Hip Hop and Breakz

Dj Premier has got together with the Legendary Slick Rick to record a joint for the new Jonah Hill comedy The Sitter soundtrack. The beat is sick and sounds like it will fit the film well with its organ led sample and upbeat drums. Ricky D brings the heat with the lyrics as we expect from the London Born emcee with the laid back flow which reminds me how much I love the Rickster's style. Primo drops some nice scratches towards the end of the joint finishing it off nicely. Check the Link for the DL. I Need Some Bad .

Dope Chef has Teamed up with Gullvers Dj’s MK (kiss 100) ACYDE (Trading Places) and Chris p Cuts for their monthly jam at the ALIBI in Shoreditch for a Christmas special after party for the Dope Chef Boat pop up store. The Party Kicks of on Saturday 3rd December from 9.30pm till late featuring Special Guest ‘MIKILL PANE”. This thought provoking lyricist will be at hand to deliver mean bars while Dope Chef spreads the Love with Free Give aways on the Night… with free entry as well so arrive early before the spot gets packed to avoid disappointment.

Heavy D, whose real name is Dwight Errington Myers, was found on a walkway at his Beverley Hills home and an ambulance was called. When emergency workers arrived he was conscious and speaking but died later at a nearby hospital. Rotund rapper Heavy D was born in Jamaica and moved to Mt. Vernon, New York as a child. He enjoyed hip hop music as a kid and formed his first group, the Boyz, with high school friends who took the stage names DJ Eddie F, Trouble T-Roy and G-Wiz. Heavy D was also cousin to Pete Rock Heavy D & the Boyz were the first group signed to Uptown Records; their debut, Living Large, was released in 1987. The album was a commercial success, though Big Tyme was a breakthrough that included four hits. Trouble T. Roy died at age 22 in a fall on July 15, 1990, in Indianapolis. Dixon's passing led to a tribute on the follow-up platinum album, Peaceful Journey. Pete Rock & CL Smooth created a tribute to Trouble T. Roy called "They Reminisce Over You (T.R...

As part a groundbreaking project called RE:Generation which takes producers outside of the genre to work with artists from other genres has brought in DJ Premier to produce a classical track with Nas and the Berklee School of Music Orchestra. In addition to DJ Premier, the project, co-produced by the Grammys and directed by Amir Bar Lev (The Pat Tillman Story, My Child Can Paint That), brought in Pretty Lights, who did a country song with Leann Rimes and Ralph Stanley; the Crystal Method, who headed to Detroit to spend two days recording a R&B tune with Martha Reeves; and Mark Ronson, who teamed with Erykah Badu, members of the Dap Kings and Trombone Shorty for a jazz cut in New Orleans. DJ Premier was given Classical and began his immersion into the genre with Bruce Adolphe, a former classical music professor at Juilliard. They met at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music not far from DJ Premier’s home in NY. After learning about classical music theory, the inspirations of some of...

Dilated Peoples front man Evidence is back with the next 12" from his new album "Cats and Dogs". The track is called "You" and is produced by DJ Premier. Its a dope track which is slightly slower than your average Premier joint but it works well with Evidence's intricate lyrics and nice flow. The loop is a cool guitar sample with a vocal sample thrown in for good measure with Premier's trademarked scratches throughout the track. The new album drops on the 27th of September and the track listing can be seen below; 1. "The Liner Notes" (feat. Aloe Blacc) The Alchemist 2. "Strangers" Twiz the Beat Pro 3. "The Red Carpet" (feat. Raekwon & Ras Kass) The Alchemist 4. "It Wasn't Me" Rahki, Daniel "Danny Keyz" Tannenbaum 5. "I Don't Need Love" ...

Jay-Z and Kanye have been talking about this project for quite sometime now and its finally here. Originally intended as a five-track EP by the duo, Watch the Throne was revealed by West to be a full-length album in an October 2010 interview with MTV. At the time he said that they planned to record in the South of France. However strangely enough production for the album began in November 2010 in Bath, England (of all places not exactly what I would call a Hip-Hop Hotspot ) and continued during available times in Jay-Z's and West's respective schedules in Australia, Paris, Abu Dhabi, New York and Los Angeles. In a number of interviews, Jay-Z said that they often recorded in hotel rooms and that the album went through three iterations, as he and West had scaled back from their original musical direction for the album. Although originally rumoured to be entirely produced by Kanye the duo drafted in the help of other Hip-Hop producers including; The Rza, Pete Rock, No ID, 8...

