Three Weeks To Go!!!

Pay Homage….

I was 9 when it was released. At around that time my interest of hip-hop was akin to Tony’s Blair’s knowledge of hyphy music (oh please…google it!!). Nonetheless, my discovery of this album precisely 5 years later did alter my perception of what rap was and what it should sound like. Prior to my musical uncovering, I knew hip-hop only as Snoop Doggy Dog’s ‘Doggy Style’ and Biggie’s ‘Ready To Die’, for these albums; dubbed on to 90 minute TDK’s never left my tape deck.

Hailed and praised twice over, by music critics and journalists, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. I remember picking up the CD. 10 tracks? Is that all, I recall thinking when looking at the track listing. Not knowing of course, that in my hands I held one of hip-hop’s most groundbreaking long players. Before Nasir dropped this album New York rap (kinda like how it is now) was in dire straits. Do your research; even the Jigga man acknowledged what a gem God Son’s debut was on The Dynasty album, ‘This Can’t Be Life’

‘It's like '93, '94, bout the year
that Big and Mag dropped; and "‘Illmatic’" rocked outta every rag drop’

The usual topic of discussion whenever rap is the focal point, among rap purists and indie kids, to them (and this is always the case!) ‘Illmatic’ was Nas’s gift and his curse. His gift because it showcased his incredible lyricism, as well as changing perceptions of what a typical rap LP should sound like. His curse because post ‘Illmatic’ offerings have never lived up to his much acclaimed debut.

For me, I’m a Nas fan and always have been since the unearthing of this particular album 8 years ago in a small record shop in Lewisham.

For me ‘Illmatic’ initiated my love affair with New York, for this is all I heard when I first listened to this album. Street gritty, New York verses thought out by a writer, who seemed to be living in hell itself, but found escape through poetry over beats.

For me, in a age where both integrity and creativity is grossly lacking in music, I can only hope that maybe one day some wide eyed 10 year old, stumbles upon a Sway, Kano or Klashnekoff album and feels exactly what I felt when I first heard ‘Illmatic’.

The Best That Ever Did It

Who needs Wordsworth, Blake or Keats when you have Sade. Her music is more than enough to soothe the soul of any. Was listening to this album last night, and no, before you go there, I'm not on the receiving end of a messy breakup so sought out soppy love songs to numb the pain... Just thought I'd take JME's Boy Better Know off repeat on the old Y-Pod.

Sade please put out another album. We miss you dearly.

Big!! - Dubstep.

Went to my first dubstep rave last weekend, down at Plastic People. The night is called FWD and its incredibly big! To the seasoned dubstep revealers among you please excuse my childlike excitement for I know that you've been doing this since I was watching the A Team on Saturday afternoons! Well maybe not that long but you get the gist! Still reverberating from the heavy bass lines, I must admit my head is stiil in a bad way! All jokes aside though, this scene oozes with potential. The dj's, producers, and promoters make even the Brady Bunch look like a dysfunctional family, for the unity within the dubstep community is the one sole factor that will push it into the consciousness of the mainstream. I can't be asked to break down the actual definition of dubstep as a sound/genre so hit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubstep for a scentific thesis.
www.ilovefwd.com - if you wanna lose you dubstep virginity too!

Shout out to the guys at RWD mag for putting me onto to it. You'll be glad to know that you're up there with my boy James who put me on to Richard Wright novels! You should feel honoured!

Big!! - The Streets 'Prangin Out' (MC remix)

Mr Skinner's appreciation of all things grime is not just evident on this remix. One only has to check his back catalogue for further proof of his dirty little grimey tendencies (see remixes of - 'Fit But You know It' & 'Get Out My House'). With Leo (now of celebrity love island fame - why blud???, no really???) on vocals, the MC's on this track read like a who's who of grime's elite. Skepta and fellow Boy Better Know marks men are all on point with 16s that are heavier than a bloke who's eaten too many pies, throw in Tinchy Stryder, Ghetto, Wretch and its a certified wrap! Check it out.