New Big Dada signing Offshore presents the second edition of the Bonafide mix series (now officially known as Bonafide Beats, ya hear) and what a heady mix it is.
The Aberdeen born beatmaker throws together a combination of populist hip-hop (T-Pain, Missy Elliot), modern indie electronica; Hudson Mohawke, label mates Thunderheist and Thavius Beck (featuring the excellent Offshore remix for Go), a dab of grime (Terrah Danjah and Trim) and even a couple of West Coast cuts featuring Kurupt, whose solipsistic rap sounds delightfully menacing over Quik’s snap and the general wonky bleeps of the mix. …Read More.
Caught looks like a sumptiuous slice of contemporary illustration, graff and audio visual goodness and promises to be something special for the Leeds art scene.
Stemming from the BestJoinedUp nights, Caught brings together the likes of Will Barras, The Pern, Replete, Inkie, Sri McKinnon, Drew Millward and Phlegm and will uncover some of the treasures retrived during the BestJoinedUp sessions and also unveil some brand-new-it’s-still wet work.
Caught will run from the 21st May to the 7th June. Check the site for the skinny.
When posting about Chopped Herring Records last week I read that Dan P.K. Smyth’s, aka Chopps Derby, debut short film has been accepted into the SXSW film festival in Austin,Texas.
This reminded me of Power Lap (featured) where his dry delivery rinses Top Gear and wannabe rude boys. Other wry rhymes tackle greyhound racing; Down the Dogs succinctly explores the desperation of the sports followers’ – and Gunchester; Very Dutty Manz merely reinforces Yorkshire folks’ prejudice of all those Oasis wannabes from the other side of the ‘Nines.
On rare occasion’s you get sent links that prove both highly entertaining and have a riveting, if a bit confusing, backstory. Chopped Herring Records is one of those – amazing bio, possibly or possibly not containing a few red herrings – and banging tracks.
Yesterday was a very sad day for hip-hop and the world of music altogether. Keith Elam aka Guru lost his battle with cancer at the age of 47. He was originally taken to hospital on 28th Feb 2010 after he suffered a heart attack. He underwent surgery and has been in a coma ever since. Or that’s what has been widely reported but very little concrete information is actually available. One thing is for sure though is that this hip-hop icon is no longer with us. You may have read various reports about a letter supposedly “written” by Guru (despite being in a coma!?) A letter which mentions his partner in crime Solar more than he talks about himself and carries on to diss DJ Premier. It’s a real shame this is overshadowing the death of a genuine hip-hop legend so that’s all we’re gonna say about it. …Read More.
It’s not often we post about gigs, in fact it’s editorial policy not to (unless you pay us, nod-nod, wink-wink) but TheDoctors Ordershave pulled together an almighty line-up next month featuring Just ‘rap on it, even if it’s average the beat will shift half a million units in the States’ Blaze going deck-to-deck with The ‘you don’t know much about me but I produced half your CD collection’ Alchemist.“Oooh yeah!” to quote my 4th favorite wrestler. The show goes down on Thursday 6th May in East Village and you better be quick as there’s just 200 tickets left, fingers crossed we will have an interview with one if not both of the super-producers next month.
For me, the Rapture’s Echoes LP, a brilliant mish-mash of electronica, punk and indie (the track Sister Saviour, with its relentless rhythm was a belter even if the promo veered into pretension) acted as an introduction to DFA’s eclectic DNA that included co-owner James Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem and the abstract electronica of Black Dice and the Juan Maclean.
Murphy’s group have been at the forefront of electronic experimentation and erudite dance music since 2002’s Losing My Edge pulled apart the coolness of being cool and reveled in making those who should know better (and by default those who enjoyed the song) the butt of a running joke.
This was followed with a great eponymous LP featuring Movement and 2007s equally lauded Sound of Silver. This year’s This is Happening threatens to be the groups last act before they grow up and get proper jobs…or more likely re-invent themselves as something completely different. Either way it sounds like they will be going out with a defiant bang.
We’ve mentioned the work of artist Ericailcane (Eric the Dog) a few times. Having witnessed his handywork first hand, we can safely say that, in terms of ideas and execution, there are not many better artists roaming the streets. It’s great news that his new website has been launched. Take five minutes to get to know the characters of Funny Games (see above) and their friends, all of whom populate a darkly funny world. Beatrix Potter this aint.
The Infesticon trilogy is set for its denouement with Bedford Park. Following the earlier installments, the Infesticons resistance and underground informed Gun Hill Road and the bling-decadence of Beauty Party,the Majesticon’s nouveau riche reply, Bedford Park is the sound of the aftermath of the battle. An exploration of musical styles, all set to an ‘anthem’ theme check this exclusive for an insight into the aural handgrenades that are being thrown out in Bedford Park.
Bonafide caught up with Infesticons figurehead/ringleader Mike Ladd. A man of many guises, Ladd is a seriously talented individual dividing his time between musical collaboration, writing and lecturing on Black American literature and producing documentaries. Always against the grain. Always worth listening too. Checkit. …Read More.