Pete Rock , Smiff N Wessun – Monumental Pete Rock is a legend in Hip Hop circles; trained by Marley Marl and second only to DJ premier when it comes to production skills. Rarely does he produce entire albums for artists, in fact his last was 2004’s ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ with Edo G and even that wasn’t entirely Pete Rock produced. However 2011 brings us Pete’s collaborative effort with Smiff N Wessun, Monumental which is released on BCC’s Duck Down label. Fourteen tracks entirely produced by Pete Rock and featuring such guests as; Raekwon, Rock, Sean Price, Buckshot, Styles P., Bun B., Memphis Bleek, Freeway and former Hit Squad member Hurricane G. The album starts off with a pretty unmemorable intro and then jumps into the title track Monumental which features lyrics from Pete Rock and a a nice albeit simple horns loop over a plodding drumbeat. This wasn’t too bad until the poorly sung hook comes in sung by newcomer Tyler Woods. The singing adds nothing whatsoever to track in fact...

Two of my favorite Hip-Hop artists are back together again, MF Doom and Ghostface Killah with the first track from the DoomStarks LP due later this year on Nature Sounds. The first official release from DOOMSTARKS is the limited edition picture disc 12" with "Victory Laps" on one side (Vocal, Remix, Instrumentals) backed with Serato Control Tones used to DJ with Serato Scratch Live software. Expected ship date is September 13th. Available for pre order from Stonesthrow.com DoomStarks

Amy Winehouse has died aged 27. She was found in her Camden, London home today. She was an immense talent with a unique voice but had sadly struggle with drink and drug issues for a number of years. My thoughts go out to her family at this difficult time. People should show her and her family the respect they deserve, regardless of everything she was someones daughter. Below are two Rehab remixes she did with Jay-Z and Pharoah Monch. RIP Amy.

Gullyers Returns on Saturday the 6th of August at Alibi in Dalston, London. MK and Acyde will once again spin some of the funkiest music in London ranging from Hip Hop to Reggae to Pop with sprinklings of Jazz, Soul and Ecletro thrown in for good measure. This month they will be assisted by the Piff Gang. Turn up early as it gets packed quick especially as its free.

Gullyvers return on Saturday the 2nd of July at the Alibi, 91 Kingsland Street London E8 2PB. DJ MK and Acyde on the decks spinning Classic Hip Hop, Breakz and everything in between. Free admission 9pm until late.

Back in probabley '96 I ordered a bunch of records from Hiphopsite.com and following their recommendation I included a 12" and an E.P. by a new rapper called Eminem. As a white dude who had been into Hip Hop for a very long time I was sceptical about the hype that Eminem was starting to get. There was talks of various labels starting a bidding war trying to sign him but at this point the only material he had put out the 'I just dont give a fuck' 12", the Slim Shady E.P. and the Infinite LP. All of which were produced with help from The Bass Brothers and fellow D12 members Kon Artis, Proof and Eye-Kyu, along with fellow rapper Three. Eminem was the rising star on the indie/underground scene. But at the same time there was another white dude making a name for himself on the same scene, Evidence. Evidence was a part of Dilated peoples an Inide group with strong credentials. Its members, DJ Babu from the DJ crew Beat Junkies; Evidence; and Rakaa had joined t...

As Eminem and Royce prepare to drop the Bad Meets Evil album I thought now would be a good time to showcase the first 12" these guys put out together back 1998 on Game records. The tracks on this 12" are the fantastic examples of the chemistry that exists between Eminem and Royce. Listening to this 12" again I can't help but wonder how things would have turned out had they not had beef for a number of years, would this collaborative album have dropped in 2002 and would Royce have gone onto become as big a hip hop star as Eminem? No doubt that Royce has made some seriously dope records over the course of his carear most notably the Premier produced banger Boom. But apart from the numerous Premier produced joints he has also ripped up beats by Just Blaze, Alchemist, Jay Dee, Kanye, The Neptunes and Dre too. Some of those producers I would love to hear produced for Eminem, especially Premier. The tracks on this 12" are produced by Reef and Scary Movies is cer...

