Tagged ‘Rap’

WIN TICKETS TO PHAROAHE MONCH IN LONDON

The New York rapper is set to tear the Scala apart this Friday

That’s right – the man like Pharoahe Monch is touching down in London to play the Scala in Kings Cross this Friday in support of his new album: ‘W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)’. Not only that, but we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky winner. Find out more after the jump.

Black Star reunite for London show with help from De La Soul and Rakim

BLACK STAR IS BACK. Well, for the moment anyway, as Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunite for a one-off show in London this May – 13 years after they dropped their cult debut album: ‘Mos Def & Talkib Kweli Are Black Star’. Pretty much an unmissable show as it is, but throw in De La Soul, Rakim and a ton of special guests (The Roots? Q-Tip? Common?!) and you’re in for the show of your life.

True, great hip-hop albums are thin on the ground in the mainstream these days. God knows what Kanye’s doing. Jigga’s latest record disappointed. Even Lupe – renowned for his insightful lyricism and dope beats – didn’t quite satisfy on his new album. So, we turn to the trusty underground, and one of rap’s most celebrated and revered wordsmiths: Pharoahe Monch. The rebelliously titled ‘W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)’ is the New York rapper’s third solo outing to date, and thankfully it’s everything you’d expect it to be (how could it be anything else?). That means: complex, rip-roaring wordplay; equal doses of militancy and soul; and some truly killer production from the likes of Exile, Marco Polo and Brainfeeder’s very own Samiyam (Monch takes on production duties too).

When I think of the Wu-Tang Clan, I’m instantly reminded that Cash Rules Everything Around Me, and I can’t watch a random kung-fu flick without the infamous yellow W symbol flashing in my mind. In truth, rapper Raekwon isn’t the first thing that pops into mind. Even though being one of the founding fathers of the infamous group that unarguably redefined hip-hop in the nineties, it’s the late and legendary Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the production pusher man RZA, and the dynamic duo Method Man and Redman that resonate more strongly. But in his most recent solo release ‘Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang’, Raekwon tries to take the stage by standing front and centre.

New record from Brooklyn rap trio imminent!

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No more waiting! After announcing in 2009 that Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch (MCA) had a cancerous tumor in his left salivary gland, the Brooklyn rap trio’s new record, ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part One’, was put on hold. And then we were told that he was on the mend and that they were going to release the follow up to that album, ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part Two’ first, and that it would have the exact same tracklisting as ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part One’. Bananas – but who’d have it any other way right?

Atmosphere release video for first single from their new album 'The Family Sign'

Oh yes. Once again, Atmosphere bring the heat with the video for their first single drop from their 7th studio album: ‘Just For Show’. Chloe the golden labrador is a strange choice of protagonist, but the video bristles with the twisted irony and humour that the Minneap duo is known for, making it an Atmosphere Music Video through and through. Feeling the track immensely, and I now want a dog more than I did before. Which was a lot.

The Chef returns in support of forthcoming new album 'Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang'

With the release of new album ‘Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang’ just around the corner, Raekwon will once again grace the UK with a run of dates next month. The Chef has been enjoying a real return to form of late, following the critically acclaimed sequel to his classic album ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’ with guest spots on seemingly every rap album released since.

Breathe Adrenalin, Elevate Organically

After a 5 year wait, one of Rhymesayers’ most loved emcees (and one half of Soul Position along with RJD2), Blueprint is set to drop his sophomore album: ‘Adventure’s In Counter Culture’. The follow up to ’1988′, the new album “touches on Blueprint’s cynicism with the world, his disdain for pop culture, the state of politics and an apathetic, uninspired society”, according to Rhymesayers.

Before we delve headfirst into Black Milk’s third record, let’s take a moment to appreciate the man’s drums. Because I’ll be honest, I have a hard time believing there’s any hip-hop producer making better sounding beats right now. On his past two albums, ‘Popular Demand’ and ‘Tronic respectively’, Black Milk has brought a devastating live drum sound to the table, announcing himself as one of hip-hop’s most sought after producers. Given his ties to Detroit and Slum Village, It’s perhaps unsurprising that this has drawn J Dilla comparisons, but Black Milk is not trying to mimic Dilla’s sound. It’s true, the two share a raw approach to beatmaking, but even Jay Dee’s beats didn’t bang this hard.

It’s easy to forget that Antwan André Patton, better known as Big Boi, is a superstar in his own right. Having made six platinum selling albums with OutKast, including the diamond selling ‘Speakerboxx / The Love Below’, Big Boi is one of the most recognisable voices in hip-hop, yet his star status is often overlooked. His proximity to André 3000 is more than likely the cause, as Patton is understated next to his flamboyant and at times otherworldly partner in crime. It seems forgotten that ‘Speakerboxx ‘wasn’t ‘The Love Below’’s bonus disk, in fact it was the more consistent and often stronger of the two, making Big Boi’s first official solo outing a big deal.