Throwback | Jay-Z & DMX Freestyle (1999)

So. Yesterday I was saying on Twitter how I wished that the battle between Jay-Z & DMX in the 1990s was captured on video. The way Sauce Money and Ski Beatz described the face-off between the two hip-hop greats sounded too epic - both standing on pool tables with an immense crowd surrounding them going at it for five hours straight. Amazing.

Well I did find this freestyle. No longer than a minute and thirty seconds long, the video shows DMX and Jay-Z trading verses backstage at the Hard Knock Life Tour in 1999. You've probably already seen this, it's old but I love it. So I guess this will have to do for now, right?

Fashion | From Heygate Estate With Love... Part Deux.

Yeah so you lot know I was almost caught naked in Heygate Estate last week right? All in the name of fashion though, so we are still thanking Jehovah-Jireh (insert other holy entity here) that I did not get caught. That woulda been a great blogpost though... Damn.

Anyway. Here are more snaps of me, my arse and the estate. Be sure to checking back for the official photos - these are just a few candids! Click here to see the others and click here to keep up to date on this summer's pending exhibition (featuring me!)

Toodles.

Event | Once Upon A Time In The 90's

R.O.T.A Entertainment Presents: Once Upon A Time In The 90's

"Once Upon A Time In The 90’s, written and devised by the uber talented Diane Ifode, is a compelling story that follows seven young people on a journey of discovery. 

Set in the 90's, the play explores sensitive social issues which have affected the world in the past; although many of these issues are still present today. This piece makes political and social comment through comedy, humour, song and dance and will be an entertaining experience to all spectators." 

I'm really excited to go and see this not only because I'm a 90's baby, but judging from the press release and what I've read about the play, it's due to be a big success! If you love the 90's, wanna learn something new or are just simply stuck for something to do this summer, I suggest you pull your finger out, book a ticket and come watch!

For more information on how to book your ticket visit their website HERE

The Big Interview | Shane Eli

After posting a small feature on Shane Eli a while back, I never would have imagined that ten days later I'd meet the dude in a small Starbucks café in the centre of London. Shane, who flew out to help a friend with an upcoming movie which he'll be scoring, proved to be a laid back, charismatic gentleman who was all about the music. Standing at over six feet tall, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Shane Eli was a superstar basketball player and not a rapper/producer from Los Angeles, California (he's HUGE!). We had a little sit down to discuss his music, the future and the state of hip-hop.

Read more >>

L'Introspective | Birthday Wish List

It's my birthday tomorrow and as usual, I don't want to make a fuss over it. Wouldn't mind a gift or two though! So this is what I've decided I want.

Carvela Gaga platforms in navy blue

Law & Order: SVU box set

Mac lipstick in shade 'Girl About Town' 

Kurt Geiger wedges Grid in purple

A boombox

Hype Means Nothing Basquiat tee

Film for my Polaroid camera

A fresh new notebook

Some chouquettes

As you can see, I'm quite easy to please. So if you love me you'd make this list happen. And even if you don't love me...

MAKE. IT. HAPPEN.

Music | What I've Been Listening To

As you may or may not know, this past week my mother had a baby! On Mother's Day! Amazing. I didn't sleep for the whole night as I was gripped with excitement, even though I didn't get to witness the birth this time (I saw my two brothers being born and cut their umbilical cords etc etc... It's a great story, honest) I'm so proud of my mum, she truly is a superwoman and I love her to bits! These past couple of days have certainly been filled with joy, excitement, love and happiness and of course whatever music I played reflected my blissful mood. I did say that when she was born, I'd play my sister A Star Is Born so hopefully she'll be a hip-hop head from early that way I can pass down this blog to her... Sort of like a rites of passage. Ha! In other news, last week's Nas and Damian Marley concert was irie! (read the review here) My back and feet were completely destroyed afterwards but it was well worth it. As always, I hope your past week was as fabulous as mine and here's to a fulfilling week ahead!

Love.

Big K.R.I.T - Returnof4eva
Yo g. I start off this week's post with Big K.R.I.T's latest release Returnofeva (no my spacebar is not broken). The Mississippi wordsmith's twenty-one track album possesses a much more southern style than his prior releases although K.R.I.T's emotive and lyrical flair is ever present; definitely making him the one to beat this year. Entirely self-produced, the album features well known southern exports Ludacris, Bun B and Chamillionaire, David Banner as well as singer/song-writer Raheem DeVaughn. A complete piece of work, with soulful instrumentation and well though out lyrics. Dope.

The Vent

Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed and Racism

Lions and Lambs

Mos Def - The Ecstatic

I missed Mos Def this week and found myself playing his most recent album, The Ecstatic. While I'll always maintain that 1999's Black On Both Sides is my favourite Mos record, this album certainly matches up. Considered to be his most lyrically sound piece of work since then, The Ecstatic proves just how boundless and creative hip-hop can be. Laced with brilliant production credits, including the late J Dilla, Mr Flash and Madlib, this album is one all should own. Trust me man. Would I lie to you?

