
We don’t do end of year lists at Bonafide but if we did Dimlite’s Grimm Reality would we be well up there alongside Shabazz Palaces’ Black Up, Thundercat’s The Golden Age of Apocalypse and Stepkids self-titled debut as some of the strongest releases of 2011.
Andy Spragg described Grimm Realityas “Ducking the cliché of ‘being taken on a musical journey’, Grimm Reality is more akin to going from ‘in here’ to ‘out there’, a sudden collapse of constraint into dazzling inventiveness.” …Read More.
Filed under: Artists, Bass, Competitions, DJ/Turntablism, Electronic, Funk, Hip-hop by D.K.
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D’Angelo has long reigned as the mysterious king of neo-soul. Much like Lauryn Hill, his 2000 opus Voodoo was followed by zilch, preferring to remain in the shadows as a peripheral figure in the music world, and finding himself in and out of jail and putting on a few pounds in the process. …Read More.
Filed under: Funk, Jazz, Soul by Lev
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Bonafide set out with the aim to celebrate hip-hop. Our aim was to explore ‘old-school, mid-school and new-school creativity’, five issues on we’re proud to present the old school x new school issue. In hip-hop chronological order we speak to the Godfather of it all, Grandmaster Flash, profile EPMD, the funky Long Island duo from the golden age of rap and get crazy with ‘the lazy hustler’ and fourth Beastie Boy, Ricky Powell. …Read More.
Filed under: Bonafide magazine, DJ/Turntablism, Electronic, Funk, Graffiti, Hip-hop, interview, Magazines, Photography, Rap, Record Cover Design, Reporting, Sneakers, UK hip-hop by D.K.
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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.
This competition is now closed.
Filed under: Competitions, DJ/Turntablism, Electronic, Funk, Hip-hop, Rap, Record Cover Design, UK hip-hop by D.K.
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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.
Filed under: DJ/Turntablism, Free Downloads, Funk, Hip-hop, Mixes by D.K.
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Sharon Jones and The Dapkings
Soul Time!
Daptones (2011)
Daptone have 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.
Filed under: Funk, Reviews by J.G.
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If you were going to dial up someone to make a funk mix, chances are Dante Carfagna would be near the top of your list. Thankfully in 2005 Andrew Meza and BTS Radio managed to get through on a phone line that was constantly engaged as Carfagna held court with the likes of Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow. Sit back and enjoy as one of the world’s leading authorities on rare groove thumbs through his collection of 45s and presents the (Get)Downers Mix.
Filed under: Free Downloads, Funk by J.G.
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A tropical hip-hop track (we’re struggling to place the rapper, any ideas?) opens proceedings on Benji Boko’s exclusive Bonafide Beats mix. And its funky opening starts as it means to go on. …Read More.
Filed under: Artists, Electronic, Funk, Hip-hop, Mixes by Lev
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The Stepkids
The Stepkids
Stones Throw
I’ve had this album for less than 48 hours. I’ve played it five times. It’s very, very, very good.
…Read More.
Filed under: Funk, Reviews, Soul by J.G.
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One of the most sorrowful images from the past five nights of violence has perhaps been the destruction of a Sony warehouse used primarily by distribution company PIAS. A storage home for countless independent labels, who for the most part operate on shoestring margins at the best of times, the events stand as a “horrible” setback, in the words of Beggars Banquet (home to 4AD, Rough Trade and XL Recordings) Chairman Martin Mills. …Read More.
Filed under: Bass, dubstep, Electronic, Funk, Hip-hop, Rap, Reporting by Lev
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