Blakroc

Whats that I hear you say two blog posts in the same week?

Yes it is possible especially when I have caught wind (no i dont mean I have a poorly stomach) of the album Blakroc which was released two days ago.

So what is blakroc I hear you ask? well for many years we have heard rappers attempt to be rock & roll but fail Miserably! (bad boy for life for exampley), well this is the new way.

We start with the collaboration consisting of Q tip, RZA, Pharoah Monche, Jim Jones, Billy Danze and Nicole Wray, but then to finish off this all star line up we have the Black keys make the music for all the tracks. Yeah the BLACK CHUFFIN KEYS!

The project overseen by the all time arrogant Dam Dash has not only get the hairs on the back of my arm standing up but has given me a grin that is simply unshakable
(sheeeee I lhtterally cnnntt shtop shmiling)

It was Originally released in Nov this year but Itunes have just got their dirty californian hands all over it.

Cop that disk

Mutt

One of my personal favorite Drum & Bass/Liquid funk Dj's

Real name Sean Roman, he hails from Toronto Canada. His instrumentals display influences of J dilla among other hip hop producers.

But he hasnt stopped at his recognised genre, he has also stuck a finger in the dubstep pie, as well as producing some quality hip hop instrumentals

Check out the album treading water and 3 brilliant EPs Kush talk/draw on me. Lady Love/the motions and the most recent released in October this year, Conversations/Invitations


http://www.myspace.com/muttdnb

http://soundcloud.com/mutt/mutt-evaunav

http://soundcloud.com/mutt/mutt-heavylidded

Kele O

Bloc Party have split indeffinatley, yes no more helicopters, No crosses in eyes or Hunting for witches (where they lame jokes? yes they where apologies allround)

anyways the silver cloud is that Kele is releasing a solo project which will be produced by HUDSON MOHAWKE yeah the same bloke I have been banging on about for the past few months.

Check earlier blogs to hear some of Hudson Mo's work.

Them Crooked Vultures

Just when I thought that dead weather where the most exciting thing since my first time on a bouncy castle up jumps the ULTIMATE SUPERGROUP.

You may have never heard of them but I am sure you have heard of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Queens of the stoneage), Josh Homme (Queems of the Stoneage, Eagles of Death metal) and the rock god Mr John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).

From Start to finish the self titled album is an absolute masterpiece, we have the dirty guitar and vocals as we heard on Era Vulgaris, the Cooler than cool Ice cold bass and to finsh Grohl going geniously barmy on the drum kit.

If your an alternative head and you dont have this album in your collection then your seriously missing out.

As J P Jones said himself "this is the Led Zeppelin of our time".


Here are some pearls for you.

Hipster hip hop music

I felt that this movement is quickly spreading to our side of the world, so Ive decided to post a few RELEVANT videos that will give those with no idea a clue about what the Chicago and NYC born movement is all about.

the Urban dictionary definition

hipster-hopper
A hipster who primarily listens to underground/experimental hip-hop (usually along with IDM, trip-hop and dubstep; often along with some mainstream hip-hop as well).
Often wears retro Nike trainers, gold chains (often comically oversized under the pretense of irony), wide-framed glasses (even if they don't need them to see) and skinny jeans. Also known to sport unusual haircuts, including afros, mohawks and buzz cuts.

WE ARE LASERS

Is title of lupe Fiasco's new album

Based on the first single I've heard he seems to have gone all out. The track being the first and only track I have heard called Fire uses Jimi Hendrix's fire as a sample and is injected with more energy than a crate of redbull.

I love it

Check it out

Stay tuned for more leaks

ChiSki, Kyless Cool

Definatley one to watch, he is a producer hailing from Chicago U.S. His music spans from hip hop right through to instrumental beats.

Kyless can create two types of reaction first is you simply freeze and listen intently, the latter being to simply throw your laptop and move your body.

He takes influences from jazz, classical, rock, indie and whatever else crosses his genius ears. His music very much like Thelonious monk can often seem off time but right on time within the same track. for an example check out his beat April Fools.

Even 'step' has a very offbeat london garage sound which makes my back shiver with energy.

All in all he is becoming the complete package, give him a year or so and this gentleman will be a fine wine.

http://soundcloud.com/chiski check

him out

Jay Z's best album

Every once and then I find myself getting into a discussion about the best album of various artists and genres.

