* Also, allow giving you the Sleepz and Jak links, if you don't know your going to have to do your own research, chiiieef!

V.O.T.D

Mr Green aka Professor Green doing his UK Hip Hop community service, minus a smile and 'have a nice day'. After surviving a stupid bottle to the neck incident in Cargo (ironically just near his 'Lucky' Tattoo (go figure) my man has hit the ground running with another lyrical gem of a track. Far be it from me to kiss arse and get 'Gordon' on my tongue but you have to listen closely to the way he puts the bars down.

Don't get it twisted, he's not the only one to watch from the UK, but so far, he's the only one whose made my VOTD!!

Btw, great concept!

AUGUST 29TH 1958 - JUNE 25TH 2009

R.I.P

Michael Jackson Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Music Video on Yahoo! Music - Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

TOGETHER U-N-I CAN DO ANYTHING

Tonight at YO YO (Nottinghill Arts Club), the hip hop/ rock hop duo U-N-I come to show case their art for the London massive. If you don't know nothing about them this is a good time to get acquainted.

My favourite track from them is their way back single Beautiful Day.

Beautiful Day

Black Eyed Peas vs Eriki-Ma

This is what happens when you don't sleep. It took 16 hours to get all the sections just right, 5 hours to mix and make sure the synth didn't blow any speakers. At 3am imac decided that I had overloaded the audio capabilities of Pro logic 8 due to over use of effects and plugins. Bouncing took three attempts for the same reason. Finding a video with a decent quality and putting it all together took all of half and hour... If you don't like it, well, thats you son!

*No samples were abused in the making of this remix

DASAFO

Normally I can think of something witty to go along with a post, or maybe a funny anecdote from days gone by. Today I have nothing, serioulsy, my mind is a blank. The only two things I am thinking is one, how am I going to get my hands on the Moog Phatty, and two, he does look like T Pain init...

Brand new Sway Mercedes Benze out now on his new album. No doubt this will be getting a lot of reloads (guilty) and please, if you're an MC and your gonna do a remix make a bloody effort with your bars, just because the beats kicking don't mean your 16 is... Sway on the other-hand has his game face on tight....

FYI - He's just finished a tune with Lemar's cuz, which I haven't got my free copy of yet and watch out for the UK tour, I hear Akon dollar's isn't the only thing thats going to make it stand out!

*Note - sorry bout the fact its a radio rip with no video, soon as its done I'll update it, check out his myspace, but dont kiss his ass, he's got a big enough head as it is!

**Note sample is from '45  King (aka Mark James - aka Jay z's Hard Knock Life), 900 Number'... As if you needed me to tell you...

HE GO EGO

The new B ft Yeezy - Ego. Its nice they went back to the minimal style on this record, should be a smooth climber...

JENNY OF THE BEAT

I hate the term 'female producer', really, what should it matter whether you're male or female! It really dosen't, but the truth is, we did dominate the industry 10 years ago when software and plugins were unavailable to the masses. Now days things have changed a long way, and thank God.

Meet Goldy. She's from Leeds (I know, I couldn't believe people actually lived and breathed outside of London either!). Her beats really speak for themselves. When I first encountered her about a year ago she was on that Bass-line sound. I never really liked B-L but her work (no ass kissing obviously) actually made it interesting to listen, which I never thought was possible.

After her B-L dabble she went back to her J Dilla roots and came back with an array of funky soulful vibes which would go down well on any ipod playlist. The other thing that struck me most about Goldy (which unless you're a producer, you probably wouldn't appreciate) is her skill as well as talent. Mix wise she has her sound scape down to a T'. Every producer has their own mix style and preference to where certain elements of the piece sit, and where her strengths lie is in the fact that she doesn't go OTT with the base or allow the snare or high hat to run away with itself. Her samples are also spot on, clipping her audio sections discreetly with little sign of 'over' or 'under cuts'.

At only 18 she's giving producers much older than her a run for their money and considering she's improving month by month it will definitely be interesting to hear her work in a few years time from now. I predict she will only get better and more dangerous with her productions. Artists and other companies will have to listen closely because as we all know, the whack piano man's are getting weeded out, which is great for the rest us and also means no more half hearted 'I need to get the bills paid' productions, or worse still those 'yeah man that beats tight (but it really isn't)' productions.

Check out '90's' and 'Funk Soul' on her myspace...

Other female producers you should already be aware of....

GoldieLocks

Synth Girl

Miss OddKidd

WHAT DOES A GUY WITH A GIRLS NAME END UP DOING FOR A LIVING?