Casa Bey

Pretty Dancer

No Hay Nada Mas

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Pt. 1 (4th World War)

Erykah Badu's fourth studio album, New Amerykah Pt.1 (4th World War) is just perfect. Everything that Ms Badu is famed for, her quirkiness, soulful intricateness and flat out musical transcendence is on this album. Right from the off, we're presented with a multitude of concepts and themes, both social and cultural and  though this record may be less introspective than her previous work, it doesn't make it any less great. Loaded with jazz, funk and hip hop sounds (we can thank 9th Wonder, Karriem Riggins and Madlib for the diversity) New Amerykah Pt. 1 is another one of those classics that will still have me yakking about it in ten years time.

The Healer

Me

Honey

Fashion | From Heygate Estate With Love...

Today was a real good day in the sunshine. My friend Funmi (check out her tumblr and her blog) and I set up camp on the infamous Heygate Estate in London and had some fun with a HD cam; for which the snaps and videos will be used in an upcoming exhibition (watch this space!) Peep the snaps below lovers... (and if you know me personally, join me in celebration... my ass is getting bigger! *pops booty*)

Mixtape | Nitty Scott, MC - Cassette Chronicles

Nitty Scott, MC, the lyrical femcee "born in Michigan, made in Florida, paid in New York" drops her debut Cassette Chronicles, a prelude to her upcoming EP Boombox Diaries Vol. 1. Co-signed by fellow female MC Rapsody and Brooklyn wordsmith Skyzoo, this pocket-sized rapper proves to the world that lady rappers are more than just barbies. Her raps are loaded with feminine rawness and a slick intelligence that can rival any dude with rhymebook.Watch out for her... she's dope! Check out the tracklist for her debut mixtape below and download here.

Tracklisting

1. Intro/Deep Cover

2. Its Just Us ft. Donwill 

3. Is This Thing On (ft. Outasight) (SNIPPET) 

4. Legends of the Game (Golden Era) 

5. To Tomorrow (A Hip Hop Toast) (ft. Najee) 

6. Luv My Life 

7. Work (Grustlin’) 

8. Hear I Am 

9. AllHipHop Radio Freestyle #2 

10. No Standing Here (SNIPPET) 

11. FAF (Fake Ass Friends) ft. Paris Jones 

12. AllHipHop Radio Freestyle #1 

13. Time Is Running Out

Event | Nas and Damian Marley (Distant Relatives Tour)

So, on Thursday I had the pleasure of attending Nas and Damian Marley's concert at Wembley and before I write anything else, let me tell you how awesomely amazing it was! Erykah Badu and dancehall legend Spragga Benz were the night's supporting acts, with Miss Badu delivering an awe-inspiring performance of her best known hits. I can shamelessly admit that I cried, even more so when she belted out Apple Tree off her 1997 debut Baduizm. With her quirky sense of style, bold sense of humour and echoic, svelte vocals, Badu aptly warmed up the audience and perforated my eardrums as well as my soul. I was ready.

The more I remember of that night, the more it sounds like a story out of a book. Anyway. After more DJ sets, reggae and hip-hop music, the atmosphere became heavy with marijuana smoke and the restless noise of the awaiting crowd. And then it began. With the booming sounds and instruments from the track As We Enter, Nas and Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley ambushed the stage, reciting the lyrics of the song, sending the whole stadium into musical frenzied ruckus. Charging through various tracks from their joint album Distant Relatives, the energy was high as fans chanted and sang along; the stage littered with colourful images and people. Damian's dreadlocks cascaded down his back sweeping from side to side as he performed Nah Mean, Tribal War and Dispear while Nas' gold Sphinx medallion hung heavy from his neck. And even as Nas slipped into his solo performance, with him taking the crowd back to his Illmatic days, there were no signs of slowing down. Represent, Nas Is Like, Street Dreams, If I Ruled The World and Hip Hop Is Dead boomed from the speakers and I swear I could see the sweat and concentration on the faces of the die-hard Nas stans as they recited his songs word for word. Nas hit every lyric as hard as the first, as if he'd just written each bar a second before. It was the Nas' of old who graced the stage, Illmatic Nas, God's Son Nas, Stillmatic Nas. Amazing Nas.

And of course, Damian Marley was not to be upstaged. Forgive me for not knowing every single solo song that he performed - reggae was never really an interest of mine. But believe you me, I jumped, shouted, hollered and even had my little Kingston bop going on. I enjoyed it and whether or not that was marijuana induced, who cares? The whole experience was phenomenal.

To cut a great story short, the night ended with all the acts on stage while Nas and Damian performed the anthem Africa Must Wake Up, with Erykah now sporting a "Hip-hop Is Bigger Than Religion" t-shirt (which I want need in my life). Then as an encore, Nas humbly returned to the stage to perform an emphatic rendition of One Mic to the sounds of Phil Collin's legendary tune In The Air Tonight. And not to be outdone, Damian Marley paid homage to his father by belting out Bob Marley's 1980 hit Could You Be Loved to end the night.

All in all, the night proved to be beautifully powerful and one I'll remember forever. If you missed this, you should be jealous of me, you know.

I'll upload what few pictures and videos I have later, since my camera died on me in the middle of the concert! -__-