The other day I got into one about Jay z which I was arguing that the black album is his best album he has ever done. Some have said Blue Print 3 some say reasonable doubt. The craziest suggestion I have had was American ganster.

Whats your opinion?

send us your comments

The Dodo's

The Dodos originally known as Dodo Bird are a 3 piece folk/indie band from San Francisco.

Imagine vampire weekend, jose gonzalez and the beatles mixing together and adding obscure instruments, this would get you close enough to the Dodos sound its epic, frantic and exciting.

They use big bassy beats with acoustic guitars and other apparatus to make a a fantastic mix of folk and dance indie.

Their first album beware of the maniacs was made in 2006 and generated a lot of attention from critics and new listeners alike across the pond. The sound of the this album is unlike anything else I have heard, when I listened I could do nothing else but take in what I was hearing.

They then followed up with their second album Visiter, which again had that signature sound but brought one of their most epic songs to date fool's, which is a fantastic piece of music.

They released their new album Time to die in August which has better production and just sounds complete as a band and an album.

As always Ive left a bit of ear candy for you.

Bloctober in Blockpool

So Just got back from the Bloc party gig in Blackpool and I can honestly say it was definitley one of my best gigs of the year.

Firstly Kele came on stage to reveal that he has "CUT HIS HAIR bit of a shocker", the venue was the Winter Gardens which was an old well maintained ballroom with a flooring that wobbled when the crowd kicked off.

Hunting for witches, banquet and helicopter had the crowd going insance while, blue light and so he we are had the crowd huddling together swaying and singing in harmony.

At what seemed the end of the set they walked off stage to then be comanded back on by the audience. Kele then suprised us all by confirming that what we had just witnessed was only the first half.

The energy rose to greater heights with a fantastic climax of flux.

The end left us all looking at eachother in the understanding that we had witnessed something special.

I have posted their new single for a bit of ear candy.

Kyless and the Joker

Joker

For years now Bristol has been in the lead for its experimental music scene. From artist like Portishead to the Knowle West boy Tricky, so there should be no surprise that its getting another superstar in the making on the Dubstep front.

Joker is a 20 year-old dubstep producer/DJ that has definitely made a name for himself already as one of the biggest Dubstep/Ghetto Techno artist already. He is inspired by throwback games 16 bit sounds and progressions. He has personally brought melodies into dubstep more ( which puts a large Joker like smile to my face)

If you ever wanted to hear what it sounds like to play your old Streets of Rage games whilst felling the vibrations of a young Just Blaze, while having the chords of Chad Hugo in 2005, then your Messiah is here.

Having already done remixes for artist such as Zero 7, The Heavy and Basement Jaxx, he is definitely making a big bang for himself and can only grow from this point.

Why So serious you ask?? Well have a listen for yourself to the Purple City DJ.

Kyless W

The Heavy - How you Like me now (DJ Joker Rmx)


Solid State


Zero 7 everything up DJ Joker Remix

The Funktastics

Blenders of soul and drum and base results? a cocktail of smooth happy music.

The Funktastics (Composed of Hugabass from the I Love Jungle crew and Cosa and C Nine from the Dity Crew) are parisian junglists. They started producing separately about 3 years ago and joined forces in the summer of 2004.

Attracted by the funkier side of dnb, they have develop a sound merging the sounds of Motown, Stax and lesser known soul outlets and the big bassy sounds of DnB.

Tracks? have a sip of "lies in Paradise" and "Girls say ahh".

Lies In Paradise



Girls say ahh

Drake Forever Video

Source: Young lew

Flying Lotus

In the spirit of leaving hip hop in the right hands!!

Ever wondered what J-Dilla would sound like if he was still alive?

Well check this guy out and it may give you some idea. He is a DJ, Music producer and laptop musician.

Very similar to the likes of Afrika Bamabata in the early eighties he uses funk, electro and various other genres to create music that treads a completlely different path to todays mainstream hip hop.

He was born in California and is the nephew of Alice Coltrane (yeah as in John's Wife).

The posted track called "Robo-tussin" is blended with lil Wayne's "A-mili" and its out of this world, the samples used in the piece are fantastic.

His album "1983" was released in 2006 and all I can say is if you have J-dillas Donuts you should have this album also.

I have left the other track for ear candy let me know what you think.

Robo-tussin



Sao Paulo

Future of Hip Hop finally in good hands?