This....

His name is Peabe and I strongly recommend you read up on why his work looks so interesting and well "Zombie-esque".

TOODLE-LOO MUTHA*@&%£^

Films are a great way to see what professional producers and composers are coming with, and to also find out what will get accepted by commercial production professionals, obviously. So its a good excuse to get a few tickets and mates down to the big screen and pass it off on your tax return as business expense. 1-0 to me Gordon Brown!

The Hangover is a very funny film. I wouldn't say it's the funniest because lets be honest, only some of us would be able to relate to some of the stuff in that movie... yeah right! There are so many stories I wish I could write about but it's so hard getting dates these days I wouldn't want to put anyone off before I even get to hello... 

Its in cinemas now (she obviously isn't)..

P.s To understand the title of this post you will have to go see the film...

S.K.O.T.W

These are the bad boys of any studio kit hands down. Fair enough they are very pricy and I wouldn't recommend shifting through your record collection, heading down to Bricklane market and shotting a crate to undeserving passersby, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. The Beats (by Dr Dre) are a mind field of intense sound replication and provide great mixing capabilities for those late night sessions where waking the neighbours is not an option. I also use them for DJ'ing now as well... Oh, and little posing doesn't hurt...

If you do happen to see me out and about with my pair and want to try them, just ask nicely, I don't bite, but try to run? You will lose your arms in legs in 'an unexplained and prolonged attack'.

V.O.T.D

Its a bloody good job Nelly didn't do a 'I wanna be a Rapstar' version. Some things in life were just ment to be as they are, like krispy kreme, Glastonbury and wet-look leggings...some things are not made for reinvention...

BLAME IT (ON THE ECONOMY)

Just for fun, because the sun's out and I'm a good mood...

V.O.T.D

Simply because slow motion always looks good...

THE ?UESTION

I have to keep this brief and simple because I'm suffering from a really bad cold at the minute and my runny nose has got the potential of rendering my mac book inactive. 

Questlove - DJ set - at Cargo - East London (Click for the FB Group Event for details)

Brought to you by Soundcrash...

Top Tip: Cargo is always rammed so get there early or your date is going to start crying because nothing you organise goes through!

p.s I call dibs on the hair!

p.p.s Watch both video's, the second is old but relevant!

V.O.T.D

If I have to explain to you why this is video of the day then me thinks this is probably not the blog for you...

Also let me take this opportunity to share my gratitude for the simple fact that 'The One Mos Def-initely' finished his latest album and is in stores NOW!! After a few bad spells I can almost guarantee 'The Ecstatic' will be doing a lot of favours to the real hip hop community. Some of you may be interested to know Chad Hugo produced a track (not Pharrell, Chad!). J Dilla (RIP), Madlib and his younger brother Oh No also got in on the action. And if you didn't know, these guys all go way way way back, way way back.

For now I'll leave you with the V.O.T.D and on the flip Mr Mos talks a little about the album...

*Explicit Content

YOU GOT THE BEATS

This a little preview of our Candi Staton vs Eriki Ma remixxx, straight out of the studio today, you lucky devils!

HAVE A BREAK

Heres something to do if you need a break from work or a good excuse not to get back to it. Design by Nicolas Chacana.

YOU'VE BEEN BURNT

CDR's Burntprogress is probably one of the most influential and accessible nights in the UK. Started out in London a few years back by the very nice Tony Nwachkwu. Last night saw them back in London doing what they do at Plastic People.

Quick heads up if you have no idea what I'm on about. CDR is a music night where producers and artists can bring their tracks or instrumentals and get them played on the big PA system. Its great night to get involved in the music scene as well as meet fellow sloggers and find out what other studios and bedrooms are up to. No beat biting allowed though, tut!

I first met Tony up in Newcastle when they first started touring their Freeness event about four years ago. I was a bit cocky back then and asked if he would play one more than the recommended dose of my tunes at the event. 'let me listen to it quick, if I like it, i'll play it, if I don't leave it alone and be happy your getting played at all' he said. True to his word, he liked it and played it.

Since then CDR has grown in not just popularity but also awareness amongst the music production community. They now tour across the UK to other cities every month putting listening sessions to all genre's and disciplines. Some major names from the underground have also been known to sneak in and try to get first hand feedback of their 'straight from the studio' beats'.

Tony is far from an advocate of new music, he also got involved with the Red Bull Music Academy from the start and is heavily involved right through to the radio broadcasts and selection of potential students. Currently attached to NEPA Recordings (I think its his own thing but don't quote me on that) and also DJing in the UK and overseas, this sound man is a UK champion.

