On the same day Paul White drops Rapping With Paul White – The Remix EP as a free download from his bandcamp page and to stream below – in a first for the producer, the record includes a trio of sample-free tracks on which Paul plays drums and synths – we are also pleased to present an interview with the south London based beat maker who tells us his top five rap albums of all time, his eclectic working methods and explains why he nearly always includes his full name in the title of his albums. …Read More.
This summer saw the 10 year anniversary of Lewis Recordings. Founded by former Hip-Hop Connection writer/photographer Mike Lewis, the small North London based imprint has quietly gone about the business of releasing quality hip-hop, electronic and pop records in highly desirable packaging by a diverse roster of artists including Andrew Thompson, Stig of the Dump, Cinnamon and most notably, Edan, whose unique brand of psychedelic hip-hop has received critical and commercial acclaim upon his all too infrequent releases.
We have all of Edan’s singles, albums and indeed a sack full of pretty much every Lewis Recordings release in both vinyl and CD format to give away to one lucky reader. To stand a chance of winning just email in at mailbox@bonafidezine.com. with your name, age and address details. Winners will be notified by the 20th November.
Friday night, fabric, peak time 1.30am, and London is in the midst of another farcical Indian summer. Four Tet, (Kieran Hebden to his mother) is commencing his dj set. Oozing out of the crystalline Room 1 speakers comes the serene, haunting and woozy tones of jazz pin up John Coltrane. Not your average club fodder then but then nor is Four Tet your average producer. …Read More.
In preparation for the release of Ugly Duckling’s fifth full length album, Moving at Breakneck Speed, the group have embarked on an extensive UK tour and have been good enough to deliver an exclusive mix for our Bonafide Beats series. …Read More.
This week I thought I’d use the Charlie Sloth mixtape for Top Boy, as a way to crowbar in a mention of the new Channel 4 drama. Staring Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson (better known as Kano), the promotional blurb unfortunately uses the words ‘raw’ and ‘gritty’ hackneyed PR terms that do a disservice to anything that actually has depth. And watching the extended traileryou get the impression that Top Boy might just be a heavy slice of original British drama. Written by Ronan Bennet, Face and Public Enemies, who plunged himself deep into gang culture to research the work, and with cinematography that recalls the work of German photographer Rut Blees Luxemburg – think the beautiful but bleak album cover for The Streets debut LP – and Top Boy looks like it will be an illuminating, charged and sobering affair.
Complementing the Top Boy posts comes Lowkey’s open letter to government and it’s failure to connect to the voice and needs of disenfranchised and underprivileged. Sombre and powerful stuff.
Daptonehave been putting out quality albums for ten years now, with the Budos Band and Menahan Street Band in particular producing well-crafted records that have had all at Bonafide towers tapping their feet and nodding their heads as they write. At the heart of the Daptone project, however, have always been The Dap-Kings – the musicians who form the backbone of the groups such as the Menahan Street Band and who were Amy Winehouse’s backing band on her much celebrated Back to Black album.
More exhibition news, this time a bit closer to home. From the 04 – 27 November 2011, Borough and Lane a new exhibition featuring works on paper by American artist Evan Hecox, will be held at Stolenspace, London.
Bonafide issue 04 star D*Faceis holding his first solo exhibition in Australia during November. His new show takes places at the Metro Gallery, Melbourne, and will give our Antipodean cousins a chance to view work in the flesh by an artist who has made his name subverting popular culture and playing fast and loose with the trademark pop stylings of Litchenstein and Warhol.
The exhibition will launch on the 02 November and include his flutterdies and splutterflies work, original pieces, huge concrete spraycan sculptures (that will also be dotted around Melbourne city – try nabbing that Mr Street-Art reseller on eBay) and, according to the blurb, a new limited edition print.
