Video | YJ, MANiC, Starz & Chockz - The Come Up Cypher [Ep.1]

"I hear cyphers all the time and only few impress..."


Well, this cypher certainly caught my attention. What happens when four upcoming rappers from London decide to go off on one track? Definitely a melting pot of genius, that's for sure. YJ, MANiC, Starz and Chockz all demonstrate a penchant for lyricism, each possessing a unique delivery and flow that propel them miles ahead of any challengers. Laced with wit and a wealth of wordplay, their verses are served up perfectly  against each other, with the baton swiftly being passed between each rapper with the termination of each bar. I don't know about you, but I definitely can't wait to hear more from these guys. UK rap is on the come up, ladies and gents.

And surely I'm not the only person who reckons Starz looks like a cross between Fabolous and P Diddy? Just me? Cool, cool.



Niiiice.

Remember | Michael Jackson

It's so weird that I'm writing a Remember post on a person I thought would live forever. My cousins and I would speak about the day Michael Jackson would pass like it was a fictional story or myth, not fully acknowledging the fact that the day might come around in our lifetime. Nobody actually expected that shit to  happen though. No-one. Michael Jackson was never supposed to die.

Two years ago to the day though, he did, without warning. I can remember being in my kitchen on my Blackberry, browsing through Facebook; a random status update letting me know of his passing. The state of frenzy that ensued was unimaginable; me keeping vigil at my widescreen, TV flickering between CNN, Fox News and Sky awaiting an official report. Not a single tear fell when that confirmation came but since that day I've been mourning ever since. Not a single word I write in this post could ever illustrate just how much Michael Jackson means to me; saying that he's an icon doesn't do him justice anymore. He is transcendent and I love him and miss him. He's given me music and memories I'll cherish forever. Rest in peace.

Video | Sean Price "Likes No Female Rappers"

I've been wanting to do a post on female rappers for the longest while now and Vlad TV's interview with Sean Price just reminded me. The video sees one half of Heltah Skeltah admit how he likes "no female rappers" which to me is odd seeing as there are many lady rappers I consider to be quite dope. Anyway, each to their own.



Also, don't forget to peruse Vlad TV's Top 40 Female Rappers list (which annoyed me seeing as they placed Jean Grae at #33 and MC Lyte at #7 when she should have in fact been #1, as well as a host of other questionable entries - Fergie? Lil Mama? Don't make me laugh) and tell me what you think about this "list". I thought it was quite stupid to be honest.

Music | Top 5 Soul Samples

Ever since DJ Kool Herc spun records at those legendary New York block parties in the seventies, extending five second breakdowns into "five minute loops of fury" and funk, hip-hop music has always had an intrinsic relationship with the soul, funk and reggae genres. With the evolution of rap music and technology though, many producers took those classic cuts and added their own spin on the them, creating timeless tunes that in part pay homage to the artists before it and lay out blueprints for the future generations of rhymeslingers and beatmakers alike. Soul samples are like gold to me when it comes to hip-hop music. I love hearing guys like DJ Premier, Large Professor and Pete Rock chop up beats by artists such as Isaac Hayes and The Stylistics and create something unique; that true head nod shit. That's the beauty of a soul sample, I think, the old synths and trumpets, the climactic crescendos - it's music in one of it's purest forms, sonically dope.

Listed below are my favourite soul records sampled by some of  hip-hop most coveted producers (along with a few wildcards too).

5. Caldera - Ancient Source



Rick Ross - Maybach Music 3 f/ T.I, Jadakiss & Erykah Badu (prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E League)
Rapsody - Honda Accord Music f/ Skyzoo & Thee Tom Hardy (prod. 9th Wonder)
Pitch Black - It's All Real (prod. DJ Premier)

4. Kool and The Gang - Summer Madness



Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth - What's Next On The Menu? (prod. Pete Rock
Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff - Summertime (prod. DJ Jazzy Jeff)
Erykah Badu - Certainly (Flipped It) (prod. Madukwu Chinwah)
Gangstarr - DJ Premier In Deep Concentration (prod. DJ Premier)
Big Pun - You Ain't A Killer (prod. Younglord)

3. Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets




Da Brat - Funkdafied (prod. Jermaine Dupri)
Jay-Z - Ignorant Shit f/ Beanie Sigel (prod. Just Blaze
Notorious B.I.G - Big Poppa (prod. Chucky Thompson)
Big L - Fed Up With The Bullshit (prod. Lord Finesse)

2. Isaac Hayes - The Look of Love



Jay-Z - Can I Live (prod. Irv Gotti)
3rd Bass - Gladiator (prod. Daddy Rich)
Kim Summerson - Choices (prod. Dr. Dre)
Snoop Dogg - G'z Up, Hoes Down (prod. Dr. Dre)

1. Michael Jackson - Human Nature




Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell (prod. Large Professor)
Elzhi - It Ain't Hard To Tell (prod. Will Sessions)
Jason Nevins pres. Holly James - Heaven (prod. Jason Nevins)
Termanology - Pay Jay f/ Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, Chaundon (prod. J Dilla)

What are some of your favourite soul samples? Let me know!

Event | Hip Hop Karaoke

It seems like my Thursday evenings are going to forever be occupied from now on. Hip Hop Karaoke at The Social in London's Oxford Circus is the place to be every Thursday for any hip-hop head, karaoke lover. I went for the first time last week and decided to get up on stage and rep the ROC by doing a rendition of Jay-Z's Encore - I've rapped this song so many times in front of my mirror at home so it was definitely nice to have an audience this time! The vibe in that place was amazing, all love, no madness, no stress - just peace, love and hip-hop as I always say. So if you're stuck for something to do on a Thursday evening, get yourself to Hip Hop Karaoke, dude.

Here's the footage from my performance (I'm on my Fade To Black ish! lol)

"If you can't respect that, your whole perspective is wack, maybe you'll love me when I fade to black."