THE BIG WHITE HYPE

I'm all about getting exclusives and bringing you in on that new ish, but I do have to be honest, if you're not already on Asher Roth, wake up!

You've probably seen the youtube videos, been to website, heard the radio bits and bobs.

He's the most unlikeliest rapper like TQ was the unlikeliest singer (remember him? I bet like me when you first saw him you thought he was going to spit bars and then sang, shockers!).

Asher on the other hand is way beyond hype though. Currently signed to Universal subsidiary SRC Records (the same people that brought you Akon, go figure), he's been around the block and then some. We first heard him back in 2008 on 'The GreenHouse Effect' mixtape (DJ Drama + Don Cannon). Now I could go on forever about the same things everyone is banging on about in the magazines, online and video clips, but what's the use, listen, enjoy, then form your own opinion.

Check out his new album 'Asleep In The Bread Isle'. Some major tunes on it and some surprise guests as well... Beanie (ahem!).

Here are a few of our favourite Asher Roth moments. Now go google him, youtube him and let the good times roll.

*Explicit Content

CAUSE WE CAN DO IT IN THE MIX

I hated what Bad Boy and PuffDiddyPoppa did to the remix. He took it out for dinner, showed it a good time, the possibilities seemed endless, the candles and roses gave a sense of excitement and purity never before experienced. Then he stuck and instrumental on, rapped over the top and let the atmosphere crumble in a hail of dust and over used 'uh, and we wont stop'.

Take two good records, mash them together and make sure they're in time (the whole way through), then go home. Simples!

V.O.T.D

You can be into anything, hip hop, DnB, Breaks, Ska, Electro... But if you dont have this in your ipod you will never have a good morning trek into work!

I LIKE BIG LUNGS AND I CANNOT LIE

Her name is Jessie J, she has a pocket full of notes and she makes my earlobes tickle when I play her through my beats headphones...

I could tell you I think she's going to be everywhere soon, but I won't. I could tell you I love this track and its simple yet elegant delivery, but I won't. I could even tell you that Amy Grimehouse is letting off bricks in her bathroom because of this girl, but I won't.

LUCKY NUMBER SE7EN

I'm going to get straight to the point with this one. I like the video, Se7en is an ok artist, nothing new, but it is refreshing to see other asian artists coming through the USA scene. Dark Child (and thank god he got over his Timbo complex and stopped appearing in video's) is back on form after a long spell not knowing what a good track sounds like - listen to every Brandy record with his name on it.

I have no idea why and how Lil Kim got involved. Damn she looks more like a lady boy than Pete whateverhisnameis from Big Brother.

Back tracking a little bit, when I say I like the track, don't get it twisted, I don't mean I like it like I would play it out, just, if it came on radio, I would probably give it 1:30 before turning over.

THERE'S NO BEAT LIKE SNOW BEATS

These are the coolest things I've seen since Diversity beat Flawless and left SoBo in tears...

 

JUST A LIKKLE BIT OF FUN

Lykke Li @ NTBR Part 4 - "Hustlin'" from Drew Innis on Vimeo.

TALK TO ME

I love this video archive simply because its not full of rubbish...

Visit Street Talk

Kemistry on Street Talk

Street Talk : The Creatives - The Kemistry from Jama Noor on Vimeo.

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES IS MORE DEADLY ON THE DECKS

This is going to sound a bit like a wish list, but its not. Any ex's reading are probably going to think, "hey so why did you go out with me?", well it's not like that. Some woman are going to feel like, "boy, I need to fix up", well no, you're fine just the way you are and there are loads of things other people cant do that you do.

What am I on about? Female DJ's! Actually female DJ's and girls in era caps, but we'll get to the caps another time. Actually (two time!) if you combine female dj's, girls in era caps and wet look leggings, I'm gone...

So, female DJ's. What's the fuss you say? Well, the thing is, they are actually a rarity and complexity, like rubix cubes and slinkies. I met my first female DJ at a club in Newcastle. She was not only up to speed with the tech, but her selection was on par with most of the men in the industry. I know it's a bit sexist to pick up on the fact that there are even female DJ's (and I apologise) but the truth is, vinyls, dub-plates and bootlegs are not really seen as the natural environment of the female species. I mean how many men have dated a woman who would bring up in conversation their preference to the Pioneer DJM800's over the Behringer DJX700, or their longest record search (mine was five years btw) or how they managed to get their hands on ?? still in it's plastic. How many? Not many...

