L'Introspective | My Life In Snaps.

Yeah. Just a random pictures post of what my life's been looking like these past few weeks or so.

(I've got the corniest grin ever on my face posing with bassist Alex Bonfanti after the show. I fancied him a little bit. That explains the "smile". Ha.)

This was at the J Dilla Tribute Show at Jazz Café on the 17th. A good night, with good people and great music. I got a bit loud when they wrapped up the show and decided to perform Common's The Light. Check el video chicos and chicas. Oh, I advise you never to have a debate about who is the greatest producer ever at a Dilla show, especially if your answer is not "J Dilla". I think it's DJ Premier. They didn't agree. Shoot me.

At the True Hip-Hop exhibition in Shoreditch. Finally got to meet the amazing photographer Mike Schreiber and hear him tell us about the ins and outs of his book. My favourite snap definitely was the Mos Def portrait (see above). He looks so innocent, no? Got my book signed too and met Mikill Pane. Ace.

On my lazy days, this is what I look like. And who better to listen to than the Punisher? I think the above pic is me listening to Super Lyrical featuring Philly rapper Black Thought. "Lyrically... it's suicide!"

Video | Rapsody - Extra Extra f/ Mac Miller

Haven't blogged in a minute *slaps wrists* sorry about that.

A host of new music and videos dropped today with J.Cole's Return of Simba and Stalley's Chevys and Spaceships piquing my interest on the audio front. Not to be outdone by her contemporaries though, IWWMG/Jamla signee Rapsody, also released a video for her track with Pittsburgh native Mac Miller, entitled Extra Extra. Fresh off tour with her labelmates and her sophomore release Thank H.E.R Now set to hit the airwaves this June, Rapdiddy and Mac bounce off each other with tight rhymes and a sweet beat from Khrysis. Check the video below... 'Tis great I reckon.



Oh. Don't forget to sign the petition to get Rapsody on next year's XXL Freshman Cover... about time we saw a dope female rhymeslinger on the cover. SIGN THE PETITION HERE.

Video | Inside Secrets of The White Man

Depending on how you feel about black power, world history, politics and the education system, race can be a quite a touchy subject to cover. Personally, I've never preoccupied myself too much with so-called "black issues" though I can surely appreciate how they may affect me as a young woman. The phrase "educate yourself" is so apt in today's world since many things we hear on a daily basis, whether in be on the news, in schoolbooks or wherever may not necessarily portray a true account of any event. Such is why the video "Inside Secrets of The White Man" is so important. Upon first glance it may seem like some type of spoof, comedic skit but it's true purpose extends far beyond searching for a few laughs. Raising issues such as the lack of unity within the black community, the slave trade and religion, this video is one all need to watch. It made me ask myself many questions about my mindset, what I want to achieve with my life today and the legacy I aim to leave behind me tomorrow. Nothing is ever as it seems. Hopefully this video will shed light on many current issues, push you out of your comfort zone and most importantly, make you think.

Watch the thought-provoking video below.

Put You On | Craze & It's Nate

Haven't done a Put You On post since my Shane Eli interview (check the interview and PYO post) and that was quite a while ago! Anyway. Below are this month's PYO candidates.

It's Nate

Recently on Twitter I was bantering about how much I love Dilla-esque beats and how much I wanted to see rappers from the UK drop a couple bars on beats similar to them. Well, lucky me. Almost instantly after I tweeted, I received a link to this track by It's Nate. With a wealth of talent and coolness, Nate describes his encounter with mystery girl, his attempts to woo her and the seemingly meaningless conversation that ensues. I just love it. It's most certainly a track you can vibe to and relate to. Nobody likes to listen to an artist they can't understand, right? June sees the release of his mixtape, so be on the look-out for that one. In the meantime, listen to the Lz produced track below and check out his Tumblr and Blog too.

Pointless Conversation

Craze

The thing I appreciate most in an artist has to be sincerity. Good rhyme-slingers spit from the heart and I honestly felt something when I heard What's Your Life Like from London based rapper Craze. Upon first listen, one might be instantly reminded of an early Mos Def (think Urban Thermo Dynamics circa 1994/95, their cadence is so similar, it's quite uncanny) but with a sharper ear you'll see the difference. Craze questions his listener about their lives while at the same time relating his own; observing his surroundings and future. The classic Crooklyn Dodgers, Return of The Crooklyn Dodgers instrumental certifies this track as 100% dopeness and as you all know, it's almost impossible to go wrong with such a timeless beat. Find more Craze tunes on his Youtube channel here.

What's Your Life Like

Mixtape | Elzhi - Elmatic

Finally. It's here. Former Slum Village member and Detroit MC Elzhi releases his highly-anticipated Elmatic, a mixtape and homage to the classic Nas album, Illmatic. Produced entirely by Will Sessions with features from fellow 313 rapper Royce Da 5'9, the record pulls no punches. Elzhi breathes new life into a classic, lyrics sharp and hard as ever, his cadence never tripping over the beats. Let no-one tell you that a two year wait for this mixtape wasn't worth it. Tracks such as One Love, It Ain't Hard To Tell and Halftime receive a slight airbrushing with crisp new instrumentation, while AZ's legendary verse on Life's A Bitch makes way for a worthy replacement from Royce. Pete Rock's (he produced Nas' monumental single The World Is Yours) shout-out/outro wraps up the mixtape and is a fine seal of approval for one of the most coveted and complete pieces of the year. 10/10.

Peruse the tracklisting below and hit the pic to download the mixtape.

Tracklisting

1. The Genesis

2. Detroit State of Mind (Houseshoes Shout)

3. Halftime

4. Memory Lane

5. The World Is Yours

6. Represent

7. Life’s A Bitch f/ Royce da 5’9 & Stokley Williams of Mint Condition

8. One Love

9. It Ain’t Hard To Tell

10. Pete Rock Shout

Video | MANiC - Amazing f/ Marshall McFly

*Enters with the grandad skanks* I'm so pleased to finally be able to blog this video - I saw it a while back and my fingers have been itching to post! Well here it is. Upcoming UK rapper MANiC drops his fourth official video Amazing off his well-received mixtape Burger Kingsley 2. Detailing the troubles of success and fame, MANiC skates over the Vybe Beats track powerfully while Marshall McFly certainly holds his own in his Chicago Bulls snapback. Meanwhile the menacingly beautiful lady in red tormenting the young rappers adds a sexy flair to the bubbling street anthem appearing as a mysterious mirage in the background. Overall it's a solid effort from all those involved! Kudos to the directors too... You all is amaaaaaazing. 

Watch the haunting clip below!

Short Film | 'Aylesbury' by Funmi Wittle

I'm super stoked to post this video - the amazing Funmi Wittle (check her blog here) and I went to Heygate estate some time ago - I posted the pictures on the good ol' blog - and look what fantasmic footage she captured! It's all for an exhibition she's a part of and  quite frankly I can't wait to see what else Ms. Wittle produces. Oh maaaan... it's gonna be well dope. Look at the stills below and press play to watch the short film she created!

When I Was 17 | ?uestlove

Hiya. Yeah I know I haven't blogged in a while... Call it a super mental writer's block if you must. I'm back now though *blows trumpet*

 I stumbled across a snippet of ?uestlove's episode of "When I Was 17" and who knew this dude went to school with Boyz II Men and Amel Larrieux? Not me. Seems like The Roots' drummer is a bit of a cool guy. But that I already knew. Anyway enough waffling from me, check the video below muddasuckas.