When will hip hop be.... is the question I have been asking for some time, with the MC's I am listening to at the moment it seems that we are getting there. As hip hop is my favourite genre it feels good to see the industry slowly making its way back to the creme of the early nineties aka the golden era of hip hop.

Some may disagree if you do leave a comment.

Was listening to last Fm this morning and discovered J Cole who hails from Carolina, but moved to New York to advance his hip hop career.

His style is reminiscent of Tupac, his flow is continous like a battle rhymer and his timing is impeccable.

I checked out his new Mix tape "the warm up" and listened tracks called "Get up" and "Grown Simba".

All I have to say is it looks like Drizzy Drake has some real competition.

MF Doom

"Superheroes for life until our souls vanish" Ghostface Killah (taken from a track called The mask)

This london Born rapper moved to New York and started his career in the group KMD which consisted of himself and younger brother DJ Subroc.

He later went on to produce fantastic albums such as Dangerdoom with dangermouse and Madvillan with MadLib.

MF (metal face or Metal fingers) doom is one of the most lyrically entertaining Mc's that there is, his lyrical albility is crafted to a fine art and his timing is on par with a swiss built watch.

The Dead Weather

The super group consisting of Alison Mosshart (the kills), Jack White, Dean Fertita (Queens of Stoneage)and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs).

Their music like the band is elite and full of cool. You cant help but nod to their music in the agreement that this band know what their doing.

Their album Horehound was released July 14th and hit the top ten in US Charts.

Debut single 'Hang you from the Heavens' ooozies cool, while 'treat my like your mother' is one of the best singles so far this year and the video is quite impressive as well.

KINGS & QUEENS

The long awaited album of Mr T

Jamie T always confuses me with how off beat and out of tune his music can sound but yet so in tune and on beat all at the same time.

He revisits back in the game with the awesome tracks Emily’s Heart and Jilly Armeen. Castro dies has strong influences from the early 90s hip hop era while Sticks and Stones drives with the same Mph as Stella and Operation.

All in all the album is a beautifully crafted sequel.

If you really want a good night go to one of his live shows Tour dates are below.

Birmingham - 03 Oct
Newcastle - 05 Oct
Preston - 10 Oct
Sheffield - 11 Oct
Leeds 14 - Oct

Mr Havoc's adventures in an Airborne Toxic Event

Band - Airborne Toxic Event

Genre - Alternative

The tent troll stumbles from his smelly dank hole and sniffs around the campsite. "oh god what did I drink last night its bleached the colour from my world!"
Then he remembers what's laying in wait for him over in the arena, but it wasnt the anticipation of Alexisonfire on the main stage. No no this little troll had heard good things about an american act called "The Airborne Toxic Event"

So I caught this act in full swing, they were stood there on stage, going mental in a fashion reminicent of Arcade Fire, with a sound that reminded me of The Killers (if you gave them a giant yorkie bar laced with LCD and told them that to save their puppies life they have to play like madmen but look good while doing it).

Some songs do have a very melancholy lyrical style, but the tracks are so upbeat it makes you feel great about yourself and you can see that this music is really just the bands cathartic vessel for their lifes worries, and they arent trying to project these to the listener.

The pure stage presence that came off these guys was tremendous, I mean they flew into tracks such as "Happiness Is Over-Rated" and "Gasoline" swapping Weapons - erm i mean - instruments and involving you as the listener through every bit of the set.

Check them out, share your views here! A great place to start is their 10 part acoustic series on youtube. They play a different track in a different place each time

Mr Havoc (RYAN KAYE)

Roy Ayers

Fantastic jazz and R&B musician from Los Angeles.

Ayers created the fantastic soundtrack to the film Coffy by Jack Hill in 1973, and he has collaborated with artists such as Masters at work for Nuyorican soul and Erykah Badu.

His music is relaxing, cool and never seems to grow old on me.

Genre - Jazz, R&B

tracks to check - Running Away, Everybody loves the Sunshine

Hudson Mohawke

This young Glaswegian is a genuis,

At 15 he was the youngest DMC finalist under the alias of DJ Itchy. He was signed to record label Warp label with little more than some DJ mixes and unofficial tracks.

He is definatley one to watch.

Style - experimental

Source - Kyless Williams

Tracks to check out - overnight & Joy fantastic

www.myspace.com/hudsonmo

Welcome to my HearDrum

Music & Music related madness.

I read about it, watch it, go to gigs, and fill my mind with it so this is my offload.

enjoy