Female DJ's are not just to be celebrated for being female, thats ignant! Its about their achievements in a male dominated industry, for surpassing expectations and quashing stereotypes. Some are better DJ's than men (who have grown stale and irrelevant). Many have less egos and have achieved things that most of their male counterparts would envy.

At the moment one of my favourites is a young lady by the name of DJ Elle from NY (pic above). She not only plays out regular on her circuit but there are a few international dates thrown in for good measure. She's also done a few mixtapes which she kindly puts up for free download (thank you). Now I like all kinds of music, and she delivers, from hip hop to electro funk, the bag is full with surprises and dim sum.

UK wise we got our own ladies pushing the envelope, representing and having fun in the process. Check out SheJay for the bigger picture.

I leave you with another favourite lady in waxing (see what I did there) DJ Siesta.

LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY MP3'S

Ok, I know about half, no... maybe more than half of you, would have no idea what a Vestax VCI 300 is, well, you can skip this little write up and go straight to the video, no harm done.

At the moment I'm using Serato Scratch Live, which by the way is the daddy in reliable, 'make me look good' software.

The Vestax however, has opened my eyes in more ways than one. First off it makes everything as easy to operate as a microwave with a one setting timer. It does come with its own midi controller (dont worry I'll stay out of the jargon as much as possible) but the downside is, even though Serato did make the software, its not compatible with SL. Bummer! Now I'm considering ditching SL and moving house to the VCI 300. My only worry is I will end up looking like a button pushing DJ and no one will be impressed by my wizardry, which is limited anyway...

It also lights up pretty cool as well.

V.O.T.D

A man walks into a bar and asks for a double ameretta and coke. A lady sat with a group of her girlfriends  across the bar notices this and looks up, smiles and says, "someone has a sweet tooth". The gentleman replies, "I know, its been my favourite drink since yesterday". "welcome to the club", she replies. After a night of drinking dancing and laughing, they walk out to the taxi rank where the gentleman kindly offers the lady a lift home with her friends. She refuses at first claiming it's out of his way, but he insists and so do her friends who are usually the first to block any male advances between them. Climbing into the car, the engine gently purrs to life and the room is filled with the last minute of 'The Prototype'. The lady looks across at the gentleman and then round to her friends in the back seat who silently mouth to their shotgun rider, "I want him if you dont"....

This is the dream... (btw sorry about the advert, youtube were not letting any UK viewing happen, waste!)

Outkast - Prototype (Official Music Video) - The most amazing bloopers are here

TALIB AND ME GO WAY BACK SON!

For those of you that don't know, and i assume this is very few of you. Tonight is the T.K night at the Camden Centre. Hosted by the Spin Doctor himself, its guaranteed to a smasher. Now i'm not going to explain who Kweli is, because if you don't know, and i mean know as good as the back of your hand, then tonight is not for you. Not a hate thing, just fact...

I'm gonna leave you one of the classic tracks. True fans don't class this as an old skool joint because it gets a resurrection every afternoon on the tube ride home, ya heard!

V.O.T.D

This is one of my favourite Kanye West tracks and video's as well. Ok Flashing lights is the fav K. Yeezy video, but we wont get into that...

Enjoy

D.O.A? YES PLEASE

Now many of you would obviously be aware that since Lil Wayne came out with Lollipop, things got abit OTT with the use of auto tune. Well, Mr Hova has stepped in to help a brother out and tell those singing rappers what the deal really is... 'R'

I've also hooked you up by finding a youtube video with the lyrics so you can sing along at home :) love!

S.K.O.T.W

The microKorg XL is our studio kit of the week. This little baby is a deffinate keeper. Not only is the price (£379) reasonable, but the sounds and modifications its capable of are very impressive for such a little darling. As well as a waft of sound banks (which are easy to play around with) it also boasts a very outstanding vocoder. And check this, it comes with a felxi mic! The appegiator is also very nifty with the patterns and mods you can create. Seriously, only by testing this out can you actually appreciate the time and effort that has gone into this bad boy.

The top fact about the XL is... drum roll please... its not only usb compatible with all production software from PL8 to CB5, but it is also battery powered, if ever you have that live gig to go to where a plug is just not around.

If your into your synths and deep basses, this is the perfect add on to your existing sound banks.

  

BUFFORMERS

On the day before we went down for our photo shoot this one of the results of shinanigans at Stratford Theatre...

BISH BASH BOSH

Mr Black Boys Black Boys doing it and doing it well. From the new 'Catch me if you can' Album!

Eriki Ma Remixxx

Here's one I made earlier!