A new DJ Premier produced Royce Da 59 track taken from his new album Success is certain. Nothing more to say really, hit the link for the download. Second Place

This is a really sad news, yesterday, the 27th of May 2011 Gil Scott Heron passed away. Rest in Peace to a true Legend and Warrior, Gil Scott Heron. Follow the link for two NY is Killing me remixes. R.I.P. Gil Scott Hero n

Christopher George Latore "Big Poppa,The Black Frank White, The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie" Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997) Follow the link below for a Live recording of Biggie's classic London concert held at the Hammersmith Apollo in the mid nineties. R.I.P. B.I.G.

EPMD are one of my favorite groups of all time but until recently I had only seen them once at a disappointing concert at the Sherpherds Bush Empire in the late 90s where they had performed 5 track then left the stage only to be sent back on stage by a security guard to do his favorite song. When I heard they were coming back to the UK again I got myself some tickets and hoped this time they would give a more satisfying performance. Veteran London MC Rodney P and Skitz took the stage before EPMD and warmed the crowd up nicely dropping some dope UK flavor and reminding us of how dope UK artists can be. Rodney displayed his mic skills and Skitz showed how well he can handled the wheels of steel. The it was back to the DJ until EPMD hit the stage a bit later than I would have liked, once agin US artists don't feel the need to display the level of professionalism that the likes of De La Soul, MOP and the Roots do every time but this is soon forgotten when Erick and Parish rip into I...

It seems like Raekwon is out to knock Ghost of the top sport as Wu's most productive member and this continues with next week's release of Wu-Tang Vs Shoalin. Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang is the fifth studio album by Raekwon, scheduled to drop on March 8. Confirmed guests for the album include Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Lloyd Banks, Method Man, Mobb Deep, Nas, and Rick Ross, among others. With production from; Scram Jones, Erick Sermon, Havoc, Bronze Nazareth, The Alchemist and Evidence amongst others. Rae began writing the album in early 2010, and finished latter that year, with the album's completion being announced on December 7, 2010, on the Shade 45 Morning Show. Although a number of artists such as Scoop DeVille, Pete Rock, and Kanye West, were reported to have worked on the album at one time or another, their contributions did not surface on the final version. Check the track-list below and a link toa sample track, Rich and Black fe...

Everyone know theres is only one DJ championship that matters, only one that truly the showcases of the world's best DJs and thats the DMC. Now the DMC, pioneers of the WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS, have announced a brand new online competition which will be open to DJs anywhere in the world at www.dmcdjonline.com DMC launches the ONLINE DJ CHAMPIONSHIP on 3rd February 2011, an annual event which promises to secure the art of the DJ for years to come placing it before a global audience and opening the DMC competition up to every DJ in the world. As well as the impressive title, trophy and prizes, The 2011 DMC ONLINE DJ CHAMPION will win an all expenses paid trip to the 2011 WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS in London where they will be eligible to enter the live event taking on the rest of the world's national DJ Champions on stage. There will be no limitations on the equipment the DJs wish to use in their performances, however should they win the ONLINE DJ CHAMPIONSHIP they will be required t...

February the 15th is the day the KRS ONE and Showbiz album, Godsville drops on D.I.T.C. records. Showbiz handles the beats and KRS brings the rhymes. Sounds good to me follow the link below for two sample tracks and buy the album when it drops. Check the promo video below SHOWBIZ AND KRS ONE "GODSVILLE" pt 2 from A/V PRENEURS on Vimeo . Godsville Sample tracks

As anyone who has seen my Last.fm chart (the blue list on the right hand side of this page ) will tell you that Ghostface is my most played artist (Closely followed by Al Green and Gangstarr.) that is why when I heard he had a new album dropping I started to look forward to December the 21st. When I heard the album was named after one of Ghostface's best tracks, Apollo Kids I knew it had to be a dope album just to pay homage to the original song from Supreme Clientele. For a fan of NY Underground/ crime rhyme / Wu-Tang music Apollo Kids does not disappoint. Although there is an absence of The Rza and some of the other Wu producers the album's production works very well. I was hoping to hear another MF Doom beat or two but Ghostface opts for some newer producers whilst picking a few choice underground beatsmiths; the Chocolate Boy Wonder Pete Rock along with up and coming producers Jake One and Scram Jones. The rest of the production duties on the album fall to; Frank Dukes...